At the City Council meeting on the evening of Monday, Aug. 11, Action Item 2 (A2) called for, “(1) Receipt and Discussion of List of Capital Improvements Projects to Consider Defunding in Order to Fund a Potential One-Time $2.5 Million Donation to the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD); (2) Receipt and Discussion of Report on the Impact of a Potential One-Time $2.5 Million Donation to CCUSD from the City’s Contingency Reserve; and (3) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.”
A number of public speakers spoke passionately, many in favor of the donation to the school but some concerned about the deficit that the City finds itself in.
Council Member Albert Vera introduced a motion to take an additional $2.5 million from the funding set aside for the controversial Jubilo Village affordable housing project, but that failed 2-3 (Vera and Mayor Dan O’Brien were the two yes votes).
Rather, the item passed with some contingencies regarding reporting on the spending of the funding.
Earlier, Action Item 1 (A1) called for, “Consideration of an Annual City Produced Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.” That item passed unanimously as did A3, “Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the Culver City Municipal Code Relating to Administrative Remedies for Challenges to Fees, Charges, and Assessments on Real Property.”
The final item of the night, A5, split the vote again: “Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Support for the Workers at Southern California Hospital in their Efforts to Maintain Fair Wages, Protect Employee and Patient Well-Being, and Uphold Good Working Conditions at the Hospital.”
Again, many members of the public, including hospital workers and management, spoke on both sides of the argument. Jurisdiction concerns were raised by Mayor O’Brien and Vera, with the latter referring to the item as “performative.” Ultimately though, the item passed 3-2.