At the City Council meeting on the evening of Monday, November 9, four items on the Consent Calendar received more attention than usual due to their connection to the controversial Better Overland and Safer Fox Hills projects.
Item C3 called for, “1) Approval of Revised Final Plans and Specifications for Phase 1 of the Better Overland Project; (2) Award of a Construction Contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc. as the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder in the Amount of $1,253,149 for Phase 1 of the Better Overland Project; (3) Approval of a Change Order Not-to-Exceed $133,746 with Toro Enterprises, Inc. for the Revised Final Plans and Specifications; (4) Authorization to the Public Works Director and the City Engineer to Approve Additional Change Orders to the Contract in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $313,288 (25%) to Cover Contingency Costs; (5) Authorization of a Task Order in an Amount Not to Exceed $130,511 with Transtech for Construction Inspection Services for Phase 1 of the Better Overland Project, Pursuant to the City’s On-Call Agreement with Transtech; (6) Authorization to the Public Works Director and City Engineer to Approve Amendments to the Transtech Task Order in an Additional Amount Not to Exceed $32,628 to Cover Contingency Costs (25%).”
Item C4 called for, “Approval of Final Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Publish a Notice Inviting Bids for Phase 3 of the Better Overland Project.”
They passed 3-0, with Council Member Albert Vera abstaining, and Council Member Dan O’Brien recused.
Item C5 called for, “(1) Authorization to Accept Grant Funds in the Amount of $1 Million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Better Overland Project and Safer Fox Hills Project; and (2) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Related Budget Amendment to Allocate and Appropriate the Grant Funds to CIP Projects PS029 (Overland-Playa Ped-Bicycle Imp) and PZ923 (Fox Hills Parking Supply Augment).”
That passed 4-0, with O’Brien recused.
Finally for the Consent calendar, C6 calkled for, “(1) Award of a Construction Contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc. as the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder in the Amount of $4,814,204.53 for Phase 1 of the Safer Fox Hills Project and FY2026-27 Pavement Rehabilitation Project; (2) Authorization to the Public Works Director and City Engineer to Approve Change Orders to the Contract in an Amount Not to Exceed $722,130.68 (15%) to Cover Contingency Costs; (3) Authorization of a Task Order in an Amount Not to Exceed $130,264 with Willdan Engineering for Construction Inspection Services for Phase 1 of the Safer Fox Hills Project and FY2026-27 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, Pursuant to the City’s On-Call Agreement with Willdan Engineering; (4) Authorization to the Public Works Director and City Engineer to Approve Amendments to the Willdan Engineering Task Order in an Additional Amount Not to Exceed $32,566 to Cover Contingency Costs (25%); (5) Approval of a Purchase Order with ZICLACITIES S.L. Not to Exceed $250,000 for Modular Bus Platforms to Be Installed as Part of the Phase 1 of the Safer Fox Hills Project; and (6) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Requirements with ZICLACITIES S.L Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.075.F.3.”
That passed 3-0, with Vera abstaining and O’Brien recused.
Public Hearing Item PH1 called for, “Introduction of an Ordinance Approving City-Initiated Zoning Code Amendment (P2026-0196-ZCA) to Adopt an Exemption Pursuant to CEQA Section 15183; and Amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 17.320, Off-Street Parking and Loading, to Implement Citywide Maximum Parking Ratios for New Development and Redevelopment Projects.”
That received a mixed response from the public, eventually passing 3-0 with both Vera and O’Brien recused.
Action Item 3 (A3), moved forward because of the large number of public speakers, called for, “(1) Approval of Conceptual Plans for Sepulveda Connects; and (2) Adoption of a Resolution Finding that the Project is Categorically and Statutorily Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Certifying that the Project will be Completed Using a Skilled and Trained Workforce.”
That too passed 3-0, with Vera and O’Brien recused.
Action Item 1 (A1) called for, “(1) Review and Approval of the 2025-2026 Culver City Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report Pursuant to Government Code Section 7071(e)(2); (2) Renewal (i.e., Continuation) of Ordinance No. 2022-005, Codified as Subchapter 3.04.400 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481; and (3) Providing Direction to the Police Chief as Deemed Appropriate.”
This is the annual requirement from the state that all police equipment deemed military be approved by the council. As usual, the motion passed unanimously after some reasonable questions.
Action Item 6 (A6), moved forward due to the late hour, called for, “Adoption of Respective Resolutions of the City Council and the Culver City Public Finance Authority Board of Directors Approving the Disclosure Statement for the Culver City Public Finance Authority Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2026A and Series 2026B (Federally Taxable).”
That quickly passed unanimously.
A4 called for, “(1) Approval of Amended and Restated City Manager Executive Employment Agreement; and (2) Adoption of a Resolution Adopting the Classification and Salary Plan for Executive Management Relating to City Manager Salary Adjustment Effective December 28, 2026.”
The item passed 3-2, with the no votes from Council Members O’Brien and Vera.
Action Item 5 (A5) called for, “(1) Adoption of Respective Resolutions Approving Terms and Conditions of Employment for Unrepresented Confidential Management and Unrepresented Confidential Non-Management Employees for the Period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029; (2) Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Executive Management Compensation Plan for the Period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029; (3) Adoption of a Resolution Adopting the Classification and Salary Plan for Executive Management Relating to City Attorney Salary Adjustment Effective January 26, 2026; and (4) Adoption of a Resolution Adopting the Classification and Salary Plan for Executive Management and Confidential Management and Non-Management Employees Effective Retroactive to July 13, 2026.”
That passed unanimously.