There were a couple of hot button issues at the City Council meeting on the evening of Monday, March 9, starting with Action Item 1 (A1):
“Appeal of the Planning Commission’s Decision to Adopt Resolution No. 2024-P007, Approving Conditional Use Permit Modification, P2021-0135-CUP/M and a Class 32 Categorical Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Relocation and Expansion of an Existing Costco Fueling Station at 13431-13463 Washington Blvd.”
Staff recommended that the council, “continue deliberations following the closed public hearing initiated on October 13, 2025 to consider the appeal of Planning Commission’s adoption of Resolution No. 2024-P007, approving Conditional Use Permit Modification, P2021-0135-CUP/M and a Class 32 Categorical Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the relocation and expansion of an existing Costco fueling station at 13431-13463 Washington Blvd (Project), and adopt a Resolution granting the Appeal in part, finding the Project to be subject to CEQA, directing the Project Applicant to prepare appropriate environmental documents for further consideration by the Planning Commission in connection with the proposed Conditional Use Permit Modification (Attachment 1).”
After some members of the public raised their concerns about the fueling station being located near a residential area, the council agreed with staff and passed the motion unanimously.
Action Item 2 was bumped to a future meeting, while A3 called for, “Approval of Amendment to the City Manager Executive Employment Agreement.”
The staff recommendation was, “that the City Council approve an amendment to the City Manager Executive Employment Agreement to modify temporary housing assistance, adjust the residency incentive benchmark to reflect current housing market conditions, and approve a one-time additional lump sum of 80 vacation hours to be added to the City Manager’s vacation accrual bank for calendar year 2026.” That too passed unanimously.
Action Item 4 (A4) called for, “Discussion Regarding Potential Code Amendments to Regulate Sober Living Homes and Direction as Deemed Appropriate.”
According to the staff note, “Residents of the South Clarkdale neighborhood have requested a City Council discussion regarding Sober Living Homes and the adoption of density regulations similar to the ordinance passed by the City of Costa Mesa. Their concern stems from a concentration of Sober Living Homes in this cross-jurisdictional neighborhood in Culver City and adjoining Los Angeles. The residents are asking for increased regulation of Sober Living Homes in Culver City and have also been in communication with the Los Angeles Council District 11 (CD-11) with the same request (as of the writing of this report there has not been a status update received from CD-11).”
Some of those residents were at the meeting to voice their concerns. Direction was passed to staff regarding the potential for a regulatory approach that would meet legal standards, better deployment of the crisis team, better tracking of the residents (there are concerns that some end up leaving the sober living homes and becoming homeless), and there was some support for the idea of exploring a local permitting option.
Finally, Action Item 5 (A5) called for, “Discussion and Direction Regarding the Usage of Green Pavement Markings for Bicycle Facilities.” Staff recommended that the council “discuss and provide direction regarding the usage of green pavement markings for bicycle facilities.”
There’s a concern that the film industry is suffering because of the green paint used for safety reasons. Things got a little heated, particularly between Council Members Dan O’Brien and Yasmine-Imani McMorrin. Eventually, a motion to change the paint failed 2-3, with Mayor Freddy Puza, Vice Mayor Bubba Fish, and McMorrin voting no.