In what began as a relatively feel good meeting where the Culver City City Council took additional steps to strengthen their environmental credentials, a request for more funding for the city’s 100-year celebration turned the mood a bit more contentious.
Culver City Centennial Committee Paul Jacobs asked the council for $25,000 to supplement the committee’s ongoing fundraising efforts, sparking a spirited discussion about fiscal responsibility and a lack of communication.
“(The committee) is confident that fundraising efforts connected with the proposed Centennial Garden and Tribute Wall will engage the residential and business community and be productive,” reads a letter by Jacobs to then Mayor Jim Clarke on April 24.
The request by the committee, which has raised nearly $250,000, seemed to surprise Mayor Jeffery Cooper and Clarke, a former committee member.
Cooper especially seemed confused by the request, in light of the fact that several months earlier the committee had stated that they would not need any financial help from the city.
“What happened?” Cooper asked.
Jacobs, a former Culver City mayor, said the committee would like to use the $25,000 for closing ceremonies and seemed equally mystified why Cooper and Clarke were questioning the allocation. “It seems to me that there needs to be more communication between the council and the committee,” Jacobs told the council.
Vice Mayor Thomas Small said because the centennial is one of the most important civic events in the city’s history, the council should honor the committee’s request. “We should register a vote of confidence with the committee” in order to have successful centennial.
But Clarke was unmoved, especially after learning that the committee was having trouble attracting new sponsors. “You say that you have these lists and that you’re going to go out and execute? Well then go out and do it,” Clarke countered.
“We have a fiduciary responsibility to the city to watch how we spend our funds,” Cooper added.
Responding to a recommendation from Councilman Goran Eriksson to ask the committee for a guarantee pending approval of the $25,000, committee marketing chair Judy Scott blasted the council.
“I’m definitely disappointed in Councilmen Eriksson and Clarke, and I will never volunteer again if you don’t give us this money,” threatened Scott, a longtime volunteer.
The council eventually approved the allocation 3-2, with Cooper and Clarke voting against.
Prior to the vote, the council voted unanimously on the second hearing of the polystyrene ordinance, making official an earlier vote to ban the sale of the polymer.
In addition, Culver City voted to join the groundwater sustainability agency for the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin.
