The April 7, 2026, Community Meeting on priority budgeting drew a crowd to the Rotunda Room at 6:30 pm at the Vets building; every chair was filled. Many of the Culver City residents who attended were people who had also come to the “Meet the City Manager” sessions held earlier this year, but some were connecting with Odis Jones for the first time.
City Manager Jones was introduced by Vice Mayor Bubba Fish, who noted that the City Council had agreed unanimously to hire Jones for the position, …”and if you follow the council, you know we don’t always easily agree on everything. We all agreed that Mr. Jones was the person we wanted for this job.”
Jones has stepped into the role with a very interactive approach. His series of five introductory meetings offered multiple venues for residents to come and offer their thoughts on what the city needs to do, and how to proceed.
Jones also graciously introduced the city staff that were present, including many of the new department heads and Assistant City Managers that had been hired in the last three months. While there wasn’t a city staff person at each table for the conversation, they were available throughout the room.
As his opening remarks, Jones explained both the actual structure of the municipal government and what the newly re-organized Joint Powers Authority was planning to do with financing and budgeting. He also emphasized that he would be bringing in a balanced budget. “This is what you asked for, and this is what we are going to do.”
Presenting Tuesday’s meeting as a guided conversation, the format was a “world cafe;” small groups of five or six people gathered around a table, discussing their perspectives on selected issues.
For the Parks and Recreation focus, people we asked if they wanted to prioritize Bill Botts field, bathrooms at the plunge, or a new community center building. Groups got into such animated conversations, it was soon heard to hear what was being said. But as the meeting was called back to order, and people shared what had been discussed, how priorities were arrived at opened up even more considerations.
Last night was only the first meeting for community input on budget considerations. The next opportunity will be on Friday, April 10th at 1:30 pm at the Senior Center.
Judith Martin-Straw
