It’s rare that dice are thrown at City Council meetings, but the die was cast at the City Council meeting of June 8, 2026, when the council voted to place an interim urgency ordinance establishing a 45 day moratorium on the issuance of new building permits for ‘drive-through’ businesses.
Both Council members Dan O’ Brien and Albert Vera, Jr. recused themselves from the item; O’Brien because of his job as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Vera because of the location of one of his businesses, two blocks away from the site of the proposed development.
City Attorney Heather Baker noted that, because of the legal status of the urgency ordinance, four votes were required, and so one of the recused council members would have to join for the vote. “We will be bringing a single die [to you] and each council member will roll, the one with the highest number will vote.”
Although some may think that the municipal government plays games, Baker offered that it had never been a process used during her time in the office.
“This is a process set forth by the FPPC [California Fair Political Practices Commission] so that the council can conduct it’s business.”
O’Brien playfully noted that the die did have six sides, and all was correct. He rolled a one, and Vera then rolled a two, making Vera the member to sit for the vote.
The proposal for a new In ‘n Out Burger restaurant to be located at the corner of Jefferson and Sawtelle had drawn ire from the neighborhood, and many had expressed their concerns in community meetings. The restaurant chain, noted for the long lines of customers often waiting for food, had begun offering community meetings in January of 2026. They had not put in a formal proposal for the development, but had completed preliminary steps.
Assistant City Manager Christina Burrows noted that the ordinance would need to address “a current and immediate threat to the public safety, health or welfare … such as car idling, smog creation and danger to pedestrians.”
Dozens of people came to the meeting to speak from the podium. First to be called was Vanessa Martin, one of the creators of the group Culver City Residents for Responsible Development. She addressed the council about the prevention of adding more traffic to “…the already dangerous and chaotic intersection of Sepulveda, Jefferson and Sawtelle. “
She referenced a petition currently being circulated, and said it already had over 900 signatures opposing the project.
Kathrin Rising noted that not everyone was opposed, saying “A ban …on drive throughs sends a bad, and in my opinion, a wrong message about Culver City.”
Nureil Moghaven cited the exposure to particulate matter as an increased health risk.” When you are exposed to that kind of particulate matter, your risk for Alzheimer’s goes up exponentially… that is something you are subjecting people in that neighborhood to, even the kids.”
Council member Bubba Fish stated “This does not effect any existing businesses, and it’s not about telling Culver City residents what they can eat…but we need to be consistent with the commitments we have already made [in the General Plan.]”
The council voted for an urgency ordinance for a 45 day moratorium, meaning that the matter will need to be revisited fairly soon, and the motion included returning the matter to the Planning Commission.
The motion passed with four ayes.
Judith Martin-Straw
