“The City determined that it will not pursue acquisition in regard to 9300 Culver Blvd., also known as the Culver Steps…” When Culver City City Attorney Heather Baker gave a report on ‘Items in Closed Session’ at the Sept 14, 2026 Culver City Council meeting, it was after a session that had stayed closed almost an hour longer than scheduled.
‘Closed Session,’ is a segment of the council meeting where the public is not invited to attend while elected officials and city staff discuss matters that require a legal standard for privacy. The session is generally held prior to the ‘public’ start time of the meeting, but on Sept. 14, it ran nearly an hour longer, keeping the council off the dais until almost 8 pm.
Baker’s report on property negotiations, while brief, covered Closed session items that had already been discussed.
She began with a report that the City had authorized an ‘amicus brief’, (also know as ‘friend of the court’) on a case involving the Los Apartment Association of Los Angeles County versus the City of Los Angeles. The city can file on these types of cases, and occasionally does when there is an anticipation that the ruling will have an effect on Culver City.
The City has provided for “Negotiating instructions as to 9050 Washington Blvd.” That address refers to the Sony Animation Campus, the three buildings that were reported on as being auctioned to Fortress Investment on Sept. 14.
“Nothing to report on CS 4…CS 5 and CS 7 were not discussed and will be taken at the end of the meeting.” Baker noted.
Council member Yasmine Imani McMorrin nudged the City Attorney to add a statement, “Just to reiterate that any future city council action to purchase or acquire any of the properties listed on the agenda will be discussed and acted upon in open public meeting.”
Judith Martin-Straw
