On the way to a non-decisive decision last night, the downsized four-man City Council had all 40 of its toes over cliff, ready to shut down the tremendously popular Summer Concert series in front of City Hall because the funding source just died from what one legislator said was a heartless attack.
With the Redevelopment Agency going out of business in days, weeks or four months at the most, three members — Andy Weissman, Mayor Mehaul O’Leary and Jeff Cooper — were ready to douse the lights, perhaps with a Weissman caveat:
“A decision tonight (to defund the 17-year-old 8-week series) does not have to mean we won’t pursue other Summer Festival options.”
Being outnumbered, even by a ton, never has daunted Chris Armenta, who announced last month this will be his final term.
Speaking last in the queue, Mr. Armenta, like his colleagues, expressed sentimental and pragmatic support for the summer concerts.
“What is the timeline for making a decision?” he asked. He remembered that in other years the Council went into February before endorsing Gary Mandell as producer of the two-month program.
“The series generates tremendous publicity for Culver City,” Mr. Armenta said. “Do we have to decide tonight?”
Told no by city staff and by Mr. Mandell, who books the acts, Mr. Armenta proposed putting off a call until the next Council meeting, Monday, Jan. 23.
Shortly, a minority view converted into a 3 to 1 majority opinion, perhaps influenced by a complaint from Mr. Armenta’s friend, ex-Councilman Gary Silbiger.
A longtime fan of wide and generously early notice to residents, Mr. Silbiger protested the brief notification for this agenda item, publicly posted last Friday night.
Crucial to the postponement was whether an organized, city-based effort will be made during the interim to recruit concert-saving sponsors.
