It is a measure of Gary Silbiger’s icy relationship with his colleagues on the City Council that when he completed his second and final four-year term with last night’s meeting, the only sound in Council Chambers was of an empty glass spilling.
Well-wishers came, but disguised as vacated space.
No phony, half-smiling sendoffs.
Just thud.
It was not as if the other gentlemen on the Council lacked for opportunity. Like political Spandex, the meeting stretched taut, 5 ½ hours, into 12:30 this morning.
The lone congratulatory streamer was waved by Mr. Silbiger’s dear friend and ardent supporter, Margaret Lindgren. She gave a lovely laudatory speech that only caused one Councilman to cough. Still, none took the hint to heap his own fare-thee-well wishes atop the stagnant stack of a single message.
A ferocious, if often isolated, fighter for progressive causes, Mr. Silbiger went out like a lamb, although he was, once again, on the south end of several 4 to 1 votes.
Two Signal Issues
He did not get into any disagreements on the dais. Even though there were two contentious issues — a disputed addition to an historic building and a bitterly fought environmental impact report for major construction at West L.A. College — Mr. Silbiger stayed with the majority both times.
His only protest of note came on a construction project in Culver Crest. After originally requiring the selected company to have a minimum of five years experience, city staffers compromised. They said that while the recommended firm had but 4 ½ years, that was satisfactory because all reviews for its work were glowing. Mr. Silbiger argued that a rule is a rule. Since the company fell short of the standard, it should be disqualified from consideration.
After a tortured philosophical debate later over whether an enhanced historic building with 6 parking spaces instead of the code-required 7 should be approved, the Council registered the most emotional verdict of the evening.
With only Mayor-to-be Chris Armenta dissenting, the Council endorsed a pared-down two-story work/live addition to the 79-year-old Citizen Building, 9355 Culver Blvd., on the north side of the street, across from Trader Joe’s and the Sony Studios mansion.
Fighting an earlier rejection, the private venture project also overcame a second stretch of the law, exceeding the height limit in a commercial neighborhood dominated by single-story buildings.
Unhappy Neighbors
The prickly ongoing feud between West Los Angeles College and neighbors infuriated by the school’s perceived aggressive construction plans burned noisier than normal last night.
The Council sided unequivocally with nearby residents in excoriating the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report that is preliminary to the school’s ambitious building plans.
Mayor Andy Weissman said if the college values its relationship with neighbors and the city of Culver City, embrace of the disputed EIR smacks of arrogance, making such a claim “resemble lip service more than reality.”
“A terrible document,” he said of the EIR.
Mr. Weissman was pointedly troubled by West’s intention to reduce the number of parking spaces even while anticipating a sizable increase in enrollment. “Doesn’t make sense,” said the mayor. West reasons that many of the new students will be online.
Finally
At his first City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Lamont Ewell observed exclusively. He chose not to speak.
