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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Review and Approval of the 2025-2026 Culver City Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report Pursuant to Government Code Section 7071(e)(2); (2) Renewal (i.e., Continuation) of Ordinance No. 2022-005, Codified as Subchapter 3.04.400 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481; and (3) Providing Direction to the Police Chief as Deemed Appropriate.

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Meeting Date: November 9, 2026

Contact Person/Dept.: Captain Andrew Bellante/ Police Department

Phone Number: (310) 253-6394

Fiscal Impact:  Yes []    No [X]                                          General Fund:  Yes []     No []

Attachments:   Yes [X]     No []   

Public Notification:   (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/04/2026)  

Department Approval Name: Troy Dunlap, Interim Chief of Police (10/21/2026)      _____________________________________________________________________

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends the City Council (1) review and approve the 2025-2026 Culver City Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report pursuant to Government Code Section 7071(e)(2); (2) approve the renewal (i.e., continuation) of Ordinance No. 2022-005, codified as Subchapter 3.04.400 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481; and (3) provide Direction to the Police Chief as deemed appropriate.

BACKGROUND

On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481 or the Bill), codified at Government Code sections 7070 through 7075.  AB 481 requires a law enforcement agency (LEA) to obtain approval from the applicable governing body, via adoption of a “military equipment” use policy (the Policy) by ordinance (the Ordinance), prior to the LEA funding, acquiring, or using equipment deemed military equipment as defined in AB 481.

The term “military equipment,” as used in AB 481, in fact, does not necessarily indicate the equipment has been used by or acquired through the military. Items deemed to be “military equipment” by AB 481 are used as a component of overall best practices for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) throughout the country. These tools have been tested in the field and are used by LEAs to enhance public and officer safety. None of the equipment in the Culver City Police Department’s (CCPD) inventory has been obtained from the military, nor is it solely designated for military use.

Pursuant to AB 481, items deemed to be “military equipment” include, but are not limited to, unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, armored vehicles, command and control vehicles, pepper balls, less lethal shotguns, less-lethal 40mm projectile launchers, and flashbangs.

On September 12, 2022, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2022-005 of the City of Culver City adding Subchapter 3.04.400 to Title 3, Chapter 3.04 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481. On October 9, 2023, October 14, 2024, and November 10, 2025, City Council renewed the Ordinance and approved the Policy.

On September 17, 2026, CCPD posted on its website, various social media platforms, and Gov delivery, a community meeting scheduled for October 28, 2026, as part of the publicly noticed meeting of the Standing Public Safety Subcommittee.  One of the purposes of the Subcommittee meeting was to serve as the community meeting for receiving community input on CCPD’s current and future use of Military Equipment.

DISCUSSION

In compliance with Assembly Bill 481, the Culver City Police Department completed an Annual Report regarding use of Military Equipment (Attachment 1), all of which was funded or acquired either through Council-approved annual budgets.  The availability and use of Military Equipment (as defined in Government Code Section 7070) enables the Police Department to minimize risk to members of the community and officers during high-risk incidents while fulfilling its mission to protect life and property.  The annual report includes an inventory detailing each type of military equipment possessed by the Police Department, its quantity, authorized use, fiscal impact, and training requirements.  The report includes the number of instances where military equipment was utilized by Police Department personnel from September 12, 2025 - September 11, 2026. 

On October 28, 2026, the Police Department hosted a community engagement meeting, during the Standing Public Safety Subcommittee Meeting, where community members were encouraged to ask questions of Police Department staff on current and future use of Military Equipment.  The Police Department provided a presentation on the importance of Military Equipment and the instances where this equipment was utilized in the last twelve months. 

CCPD seeks City Council review and approval of the Military Equipment Annual Report, and renewal of Ordinance No. 2022-005 adding Subchapter 3.04.400 to Title 3, Chapter 3.04 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481 (Attachment 2), to allow CCPD to continue funding, acquiring, and using military equipment in accordance with the Ordinance and Policy, and allow neighboring agencies to use the same equipment when providing mutual aid during exigent circumstances.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

There is no fiscal impact associated with renewing Ordinance No. 2022-005 of the City of Culver City adding Subchapter 3.04.400 to Title 3, Chapter 3.04 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481.  There are no new financial considerations for replacing existing military equipment and munitions.

ATTACHMENTS

1.                     2026-11-09_ATT1_Military Equipment Use Annual Report (2025 - 2026)

2.                     2026-11-09_ATT2_Ordinance No. 2022-005 Military Equipment

recommended action

MOTION(S)

That the City Council:

1.                     Review and Approve the 2025-2026 Culver City Police Department Military Equipment Annual Report Pursuant to Government Code Section 7071(e)(2);

2.                     Renew Ordinance No. 2022-005 of the City of Culver City Adding Subchapter 3.04.400 to Title 3, Chapter 3.04 of the Culver City Municipal Code, Governing the Use of Military Equipment by the Culver City Police Department and Approving the Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481; and

3.                     Provide direction to the Police Chief as deemed appropriate.