Interactive digital kiosks are coming to Culver City, exempt from CEQA. The success of Item A-1 at the city council meeting on July 14, 2025 opens the way for digital kiosks to start appearing around town.
Culver City has historically had a ban on many kinds of advertising, including billboards. It’s also held small businesses to close account on signage, and even putting an “A-frame” chalkboard on the sidewalk has been illegal, although it is currently tolerated. For most of it’s municipal life, Culver City has been officially ‘anti-advertising.’
The turn toward offering public space to electronic advertising began last year. The initial proposal to place kiosks in the public right of way was approved in October of 2024.
Travis Morgan, speaking from the podium, noted that the “RFP [request for proposals] was crafted so narrowly that only one company could meet the standard,” and that was IKE. He also noted that IKE had hired former Mayor Andy Weissman to lobby the city on their behalf. “Can we please view this as ‘is this a benefit to the city or is this not a benefit to the city?’ because we do have other sources of income.” Morgan highlighted a recent sale of property in Fox Hills that will bring in more than $2 million in Real Estate Transfer tax.
Culver City resident Mary Daval pointed out that technology on offer from the kiosks was “already out-moded…everything that is being offered here is something I can l already do on my phone.”
The agenda item, which was focused on exempting the project from the California Environmental Quality Act, and included the agreement with IKE, passed with three ayes from Mayor Dan O’Brien, Council member Albert Vera, Jr. and Vice Mayor Freddy Puza.
Judith Martin-Straw
