The last item on the City Council’s agenda could eventually be a big deal down the line for the city. But not right now. A proposed measure brought before the City Council by several residents to be considered was put aside for a rainy day. Whenever you say rent control in Culver City, it figures to resonate with residents on both sides of the fence.

Protect Culver City, a grassroots organization of residents and business owners, is in the middle of this latest insurgency to fight the rent control ordinance the City Council passed earlier this summer. Actually, Protect Culver City came to life right after the City Council voted 4-1 to pass the yearlong ordinance in June.

So, what was presented to the public at the City Council meeting recently was a proposed measure presented by a citizen that would allow voters, through an election, to say yea or nay to any ordinance the City Council comes up with in regards to any type of rent control. That includes having an impact report presented before council.

Ron Bassilian of Protect Culver City was one of the handful of speakers during the 15-minute presentation at the council meeting.

“There are a number of issues going on in the city we’re hoping to address,” Bassilian said. “I don’t think that rent control is meant to help tenants.”

The rent control ordinance was a hot-button topic when it came before the City Council to consider in June. It still is as issue of rent control or no rent control is a divisive one for residents.

Another resident who spoke at the council meeting was

“We cannot have a conversation until we have rent freeze. We do not have the conversations that we need. We have miles of solutions if we can ever have a conversation,” the speaker said.

Councilman Daniel Lee hit back at the speaker with his own words.

“We really want to have this conversation,” Lee said. “We definitely want to have a conversation that involves the entire community...we haven’t been slacking.”

What ended up happening was the City Council pushing the item back until a full 180 days take place before it can be re-considered. Mayor Mary Sahli-Wells didn’t appear to be in a rush to have that conversation at the moment, but she said having community input is important on this matter.

“It’s good to have a little clarification and community discussion,” Sahli-Wells said.