The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously approved a moratorium to halt drilling in the Inglewood Oil Field until next August, by when city officials hope to have drafted a new ordinance that ensures the public’s safety and welfare.

The new moratorium will extend one that expires Oct. 8 by 10 months, until Aug. 23, 2010.

Plains, Exploration & Production Company, the primary operator of the oil field, has already sent four notices of intent to drill new wells to the State Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources, even though the oil company agreed with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors not to drill in Culver City in 2009.

The Baldwin Hills Community Standards District, the document approved by the supervisors which establishes drilling guidelines and regulations, stated that earliest PXP could seek to drill in Culver City would be in 2010 and for only one new oil well.

With PXP seeking to begin new drilling as soon as possible, the council and city staff agreed to organize an effort to adopt a new ordinance to “protect the public safety, health, and welfare.”

“There is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents, business owners and visitors to the city and surrounding communities,” the staff report read.

Section 65858 of the California Government Code affords cities the right to enact moratoriums for no longer than ten months and 15 days to be able to pursue new ordinances.

Mayor Andrew Weissman said all resources available to the city will be utilized in writing the new laws.

“We need, in my opinion, an interim ordinance in order to provide us with the opportunity to take whatever necessary testimony and be able to consult with experts we have retained,” he said.

Dr. Suzanne DeBenedittis, who has been speaking on the matter since last year, said evidence exists that drilling has already caused damages to homes.

“PXP has yet to disprove that their operations has failed to cause landslides, subsidence uplift,” she told the council. “Recently, some homes’ foundations have cracked, with repairs in excess of $100,000.”

One of the more recent outcries occurred in January 2006, when a leak caused the smell from the field to seep into the Culver Crest, giving some residents headaches and forcing others to spend the night in their cars.

Details of the new oil well drilling ordinance have yet to be made public.

But Chapter 11.12 in the city’s municipal code, which outlines various well drilling policies, will likely be revised and expanded as a result of the process, according to city staff reports.

Resident and school board candidate Robert Zirgulis was the only person who spoke against delaying drilling in the Inglewood Oil Field, because funding the legal resources to research a new ordinance costs more than oil drilling earns the city in revenues.

“It’s costing the taxpayers over $500,000 in frivolous litigation fees,” he said. “The city is collecting over $200,000 from existing oil wells in the city. Doesn’t it seem hypocritical that the city is collecting $200,000 and more than $500,000 to stop drilling?”

Councilman Scott Malsin said taking on the oil industry is not the point of the moratorium.

“Culver City is not interested in shutting down oil drilling,” he said. “We do not relish another battle. What we’re interested in [are] reasonable regulations the promote the health and safety and welfare of our community.”

Council members also said public input would be key to the drafting of any new ordinance.

“Everyone will have a chance to participate,” said Councilman Gary Silbiger. “I’m looking forward to the time soon.”