Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 199
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Is an invocation by any other name a prayer? Because some people regard an invocation as having a religious connotation, the City Council voted 3-2 on June 9 to allow the mayor to call the traditional City Manager’s opening address at meetings by whatever name suits her or him—“thought for the day,” “reflection,” et cetera. The question on the meaning of “invocation” in the Council’s agenda was called by Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, who voted, along with counci...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Measure CC, Culver City’s bond measure that would provide funds for improvements to educational facilities, passed by a wide margin in the June 3 election. The mail-in ballots showed a 76 per cent margin of “yes” even before official returns came in. Later returns showed that 3,677 votes were cast in favor and 1,171 against the measure. Although these numbers are evidence of the uniformly low turnout all over Los Angeles County, they were enough to take...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Since the Culver City Ice Arena was closed in March, Culver City ice skating enthusiasts have been organizing in the hope of restoring the arena. To this end, the Culver City Save the Rink Committee has been organized. The committee's chair is onetime Olympic ice skating champion Tai Babilonia, who got her career started by skating at the Culver Arena. The Observer recently chatted with Babilonia about the committee and the future of ice skating in Culver...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The City Council bade farewell again on May 27 to a city servant who had given his best to Culver City-Fire Chief Chris Sellers, who is retiring after four years of service. Chief Sellers filled the position vacated by Jeffrey Eastman who retired in December 2009 after 32 years of service. "It gives me the greatest of pride to present this commendation to you," said council member Mehaul O' Leary, as the council gathered in the well below the dais, "because...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The City Council gave approval on May 12 to a new three-year contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, which operates Culver City's red-light camera program. The program involves the installation, at busy intersections, of cameras which take pictures of cars that run red lights and allow the police to issue citations to the drivers. Culver City has had an automated traffic program since 1998, when the first camera was installed at the intersection of Washington...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter At its 16th annual "Tribute to the Stars" awards banquet on May 3, the Culver City Education Foundation honored volunteers who made a difference for the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD). Among those honored as a See's Candy Volunteer of the Year was a Los Angeles poet, Brendan Constantine, who taught a writing workshop for students at Culver Park High. Constantine is arguably one of the busiest poets around. In addition to doing readings around...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter "Our new mayor is incoming, "But wait, she is outgoing. "Her personality clearly shines through." --Dr. Janet Hoult, from "Outgoing/Incoming" a poem she read to the City Council on April 21. Residents of Culver City packed City Hall on April 28 to welcome the first female mayor the city has had in a decade-Meghan Sahli-Wells. Sahli-Wells was elected by the Council, along with Micheal Mehaul O' Leary as Vice Mayor, following the oath of office being taken by...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter A line of uniformed Culver City police officers stood at the left side of the Mike Balkman Council Chambers; another line filled the back of the auditorium. The chamber was also packed with community residents who had come to salute Police Chief Don Pedersen. At its April 21 meeting, the City Council gave a commendation to Pedersen, who is retiring after serving for eight years. Pedersen has accepted a newly created position as Inspector General with the...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The U.S. Department of State has released documents relating to a hitherto unknown story about Howard Hughes' involvement in a secret project to retrieve a sunken Soviet submarine. Known locally as “Mr. Culver City”, Hughes built the famous Spruce Goose aircraft in what is now know as Playa Vista. The hanger where the plane was built is all that remains of the Hughes Airport. On March 14, the State Department released Foreign Relations of the United Sta...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Since the dissolution of the state’s redevelopment agencies in January 2012, California cities have been up the proverbial creek when it comes to money for civic improvements, housing, and other civic projects. But a proposed ballot measure might bring redevelopment agencies back. The Orange County Register reported on March 27 that the Costa Mesa law firm Rutan & Tucker has created the “Jobs and Education Development Initiative” which would allow citie...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Jeff Cooper After spending the most recent year of his council membership as Mayor, Jeff Cooper considers his first term in office as one of many accomplishments. In his recent address at the Mayor's luncheon, Cooper noted: "Just a short time ago, we were on pace to out-spend our reserves in just three years....our city is socking away more reserves and pre-funding our pension liabilities, something we have never done before." He lists among some of his...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Every member of the Culver City Council seems to be against hydraulic fracturing and other methods of oil well stimulation. Yet at the council meeting Monday night a discussion of how to proceed in creating a ban or method of controlling the fracking process yielded no action as the council heard yet more pleas from the community to do something about the controversial process. Eighteen speakers in public comment presented arguments that have been heard many...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The Culver City Manager and the Fire Department released a status report on March 10 on the conditions at 4545 Sepulveda Boulevard, better known as the Culver City Ice Arena. The report on the environmental safety hazards of the facility, which its owner, Michael Karagozian, closed last week, concludes that "the current ammonia refrigeration system constitutes an imminent hazard to any occupants within the building and to the neighboring community." The...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The Culver City Council met twice on Monday, with a special afternoon meeting as well as its regular Monday evening meeting. The afternoon meeting, held for the Council, the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, the Housing Authority, and the Parking Authority, was a study session that presented proposed work plans by the city departments. Among the proposals submitted by the departments were: Fire Department: Formalize plans and obtain funding to...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter At their meeting Tuesday night, the Culver City Board of Education unanimously approved an election set for June 3 to pass bonds that would fund renovations and installation of new equipment for school buildings and campuses in the Culver City school district. The election will decide whether the district can issue and sell bonds in the aggregate amount of $106,000,000 to raise money for the repairs that so many parents, teachers, employees, and community mem...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The lack of rain this winter and a potential water shortage is a concern to Southern Californians, especially since Governor Brown declared a drought emergency a few weeks ago. On Monday night the Culver City Council heard a report on the drought as it might affect the local area. The presentation, given by Fernando Paludi, manager of water policy for the West Basin Municipal Water District, and Paul J. Rowley, district manager for the Golden State Water...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Is the Culver City Ice Arena safe to reopen and operate? No, according to the city's report on the facility. Yes, according to a letter that was posted last week on the ice rink supporter's Facebook page. Yes in the short term, No in the long term, according to a letter sent to the city by the same consultant who wrote the letter that found the rink safe. Hope for the arena's future sprung up last week following a contentious City Council meeting at which...
Four City Council candidates spoke about their positions on a number of issues at a candidates' forum held at the Culver City Senior Center on February 5. The candidates included incumbents Jim Clarke and Jeff Cooper, newcomer Christopher Patrick King, and frequent City Council and School Board candidate Gary Abrams. Sharon Hyland-Elstein, new president of the Culver City Senior Center Association, introduced the candidates to an audience of seniors during the lunchtime hour at the Center, and...
Observer Reporter The Culver City Ice Arena was again the subject of a drawn-out public comment session and discussion at the Council's meeting Monday night, with an overflow crowd packing the Mike Balkman City Council Chamber. The fate of the ice rink and the building housing it is still, however, uncertain. With the rink due to close on February 2 and the compressors that keep the ice frozen due to be turned off as of February 15, to make way for the new tenant Planet Granite, city staff...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The Culver Ice Arena has a big family of fans. On Monday night they packed the City Council Chamber to standing room capacity as they pleaded with the Council to find a way to put a future plan for the arena "on ice" and save the area's only facility for indoor ice skating. The owners of the 52-year old ice arena have announced that the facility will close on February 2, although they are planning to keep the facility's condenser running until February 15....
A section of Culver Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Elenda Street is going to get a makeover, with bike path improvements, median landscaping, new lighting, bio-swales, and new turn lanes. The Culver City Department of Public Works held a community meeting on Tuesday to discuss proposed changes to this section of Culver Boulevard. In attendance were Public Works Charles Herbertson and other city engineers, and staff from the firm of Kimley-Horn and Associates, the design firm on the...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter The Culver City Expo Line station was closed for almost two hours on Tuesday, due to a security threat involving what police called "a suspicious package" on the station platform. According to Lieutenant Allen Azran of the Culver City Police a call came in at about 2:50 p.m. regarding the package. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was alerted and closed the station with assistance from the Culver City Police, who diverted traffic from the area. The...
January The Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission held a "town hall" meeting on January 8, with speakers from city staff, representatives from local museums and arts organizations, and members of the public all weighing in on plans for the arts in Culver City. The Culver City Fire Department and Police Department responded to a shooting on Green Valley Circle in the Fox Hills area of Culver City. Initial reports indicated that the victim committed suicide. It was the first reported suicide in...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Go south along Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver City and eventually, where the street turns southwest, you will pass Sorrento Market. The Italian-style deli and market has just marked its 50th anniversary as a Culver City institution. Users on web pages such as Yelp and Plus.Google give Sorrento rave reviews. A typical comment (from Jasmine Cameron on Google) "One of the best sandwiches in Culver City and the price ($5.00) is even better!" Katherine Vera is the...
By Lynne Bronstein Observer Reporter Culver City has a long list of projects slated for development, a list that began while the Redevelopment Agency still existed. Since the dissolution of California’s redevelopment agencies two years ago, these projects have been stalled. But due to recent actions by the California Department of Finance (DOF) and subsequent action by the City Council, some of the vacant lots waiting for building to commence will not have to wait much longer. In February of thi...
