John Nachbar
• Abraxis Bioscience (9920 Jefferson Boulevard) – Plans were submitted for an existing two-building site and surface parking to be repurposed and developed into an office campus. Components of the new project include replacement of existing windows, roofing and additional skylights. The project will also have the removal of some areas of the second floor framing to allow natural light into the first floor. The project will have enhanced or replaced landscape materials. The existing parking structure will be demolished to make way for the replacement building, which will be permitted separately in Phase 2.
• Genton Properties Group – A permit has been issued for new storefronts located at 10361, 10365, 10371, 10375, 10381, 10385, and 10391 Jefferson Boulevard.
• Westfield Culver City - Plans have been approved for a tenant improvement for the Old Navy store, which will now be located above Lucille’s Barbeque. Permits have been issued for new restaurants, Extreme Pizza, and Burger King.
• MO VENTURES – A permit has been issued for a tenant improvement located at 3578 Hayden Avenue.
• ME Engineers - Plans have been approved for a tenant improvement located at 10113 Jefferson Boulevard.
• Edge-Up – A permit has been issued for a new mall kiosk at Westfield Culver City
• Prettybird – Plans submitted for a tenant improvement located at 9905 Jefferson Boulevard.
• TJ Maxx – Plans have been submitted for a tenant improvement located at 11020 Jefferson Boulevard.
• The Sweet Shop – Plans have been submitted for a tenant improvement located at 3500 Helms Avenue.
• taco Bell – Permit issued for a tenant improvement, including an addition of 207 square foot facade remodel, and parking lot improvements, located at 4416 Sepulveda Boulevard.
• Former Albertson Chevrolet Dealership - Preliminary Plans were submitted for the remodel into a 34,000 square foot retail commercial center. A community outreach meeting is scheduled for September 7.
• 11957 Washington Boulevard (at Marcasel) – Staff conducted a community outreach meeting for the proposed mixed use project. The project consists of 30 residential units and approximately 9,000 square feet of retail commercial space. In addition, the project proposes to provide streetscape improvements as part of the required community benefits in exchange for increased residential density.
• Washington/Centinela Open House - An Open House was held on August 20 to discuss the details of the proposed Market Hall project to give residents the opportunity to answer any questions about the project. The Open House was attended by 40 individuals. A second community meeting to present more detailed conceptual plans is scheduled for the evening of August 31.
• Globe Avenue Site - Staff received negotiating instructions to work with Habitat for Humanity on a site design.
• Tilden Terrace – Plans are currently being reviewed by Building Safety, Planning and Engineering Divisions.
• 2012 Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program: Staff conducted a grant workshop on August 10, and 13 performing arts organizations from throughout Los Angeles County attended. The 2012 application is posted on the Arts & Culture page at http://www.culvercity.org, and the deadline for submittal is September 7.
• Made in Culver City - Marketing is underway for this year’s free screening of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 pm in the City Hall Courtyard. Flyer distribution has started and a bi-lingual flyer is being prepared for distribution at Culver City Middle School. The program is presented in association with the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Culver City Historical Society. More information is available by calling the Cultural Affairs Hotline at (310) 253-5716 or by visiting the Arts & Culture page at http://www.culvercity.org.
• Culver City Music Festival - The concert series concluded with Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band on August 25, and an estimated 1,200 people attended.
• Art in Public Places Program - Shannon Ebner gave a public talk on Saturday about her temporary installation, and, per se and, currently on view on the NE corner of Washington Boulevard & Centinela Avenue. This project is in collaboration with the Hammer Museum and LA>
• Art in Public Places Program - Staff gave an overview and tour of various artworks included in the City’s Art in Public Places Program on Thursday to Edward Goldman, KCRW’s resident art critic and host of Art Talk. The tour culminated with a stop at Thom Mayne’s offices on Wesley Street to view the entry gate and fence designed and fabricated by Tom Farrage.
• Ramen Yamadaya - Jin Yamada's popular Torrance ramen shop, opened its second location in Culver City at Washington Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue.
• Vanity Room - A retail store on Main Street, closed and the space is currently for lease.
• Rocco's Restaurant - The restaurant debuted a speakeasy called Seventy 7 which replaces the former Tokyo 7-7 diner.
• Moko - The modern Korean restaurant that replaced Gyenari, has closed and a less expensive and more accessible option, G2 (Gyenari 2) will offer an all you can eat Korean BBQ and a lively happy hour.
Fire Department.
• Fiesta La Ballona - Members of the Fire Department participated in this year’s Fiesta La Ballona. The weekend event provided the Fire Department personnel an opportunity to meet community members and provide them hand-outs regarding fire safety, fire prevention tips, and lots of information regarding emergency preparedness. It was also an opportunity to provide the many youngsters, who stopped in to say “hello”, with many different give-a-ways reminding them to be safe. The event was a huge success, and the Fire Department enjoyed being able to participate.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
• Fee Policy - PRCS Director Daniel Hernandez and staff met with representatives of various swim teams to discuss implementation of the 2009 fees policy. All organizations have been kept informed as to the requirements to submit accurate records justifying status and appropriate fees, with updated fees going into effect on September 1.
• Joint Use Agreements - Discussions are ongoing between staff and various private schools in the area to discuss possible joint use agreements for City parks in exchange for gym space. We have also approached schools in regard to possibly contracting with them to provide swim lessons as a part of their physical education programs.
• Just4Kids Camp – Just4Kids Camp had a great summer, which included events such as the Olympic Day Competition and the Metropolitan Education Theater Network’s production of “Little Orphan Annie.” The summer also included a variety of day trips, water play days and daily activities that provided education fun and a positive team building environment.
• Teen Camp - The Summer Teen Camp also had another successful year, with field trips to local amusement parks, museum scavenger hunts that included trips to the Peterson Museum, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page Museum. Organized activities kept the teens and staff engaged and involved, including team building games to help with peer-to-peer interaction.
• Counselor in Training Program - The summer’s newest program was the “Counselor in Training Program”, for youth ages 14 – 16. Participants received hands-on experience working with Day Camp program staff for ten weeks. Training included First Aid and CPR, skills on how to deal with children in the 5 – 10 year age bracket, camp programming, and creating a fun and safe environment.
• Teen Center - With school starting the Teen Center will reopen its doors for the school year. The program offers 180 days of after-school care for $100 per year.
• Culver City After School Program (CCASP) - Staff is also preparing for the CCASP, which started September 6. To improve membership, advertising for CCASP began in June and press releases have been issued to the Culver City Observer, the Culver City News and The Wave. This year’s program will again focus on the homework component by offering an hour of quiet time each day for homework and assistance. Other program highlights include new computer software to increase student reading and math skills, healthy fresh fruit snacks, and recreational activities
Parks and playgrounds hours of operation changed on August 29 to reflect the end of summer and the beginning of the fall season. Recreation Leaders will continue their responsibility of monitoring the nine Culver City parks.
• Parks – The Parks Division has a series of ongoing facility maintenance and capital improvement upgrades in various stages:
1. Fox Hills Park Tennis Courts - The tennis courts’ outdated wood lath windscreens are being replaced by new fabric windscreens at all courts;
2. Various Parks - The playground resilient-and-safety surfacing in many of our parks is worn and is being repaired by a specialty contractor;
3. Culver City Park - With the tree planting completed at two of the abandoned PXP well sites, the AQMD Grant Project is starting the irrigation installation phase this week, with the long range plan to convert these areas into much needed passive use areas in the park.
• Senior & Social Services – The Senior Center will be offering a series of seminars for members in September titled, “Those Things Your Grandkids Know,” taking place on Thursday afternoons from 1 – 2 PM:
• Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 – October 15, honors the many contributions Hispanic Americans have made and continue to make to our nation.
• The Home Delivered Meal Program - This program, which provides services to 30 Culver City home-bound residents, has started delivering meals in reusable containers, in compliance with the County of Los Angeles Department of Community and Senior Services and Area Agency on Aging.
Police Department
• K/9 Demonstration at the La Ballona Festival - The Culver City Police Department’s Canine Unit preformed a demonstration to the public at this year’s La Ballona Festival.
Public Works Department
• Catch Basin Insert Installations Started – The City’s contractor has begun installing catch basin inserts with retractable screens and connector pipe screens throughout the City.
• Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Tree Planting Grant - The Public Works and the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Departments have completed an AQMD-funded tree planting project. This project included planting trees on the slope area above the dog park and in two areas of the Culver City Park (near the base of the nature trail and near the turn from Leash Lane up to the ball fields).
• Speed Hump Installations - On August 8 the City Council authorized the installation of five speed bumps on Culver Park Drive and five speed humps on Segrell Way, between Sawtelle Boulevard and Slauson Avenue.
• Safe Routes to School - On August 20 staff held a noticed community meeting regarding Safe Routes to School in the vicinity of the high school, Middle School, Farragut Elementary School, and the Child Development Center. Staff received input from the approximately 50 attendees. Currently, staff is in the process of reviewing the input received, and is planning another community meeting on the topic of Safe Routes to School for the fall. .
• Chiller/Boiler Installation –The replacement of the chiller and the boiler at the Veterans Memorial Building has begun. This work is anticipated to be completed during the week of September 13.
• P-521 Bristol Sewer Pump Station Site Improvements and Sewer Pump Station Bypass Improvements – The City Council awarded a construction contract to Atlas-Allied in the amount of $290,640.
• Sepulveda Boulevard Widening Project - The project is on schedule to be completed in mid-November..
Transportation
• Service Change – Public Hearing - In order to accommodate the impending opening of the Expo Light Rail Station, staff is proposing an increase in service along Line 4. Service is proposed to run every 30 minutes as opposed to the current hourly headway. Comments are encouraged via email at CityBus@culvercity.org, by phone at (310) 253-6569, or in writing to Culver CityBus at 4343 Duquesne Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232, Attention: Service Change Proposal.
• Electric Car Demonstration - Last week the Equipment Maintenance & Fleet Services Division had a 100% Electric Car (100% EV) to use and demonstrate to all City staff the clean technology and operating characteristics of a 100% electric vehicle.
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