City Manager's Update

September 13, 2013

Community Development Department

• Fourth Wall Studios – The studio has completed work on a 17,936 square foot tenant improvement located at 8601 - 8611 Hayden Place for a new green screen studio and offices.

• Smashbox – Plans have been approved for a tenant improvement for an art gallery and photo studio located at 8549 Higuera Street.

• eBay – Work has been completed for a tenant improvement located at 10451 Jefferson Boulevard.

• Westfield Culver City – A permit has been issued to Laka Manicure Express for a new kiosk in the mall.

• Economic Development – Staff has worked with local businesses to organize the first collaborative project for the newly organized Culver City Arts District. The project involves the installation of 32 double hung street light banners along Washington Boulevard between Helms and Fairfax Avenues. Economic Development staff collaborated with the members of the Arts District to create a project that would market and promote the unique area, home to numerous art galleries, architecture firms, specialty shops and artisanal restaurants. The banners were designed by members of the Art District and feature the words “dine, shop and experience.” The banner images reflect artwork from four of the ten participating Culver City art galleries. The banner fabrication and installation was funded entirely by members of the Arts District and represents a $9,000 investment in the area.

• 4043 Irving Mixed Use Project – The project is approximately 82% complete and within budget. The project is scheduled for completion in October 2013.

Fire Department

• Fiesta La Ballona – On-duty and off-duty members of the Fire Department participated in the 2013 Fiesta La Ballona activities. Personnel staffed a booth and handed out safety literature, plastic helmets, stickers and coloring books for the kids. Also this year firefighters provided Hands Only CPR training to over 200 people. All in all it was a very successful weekend and everyone who stopped by seemed to enjoy the handouts and interaction with the firefighters.

• Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Grant – The Culver City Fire Department recently received a grant in the amount of $33,000.00 from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The grant money was used to purchase new high-rise hose packs. High-rise hose packs are essential for fighting fires in multi-story buildings, large apartment complexes, and large buildings such as malls and other shopping centers. The grant purchase enabled the Fire Department to replace existing hose packs that were 20 years old. The hose packs include hose, nozzles, and other critical hardware used to connect to water supply systems. Additionally, the new hose packs are compatible with equipment used by other Fire departments in the area, allowing for effective mutual aid assistance at large incidents.

• National Preparedness Month – September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). NPM, now in its tenth year, puts the topic of being prepared in the spotlight with a focus on things every family and business can do to prepare in a time of crisis. The annual month-long campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to promote emergency preparedness and encourage volunteerism.

• Resolve 2B Ready - The City is asking its Citizens and Employees to “Resolve 2B Ready” and pledge their readiness in an emergency. This year it is focusing on being technologically prepared. This means investing in extra power sources for cell phones and iPads or personal computers, programing an ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone number in cell phones, upgrading cell service to include texting capabilities, purchasing hand-cranked radios, storing important documents on flash drives and/or “in the cloud” and last signing up for Emergency Alerting Systems to ensure they get timely emergency information. “You can’t predict … but you can prepare.”

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Senior and Social Services – The Senior Center announces a new, free class for those with hearing loss. “Lip Reading for those with Hearing Loss” will be held on Thursdays from 10 am to noon and is free to Senior Center members, thanks to the generosity of instructor Lois Frand.

Elder Care Advisor Bonnie Davis will speak at the Senior Center on Thursday, September 26 at 1 pm regarding options in senior retirement and care communities. The differences between home care, independent living, assisted living, board and care, and nursing home options will be discussed. All educational programs are open to the public ages 50 and older.

Thank you to all the volunteers from throughout the Culver City community who helped at this year’s Fiesta La Ballona and for making the 2013 Party in the Park a great event.

On Sunday, October 20 “Disability Awareness Month” will be celebrated with a free Festival of Fun. The free Kids Carnival takes place from 1 pm to 4 at the Culver City Senior Center at 4095 Overland Avenue in Culver City. There will be a petting zoo, carnival games and prizes, food & drinks, live entertainment, free arts & crafts and community resource booths. RSVP is required. Families and groups will need to call (310) 253-6717 and leave the name of your adult group leader, phone number, and the number of adults and children in your party.

• CCARP – The Culver City Unified School District began its school year on August 26, along with the Culver City After School Program (CCARP) in order to serve the community’s parents and students who attend CCUSD. The Program provides affordable high-quality after school care to Culver City area parents who have children attending the Culver City Unified School District. Registration fees are $52 per week for Culver City residents and $63 per week for non-residents. Space is limited. Interested parents should call the Registration Office at (310) 253-6650.

• Teen Center – The Culver City Teen Center currently has 72 youth enrolled in the program. Staff is quickly making our way to our goal of 100 youth per semester. This is the first year for its student walking “shuttles.” Teen Center staff meets members in front of Culver City Middle School at 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm to walk them over to the Teen Center. Staff has an average of 15 youth walking with staff each day. It promotes a healthy lifestyle by walking and being in the fresh air. Teen Center staff continues to create more independent, responsible and caring teens who view themselves as an important part of the Culver City Community.

• Youth Empowerment Group – The first Youth Empowerment Group meeting of the year will be held on September 18 at 2 pm there will be a few returning members and likely the addition of new members and a productive year of service.

• Veterans Memorial Building – 2014 bookings are now available for Veterans Memorial Complex rental facilities. Please visit http://www.culvercity.org for more information on the facilities. For tours or to make appointments, please contact rental staff at vmc.booking@culvercity.org.

USA Dance-LA returns to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, September 22. For more information visit http://www.danceusala.org.

• Parks – After the Fiesta La Ballona event, Parks staff completely re-established the turf at Vets Park by repairing broken irrigation lines and heads, aerating the soil, dethatching and hydro-seeding

Upgrades to the Senior Center irrigation and landscape are nearly complete, with the fine-tuning of the irrigation in progress. The irrigation system has been converted to a more water-efficient design per our AB-1881 compliance and water conservation goals. Native plant materials and ground covers replaced non-native plantings.

Ongoing repairs continue on the Nature Trail. The crew continues to replace decaying and aging boards, keeping the trail safe and open to the public; a new drinking fountain has been installed at Fox Hills Park; new tennis nets have been installed at Veterans Park.

The Fox Hills Pride Day was a huge success. Over 20 people turned out, including Mayor Jeff Cooper and Councilmember Jim Clarke, to weed the slopes, pick up trash and get some exercise while helping to beautify the park. Thanks to all who participated!

Welcome Jazenia Aguirre to the crew, the newest temporary worker hired through the Youth Employment Plan.

Police Department

• Citizens Police Academy - On September 10 the 6th Culver City Police Citizen’s Academy class graduated after attending the eight-week program.

• 9/11 Ceremony - On September 11 the Fire and Police Departments held a ceremony in remembrance of the attack on September 11, 2001. The ceremony is held to pay tribute to those Americans who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Public Works

• Expo Light Rail Spring Frog Equipment Update - The Exposition Construction Authority installed a redesigned spring frog retarder at the train crossover (National Crossover), adjacent to the Cattaraugus Avenue cul-de-sac, on Wednesday, September 18th.

• Expo Light Rail Construction Update - Balfour Beatty Joint Ventures (BBJV) will be pouring concrete into the falsework for the Venice Boulevard Bridge over Robertson and Venice Boulevards in the City of Los Angeles. The work will be done over two nights, Thursday, September 19 and Tuesday, September 24. The work will require nighttime closures of Eastbound Venice Boulevard. There is a possibility that the concrete pour scheduled for September 24 may be schedule to occur a few days early on Sunday September 22.

• Annual Coastal Cleanup Day - Each year the City’s Public Works Environmental Programs and Operations Division and local community supporters participate in Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) on the Ballona Creek bike path. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 21 from 9 am until noon. .

Culver City Registration sites will be located at:

1. Syd Kronenthal Park (at the bike path entrance)

2. Duquesne Avenue (north of Culver City Transportation Building)

3. Overland Avenue (Behind Julian Dixon Library)

4. Sepulveda Boulevard (on Bike/Creek path entrance)

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Coastal Cleanup Day in Culver City is a fun way for individuals, neighborhoods, schools, and community and company volunteer groups to get involved and demonstrate their commitment to healthy water.

Transportation

• Annual Technical Transit Bus Inspection and Drug & Alcohol Program Compliance Review - The Transportation Department has completed the Annual Technical Transit Bus Inspection and Drug & Alcohol Program Compliance Review from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). These inspections are a required statutory process for any commercial vehicle carrying passengers or that is 26-feet or longer, or any commercial vehicle with three or more axles. The CHP inspector must physically inspect 25% of the total fleet at random, in addition to maintenance records, Operator time sheets and service hours. .

• Exposition Light Rail Culver City Station - Major transit service delays are anticipated during upcoming Transit-Oriented Development construction around the Exposition Light Rail Culver City Station. Traffic congestion is anticipated at and around the Exposition Light Rail Culver City Station starting in the near future due to the upcoming construction activities of the Greystar and Platform Development Projects located near the station.