City Manager's Update

City Manager’s Office

• City Council Announces the Appointment of Assistant Chief Scott Bixby - as Interim Police Chief - At a Special City Council meeting on April 9 Mayor Jeff Cooper, speaking on behalf of the City Council, announced the City Council’s appointment of Assistant Police Chief Scott Bixby as Interim Chief of Police. “The City Council unanimously supported Assistant Chief Bixby’s appointment as Interim Chief”, said Mayor Cooper. “After growing up here in Culver City and decades of proud and distinguished service in the Police Department, the City Council has complete confidence in Assistant Chief Bixby’s ability to lead the men and women of the Culver City Police Department.” Assistant Chief Bixby is expected to assume his new duties on the day current Police Chief Donald Pedersen leaves office (expected in mid-April).

Community Development Department

• Westfield Culver City – A Building Permit has been issued for a new restaurant, Chipotle Mexican Grill. A Building Permit has been issued for a barbershop and bar.

• Media Park – AUX Architecture, the firm hired by LAMILL Coffee, is working on conceptual plans for a coffee business at Media Park.

• Former Fire Station No. 3 – A Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) has been presented to Thomas James Capital for former Fire Station No. 3. If agreed upon, consideration of the PSA by the City Council is tentatively scheduled for April 21.

• 10745 Cranks Road - Staff executed a PSA last week for the Cranks property and is currently completing documents necessary to close escrow on the land sale.

• Maker Studios – The Walt Disney Company has acquired Culver City-based Maker Studios, a top YouTube multichannel network for $500 million.

• Downtown Business Association (dba) – The dba has identified measures that businesses can implement to assist with pest control efforts. These measures will be compiled for distribution to area businesses.

• Fiber Outreach – Economic Development and Information Technology staff are working with the Chamber of Commerce to schedule outreach meetings related to the City’s proposed fiber optics plan. Meetings are planned to occur over the next six weeks and target business/property owners in Fox Hills, the Hayden Tract, Jefferson Boulevard and the Transit Oriented Development/Smiley Blackwelder areas.

• Long Range Property Management Plan - Pursuant to the State-approved Long Range Property Management Plan, the Economic Development Division has commenced property transfers for redevelopment of former Redevelopment Agency properties.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building – Haynes Building Service refinished the basketball court floor and the stage floor in Veterans Memorial Building Auditorium. New trash and recycling receptacles have been purchased and placed in the Auditorium and the meeting rooms at VMB. Information regarding the Auditorium and other room rentals is available by visiting http://www.culvercity.org, by emailing vmc.booking@culvercity.org or by calling the rental office at 310-253-6625.

• Veterans Memorial Building Auditorium – Jon Lindsay Productions returns with its bodybuilding event to the Auditorium on April 12. More information is available at http://www.lindsayproductions.com; Angel City Derby Girls returns to the Auditorium on April 13. More information is available at http://www.angelcityderby.com; and USA Dance LA returns on April 20. Information is available at http://www.usadancela.org.

• Culver City Historical Society – The Culver City Historical Society’s Archives and Resource Center (ARC) has a spring exhibit featuring two costumes from the 1950’s. The ARC is located in the back of the Veterans Memorial Building and is open the first and third Sundays of each month from 1 pm to 3 or by appointment. The ARC will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 20. For more information or to confirm dates, please call 310-253-6941.

• Culver City Historical Society General Meeting – Stephen Sylvester, co-author of M-G-M Hollywood’s Greatest Backlot, and Academy Award winning cinematographer Fred Koenekamp will share the spotlight at the next general meeting of the Culver City Historical Society on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 pm in the Veterans Memorial Building’s Multi-Purpose Room. The meeting is free and open to the public. More information is available by calling the Society at 310-253-6941, by emailing info@CulverCityHistoricalSociety.org or by visiting http://www.culvercityhistoricalsociety.org.

• Culver City Senior Center Nutrition Program – The Culver City Senior Center Nutrition Program received a generous donation of more than $1,400 from Thomas Breen and Victoria Aparece to support the Home Delivery Meal Program. The Home Delivery Meal Program delivers hot meals to Culver City residents who are homebound. Donations to support this program are always welcome and appreciated and can be mailed to: the Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232. Thank you to Mr. Breen and Ms. Aparece for their support of the seniors in our community.

• Culver City Senior Center Braille Institute Seminars – The Braille Institute is offering free seminars on Tuesdays from 10 am to 11:30 am throughout April at the Senior Center. The classes are designed for those experiencing difficulty with daily living tasks due to sight loss. Topics and Dates are as follows: April 15 – The Business of Living; April 22 – Getting around Town; and April 29 – Looking Good! – All about You. All educational programs at the Senior Center are open to the public age 50-plus.

• Culver City Senior Center Caregiver Workshop – Come and learn about your options on finding a caregiver for yourself or a loved one, including the newest ways that technology is helping families stay connected. This program takes place on Wednesday, April 16 from 9 am to 10:30 am. All education programs at the Senior Center are open to the public age 50-plus.

• Culver City Senior and Social Services Presentation – Senior and Social Services Specialist Jill Thomsen will be making a presentation at the California Parks & Recreation Society Region 5 SoCal Senior Symposium on April 16 as part of the Program Showcase.

• Support Groups – The City co-sponsors many support groups through the Senior and Social Services Division, including: Parkinson’s Disease, Hearing Loss, Disabled American Veterans, Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Family, and Low Vision. For information about these and other support groups, please contact Darren Uhl at 310-253-6729 or by email: darren.uhl@culvercity.org.

• National Nutrition Month – In recognition of March being National Nutrition Month, a presentation entitled “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” was held at the Culver City Senior Center on March 21.

Police Department

• Latest Update on Police Officer Recruitment - On March 27 the Culver City Police Department conducted its physical agility test and written exam for Police Recruits. Human Resources invited 216 applicants to the physical agility test, and 110 showed up. Out of the 110 applicants, 93 successfully completed the physical agility test and moved forward to the written exam. The results of the written exam left 58 remaining candidates moving on to the next phase, which is the oral interviews.

• Two Police Recruits Graduate from the Sheriff’s Academy - On April 4 Chief Don Pedersen and the Command Staff attended the graduation of our two newest Police Officers. Officer Sam Hawkins and Officer Nikki Cavazos completed the 20 week Academy and now ready to begin their careers. Also, Officer Sam Hawkins was Class 398’s Honor Cadet, which means he is the #1 Cadet in the class.

Public Works

• Demand Response (DR) Program at City Hall - The City of Culver City has entered into an agreement for a DR Program with EnerNOC. The intent of the program is to comply with designated energy reductions on multiple day “events” throughout the year. A goal is set at each event to reduce 155kw through the established curtailment plan.

• New Walking Path at West Los Angeles College (WLAC): Saturday, April 19 – The community is invited to the opening of the new 0.4 mile Community Walking Path at WLAC on Saturday, April 19 at 9 am The entrance to the event is at the Baseball Field Gate.

To RSVP, contact Vicky Nesia at (310) 287-4325 or NesiaV@WLAC.edu.

• Pedestrian Improvement Project Update – The Pedestrian Improvement at Intersections with Bus Stops Project is currently under construction and anticipated to be completed in June 2014. .

• Boiler Replacement at City Hall – The Public Works Department completed a Boiler replacement at City Hall on April 4. A crane placed on Duquesne Avenue was used to remove old equipment and to place the new hot water boiler on the roof. The Public Works Building Maintenance crew installed all of the new piping required for the project.