City Manager's Update

Community Development Department

• Water Conservation – Over the past few months, the Enforcement Services Division received 33 complaints related to water waste on residential properties. The City’s Water Conservation Brochure which includes information on watering restrictions and water saving tips was distributed to residents. Watering restrictions include, but are not limited to: No watering between 9 am and 5 pm (except by hand); watering is limited to 15 minutes/day; no washing down hard or paved surfaces (except using low-water use methods for safety and sanitary purposes) is allowed; and no excessive water flow or runoff is permitted.

• Westfield Culver City – JC Penney has installed new escalators.

• 10301-10395 Jefferson Boulevard – A meeting was held with the property owner to discuss potential improvements to the City’s easement area along Ballona Creek. 10301-10395 Jefferson Boulevard was acquired recently and has been undergoing improvement for use as creative office. Potential improvements to the Creek include new landscape and a scenic overlook.

• Former Fire Station No. 3 – Staff proposed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to Thomas James Capital for the sale of former Fire Station No. 3. The firm responded with a counter offer which will be considered by the City Council on May 27.

• Bar Nine Collective Opens: The Hayden Tract has a new coffee roaster and café, Bar Nine Collective. The hours of operation are from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 6 pm on weekends.

• Temple Akiba of Culver City – Work is underway for the renovation of the synagogue and courtyard, sanctuary, offices and restrooms at 5249 Sepulveda Boulevard (pictured below).

• Graystar – A permit has been issued for a new four-story mixed use structure with subterranean parking at 8770 Washington Boulevard. The lower level shoring walls are almost completed and part of the bottom level foundation are pictured below:

• Long Range Property Management Plan – The property transfer of five downtown parking facilities from the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency to the City pursuant to the LRPMP and the property transfer of Parcel B, 9300 Culver Boulevard from the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency to the Developer pursuant to the DDA and LRPMP were approved by the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency on April 21 and by the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency on May 8.

• 10745 Cranks Road – This week, escrow closed on the sale of 10745 Cranks Road to Asher Harel. Asher Harel will be building a single family home for resale.

Fire Department

• Safety for Seniors - On April 23 Steve Poelstra, Tom MacTavish, and Jesse Luna, members of the Fire Prevention bureau, provided the tenants of Culver City Senior Citizen Housing a fire safety and “what to do in an emergency” presentation. The 1-1/2 hour presentation included a PowerPoint presentation along with a question and answer opportunity.

• Remembrance Rescue Project – On April 24 seven off-duty firefighters hosted New York Fire Department (FDNY) Rescue 5 at Sony Studios. This was an opportunity for Sony employees to see FDNY Rescue 5 up close, and to hear about its history and to honor and remember those whose lives were impacted on September 11, 2001.

• Station Tours – On April 25, two groups of children visited their local fire stations for a tour and demonstrations. Fire Station #1 hosted 41 children while Fire Station #2 hosted 37 students from local schools. Both groups were provided station and apparatus tours along with demonstrations and fire safety tips. The children left with fire stickers, plastic helmets, and safety workbooks to work on with their teachers.

• YMCA Healthy Kids Day – On April 26 Fire personnel participated in the annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day held at Westfield Culver City. This event was an opportunity for Fire personnel to work with the YMCA to promote healthy living lifestyles with community members. Firefighters distributed educational literature along with fun stuff like safety coloring books, sticker badges, and plastic fire helmets.

• Red Cross - On April 30 the Department hosted a Red Cross Community Ambassador Meeting. The focus of the meeting was on creating disaster resilient communities. Chief White presented information on civilian safety when encountering an emergency/disaster (e.g. auto accident) and rendering aid. The City’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Christine Parra, shared what some of our communities, Lindberg Park, Culver Crest, Raintree and Tellefson Park, are doing to make sure their neighborhoods have a plan and are prepared. The meeting culminated with a tour of Fire Station #1 and included as an added bonus, a brief presentation by Firefighter Louie, about FDNY Rescue 5, which is on loan to the City from New York.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building and Rental Operations – Staff moderated a forum for Culver City-based non-profit theater companies to discuss the use of the Auditorium and stage as part of the revitalization efforts for the Veterans Memorial Building. Forums will be held for local non-profit music and dance companies in the near future.

• The Culver City Historical Society – The Culver City Historical Society received a Proclamation from the Culver City City Council on April 21 in recognition of May being designated as “Historic Preservation Month”. The Proclamation is now on display in the Archives and Resource Center, located at the back of the Veterans Memorial Building. To date, the Culver City Historical Society has marked 13 historic sites in Culver City. For more information on that effort and exhibitions at the Archives and Resource Center, please visit the Society website at http://www.CulverCityHistoricalSociety.org.

• Veterans Memorial Building Auditorium – dee-Lightful Productions presents Disney’s Aladdin Jr. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium from May 16 to 18. More information is available at http://www.dee-lightful.org.

• Culver City Senior Center “Ask the Pharmacist” – The “Ask the Pharmacist” Workshop will be presented on Tuesday, May 13 from 10:30 am to noon. There will be an informative lecture on shingles and also a Q&A session about your medications. Have questions? Bring your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements and get answers from a local Rite Aid pharmacist.

• Culver City Senior Center Spring Follies and Art Exhibit – Support our talented members by attending the Spring Follies Talent Show on Wednesday, May 14 at 1 pm and the Art Exhibit from May 12 to May 15 at the Culver City Senior Center.

• Culver City Senior Center Financial Seminars – Two important financial seminars are being offered this month: “Improving Financial Literacy among Retirees” on Monday, May 19 at 1 pm, which will teach retirees the right tools you need to ask to get the right answers regarding your financial situation today and tomorrow; and a “Financial and Estate Planning” seminar on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:30 am will offer information about financial and legal matters involved in estate planning.

• Culver City Senior Center Social Security Workshop – There will be a Social Security Workshop on Thursday, May 22 at 1 pm. This is a free community service educational seminar which covers the basics of Social Security and reveals strategies for maximizing your benefits. All of the Senior Center’s educational seminars are open to members of the public ages 50 and older.

• Culver City Senior Center Performances – The halls of the Senior Center will be filled with music in May. There will be a performance by the Kaleidoscope Singers from the Braille Institute on Thursday, May 22 at 1 pm and by the Culver City High School AVPA String Orchestra on Wednesday, May 28 at 1 pm.

• Culver City Senior Center – May is Older Americans Month, and the Senior Center will be celebrating with special events throughout the month. The Older Americans Month Party takes place Friday, May 23 at 11:30 am and will honor Senior of the Year Stephen Elstein and will feature food and live music. Tickets are available at the Senior Center business desk for $3.50.

• Parks – Culver City Park continues to undergo in-house improvements. Per the Department’s Park Master Plan goals, a new passive picnic area has been created, which will be filled with a picnic table, benches, barbeques, a walking path, revamped irrigation and newly hydroseeded turf. The project (pictured below) is nearing completion with the goal to have it finished before the July 4 holiday.

• Park Clean-Up Day – The annual volunteer-staffed Fox Hills Neighborhood Association Park Clean-Up Day is Saturday, June 14 from 10 am to 1 pm.

Police Department

• South Bay Commanders Meeting - On May 1 the Police Department’s Command Staff hosted the monthly South Bay Commanders meeting. The group meets monthly to discuss current crime trends and other issues facing law enforcement. The meeting was attended by commanders from Torrance, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Los Angeles International Airport.

• Jewish War Veterans Meeting - On May 1 Captain Allen Azran was invited to speak to a group of Jewish war veterans at the Culver City Elks Lodge on Washington Place. During the presentation, Captain Azran provided the group with information from the Police Department's 2013 Annual Report along with pointers on how to stay safe.

• Stewart House Ground Breaking - On May 2 Chief Scott Bixby and Captain Ron Iizuka attended the groundbreaking ceremony where the construction of the new Stewart House will be built. Stewart House is part of the UCLA family and provides law enforcement with all the professional and scientific support to investigate crimes against children and sexual abuse cases.

Public Works

• National Public Works Week: May 18 to 24 – The 2014 National Public Works Week theme is "Building for Today, Planning for Tomorrow." This recognizes the importance of what the City does today is vital to a sustainable and vibrant tomorrow. Public Works plays a key role in the planning, building and maintenance of infrastructure projects in the community that allow current and future generations to enjoy a higher quality of life.

The Public Works Department has made significant improvements throughout the City over the past year. The Department continues to focus on maintenance and preservation of existing public infrastructure, safety, traffic, parking improvements, energy efficiency, environmental programs, pedestrian access and bicycle friendliness in the community.

• Bike Week LA and Bike to Work Day – The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is sponsoring Bike Week LA activities from May 12 to 18 to encourage the community to bicycle to work, school and other destinations throughout LA County to reduce traffic and air pollution. Some of the activities that Metro and its local partners are planning include: bicycle repair workshops, guided rides, and discounts at local businesses. For more information on Bike Week LA and Bike to Work Day, please visit Metro’s website:

http://www.metro.net/bikes/bike-week/bw-events/

• Save money. Save water. Discount Plants at Home Depot on May 17– Together with West Basin, Home Depot is providing discounts (three plants for $10) on select varieties of low water use plants. Participants can receive information on water-saving soils and high-efficiency irrigation technology with a free youth workshop included. Help conserve during this drought by creating your own California friendly garden.

Date and Location

May 17 from 8 am to noon

12975 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Light refreshments and opportunity prize drawings provided.

• Sidewalk and Curb Repair Project – A construction contract has been awarded by Culver City to FS Construction for a sidewalk & curb repair project. FS Construction will commence sidewalk and curb repairs on May 15tand complete the work by June 13. Sidewalk repair activities include: selective removal and replacement of damaged concrete curb & gutters, removal and replacement of street trees and selective removal and replacement of damaged concrete sidewalks and driveway aprons.

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Transportation

• Bike to Work Day - May 15th - Thursday, May 15th, has been designated as Bike to Work Day. To participate in this effort, many Culver City employees will ride their bikes to work. Culver CityBus and other regional transit agencies will provide free rides to those who board the bus with a bicycle or a helmet. The City’s Rideshare Program aims to reduce the number of vehicles on the roadway by providing incentives to City employees who use alternative modes of transportation to get to work – either by biking, walking, taking public transit, or carpooling. By acknowledging Bike to Work Day and encouraging employees to ride their bikes – even if just for one day, Culver City continues to do its share for clean air, and reduce traffic congestion in our region.