City Manager Update

Community Development

• Panera Bread - Panera Bread has been issued a permit for a tenant improvement to build out an existing commercial space for a new restaurant at 10990 Jefferson Boulevard.

• The Flame Broiler – The Flame Broiler has submitted plans for a tenant improvement for a new restaurant at 10758 Jefferson Boulevard.

• Business Improvement District – The City has commenced work on the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Downtown Business Improvement District. The renewal process will include one regular City Council agenda item and one publicly noticed City Council public hearing with resolutions to be proposed for adoption at each meeting.

• California Competes Tax Credits – The City has researched a new state program offering income tax credits intended to encourage companies to hire more employees, pay higher wages, expand their business, or remain in state rather than relocate out of state. The program has been summarized for distribution to City Council.

• Culver Village Business District – Culver Village will be hosting its second annual Halloween Candy Crawl event on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 6. The District will also be installing street-pole banners identifying Culver Village along the Sepulveda business corridor, from Culver Boulevard to Franklin Avenue, during the week of October 27. For more information, please go to http://culvervillage.wordpress.com/ .

• Fire Station 3 – The City closed escrow last week on the sale of former Fire Station No. 3 located at 11304 Segrell Way to Thomas James Capital. Over the next several months, Thomas James Capital will demolish the Station and construct three single family homes.

• Planning Commission Approvals - On October 8 the Planning Commission approved the following items 1) A Site Plan Review to allow three new auto service buildings totaling 26,284 square feet for Airport Marina Ford and Honda at 6002 Centinela Avenue and 2) A Conditional Use Permit to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages (beer and wine) in conjunction with a Chevron gas station convenience store located at 11197 Washington Place.

Fire Department

• California Great Shake Out – On October 16 City Staff and local schools participated with 10.4 million Californians in the Great ShakeOut. At 10:16 a.m., City Staff practiced how to drop, cover and hold on. Staff then took their assigned emergency backpacks and evacuated from their respective buildings to gather in pre-designated meeting places.

Simultaneously, the Culver City Fire Department joined Culver City Unified School staff and children, as they participated in the California Great ShakeOut.

• Citywide Disaster Drill – On the evening of October 16 the Culver City Fire and Police Departments, the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES), and City residents participated in the Annual Citywide Disaster Drill. Participants practiced how to drop cover, and hold on, and how to activate their family disaster plans. Additionally, over 40 CERT volunteers responded to a simulated disaster in Studio Estates, which allowed them to practice their damage assessment and recovery operations.

• Emergency Preparedness Drill - On October 22 the Culver City Fire Department conducted a back-up communications drill with Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management. Should phone lines go down during a disaster, the City can use Countywide Integrated Radio System (CWIRS) radios, satellite phones and ham radios to communicate. All systems worked successfully. City staff members were able to communicate clearly with the County and all 88 cities in the region via the CWIRS radios and satellite phones. In addition, the CCARES volunteers were able to talk with all participants via ham radios. The Culver City Fire Department would like to thank its CCARES volunteers for helping to make the drill such a success.

• Halloween Safety Tips – As you prepare for Halloween this year the Culver City Fire Department wants you to keep a few safety tips in mind to ensure a fun time for all.

 Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material.

 Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.

 Provide children with glow sticks or flashlights to help them to see, and to be seen by drivers.

 Remind children to cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again before crossing. Walk; do not run across the street.

 Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources.

 It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in jack-o-lanterns.

 When driving, slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

 More tips are available on the City’s website. http://www.culvercity.org/Articles/Copy%20of%20HalloweeSafety_103114.aspx

The Culver City Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Culver City Community Garden Program – PRCS Staff, in an effort to create consistent policies for PRCS programs and facilities, is developing Rules and Regulations for the Community Garden Program, which has existed for over 30 years without official guidelines. Staff sent out a draft of the Regulations during the week of October 13 to all current garden plot renters, with comments requested by October 24. A meeting will be held for renters to discuss issues related to the Community Garden Program, as staff works towards the goal of creating guidelines that insure fair and consistent use of these valuable City assets.

• Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program – Donna Sternberg and Dancers present One Song Many Dances, one musical composition by composer Yuval Ron interpreted by five culturally diverse dance companies, at the Ivy Substation on Friday, November 7. Ticket information is available at http://www.dsdancer.com.

• Disability Awareness Month Kids Carnival – On October 19 the Annual Kids Carnival Celebrating “Disability Awareness Month” took place at the Senior Center, with a record attendance of over 400 children, families and community members. The Senior Center’s Jill Thomsen is pictured with a participant.

• Senior Center Volunteer Crochet Club – The Senior Center’s dedicated crochet group recently donated about 40 lap robes to Culver City’s Roze Room Hospice and received a wonderful thank-you note.

• The DAC – The DAC has been selected as an ADA25 Access honoree by the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities. On October 20th at a reception celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA25), DAC Chair Dr. Jay Shery was presented with the award for the DAC’s outstanding work in the community and commitment to promote equality and improve access for people living with disabilities.

• Holiday Food Certificate Program – The Culver City Senior Citizens Association, Inc. (CCSCA) has worked for many years to spread good will in December through the Holiday Food Certificate Program. Checks should be made payable to CCSCA and will be accepted in person at the Senior Center Business Desk or by mail to Culver City Senior Center, Attention: Holiday Certificate Program, 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232.

• Culver City Senior Center Partnership – 2014 marks the sixth year of partnership between the Culver City Senior Center and Symantec, in Culver City. Dedicated volunteers from the Culver City campus of this Fortune 500 company visit the Senior Center quarterly to assist seniors with technology questions and troubleshooting.

• Free L.A. County Flu Clinic – The annual L.A. County Flu Clinic will be held on Wednesday, November 5 from 9 a.m.to11:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building. Free flu shots will be offered by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

• Culver City Teen Center – Staff began a new eight-week intramural basketball program for all Teen Center participants, regardless of ability. This program provides an opportunity to compete in a fun environment, to learn the values of team spirit and cooperation, and to make new friends. .

• Culver City After School Program (CCASP) – CCASP staff will scare up some fun for its kids on Friday, October 31 when it hosts its annual Halloween party. .

• Parks and Playgrounds Training – In October, the Parks Division provided training to the Parks & Playground staff on picnic shelter cleaning using minimal water.

Police Department

• Rotary Club Meeting - On October 15th, Lieutenant Jason Sims gave a presentation to the Rotary Club luncheon regarding the Department’s social media program.

• Fox Hills Association Annual Meeting - On October 16 the Fox Hills Neighborhood Association held its annual meeting. Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, Council Member Jim B. Clarke, Captain Ron Iizuka, Transportation Engineering Manager Gabe Garcia, and Culver City Historian Julie Lugo-Cerra all participated in the meeting.

• Police Department Open House - On October 18 the Police Department held its bi-annual open house event.

• Coffee with the Cop Event - On October 22 the Culver City Police Department held its fourth Coffee with a Cop at the Starbucks located at the Sepulveda Crossroads. These events are held to help give the community the opportunity to meet and talk to their police officers. Lt. Sims and Detective James Hawkins noted that the event was well attended and thank the community for its support.

Public Works

• FREE Water Conservation Kits Available at Golden State Water Office – Culver City is one of Golden State Water’s largest Service Areas with approximately 9,500 customers. Visit the Culver City office at 5839 Green Valley Circle, Suite 106, for services.

For information contact Golden State Water Company at (800) 999-4033.

• Compost Giveaway: Saturday, November 8 – Culver City is closing the loop and replenishing the earth with nutrient rich compost. Public Works and American Organics will offer compost free of charge.

The November 8 event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until gone) in the lower Bill Botts parking lot on the left just before the Bone Yard dog park (9710 Jefferson Boulevard). Access to the area is at the Jefferson Boulevard and Duquesne Street cross light.

This compost material is OMRI Listed® (Organic Materials Review Institute) and licensed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

This is a self-haul event so participants should bring a shovel and containers to hold compost for transport. Residents are responsible for shoveling and bagging their own compost. For more information, call (310) 253-6411.

• County’s Stoneview Park in Blair Hills – Los Angeles County Public Works will soon begin demolishing the existing old school structures on the Stoneview Park site. The County will use the most remote part of the site, southwest corner, for louder activities, such as breaking up concrete, so as to minimize disruption to the nearby residential area.

• Paving Overlay Project – The work for the 2014 Paving Program Project has begun. The project includes new curb and gutter, street grinding and repaving, and striping the following streets:

1. Motor Avenue between Park Avenue and Le Bourget Avenue

2. Le Bourget Avenue between Farragut Drive and Jasmine Avenue

3. Jasmine Avenue between Le Bourget Avenue and end of street

4. Midway Avenue between Venice Boulevard and Washington Boulevard

5. Albright Avenue between Venice Boulevard and Washington Place

6. Bledsoe Avenue between Washington Place and Washington Boulevard

7. Harter Avenue between Braddock Drive City limit

8. Hannum Avenue between Sawtelle Boulevard and Vera Way

9. Berryman Avenue between Segrell Way and Sepulveda Boulevard

Expected hours of work are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday with some Saturday work. Completion is anticipated by December 2014.