City Manager's Update

City Manager’s Office

• Culver City Unified School District Backpacks for Kids Program - More than 39% of CCUSD students receive free or reduced price lunches at their schools daily. For many students, this vital resource includes free breakfast. In some circumstances, reliable meals on the weekends are not a guarantee. The City Manager’s Office is proud to announce the City’s partnership with the Culver City Unified School District in the District’s Backpacks for Kids Program. The City will provide collection locations at City Hall (just outside the first floor entrance); the Senior Center; and the Culver City Plunge, through December 19th. Volunteers will collect the donations and provide them to the students.

Donations of canned/non-perishable foodstuffs can also be dropped off at the CCUSD District Office (4034 Irving Place) or at the main office of any CCUSD school site. When donating, please note the following: 1) No glass containers; 2) donate items with pop-top cans when available; and 3) all items should be shelf-stable, with no need for refrigeration. The preferred list of donated foods is as follows:

o Peanut Butter (12 or 16 oz. plastic jars)

o Crackers (e.g. Ritz)

o Canned Beef Stew, Meat Pasta, Vienna Sausage (easy-open pop-top cans preferred)

o Fruit Cups (in plastic individual serving cups)

o Cereal (in individual serving containers)

o Oatmeal (in individual serving packets)

o Pudding cups

o Granola and Cereal Bars

o Macaroni and Cheese

o Cup o' Noodles

o Shelf-stable Milk: Chocolate and Vanilla 8 oz. single serving milk (e.g. Horizon)

Tax deductible donations (payable to Culver City Council PTA, Tax ID # 23-7014093) are also being accepted to keep the program going and fill the gaps not covered by food donations. Checks can be sent to: Culver City Council PTA, CCUSD District Office, 4034 Irving Place, Culver City, CA 90232. For more information, please visit http://www.ccusd.org.

Community Development

• Section 8/Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) – The FSS program is designed to assist Section 8 families achieve economic independence. The Housing Division was notified by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that it will receive a grant award in the amount of $65,662 to support the 25 families participating in the FSS program.

• Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) – The Housing Division received notification from HUD that the Housing Division received an overall performance rating of “High” with a score of 97% under SEMAP criteria. SEMAP is an audit of how effectively and efficiently the City’s Section 8 Program is being managed.

• 2015 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count (Homeless Count) – The Committee on Homelessness has formed a subcommittee to seek and coordinate volunteers for the 2015 Homeless Count, which is led by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The next subcommittee meeting is scheduled for December 12. This effort will be the largest homeless census in the nation, and Culver City will need help from the community to secure an accurate count. The Homeless Count will be conducted on the dates of January 27-29, 2015 from the hours of 8 pm to 2 am. Data from the Homeless Count will allow Culver City to identify best practices, target resources more effectively, and raise public awareness of an epidemic that finds more than 35,000 people on any given night without a home in Los Angeles County.

• Rental Housing Shortage/Rental Rates – On December 8 the City Council will conduct a general discussion on process and format related to Rental Housing Shortage and Rental Rates. Public notification was transmitted, published and posted on November 6.

• Landlord Tenant Mediation Board (LTMB) – The LTMB held its regular quarterly meeting on October 29. A main topic of discussion was the revision and update of the LTMB Guidelines. The LTMB formed a subcommittee to review and update the LTMB Guidelines.

• Mobile Home Park Closure/ Change of Use – On October 27 the City Council adopted a Resolution approving the Draft Relocation Impact Report (RIR) for the closure/change of use of the Mobile Home Park Located at 4025 Grandview Boulevard, under Chapter 15.13 of the Culver City Municipal Code; and approved a request for partial exemption from the obligation to provide the specified relocation assistance benefits set forth in the draft RIR to eligible occupants who executed mutually satisfactory written agreements. In addition, the Council also considered a request for a partial exemption from the obligation to provide relocation assistance benefits to eligible occupants who executed mutually satisfactory written agreements. As required under Section 15.13.035 E of the CCMC, all mobile home park owners and mobile home park residents must be informed of the availability of the approved RIR. A notice was transmitted on November 4 informing that the approved RIR is available for review at the Culver City Housing Division.

• Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) – The renewal of the BID, which is a two meeting process, is scheduled for consideration by City Council during the November 10 and December 8 Council meetings. 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.

• Downtown Business Association MOU for Events – The Downtown Business Association MOU for Events is scheduled for consideration during the City Council meeting of December 8. The, Town Plaza holiday tree lighting ceremony, which takes place on December 4 at 6 pm this year, is an event included in the MOU for Activities.

• Parking Structure Maintenance Contract – The City has commenced a competitive bid process for these services beginning January 1, 2015. This item is scheduled for consideration during the City Council meeting of December 8.

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – The CDBG Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet at City Hall on November 13 at 7 pm to consideration of possible uses of available CDBG funding for Fiscal Year 2015-16 is scheduled. This is a publicly noticed meeting open to the public.

• Segrell Fire Station – Fumigation, asbestos and lead based paint abatement along with demolition of the former Segrell Fire Station is now complete. Staff reminded the developer of the approved truck routes to take during construction of the homes that will replace the fire station.

• Premier Health Services - Work had been completed for a Tenant Improvement for "Premier Healthcare Services" located at 6133 Bristol Parkway.

• Airport Marina Ford/Honda – Airport Marina Ford/Honda has submitted Building plans for three new auto service buildings located at 6002 Centinela Avenue

• California Bank & Trust – California Bank & Trust has submitted Building plans for a Tenant Improvement located at 100 Corporate Pointe.

• Hayden-Higuera Properties LLC – Work has been completed for a new five-level, 556 space parking garage located at 8550 Higuera Street.

• Sherwin Williams - Sherwin Williams has submitted plans for a 7,627 square foot Tenant Improvement, located at 11513 Jefferson Boulevard.

• Charlotte Russe - Work has been completed for this new retail store located at Westfield Culver City.

• Polaroid Fotobar – A Permit has been issued for this new retail mall kiosk located at Westfield Culver City.

• Tesla Motors – A Permit has been issued to Tesla Motors, Inc. to install 12 charging stations for electric vehicles, and six super-charging cabinets located at Westfield Culver City.

• Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream – Plans have been submitted by Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream for a new retail food establishment located at 12550 Washington Boulevard.

Included below are photos of projects currently under construction.

Hayden Avenue, the "pterodactyl", new offices on the existing parking structure:

Part of the 2nd floor concrete deck has been poured at 8770 Washington Boulevard, the Graystar mixed-use project.

Platform Project’s east building:

Platform Project’s middle building and west parking structure from the street:

The Sony Studios support building:

The new Mazda building on Washington Boulevard:

The Marcasel Mixed Use Project:

Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery’s new mausoleum building:

The new multifamily project on Duquesne Avenue:

Fire Department

• Culver City Firefighters Read to Children at the Library – On November 4, Culver City Firefighters read bedtime stories to a group of over 30 children and their parents at the Culver City Julian Dixon Library. The children’s favorite was Curious George and the Firefighters by H.A. Rey. Firefighters also donned and demonstrated the gear they wear when fighting fires. Special thanks to the Library and Culver City Friends of the Library for including the Culver City Fire Department in their wonderful program!

• Culver City Firefighters Grow Mustaches for Men's Health Awareness – "Movember" is a month-long campaign geared toward raising awareness and funds for men’s health. The funds will help save and improve the lives of men and their families affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health problems. Visit the Culver City Fire Department’s Movember page at http://us.movember.com/team/1593537 to donate. Join by visiting http://us.movember.com. Or, simply skip out on shaving for the month to support the cause.

• Culver City Firefighters Raise Over $1,200 for Breast Cancer Charity – Culver City Firefighters donated 100% of the proceeds from October’s CCFD Pink T-Shirt sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Culver City Firefighters cut a check for over $1200 to help find a cure and support individuals and families battling breast cancer. The Culver City Fire Department thanks the Culver City community for the support.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building and Rental Operations – Angel City Derby Girls will return to Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, November 15. For more information, please visit http://angelcityderby.com/.

• Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program – The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra presents a concert titled Shall We Dance? In Veterans Memorial Auditorium on November 23. Ticket information is available at http://ladso.org/site/. The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra is a recipient of the Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program.

• Culver City Historical Society – The Culver City Historical Society’s Archives Resource Center will be open on Sundays, November 16, December 7 and December 21 from 1 pm to 3. More information regarding current exhibits and gift items for the holidays is available at http://www.CulverCityHistoricalSociety.org.

• Young Adult Disability Forum, Job & Resource Fair – The Employment Development Department (EDD- http://www.edd.ca.gov/) presented the 2014 Young Adult Disability Forum, Job & Resource Fair, hosted by the City at the Veterans Memorial Building on October 24. Staff from Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services and Human Resources Departments were on hand at the event, which was attended by approximately 300 job-seekers and 35 vendors (employers and service providers.) The event was an opportunity to enrich the lives of young adults with disabilities as well as other individuals who are looking for work, by providing employment and educational opportunities and for EDD Youth Employment Specialists to build their case loads for this targeted population.

• Informational Seminar on Services for Disabled Individuals – On Tuesday, November 25 at 10 am Braille Institute Library Specialist Angela Dzakpasu will provide valuable information on the range of services available at no cost to visually impaired, physically impaired and reading and learning disabled residents of Southern California. Like all of its educational programs, this seminar is open to the public ages 50 and older. For more information, call 310-253-6729.

• Culver City Senior Citizens Association (CCSCA) New Class – The CCSCA is offering a new class to its members: Chair Zumba. Chair Zumba is almost the same as a Zumba Gold Fitness Party, with one exception – you are sitting in a chair! Zumba Chair is designed for individuals with limited mobility who may be physically and/or mentally challenged. This class will be held on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room and is $3 per class for CCSCA members. The first class was held on Tuesday, November 4.

• Senior Center Holiday Gift Boutique – The annual Holiday Gift Boutique will be held at the Senior Center on Friday, November 14 from 10 am to 1:30 pm. All items for sale are hand-made by members of the Culver City Senior Citizens Association.

• Culver City Teen Center – The Teen Center membership now totals 219 participants. Culver City has the largest Teen Center in Southern California, with a daily average of 124 participants. The Teen Center continues to grow its program to offer activities that encourage the teens’ and tweens’ involvement and keep them excited about after school programming.

• Teen Tutoring Program – A great program is about to begin at the Teen Center - the UCLA BruinCorps (http://www.bruincorps.ucla.edu/) homework help program. Participants receive tutoring and college preparatory activities conducted by the UCLA BruinCorps Tutoring Program. The objective of the program is to provide academic intervention and enrichment through consistent tutoring sessions with a UCLA undergraduate tutor throughout the academic year and share college preparatory information with students so they begin to prepare for college. Currently the Teen Center has 26 students enrolled in the fall semester tutoring program.

• Culver City After School Program (CCARP) – Throughout the next week, all CCARP sites will celebrate Veterans Day, November 11 to honor all those who served honorably in the military. Students will celebrate parents, grandparents, siblings and neighbors who are veterans by creating drawings and crafts in observance of Veterans Day.

• Parks and Playgrounds Program – On Friday, October 31 the Parks & Playgrounds Program held an outdoor screening of the 1981 movie classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Approximately 60 community members came out on the chilly evening to snuggle under blankets with lawn chairs, snacks and Halloween candy.

• Culver City Prop A Funds - Culver City has an existing Proposition A Maintenance and Servicing Fund which is set aside by the County for the maintenance and servicing of Proposition A-funded projects. In August, the Regional Park and Open District, which manages Proposition A funds for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Parks and Recreation, began accepting applications for a limited amount of Maintenance and Servicing Excess (M&SE) Funds. The Culver City PRCS Department is pleased to report that these supplemental M&SE Funds have been approved for one year of Haynes Janitorial Services at the Culver City Senior Center and for the purchase of additional Engineered Wood Fibar (EWF) and sand to compensate for regular wear and tear at the Culver City Park Playground.

Police Department

• Carlson Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting - On October 28 the Carlson Park Neighborhood Watch group met at the Police Department. Lieutenant Jason Sims met with the group and discussed their current crime trends and the importance of Neighborhood Watch.

• Pomona Officer Shaun Diamond’s Funeral - On November 6 members of the Command Staff and officers attended the funeral services for slain Pomona Police Officer Shaun Diamond. The service was held at the Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario. The service was well attended by Law Enforcement officers throughout the State.

• Volunteers in Patrol Meeting - On November 5 the Culver City Police Volunteers in Patrol met with Lieutenant Jason Sims. They welcomed two new volunteers to the program, Carey Payne-Lue and Carol Kramer, both recent graduates of the Citizens Police Academy.

Public Works

• Rebates for Residents and Business for Water Conservation Upgrades –

SoCal Water Smart offers a variety of rebates for residential and commercial conservation upgrades. Visit http://www.SoCalWaterSmart.com for information about rebates:

• Did You Know? You Can Report Water Waste Issues on Your Smart Phone –

Reporting water waste issues is possible through the GoRequest Application on your smart phone. Download the application GoRequest, which then provides you the option to take photos and report any violations of the City’s Water Conservation Ordinance. You can also report violations online at http://user.govoutreach.com/culvercity/.

For detailed information about water restrictions, tips and resources in Culver City, visit City of Culver City's Water Conservation Webpage:

http://www.culvercity.org/en/Government/PublicWorks/EnvironmentalPrograms/WaterConservation

• Culver City Receives Grant from California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan – The Public Works Department was awarded $116,462 from the Cal OES. The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDMP) provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures prior to and after major disaster declarations.

• Construction Update

1. Golden State water will be installing lateral water services from the new water main to the resident’s homes on Garfield Street and on Huntley Avenue. They will also pressure testing the main and then conduct a complete restoration of the street and any sidewalk damaged from construction. Working hours are 8 am to 5 pm.

2. National Boulevard between Wesley Street and Washington Boulevard on the southbound side of the street adjacent to Turning Point School, Doty Bros will conduct the restoration of the roadway to complete the job which was a Southern California Edison vault replacement. The project is occurring during the weekends only.

3. Golden State Water will begin the water main installation on Le Bourget Avenue from Culver Boulevard to Farragut Drive, and on Revere Place from Farragut Drive to Ballona Creek.

4. Golden State Water will begin the water main installation on Centinela Avenue between Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. The work was slated to begin on Saturday, November 8.

5. Southern California Edison will install a new conduit and set a new cabinet on Overland Boulevard just east of Deshire Place.

6. Southern California Edison will replace and move several poles on Wesley Street, south of Washington Boulevard near the cul-de-sac to provide power to the Greystar Development. The work will take place on Saturday, November 15 from 7 am to 7 pm. All work will take place during a planned power outage.