City Manager's Bi-Weekly Update

City Manager’s Office

• Vice President Joe Biden at West Los Angeles College – On January 23 Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells participated in Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to West Los Angeles College (West). Vice President Biden toured West’s campus and met with college administrators to discuss improving education in the United States by making community colleges more affordable to more students.

to Credit: The White House

• Community Meeting on Overflights, Noise and Other Impacts of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Culver City – A panel and discussion on the impacts of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Culver City, including overflights and noise, will be convened on Tuesday, February 24 from 6 to 8. This community meeting will take place in the Rotunda Room of Veterans Memorial Building, located at 4117 Overland Avenue in Culver City. The Panelists include Culver City Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells and Councilmember Jim B. Clarke; City Council-Appointed City Representative and Alternate to the FAA Noise Roundtable, June Lehrman and Stephen Murray; and City staff members. (Photo credit: Destination 360)

• Cultural Affairs – The Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation presents its second architectureTALKS, a fundraiser to benefit Veterans Memorial Auditorium, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on Monday, February 23 from 7 pm to 9.

This event will feature a conversation with renowned architect and founding partner of Ehrlich Architects, Steven Ehrlich, FAIA and his lead project manager on the Kirk Douglas Theatre project, Whitney Wyatt, AIA. Ehrlich Architects has earned an international reputation for design excellence and was recently awarded the prestigious 2015 AIA Architecture Firm Award.

Ehrlich and Wyatt will guide the audience through the transformation of the former Streamline Moderne Culver Theatre into the 300-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre, an intimate, flexible venue for traditional and experimental live theatre that is Center Theatre Group’s Westside venue and located in downtown Culver City. The architects collaborated with Center Theatre Group’s founding Artistic Director, Gordon Davidson, on the stunning redesign. Architectural writer, Thomas Aujero Small, will moderate this lively discussion. A dessert reception catered by Essential Chocolate Desserts will follow the discussion.

Louis Poulsen Lighting and MATT Construction are generously underwriting costs associated with the event. MATT Construction worked with Ehrlich on the Kirk Douglas Theatre project.

architectureTALKS is a series of architecture talks presented by internationally renowned practitioners based in Culver City. The proceeds will benefit the technical enhancement of Veterans Memorial Building Auditorium with the intent of increasing public performances and film screenings in that venue.

The cost for admission is $40 per person and is tax deductible. To purchase tickets, visit https://architecturetalks-ehrlich.eventbrite.com. Free parking is available at Culver City City Hall, 9770 Culver Boulevard (located directly behind the Kirk Douglas Theatre at the corner of Culver Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue).

Photo Credit (from left to right): Jay L. Clendenin, Elon Schoenholz, and Saam Gabbay

Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building and Rental Operation – Jon Lindsay Productions returns on February 14 with NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic. More information is available at http://lindsayproductions.com/; Angel City Derby Girls return to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on February 21. More information is available at http://angelcityderby.com/events/; the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC) present a Saturday seminar, Erika Fabian’s “The Secret to Storytelling Photography,” on February 21. More information is available at http://iwosc.org/.

• Culver City Senior Center Golden Fashion Show – The 2nd Annual Golden Fashion Show will be held on Tuesday, February 24 at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center. Rudy Carino’s dressmaking class is proud to present a “Celebrity Look-Alike” show. This is a fun, one-of-a-kind event showing off the talents and creativity of our Senior Center members!

• Culver City Municipal Plunge – The Plunge completed the pool re-plastering on February 4 and re-opened to the public on February 5. During the pool closure the Public Works Department worked diligently to ensure the timely completion of this project, along with several improvements to the building, including installation of new Colorado Timing system, new pool signs, new lane lines, replacement of two filter tanks, five new pool tank lights, minor deck repair and beautification projects within the locker rooms and lobby.

Photo Credit: Parks, Recreation and Community Services

To view a pool schedule, please visit: http://www.culvercity.org/en/Government/PRCS/Recreation/Aquatics/pool_sched.aspx.

• The Culver City Healthy Family 5K Run/Walk – The 1st Culver City Healthy Family 5K Run/Walk will take place Sunday, April 26 at West Los Angeles College. The 5K Run will begin at 8 am and the Family Fun Run will begin at 8:30 am. This event is presented by the Culver City Rotary Club in partnership with the following benefiting groups: Culver City Teen Center, Culver/Palms YMCA and Culver City Boy Scouts.

• PRCS Recreation Coordinator Recognition – Congratulations to Recreation Coordinator Arames White-Shearin for being selected as a Youth Leader representing the City of Culver City at the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Community Challenge Initiative national gathering, convening at the White House. The MBK Initiative encompasses the idea of promoting a better individual with the help of the community. The goals set by MBK are to ensure that all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready and to help ensure that all youth graduate from high school.

Police Department

• Police Department Promotions: On February 3 Sergeant Bill Browne was promoted to Lieutenant by Chief Bixby. Lieutenant Browne started his career in 1996 and promoted to Sergeant in 2005. Officer John Benjamin was promoted to Sergeant. Sergeant Benjamin started his career in 1999.

• South Bay Commanders Meeting: On February 5 Captains Iizuka and Azran attended the South Bay Commanders meeting hosted by the Redondo Beach Police Department. The purpose of these meetings is to share regional crime trends and issues facing the region.

• Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Grant Meeting: On February 11 Captain Iizuka participated in a meeting with Los Angeles County Police Chiefs regarding upcoming grant opportunities for 2016.

Public Works

• Urban Forest Management Plan Update –

In preparation of the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan, the City hosted four community meetings to receive input from residents, property owners and businesses. Two meetings in January were focused on residential areas of the City, while the two meetings on February 5 and 7 were focused on commercial areas. The City’s consultant on the project, Artecho, began the meetings with a presentation that educated the audience about the urban forest. The rest of the meetings were then concentrated on focus groups where audience members were allowed to engage with Artecho staff and provide insight and vision to the framework of the Urban Forest Management Plan.

A community meeting to review a draft of the Urban Forest Management Plan is scheduled for April 25 from 10 am to 11:30 am in the Mike Balkman Council Chambers, located at 9770 Culver Boulevard.

Please visit the Urban Forest Management Plan webpage listed below. You can also subscribe to the City’s notification system to receive updates on the project and upcoming meetings on the webpage.

http://www.culvercity.org/Articles/UrbanForest_042515

• Tree Planting Grant: Request for Proposals (RFP) – In 2013, the City Council approved applying for a $150,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District to plant 300 trees in the City’s parkways and parks. The City received notice that the funding was approved and executed the grant agreement. In 2014, the City Council approved the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire an organization to purchase and plant the trees, however, no firms responded. Staff followed up by contacting Tree People and the LA Conservation Corps. Both organizations expressed an intent to respond to the RFP, which has since been modified and re-released this past week. Once the proposals are received, Public Works will present the City Council with a recommendation to hire the most qualified firm. (Photo Credit: Science Photo Library)

• Hazard Mitigation Request for Proposals (RFP) – In 2014 the City Council approved the application of a $116,000 grant from the California Office of Emergency Services. The intent of the grant funds was to hire a firm to prepare a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for Culver City and Culver City Unified School District. The City received notice that the funding was approved and awarded. The grant agreement has been executed and the City is preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain proposals from interested firms. Once the proposals are submitted, Public Works will present the City Council with a recommendation to hire the most qualified firm. (Photo Credit: California Department of Transportation)

• Sewer Main Rehabilitation Lining Project Update – Phase 4 of the citywide Sewer Main Rehabilitation Lining Project will begin in late February. This project consists of approximately 17 miles of sewer main rehabilitation using trenchless lining technology to minimize construction impacts to the public. The overall project duration is February to December 2015.

The contractor will clean and inspect the sewer mains in the coming months. The sewer rehabilitation work usually takes one day to install, during which sewer service may be impacted. Additional advance notice will be distributed by the contractor several days prior to actual sewer lining work. Typical construction hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasional nighttime work may be necessary at certain locations.

• Two Street Improvement Projects in Culver City –

Street Improvements on Washington Place

A construction contract has been awarded for a Public Works street improvement project along Washington Place between Frances Avenue and Zanja Street. The work is expected to be completed in March 2015.

The improvements include pavement reconstruction; street resurfacing; new ADA curb ramps with truncated domes; sidewalk reconstruction; handicap accessible pedestrian push buttons; and new traffic striping with bike lanes.

Heavy traffic delays are anticipated along Washington Place. In order to expedite construction, westbound and eastbound directions of Washington Place will be limited to one lane in each direction.

Street Improvements on Sawtelle Boulevard

A construction contract was also awarded for a Public Works street improvement project along Sawtelle Boulevard between Braddock Drive and Culver Boulevard, and between Washington Boulevard and Washington Place. The street improvements along Sawtelle Boulevard are scheduled for completion in March 2015.

The improvements include street resurfacing, local repairs of deteriorated pavement areas; new ADA curb ramps with truncated domes; handicap-accessible pedestrian push buttons and new traffic striping.

It is anticipated that there will be heavy traffic delays. At times, the northbound and southbound directions of Sawtelle Boulevard will be limited to one lane.

Please direct all inquiries or concerns for both projects to the Construction Foreman or the City’s Construction Manager, noted below:

CONTRACTOR

Bryan Granados

Construction Foreman

All American Asphalt

(951) 757-8157

CITY OF CULVER CITY CITY OF CULVER CITY

Tom Marnocha Christian Ott

Construction Manager Construction Inspector

Interwest Consulting Group Interwest Consulting Group

(714) 386-8289 (818) 270-0047

• Construction Updates

1. Southern California Edison will continue vault removal and replacement at the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and the 405 freeway. The lane closure will remain. It is expected that work will be completed in two weeks.

2. Golden State Water Company (GSWC) will continue the water main installation on Patom Drive between Berryman Avenue and Sawtelle Boulevard, and on Patom Drive between Culver Park Place and Diller Avenue. It is expected that the work will be completed in three weeks.

3. GSWC will continue the water main installation on Le Bourget Avenue between Farragut Drive and Culver Boulevard, and begin water main installation on Revere Place. Work on Le Bourget Avenue will be completed this week, and the contractor will return at a later date to complete restoration of the street.

4. GSWC will begin water main installation and fire hydrant installation on south bound Centinela Avenue between Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. Time Warner cable will also be working in the same area installing fiber optic cable.

5. XO Communications will begin a fiber optic cable installation on Slauson Avenue between Bristol Parkway and Buckingham Parkway. There will be an open trench across Slauson Avenue from the utility pole to 400 Corporate Point so traffic lanes will be closed intermittently at times.