City Manager's Report

By John Nachbar

City Manager

Community Development

• Airport Marina Ford/Honda – A permit has been issued for three new auto service buildings at 6002 Centinela Avenue.

• 76 Station – A permit has been issued for demolition of an existing commercial structure and construction of new 2,676 square foot commercial food mart at 10638 Culver Boulevard.

• Leslie’s Pool Supply – Plans have been approved for a 2,326 square foot tenant improvement at 10814 Jefferson Boulevard.

• Grillant – Plans have been submitted for a new restaurant at 3850 Main Street.

• Salar Investment – Plans have been approved for a 4,328 square foot, 3rd floor addition and 3,995 square foot terrace, kitchen, restroom on the first floor, for the property located at 5965 Washington Boulevard.

• Sao Acai – Plans have been submitted for a new smoothie café, located at 8850 Washington Boulevard.

• On Holiday – Plans have been submitted for a new retail store, located at 8840 Washington Boulevard.

• Washington-Centinela – The City is drafting the 11th extension of the Letter Agreement for administrative approval pursuant to the original Agreement.

• Hospitality and Entertainment District – PlaceWorks, the City’s consultant overseeing the outreach for the Hospitality and Entertainment District, has completed its initial public outreach effort, which sought input from visitors to the area via a “pop up” kiosk at Westfield Culver City. PlaceWorks will be conducting an outreach meeting on March 19 at 6 pm in the Rotunda Room at Veterans Memorial Building. Notice for this meeting was mailed to property and business owners within 500’ of the proposed district boundary and to homeowners associations throughout the City. Notice for the meeting was also published in the Culver City News and the Observer. Staff has placed a survey on the City’s website as an additional means of obtaining input. The results of the outreach will likely be presented to the City Council in April 2015.

Fire Department

• Department Promotion – Probationary Firefighter Stephen Lovas has been promoted to Firefighter. The Department conducted a Badge Ceremony—attended by his family, friends and colleagues—to present him with his newly earned badge on March 9.

• Daylight Saving Time and Smoke Alarm Testing – You’ve changed your clocks, but have you tested your smoke alarms? The Culver City Fire Department recommends testing your smoke alarms around the time you set your clocks ahead and at least once per month. Please visit the Department’s web page at http://www.culvercity.org/fire to learn more about smoke alarm testing and other fire safety tips.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services

• Veterans Memorial Building and Rental Operation – Showtime’s Ray Donovan returned to the VMB to shoot scenes in Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the adjacent parking lot on March 14. The Angel City Derby Girls return to the Veterans Memorial Building on March 21. More information is available at http://angelcityderby.com/.

The Garden Room mural (pictured below) has been professionally cleaned and repaired. The Department was especially appreciative that the original artist, Julie Lugo Cerra, generously volunteered to perform the necessary touch-ups on the mural.

• Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program – Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre presents Space Opera at Morphosis on March 21. More information is available at http://www.heididuckler.org.

• Culver City Teen Center – The Culver City Teen Center, in collaboration with the Culver-Palms Family YMCA, Boy Scouts of America and the Culver City Rotary Club, is pleased to announce the first Annual Culver City Healthy Family 5K Run/Walk. The event will take place at West Los Angeles College on Sunday, April 26. Race time is 8 am, and the Family Fun Run/Walk starts at 8:30 am. Participants will have a morning filled with entertainment, food booths, games and arts & crafts. Proceeds from the event will be split between the three youth organizations to help offer summer and afterschool programming. Information on registration will be posted on the Culver City website.

• PRCS Spring Egg Hunt - The PRCS Annual Spring Egg Hunt, hosted in conjunction with the Culver City Kiwanis Club, will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Veterans Memorial Park. Registration starts at 9:45 am, and the hunt begins at 10 am. This free event is geared for children up to 10 years old, has arts and crafts, games, two bunny photo booths - and of course the great egg hunt! Please bring you own basket for the hunt.

• Senior Center St. Patrick’s Day Party – The annual St. Patrick’s Day Party will take place at the Culver City Senior Center on Tuesday, March 17 at 11:30 am. Tickets are on sale at the Business Desk at the Senior Center for $3.50 until sold out. The party includes lunch and live entertainment.

• Culver City Senior Center Seminar – A seminar on “Health for Life: How to Address the Cause of Illness” will be held on Monday, March 23 at 1 pm at the Culver City Senior Center. This lecture will address heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and other illnesses. The lecture will include a discussion of various conditions, how to reverse them, and how to live a lifestyle that heals the body. All of our education programs are open to the public ages 50 and older.

• Senior & Social Services – Jewish Family Services (JFS) Wellness Program – Are you an older adult in need of support and companionship? The new JFS Health and Wellness program may be for you. This free program brings Wellness Coaches into the lives and homes of adults ages 65 and older. Coaches are caring and compassionate peers who will spend time with you doing activities you can both enjoy; join you on shopping trips, appointments and outings; and connect you with community resources. To learn if you qualify for the program, please call Jewish Family Services at 323-629-0028.

Police Department

• Mental Health Grants - On March 4 Chief Scott Bixby and members of the Command Staff participated in a mental health grants workshop sponsored by the United States Department of Justice.

• Carlson Park Neighborhood Watch - On March 3 the Carlson Park Neighborhood Watch met at the Police Department to hold its meeting. Captain Ron Iizuka and Lieutenant Sam Agaiby discussed crime issues and crime prevention related to that neighborhood.

• Police Recruits Graduate from Academy - On March 5 two police officer recruits, Jon Ogden and Steven Armenta, graduated from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy. Both recruits completed the Academy in the top 10 percent.

• Tilden/Tellefson Neighborhood Watch Meeting - On March 10 Lieutenant Agaiby met with the Tilden/Tellefson Park Neighborhood Watch. Lieutenant Agaiby discussed the current crime trends for that neighborhood.

Public Works Department

o Ballona Creek Bike Path Temporary Closure – The Public Works Department is scheduling the closure of the Ballona Creek Bike Path between Overland Avenue and National Boulevard from March 23 through March 27 for maintenance. The closure hours will occur from 7 am to 4 pm each day.

Notification will be placed on barricades at the entrances of the bike path prior to the closure date. Bicycle user groups will also be notified of the proposed work.

• Culver City Partners with the Energy Network for “Culver City 100 Healthy Homes” Project – The City is partnering with The Energy Network to launch the Culver City 100 Healthy Homes Project, which provides rebates to assist property owners in making energy efficient home upgrades.

1. Golden State Water (GSW) is continuing to replace a water main on Le Bourget Avenue between Farragut Drive and Culver Boulevard, and on Revere Place. It is anticipated that the work will be completed in several weeks.

2. GSW is continuing to install new fire hydrants along the westerly side of Centinela Avenue between Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. It is anticipated that the work will be completed in about one week.

3. Time Warner Cable (TWC) will be installing new fiber optic cable along south bound Centinela Avenue between Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. TWC will be working near the same location as GSW and will coordinate their construction activities.

4. GSW has completed their water main installation and paving on Patom Drive between Berryman Avenue and Sawtelle Boulevard, and on Patom Drive between Culver Park Place and Diller Avenue. The slurry seal of Patom Drive between Culver Park Place and Diller Avenue has not yet been scheduled.

5. A new curb cut is being installed at the end of Astaire Avenue in Studio Estates. The work is expected to be completed in the next several weeks.

6. Clark Builders will begin the installation of new sewer service laterals on Wesley Street.

7. Expo Construction Update: In order to complete roadway improvements on Exposition Boulevard near Bagley Avenue for the Expo Line project, the design-build contractor SRJV will need to implement a full street closure of Exposition Boulevard for Roadway Improvements. A continuous closure will occur from Thursday, March 12 at 7 am through Saturday, March 14 at 9 pm. Construction will occur from 7 am to 9 pm on Thursday and Friday; and 8 am to 6 pm on Saturday.

To view the construction notice, please go to http://www.expovenice.org/