City Manager's Bi-Weekly Update

City Manager’s Office

• Historic Preservation Month – On April 27 at 7 pm the City Council presented a Proclamation recognizing May as Historic Preservation Month. Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month in Culver City is co-sponsored by local preservation groups, including the Culver City Historical Society, business and civic organizations across the country.

For more information about Preservation Month 2015, visit: http://www.preservationnation.org/preservation-month/index.html#.VTp_w6Pn-ot

For more information about the Culver City Historical Society, visit: http://www.culvercityhistoricalsociety.org/

• Community Mural Restoration (April 16 – 20) – More than 150 volunteers, including children and teens, participated in the restoration of the Rivers of the World mural located on the Duquesne Avenue bike ramp at Ballona Creek. The mural had sustained damage due to vandalism, graffiti and skateboarders since its completion in 2000. The timing of the restoration coincided with Earth Day, and its completion was a coordinated effort between the City’s Art in Public Places Program and Ballona Creek Renaissance, with support from the City’s Public Works and Transportation Departments.

• Truth or Fiction – Charisma Design Studio, Inc. has completed the rewiring and installation of the new LED lights on Nobuho Nagasawa’s artwork located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Culver Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue. The artwork has been illuminated for short periods at night during the past week for testing purposes. The restoration is expected be complete by the week of May 4.

City Clerk’s Office

• Culver City car show – The 12th Annual “Cruisin’ Back to the 50’s” Culver City car show will take place on Saturday, May 9 from 9 am to 3 pm in downtown Culver City. Over 400 classic cars and hot rods are expected to be on display, as well as vendors and musical performances scheduled throughout the day. Produced by the Culver City Exchange Club and sponsored by the City of Culver City, the Culver City car show will feature customized cars from George Barris, creator of the Batmobile, the Munsters' Koach, the Beverly Hillbillies' jalopy and many more vehicles from the Movies and TV. For more information please go to http://www.culvercitycarshow.com, call (310) 499-4840 or send an email to email@culvercitycarshow.com.

• Opening of the Application Period for 2015 Culver City Commission, Committee and Board Appointments – The City Clerk’s Office is pleased to accept applications for vacancies on the following bodies: Civil Service Commission (2), Cultural Affairs Commission (1), Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (1), Planning Commission (1), Committee on Homelessness (4), Disability Advisory Committee (3), Los Angeles (Airport) Area Advisory Committee (1), and Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board (1 Tenant, 1 Landlord, and 2 Members-at-Large and 1 Member-at-Large Alternate.) Applications will be accepted until 5 pm on Thursday, May 7. Late applications may not be accepted.

New for 2015: Applicants can now complete and submit applications online at http://www.culvercity.org/serve. Applications and additional information are also available in person during business hours from the City Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor at City Hall (9770 Culver Boulevard); may be requested by phoning (310) 253-5851; or can be downloaded from the website to complete by hand. Applications will be accepted online, in person, by mail, by fax to (310) 253-6010, or electronically via email to city.clerk@culvercity.org. Appointments for these openings are tentatively scheduled to be considered by the City Council on Tuesday, May 26.

Fire Department

• CPR Event – The Culver City Fire Department held a free CPR event at Lindberg Park (5401 Rhoda Way) on Saturday, April 25.

The life you learn to save is likely to be someone you know and love. Bystander hands-only CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can triple the chances of a victim’s chance of survival. In just 15 minutes, you can learn this life-saving skill. These classes are recommended for ages 5 – 95 and will start every 15 minutes. Every participant will receive an entry in our drawing to win a disaster kit for a family of four!

• Fight for Air Climb – Culver City Firefighters participated in the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb on April 11 at the Aon Center in Downtown Los Angeles. While off-duty, Captain Jeremy DeBie, Firefighter, and Paramedics Tommy McDaniel, Seth Miller, Bobby Kosch, Brian Sua, and Brandon Kay participated in full personal protective equipment, which weighs over 50 pounds. They raced up over 60 flights of stairs against several other fire agencies to raise funds for lung cancer educational programs, research, and advocacy efforts to further the American Lung Association’s mission to save lives.

(From left: FF/PM Sua, FF/PM McDaniel, FF/PM Kosch, Capt. DeBie, and FF/PM Kay)

• Save the Date for Fire Service Day – Fire Service Day will be held on Saturday, May 9 from 8 am to 3 pm at Fire Station 1 (9600 Culver Boulevard). This annual event, which coincides with the Culver City car show, is an opportunity for the community to get to know Culver City firefighters and see the station, apparatus, and equipment up close.

Visit Station 1 between 8 am and 11 am and enjoy the Culver City Firefighters’ Pancake Breakfast--$5 for adults and $3 for seniors and children.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services

• The Culver City Historical Society - The Culver City Historical Society’s Archives and Resource Center (ARC) is open on the first and third Sundays of every month from 1 pm to 3. On May 3 at 1:30 pm an episode of "Local Legends and Lore" will be aired at the ARC. It features an interview with long-time Culver City residents Martha and Sol Sigall, who have both recently passed on. Also, a new costume display at the ARC features the dress worn by Marjorie Main in the 1946 MGM production, The Harvey Girls.

More information is available by visiting http://www.culvercityhistoricalsociety.org/

• Veterans Memorial Building and Rental Operation – VMB continues to be a popular venue for a variety of public events. More information on upcoming events is available on the VMB Hotline at (310) 253-6630. Inquiries regarding room rentals at Veterans Memorial Complex may be made by calling (310) 253-6625 or emailing vmc.booking@culvercity.org.

• The Culver City Julian Dixon Library – The Culver City Julian Dixon Library has started its next session of Storytime, a program for children up to five years-old, in the Garden Room from now until June 10. The program takes place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. More information on this free program is available by visiting http://www.colapublib.org.

• Veterans Memorial Building Activities - Angel City Derby Girls roller derby team returned to Veterans Memorial Auditorium on April 25. More information is available at http://angelcityderby.com/.

The Bead Society presented its Biennial Bazaar in Veterans Memorial Auditorium on April 26.

Th Ballona Valley Bromeliad Society presents the Bromeliad Show and Sale on May 2 and 3. More information is available by calling (323) 294-9839.

The Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale is also on May 2 and 3. More information is available by calling (310) 822-1783.

At The Teen Center, The Comic Bug celebrates free National Free Comic Book Day on May 2. Admission is free, and more information is available on The Comic Bug Facebook page.

• Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program – Benita Bike presents Explore Dance: Culver City at the Culver City Senior Center on May 3. More information on this free event is available at http://www.danceart.org/schedule.

• Senior Center Nutrition Program Outreach – The City of Culver City Senior Nutrition staff, along with program volunteers, gave a presentation at Menorah Housing in Culver City to promote the home delivered meal program, congregate meal lunch program and many other services the Culver City Senior Center offers annually. If you are interested in having a presentation at your community facility or group, please contact Roxana Tabibi at 310-253-6712 or by email at roxana.tabibi@culvercity.org.

• Volunteers Needed for Classic car show – This year, the Exchange Club is looking for some fun-loving volunteers to help out at the Culver City’s Classic car show. This event takes place on Saturday, May 9 and volunteers are needed all day, from 5:30 a.m. to 5 pm. Volunteers are needed to assist with logistics, parking and traffic control. Volunteers are requested to work a minimum 4-hour shift, which will include breaks. Volunteers should be sociable and enjoy being outside and being surrounded by classic cars, energy, music and people! Please note: this is an on-your-feet volunteer opportunity. If interested, please contact Laura Stuart at stuartlauraj@gmail.com.

• Annual Biography Project with The Learning Enrichment After-School Program (LEAP) – The 4th Annual Biography Project with Inglewood Unified School District and the Culver City Senior Center will take place in May and June. Students will come to the Center from school and interview our Senior Center members for about an hour and then return in a few weeks with a written biography about their senior partner. Adult participants must be available Friday, May 22 and Friday, June 12 from 3 pm to 5 pm. If you are interested in participating, please call Jill Thomsen in the Volunteer Office at (310) 253-6722.

• Senior Center Arts & Crafts Boutique – Just in time for graduation and Father’s Day, the Senior Center’s Spring Arts & Crafts Boutique will be held on Friday, May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 pm. The Boutique features hand-made items created by Culver City Senior Citizens Association members.

• Older Americans Month Party – May is Older Americans Month, and the Senior Center will be celebrating on Friday, May 22. Tickets are $3.50 for Culver City Senior Citizens Association members and go on sale on May 4 at the Senior Center.

• Famly Involvement Event at the Teen Center – The Teen Center hosted another great family involvement event on Friday, April 17. Teen Center members participated in an annual two-hour event that included science experiments, career guidance, and introduction to college life. Members also got to learn more about their UCLA tutors. Once again, it was another successful event.

• Culver City Summer Day Camps – Culver City Just for Kids and Teen Camp staff are gearing up for an exciting summer. Camp registration forms are now available on-line to print. Registration began on April 25 for Culver City residents andwill begin on May 2 for non-Culver City residents. Registration will remain open until all camp spots are filled. Staff has a fun-filled summer planned, with trips, swimming, park games, arts and crafts and much more. Additional information can be found on the City’s website: http://culvercity.org/Government/PRCS/Recreation/DayCamps.aspx.

• Youth Mentoring/Summer Employment Program – Staff will be accepting applications to employ at-risk youth from May 1 to June 19. Youth will be employed in various City departments to gain on-the-job experience. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 – 21.

• Downtown Culver City Landscaping – The Downtown landscaping project is complete. Parks Planning staff redesigned Restaurant Row along Culver Boulevard and part of the Downtown Plaza to update overgrown and declining plant material with a completely new look, using drought tolerant, indigenous plants. Marina Landscape and Parks Irrigation Staff performed the installation and modifications to the existing irrigation system. Additionally, all of the pots were replanted as well, giving Downtown a welcome face lift!

• Fox Hills Park Playground Shade Structure – A new shade structure at Fox Hills Park is near completion. The contractor, Nile Builders, has excavated and poured the footings, set the posts and is awaiting the arrival of the sails to install, which is the final part of the project. The project will provide shade to the playground equipment area which serves children ages 2-5.

• Syd Kronenthal Playground Project – The Proposition A-funded new playground project for children ages 5-12 is more than 50% complete. The equipment is being assembled and the California Conservation Corps, as part of the Youth Employment component of the project, will be installing the Engineered Wood Fibar surfacing next week. The project is on schedule and will be complete within two weeks. The playground will have new, exciting, and challenging equipment provided by the Kompan Company.

Public Works Department

• Community Meeting: Urban Forest Management Plan – Final Review

After four successful community meetings, a draft plan for the Urban Forest Management Plan was presented and reviewed on:Saturday, April 25.

The City of Culver City is working with Artecho, a consulting firm specializing in urban forests, to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan, which sets forth a comprehensive vision for a robust and resilient urban forest in Culver City. The Urban Forest Management Plan will establish a long-term, strategic framework for the next 50 years.

For more information, please click on the link below to visit the Urban Forest Management Plan Webpage:

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

Transportation Department

• Transportation Department Hosts Meeting with Senior FTA Official - On April 15 the Transportation Department hosted a meet and greet luncheon with Carolyn Flowers, the Senior Advisor to the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) Administrator Therese McMillan. The event was attended by Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, leadership staff from other regional transit agencies, and FTA Region IX Team Leader, Ray Tellis. Culver City’s Transportation Director, Art Ida, facilitated the important discussion about the effects of FTA regulations on regional public transit operations, legislation, funding. Ms. Flowers earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the UCLA School of Management. She has received a number of awards for her commitment to advancing public transportation nationwide and continues to provide insight and guidance for delivering FTA programs, policies and initiatives.