Culver City Observer -

March 30, 2012

City Manager’s Office

• Cesar Chavez Day - On March 26 the City Council presented a proclamation designating March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. The City Manager’s Office also received additional information from a resident about President Obama’s proclamation of this holiday.

Community Development Department

• Westfield Culver City – Footaction, Inc. - Plans have been approved for a new retail store. ECOSWAY – A permit has been issued for a new nutrition / supplement store.

• L.A. Spice – Plans have been submitted for a new restaurant located at 4357 Sepulveda Boulevard.

• Chevron Gas Station - Plans have been submitted for the removal of existing pumps and canopy / kiosk, installation of new canopy, fuel dispensers, new trash enclosure, healy enclosure (an enclosure that holds propane gas tanks), site lights and site improvements located at 11197 Washington Place.

• 9300 Culver Boulevard (Parcel B) - International Parking Design (IPD), is preparing a study to determine the best location of a subterranean parking ramp in the access road that separates The Culver Studios from Parcel B. In addition, IPD is preparing a site plan to maximize the number of spaces constructed on the subterranean parking level.

• 11042-56 West Washington Boulevard (Tilden Terrace) - The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on March 26, marking the start of construction for the 33-unit mixed use affordable housing project. Construction is expected to be complete by June 2013.

• 3846 Cardiff Avenue (Cardiff Parking Structure) - The City upgraded the lighting system at the Cardiff Parking Structure on March 28-30..

• Real Time Parking Signs - Per City Council direction, the Engineering consultant and staff reviewed the relocation of a parking sign proposed to be located at Madison Avenue and Culver Boulevard to Jackson Avenue/La Salle Avenue and Culver Boulevard. The Jackson Avenue/La Salle Avenue location was found to be acceptable, and project plans will be revised utilizing that location.

• Dora De Larios' Sculpture Tree of Life in Carlson Park - Pursuant to the restoration of the artwork, planter and landscaping in 2010-11, the City has had to replant the rosemary four times in the past year due to vandalism. PCRS staff has confirmed that damage to landscaping in city parks is an on-going problem.

• PLATO Society Visit to Culver City - A group from UCLA’s PLATO Society (Perpetual Learning and Teaching Organization) visited the Wende Museum on March 2d and then met Cultural Affairs Division staff for a brief overview of the redevelopment of downtown and information about cultural programming in the city.

• Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation - The Foundation Board approved an expansive community fundraising plan at its regularly scheduled Board Meeting on March 21. The current goal of the Foundation is to raise money, through grants, individual donations and business contributions, in order to restore the City’s annual, free, cultural events which suffered a loss of funding when the Culver City Redevelopment Agency was eliminated. Donations to the Cultural City Campaign may be made for Music in the Chambers, Made in Culver City, Rainbow Day, Speak Easy, the 2013 Culver City Boulevard Music Festival or for general support. More information is available at http://www.culvercity.org or by calling the Cultural Affairs Hotline at (310) 253-5716.

Fire Department

• Metro Light Rail Training - Over the past few weeks, fire personnel participated in Metro Light Rail training conducted at the La Cienega Station. Six hands-on training classes were taught by Ricardo Perez, a senior supervisor and instructor from Metro. Fire Department members learned a variety of tasks which may need to be performed if an accident was to occur. The training focused on how to immobilize and power down the trains, isolate high voltage systems, gain access to passenger areas, communicate with Metro Operations, and fire extinguishment. Additionally, Metro will be conducting several drills with all safety personnel that may be impacted in the area, prior to the opening of the Culver City Station.

• Auto Extrication Training - Fire department personnel recently attended training that focused on a variety of new technologies in the auto industry. This training covered topics involving supplemental restraint systems, compressed gas cylinders, hybrid/electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and metallurgy. This new technology requires today’s firefighters to be well versed in how to operate in and around these systems safely during emergencies. Personnel also incorporated hands-on training with the use of our new Holmatro extrication equipment. Goodman’s Tow Company provided three vehicles for use allowing cutting, spreading, and disassembling of the vehicles.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Administration – On Saturday March 24 the City held its annual Egg Hunt at Veterans Park. Over 300 participants and family members were in attendance and enjoyed a day of prizes and games. Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Culver City for their contribution to the success of this event as well as the Teen Center’s Youth Empowerment Group.

The City thanks the Rotary Club for its March 15 fundraiser held at the Senior Center to benefit the Culver City Teen Center Computer Lab. The event was well-attended, with food from various Culver City restaurants and great raffle prizes. Funds generated also benefited the Rotary Foundation and Home Boys, Inc. .

The PRCS Director met with representatives of the Wende Museum for a private tour and input into the potential lease of the Armory as the future site of their museum. Discussions focused on layout, parking, security and future partnerships.

• Recreation – CCARP (Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program) celebrated the changing of the seasons by doing Spring-themed arts and crafts. CCARP also held spring break parties to celebrate the two weeks the students will have off from school.

Spring Camp began on March 26 with a full enrollment of 135 campers for its first week.

Construction on the Veterans Memorial Building is coming to an end with an anticipated reopening date of April 14. The renovation includes construction of the building’s restrooms, cosmetic improvements to the meeting rooms and classrooms, and painting the auditorium. A separate contract to replace all existing seats in the lower level of the auditorium with new seats is being executed and the seat replacement will commence after the renovation work is complete.

The Culver City Municipal Plunge is closed until Sunday for a small-scale renovation project. New water-resistant lockers will be installed in both the men’s and women’s locker rooms. Additionally, walls throughout the building will be treated to better withstand the corrosive properties of an aquatics environment.

• Parks - Staff installed the new ADA compliant drinking fountain as the last component of the Vets Park Ages 2-to-5 Playground grant project. The project is now complete.

Volunteers and the Parks Division staff worked together to prune and spruce up the American Gold Star Mothers Rose Garden, the Veterans Parks Rose Garden and the Culver City Park Rose Garden. Staff thanks the volunteers who turned out to assist in this community team effort.

Staff completed the installation of three new PAR equipment exercise work-out stations and continues to work on irrigation mainlines at the Little League fields.

• Senior and Social Services – National Volunteer Week is celebrated April 15 – 21. Culver City RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) has more than 400 active volunteers placed throughout the City, including reading programs for children, staff assistance at City Hall and delivering meals to homebound residents. .

Police Department

• “Walk n’Roll Wednesday” - Culver City Police Officers participated in El Marino Elementary School’s “Walk ‘n Roll Wednesday”. They provided safety tips to the children when riding their bicycles to school.

• Sister City Visitors - On March 19 the members of the Police Department met with Riki Nishijma and Mayumi Yoshiyama they were visiting from our sister city of Kaizuka, Japan. Both of them participated in the LA Marathon. They were given a tour of the police station and shown show of the police department’s equipment and different bureaus.

• Meeting on Crime Trends - On March 28 Captain’s Tankenson and Gutierrez met with Captains from LAPD Pacific Division and Santa Monica to discuss crime trends that may impact the region and to maintain an open line of communications with our neighboring cities.

Public Works Department

• Plunge Repairs - The Public Works Department’s Maintenance Operations Division has begun repairs and upgrades to the Culver City Plunge facility. The repairs/upgrades include: draining of the pool for repairs to the circulation and heating components, repairs to the solar heating system, concrete deck repairs, tree trimming, installation of window guards, locker room reconfiguration and new locker installation, and plumbing and electrical repairs. The work will be completed during a two week closure of the Plunge running through April 9, which will allow unencumbered maintenance access to all areas of the facility.

• Scattergood-Olympic Transmission Line – Culver City has been notified about Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s plans to construct and operate a new 230 kV underground power transmission system called the Scattergood-Olympic Transmission Line Project (SOTLP). The proposed alignment for the SOTLP crosses Culver City along Centinela Avenue on its route from the Scattergood Generating Station in Playa del Rey to the Olympic Receiving Station (RS) in West Los Angeles. Comments on the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are due on May 7 .

• Valet Parking for The Corner Door Restaurant – The Corner Door Restaurant submitted the first valet parking application under the Citywide Valet Parking Program approved by the City Council on January 23. On March 27 a community meeting was held at Culver West Park to discuss this application. Approximately 15 people attended this community meeting. Attendees expressed concerns regarding circulation, noise and other operational issues. These concerns were addressed to the full satisfaction of the attendees and they ultimately expressed support for The Corner Door Restaurant’s valet parking application. Staff anticipates that valet parking for The Corner Door Restaurant will commence along with the opening of the business in early May 2012.

• Expo - Washington Boulevard and National Boulevard Rotating Full Closures and Traffic Diversions - Starting Saturday, April 14 through Sunday, April 15 Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. (BBII), Expo contractor, will be conducting final roadway paving on Washington and National Boulevards, adjacent to the Expo right-of-way. During this work, there will be traffic detours, with only one street closed at any one time . The work will complete the majority of the improvements in the street right-of-way in Culver City for the Expo Project.