City Manager's Update

 

October 3, 2012



September 28, 2012

City Manager’s Office

· Measure Y - Despite the City’s best efforts, since the 2008 recession, Culver City has lost $4.5 million in state funding, an additional $6 million in local revenues, and $40 million annually through Sacramento’s elimination of local redevelopment agencies, leaving the City unable to fund essential public services at the levels necessary to meet current and future needs.

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· Additionally, at a time when revenues were declining, the City was experiencing an increase in expenses. This situation is not unique to Culver City. Cities throughout California have also been forced to address similar emergencies by tightening their belts and asking their communities for support. Measure Y will be considered by voters on November 6 as part of the Presidential Election. Measure Y will be near the bottom of the ballot, so voters should review their ballot carefully. If you would like to find out more about Measure Y and the City’s efforts to address budget concerns, please visit our website at www.culvercity.org.

City Clerk’s Office

· IndieCade Festival - Staff has been finalizing elements with the festival organizers for the set-up. The IndieCade Festival began on October 4 and continues through the weekend. Events include an industry conference, workshops, salons and a “gamewalk” on Saturday and Sunday that is free and open to the public. More information is available at www.indiecade.com.

Community Development Department

· 4043 Irving Place - Construction of a three-story condominium containing 28 units, which includes 12 affordable units, over a single-level subterranean parking garage. In addition, there will be approximately 1,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The project is 27% complete. It is scheduled for completion in May, 2013.

· Media Park – Staff met with representatives of Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ) last week to tour Media Park. LPQ is an upscale bakery that serves simple, elegant boulangerie which is interested in establishing a presence in Media Park via a kiosk or permanent structure.

· Westfield Culver City - Hallmark and Vitamin World have submitted plans for new stores.

· City dog Club – A permit has been issued for a tenant improvement for a new dog boarding/grooming kennel located at 3940 Higuera Street.

· Otis College of Art & Design – A permit has been issued for a tenant improvement located at 10455 Jefferson Boulevard.

· Club Assist – A permit has been issued for a tenant improvement to existing office space located at 5750 Hannum Avenue. The organization’s core business is the supply of automotive batteries, roadside assistance, automotive glass, alternators, starter motors, marketing programs and collateral and training to motor clubs around the globe.

· Henkel – Plans have been approved for a build out of an existing office space located at 600 Corporate Pointe. Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies.

· Pei Wei Asian Restaurant – Plans have been submitted for a tenant improvement for a new restaurant located at 4114 Sepulveda Boulevard.

· Hayden Tract - Higuera Properties, LLC – Plans have been submitted for a new five-level, 556 space parking garage located at 8550 Higuera Street.

· 041 Bacaro – A permit has been issued for this new restaurant with outdoor dining located at 9552 Washington Boulevard.

· Building Safety Division - Revenues for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2012/13 have generated over $674,000 with technology surcharge fees totaling over $30,000.

· Passport to Culver City – “Yelp” has put together a nine-day promotion of free events to celebrate the businesses that make up the bustling streets of Culver City. For more information on Yelp's Passport to Culver City taking place Sunday, October 14th through Monday, October 22nd, please visit: http://www.yelp.com/events/culver-city-yelps-passport-to-culver-city-Sunday-October-14th-Monday-October-22nd.

Fire Department

· Strike Team Deployed – September 14 and 15 saw the temperatures in Southern California rise along with the number of wildland fires. Culver City Firefighters were called into Los Angeles City on Friday and Saturday to assist with two different brush fires in the Sepulveda Pass area. High temperatures, steep terrain, and plenty of dry brush made for a fast moving fire that threatened numerous homes. Culver City Firefighters, along with Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, were dispatched to assist the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in protecting homes and extinguishing the fire. LAFD reported that no structures were damaged, and no one was injured. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

· CCARP –The Stepping Stones Free Food Program is a big hit with students and parents, providing children with healthy, nutritious snack meals. The students like the food choices and parents are pleased that the students get a fresh fruit option daily as part of the snack menu. The snack program is included in the weekly CCARP (Culver City After School Recreation Program) session price.

· Teen Center – Thank you to the members of the Culver City Rotary Club for their hard work. The Culver City Rotary Club raised over $5,000 to buy new computers for the Teen Center Computer Lab. Ten new Dell CPUs were purchased and are up and running just in time for the students to complete their homework, school projects or play computer games. The Teen Center participants are thrilled with the new computers and appreciate The Culver City Rotary Club’s support of the Computer Lab. The Rotary Club is still accepting donations to maintain the Computer Lab and donors receive a donor plaque that is placed in the Teen Center on the donor wall. To find out more information about donating, go to: http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?cid=2512.

· Teen Center Pool Tables – The Culver City Senior Citizens Association Board of Directors is “adopting” the Teen Center Pool Tables. They will re-cover and maintain them with identified funds out of their budget. Members of the Senior Center Billiards Room Club will be coming to the Teen Center in October to teach teens the game of billiards.

· Parks – The Irrigation Crew has performed ongoing mainline breaks and irrigation repairs at Vets Park, Blair Hills Park, Fox Hills Park and Culver City Park. Bids have been received for the replacement of all Tennis Court windscreens at Syd Kronenthal Park; the contract award is being processed; and work is being scheduled. Parks Facility Maintenance personnel have cordoned off the Nature Trail and are scheduling structural repairs in collaboration with the Public Works Street Division. Additionally, Parks Grounds Maintenance Crews continue to work diligently weeding the slopes and performing major seasonal pruning and trimming at Fox Hills Park.

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· Parkinson’ Disease Support Group – A new support group for people affected by Parkinson’s disease began on Friday, Oct. 5. The group will be held the first Friday of the month from 1 pm to 2:30 in the Vets Building Multipurpose Room. The group is being run by Linda O’Connor, LCSW, and is open to both patients and family. For more information contact Darren Uhl at (310) 253-6729.

· Nutrition Program – The Nutrition Program at the Culver City Senior Center serves more than 100 seniors a hot lunch every day. Now that school is back in session, we are without our student volunteers and are looking for a few good men and women to help serve lunch. Volunteer shifts are weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If interested, please contact Jill Thomsen at (310) 253-6722.

Police Department

· Police Department Open House - On September 15the Police Department held its Open House for the community. It featured the Department’s various bureaus and assignments and all the different equipment used by the officers. The event was a success, even though there were extreme temperatures that day.

· Blair Hills Neighborhood Association Meeting - On September 18 Lieutenant Iizuka met with the Blair Hills Neighborhood Watch to discuss current issues in their neighborhood.

· Culver Crest Neighborhood Association Meeting - On September 18 Lieutenant Iizuka met with the Culver Crest Association to discuss current issues regarding their neighborhood. The meeting was well attended.

· Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Watch Meeting - On September 25 members of the Police Department met with the Rancho Higuera Neighborhood watch to welcome new members to the group and to re-launch the program. The meeting was well attended.

Public Works Department

· Additional Bike Lockers and Racks Planned for Expo Station- Metro has informed the City that it is initiating the procurement of 32 more bike lockers as well as additional bike racks for the Culver City Expo Station in order to meet the demand for bike parking that has been demonstrated since the Station’s opening. These new racks and lockers are anticipated to be installed over the next several months.

· Meeting with West Los Angeles College (WLAC) and Homeowners Associations (HOAs)– On September 20 the Department facilitated a semi-annual meeting with President Abu-Ghazaleh of West LA College and his staff and representatives of nearby HOAs. These meetings are conducted pursuant to the Amended Settlement Agreement between the City and WLAC. They are timed to coincide with the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and have proved to be very helpful in facilitating the sharing of information related to campus construction and the discussion of other topics of concern.

 

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