Culver City Observer -

Community Development

• Nordstrom/Hautelook – Plans have been submitted for an office tenant improvement for Nordstrom’s online catalog production located at 8680 Hayden Place.

• Hackman Capital – The new parking structure located at 8550 Higuera is shown below:

• Marcasel Residential-Retail Mixed Use Project – The walls on the 3rd floor are being built. The project, pictured below, is located at 11955 Washington Boulevard.

• Department of Finance (DOF) – The DOF, in a letter dated May 15, approved the Successor Agency’s proposed transfer of (1) Parcel B to the Developer; and (2) Town Plaza to the City; and (3) Five downtown parking facilities to the City.

• Spur Stakeholders Meeting – The Spur Stakeholders met to review updated details of the City’s proposed improvements to construct a parking lot along the Spur in the Hayden Tract. The Spur Stakeholders also attended a meeting with Samitaur Constructs which presented another option to incorporate the use of the spur in their adjacent 8511 Warner Drive redevelopment project.

• Parcel B – A license agreement with FTP Productions was executed for use of Parcel B for a base camp associated with the production of a television episode of Mistresses.

• Former Fire Station No. 3 – A counter offer received from Thomas James Capital to purchase the former fire station will be considered by the City Council during their meeting of May 27.

• Culver City Arts District – The newly formed Culver City Arts District will present its first annual Summer Solstice event on Saturday, June 21, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The Culver City Arts District is located on Washington Boulevard between Helms and Fairfax Avenues. The event will feature more than a dozen musical performances throughout the day, a free self-guided tour of art galleries and more. Musical performances will be provided in coordination with Make Music LA as part of a global musical festival taking place in more than 700 cities around the world. The event is sponsored by the City of Culver City, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, Visual Art Source, ArtScene, and art ltd. The Culver City Arts District is also partnering with Metro to provide destination discounts for those who take Metro to the event! Parking for the Summer Solstice event will be available in Downtown Culver City parking structures with limited parking at the Helms Bakery Complex, the Exceptional Children’s Foundation and along Washington Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. Guests are advised to refrain from parking in the residential area surrounding the Culver City Art District. More information about the Summer Solstice is available by visiting the Culver City Arts District Facebook Page or http://culvercityartsdistrict.com/.

Fire Department

• Remembrance Rescue Project – Off-duty Firefighters continue to volunteer their time by hosting FDNY Rescue 5. Firefighters made presentations for the Wounded Warriors at Camp Pendleton; Rio Hondo Fire Academy graduation; El Camino College EMT class; and at the Orange County Fire Authority Wildland convention. Firefighters provided an up close tour of FDNY Rescue 5 and spoke about its history, and honored and remembered those whose lives were impacted on September 11, 2001.

• Station Tours – On Friday, May 9th two groups of children visited their local fire stations for a tour and demonstrations. Fire Station #1 hosted 29 youth ages 4-5, while Fire Station #2 hosted 30 youth, ages 2-5, from local schools. Both groups were provided station and apparatus tours along with demonstrations and fire safety tips. The youth left with safety workbooks, to work on with their teachers, fire stickers, and plastic helmets.

• Fire Service Day – On Saturday, May 10th, the Culver City Fire Department participated in the annual Fire Service Day celebration. Members of Fire Station #1, in downtown, opened the doors to allow community members a chance to view the station, apparatus, and equipment on display. This annual event is an opportunity for adults and youth to see the station, apparatus, and equipment up close. Firefighters were available to provide demonstrations, answer questions, and get to know the community members they serve in a pleasant fun-filled environment. To go along with the many educational materials made available, this year the Fire Department invited the public to take part in a five minute “Hands-Only” cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course aimed at simplifying and demystifying the process of civilian CPR. Over 300 people were instructed in this life-saving skill. Between the Firefighters’ Pancake Breakfast and the car show to draw in the crowd, this year’s event was another great success.

• Fill the Boot – On May 10th, 12th, and 14th members of the Culver City Fire Department participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) “Fill the Boot” program. These off-duty volunteers spent three days collecting donations for the MDA with 100% of the proceeds being donated to a very worthy cause. Once again, Firefighter Seth Miller volunteered to coordinate the event and participated in the collection of donations.

• Strike Team Deployment – On the morning of May 15th, a Culver City Engine and Battalion Chief were deployed as part of XLA-1075 Strike Team with units from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles fire departments. Units responded to the Cocos Fire in San Marcos and were immediately assigned to structure protection. Fire personnel spent the next two days protecting residential structures in the wildland-urban interface. At the end of their two day assignment personnel reported that no structures were lost and no injuries occurred. The Strike Team was released from the Cocos Fire in the early morning and re-assigned to the Basilone Complex Fires burning on Camp Pendleton. Crews arrived at Camp Pendleton and were initially assigned to one of three active fires on the base. As weather conditions continued to improve, and the fires began to lay down, the Strike Team was released at 5:30 PM and returned to their respective cities.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building – The Veterans Memorial Building has received a free lighting retrofit from Southern California Edison’s Direct Install Program. New energy-efficient lighting has been installed in the lobby, auditorium, hallways and other rooms.

• Veterans Memorial Building Rental Operations Activity – Showtime’s Ray Donovan filmed at Veterans Memorial Building on Monday, May 12th in the Multipurpose Room Patio. In Sheep’s Clothing, a Robert Kinsey Production, will be presented at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on May 30th and 31st. More information is available at http://www.sheepsclothingplay.com.

• Culver City Performing Arts Grants – Benita Bike’s DanceArt presents a free performance of Explore Dance: Culver City on Sunday, June 1st at 1:30 PM at the Culver City Senior Center. More information is available by visiting http://www.danceart.org/schedule or calling (818) 353-5734.

• Fiesta La Ballona 2014 – Fiesta La Ballona returns to Veterans Memorial Park, August 22nd – 24th. Fiesta is looking for sponsors! Please visit http://www.fiestalaballona.org for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

• Culver City Senior Center “Ms. Senior Culver City Pageant” – The Ms. Senior Culver City Pageant, held on May 4th, was highlighted in a feature article in the Los Angeles Times. Read all about it at: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-senior-pageant-20140511-story.html.

• Culver City Senior & Social Services Division – The Senior & Social Services Division is re-launching the Monday Bereavement Group on Monday, June 16th from 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM. You are invited to join this group to share with others the experience of losing a loved one. Please speak with Darren Uhl at 310-253-6729 to reserve your place as this is not a walk-in support group.

• Culver City Volunteer Opportunity – Fiesta La Ballona, Culver City’s Party in the Park, is just three months away! We are looking for volunteers to help us put on this family-friendly community event! Please visit http://www.fiestalaballona.org/volunteer.html to sign up or contact Jill Thomsen at 310-253-6722 or via email at jill.thomsen@culvercity.org. We love groups from companies, houses of faith and community organizations looking to give back, as well as individuals and families. Service credit is given to students.

Police Department

• Upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy - The Police Department is now accepting applications for the next Citizen’s Police Academy beginning on July 29th. The academy is eight weeks long, and each class session takes place on Tuesday nights from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The course curriculum covers a wide range of topics including a ride along. For an application please visit our website at http://www.culvercitypd.org or contact Lieutenant Emery Eccles at (310) 253-6258.

• Tilden/Tellefson Neighborhood Watch Meeting - On May 13th, the Tilden/Tellefson Association held its quarterly neighborhood watch meeting. Lieutenant Eccles discussed recent crime trends in the area and social media issues.

• Sunkist Park Neighborhood Watch - On May 21st, the Sunkist Park Neighborhood Watch restarted its very successful program. Thanks to Chip Netzel, the program held its first meeting, and Interim Chief Scott Bixby along with Lieutenant Emery Eccles conducted the meeting.

Public Works

• Plastic Bag Ban Outreach Compliance: June 27, 2017 – The Culver City Reusable Bag Ordinance 2013-006 will effect smaller grocery stores on June 27, 2014. The ordinance is aimed at reducing the amount of single use plastic bags in the environment and bans the use of them at stores meeting certain criteria as well as requiring a 10¢ charge for each paper carryout bag sold to a customer at such stores. Supermarkets and large retail stores with a pharmacy have been required to comply since December 28, 2013. Smaller grocery stores, and convenience stores have until June 27, 2014 to comply. This is one of many single use plastic carryout bag bans adopted in California with many more jurisdictions following suit.

For more information on the types of stores with a compliance date on December 28, 2013 or June 27, 2014, visit our webpage at http://culvercity.org/Government/PublicWorks/EnvironmentalPrograms/Recycle.aspx