Culver City Observer -

September 30, 2011

John Nachbar,

City Manager’s Office

• Annual League of California Cities Conference – Last week, Mayor O’Leary represented the City at the League’s Annual Conference in San Francisco.

Community Development Department

• Washington Centinela Market Hall – The Request for Proposals will be issued in early October.

• Washington National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) – Requests for Qualifications for the TOD will be issued in November.

• West Washington Area Boulevard Improvement Plan (AIP) Phase III - The Landscaped Median Project will be completed in early October.

• Sepulveda Boulevard AIP – The streetscape will be completed in October.

• TJ Maxx – A permit has been issued for a tenant improvement located at 11020 Jefferson Boulevard.

• Westfield Culver City - Plans have been approved for Rue 21 ETC. and Cathy Jean two new retail stores. In addition, Sephora has submitted plans for a tenant improvement to remodel an existing retail space.

• Hansen’s Bakery, Inc. - Plans have been submitted for a renovation and a 234 square foot addition, located at 11113 Washington Boulevard.

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) – SPE has submitted plans for the renovation of the existing entry at Overland Entry Gate to include two new guard booths and site renovations, located at 10202 Washington Boulevard.

• Made in Culver City - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was presented in the City Hall Courtyard in celebration of the City’s 94th anniversary. Approximately 300 people attended.

• 2012 Culver City Performing Arts Grants - Staff continues to review each application and prepare for the Peer Review Panel in October.

Fire Department

• Strike Team Deployment - As Southern California moves closer to wildland fire season, the Culver City Fire Department has already been called upon to assist outside agencies. CCFD recently deployed two Engines and one Strike Team Leader, as part of the XLA-1075 Strike Team, to the Wagon Wheel Incident in Aqua Dulce. Fire crews responded to assist Los Angeles County Fire Department with a wildland urban interface fire. Crews arrived and were put to work protecting structures and deploying progressive hose lays to contain and control the fire. XLA-1075 reported no damage to structures and no injuries to civilian or fire department personnel during their assignment. The fire ultimately consumed more than 500 acres and destroyed 12 homes and 15 other structures.

• Overhead Wildland Deployment - On September 12 Captain Savage was deployed to the Texas Complex Fire as a Line Safety Officer. Captain Savage is assisting with numerous fires in and around the Austin, Texas area. It is anticipated this deployment will last a minimum of 21 days. Captain Savage has been a member of a Type I Team for more than ten years and has been deployed on a variety of incidents throughout the country.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Recreation – As part of the initial phase of the Veterans Memorial Complex renovation project, the air conditioning rehabilitation project was completed last week, with minimal impact to services. The Public Works Department was vitally involved in the coordination and completion of this project.

Four sets of Americans with Disability Act (ADA)-compliant electric, automatic doors were installed at the Culver City Municipal Plunge and at the Veterans Memorial Complex during the week of September 26 – 30. This project will include the replacement of the main facility entrance doors as well as the entrances to the men’s and women’s changing rooms at the Plunge.

On September 29 the Aquatics Division conducted its quarterly meeting with youth and masters swim team renters. Coaches from the Culver City Swim Club, Royal Swim Team, Team Santa Monica and Southern California Aquatics are expected to be in attendance. Coaches from their respective teams will have the opportunity to discuss in detail what worked during the Summer 2011 season and to address areas where the City can be offer support and guidance.

• Parks – The Parks Division has completed the following facility maintenance upgrades:

o Lindberg Park: Staff made playground repairs, and replacement parts were installed at the playground.

o Syd Kronenthal Park Ball Fields: Staff aerated, fertilized and seeded the ball field at Syd Kronenthal Park, in anticipation of winter soccer season.

o Various Parks: The ongoing upgrades to the Calsense irrigation central controller system were completed as part of the City’s compliance with the State Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance AB-1881.

• Senior & Social Services – The Senior Nutrition Program is supporting the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes by hosting a water station. The ADA Walk was scheduled for Sunday morning, October 2, starting and ending at Media Park in Culver City. The water station will be outside the Overland entrance at the Culver City Senior Center from 8 am to noon. Twenty volunteers are scheduled to distribute donated water to participants in the Walk.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will be offering flu vaccines at no charge to people who don’t have health insurance or whose healthcare provider doesn’t offer flu vaccines. The County has planned seven Outreach Clinics, one of which will be held on Wednesday, November 16, from 9 am – 11 am at the Veterans Memorial Building. Senior Center staff will be working with the LA County Public Health Department nurses to plan and administer the clinic.

Police Department

• Community Safety - On September 15, members of the Police Department gave a presentation to COSTCO employees on safety in the work place and traffic safety issues. The presentation was well received.

• President Barack Obama’s Visit - On September 26 President Obama made a brief visit to West Hollywood. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department requested the Police Department’s assistance with traffic control. Members of the Department responded and participated in the President’s visit.

Public Works Department

• Sepulveda Widening Update - The contractor has made good progress. As of September 26, all turning movements at the Slauson Avenue intersection and the Green Valley Circle intersection have been restored, and there are two continuous northbound lanes open to traffic (southbound is still one lane from Jefferson Boulevard to Green Valley Circle).

In October the contractor will be working mostly on Sepulveda Boulevard from Westfield Drive to Slauson Avenue, including the Slauson Avenue /Sepulveda Boulevard intersection itself. Please be advised that intermittently localized lane closures will be necessary throughout the project limits to construct other related improvements.

• Metro Call for Projects Grant Approval - On September 22 the MTA Board officially approved the 2011 Call for Projects grants. The Public Works Department was awarded $1,180,048 for the implementation of an Adaptive Traffic Control System. This funding will be available in FY 2016 or possibly sooner and will require a local match of about $300,000. The project will improve traffic flow in the City by dynamically controlling and operating the signalized intersection locations in the City.

• Bike Rack Donation - In advance of International Walk/Bike to School Week, October 3-9, the Public Works Department will be delivering three bike racks to La Ballona Elementary School. These bike racks, which were originally donated to the City by Sony Pictures Entertainment and will represent a big improvement for La Ballona, which currently has no bike parking facilities.

• International Bike and Walk to School Week – The Public Works Department has been coordinating with the Linwood Howe Elementary School Safe Routes to School Committee on International Bike and Walk to School Week events.