Culver City Observer -

Community Development Department

• Platinum Investment Group – A Building Permit has been issued for a new 13,600 square foot single-story commercial and retail building with 11,000 square feet of rooftop parking at 5450 Sepulveda Boulevard.

• Bunin Chevrolet – Building plans have been approved for a 37,400 square foot tenant improvement to the existing commercial structure and adding a 336 square feet canopy at 6101 Slauson Avenue.

• 4043 Irving mixed use project – The project is approximately 94% complete and within budget. Scheduled for completion in November/December 2013.

• Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – The annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, December 5 in Town Plaza. Starting time is 6 pm. The event includes carolers, drinks and an appearance by Santa Claus.

• Hayden Tract and Smiley Blackwelder Parking Districts – The City Council, following a recommendation for approval by the Planning Commission, unanimously approved the Hayden Tract and Smiley Blackwelder Parking Districts’ Zoning Code Amendment on November 12. Within each designated Parking District, the Zoning Code Amendment establishes new flexible parking regulations and allowances for new parking technologies that more efficiently address area parking needs through the following features:

1. Allowance for off-site parking anywhere within the Districts or within 750 feet of the Districts, providing building owners more flexibility in renovating buildings to intensify a building use and for accommodating parking needs for businesses locating in the Districts;

2. Compact parking spaces in order to provide more parking within the same land area;

3. Managed parking through valet services; and

4. Automated, semi-automated, and Lift parking.

Fire Department

• CCUSD Lunch and Learn Program – On November 7 Mike McCormick and Will Portillo, members of the Fire Prevention Division, participated in CCUSD’s Lunch & Learn program. The program is made available to both Middle and high school students and provides them an opportunity to enjoy lunch and learn about the many different careers available to them. On this particular day there were approximately 75 students in attendance, who were interested in learning about a career in the fire service. Topics included: the application process, educational requirements, background checks, assignments outside of suppression, and what a typical work day entails. There was also an opportunity for the students to ask questions.

• Sony Pictures Disaster Fair - On November 8 Fire Department members participated in Sony Pictures Entertainment’s second Annual Disaster Fair. Vendors and representatives from Kaiser, Brotman, More Prepared, and LA County Department of Public Health were among the group of participants. The The Fair was very well attended and attendees appreciated all of the information staff provided on family disaster planning and related supplies.

• Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) Emergency Preparedness - On November 14 the City’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Christine Parra, gave a presentation to CCUSD Administrative Council on the importance of being prepared and having a disaster preparedness plan. Ms. Parra’s focus is on creating a community of resiliency and empowering those in leadership roles. Ms. Parra has been working closely with CCUSD personnel over the past few years in order for CCUSD to get its plans and supplies in place. This presentation was instrumental in setting CCUSD on the course for self-reliance. The presentation was well received, and upon return to her office, Ms. Parra already had two calls from Principals wanting to meet to coordinate some parent/child reunification drills.

• New Recruit Firefighters – On November 18 two new Recruit Firefighters began their training at the Culver City Fire Training Tower. The Tower facility will be the site for eight weeks of intensive training on a variety of skills such as: the proper donning and usage of personal protective equipment, hose and ladder evolutions, building construction and roof ventilation, ropes/knots/rappelling, EMS skills/techniques, and more. When the candidates successfully complete their work at the training tower, they will be assigned to a Fire Company where they will continue to train and be evaluated throughout their one-year probationary period.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Holiday Tower Lighting Ceremony – The Annual Tower Lighting will take place on Friday, December 6 at 6:30 pm in front of the Veterans Memorial Building. This family-favorite event will feature entertainment, crafts and refreshments following the illuminating of the “tree” surrounding Vets Tower.

• Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) – A new Emergency Plan for the VMB has been implemented, with staff completing training under the guidance of the Culver City Fire Department, covering various evacuation plans for specific emergencies.

• Veterans Memorial Building Rentals Operation – Sony Pictures Television rented rooms and parking lots at Veterans Memorial Park to accommodate its late night filming of a new television show titled “Rake”.

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• Senior Center Lunch Program – The Culver City Senior Center serves more than 100 hot lunches every weekday. Lunch is served at 11:30 am to those 60 and over and their spouses of any age. Suggested donation for lunch is $2.25. For more information, call the lunchroom at (310) 253-6726 or Roxana Tabibi, Nutrition Program Director, at (310) 253-6712.

• Culver City Municipal Plunge – The yearly maintenance and repair project at the Culver City Municipal Plunge has been completed, and the Pool re-opened on November 18, as scheduled. This annual two-week closure allowed for the completion of necessary repairs and upgrades that could not be performed while the Plunge is in operation. The Aquatics staff has and will continue to provide a two-month notice to the public of all planned closures. The City’s goal is always to keep the Plunge as safe as possible while providing a welcoming environment for the hundreds of patrons who utilize the facility every day.

Police Department

• SMART 911 - During the month of November members of the Police Department have been going to the Senior Center to help Senior Center members sign up for SMART 911. This program is a valuable tool for public safety to keep our citizens safe.

• Tellefson/Tilden Association Neighborhood Watch - Tellefson/Tilden Association Neighborhood Watch held its meeting on November 13th. Lieutenant Jason Sims presented information on recent crime trends and quality of life issues.

• Raintree Condominiums - On November 14 Captain Ron Iizuka attended the Raintree Condominiums’ Neighbor Helping Neighbor Association. Captain Iizuka presented safety tips for the upcoming holidays and recent crime trends in the area.

Public Works

• Outstanding Public Civil Engineering Project Award - At the November 12 City Council Meeting, the City received an award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Los Angeles Metropolitan Branch (ASCE MLAB) for its Jefferson Boulevard / Hetzler Road Pedestrian & Bicycle Access Improvement Project. The project was recognized as the Outstanding Public Civil Engineering Project – In the Transportation Category for projects under $10 million.

The ASCE MLAB representatives cited the a number of features of the project which included new pedestrian sidewalk, a bike lane on Jefferson Boulevard from Duquesne to Holdrege Avenue, a center median on either side of the intersection of Jefferson and Hetzler that is planted with climate appropriate drought tolerant plants, a gravel parking lot that has an underlying grid to retain the rock while allowing storm water to infiltrate into the ground, and a new traffic signal and high visibility cross walk at the intersection.

The ASCE MLAB also expressed its admiration for the team effort between the City of Culver City, the California State Parks Department and the Baldwin Hills Conservancy that led to a creative and effective project that significantly improves pedestrian safety and user experience for people that frequent the park.