Culver City Observer -

By John Nachbar

City Manager

City Manager’s Office

• Culver City Featured in SWISS Magazine - SWISS Magazine, the inflight publication of Swiss International Air Lines, features the Los Angeles area as a destination in the current December/January issue. There are three references to Culver City in the article. On page 23, artist Joshua Callaghan is pictured standing next to one of his wrapped utility boxes in downtown. On page 26, Susanne Vielmetter is featured; her gallery is on Washington Boulevard in the Culver City Arts District. And, on page 35, The Culver Hotel is listed in the hotel section of the article. A link to those pages are included in the following link: http://www.culvercity.org/Articles/SWISSmagazine.aspx

• Culver City Julian Dixon Public Library – Los Angeles County Librarian Margaret Donnelian Todd has informed the City of Culver City that renovations to the Julian Dixon Library on Overland Avenue will begin on January 5, 2015. Part of the improvements will include the purchase of nearly 40 new computers for children, teens and the general public. The renovation project will feature new lighting, paint, furniture, and additional electrical outlets. Also, a new, modern circulation and information desk with self-checkout machines will help enable staff to better serve library patrons.

During the closure, an Express Library will be available for limited services at the site of the Mayme Clayton Museum and Library, located at 4130 Overland Avenue, during the following hours:

Sunday and Monday: Closed

Tuesday-Friday: 2 pm to 6 pm

Saturday: 11 am to 3 pm

• Mike Balkman Council Chambers Audio Visual System Renovation Project is Underway - After almost 20 years of service, the audio-visual system in the Mike Balkman Council Chambers is in need of replacement. After over a year of preparation, including a competitive bidding process, on December 8 the City Council approved a contract with Integrated Media Systems to complete the necessary work. Construction crews began work in the Council Chambers on Monday, December 15tto start the 15-week project. During construction, live broadcast and webcast of meetings are not possible. However, staff is coordinating audio/visual recordings of the meetings held in alternate locations. Such recordings will be re-broadcast via Channel 35 beginning the day after meetings are held. Webcast recordings will also be available via the City’s website within two business days after meetings are held. As the project progresses over the next 15 weeks, please watch this section for updates.

Community Development

• Washington National – The City’s Project Review Committee, comprised of representatives from all City departments, reviewed the Preliminary Project Plans for the Lowe Enterprises Transit Oriented Mixed Used Development Project at the Culver City Expo Light Rail Line Station at Washington and National Boulevards. The proposed project is comprised of approximately 200,000 square feet of office area, a 148 room hotel, a 200 unit residential complex, a retail and restaurant commercial area of approximately 50,000 square feet. The project will provide over 1,600 parking spaces in 2½ levels of subterranean parking including 300 parking spaces for the Expo line. Significant amounts of open space will be part of the project including a transit plaza, outdoor dining areas, and a 1/3 acre public open space area. The project will also include new streetscape improvements along Washington, National and Venice Boulevards to include new street trees, landscaping, lighting, and street furniture. The purpose of this preliminary review is for the City to provide the developer with initial comments and feedback on the design and development of the project. As the developer further refines the plans and prepares all required environmental studies there will be additional City review as well as public community meetings scheduled and ultimately public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council prior to the project being approved.

• Business Improvement District – On December 8 the City Council adopted a resolution confirming the Business Improvement District Advisory Board’s Annual Report and the levy of the Downtown Culver City Business Improvement District Assessment for 2015. The City Council also appointed members to the Business Improvement District Advisory Board, as recommended by the Downtown Business Association.

• Downtown Business Association Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Events – On December 8 the City Council approved an Amendment to the MOU between the City and the Culver City Downtown Business Association for City-Sponsored dba Events in Calendar Years 2015 and 2016.

• Chamber of Commerce MOU for Events – On December 8 the City Council approved the Chamber of Commerce MOU for community events, projects, and the general economic development of the City for 2015 and 2016. This MOU includes the Business Expo, the Mayor’s Luncheon, the Public Safety Luncheon, and a Public Promotional Event.

• 3433 Wesley Street – On December 8 the Board of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency approved transfer of the property at 3433 Wesley Street pursuant to the Department of Finance-approved Long Range Property Management Plan during the public hearing on December 8. This item is tentatively scheduled for the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency meeting on January 15.

Fire Department

• Westside Children’s Center Holiday Party – On December 13 members of the Culver City Fire Department hosted over 40 foster children and their families for a holiday celebration. For over a decade, the Department has opened the doors of Fire Station 1 to the Westside Children’s Center. This year’s event was a huge success. The Westside Children’s Center is an organization that provides thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality early education programs, family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services intended to help at-risk youth.

• Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES) – The Culver City Fire Department wishes to commend the men and women of the CCARES for their volunteerism and community efforts. CCARES volunteers participated in nearly 20 training activities, several regional events, and provided many hours of assistance to the Fire Department, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and community organizations this year. The Department is extremely grateful for CCARES members’ commitment and dedication to emergency preparedness. Thank you, CCARES!

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department

• Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) Events – USA Dance of Los Angeles County will hold a New Year’s Eve Ball in Veterans Memorial Auditorium on December 31. The event, which features ballroom dancing, dinner and live music, is open to the public. For more information, please visit http://usadancela.org/

• VMB Rental Operation – Rooms are still available to book at VMB for New Year’s Eve. Inquiries may be made by emailing vmc.booking@culvercity.org or by calling 310-253-6625.

• 2015 Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program – The City Council approved 16 grants for the 2015 Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program. The program, which is also supported by Sony Pictures Entertainment, provides music, dance and theatre performances throughout the year. The 2015 grantees include The Actors’ Gang, Benita Bike’s DanceArt, Culver City Chamber Orchestra, Culver City Public Theatre, Culver City Symphony Orchestra, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, Jazz Bakery, Donna Sternberg and Dancers, Lineage Dance Company, Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, No Limits Theatre Group, Overtone Industries, Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound, Vox Femina Los Angeles, and We Tell Stories. More information will posted throughout the year at http://www.culvercity.org/Culture.aspx.

• The Senior Center New Year’s Eve Party – The Culver City Senior Center New Year’s Eve Party will be held on Wednesday, December 31 at 11:30 am. Tickets are on sale to Culver City Senior Citizens Association members for $1 at the Senior Center Business desk.

• The RSVP Square Dancers – The RSVP Square Dancers are hanging up their boots after more than 20 years of performing at local nursing and convalescent homes. Thank you to these amazing entertainers for years of spreading boot-scootin’ joy in our local community. The residents whose lives you brightened are grateful for the years of smiles, singing and dancing.

• The Senior & Social Services Division – The Senior & Social Services Division was happy to host Dances for the Developmentally Disabled and Socialites parties with a special holiday theme this December. Attendees not only enjoyed entertainment, dancing and food, but also received gifts from Santa and his elves. Thank you to the many volunteers who help make these monthly events special for all the attendees.

• Senior Center Honorees – Vice Mayor Micheál O’Leary and Councilmember Jim B. Clarke were on hand to honor Senior Center Member of the Year, Mayra Romero. Councilmember Clarke led the swearing in ceremony for the new Senior Center Board of Directors.

Police Department

• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Advisory Committee Meeting - On December 12 Captains Allen Azran and Ron Iizuka attended a legislative meeting to discuss the current issues related to mental health and the criminal justice system. The quest speaker was Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

• Retired Police Officer Patrick Cleary Funeral Service - On December 16 members of the Police Department attended the funeral services for retired Culver City Police Officer Patrick Cleary, who passed away on December 6 at the age of 77. Officer Cleary retired in 1987 after serving 30 years with the Department.

• Chief Scott Bixby speaks at the Culver City Exchange Club - On December 16 Chief Bixby was the guest speaker at the Exchange Club’s meeting. Chief Bixby gave a presentation on the Department’s goals, accomplishments, and his priorities as the Head of the Department.

• Good Morning America’s SMART 911 Feature - On December 16 Abbie Boudreau, a correspondent for Good Morning America, came to the Police Department to interview Lt. Jason Sims regarding Culver City’s use of SMART 911. The interview aired on Good Morning America the next day. To view the interview, please go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/personal-safety-game-changer-called smart-911-27659742.

• Culver City Rotary Club Induction - On December 17 several members of the Police Department including Chief Bixby and the Command staff were inducted into the Culver City Rotary Club as new members. Rotary Club membership is a part of Chief Bixby’s commitment to the community to build strong working relationships with all of the stakeholders in the City.

Public Works

• Community Meetings: Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan – The City of Culver City is working with the consultant, Artecho, to develop an Urban Forest Master Plan (Plan) setting forth a comprehensive vision for a robust and resilient urban forest in the City.

The Plan will establish long-term strategic framework for the next 50 years. The areas covered in the Plan will include principles, policies, criteria for tree removal, tree care, existing tree locations, types and conditions, species diversification, an update of the tree inventory list and the future vision of trees in Culver City.

Please join us on the following dates to share your observations about the existing urban forest and your ideas for its future:

Saturday January 10, 2015 10 am to 11:30 am

Wednesday January 14, 2015 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Thursday February 5, 2015 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Saturday February 7, 2015 10 am to 11:30 am

Saturday April 25, 2015 10 am to 11:30 am

Location

City Hall – Dan Patacchia Room (Ground Floor), 9770 Culver Boulevard, Culver City

Sign-Up to Receive Email Updates:

https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/CACULVER/subscriber/new

*Once you have entered your email address, scroll down to “Timely Topics” and select “Urban Forest Management Plan”.

Participate in Urban Forest Survey to Help Structure Community Meetings:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/culvercityurbanforest2014

• Culver City Reaches Gold Tier in Energy Reduction and Savings –

On December 8, 2014, Southern California Edison (SCE) presented the City with an award to recognize reaching the Gold Tier status in SCE’s Westside Energy Leader Partnership Program.

To qualify for the Gold Tier, Culver City achieved more than a 10% reduction in municipal energy efficiency savings compared to the 2006 baseline of kilowatt hours (kWh), met SCE’s Demand Response requirement, community outreach component and created an Energy Action Plan.

Based on the total 1,183,078 (1.1) kWh saved since 2006, the City has avoided 1,139,304 lbs. of CO2 (equivalent to taking 101 cars off the road).

• Electronic Waste Roundup: Drive Up, Drop Off and Drive Away – Each year, hundreds of thousands of computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, printers, televisions and other electronic items become "obsolete" as rapid advances in technology and an expanding demand for new features accelerate the generation of "old" electronic equipment (e-Waste).

Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered and used again. In addition, some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous and unacceptable for municipal trash disposal. California law designates televisions and monitors as hazardous.

Culver City Public Works Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) in collaboration with California Recycles, Inc. will offer opportunities for residents and businesses to drop-off their end of life or obsolete electronic waste free of charge. No other hazardous waste will be collected other than electronic waste.

Location

Exceptional Children’s Foundation, 8740 Washington Boulevard, Culver City

2015 Dates

Saturday January 10

Saturday, May 16

Saturday, September 12

9:30 am to 2 pm

California Recycles, Inc. is a state certified electronic waste collection and disposal company operating in compliance with the California Electronics Recycling Act of 2003, which makes it illegal to dump any electronics in landfills or otherwise undesignated areas.

For more information, please contact the EPO Customer Service Office at (310) 253-6400.

• 2015 Smart Gardening Workshops – Due to the popularity and high turnout at the 2014 Smart Gardening Workshops, EPO in collaboration with Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, will offer free Smart Gardening Workshops in 2015. Learn how to improve your lawn and garden, conserve water and reduce waste. No reservations are needed. Doors open at 9 am and Workshops begin at 9:30 am on the following dates:

Saturday February 28, 2015 Beginning Workshop*

Saturday April 18, 2015 Advanced Workshop**

Saturday July 25, 2015 Beginning Workshop*

Saturday October 24, 2015 Advanced Workshop**

Location

Veterans Memorial Building – Garden Room, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City

*Beginning workshops provide hands-on instruction on composting, worm composting, grass-cycling as well as water-wise and fire-wise gardening.

**Advanced workshops introduce organic gardening, landscaping with native friendly, drought tolerant plants, and integrated pest management (environmental ways to control pests).

Residents can purchase a backyard or worm composting bin at a discounted price after the workshops by calling (310) 253-6411.

• The Meadows Go Green All The Way – EPO worked closely with the Meadows’ E&S Ring Management to set up its new and improved recycling program.

The Meadows is the largest apartment community in Culver City, with close to 1800 residents. To mark America Recycles Day and lower its carbon footprint, the Meadows announced their new and improved recycling program in November 2014. Recycling totes and educational brochures were handed out and residents were able to ask the City’s Recycling Consultant questions about recycling.

The Meadows has demonstrated great leadership in establishing an upgraded recycling program, providing tools and information for residents to increase their recycling efforts and assisting Culver City in reaching its waste diversion goals of 75% by 2020.

Some program changes include:

- Adding new blue recycling bins to trash areas

- Adding green recycling bins for green waste composting

- Upgrading enclosure areas for optimal residential use of recycling bins

- Continuing to promote and offer accurate information to residents

Culver City provided complimentary recycling signage and posters, blue recycling totes for residents’ use, marketing brochures and other promotional items.

Since Culver City’s recycling service rates are 70% lower than trash rates, the Meadows will decrease its trash service costs by augmenting their recycling program. This will not only benefit the residents’ pocket books, but also our planet. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

Read more about the Meadows at http://www.esring.com/meadows-apartments or contact (310) 253-6400 for more information about recycling programs in the City.

• Construction Updates:

1. Golden State Water Company will be replacing a water main on Le Bourget Avenue on December 22, 23, and 29, and 30, 2014.

Transportation

• Service Changes - There will be service changes to Culver CityBus Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, Rapid 6, and 7 beginning on Monday, January 12, 2015, at which time schedules will be available on each bus. Please check http://www.culvercitybus.com for more information, beginning Monday, December 22nd.

Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, rapid 6, and 7 will undergo schedule changes.

Line 1 will discontinue stops at Pacific Avenue/25th Place and Pacific Avenue/28th Place.

Line 7 will extend to the Hayden Tract area during peak hours.

Future Plans for Line 4 will result in an extension from the Westfield Culver City Transit Center to Playa Vista/Lincoln Boulevard via Jefferson Boulevard.