[Editor’s Note: This being the departing Mr. Ewell’s penultimate day as Interim City Manager, here is the final edition of his every-other-week report to the City Council and community, which he initiated in April.]
City Manager’s Office
Review of Citywide Business Processes – As you know, many of the current business practices utilized by the city have not been changed for several years and are in need of re-engineering to ensure they comport with current practices. These processes would include the creation and processing of open Purchase Orders; the collection of fees; administration of grants; preparation of the City Council agenda; and the function of the Committee on Permits and Licenses. Consequently, we feel that we are less efficient and effective than we could be as an organization. To address this, city staff has begun a comprehensive undertaking to review, modify, and in some cases completely revamp, our systems to ensure that we are more user-friendly, effective and efficient in our daily practices. Once our work has been completed, we will provide the City Council with a summary of the changes and the process that will be used to ensure continual improvements are maintained.
Community Development Dept.
Yen Sushi Restaurant — This new restaurant, in the Westfield Culver City Mall, had its grand opening on July 22.
The Tap Room — This new 2,189-square foot restaurant, at 9806 Washington Blvd., has submitted tenant improvement plans for review.
West Washington AIP Phase I — Public Works approved the applicant’s Traffic Control Plan. Construction began on July 26. The Notice of Construction was sent to adjacent business and residents, and traffic signs indicating imminent construction have been positioned in the right of way.
West Washington AIP Phase II — The Community Development Director issued a Notice to Proceed for the consultant to develop the construction drawings. The plans should be completed in early fall.
12714-18 Washington Blvd. — The applicant submitted plans for a preliminary review for a proposed mixed use project with 4 residential units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space in the West Washington AIP.
4051-55 Jackson Ave. — On July 15, the applicant held a pre-application community outreach meeting for a proposed 9-unit multi-family residential development.
5950 Stoneview Dr. — The Ohr Eliyahu Academy has relocated from the former Culver City Unified School District’s Linda Vista Elementary School site and has put the property up for sale. Staff is working closely with interested buyers, including the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, on possible new uses for the site. Any proposed change of use would require community outreach to the Blair Hills neighborhood.
Performing Arts Grant Program — Staff provided marketing assistance for Culver City Public Theatre, which opened its summer season at Carlson Park on July 17. Performances will run every Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon and 2 until Aug. 22.
Sprouts Farmers Market Receives Award — On July 22 at 11 a.m., Sprouts was honored as the first grocer to receive the “Energy Efficiency Leader in Retail Grocery Award” from Hussmann and Trane for the sustainable energy and operation efficiency systems selected for the store.
Homeless Services/Culver Park Homeless Encampment Clean-up — Through the efforts of Housing, Code Enforcement, Parks Division, Culver City Police Dept. (CCPD), City Attorney and Sanitation, the homeless encampment at Culver Park was cleared over a two-day period (July 14 and 15). The items removed from the encampment will be stored by Sanitation for 90 days. CCPD and the Saint Joseph Center Homeless Outreach Team will continue to monitor the area to offer services/shelter and prevent re-establishment of the encampment.
Homeless Services/Westside COG — Housing staff attended the monthly Westside COG Homeless Issues Committee meeting on July 15. A topic of discussion was next year’s Winter Shelter Program at the Culver City Armory. The Housing Division will be meeting with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to discuss the shelter program funding status and possible relocation of the shelter site.
Great Leap — At the July 12 City Council meeting, Dan Kwong from Great Leap approached the City Council with a request to use the Council Chambers as its performance space. Great Leap is a 2010 Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program recipient. Staff spoke with Dan and will be working closely with him to coordinate his performance space. He understands that the Council Chambers are not an option. Staff regularly guides the grant recipients but there may have been a change in their staffing as Dan did not have staff’s contact information.
Fire Dept.
Commission On Fire Accreditation (CFAI) Annual Compliance Report — The Fire Dept. is required to submit an Annual Compliance Report (ACR) to CFAI updating the agency on the progress on both the CFAI Strategic and Specific recommendations and any updates/enhancements to core competencies. The ACR was completed and submitted on July 14. The ACR will be reviewed, and a Statement of Findings report will be developed and forwarded to the Fire Dept. for review and discussion. In August, the Commission will meet to review and discuss all submitted ACR’s and their Statement of Findings. In order to maintain the city’s accreditation status, the Commission must approve the document which confirms that the department continues to meet all core competencies. Staff expects to be notified of the Commission’s decision sometime in August.
Friends of the Library Movie Screening — On July 17, the Friends of the Library held a screening of the movie “Charlotte’s Web.” Fire Management provided staffing and a popcorn machine for the event. Battalion Chiefs Bischoff and Wells participated in this worthwhile community event, which helped raise money for the library.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
Pedestrian Safety Workshop — Staff will be meeting with Ron Durgin, President of Sustainable Streets, to discuss the details for the first Pedestrian Safety workshop at the Senior Center. Sustainable Streets was a mini-grant award from the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center to produce two educational workshops for seniors on pedestrian safety.
Public Works Dept.
Graffiti Schedule — On July 19, the Graffiti Crew began to work a 5/40 schedule, which is a change from the previous 9/80 schedule. The 5/40 schedule will allow the crew to continue to provide seven-day per week service, despite its reduced size.
Bill Botts Field Lighting — On July 13, work began on the installation of six sports lights at the Bill Botts Field in Culver City Park. The contractor has completed construction of reinforced concrete foundations. Installation of the conduit and circuitry has commenced, and the steel poles will be installed by the end of July. The operation of the lights will be ready for the soccer season beginning in September.
Washington Boulevard Roadway Repair — A segment of Washington Boulevard between National Boulevard and Landmark Street was repaired on July 22. The segment encompasses the north side of Washington Boulevard and was necessitated by the worsening condition of the segment that was damaged by an Expo subcontractor while moving heavy equipment across the roadway.
National Boulevard Civil/Signal Work — FCI/Fluor/Parsons (FFP) will be constructing the permanent roadway configuration along National Boulevard between Hayden Avenue and Schafer Street between July 26 and Aug. 31. Hours of construction are as follows:
Monday through Friday, 8 to 8
Saturday, 9 to 7
Sunday, 10 to 7
Eastbound and westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.
Washington Boulevard Traffic Diversions and Detours for Falsework — In order to construct the falsework over National and Washington boulevards for the construction of the Expo Venice/Robertson Aerial Station and Structures, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure International (BBII) is implementing a series of traffic diversions and detours. Washington Boulevard is expected to be closed between Robertson Boulevard/Higuera Street and National Boulevard on July 31 and Aug. 1. During these closures, traffic will be detoured to Venice Boulevard, and local access will be provided to Landmark Street. Notices for these diversions and detours were distributed between July 14 and July 21.
Transportation Dept.
Transit Access Pass (TAP) System — Staff participated in a meeting with the majority of the municipal transit operators who have implemented the TAP system in Los Angeles County to discuss the key outstanding issues with the system. All of the municipal transit operators’ Transportation Directors will be meeting with Metro’s executive staff to openly discuss and seek resolution to these issues.
Bus Advertisement — Staff has met with several bus advertising firms to gather information on the feasibility of implementing a bus advertisement program. Staff plans to bring this item to the City Council for discussion within a couple of months.
West Los Angeles College Bus Service — The Executive Director of the Transit Coalition (a strong Transit Advocacy Group) told staff that he was recently informed about Culver CityBus’s decision not to go into the campus. He asked staff why and was told that it was a mutual agreement between the West L.A. College, Culver City and the neighborhood associations surrounding the campus. This individual may feel the need to protest the decision.
Only through tomorrow, Mr. Ewell may be contacted at lamont.ewell!@culvercity.org
