Home OP-ED City Manager’s Bi-Weekly Update to the Community

City Manager’s Bi-Weekly Update to the Community

July 7, 2015

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City Manager’s Office

Music, Maestro, Please – Garey Mandell and Boulevard Music present six free concerts on Thursday evenings, starting day after tomorrow, at 7 o’clock in the Courtyard of City Hall. Thursday’s headliner: Latin and Flamenco rhythms with pop/rock/funk and electronic elements from Calé http://www.calemusic.com/photos.html. Plus Conganas will perform salsa, cumbia, and Latin jazz. https://www.facebook.com/conganas23.

Community Development Dept.

New Projects — The Economic Development Division is working to expedite projects that are being developed at Westfield Culver City and 700 Corporate Pointe. Westfield is repurposing the former J.C. Penney Home Furnishings building on Slauson Avenue for a new Trader Joe’s.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.

Happy Anniversary – July marks the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city will celebrate the anniversary with “dinner and a movie,” Saturday, July 18, from 5 to 7:30, at the Senior Center. Cost is $10. RSVP is required. There will be a screening of the award-winning film Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes. Dinner includes pizza, fresh popcorn, and movie candy.
The Right Fit – On Saturday morning, July 25, the Senior Center will host a CarFit event from 8:30 to noon. CarFit is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles fit them. A team of trained technicians and/or health professionals work with each participant. Open to drivers 55 and older, appointments must be made at 310.253.6700.
Summer Camp –At the camp’s Olympic Day event, 190 campers met two Olympic medalists, Greg Louganis and Peter Vidmar. The day included soccer, flag football, kickball, basketball and gymnastics. A hot dog lunch rounded out the day, along with multiple inflatable jump houses, sumo wrestling suits and a human foosball game.

Here Is a Story – At the Vets Auditorium,We Tell Stories presents Read to the Rhythm, a program of the Julian Dixon Library, on Wednesdays through July 29. dee-Lightful Productions presents Xanadu, Jr.,Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 and Saturday also at 3 at the Vets. http://www.dee-lightful.org/. The Culver City Historical Society will present the story of Johnnie’s Pastrami on Wednesday, July 15, at 7 in the Rotunda Room. The Archives and Resource Center will be open after the program. For information, call 310.253.6941.

Rental Operations – The Vets Auditorium Rental Operation has expanded its hours. 310.253.6625.

Fiesta Time– Fiesta La Ballona returns to Vets Park Aug. 28-30. Fiesta adds its first farmers market next month. The Entertainment Tent features the authentic American sounds of classic rock ‘n roll, country, soul, big band, Hawaiian, and the most popular music playing today as well as world music such as mariachi and conjunto music, Russian rock and Latin jazz. http://www.fiestalaballona.org/.

Police Dept.

Neighborhood Watch – Lt. Sam Agaiby met with the Blanco Park Neighborhood Watch at El Rincon School last month. He discussed crime trends in their neighborhood and the use of the department’s social media program to help stay connected with the department.

Training Session –– Asst. Chief Chris Gutierrez, Capt. Allen Azran, and Lts. Bill Browne, Jason Sims and Sam Agaibyattended a training class presented by the Anti-Defamation League on Law Enforcement and Society.

Public Works Dept.

Energy Efficiency Forum – Culver City staff was invited to sit on a panel at the sixth Statewide Energy Efficiency Best Practices Forum in Sacramento. Public Works Director Charles Herbertson, a panelist, focused on using benchmarking and financial matrices to determine the best energy efficiency projects.

From the Bench – The benches at the City Hall Courtyard have been removed to be powder-coated offsite and will be returned by Thursday, in time for the Summer Concert series. The existing benches are beginning to rust due to being exposed to the elements. The newly powder-coated benches will have a fresh look and will have a long and useful life.

Sierra Club Water Resource Fair– Thursday evening from 7 to 9, the Sierra Club – in the Garden Room, Vets Auditorium — will bring together water conservation and water efficiency resources to help residents learn how they can mitigate the drought by reducing water consumption. Public Works along with water agencies, community partners, landscape designers, and retailers of water conservation products will be together under one roof. Representatives of the county’s Hero Program, which is providing water efficiency project financing, Blue Sky Biochar, Eco-Friendly Custom Landscapes and others. The city will be sharing its Water Conservation Plan. Every participant will receive a free sample of Biochar, and the Sierra Club will have a raffle with water-saving prizes.

Del Amo Construction will continue working on Washington Boulevard and on Landmark Street reconstructing the sidewalk, curb and gutter. Lane closures will affect traffic on Washington between Robertson and National boulevards. There will be lane closures on Washington Boulevard intermittently through the month to accommodate this work.
Nachbar, the city manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org