Fire Dept.
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter – The department recently launched official Facebook (fb.me/CulverCityFD) and Twitter (@CCFireDept) accounts to better connect with the Culver City community. Stop by and say hello.
Ambulance Operator Program – Following weeks of extensive training and mentoring, the Culver City Basic Life Support Ambulance recently went into service, staffed with two Emergency Medical Technicians. The Ambulance Operator Program cost-effectively improves the department’s response reliability, as the volume of EMS-related calls in Culver City continues to increase. In fiscal year 2014-15, the department responded to 4,119 EMS-related calls. The Ambulance Operator Program supports the department’s response capabilities. It helps serve a greater number of patients with pre-hospital care and transport.
Paramedic Graduation – Congratulations to firefighter/paramedic Brett Nagel on his completion of Paramedic School. Mr. Nagel participated in the Paramedic Training Institute’s six-month program that includes1,100 hours of work, comprised of lectures, labs, hospital based clinical studies, and a field internship.
National Preparedness Month – Check in at www.fb.me/CulverCityFD and follow us on Twitter at @CCFireDept throughout the month of September for information. Sign up for Nixle, the city’s emergency notification system. To sign up for phone, email and text alerts, visit www.nixle.com. Or text your zip code to 888777 from your cell phone to receive local alerts through Short Message Service.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
Volunteer Opportunities — Please contact Jill Thomsen in the volunteer office at 310.253.6722 or via email at jill.thomsen@culvercity.org for more information. Other volunteer opportunities:
- Shoes for the Homeless shoe sorting event on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2 o’clock to 2. Help prepare donated shoes be ready for delivery to shelters and facilities.
- Park cleanup at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook off Jefferson on Sunday, Sept. 13, 8:30-10:45. This family-friendly workday will focus on habitat restoration, with an emphasis on invasive plant removal. Children ages eight and older are welcome (with a legal guardian) are welcome to participate.
- Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 to noon. Culver City is home to five sites. Culver City joins 12,000 volunteers from all over Los Angeles County at different sites to take action to rid beaches and inland waterways of unsightly harmful debris.
Golden Future EXPO – The Senior Center will have a booth at the Golden Future 50+ Senior EXPO at the Vets Auditorium, Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 to 3. This celebrates baby boomers and seniors 50 and older. The EXPO will highlight nutrition, health, wellness, retirement, housing, education, advocacy and much more. Admission is free.
Job & Resource Fair – The department is co-sponsoring a Job & Resource Fair for Young Adults in partnership with the California Employment Development Dept., Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10 to 3, at the Vets Auditorium. Open to all job seekers. Participants are asked to dress for success and bring a resume. There will be opportunities to meet and interview with employers, receive training and career information, and attend workshops. 323.290.5162 for more information or to register.
Police Dept.
Back to School Meeting – Lt. Aubrey Kellum attended a meeting at Harvest Community Church to help deliver backpacks to area children before the new school year.
Vintage Faith Church — Lt. Kellum and several day watch officers participated in a community meet ‘n greet event at the church, hosted by Pastor Matt Kladnick.
Public Works Dept.
Preserve Urban Forest – While experiencing severe drought conditions, the lack of rain, along with strict water conservation measures mandated by the state and municipalities, is having an adverse effect on our urban forest. Water is an essential nutrient for a tree’s survival. Without it, trees will either respond adversely as a defense mechanism or experience a decline in health and vigor in ways such as broken limbs/branches, shedding of berries, rotting of trunks. Other symptoms to look for in trees that could be suffering as a result of the drought include, but are not limited to:
- Wilted foliage
- A sparse canopy of off-color and undersized leaves
- Leaf scorch (dark coloration of leaves)
- Yellowing
- Leaf drop (fruiting)
- Premature fall coloration
Residents and property owners have been proactive and have converted the parkways in front of their residences to drought tolerant landscaping to conserve water; but this can lead to insufficient water necessary for the trees. Mature trees accustomed to regular lawn watering will continue to require some water during this time of drought. As a result, residents and property owners are encouraged to water the trees located in parkways either via irrigation systems or hand-watering in accordance with the city’s irrigation schedule outlined in the water conservation ordinance. If hand-watering, please avoid over-watering so that the parkway does not over-saturate and runoff on to the curb. Additionally, caution should be taken to avoid watering too much at one time since it can cause the tree to soak up too much water at once and possibly cause limb breakage. As a general rule, deep infrequent watering of the soil is preferable to frequent shallowing watering. An ideal frequency would be once per week, but the soil should be checked to make sure it is completely dry before watering.
Additionally, an El Nino event appears likely for the region this coming winter. An overabundance of water following a long period of drought may result in some trees taking too much water at once and result in adverse health risks for the tree as described above. By supporting trees with some form of irrigation now, this risk will be reduced while also helping to enhance the vitality of trees during this period of dryness.
Hazard Mitigation Plan – City Hall and the School District are preparing a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which identifies and presents a strategy to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazard events such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. It diminishes or eliminates the risk posed by those threats to break the cycle of repeated destruction by natural hazard events. Residents are encouraged to take a moment to complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CulverCityHazardMitigationPlan
A public meeting/learning event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 o’clock at the Senior Center provide the community with an opportunity to learn more hazard mitigation plan, to review the progress and share opinions.
See www.culvercity.org/hazardmitigationplan
Home Upgrade Tour – The city is partnering with the Energy Network to help homeowners see first-hand how Culver City homes can become energy and water efficient. On Aug. 16, 65 residents took an opportunity to walk through a 1940 home and view several upgrades that had been installed using statewide Energy Upgrade California® Home Upgrade rebates, including wall insulation, duct sealing, air conditioner, tankless water heater, and windows. Other green improvements included drought tolerant landscaping, drip irrigation, and low flow showerheads and faucets. The upgrades not only make the home more energy and water efficient, but provide more comfort, better air quality, and greater resale value.
Tour visitors were given a map of the home which pinpointed the home’s upgrades. Photos of each of the measures were included on signage so that visitors could see what they looked like, even if they were not immediately visible (such as attic insulation). The home’s owners answered questions about their efficiency upgrade experience, and program reps provided information and flyers on how to get started with the Home Upgrade process.
Visitors concluded their tour with refreshments and a simple, three-question quiz which confirmed the most important message from the event: Home Upgrade rebates can help residents take the next step toward more comfortable, healthy living.
The Energy Network is administered by the County and funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Contact the Energy Network at homeupgrade@theenergynetwork.com.
Speed Feedback Signs – Speed feedback signs are being installed at four locations to address excessive speeds on approach to roadway curvatures and/or changes in roadway slope.
- Southbound Buckingham Parkway near Windsor Way;
- Northbound Buckingham Parkway near Kensington Way;
- Southbound Overland Avenue at Deshire Place; and
- Northbound Playa Street at Playa Court.
The purpose of the feedback signs is to cause a behavioral change by informing drivers traveling at an excessive speed by displaying it in 15-inch tall numbers so that drivers, being aware, can reduce their speed.
When an approaching vehicle is traveling five miles over the posted speed limit, the sign flashes the message “Slow Down.” The signs have been effective and causing the desired change: drivers traveling 5 mph over the posted speed saw the message to slow down, and reduced their speeds.
The effectiveness of the speed feedback signs will be reviewed periodically over the next six months.
Construction Updates
Golden State Water Company will be installing a new water main on Vera Way, Stevens Avenue, and on Playa Street near Hannum Avenue. Traffic will be affected in the southbound direction on Playa Street. Use alternative routes such as Sepulveda Boulevard.
Mr. Nachbar, the city manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org
