City Clerk’s Office
Election Today – Culver City residents may vote for up to three City Council candidates today, and the polls are open until 8 o’clock. www.culvercity.org/vote
Finance Dept.
Finance Award – The Government Finance Officers’ Assn. has just awarded Culver City a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Click here for a complete list of award winners along with a link to the award-winning budget documents. This is Culver City’s 25th award in this category.
Fire Dept.
Preparedness Month – Earthquake Preparedness Month has been recognized since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This effort continues to be supported by the state legislature, urging Californians and governmental agencies to engage in education, evaluation of seismic hazards, mitigation, safety activities, and the exchange of information related to earthquake preparedness. Surprisingly, many Californians don’t consider themselves at risk, unless they live on or near the line of a well-known fault, such as the San Andreas or Hayward Fault. This misconception leaves millions of Californians unprepared for an earthquake.
Quick facts:
- Major earthquakes registering magnitudes between 6.3 and 8.3 have occurred in California every 5.4 years for the past 200 years.
- The United States Geological Survey estimates that there is a 90 percent chance a major earthquake will strike an urban area in California within the next 30 years.
- The majority of Californians live within 20 miles of a major earthquake fault.
While California is a world leader in emergency response and recovery capabilities, responders can’t do it alone. It is the responsibility of every individual to take action, become informed, and get actively involved in emergency preparedness. www.culvercity.org/emergencyprep
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
Frost Changes – The Culver City Historical Society invites its members and the community to learn about the exciting changes planned for Culver City High School’s landmark Robert Frost Auditorium. Co-founders of Hodgetts + Fung Design and Architecture Firm will discuss their ambitious renovation plans for the interior of the Frost, including the expansion of back-of-the-house spaces, a steel proscenium arch, handicap access and new air conditioning, lighting and electrical systems.
The Society’s next meeting is Wednesday, April 20, at 7, in the Multipurpose Room of the Vets Auditorium. www.CulverCityHistoricalSociety.org
Public Works Dept.
Organics Recycling Bill – As California pursues its recycling and greenhouse gas emissions goals, the city’s Environmental Programs and Operations Division seeks to assist businesses in complying with the state’s Commercial Organics Recycling law (AB 1826). This bill is in effect for all Culver City businesses and multi-family dwellings as follows:
Since the law went into effect on April 1, businesses that generate eight cubic yards of organic waste per week must arrange for organic waste recycling services with Culver City Refuse and Recycling. Call 310.253.6400 for service inquiries, including:
- Determining applicability to your business
- Assistance in arrangement for adequate collection service of organic materials
- Food donation opportunities
- Personalized recommendations to set up an appropriate organics recycling program, Complimentary training of staff for proper organics separation
- Free posters and brochures
For more information, see here.
Organic waste is defined a: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste.
Tree-Trimming Moratorium – In continued accordance with the Public Works Dept.’s bird-nesting moratorium, the department will cease tree trimming and removal operations during April and May (with the exception of emergency situations). These months are the peak periods of the bird-nesting season. The city wants to help ensure active nests are not harmed. Other functions such as plantings and watering will occur as needed or scheduled.
Charging — NRG, the firm the city has contracted with to install three electric vehicle charging stations for public use at the Ince Parking Structure, reports that the charging stations’ use has nearly doubled over the past four months, from 235 to 463 charges per month. NRG is monitoring the frequency of their use. Though considered high, they indicated the usage does not warrant the installation of additional charging stations.
Transportation Dept.
Paid Parking at Expo Station – Metro announced that beginning in May, it no longer will offer free parking at nine rail stations. The change is part of a pilot program to test the feasibility of rolling out paid parking for all of Metro’s 48 (soon to be 57) parking lots. The first parking lots in the pilot program are: the following Expo Line stations — Culver City, Expo/Bundy, Expo/Sepulveda, 17th Street/Santa Monica College, and La Cienega/Jefferson; North Hollywood and Universal City on the Red Line; and Atlantic and Sierra Madre Villa on the Gold Line.
Operations of Metro-owned parking facilities are maintained by an annual budget without generating any parking revenue to recover a portion of its costs. Metro estimates the pilot 9-station program is estimated will generate $600,000 annually.
The pilot will include a new operating plan where TAP card readers will be used to verify that people parking in the lots are actually using transit. The Metro board will have chances to reevaluate the pilot, including a report- back in September.
To Ease Traffic – Staff attended a briefing session where Metro representatives explained their plan to ease traffic in Los Angeles County. “If we don’t plan now for future growth, gains of recent years will give way to more traffic congestion,” Metro said. Metro is inviting comments from members of the public. Interested parties are invited to attend one of nine public meetings or participate by submitting comments through their website or social media.
- www.metro.net/theplan
- Via E-mail to: ThePlan@metro.net
- Facebook and Twitter: #metroplan
- US Mail:
The Plan
Metro
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles 90012-2952
Phase 2 — The Expo Line Phase 2 opening ceremony is Friday, May 20, with a breakaway banner event just east of the downtown Santa Monica Station at Colorado Avenue and 4th Street. The complete Expo Line is expected to be open to the public by the afternoon. All rides will be free. The new Line extension will complement transportation options such as 500 Breeze Bikes at 75 locations citywide; Big Blue Bus service, which will connect to each Expo Line Phase 2 station; 1.5 miles of new off-street bike/pedestrian paths along the Expo route in Santa Monica; and 12 diagonal pedestrian crossings in downtown Santa Monica. Santa Monica will also be launching new Zipcars and ride share opportunities, in order reduce vehicular emissions within the city. Expo’s Culver City Station will mark the line extension opening the next day, May 21, from 10 to 4.
Mr. Nachbar, the city manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org
