City Manager’s Office
Summer Festival — The final two free Boulevard Music Summer Concerts in the Dale Jones Courtyard at City Hall Courtyard will be tomorrow evening and next Thursday at 7 o’clock.
Irish vocalist and flutist Nuala Kennedy and her ensemble tomorrow. Soul/R&B from Missy Andersen and her band take next Thursday’s closing spotlight.
The public is encouraged to take a Culver CityBus to the venue, and bike racks are available. If you drive, parking is free for two hours in designated parking structures in Downtown. Dozens of dining options are available within walking distance. See Boulevard Music’s website.
Community Development Dept.
Sprout JK – Waffle – Building plans were approved for a 2,700-square foot tenant improvement for a new restaurant at 3599 Hayden Ave.
Transfer Station – Building plans were approved to demolish and reconfigure the layout to create a new men’s restroom and locker room at 9275 Jefferson Blvd.
Bank of the West – A final building inspection was completedfor a 3,199- square foot tenant improvement for a new bank at 8770 Washington Blvd., The PLATFORM.
Bacoshop – Building plans were submitted for a tenant improvement to an existing restaurant space, which will add a cooking line, service counter, updated bathrooms (to ADA compliance), and the replacement of the store front at 9552 Washington Blvd.
WMN Space – Paula Mallis – Building plans were submitted for a 1,400-square foot tenant improvement including demolition of non-load bearing walls to combine two spaces into one, and to construct one new load bearing wall at 10764 ½ Washington Blvd.
The Reformation – Building plans were submitted ofor a 7,456-square foot tenant improvement of an existing space at 8840 Washington Blvd., No. 201, The PLATFORM.
Transit-Oriented Development Project – The Water Board has approved a work plan to obtain closure for the environmental remediation work at 8801 Washington Blvd. The contractor/consultant is currently performing the tasks required for closure. The developer has performed additional soil testing over the entire site. The consultant submitted its draft final report to the Water Board on July 14.
Long Range – The city is awaiting the Dept. of Finance’s approval of the city’s proposed Amendment to the Long Range Property Management Plan submitted in April. The review period expired last week.
Media Park – Improvements, which include clearing shrub planting and leveling soil along the building, are nearing completion.
Hayden Tract Spur – The following work has been completed on the Spur Parking Project:
- Drive-aisle and parking stalls have been striped.
- Parking stalls have been numbered.
- Electrical conduit has been trenched for connection.
- The electrical power box is in place.
- Lighting has been installed.
- Irrigation lines are in place.
- Trees and shrubs have been delivered and planted.
- Signage has been installed.
- Graffiti has been removed.
- Trash enclosures and compactor areas have been rebuilt.
Parking Structure Maintenance – Monthly maintenance services and bi-annual pressure washing of the three Downtown parking structures continue to be on schedule and there are no current issues. The City Hall Dale Jones Courtyard was pressure washed after the summer concert series event of July 14.
Committee on Homelessness – At last week’s meeting, two members, Dr. Ira Diamond and Karlo Silbiger, were reappointed to the Committee on Homelessness. An update was presented by staff and the Saint Joseph Center on homeless outreach throughout the city and informed of the status of various homeless persons. The Committee will host a round table discussion with Westside homeless service providers. Topics: Rapid re-housing programs, service entry and coordination of services. The Committee has made review of the County Initiative on Homelessness a priority and will make recommendations to the City Council on ways the city adopt and/or support these initiatives.
Landlord Tenant Mediation Board –Three members of the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board have been re-appointed, Michael Berlin, Tara Lewis and Justin Lescoulie. Last week’s meeting focused on a brainstorming session about how the Board can expand its scope beyond rent increases. Members considered neighbor-to-neighbor disputes such as barking dogs and tenant-to-tenant disputes such as upstairs noise concerns. Members thought they could work with neighborhood groups and facilitate discussion regarding housing projects.
Globe Project – Agreements are being finalized for the Globe Avenue “for sale” affordable housing project.
Voucher Program — Housing will open the Section 8 waiting list and accept new applications before the end of the year. It is anticipated 20,000 households may apply. Based on a massive number, the application process will be online only.
Planning Commission – David Voncannon is Chairperson and Dana Amy Sayles is Vice Chair.
Baldwin Project – A resolution was adopted approving a proposed five-story mixed use project consisting of 37 multi-family residential dwelling units above 7,206 square feet of ground floor commercial space with surface and subterranean parking including 21 public parking spaces at 12803 Washington Blvd.
Mixed Use Project –Tentative Tract was approved to allow for a subdivision to create five residential condominiums and one commercial unit for a mixed use project currently under construction at 12712 Washington Blvd.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
Camp Season Wanes – The Just 4 Kids and Teen Camp are in their seventh week. With summer more than half over, only 2½ weeks remain. Ahead, trips to Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain – also, the Camp Carnival, the Red Carpet Experience, and trips to County beaches.
CarFit at the Senior Center – At the annual CarFit event on Saturday, July 23, 33 seniors took part in the educational/safety program checking how well their personal vehicles fit them. Six participants were Culver City residents. The event would not have been possible without the support of five volunteers recruited through the Culver City Volunteer Program and six specially trained volunteers provided by CarFit coordinator Bob Vatz.
Partnership – This month marks the eighth year of the partnership between Symantec and the Senior Center. Volunteers from Symantec provide quarterly one-on-one assistance to Center members regarding technology and their gadgets. One of the complimentary notes received by the Senior Center said, “I was one of the many fortunate seniors who received help with my Android cell phone. The Symantec volunteers were so kind and patient. I actually had two men helping me. This is such a valuable contribution volunteers are making to seniors. I have no one else that I could ask to help me.”
Fiesta La Ballona – Fiesta returns to Vets Park the final weekend of the month, Aug. 26-28, with live music, a beer and wine garden, food trucks and food court, carnival rides, a petting zoo and pony rides. The Entertainment Tent will offer a three-day music and dance party featuring Latin jazz and Fiesta-Palooza on Friday night, the sounds of mariachis, the British Invasion, 1980s funk and 1990s rock on Saturday, culminating in SoCal Saturday Night featuring tributes to the Beach Boys and the Eagles. On Sunday: World Music, featuring Caribbean, Klezmer/Mediterranean and Brazilian music as well as Siberian Surf Rock. Fiesta sponsors include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Cedars-Sinai, Access Culver City, Tito’s Tacos, Culver City Volvo -Mazda, Kane, Ballmer & Berkman, Southern California Gas Company, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Culver Studios, Backstage Bar & Grill, Heather & Art Realtors, Lowe Enterprises, Golden State Water Company, Echo Horizon School, AYSO Region 19-Culver City, Cavanaugh Realtors, the Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa, See’s Candies, Staples – Baldwin Hills Crenshaw, Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum, ZogSports, Palms Cycle, Angel City Derby Girls, L.A. Kings Ice Crew, Galaxy Star Squad, LA Weekly, KCETLink, Steeldeck, Inc., Haynes Building Services, L.L.C., Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and West Coast Arborists, Inc. See http://fiestalaballona.org/ or call 310.253.6650 for information.
Volunteer Opportunity – Fiesta La Ballona is seeking volunteers to make the event safe, clean, green and, most importantly, fun. Families are also welcome to volunteer together. Credit hours are provided for students fulfilling service requirements for their schools. To sign up: http://fiestalaballona.org/.
Rental Operations – The Cultural Affairs Foundation received a generous bequest from the Sydney Kronenthal Trust in the amount of $10,000 toward the upgrade of stage lighting at the in Vets Auditorium. The legendary Mr. Kronenthal, who died last year, was the Directors of Parks, Recreation and Human Services for 52 years, until his retirement in 1998. His tenacity and vision led to the building of the Vets Complex. The overall stage lighting project will include the de-installation of the outdated dimmer system followed by installation of a new dimmer system, theatrical lights and a lighting console.
Police Dept.
Training — During the week of July 18, all officers attended the department-approved training for active shooters, force protection, and the Incident Command System for responses to critical incidents. The training was held at Culver City Middle School.
Public Works Dept.
Tree Maintenance & Management – The department hosted a tree maintenance and management workshop in the Dan Patacchia Room sponsored by the city’s tree trimming contractor, West Coast Arborists. Twenty tree maintenance professionals (some from Culver City) were in attendance representing surrounding municipalities. Presenters discussed current trends in the tree maintenance industry, plant health care, potentially new and concerning pests that have been identified, and a review of the Arbor Access mobile app. This is utilized by city staff to track tree trimming maintenance and history of the city’s urban forest.
Audio-Video System – Integrated Media Systems completed installation of a new audio-video system at the Senior Center that included new speakers, microphones, a projector and screen, an assistive listening system, and a wireless control pad to operate the system. Staff received training on how to operate the new system, entirely funded by a $200K grant received from the County Open Space District.
Energy Efficiency Project – With the installation and programming of the city’s new Energy Management System at the Police Dept., City Hall, Vets Auditorium, the Senior Center and the Transportation facility concluding last week, the city’s Energy Efficiency project has been completed. The project included entering into contracts with three vendors to install lighting, HVAC mechanical and a new energy management control system. The project is anticipated to save the city $1,769,480 over the 12-year life cycle of the project. The city maintains a Gold tier status within Southern California Edison’s Energy Leader Partnership Program in recognition of its energy efficiency accomplishments.
AB 1826 — Every California local jurisdiction is required to implement an organic waste recycling program to provide organic recycling options, educate businesses and multifamily complexes about their local organic recycling options, and monitor implementation.
The law requires that businesses arrange for recycling services for the following types of organic waste: Food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper. Multifamily complexes must arrange for recycling services for the same material with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper. Most organic waste is recyclable through methods such as composting, mulching, and anaerobic digestion. Organic recycling services often accept a wide variety of different types of organic waste.
Businesses and multifamily complexes must start recycling organic waste by the following dates:
- Generators of 8 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week: April 1, 2016
- Generators of 4 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week: Jan. 1, 2017
- Generators of 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week: Jan. 1, 2019
- Generators of 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week (if statewide disposal of organic waste is not decreased by half): Jan. 1, 2020
Contact the Public Works Refuse and Recycling team to learn how to obtain a complete recycling services program today. Complete service from start-up assistance to program implementation. Staff can help local businesses comply with the law. Schedule a complimentary site review and our staff will provide recommendations, training and educational marketing material to help your business set up a successful recycling organic program. For more information, contact Environmental Programs & Operations Customer Service staff at 310.253.6400.
Transportation Dept.
Bus Stop Relocation Project – The updated date for the summary of all input received to be communicated to the City Council is Monday, Aug. 22.
The City Council has approved the implementation of a Bus Signal Priority System that will improve the efficiency of bus service by providing traffic signal priority to buses at signalized intersections along their routes in Culver City; by extending the green time a few seconds, a Culver City bus running late may catch up to the schedule. As part of the project, 35 existing nearside bus stops are recommended to be relocated to the far side of the intersection. This relocation is necessary to maximize effectiveness. Relocation away from nearside will provide the opportunity to regain some parking spaces, in most instances, in the nearside, and will also cause the loss of some parking spaces in the new far side.
Interested parties may find out more about the project here. Questions or comments: addressed via telephone at 310.253.5634 or traffic.engineering@culvercity.org.
Mr. Nachbar, the city manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org
