City Manager’s Office
Mayor’s Luncheon – Two of the most watched personalities at last week’s Mayor’s Luncheon were Chris Wilde, grandson of Harry Culver, Culver City’s founding father, and Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells.
Making History – A proclamation recognizing May as Historic Preservation Month was presented at last evening’s City Council meeting. Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Culver City it is co-sponsored by preservation groups, including the Culver City Historical Society, business and civic organizations.
http://www.preservationnation.org/preservation-month/index.html#.VTp_w6Pn-ot
For the Historical Society, see http://www.culvercityhistoricalsociety.org/
Good Turnout – More than 150 volunteers, including children and teens, participated in the restoration of the Rivers of the World mural on the Duquesne Avenue bike ramp at Ballona Creek. The mural had sustained damage due to vandalism, graffiti and skateboarders since its completion in 2000. The restoration coincided with Earth Day, and its completion was a coordinated effort between the city’s Art in Public Places Program and Ballona Creek Renaissance, with support from the city’s Public Works and Transportation departments.
See this link for more photos.
Restoration of Truth or Fiction – Charisma Design Studio, Inc. has completed the rewiring and installation of the new LED lights on Nobuho Nagasawa’s artwork on the northeast corner of the intersection of Culver Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue. The artwork has been illuminated for short periods at night during the past week for testing purposes. Restoration is expected be completed by next week.
Car Show – The 12th “Cruisin’ Back to the ‘50’s” Culver City Car Show will take place on Saturday, May 9, from 9 to 3 all around Downtown. Four hundred classic cars and hot rods are expected to be on display, as well as vendors and musical performances scheduled throughout the day. Produced by the Exchange Club and sponsored by the city the Culver City Car Show will feature customized cars from George Barris, creator of the Batmobile, the Munsters’ Koach and the Beverly Hillbillies’ jalopy. www.culvercitycarshow.com. Call 310.499.4840 or email email@culvercitycarshow.com.
Application Period – The City Clerk’s Office is accepting applications for vacancies on virtually all city commissions until 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Openings: Civil Service Commission (2), Cultural Affairs Commission (1), Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (1), Planning Commission (1), Committee on Homelessness (4), Disability Advisory Committee (3), Los Angeles (Airport) Area Advisory Committee (1), and Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board (1 Tenant, 1 Landlord, and 2 Members-at-Large and 1 Member-at-Large alternate).
New for this year: Candidates may submit applications online at www.culvercity.org/serve. Applications and information are also available in person during business hours from the City Clerk’s Office, on the first floor at City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., or by calling 310.253.5851. They may be downloaded from the website. Applications will be accepted online, in person, by mail, by fax at 310.253.6010, or by emailing city.clerk@culvercity.org. Appointments are to be considered at the Tuesday, May 26, City Council meeting.
Fire Dept.
Fight for Air Climb – Firefighters participated in the American Lung Assn.’s Fight for Air Climb at the Aon Center in downtown Los Angeles. While off duty, Capt. Jeremy DeBie, firefighter and paramedics Tommy McDaniel, Seth Miller, Bobby Kosch, Brian Sua, and Brandon Kay participated in full personal protective equipment, which weighs 50 pounds. They raced up 60 flights of stairs against several fire agencies to raise funds for lung cancer educational programs, research, and advocacy efforts to further the American Lung Assn. mission.
Save the Date – Fire Service Day will be Saturday, May 9, from 8 to 3, Downtown at Fire Station 1, 9600 Culver Blvd. This annual event, which coincides with the Culver City Car Show, is an opportunity for the community to get to know firefighters, see the station, apparatus, and equipment up close.
For hungry guests, Fire Station 1 will serve a pancake breakfast between 8 and 11. Prices: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
They Are Open — The Culver City Historical Society’s Archives and Resource Center is open on the first and third Sundays of every month from 1 to 3. On Sunday at 1:30, an episode of “Local Legends and Lore” will be aired at the Resource Center. It features an interview with longtime residents Martha and Sol Sigall, both of whom have died. A new costume display features the dress worn by Marjorie Main in the 1946 MGM production, The Harvey Girls.
Vets Auditorium–Inquiries regarding room rentals should be made to 310. 253.6625 or vmc.booking@culvercity.org.
Telling Stories – Storytime for the Julian Dixon Library’s spring session, for children up to 5 years old, is every Wednesday at 10 in the Garden Room at the Vets Auditorium. www.colapublib.org.
At the Weekend — The La Ballona Valley Bromeliad Society presents the Bromeliad Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday at the Vets Auditorium. 323.294.9839.
Another Attraction — The Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale is also on Saturday and Sunday at the Vets Auditorium. 310. 822.1783.
Next Door – On Saturday at the Teen Center, the Comic Bug celebrates free National Free Comic Book Day. Admission is free, and more information is available on the Comic Bug Facebook page.
Performing Arts Grant Program – Benita Bike presents Explore Dance: Culver City, a free program at the Senior Center on Sunday. www.danceart.org/schedule.
Nutrition Program Outreach – The city’s Senior Nutrition staff, along with program volunteers, gave a presentation at Menorah Housing in Culver City to promote the home- delivered meal program, congregate meal lunch program and other services the Senior Center offers. If you are interested in having a presentation at your community facility or group, contact Roxana Tabibi at 310.253.6712 or at roxana.tabibi@culvercity.org.
Volunteers Needed – The Exchange Club is looking for fun-loving volunteers to help out at the Culver City’s Classic Car Show a week from Saturday, on May 9. Volunteers are needed all day, from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assist with logistics, parking and traffic control. Volunteers are requested to work a minimum four-hour shift, which will include breaks. Volunteers should be sociable and enjoy being outside and being surrounded by classic cars, energy, music and people. Contact Laura Stuart at stuartlauraj@gmail.com.
Biography Project – The fourth annual Biography Project with Inglewood Unified School District and the Culver City Senior Center will take place in May and June. Students will come to the Center from school and interview Senior Center members for an hour, then return in a few weeks with a written biography about their senior partner. This project takes less than four hours but provides wonderful memories for adults and students alike. Adult participants must be available Friday, May 22, and Friday, June 12, from 3 to 5. If interested, contact Jill Thomsen in the Volunteer Office at 310.253.6722.
Arts & Crafts Boutique – Just in time for graduation and Father’s Day, the Senior Center’s Spring Arts & Crafts Boutique will be Friday, May 22, from 9:30 to 1. The Boutique features handmade items created by Culver City Senior Citizens Assn/ members.
Older Americans Month Party – Since May is Older Americans Month, the Senior Center will celebrate on Friday, May 22. The Senior of the Year will be honored and a hot lunch will be served. Tickets are $3.50 for Senior Citizens Assn. members and go on sale Monday at the Senior Center.
Family Involvement – The Teen Center hosted a family involvement event two Fridays ago. Teen Center members participated in an annual two-hour event that included science experiments, career guidance, and introduction to college life. Members learned more about their UCLA tutors.
Summer Day Camps – Culver City Just for Kids and Teen Camp staff are gearing up for an exciting summer. Camp registration forms are now available on-line to print. Registration is under way for Culver City residents and Saturday for non-Culver City residents. Registration will remain open until all camp spots are filled. Staff has a wonderful summer planned, with trips, swimming, park games and arts and crafts. http://culvercity.org/Government/PRCS/Recreation/DayCamps.aspx.
Youth Mentoring/Summer Employment – Staff will be accepting applications to employ at-risk youth from Friday until June 19. Youth will be employed in various City departments to gain on-the-job experience. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 – 21.
Downtown Landscaping – The Downtown landscaping project is complete. Parks Planning staff redesigned Restaurant Row along Culver Boulevard and part of the Downtown Plaza to update overgrown and declining plant material with a completely new look, using drought tolerant, indigenous plants. Marina Landscape and Parks Irrigation Staff performed the installation and modifications to the existing irrigation system. Additionally, all of the pots were replanted as well, giving Downtown a welcome facelift.
Playground Shade Structure – A new shade structure at Fox Hills Park is near completion. The contractor, Nile Builders, has excavated and poured the footings, set the posts and is awaiting the arrival of the sails to install, which is the final part of the project. The project will provide shade to the playground equipment area that serves children ages 2 to 5.
Syd Kronenthal Playground Project – The Prop. A-funded new playground project for children ages 5 to 12 is more than 50 percent complete. The equipment is being assembled, and the California Conservation Corps, as part of the Youth Employment component of the project, will be installing the Engineered Wood Fibar surfacing next week. The project is on schedule and will be complete within two weeks. The playground will have new, exciting, and challenging equipment provided by the Kompan Co.
Public Works Dept.
Construction Updates – Coastal Communications is installing new fiber optic cable underground in the southbound direction on Sepulveda Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Garfield Avenue. This work is anticipated to continue for three weeks.
Transportation Dept.
Hosting Senior FTA Official – The department hosted a meet and greet luncheon with Carolyn Flowers, the Senior Advisor to the Federal Transportation Administration Administrator Therese McMillan. The event was attended by Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, leadership staff from other regional transit agencies, and FTA Region IX Team Leader, Ray Tellis. Culver City’s Transportation Director, Art Ida, facilitated the important discussion about the effects of FTA regulations on regional public transit operations, legislation, funding. Ms. Flowers earned a bachelor’s in history and political science and a Master’s in Business Administration from the UCLA School of Management. She was previously the Chief Operations Officer for Los Angeles County Metro, served as the Public Transit CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System in North Carolina, and has served on a number of professional boards, including co-chairing the American Public Transportation Assn.’s Reauthorization Task Force.
Mr. Nachbar, the City Manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org
