City Manager’s Office
West L.A. College’s (WLAC) Final Supplemental EIR (FSEIR) – Staff from Public Works, Community Development and the City Attorney’s office held their final meeting with staff from WLAC to work out details in the FSEIR on June 22. A separate group consisting of the City Manager, the President of WLAC and representatives of the neighboring homeowner associations have also concluded their meetings. A draft amendment to the 2005 Settlement Agreement has been prepared, and staff is working to resolve a few remaining issues. The Amendment will cover a number of issues including the following: public notification process for special events and construction variances; allowable construction hours; bus routes; special events; college facilities’ access for residents; the haul road; preventing cut-through traffic; neighborhood parking; noise level restrictions and start times; and development and construction on the 10100 Jefferson site.
With the exception of noise level restrictions and start times, I am happy to report that the draft language developed to address each of the remaining items was supported by the representatives for the three residential neighborhoods. However, there were additional items that did not get introduced and therefore were not resolved favorably. One item in particular was the discontinuance of regularly scheduled meetings between WLAC and neighborhood associations. Staff is considering a manner in which this lack of communication can be bridged. Although these items will be incorporated into the Settlement Agreement between the City and WLAC, the neighborhood’s current Memorandum of Understanding will continue to remain in force. With respect to the noise levels and start times, we will continue to seek ways of addressing these matters in a way acceptable to our neighboring residents.
Internal Review of Operations – Phase I: Staffing Assignments – I have asked Executive Management to undergo a more extensive review of internal operations. The first phase of this process began this week with a month-long evaluation of departmental staffing assignments. Executive Management will evaluate the service level gaps that remain as a result of position vacancies and will identify the optimal placement of employees within the operation.
Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 — The Secretary of State has announced that the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 has officially qualified for the November ballot. The Act would prohibit the state from borrowing or redirecting cash from local government property taxes, gasoline taxes, local transit and redevelopment funds and other locally-issued taxes to close the budget gap. Proponents turned in more than 1.2 million petition signatures to meet the 694,354 valid voter signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot.
New Julian Dixon Library Hours – As a result of the County Board of Supervisors’ adoption of the County’s budget, the new library hours for the Julian Dixon Library have been changed as follows: Mondays, closed; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Community Development Department
Public outreach: On June 17, a Redevelopment staff member was the invited guest of the Lions Club to talk about the current activities of the Redevelopment Agency.
Globe Avenue Properties — The contractor is preparing to demolish the improvements on this site. A meeting with neighborhood residents was held on June 23 to preview the upcoming demolition activity.
9900 Culver Blvd. – The city has received an Administrative Use Permit application for alcohol sales in conjunction with a new specialty food retail store and café at this address. The applicant held a community outreach meeting on May 13. Staff mailed a notice of the pending decision and the 15-day public comment period to the community on June 15. Following the close of the comment period, an administrative decision will be made.
Sprouts Farmer’s Market — The grand opening took place on June 23.
Culver City Music Festival – The concert series opens on Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m., in the City Hall Courtyard with an evening of big band music by the Dean Mora Orchestra and the Lindy Sisters. Music Festival information is posted on the city’s website (culvercity.org).
Performing Arts Grants — Cultural Affairs staff provided marketing assistance to the Culver City Chamber Orchestra for its performance at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on Saturday, June 26. In addition, Contra Tiempo’s first performance of Free Salsa Sundays at the Helms Bakery Complex began on June 26 at 12 noon.
Made in Culver City — Cultural Affairs will present a free screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rebecca, starring Laurence Olivier, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the film’s release. The film is set in Monte Carlo and Cornwall, England, but was actually filmed in Culver City. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 4, Labor Day weekend, in the City Hall Courtyard.
Fire Dept.
Expansion of the City’s Online Permit Process — The Fire Prevention and Building and Safety Divisions participated in an online presentation of a new plan check software system from Avolve. The city of Santa Monica is currently in the process of transitioning to this new software. The Building Official and Fire Marshal continue to explore other options and plan to meet with representatives from Santa Monica this week to discuss the system. Fire Station No. 3 — The Public Works Dept. has provided the Fire Dept. with a projected Fire Station No. 3 move-in date of Sept. 1. The Assistant Project Manager is currently on-site at the new station conducting meetings with various subcontractors to facilitate both the remaining work and move-in date.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) — EOC training is tentatively scheduled for the weeks of Sept. 20 and Oct. 11 for essential EOC staff, City Council members, and the City Manager.
Delivery of Continuing Education, Quality Improvement, and Quarterly EMS Reports — The Fire Dept. met with representatives from UCLA’s Center for Pre-Hospital Care to discuss Culver City’s needs. A written proposal was received, which is being evaluated for completeness and cost. Other sources for this process continue to be researched.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
“Friend of Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)” Award — The Senior Center was awarded the Center for Health Care Rights’ HICAP Award for 2009-10 at the annual HICAP Luncheon on June 17. This award recognizes excellence in collaborative efforts among members of the local Medicare advocacy and senior services community. The Senior Center was the selected for its strong support of the HICAP and its volunteer counselor. The Center for Health Care Rights is a non-profit organization that provides HICAP services, including information, counseling and advocacy on Medicare and related health insurance to Los Angeles County residents.
Tai-Chi Study at the Senior Center — The Senior Center has completed phase one of a two-part study regarding the “Benefits of Tai-Chi for Older Adults,” conducted by a UCLA student. The student is conducting yearlong civic engagement research that integrates experience-gained volunteering at the Senior Center with academic scholarship to produce a comprehensive project. The study is sponsored by the UCLA Center for Community Learning and supervised by a professor from the Psychiatry & Bio-behavioral Science Dept.
Public Works Dept.
Expo LRT Related Southern California Edison (SCE) Planned Power Outages — As part of the Expo Light Rail construction, SCE will be switching from overhead power lines to underground conduits at the National Boulevard/Helms Avenue intersection. To accomplish the switchover, SCE will need to implement two planned power outages affecting the East Culver City neighborhood. To minimize the impact to the residents and businesses, the next outage after yesterday’s first one, is planned for Sunday, July 11, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Cranks Road Sewer Project — Construction of the new 200-foot long sewer main between Hill Road and Culview Street has been completed. This project will divert most of the public sewer flow from a sewer line in a steep private property side yard into the existing sewer line on Cranks Road.
Schaefer Street Ficus Tree Removal — Removal of diseased Ficus trees on Schaefer Street began on June 21, and will occur in phases. Staff will be sending surveys to all residents on the street in order to seek their input on a replacement tree species.
Transportation Dept.
Participation in 511 Service — Culver CityBus is participating in the new 511 free phone and web service that provides traffic, transit and commuter service information in Southern California. Riders are able to take advantage of 24/7 automated trip planning information and find out when the next bus on any Culver CityBus route is scheduled to arrive at a particular bus stop. To access this tool, visit www.Go511.com or call 511 from any cell phone or landline in Southern California.
Mr. Ewell may be contacted at lamont.ewell@culvercity.org
