City Manager’s Office
Truth or Fiction Sculpture — Truth or Fiction, by Nobuho Nagasawa, completed in 1995, and is comprised of three free-standing, triangular pillars of laminated glass, etched with images of Culver City’s motion picture history. They include MGM’s Leo the Lion and an enlarged eye from Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound. At night, the sculpture is illuminated from within — projecting moving phrases, images of native Southern California plants and animals, and visual references from the film industry.
Charisma Design Studio, Inc., original fabricator of the artwork, this week began restoration of the beloved permanent artwork that has not been operational for a long time. Involved are a thorough inspection and, as necessary, repair of all components, replacement of the existing metal halide lights with longer-lasting and more energy efficient LED bulbs, and a thorough cleaning and resealing of the glass on each of the three pillars. Restoration will take a month.
Restoration Opportunity – The Rivers of the World mural is at Duquesne Avenue on the bike path access ramp on the north side of Ballona Creek. In 1998, the city received a competitive grant award from Los Angeles County (Prop. A Anti-Graffiti Mural Projects) with the support of Ballona Creek Renaissance. Completed in 2000 by artists, nine high school students and the talents of community volunteers were utilized. Over time the mural has sustained graffiti damage, vandalism, and has been in various states of disrepair.
The mural will be restored April 16-20, with the intent of returning the mural to a protected, near-original state. This will be a community-based volunteer effort, with assistance from professional artists and support from Ballona Creek Renaissance. Brushes, paint and guidance will be provided. Volunteers need to be of high school age or older.
See https://www.facebook.com/groups/124480450908112/
To register as a volunteer, see http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a49afaa2fa6f94-save
City Clerk’s Office
Application Period – Until Monday, May 7, the City Clerk’s Office is accepting applications for vacancies on the 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), and Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board (1 Tenant, 1 Landlord, and 2 Members-at-Large and 1 Member-at-Large Alternate.) Late applications may not be accepted.
Applicants may complete and submit applications online at www.culvercity.org/serve. Information is available during business hours from the City Clerk’s office, on the first floor of City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., at 310.253.5851, or applications may be downloaded from the website to complete by hand. Applications will be accepted by fax, 310.253.6010, or at city.clerk@culvercity.org. Appointments will be made by the City Council on Tuesday, May 26.
Community Development Dept.
Improvements – ArcLight Cinemas, new owner of the former Pacific Theaters, will upgrade the lobby area, restrooms and hallways of the theatre at 9500 Culver Blvd.
Omelet – The work has been completed on the tenant improvement for the creative offices for this advertising agency,3540 Hayden Ave.
Scopely – A leading touchscreen entertainment network, Scopely has submitted plans for a 27,241-square foot tenant improvement for an existing commercial space, 3530 Hayden Ave.
HOK – A global design architecture, engineering and planning firm, HOK has plans approved for a 3,800-square foot tenant improvement at 9530 Jefferson Blvd.
Westfield Culver City – The tenant improvement to add Kids Foot Locker at Westfield Culver City has been completed.
Holy Cow – Plans have been approved for a new barbeque restaurant, 4130 Sepulveda Blvd.
Tangaroa Fish Market – Work is complete on a new restaurant, 12604 Washington Blvd.
Exodus Care – Plans have been submitted for a new health treatment center, 11444 Washington Blvd.
Dunkin’ Donuts – Plans have been submitted for a new donut shop, 13300 Washington Blvd.
Unleashed by Petco – Plans have been submitted for an 850-square foot tenant improvement of the pet wash room at 13411 Washington Blvd.
Aesop USA, Inc. – The apothecary has approved plans for a new retail store at 8840 Washington Blvd.
Yoga Salt – Plans have been approved for this new yoga studio at 11357 Washington Blvd.
Washep – Plans have been submitted for a new car wash tunnel and a new convenience store at 11197 Washington Pl.
Planning Division – A notice of preparation of an Environmental Impact Report was issued by the city of Los Angeles for a large mixed-use, transit-oriented development project just outside of Culver City’s borders at Jefferson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard (the former KLOS site). The project includes podium-style buildings that vary in the number of stories and height, up to 300 feet. The developer, Carmel Partners, is proposing 1,200 dwelling units and 300,000 square feet of commercial floor area on the lower ground floors. The project’s commercial space includes 200,000 square feet of office space, 50,000 square feet of grocery store space, 20,000 square feet of restaurant space, and 30,000 square feet of general retail. Parking would be provided within a combination of above-ground and subterranean parking levels and will follow City of Los Angeles’s requirements. The project site is on 11.19 acres (487,535 square feet). A schedule has not been developed.
Fire Dept.
Light Rail Training – The department recently participated in light rail-specific training facilitated by MTA, Metro, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This annual first responder training included a review of procedures necessary to immobilize and power down trains, isolate high voltage systems, gain access to passenger areas, methods to communicate with Metro Operations. This refresher training sharpened the personnel’s ability to mitigate medical events in rail cars, emergency incidents on train tracks, and emergencies involving energized rail systems.
Solar Light Towers – The department’s Office of Emergency Management soon will take delivery of two portable solar light towers. Through a state Homeland Security grant managed by the city of Santa Monica, Culver City and other communities were able to buy eight solar light towers to use during emergencies.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Teen Center – The first Culver City Healthy Family 5K Run/Walk is Sunday, April 26, a collaboration among the Rotary Club, Culver-Palms YMCA, West L.A. College, and the Boy Scouts of America. Proceeds benefit the three youth organizations. The Teen Center will use the funds to provide scholarships to the Summer Teen Camp for families in need. http://www.culvercity.org/Articles/cc5k_042615.aspx.
Aging in America — Volunteer specialist Jill Thomsen delivered 50 hats, scarves and gloves as part of the social responsibility component at the national Aging in America Conference in Chicago. These items were handmade by volunteers at the Senior Center. They will be distributed to organizations throughout the Chicago area.
Ask the Nurse, Ask the Therapist – On Tuesdays from 9 to 11 at the Senior Center, County staff is available to answer questions regarding mental health issues such as feelings of isolation or depression, difficulty in communication, domestic violence, elder or financial abuse, when to seek counseling or therapy (and will it be covered by insurance), medications and side effects, general wellness, and medical conditions—as well as taking vital signs.
Legal Services — For more than two decades, Bet Tzedek has served the legal needs of low-income seniors in our community. Because of its expertise, Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the city and county of Los Angeles. Call 323.939.0506.
Support Group – A low vision support group meets each Friday at the Senior Center from 1 to 3 in Room C-71. The group is led by staff from the Center for the Partially Sighted.
Health Insurance — Each Monday, a counselor provides free, impartial information, assistance and counseling on Medicare and related health care coverage such as Medicare Parts A and B, Prevention Services, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, HMOs and PPO, Medi-gap Insurance, Medi-Cal, and long-term care. Appointments may be made with the Senior Center Business Desk staff..
Electronic Gadgets –Next Wednesday, the Senior Center will have Symantec volunteers provide assistance one-on-one for members with questions about their personal mobile devices, cell phones, iPads, tablets, laptop computers, Nooks, Kindles, iPods. Each sessions can last 15 minutes. No reservations. Sign-ups begin at 12:15. See Jill Thomsen in RSVP with questions.
Public Works Dept.
100 Healthy Homes Workshop – On Monday, April 13, there will be a free workshop at 6 o’clock at City Hall, in the ground floor Dan Patacchia Room, to learn about rebates and incentives to assist property owners in making energy efficient home upgrades.
Call the Energy Network at 877.785. 2237 or homeupgrade@theenergynetwork.com.
Sustainability Solar Workshop – Learn more about solar options and sustainability on Wednesday, April 15, at 6:30 in the Dan Patacchia Room, ground floor, at City Hall. The free Cal State Northridge-sponsored workshop presented by Dr. Helen Cox, CSUN’s Director for the Institute for Sustainability. The purpose: To increase solar energy knowledge. Southern California Edison representatives will be in attendance to speak briefly about energy efficiency. homeupgrade@theenergynetwork.com.
Advanced Smart Gardening – Learn to improve your lawn and garden and reduce waste Saturday, April 18, at 9:3-, in the Garden Room at the Vets Auditorium. Advanced workshops introduce organic gardening, landscaping with native friendly and drought tolerant plants, as well as integrated pest management (environmental ways to control pests). Attendees may purchase compost and worm bins at a discount price (worms included). www.smartgardening.com.
Westside Repair Café: Saturday, April 18 – Repair Café is a free Saturday, April 18, event where volunteer fixers will be available to help repair broken items free of charge, with the exception of the cost of replacement parts. Visitors may bring damaged items from home including toasters, lamps, hair dryers, clothes, bikes, and toys.
To volunteer, http://doodle.com/p6cybdrt44zcvszc, For information, see http://ourtimebank.timebanks.org/events/westside-repair-caf%C3%A9-culver-city-earth-day.
Friendly Landscaping Training – Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells and West Basin Director Scott Houston will demonstrate how to create a California-friendly garden using the latest sustainable materials and techniques on Monday, April 20, from 6 to 9 in the Dan Patacchia Room at City Hall. This course covers the use of:
- Native plants and edibles
- Water-efficient irrigation devices (drip irrigation, smart sprinkler controllers)
- Rainwater capture and permeable materials
- On-site water retention to reduce water and pollution to the ocean West Basin
To RSVP, call 310.371.4633 or see www.sbesc.com.
Repurposing and Craft Evening: Wednesday, April 22 – On Wednesday, April 22, Transition Culver City will lead a program in repurposing and craft, from 6 to 9, in the Dan Patacchia Room at City Hall. Repurposing may sound new and trendy, but people always have been resourceful about reusing old or broken objects instead of throwing them away. Hobbyists, craft websites, and the Maker culture are revitalizing repurposing” as an art form. For information, see Transition Culver City’s Facebook page.
Eco Movie Night –A documentary exploring the lives of America’s young sustainable farming community, Greenhorns, will be screened on Friday, April 24, at 7 in the Dan Patacchia Room at City Hall. Filmmaker Severine Von Tscharner Fleming hopes the stories in his film will embolden those considering a career in agriculture and inspire a campaign for agrarian reform. A panel discussion will follow. See Transition Culver City’s Facebook page.
Induction Testing – The department will be testing induction on LED street lights on Lafayette Place between Braddock Drive and Farragut Avenue. Four induction lights have been retrofitted on the west side of the street and four LED lights have been retrofitted on the east side. Staff will monitor the appearance and performance of the two different types of lamp for comparison.
Hazard Mitigation Plan – The City Council has approved an agreement with Michael Baker International to prepare a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan on behalf of the city and the School District. Workshops will be held to obtain input from the public to aid in the plan’s preparation.
Construction Updates
Golden State Water will slurry seal Revere Place and Le Bourget Avenue between Braddock Drive and Culver Boulevard next week. The streets will be closed one day each to traffic between 8 and 5.
Time Warner Cable will be restoring the street from their fiber optic installation on Centinela Avenue between Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. The work should be completed by Friday.
Golden State Water has started installation of a new fire service on Madison Avenue, south of Culver Boulevard, a two-week project.
Mr. Nachbar, the city manager, may be contacted at john.nachbar@culvercity.org