City of Culver City

Congratulations to three new businesses that have recently opened their doors here in Culver City! Our Economic Development team and members of the City Council welcomed: ➡ KBella Pizza 🍕 ➡ Nothing Bundt Cakes 🍰 ➡ Hokey Pokey L.A. 🍦 We wish you decades of success here in the Heart of Screenland.

Happy Trails! After 34.5 years, Mary Noller, Assistant Chief Financial Officer, has retired from the City of Culver City. Mary has made an incredible and positive impact on the City. “I’ve lived in Culver City for the majority of my 40 years in California,” Mary said. “Watching it transform over the years to become a destination spot, while still keeping its’ small-town charm, has been heart-warming.” Mary said she is most proud of “striving to provide the best service, support and assistance for the employees of the City and residents of Culver City. I definitely wasn’t perfect, but always tried to do the best I could, when I could. The Finance Department has some of the hardest working, most professional employees in the entire City. Being part of this incredible team has been a privilege.” We wish her well in retirement. Thank you for your service to this great City, Mary!

The City of Culver City was recognized at 2024 Annual Homes Within Reach Awards hosted by Southern California Association of Non Profit Housing (SCANPH) for its work on Project Homekey, 73 total units of housing for chronically unhoused persons (38 interim housing units and 35 permanent supportive housing units). The Homes Within Reach Awards recognize and honor excellence in affordable housing. Culver City staff, Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, members of the Project Homekey lead operations team, as well as the design and construction team accepted the Rehabilitation Development of the Year Award on Thursday. "Dozens of City staff from every City department worked tirelessly and with absolute devotion with our design and construction partners to bring Project Homekey to fruition," said Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director. "Now, 70 of our unhoused neighbors have been brought inside with wraparound services and care to help them move to the next level in their lives. I am so proud to have worked on this project and to be part of such an incredible team." In October 2023, Culver City opened the dual motel repurposed project, which now provides a safe place indoors where people can find wraparound services, healing, and stabilization. Due to the size of this housing project, Culver City started moving in clients to the Permanent Supportive Housing side in October 2023 and then moved participants into the Interim Housing side in February 2024. Exodus Recovery Inc. is the lead operator and supportive services provider for Culver City’s PHK Interim and Permanent Supportive Housing Program.

The Culver City Finance Advisory Committee presents the Distinguished Speakers Series on Affordable Housing on Wednesday, September 11th, at 7 PM. The public is invited to attend the illuminating discussion at the Rotunda Room located at the Veterans Memorial Complex. Please join us for a Public Conversation on Affordable Housing Best Practices with experienced local affordable housing practitioners: - Tara Barauskas, Executive Director at Community Corp. of Santa Monica - Oscar Alvarado, Vice President, Housing at Culver City based affordable housing developer Century Housing - Alicen Bartle, Project Development Administrator at the City of West Hollywood - Natalie Verlinich, Housing Manager at the City of Santa Monica The panelists will discuss affordable housing best practices with Culver City Finance Advisory Committee Members Leigh Austin and Marc Bauer, followed by an opportunity for audience questions. Please RSVP via email to [email protected] or call (310) 253-6000.

The City of Culver City unveiled a new online Homeless Services Reporting Dashboard available to the community that tracks the City's efforts in providing services to the City’s the unhoused population. The Homeless Services Reporting Dashboard on the City's website details approximately 70 measures of key service reporting for City programs and services that provide resources to the most vulnerable in our community. It is an effective method to communicate our progress to provide support to our unhoused neighbors as they begin a new chapter of life, in addition to providing transparency on our efforts to the Culver City community. The data found on the Culver City website is extensive, highlighting calls for service, individuals housed at interim and permanent housing, wraparound services including case management and mental health services touchpoints, costs associated with each program and more. Updated data will be published quarterly, along with an email update to community members who are interested in tracking the City’s progress. The City of Culver City remains dedicated to leading with care, helping our unhoused neighbors live a better life. View the dashboard here: https://lnkd.in/gjseZHSv

Join us for the final hearing of the General Plan, Environmental Impact Report, and First Reading of the Zoning Code Ordinance at City Council on Monday, August 26th. You can view them all on the Picture Culver City website. ➡️The General Plan is the City’s primary guide for land use and development decisions. ➡️The Zoning Code divides the City into zoning districts and regulates development standards and procedures to implement the General Plan. ➡️The EIR informs decision-makers and the public about potential environmental effects of a proposed project. Learn more at PictureCulverCity.com.

The Culver City Wellness Village celebrated its one-year anniversary. Launched by the City of Culver City and operated by nonprofit Urban Alchemy, the Wellness Village has assisted 66 people off the streets and helped 36 people find more permanent housing. It can house up to 40 people. Each individual or couple is provided their own white tent on a raised platform with a bed, storage, and a charging station for phones. The site offers shared shower and bathroom facilities and laundry service. Guests are provided meals and services to help them get back on their feet. Each person is provided a free phone and given help recovering important documents like birth certificates and Social Security cards. They’re also offered access to medical resources, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, and more. Urban Alchemyhires people with lived experience, including with long-term incarceration, homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness, to help solve the toughest problems plaguing urban neighborhoods. They lead with empathy and understanding to heal people and communities. The City of Culver City is focused on creating a holistic and comprehensive approach to address homelessness in our community. The City continues to support its unprecedented action toward resolving homelessness. Funding continues for the permanent and supportive housing sites at Project Homekey, Wellness Village, Motel Master Lease, the Mobile Crisis Team, and partnering with street-based healthcare, as well as offering extensive outreach services weekly.

Join us for the final hearing of the General Plan, Environmental Impact Report, and First Reading of the Zoning Code Ordinance at City Council on Monday, August 26th. You can view them all on the Picture Culver City website. ➡️The General Plan is the City’s primary guide for land use and development decisions. ➡️The Zoning Code divides the City into zoning districts and regulates development standards and procedures to implement the General Plan. ➡️The EIR informs decision-makers and the public about potential environmental effects of a proposed project. Learn more at PictureCulverCity.com.

The Culver City Fire Department (CCFD) received Reaccredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. CCFD is on an elite list with five agencies in California that have obtained accredited agency status from CFAI, as well as Class 1 status from the Insurance Services Office. For residents and businesses, CCFD’s status means lower prices on insurance, and assurance that CCFD is well-organized, properly equipped, staffed, and trained. Congratulations to the entire Culver City Fire Department!

The City of Culver City is proud to support art activations. We caught up with visual artist Josh Callaghan after he completed a refresh of his existing series of wrapped utility boxes titled ‘Almost Invisible Boxes’ throughout Downtown Culver City. Callaghan’s project, which was created in 2004 and has had updates over the years, is very popular and recognized internationally. “It’s a real pleasure to be back here 20 years later and what has been created here is this very lively public space and it’s great to be a part of that,” Callaghan said. The vinyl wraps, which are durable, graffiti-resistant, and can endure bad weather and direct sunlight up to five years, are on display until the next iteration is determined. Watch the story here: https://lnkd.in/gQNeiZqB