Council Notes – HBO to move HQ to Culver City, Plunge to Restrict Summer Use, Commissioners Appointed

cityhallThe long discussed and widely anticipated project at 8777 Washington Boulevard won full approval from the City Council on June 12, 2017. “Wow, not a single negative comment,” exclaimed Mayor Jeff Cooper. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had that happen with a major development like this, but clearly it speaks to the effective community outreach [efforts by the developers].”

While the meeting also saw discussion of the upcoming scheduling changes at The Plunge, and the appointment of commission and board seats, it was the new headquarters for HBO that saw the most speaker cards.

A lengthy presentation by city staff and the firm Kimley and Horn, presenting for Vitruvian, offered almost every imaginable amenity to the building, from natural light to green frontage.

Glen Whitehead, Executive of Production and Business Affairs at HBO took the podium to conclude the presentation, noting how pleased they we with the work done by the architects, and saying “We are eager to sit down with the cultural and educational institutions of the city to see how we can be of benefit…We’d like to be ensconced in our new home in Culver City by the end of 2019.”

Public comment was entirely supportive, with Albert Vera saying “This community has changed a lot over the years and not always for the better, but this is a development that will benefit everyone.”

Leslie Adler and Beth Stewart of the Culver City Education Foundation praised HBO, and Les Surfas, former owner of 8777 Washington Blvd. spoke about the longevity of his business at that address, and the hope that the new development would add even more to the community.

Even Jamie Hall, representing the residents of the Arts District , noted that the community outreach efforts were done in good faith, and that the requested changes had been made to secure residential support for the project and counteract the original objections to the EIR. “We appreciate the owners willingness to work with the community, and we are happy to withdraw our objections and offer our full neighborhood support.”

Council member Meghan Sahli-Wells was able to persuade HBO to kick in $100,000 worth of seed money towards researching the possibility of a shuttle to move people from the project to the downtown area.

The current posted swimming schedule for this summer at The Plunge drew many comments as ‘Items not on the Agenda.’ Taking all the lane time for child swimmers drew adult swimmers to address the meeting.

“The exclusion of adult lap swimmers for the entire summer” was what drew Kim Meyer to comment. “I’m really disappointed that the city has chosen to exclude a large portion of the community.”

Kay Heineman, a sitting commissioner on Parks and Recreation said “There needs to be a balance between [these two groups] Kids are important, but adults are too.”

New commission posts were also named as part of the meeting.

The council reappointed Darryl Cherness to Seat No. 2 of the Civil Service Commission for a four-year term expiring June 30, 2021, and appointed Brenda Williams to Seat No. 1 of the Cultural Affairs Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2021, reappointed Len Dickter to Seat No. 2 of the Cultural Affairs Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2021, and appointed Tania Fleischer to fill the unexpired term for Seat No. 4, expiring June 30, 2019.

The council voted to appoint Palvi Mohammed to Seat No. 4 and Paula Amezola to Seat No. 5 of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission, each for a four year term expiring June 30, 2021.  and reappointed David Voncannonto Seat No. 2 of the Planning Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2021, and appointed Andrew Reilman to Seat No. 3 of the Planning Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2021 5.

Peter-Capone-Newton was appointed to Seat No. 2 and the council reappointed Alex Fisch to Seat No. 3, with Kim Gibson filling Seat No. 5, and Fred Puza to Seat No. 7, of the Committee on Homelessness for three year terms expiring June 30, 2020.

The council neglected to appoint a candidate to fill Tenant Representative Seat No. 2 of the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for term ending June 30, 2021. and reappointed Judy Scott to fill vacant Landlord Representative Seat No. 2 of the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for a term ending June 30, 2021.  Gary Duboff was named to fill Landlord Representative Seat No. 4 of the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for the unexpired term ending June 30, 2019 and reappointed Olga Vaysburg to fill Member-at-Large Representative seat No. 2 of the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for term ending June 30, 2021

In regard to the Appointed Stephen Murray to the LAX Area Advisory Board to fill the unexpired term of the vacated third seat, expiring June 30, 2018;

The La Ballona Committee will get  Tashon McKeithan to fill vacant Seat No. 1, of the Fiesta La Ballona Committee to fill the unexpired term, expiring October 31, 2020.

Finally, the council reappointed Jay Garacochea as the City’s Representative to the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District for a term to run from January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018

The Actors' Gang

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*