Blair Hills Association
Meeting, September 18, 2018

(These minutes were prepared Angela Arnold.)

Meeting called to order at 7:09pm

July meeting minutes read and accepted.

Stoneview Nature Center (SNC) staffing news – Kim Bozell from the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation, who oversees all the nature centers in the county, announced the news

• Shawna Joplin received a promotion to Superintendent II and has moved to another park. She will no longer be the superintendent at SNC
• The parks and recreation department is under a hiring freeze but will be searching for a new superintendent as soon as the freeze is lifted
• Jahill Dixon is filling in at SNC in the meantime. Jahill has worked at Kenneth Hahn for many years.
• Questions from residents
• Will hours be extended at the park? – Because of budget issues the department cannot support extended hours at this time.
• Will there be more weeks of summer camp next summer? – The goal is to have more weeks next year, but parks and recreation will not know until closer to summer if they can staff for more weeks. Answer by late March.
• Has SNC hired a gardener? - There is no gardener or grounds maintenance staff at the moment.
• Have the irrigation issues been addressed? - Irrigation work is under way and will be maintained daily.

La Cienega portion of Park to Playa trail - Ryan Kristen, who is in charge of the Park to Playa trail, works for Public Works department, and worked on construction for the SNC trail to the overlook, informed us:

• Griffith Construction was selected on Thursday as the contractor for the pedestrian bridge over La Cienega.
• The bridge is slated to be completed by August 2020.
• Now until May is the design phase of the project. Construction will begin in May 2019.
• Construction traffic will come through the oil fields or through Kenneth Hahn Park, not Blair Hills.
• La Cienega will be shut down for 5 consecutive days in second half of 2019. Specific dates to be shared closer to the shutdown.
• The Baldwin Hills Overlook trail will be extended from SNC toward La Cienega.
• Ryan will come to monthly meetings to update us and will be here weekly once construction starts.
• Discussion: About putting in a gate just for residents that is closer to the bridge.
• Trail from SNC to Kenneth Hahn will be recreational ADA compliant.
• A map of the entire trail will be posted at the SNC entrance that shows which parts of the trails allow dogs, which are ADA compliant, etc.
• Bikes are allowed on portions of the trail.
• Why is a second bridge being built over La Cienega instead of using the current bridge? Because land next to the bridge is owned by a private property owner who would only sell for a very high price.
• Ryan will share a fact sheet with residents.
• Trees will be planted next to the trail to provide a visual buffer for residents who live adjacent to the trail.
• There will be a civic art piece installed on the trail near SNC.

Coyote update

• Coyote hotline is available to report where you see a coyote in your neighborhood.
• If a coyote hurts a human the city will have it trapped and exterminated.

Announcements

Bee and Wasp Removal – LA County will remove bees and wasps from your property. Call Culver City to get the number.

Block Party – Patrick Reynolds from Culver City Parks and Recreation attended, as well as police department personnel and several council members. “Lenawee Walkers” donated the bounce house. Block party total cost was $731.

Coffee with a cop – Oct. 3 at Starbucks on Culver Blvd. across from City Hall. 10AM.

November meeting – Mixer meeting on Nov. 13.

Playground update

• Design F was selected with the most votes from the community
• 140 people voted, most of any recent park design vote
• Work will be completed in late 2018 / early 2019

Dues - Dues will be collected at the October meeting. $20. Dues are collected for 2 years, $10 per year. Money goes toward block party, Christmas event with Santa, meeting refreshments, condolence cards, and welcome packets.

Treasurer – The Association’s treasurer is moving away. Please consider volunteering as the Blair Hills Association Treasurer.

Meeting adjourned at 8:34pm

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