Blair Hills Association
Meeting, November 13, 2018
(These minutes were prepared Angela Arnold.)
Minutes
of the Blair Hills Association, Culver City, California, held at the Stoneview
Nature Center at 7:00 p.m. on the 13th day of November, 2018.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Kerri Payne-Lue called the
meeting to order at 7:15 pm.
II. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
Present: Annie Wilson, Antoinette Lowe,
Kerri Payne-Lue, Angela Arnold
Absent:
III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING (October 16, 2018)
Motion by Kerry
Payne-Lue, seconded by Annie Wilson to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 2018,
Motion Carried
IV. Current Financial Condition.
V. Announcements
VI. New
business
VII. Guest
Speakers
·
Council Member Goran Eriksson
o
New sales tax – The sales tax increase passed.
The former sales tax generates about $11M per year; it
sunsets in 2020. After the recession, the city shrank staff by 10% but tried to
maintain the same level of services. We now have the same sales tax rates as
Santa Monica.
§ Example
of staff cuts: Six times a day there are no paramedics in the city, during the
week. Three times a day on the weekends. Agreement with LA County to provide
paramedic services when needed.
o
Police expenditure - Police Chief has asked
for a new mental health group. We currently have one that receives 3 calls a
day. Group includes a psychologist and two trained officers. Police Chief has
asked for another bicycle patrol. Six electric bikes currently.
o
Pension - Pension commitment is permanent. In
2010 the pension was re-negotiated. In 2030-2040 the pension pay outs will be
at the peak. The city has $10M in an irrevocable pension trust with a 4% to 5%
return.
o
General Plan – The General Plan is a document
that outlines development, land use, safety, environment, equity, etc. Plan is
binding and guides the city staff for the next 10 years. The plan is currently
being updated.
·
Culver City Fire Department Battalion Chief
o
Fires – Culver City participates in a joint
strike team with Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. Sent two fire engines to help
in Malibu. Even when strike teams go out, the FD calls in other firefighters to
cover Culver City.
o
There is a plan for how to handle a fire in the
Culver Steps area, how to evacuate people from the top.
o
The oil field has a plan with Culver City FD
on how to handle a fire in the oil fields. Culver City doesn’t have its own
helicopters but LA City and County would send water helicopters right away.
o
If you have a wood burning stove, use a
chimney sweep to clean it out before you use the fire again.
o
Alerts – Use NIXEL.com to receive alerts. The
city can send out an alert from the FD and PD.
·
Angie from Parallel Method
o
Parallel Method is hosting kid and parent
classes at SNC. Kids 3-6 are in an enrichment class while parents do an
enrichment class of their own. This Saturday classes at 11am and 3pm.
Kerry made a
motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:58pm. Seconded by Annie. Motion Carried.
Additional
Notes:
·
Patrick
Soon Shiong who is the new owner of the LA Times has
his office right off Jefferson near Blair Hills
·
The
Culver Steps project, the block-wide 6-story complex next to Trader Joe's in
Culver City, was
built by Amazon to house Amazon Studios.
They have also bought a good portion of the Culver Studios as well. The
Amazon complex will probably be hiring as many as 3,000 employees.