What Your City Government is Doing

• The City's budget is formatted in Adobe Acrobat which enables it to be easily referenced from the City's intra- and internet sites. This has enabled us to print less "hard" copies of the budget document, thus saving boxes of paper each year.
• Share documents and files within the division on the V:Drive and SWAMI so paper copies are not created in multiple.
• Scan and disseminate materials through e-mail whenever possible in order to save paper.
• Shut off lights in private offices when not in use.

• Provided two voluntary informational green building handouts available to the public in the handout bins 2004
• Provided a green building tour to the City Council and Planning Commission members, and presented a green building discussion item to the City Council. Provided two sustainable building presentations to the Culver City Planning Comm. 2005
• Mandatory solar photovoltaic item approved by the City Council 2008
• Mandatory green building program approved by the City Council 2009
• 2 US EPA handouts provided on the Building Safety web page; duct sealing and seal and insulating guides 2009
• Most effective Existing Building Energy Improvements handout on the Building Safety web page 2009
• Benefits of Urban Trees handout on the Building Safety web page 2009
• Guide to the application of the Culver City green building programs and the 2010 California Green Building Code (CalGreen) October 2010

• Enforcement

• Reduction of paper consumption through use of optimizing printing & copying, distribution of information via the City's website and through email, and electronic storage of files.
• Moving towards more electronic versions of a wide range of City-produced documents, which is reducing the need for printed copies.
• Working to develop a sustainable community strategy.

• Culver City Mayor Signs the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
  Mayors Climate Protectios Center Website

•  Passed an ordinance requiring 1 kilowatt of solar photovoltaic energy generation for each 10,000 square feet of gross floor area of new commercial or multi-family construction, including additions and major renovations (March 2008). This is the first such mandatory program in the US.

• Approved a mandatory Green Building Ordinance (March 2009). The Green Building Program has four program parts:

  1) A list or prescriptive requirements for smaller projects

  2) LEED certified performance level for larger projects

  3) Preservation/replacement of existing trees

  4) Fee waiver energy efficiency improvements in our designated “green zones” along West Washington Blvd. Within these green zones, businesses are encouraged through permit fee waivers to retrofit their buildings to be more energy efficient. The green zone program is funded and administered by the Culver City Redevelopment Agency and is currently being launched.

• The City's budget is formatted in Adobe Acrobat which enables it to be easily referenced from the City's intra- and internet sites. This has enabled us to print less "hard" copies of the budget document, thus saving boxes of paper each year.
• Share documents and files within the division on the V:Drive and SWAMI so paper copies are not created in multiple.
• Scan and disseminate materials through e-mail whenever possible in order to save paper.
• Shut off lights in private offices when not in use.
• Convert annual accounting and finance documents to optical images to reduce storage costs, disseminate copies electronically and speed access for audit and research needs.
• Encourage payroll direct deposit.
• Sign up for electronic delivery of monthly statements from financial institutions.
• Disseminate electronic copy of City’s monthly financial statements.
• Post electronic copy of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on the City’s website.
• Continue to implement state of the art vendor direct payment options.
• Receive CD ROM copies of cancelled checks.
• Expand programs providing Internet payment option.
• Consolidate billing processes when applicable (e.g. collect annual fire inspection fee with business tax.

• Participate in overall sustainable Culver City program. The group pursued a grant for a "Sustainable Design Assessment Team" from the AIA (American Inst. of Architects), which grant is awarded to Culver City. (2006)
• Utilize recycled paper and folders. Digitizing files in conjunction with IT and working electronically where possible.
• Green roof and solar panels proposed at the Baldwin Site development
• Symantec project is potentially pursuing LEED certification.
• 500kw photovoltaic permit application for Costco and a 95kw photovoltaic permit application for Sony.

• Implementing more electronic communication internally and externally
• Printing marketing materials on recycled paper and noting that on the materials
• Distributing the City's green/sustainability materials at every event produced by Cultural Affairs

• Hazardous materials program.
• Lower emissions through purchase of low sulfur diesel engines for new apparatus.
• Removal of underground gasoline and diesel tanks at station two and station three to reduce likelihood of soil contamination.
• Change 4 staff vehicles from gas powered to CNG powered to have zero emissions.
• Recycling pick-up program for fire stations.
• Water conservation by having waterless urinals for fire stations.

• Going paperless (Personnel Actions (PA), Performance Evaluations, Job Applications).
• Providing various documents electronically on the soon to be obsolete v:drive, SWAMI and the website (policies, MOU, Civil Service Rules, etc)
• Recycling and using recycled paper products

• The IT Department has replaced most of the city's CRT monitors with energy efficient flat panels. We have also committed to restricting our computer purchases to products that are highly rated by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. Read More

• Provide the Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Illness form to our Third Party Administer via email rather than hardcopy.
• When the original copy of a document is not needed by another party, rather than copying the document and sending it via mail, our division utilizes the scanning process, thus saving paper.
• On a daily basis we recycle documents that do not need to be shredded due to confidentiality purposes.

• Recycling and/or providing the public with opportunities to recycle a wide range of materials including: bottles, cans, plastics, paper, ink cartridges, office supplies, batteries, cell phones, hearing aids and eyeglasses.
• Reusing and/or re-purposing donated items, including furniture, books, magazines, games, supplies for arts & crafts, party decorations, utensils, audio and video tapes, movies on DVD and yarn for knitted items.
• Hosting a White Elephant sale of donated items semi-annually at the Culver City Senior Center to encourage responsible consumerism and reduce waste.
• Conserving electricity by monitoring usage at all facilities and turning off unnecessary lights; field lights are on only during permitted/approved activities.
• Reducing the use of envelopes, printed receipts and postage by implementing online registration for recreation programs and activities.
• Phasing out the use of Styrofoam disposable plates and coffee cups at the Senior Center Nutrition Program Lunchroom, resulting in an 80% reduction in the use of disposable plates.
• Sponsoring a "Go Green" day where reusable beverage containers are distributed as gifts to senior lunch participants; providing customized reusable water bottles to Recreation staff as promotional/educational tools.
• Designing Native Plant and Water Wise Demonstration Gardens for installation at: City Hall-Heritage Plaza, Veterans’ Park Swimming Pool Entryway, Culver West Alexander Park, Culver City Bike Path along Ballona Creek, Culver City Dog Park and the Park Slope along Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City Park.
• Conserving water through the use of Calsense evapo-transpiration based controllers in our parks in compliance with AB-325; continuing to upgrade the City's irrigation system as funding becomes available.
• Partnering with Toro Irrigation to use the Park Division’s irrigation system to test and monitor irrigation at City Hall for 40 % water savings through the use of new spray head technology.
• Adjusting and repairing the City's irrigation controllers as needed to optimize the system's performance and reduce water usage.
• Maintaining planters by using mulch to preserve moisture, provide nutrients, and reduce weeds; eliminating the raking of leaf litter in planters to provide natural mulch.
• Replacing inappropriate plants and ground covers with native plants whenever possible.
• Trimming and pruning plants and shrubs only as frequently as needed to produce the desired aesthetic effect. This practice preserves fuel and labor and helps reduce methane emissions from green waste in landfills.
• Using hand tools over power tools wherever possible to perform pruning and trimming of plant material.
• Increasing public awareness of and continually striving to meet the "Net Goal" of grounds maintenance; that is, achieving a net landscape benefit by producing more oxygen than carbon dioxide through the use of environmentally responsible maintenance practices.

• Worked with developer of 12402 Washington Place Office/Retail building and 13365 Washington Blvd Mixed Use building to incorporate Green Building elements into project design.
• Incorporating green building design requirements into Washington/National Specific Plan
• Encourage use of permeable driveway and parking lot surfacing.
• Require reuse and recycling of construction and demolition debris
• Encourage use of native and drought tolerant plant materials

• The Ballona Creek Bikeway Project is intended to transform this segment of the creek and bike path by enhancing the beauty of the creek and providing amenities for recreational users, students, library patrons, and nearby residents. The Project is designed to help restore natural habitat, enhance the creek and bike path environment, and create educational opportunities for users of the bike path.
  Bikeway Project Webpage
• Expanding recycling collection to businesses and multi-family dwellings - the Public Works Environmental Programs & Operations (EPO) Division is working to provide new and expanded recycling services to businesses and multi-family dwellings.
• City hall audit - recycling refresh that includes marketing, receptacles, and choosing recycling "ambassadors" - the Public Works EPO Division believes that the example that City Hall presents to the Culver City community is very important. As such, the recycling programs at City Hall will be audited and improved to increase their effectiveness and visibility.
• Weekly residential recycling pick-up starting January 1. Currently residential recycling services are provided on a bi-weekly basis. Weekly service beginning in January will effectively double the recycling capacity for each residential unit currently provided with curb side recycling services.
• Engaging in outreach and coordination efforts to assist CCUSD in developing recycling and environment programs at schools through workshops and teacher / student education.
• Prop 50 BMP storm water treatment train - This program will provide a number of pilot storm water treatment projects that will move the City toward its goal of cleaning storm water runoff. The program includes elements that provide education, branding, business out reach, as well as 100% compliance with the trash Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) mandate.
• Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) development - training, audit infrastructure, develop SOP’s, create CIP's- etc.- This program is aimed at improving the management and maintenance of the City's sewer system in order to prevent the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows.
• Water conservation program under development in conjunction with West Basin – the City is working with the West Basin Municipal Water District and other government entities to bring reclaimed water into the city for irrigation purposes.
• Running quarterly electronic waste events and coordinating locations for the drop-off of used cell phones (currently at businesses that request them and at city facilities) and used batteries (currently 2 sites).
• Expanding the City's battery recycling program by establishing more drop-off locations
• Exploring the logistics of implementing a sharps collection program (medical waste) as this waste will be illegal to throw away beginning September 2008.
• Looking into placing photovoltaic systems that generate electricity from the sun on one or two City facilities.
• Replacing the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system at the CCPD building with a new highly efficient HVAC system. To be accomplished this FY.
• Development of a business Greening and Award Program to encourage recycling and other "green" business practices for City busineeses.
• Performing outreach at community events on the City's used oil, recycling, composting, and sustainability programs.
• Currently working with the County to bring a Smart Gardening center to Culver City Park.
• Equipped all diesel powered heavy-duty and medium-duty equipment with diesel particulate filters, which reduce harmful diesel emission by 85% (Tier 3 units), two years ahead of the State-mandated schedule.
• Working with the AQMD, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and manufacturers of new diesel retrofit devices for three (3) off-road construction vehicles through a showcase grant program to comply with clean air mandates for this type of equipment.
• Offering a variety of recycling services for businesses and residences and working to provide even more services and outreach to businesses.
• Partnering with Heal the Bay and the Coastal Commission on the annual Ballona Creek Clean-up to educate and promote reduction of trash into the creek and streets.
• Coordinating with the West Basin MWD on various educational/water conservation programs, including giveaways.
• Looking at revisiting its water conservation ordinance to bring it in line with MWD’s model ordinance.
• Testing a warm asphalt mixture that takes less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than traditional asphalt.
• Improving energy efficiency in two Culver City parks using Federal Energy Block Grant Funds, one component of which is a small solar demonstration.

• Received a $1.19 million Prop. 50 grant to install:
  o  672 catch basins, a connector pipe screen, and an automatic retractable screen
  o 50 recycling receptacles and 45 trash receptacles in high trash generation sites
  o 3 rain gardens within City parks or municipal facilities

• Buy "Energy Star" computers and electrical equipment (city-wide).
• Buy multifunction equipment to save energy (city-wide).
• Save junk mail from fax machine and recycle bins to make scratch pads.
• Make two sided copies.
• Scan and e-mail documents.
• No Styrofoam products; use paper or plastic that has recycled content.
• Recycle toner cartridges (city-wide).
• Recycle automotive & small equipment batteries (city-wide).
• Recycle automotive tires (city-wide).
• Recycle and reuse old furniture and equipment (city-wide).
• Buy 30% or greater post consumer content copier paper (city-wide).
• Buy recycled paper legal and note pads.
• Buy recycled content plastic bag or compost able bags.
• Consolidate orders to save on gas and time (do not need 10 people driving to the same store).
• Attend "Green Purchasing" workshops.
• Maintain a "Green Vendor" catalog file.
• Keep informed of new Green products/vendors.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off the water while soaping up your hands and turn it back on when ready to rinse.
• Wear more clothes if you're cold.
• E-mails documents to save on paper and postage.

• Presented the "Art of Living Green" in October 2006, featuring Collette Brooks
• Developed Multi-Mobility Campaign in association with Expo DFD to encourage public transportations and non-vehicle mobility options. Hosted booth at Fiesta La Ballona (2005)
• Developed "Discover Culver City Bus" Wrap - Walk in, Bike in, Ride in - Be in - Culver City.” (2006)
• Developed "On Track" newsletter that gives information regarding the Expo Line and features destinations available by public transportation. (2006)

• The City of Culver City chose the compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel path in 1996 while planning for the reconstruction of the Transportation Facility, and in anticipation of State mandated clean air rules.
• The City's dedicated CNG refueling station was commissioned in 1998 for fueling the City’s first twenty (20) alternative fuel CNG transit buses.
• Expanded the CNG refueling station to accommodate the City's growing CNG fleet, construction completed in November 2007.
• Culver CityBus was the first public transit fleet in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to operate on 100% compressed natural gas (CNG), and the second in the state of California.
• Currently, the City utilizes 81 Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) in its fleet:
• 46 CNG transit buses
• 8 CNG refuse trucks
• 17 CNG sedans
• 2 CNG light duty trucks
• 2 CNG heavy-duty public works vehicles (sewer truck and asphalt truck)
• 3 electric vehicles
• 3 hybrid SUVs
• Eight (8) additional CNG refuse and heavy-duty vehicles are pending delivery within the next few months.
• Working with the AQMD, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and manufacturers of new diesel retrofit devices for three (3) off-road construction vehicles through a Showcase grant program to comply with clean air mandates for this type of equipment.
• Reduced diesel fuel consumption by 51% over the past five years, annually displacing over 650,000 gallons of diesel fuel with CNG, and saving the City over $800,000 per year in fuel costs.
• Removed over 50,000 tons of NOx (oxides of nitrogen - the brown emission exhaust) from the air.
• Removed over 100,000 tons of PM (particulate matter - the black soot exhaust) from the atmosphere.
• Obtained over $1.3 million in grant funds to offset clean engine purchases and infrastructure development over the past five years.
• Perform monthly, quarterly and annual inspections, and laboratory testing and reporting on stormwater conditions at the Transportation Facility.
• Perform twelve (12) environmental compliance tests annually at City petroleum fuel sites to maintain clean air standards and protect groundwater resources.
• Transportation Department’s Equipment Maintenance & Fleet Services Division has been Certified as a Green Model Shop for automotive maintenance and repair facilities by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) from the State of California.
• State-of-the-art Transportation Facility reduces usage of electricity and water by using natural lighting, automatic turnoff systems, smart temperature controls and waterless plumbing facilities. 
• The City's Employee Rideshare Program removes over 2.8 tons of emissions per year by encouraging alternative modes of commuting to work.
• Earned the rank of #2 Best Green Fleet in North America 2008 by the Top 100 Fleets Certification Program.
• Used lead-free tire wheel weights in all fleet vehicles.
• The City utilizes 101 Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) in its fleet, including compact vehicles, SUVs, transit buses, light-duty trucks, refuse trucks, and heavy-duty public works vehicles such as sewer trucks, street light repair trucks, and heavy-duty dump trucks.  Some of these vehicles are hybrids.  For example, we have 3 Ford Escape hybrids for Building Safety Inspector vehicles.
• The City's use of alternative fuel vehicles has resulted in:
  o Reduced diesel fuel consumption by 60% over the past five years, annually displacing over 800,000 gallons of diesel fuel with CNG, and saving the City over $1.2 million per year in fuel costs
  o Removal of over 80,000 pounds of NOx (oxides of nitrogen - the brown emission exhaust) from the air
  o Removal of over 32,000 pounds of PM (particulate matter - the black soot exhaust) from the atmosphere
• In the process of creating a Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, which will provide a framework for making the City more bike-friendly and less car dependent.  We have held two workshops, most recently on July 25th.