Culver City City Council

Among the strongest images of the year in Los Angeles County were those of furious smokers temporarily banned from Beverly Hills restaurants and a would-be gunman holding what turned out to be a toy gun on consumer reporter David Horowitz during a live broadcast. Both incidents spawned action by local authorities. Here's a sampling of what local legislative boards decided during 1987.

So it's not "Wheel of Fortune" or "Jeopardy," both produced here. Still, beginning September, residents will be able to tune in to City Council meetings on cable. "A number of people who would like to be involved with local government can't because of transportation" or related problems, public information officer Randi Joseph said. "Now, they can stay at home" and still follow what's going on. Culver City will join more than 60 cities in Los Angeles County that broadcast their meetings.

Facing continued pressure from residents, the Culver City City Council has asked the city's Planning Department to explore how the city can turn a 66-acre site in the Blair Hills area--the only large open space in Culver City--into a park. This week, the council asked city staffers to explore all the funding sources available to the city that would help finance transformation of the grassy hills into parkland. The staff is expected to report back to the council in 90 days.

Public discourse is getting a boost in Culver City. Starting in November, the city will hold special neighborhood meetings where residents and merchants can relay concerns and questions to City Council members. The "Community Neighborhood Town Hall Meetings" will be held throughout the city. The first discussion is scheduled for November, said Jody Hall-Esser, the city's chief administrative officer.

Los Angeles Councilwoman Ruth Galanter called on Culver City officials Friday to abandon or drastically scale back plans for a proposed regional shopping mall near Marina del Rey that she said would transform nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods "into a nightmare of gridlock." Galanter accused Culver City of dumping parking and traffic problems from the proposed 823,000-square-foot Marina Place development on Los Angeles residents.

The art life of Los Angeles took a sharp body blow Monday night, as the five-man City Council in Culver City dusted off an artistic doctrine that once held sway in the United States, before the horse and buggy was relegated to the history books. Next, the council turned this aged chestnut into law. Goodness, the city fathers sentimentally decreed, is the mother's milk of art. As the vote was being taken in council chambers, you could practically hear the swelling of the heavenly chorus.

Public discourse is getting a boost in Culver City. Starting in November, the city will hold special neighborhood meetings where residents and merchants can relay concerns and questions to City Council members. The "Community Neighborhood Town Hall Meetings" will be held throughout the city. The first discussion is scheduled for November, said Jody Hall-Esser, the city's chief administrative officer.

A tight City Council race in Culver City resulted in a win by council incumbent Albert Vera and newcomers Richard Marcus and Sandi Levin. Vera, who served one term on the Culver City Council, was the top vote-getter Tuesday with 31% of the vote, followed by Marcus, a financial controller, with 24.6%, and attorney Levin with 24%. Also competing for the three open seats was businessman John Edell, who received 20.4% of the vote.

So it's not "Wheel of Fortune" or "Jeopardy," both produced here. Still, beginning September, residents will be able to tune in to City Council meetings on cable. "A number of people who would like to be involved with local government can't because of transportation" or related problems, public information officer Randi Joseph said. "Now, they can stay at home" and still follow what's going on. Culver City will join more than 60 cities in Los Angeles County that broadcast their meetings.

CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION: The Culver City City Council on Monday approved placing a measure on the April ballot that would end civil service protection for city department heads. The council, in a 4-1 vote, backed the measure that would allow a unanimous council to fire the police chief, community development director, human services director and transportation director.

A tight City Council race in Culver City resulted in a win by council incumbent Albert Vera and newcomers Richard Marcus and Sandi Levin. Vera, who served one term on the Culver City Council, was the top vote-getter Tuesday with 31% of the vote, followed by Marcus, a financial controller, with 24.6%, and attorney Levin with 24%. Also competing for the three open seats was businessman John Edell, who received 20.4% of the vote.

Facing continued pressure from residents, the Culver City City Council has asked the city's Planning Department to explore how the city can turn a 66-acre site in the Blair Hills area--the only large open space in Culver City--into a park. This week, the council asked city staffers to explore all the funding sources available to the city that would help finance transformation of the grassy hills into parkland. The staff is expected to report back to the council in 90 days.

The art life of Los Angeles took a sharp body blow Monday night, as the five-man City Council in Culver City dusted off an artistic doctrine that once held sway in the United States, before the horse and buggy was relegated to the history books. Next, the council turned this aged chestnut into law. Goodness, the city fathers sentimentally decreed, is the mother's milk of art. As the vote was being taken in council chambers, you could practically hear the swelling of the heavenly chorus.

Los Angeles Councilwoman Ruth Galanter called on Culver City officials Friday to abandon or drastically scale back plans for a proposed regional shopping mall near Marina del Rey that she said would transform nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods "into a nightmare of gridlock." Galanter accused Culver City of dumping parking and traffic problems from the proposed 823,000-square-foot Marina Place development on Los Angeles residents.

Among the strongest images of the year in Los Angeles County were those of furious smokers temporarily banned from Beverly Hills restaurants and a would-be gunman holding what turned out to be a toy gun on consumer reporter David Horowitz during a live broadcast. Both incidents spawned action by local authorities. Here's a sampling of what local legislative boards decided during 1987.