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LEADERSHIP SERIES RETURNS IN 2008!
 GET CONNECTED—LEARN ABOUT
SANTA MONICA’S WEB SERVICES

Last April’s Leadership Series session on the city’s Internet services saw one of our biggest crowds ever, and we’re planning an exciting follow-up in late February. Whether you joined us last spring or you’ll be getting your feet wet for the first time, this is a program you won’t want to miss! Watch for details in the next issue of SeaScape and on the web at www.smgov.net.

 

 

CYBERNEWZ

REAL-TIME PARKING AVAILABILITY
ON-LINE IN SANTA MONICA

Are you driving downtown for shopping, a movie, lunch or dinner this holiday season? Check on-line to find the best and easiest place to park before even getting in the car! Go to parkingspacenow.smgov.net, and see a real-time display of the number of available spaces in downtown parking structures and beach parking lots. The website, which projects the parking information onto an aerial view of downtown, is automatically updated every five seconds.

With this valuable information in hand, you can avoid crowded parking structures and lots and spend more time enjoying downtown entertainment, shopping and dining venues and beaches. If you are already in the downtown area, electronic signs indicating the number of available spaces are located at the entrances to the parking structures and lots, alerting you to the available parking situation before you enter.

parking.smgov.net

To get out of your car and on with your day a little more quickly, take a look at this on-line parking guide first. The Overview Map provides detailed information about locations, hours and rates for lots and structures along with a downloadable PDF map. The Shuttle Buses & Monthly Parking Permits section will help you take advantage of public transportation to and from Santa Monica’s most popular destinations. You can even find out how to pay or contest a parking citation.

 

Know before you goStay informed and on the move despite local construction activities that affect motorist and pedestrian travel. Weekly updates are available on the web at knowB4Ugo.smgov.net, or call “City Hall On Call” at (310) 458-8999 (enter 716). TTY users may call (310) 458-2243. These projects are scheduled to be underway this winter:

  • DOWNTOWN (Area bounded by Lincoln Blvd. / Wilshire Blvd. / Beach / Pico Blvd.)

    DOWNTOWN FIBER COMMUNICATION AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODIFICATION The project includes improvements to 11 intersections in the downtown area, as well as five others at locations across the city, for fiber optic communication upgrades. Construction is currently underway and is expected to continue until summer 2008.

    2ND AND 4TH STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS (BETWEEN WILSHIRE BLVD. AND COLORADO AVE.) Improvements include new street and pedestrian lighting, mid-block crosswalk enhancements, sidewalk repairs, tree canopy lights and new curb cuts at major intersections. Construction is currently underway and should be substantially complete in summer 2008.

    PARKING STRUCTURE 4 - SEISMIC RETROFIT PROJECT This project also includes bathroom remodeling. Parking capacity in the structure is reduced through August 2008.
     

  • VARIOUS LOCATIONS CITYWIDE

    MONTANA / WILSHIRE STORM WATER DIVERSION STRUCTURES Work continues on this project with traffic lanes narrowed to two lanes north and one lane south on Ocean at Wilshire. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2007.

    ANNUAL TREE TRIMMING PROJECTS City trees are being trimmed at numerous locations, requiring some lane closures weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Affected residents and businesses will be notified in advance of tree trimming operations, and streets will be posted with no parking signs.

NEW ECO-FRIENDLY MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN STORE FOR BIG BLUE BUS

The Big Blue Bus broke ground this fall on a new, state-of-the-art maintenance facility on the site of the current bus yard at 7th Street and Colorado Avenue. The new 66,000-square-foot facility will not only accommodate a larger fleet, it will also make improvements to meet the needs of busses that are more technologically advanced than ever.

It will feature the most advanced and sustainable building systems, construction materials and landscaping available today, including photovoltaic panels that collect power from the sun and supply energy to the buildings; recycled-content construction materials (concrete, steel, insulation, and gypsum board) to reduce landfill waste; and a reclaimed water irrigation system for landscaping, with water-efficient plants and materials.

The three-year construction project is expected to be completed in early 2010. Notes Big Blue Bus Fleet Supervisor Ralph Merced, “The expansion of the maintenance facility will allow us to have enough room to keep improving our services for many years to come.”

For more information, visit www.bigbluebus.com
or call (310) 451-5444

COMMUNITY CLASS INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Community logoThe City of Santa Monica invites proposals from individuals or businesses interested in conducting fee-based classes from July 2008 through June 2009. The city’s Active Living initiative promotes integration of physical activity into daily routines, and we’re especially interested in active living and recreational/leisure classes designed for children, adults and/or families.

Examples of active living classes that support fitness and wellness for all ages include walking, skating, biking, basketball, dancing, volleyball, tennis, stair climbing, badminton, jump rope, street hockey and martial arts, etc. Recreational and leisure classes include healing arts, health and fitness, self-defense, dance, music, art, sports, “parent and me” and more. For details, contact the Community Classes office at (310) 458-2239 or view the Request for Proposals on-line at communityprograms.smgov.net.

PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN
 5 P.M. ON DECEMBER 14, 2007.