CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING 11/07/89
ABBREVIATED MEETING MINUTES
Disclaimer: This document does not contain the complete official meeting
minutes but is intended to provide information about meeting activity.
To obtain official meeting minutes, please contact the Santa Monica City
Clerk's office.
5-A: APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION/SANTA MONICA CONGREGATION OF
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES/2119 VIRGINIA AVENUE: Presented was an
appeal of Planning Commission technical denial of Conditional Use
Permit 89-036 to allow the construction of a 3,500 square foot
meeting hall with one residential unit and parking for 42 cars
located at 2119 Virginia Avenue. Applicant: Santa Monica
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Continued from October 17,
1989.
Staff Report
Discussion was held. The Public Hearing was opened at 7:53 P.M.
Members of the public Mimi Mehuran, Will Minor, Al Bennett,
Jennifer Noto, Jacquelyn Reid, Eleanor Chacon, Amado Gonzalez,
Stanley Hader, Dominick Annese, Theresa Mango, Lori Ventri,
Vincent Lavorgna, Reverend Gregory Garland, Al Zaragoza, Linda
Kessler, Art Casillas, Dan McGhee, Mary Bond, Myrtle Davis,
Isadora Wilson, Maggie Weems, Martha Jackson, Erik Aranda, and
Jack Ritter spoke in favor of this project and urged Council to
approve. Member of the public Joy Fullmer expressed her concerns
regarding housing problems. Members of the public George Hickey
and Rosemary Smith spoke in opposition to this project and urged
Council to deny the appeal. Mr. James Lacher, speaking on
behalf of the applicant/appellant, stated his rebuttal to
comments made by members of the public. The Public Hearing was
closed at 8:50 P.M.
Councilmember Katz moved to uphold the appeal, approve the
project with the findings and conditions recommended by the
Planning Department and staff. Second by Councilmember Jennings.
Councilmember Genser stated that he will oppose this motion as he
believed this is an inappropriate site for the proposed use. The
motion was approved by the following vote:
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Jennings,
Katz, Reed, Mayor Zane
Negative: Councilmember Genser
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel
8-A: ORDINANCE REGARDING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH SANTA MONICA
COLLEGE: An ordinance for introduction and first reading
regarding the development agreement with Santa Monica College for
the construction of two parking structures, and a resolution
certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report for the project
was presented. Council asked questions of staff, consultants,
and representatives of Santa Monica College.
Staff Report
The Public Hearing was opened at 10:30 P.M. Sam Zivi, a member
of the public, spoke in favor of the parking structure. The
following members of the public spoke in opposition to the
proposed project: Janet English, Paul Morgan, Mark Abramowitz,
and Donald Frischer.
Councilmember Katz moved to extend the meeting to 12:00 A.M.
Second by Councilmember Abdo. The motion was approved, Mayor
Pro Tempore Finkel absent.
Joe Casillas and George Hickey spoke in support of the parking
structure. Peter Tigler, Kathleen Schwallie, Eric Chen, Jennifer
Polhemus, and Jack Rubens spoke in opposition to the parking
structure.
Councilmember Reed moved to extend the meeting to 12:30 A.M.
Second by Councilmember Abdo. The motion was approved,
Councilmember Jennings opposed, Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel absent.
Jason Weisberger, member of the public, spoke in support of the
parking structure. Members of the public Jay Dougherty, Linda
Ross, Joe Webber, Regula Ziegler, Louis Mara, Cheri Dickinson,
and Patrick Ewing spoke in opposition to the parking structure.
Michael Brourman, member of the public, spoke neither for nor
against the structure but expressed concern with regard to the
inadequacy of the EIR.
Councilmember Reed moved to extend the meeting to 1:00 A.M.
Second by Councilmember Abdo. The motion was approved,
Councilmember Jennings opposed, Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel
absent.
Council asked questions of representatives of Santa Monica
College, consultants, and staff. The Public Hearing was closed
at 12:10 A.M.
Councilmember Reed moved to adopt Resolution No. 7930 (CCS),
entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WITH
ADDENDUM AND SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ON THE
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT PARKING STRUCTURES
PROJECT LOCATED AT 1900 PICO BOULEVARD," reading by title only
and waiving further reading thereof. Second by Councilmember
Abdo.
Discussion was held.
Councilmember Katz asked the City Attorney if there was any
conflict of interest that would prevent him from voting on this
matter, due to his wife, Ilona Katz, serving as the Chairperson
of the Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees.
The City Attorney stated that there was none.
Councilmember Katz moved that signal synchronization be put into
effect when the parking structure is on-line. Councilmember Katz
withdrew his motion as it was determined to be inappropriate at
this time.
Further discussion was held.
Councilmember Genser moved to extend the meeting to 1:30 A.M.
Second by Councilmember Reed. The motion was approved,
Councilmember Jennings opposed, Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel absent.
Councilmember Reed's motion to adopt Resolution No. 7930(CCS) was
approved by the following vote:
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Katz, Reed,
Mayor Zane
Negative: Councilmembers Genser, Jennings
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel
Councilmember Reed moved to introduce for first reading an
ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA APPROVING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AND THE SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT," subject to the deletions and additions of paragraphs
as delineated in the staff report and incorporating therein the
findings as delineated in the staff report, reading by title only
and waiving further reading thereof. Second by Councilmember
Abdo.
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Katz, Reed,
Mayor Zane
Negative: Councilmembers Genser, Jennings
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Finkel
Councilmember Jennings requested the record reflect that he voted
"no" as he is unable to vote to certify the EIR. Councilmember
Genser requested the record reflect that he voted "no" as it is
his belief that an adequate environmental review was not
conducted, including parts of the project that have not been
reviewed at all.
Councilmember Katz moved to direct staff to return to Council as
soon as possible with a concept to implement traffic mitigation,
i.e., signal synchronization and purchase of whatever property is
deemed necessary, including procedures for a proper environmental
approach. Second by Councilmember Reed. The motion carried
unanimously.