CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 21, 1989
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to
order by Mayor Zane at 7:35 P.M., on Tuesday, November 21, 1989, in
the Council Chambers.
Roll Call: Present:
Mayor Dennis Zane
Councilmember Judy Abdo
Mayor Pro Tempore David B. Finkel
Councilmember Ken Genser
(arrived at 7:40 P.M.)
Councilmember William H. Jennings
(arrived at 7:40 P.M.)
Councilmember Herbert Katz
(arrived at 7:45 P.M.)
Councilmember Christine E. Reed
Also Present: City Manager John Jalili
City Attorney Robert M. Myers
City Clerk Clarice E. Johnsen
CLOSED SESSION: Not held.
Councilmember Reed led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Flag of the United States of America.
At the request of the City Manager, the Consent Calendar items were
heard following the other business items. Mayor Pro Tem Finkel moved
to accept chits to speak on Item 11-A until twenty minutes after the
Public Hearing has begun. Second by Councilmember Abdo, Themotion
was unanimously approved. ' -
11-A: MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT/CONSTRUCTION RATE AND
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Presented was a staff report transmitting a
recommendation to direct the', City Attorney to prepare an ordinance
extending the moratorium on residential development in the area
bounded by Ocean Avenue to the west, 14th Street to the east,
Wilshire Boulevard to the south, and Montana Avenue to the north; and to
prepare an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to implement the
Construction Rate and Management Program. Council asked questions of
staff. , Mayor Zane opened the public hearing at 8:13 P.M. Members
of the public Allen Zahner, Rose Marie Stef, Jean Gebman, Suzanne
Abrescia, David Raiklen, Schlomo Rozen, Eric Parlee, and Kelvin
Jones spoke in support of downzoning and/or extending the
moratorium. Members of the public, Betty Bunnell, Peter Berke, Ken
Breisch, CoCo Reynolds, Nancy Desser, and Joel Hirsch spoke in
support of the above but also expressed concern with regard to board
and care facilities. Member of the public Karl Schober was in favor
of downzoning and extending the moratorium but expressed concern
regarding housing for new residents. Member of the public Mathew
Millen spoke in
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November 21, 1989
f avor of downzoning and the pursuit of a land banking program.
Members of the public Joy Fullmer, Duane Nightingale, and Dane
Chapin stated their support of the extension of the moratorium but
their opposition to downzoning. Members of the public Carolyn
Guillot and Ronald Sampson spoke in opposition to downzoning. Member
of the public Ira Sarvian suggested a hardship exemption be
instituted for persons who recently purchased vacant property.
Member of the public R. J. Garrett spoke against the moratorium and
suggested buildings be given to current residents, and developers
provide moving expenses. Member of the public Joe Palazzolo felt
that the staff report was flawed.
At 9:30 P.M., Mayor Zane closed the public hearing and Council
adjourned for a short recess. At 9:52 P.M., Council reconvened with
all members present.
Discussion was held. Councilmember Katz moved that the Rates and Standards
Program be reviewed by staff and that the standards for
construction, as proposed in the program, be adopted as an interim
ordinance. Second by Councilmember Reed. Discussion continued.
Councilmember Katz moved to amend the above motion to accept the staff
recommendation on the Rates and Standards Program and to include
direction to the Planning Commission to consider a Resolution of
Intention to amend the Zoning ordinance in relation to the revised
development standards; and to direct the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance to extend the moratorium for seven months. Seconded by
Councilmember Jennings. Councilmember Reed moved to further amend the
motion on the floor to provide for a category of hardship exemptions
for persons who own vacant lots which have been vacant since
November 1, 1989. Second by Councilmember Abdo. Mayor Pro Tem Finkel moved
to amend Councilmember Reed's amendment so that the scope of the
hardship exemption be limited to those lots on which a new purchaser
went into escrow prior to the date the temporary moratorium was
placed into effect. The amendment was accepted-as friendly by the
maker and second of 'the original motion. Discussion was held. The
motion, as amended, was approved by,the following vote:'
Council vote: Unanimously approved 7-0
Councilmember Jennings moved to direct staff to proceed with the
downzoning proposal (Alternative 2 - -R4 to R3 and R3 to R2) and to
hire the necessary consultants to prepare the EIR. Second by
Councilmember Abdo.
Councilmember Genser moved to extend the meeting to 12:00 A.M. Second by
Councilmember Jennings. The motion was unanimously approved.
Discussion continued. Councilmember Jennings's motion was
approved by the following vote:
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Finkel,
Genser, Jennings, Mayor Zane
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November 21, 1989
Negative: Councilmembers Katz, Reed
Councilmember Katz requested the record to reflect that he voted
"no" because he feels that staff should have the prerogative to not
recommend downzoning.
Councilmember Reed requested the record to reflect that she voted
"no" because she does not feel that downzoning is an appropriate way
to deal with the housing problem.
Councilmember Genser moved that the hardship exemption be conditioned
upon meeting standards that are set forth - in the staff report.
Second by Mayor Pro Tem Finkel. Discussion was held. Mayor Pro Tem
Finkel withdrew his second. The motion died for lack of a second.
Mayor Zane moved to have staff evaluate, prior to the end of the
moratorium, the following issues: 1) whether there are strategies
which can be pursued to protect board and care homes; 2) whether
there are additional design regulations to control lot consolidation
and the potential for oversized developments because of
consolidating the number of lots; and 3) recommendations regarding
increasing the amounts of guest parking. Second by Mayor Pro Tem
Finkel. The motion was unanimously approved.
11-B: CLOSED SESSION: Not held.
13-B: PANHANDLING AND FILMING ON MAIN STREET:
14-1: MAIN STREET PARKING STRUCTURE: Presented was the request of
Brandon McNeal to address Council on behalf of the Main Street
Assessment District regarding panhandling and filming on Main
Street, and issues regarding the Main Street Parking Structure. Mayor
Pro Tem Finkel moved to consolidate Item 14-1 with Item 13-B. Second by
Councilmember Genser. The motion was unanimously approved. Brandon
MacNeal, on behalf of the Main Street Assessment District, requested
Council assistance in the following: 1) to not issue any film
permits onMain Street until after January lst, and that Council
direct -staff to involve this organization in the permit process to
the extent that each film permit be reviewed by the parking
committee; 2) the deterrence of professional panhandlers in the
area; 3) that no Council action be taken on the Main Street parking
structure until the revisions to the Main Street ordinance are
completed. Council asked questions of Mr. MacNeal. Regarding Item
14-1, Councilmember Genser moved to direct staff to not take any further
action with respect to the Main Street Parking Structure until
after, the completion of the Main Street planning process. Second by
Mayor Pro Tem Finkel. Councilmember Katz moved a substitute motion to
continue with the EIR, and that it be returned with no preferred
alternatives. Second by Councilmember Abdo. The substitute motion
was approved by the following vote:
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Jennings,
Katz, Reed, Mayor Zane
Negative: Councilmembers Finkel, Genser
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November 21, 1989
Councilmember Genser requested the record to reflect that he voted
"no" because he would prefer no action be taken until the completion of
the draft plan by the Main Street Task Force.
Mayor Zane moved to direct staff to meet with the Chief of Police to
evaluate the possibility of directing more foot patrols into all of
the commercial areas of the City during the holiday season and that
staff return to Council with a written report in two weeks, for
Council consideration, if necessary. The motion was seconded
and,unanimously approved.
Councilmember Genser moved to extend the meeting to 12:15 A.M.
Second by Mayor Pro Tem Finkel. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mayor Pro Tem Finkel, Councilmember Jennings, and Councilmember Katz
were excused from the meeting at 12:02 A.M.
13-C: DEVELOPMENT MODERATE INCOME HOUSING: Presented was the request
of Joseph P. Sole to address Council regarding the unavailability of
moderate-income housing. Mr. Sole urged Council to rezone the City,
taking into consideration the need to preserve those areas which
lend character to the city and aggressively develop the remaining
areas. No Council action was taken on Mr. Sole's request.
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13-E: COALITION OF SANTA MONICA HOMELESS: The request of Leonard M.
Kuras to address the Council regarding The Coalition of Santa Monica
Homeless was continued to the meeting of November 28, 1989, at the
request of.Council.
-6. CONSENT CALENDAR: Presented was the Consent Calendar, whereby all
items are considered and approved in one motion unless removed from
the calendar for discussion. Councilmember Abdo moved to approve the
Consent Calendar with the exception of Item 6-BB, which was withdrawn
at the request of Councilmember Genser, reading resolutions and
ordinances by title only and waiving further reading thereof. Second
by Councilmember Genser. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
Council vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Abdo, Genser,
Reed, Mayor Zane
Absent: Councilmembers Finkel, Jennings,
Katz
6-CC: CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND: The
recommendation to contribute City funds to American Red Cross
Disaster Relief fund was approved.
Staff Report
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
6-BB: EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR OUTDOOR DINING AREA: The recommendation
to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an easement
agreement for an outdoor dining area with OAB
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November 21, 1989
Corporation, DBA I Cugine Restaurant at 1501 Ocean Avenue, was
continued to November 28, 1989, at the request of Council.
14 -A: PEACE AND ECOLOGY COMMISSION: The request of Mayor Pro Tempore
Finkel to discuss directing the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance creating a Peace and Ecology Commission was continued to
the meeting of November 28, 1989, at his request.
14-F: AMENDMENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE: The request of Councilmember Katz
to discuss having staff return' with an amendment to zoning
ordinance changing donut shops from "retail" to "fast food" was
continued to the meeting of November 28, 1989, at his request.
14-G: PRESERVATION OF OLDER HOMES: The request of Mayor Zane to discuss
strategies to protect older homes in residential areas which may be
historic or cultural resources, including a possible moratorium on
the demolition of pre-1940 buildings, was continued to the meeting
of November 28, 1989, at his request.
14 -H: RESIDENTIAL HEIGHT LIMITS: The request of Mayor Zane to discuss
examination of setting residential height limits by reference to
adjacent buildings was continued to the meeting of November 28,
1989, at his request.
14-1: MAIN STREET PARKING STRUCTURE: The request of Councilmember
Genser to discuss the Main Street Parking Structure and to postpone
its environmental review was considered with Item 13-B, (see above).
14-J: WAIVING FEES FOR USE OF CIVIC AUDITORIUM: The request of
Councilmember Katz to discuss waiving fees for the use of Civic
Auditorium by the Vineyard Fellowship on Thanksgiving Day was
withdrawn at his request.
15: PUBLIC INPUT: There no members of the public wishing to address
Council.
ADJOURNMENT: At 12:10 A.M., the City Council meeting was adjourned
to November 28, 1989, at 6:00 p.m.,.in memory of Margot Leburg.
ATTEST:
Clarice E. Johnsen
City Clerk
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APPROVED:
Dennis Zane Mayor
November 21, 1989