CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 2, 1997
A regular adjourned meeting of the Santa Monica City Council
was called to order by Mayor O'Connor at 6:38 p.m., on Tuesday,
December 2, 1997, in the Council Chambers.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Pam O'Connor
Mayor Pro Tem Robert T. Holbrook
Councilmember Ruth Ebner
Councilmember Michael Feinstein
Councilmember Ken Genser
Councilmember Asha Greenberg
Absent: Councilmember Paul Rosenstein
Also Present:City Manager John Jalili
City Attorney Marsha Jones Moutrie
Assistant City Clerk Beth Sanchez
PLEDGE Councilmember Greenberg led the assemblage in the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America.
8-A: ORDINANCE/AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS AS PERMITTED USES:
Presented was an ordinance for introduction and first reading
amending Section 9.04.08.26.020 of Article IX of the Santa
Monica Municipal Code to specify existing automobile
dealerships as permitted uses in the C6 Boulevard Commercial
Zoning District provided that such dealerships may not resume
operations if converted to another use or if operations cease
for a period of one year or longer unless such closure is the
result of a natural disaster or fire.
Staff Report
On order of the Mayor, the public hearing was opened.
Member of the public Joey Fullmer expressed her concerns.
Members of the public Daniel Ehrler and Chris Harding spoke in
support of the proposed ordinance and requested certain
amendments relating to the one-year clause and treatment as a
permitted use.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
Motion by Councilmember Greenberg, seconded by Councilmember
Ebner, to continue this item to the meeting of December 9,
1997, and ask staff to report back on suggestions made this
evening.
Motion by Councilmember Greenberg, accepted as friendly, to
amend the motion to stipulate that the item be continued to the
next available meeting. The motion was unanimously approved by
voice vote, Councilmember Rosenstein absent.
9-A: PREFERENTIAL PARKING ZONES: Presented was the staff report
recommending direction to the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance to establish three preferential parking zones on (1)
Pearl Street, west of Euclid Street, (2) 12th Street, north of
Santa Monica Boulevard, and (3) Stewart Street, north of Pico
Boulevard; recommending direction to staff to conduct an
environmental evaluation of the proposed zones; and,
recommending that upon adoption of ordinances establishing the
parking zones, the appropriate budget revenue account be
revised to reflect $6,375 in additional revenue from the sale
of new preferential parking permits.
Staff Report
On order of the Mayor, the public hearing was opened.
Member of the public Joey Fullmer expressed her concerns.
Members of the public Harold Luebke, Patricia Mills, Brian
Mills, John Caswell, Emma Gomez, Julia Brown, Robert Brown, Ed
Nelson, and Alex Capron spoke in support of the preferential
parking zone on Pearl Street.
Members of the public Gustavo Garcia, Jaime Navarro, Jean
Lancaster, Jose Santinelli, John Ayers, and Blythe Million
spoke in support of the preferential parking zone on Stewart
Street.
Members of the public Dan Ehrler and Chris Harding requested
that the preferential parking zone related to 12th Street be
continued to allow the commencement of a community process.
Members of the public Robert Wright, Michael Monahan, Janina
Krupa, and Susan Oldfield spoke in support of the preferential
parking zone on 12th Street.
Motion by Councilmember Feinstein, seconded by Councilmember
Genser, to hear a late speaker. The motion was approved by
voice vote, Councilmember Ebner opposed, Councilmember
Rosenstein absent.
Member of the public Joyce Urode spoke in support of the
preferential parking zone on 12th Street.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
Motion by Councilmember Feinstein, seconded by Councilmember
Greenberg, to direct the City Attorney to prepare ordinances to
establish the following preferential parking zones: Pearl
Street, west of Euclid Street; Stewart Street, north of Pico
Boulevard; direct staff to conduct an environmental evaluation
of the proposed zones; and, upon adoption of the ordinances
establishing the parking zones, revise the appropriate budget
revenue account to reflect additional revenue from the sale of
new preferential parking permits. The motion was approved by
the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Ebner, Greenberg, Genser,
Feinstein, Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook, Mayor
O'Connor
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein
Motion by Councilmember Genser, seconded by Councilmember
Feinstein, to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance
to establish a preferential parking zone on 12th Street; direct
staff to conduct an environmental evaluation of the proposed
zone; and, upon adoption of the ordinance establishing the
parking zone, revise the appropriate budget revenue account to
reflect additional revenue from the sale of new preferential
parking permits.
Substitute Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook, seconded by
Councilmember Ebner, to delay action on the preferential
parking zone for 12th Street to enable staff to have further
dialog with the automobile dealership and residents and to
explore other options of solving the parking problem on this
street. The substitute motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Ebner, Greenberg, Mayor Pro Tem
Holbrook
Noes: Councilmembers Genser, Feinstein, Mayor O'Connor
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein
Motion by Councilmember Genser, accepted as friendly, to amend
the main motion to include direction to staff to explore other
options to address the parking problems on 12th Street and
return to Council.
The main motion, as amended, was approved by the following
vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Ebner, Greenberg, Genser,
Feinstein, Mayor O'Connor
Abstain: Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein
On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 8:56 p.m.
Council reconvened at 9:30 p.m., with all members present
except Councilmember Rosenstein and Mayor O'Connor.
9-B: PILOT PEDICAB PROGRAM: Presented was the staff report
regarding approval, in concept, of the establishment of a Pilot
Pedicab Program; recommendation to direct the City Attorney to
prepare an ordinance and hold a public hearing to amend certain
sections of the Municipal Code to allow the City Manager to
approve a pilot program for pedicabs as non-motorized vehicles
for hire; to include pedicabs under Tax Rate Group III Business
Classification; and, recommendation to direct the City Manager
to prepare rules and regulations for such a pilot program.
Staff Report
On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the public hearing was opened.
Members of the public Fred Khammar, Glen Gerson, Brian
Hutchings, and Elizabeth Noguez spoke in support of the
establishment of a pilot pedicab program.
The Mayor Pro Tem closed the public hearing.
Motion by Councilmember Feinstein, seconded by Councilmember
Genser, to approve in concept the establishment of a pilot
pedicab program; direct the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance and set a date for a public hearing to amend 1)
Section 6.48.020 to allow the City Manager to approve a pilot
program for pedicabs that would exempt them from certain rules
and regulations for taxicabs; and 2) Section 6.08.150 to create
a specific inclusion for pedicabs in the listing of services
included within Tax Rate Group III business classification;
direct the City Manager to prepare rules and regulations
regarding pedicabs for such pilot programs. The motion was
approved by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Feinstein, Genser, Greenberg,
Ebner, Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein, Mayor O'Connor
9-C: STATUS REPORT/COUNCIL CHAMBERS IMPROVEMENTS: Presented was
information regarding improvements to the Council Chambers and
request for Council direction on potential modifications to
improve the usefulness of the space for members of the public,
elected and appointed officials.
Staff Report
Staff received direction from Council. Information was
received and filed.
9-D: EDGEMAR PROJECT CERTIFICATION/STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL
ACTION: Presented was the staff report regarding the Edgemar
Project Certification of Statement of Official Action for
Appeals 97-007, 97-008, 97-009 of the approval of Development
Review Permit 96-00; Conditional Use Permit 97-004; Variance
96-001; and Conditional Use Permit 96-011 for the project
located at 2415 Main Street, commonly known as the Edgemar
Project.
On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the public hearing was opened.
There being no one wishing to speak, the Mayor Pro Tem closed
the public hearing.
Motion by Councilmember Greenberg, seconded by Councilmember
Ebner, to approve the Certification of Statement of Official
Action for Appeals 97-007, 97-008, 97-009 of the approval of
Development Review Permit 96-00; Conditional Use Permit 97-004;
Variance 96-001; and Conditional Use Permit 96-011 for the
project located at 2415 Main Street, commonly known as the
Edgemar Project. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Feinstein, Genser, Greenberg,
Ebner, Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein, Mayor O'Connor
13-A: ROY MORANDO/WEED ABATEMENT ASSESSMENT: Presented was the
request of Roy Morando, resident, to address Council regarding
a City of Santa Monica weed abatement assessment included in
his property tax bill.
The issue was referred to staff.
13-B: MICHAEL MONTGOMERY/MANAGED GROWTH: Presented was the
request of Michael Montgomery, resident, to address City
Council regarding managed growth in Santa Monica.
Motion by Councilmember Feinstein, seconded by Councilmember
Genser, to continue the meeting past 11:00 p.m. The motion was
unanimously approved by voice vote.
Members of the public David Cole, David Raiklan, and Robert
Wright spoke in support of the suggestion by Michael
Montgomery.
The information was received and filed.
14-A: ANALYSIS/OUTCOMES OF STATE ASSEMBLY NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE: Presented was the request of Mayor O'Connor and
Councilmember Feinstein to direct staff to analyze the outcomes
of the State Assembly Natural Resources Committee field hearing
in order for the City Council to consider significant
appropriate action on federal and state legislation.
Member of the public Brian Hutchings expressed his concerns.
Motion by Councilmember Feinstein, seconded by Councilmember
Ebner, to direct staff to analyze the outcomes of the State
Assembly Natural Resources Committee field hearing in order for
the City Council to consider significant appropriate action on
federal and state legislation.
15: PUBLIC INPUT: Member of the public David Busch discussed
homeless issues.
At 11:16 p.m., Council adjourned to Closed Session.
16-A: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation: City
of Santa Monica v. Mobil Oil Corporation, Case No. 778141.
ACTION: Heard. No action taken.
16-B: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation: Wil-
Fourth Partnership v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. BS 045458.
ACTION: Heard. No action taken.
16-C: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation: City
of Santa Monica v. Arco, et al., Case No. BC 121317.
Motion by Councilmember Ebner, second by Councilmember
Greenberg to approve. settlement in the amount of
$174,830. The motion was approved by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Feinstein, Genser, Greenberg,
Ebner, Mayor Pro Tem Holbrook
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Rosenstein, Mayor O'Connor
16-D: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation:
Charmont Partners, Ltd. v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. SS
007397.
ACTION: Heard. No action taken.
16-E: Conference with legal counsel: Anticipated Litigation:
Two cases.
ACTION: Heard. No action taken.
ADJOURNMENT: At 11:50 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to
December 9, 1997, in memory of Raymond Olsen.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Beth Sanchez Pamela O'Connor
Assistant City Clerk Mayor