CITY OF SANTA MONICA

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

FEBRUARY 29, 2000

An adjourned regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor at 6:15 p.m., on Tuesday, February 29, 2000, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street.

Roll Call:

Present:

Mayor Pro Tem Pam O'Connor

Councilmember Richard Bloom

Councilmember Michael Feinstein

Councilmember Robert T. Holbrook

Councilmember Kevin McKeown

Councilmember Paul Rosenstein

Absent:

Mayor Ken Genser

Also Present:

City Manager Susan McCarthy

City Attorney Marsha Jones Moutrie

City Clerk Maria M. Stewart

CLOSED SESSIONS

CLOSED SESSIONS: On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the City Council convened at 6:15 p.m., with Mayor Genser absent, and then adjourned to consider closed sessions. Action taken on closed sessions was reported at the end of the meeting.

On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the City Council reconvened at 7:10 p.m., to the regular meeting, with Mayor Genser absent, to discuss the following:

CONTINUED MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW AND ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Councilmember McKeown was excused at 7:14 p.m.

Councilmember McKeown returned at 8:05 p.m.

9-A: Continued Mid-year budget review proposal to provide financial assistance to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, discussion of conditions of grant, and allocation of funds for technical assistance - recommendation that the City Council approve funding for the School District in the amount of $2.1 million in savings from the City's Year End 1998/99 budget, $1.9M for Kindergarten through 12th grade programs and $200,000 for childcare programs. (Continued from February 22, 2000. Public hearing closed.)

On order of the Mayor, discussion and deliberations on this matter continued. Councilmember McKeown advised he was recusing himself from this matter due to a conflict of interest.

Motion by Councilmember Rosenstein, seconded by Councilmember Holbrook, to approve staff recommendation of an allocation of $2.1 million to the School District. The release of the grant is conditioned on the District publicly notifying the City Council by letter of its plan to: 1) Establish an independent Financial Oversight Committee which will operate openly under the rules of the Brown Act. The Committee needs to be provided with support staff to assist in reviewing data and making recommendations to the Board of Education on financial matters and in developing a long-range financial strategy. 2) Commission an independent review of the District's budget projections and practices, enrollment projections and forecasting practices, and current financial condition.

Motion to amend by Councilmember Bloom to change "is conditioned" to "The release of the grant is based upon the District having notified the City that it will . . ." The motion was not accepted as friendly.

Motion to amend by Councilmember Holbrook, to change the phrase to: "The grant will be released when the School District publicly notifies the City Council that it has . . ." The motion was accepted as friendly.

The main motion, as amended, was approved by the following vote:

AYES: Councilmembers Holbrook, Rosenstein, Feinstein, Bloom, Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor

NOES: None

ABSENT: Councilmember McKeown, Mayor Genser

PUBLIC INPUT

PUBLIC INPUT: Members of the public Joyce Fullmer and Art Casillas expressed various concerns.

CLOSED SESSIONS

On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the City Council recessed at 8:10 p.m., to hear closed sessions, reconvened at 10:20 p.m., and reported the following action taken:

16-A: Appointment of Public Employee.

Title of Public Employee: Assistant City Manager

ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken.

16-B: Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Davis, et al., v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. 98 C00152.

ACTION: Not heard.

16-C: Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Eckfeldt v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. SC 053 860 (consolidated with Haendel v. City of Santa Monica et al., Case No. SC 055 558).

ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken.

16-D: Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Foodmaker v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. SS 007 078.

ACTION: Not heard.

16-E: Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Shober v. City of Santa Monica, Case No. SS 005 575.

ACTION: Not heard.

16-F: Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation. Number of cases: Two.

ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken.

16-G: Conference with Labor Negotiator - City Negotiator: Karen Bancroft, Personnel Director. Bargaining Units: Administrative Team Association (ATA); Legal Support Staff Association of Santa Monica (LSSASM); Management Team Associates (MTA); Municipal Employees Association (MEA); Public Attorneys Union (PAU); Santa Monica Police Officers Assn. (POA); Supervisors Team Associates (STA); United Transportation Union (UTU)

ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken.

ADJOURNMENT:

On order of the Mayor Pro Tem, the City Council meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.

ATTEST:

Maria M. Stewart

City Clerk

APPROVED:

Pam O'Connor

Mayor Pro Tem