The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of January 11 announcing the kick-off of  Shape the Future 2025, the city’s Land Use Element update project, with a community workshop on January 22, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at John Adams Middle School.  For more information, go to www.shapethefuture2025.net.

CONSENT CALENDAR  Among items not requiring extensive discussion, the following were approved by Council:  Contracts with Smith-Emery Company for inspection and materials testing and with Ninyo and Moore for soils inspection and environmental oversight on the Civic Center parking structure project (a separate contract for waterproofing inspection was continued to the next meeting); setting March 8, 2005 as the date for a public hearing on street improvements for Yale Street as petitioned for by residents between Montana and Wilshire; contracts with HEC Construction for the Civic Auditorium East Wing ceiling replacement and construction of a new cooling system for the Auditorium; contract with CARS to produce the annual Santa Monica Festival in 2005, 2006 and 2007; and resolutions 1) authorizing application for SB 1346 rubberized asphalt concrete grant funds,  2) supporting universal preschool for all four-year-olds in California; 3) approving a tract map for a five-unit condo project at 839 Ninth St. and 4) supporting the Westside Cities Council of Governments’ proposed mobility improvements for Exposition light rail and Red Line extension.  The Council also approved participation in the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s (MSRC) funding program to help upgrade and expand the city’s CNG and LNG refueling stations and in the MSRC’s alternative fuels local government match program.

CLOSED SESSION  MATTERS  Council approved the following three settlements discussed in closed session:  $75,000 in a slip and fall case; $29,500 in a bus versus vehicle collision; and an agreement to process a building permit under prior ordinance standards when the applicant had been misadvised and missed a deadline by one day.

ORDINANCES  The Council held first reading on an interim ordinance extending for two additional years a prior interim ordinance authorizing the placement of furniture, portable landscaping and cigarette disposal receptacles within the public right-of-way and display of merchandise on private property.  Council requested staff to ensure that placement of furniture in the right of way not restrict wheelchairs in any way.

2005-06 BUDGET INPUT  The Council heard from public on their budget suggestions, recommendations and priorities for the coming year.  The city manager cautioned that, while revenues are expected to be up next year, expenditures will outpace them (due primarily to personnel expenses and the expense of operating new city facilities, including the new Main Library and Virginia Avenue Park) and there is still uncertainty about state budget impact on the city budget despite certain safeguards now built into the state Constitution.  Budget suggestions received by Council over the past few weeks via email and postal mail, the 2004-05 mid-term budget report and results of a citywide resident survey, will also be considered by Council in giving direction to staff  at the January 25 Council meeting on priorities for the coming fiscal year.  Programs or services suggested for funding by representatives of boards and commissions and interested individuals included: 

• Advancement of sustainable economic development, outreach, “greening” of the hospitality industry

• Funding for sustaining the community forest, maintaining park vegetation, maintaining medians

• Beach “greening”

• Roll back fees for youth sports to help achieve active living priority

• Additional efforts to make residents aware of community programs

• Resource development to pursue grant funding for recreation program priorities

• Examining trauma and trauma impact as part of the ongoing efforts to improve safety in the Pico neighborhood

• Increased intervention/programs for high-risk 16-24 year olds, especially in the Pico neighborhood, including job skills programs, education opportunities, work force development department

• Invest in early childhood education as an investment in gang suppression and violence prevention

• Increase funding for Community Arts Grants and other Arts Commission efforts

• Develop at Cultural Master Plan

• Improve accessibility of city facilities

• Continue continuum of care through Community Development grants to address homelessness

• Affordable housing for hard-working families

• Youth commission

• Advertise more in local papers

• Shorten meetings

• Purchase additional noise monitors at the Airport

• Strengthen services to neighborhood groups

• Education, youth, environment, affordable housing, social services

• Maintain high level of school funding

• Pico Youth & Family Center

• Longfellow street improvements in Borderline neighborhood

• Fully fund, implement, update and maintain Historic Resources Inventory

• Off-leash dog park on the beach

• Continue environmental programs including alternative fuel vehicle program, Green Building program, sustainable schools, CVB partnership to “export” sustainable behaviors, 35th anniversary of Earth Day

• Airport Park health study

COORDINATED PLAN FOR HOMELESS SERVICES  The Council received the annual homeless services report that outlined challenges and successes of the services provided in the past year, including a multi-partner Chronic Homeless pilot program that has been successful in transitioning 8 of the 12 pilot participants off the streets and the city’s full participation in Bring L.A. Home (the regional effort to end homelessness in 10 years) and heard from numerous social services providers about local programs and successful programs in other locations that could be added to the Santa Monica mix. Council thanked staff for continuing to provide leadership in this area.

SOBERING CENTER  The Council received a report on the status of evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of a “Sobering Center” concept to help deal with the problem of public inebriates who overwhelm local emergency rooms on a regular basis.  Council directed staff to continue developing the program on an expedited basis, with goals similar to those of a San Diego sobering center program (outlined on page 5 of the staff report), plus goals of not drawing people from outside Santa Monica and including a linking to the court system.  A regional approach, as is favored for addressing homelessness and including a potential for a center at a county-operated facility, was also discussed by Council.

RENTAL HOUSING TRUST FUND GUIDELINES  Council approved revisions to the Trust Fund Guidelines regarding subsidy limits and terms.  Council also directed staff to provide an update on implementation of Proposition R, which established affordable housing goals for the city.

OFF-LEASH DOG PARK  Council directed staff to develop an off-leash dog park on the beach as a pilot project, taking into consideration Heal the Bay’s concern about impacts on the bay, impacts on other beach users and state law/potential Coastal Commission jurisdiction on the matter, and to pursue any county or state funding that may be available for the pilot.

OTHER MATTERS  Council directed staff to report to them every 60-90 days on the progress of the package of auto dealer zoning issues expected to be agendized for action as an interim ordinance in August 2005.  Council also directed staff to prepare interim changes to Downtown design standards in order to encourage more creative architecture and better land use (changes are noted in the staff report).  Council discussed participation options for members of the Council, Boards and Commissioners and Task Forces covered by the Brown Act in community meetings regarding Land Use and Circulation Elements and Zoning Code updates.  The City Attorney suggested appointees of less than a majority could attend without triggering Brown Act requirements.  Mayor O’Connor, Mayor Pro Tem Katz and Councilmember Genser were named to attend the January 22 workshop.  The City Attorney will investigate how other cities have addressed the attendance of a majority of Council or Planning Commission as observers at large community visioning gatherings.

APPOINTMENTS  Mayor O’Connor was appointed as the city’s representative to the Exposition Light Rail Construction Authority.  Lena Perelman’s letter of resignation from the Housing Commission was accepted with regret and the City Clerk was authorized to publish the vacancy.  The Mayor made the following appointments of Council liaisons to city boards and commissions:

• Accessibility Appeals Board—Richard Bloom

• Airport Commission—Ken Genser and Herb Katz

• Architectural Review Board—Richard Bloom and Herb Katz

• Arts Commission—Kevin McKeown

• Building & Safety Commission—Richard Bloom

• Community for the Senior Community—Robert Holbrook

• Commission on the Status of Women—Bobby Shriver

• Disabilities Commission—Herb Katz

• Housing Commission—Kevin McKeown

• Landmarks Commission—Kevin McKeown

• Library Board—Robert Holbrook

• Personnel Board—Robert Holbrook

• Planning Commission—Pam O’Connor

• Recreation & Parks Commission—Bobby Shriver

• Social Services Commission—Richard Bloom and Bobby Shriver

• Bayside District Corporation—Ken Genser and Richard Bloom

• Convention and Visitors Bureau—Pam O’Connor and Bobby Shriver

• Pier Restoration Corporation—Ken Genser and Robert Holbrook

• Task Force on the Environment—Kevin McKeown

• Sustainable City Task Force—Pam O’Connor

• School Liaison Committee—Herb Katz and Pam O’Connor

The Council meeting was adjourned in memory of Rosemary Kennedy, aunt of Councilmember Bobby Shriver and the inspiration for the Special Olympics; and in memory of two long-time Sunset Park residents, Joan Rankin and Ed Wirtz, who will be sorely missed.

The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, January 25, 2005, beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the wheelchair-accessible Council Chamber at City Hall, 1685 Main Street. Council meetings are aired live on CityTV Channel 16 and on the Netcast on the city's website and, for regularly scheduled meetings from 8 p.m. to midnight on KCRW 89.9 FM.

NOTE:  This wrap-up is not an official record of Council action.  The official record is posted by the City Clerk on this website at http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2005/ as soon as possible after the meeting.  (Click on the January 11 agenda link.)

SPECIAL NOTE:  Council meetings are now video streamed on the web  (http://santamonica.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2) and re-aired on cable channel 20.

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MEETING WRAP-UP ARCHIVE