The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of May 10, 2005 by declaring May 2005 as Historic Preservation Month in Santa Monica. [The city was recently honored as a national Preserve America Community.]

CONSENT CALENDAR Among items not requiring extensive discussion, the following were approved by Council:

• $560,000 Contract with Action Environmental Enterprises to demolish the former police building

• $180,000 agreement with Surf Academy to operate surf camps and classes as part of the city’s community classes offerings
  statement of official action on denial of an appeal related to a wireless antenna installation at 3010 Wilshire

• $50,000 contract with Heal the Bay to provide environmental education and outreach services in local schools

• interim use for the city-owned property at 1601 14th Street adjacent to Memorial Park (relocation of landscape, tree and park maintenance and operations facilities from current space at the Airport) and planning for long-term uses that could include community recreation facilities and a below-grade city water reservoir

• $7.2 million in contracts to construct Airport Park

• submittal of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $1 million to target chronic homeless who are addicted to alcohol

• extension of lease agreement between the city/Redevelopment Agency with RAND to allow RAND more time to complete demolition and remediation of its former headquarters (on property now owned by the city)

• $665,000 contract for design of seismic retrofit of Parking Structure 4 in the Downtown. Council directed staff to look at potential safety enhancements along with aesthetic improvements for structures in the long-term.

ORDINANCES Council held first reading on an ordinance adopting the 2004 California Electrical Code and making related local Santa Monica building code amendments to maintain safe electrical standards. Council also directed that staff study the concept of eliminating Romex as a viable electrical wiring system in the city.

FENCES/HEDGES After receiving a report on community input and hearing from two dozen residents, Council gave the following direction to staff regarding fence and hedge heights, to be reflected in a draft ordinance that will come back for further Council discussion and action in July: Subject to safety consideration, 1) all existing hedges (front, side or back) will be grandparented at their current heights, with an opportunity given for adjacent neighbors to object and a ruling to be made based on safety/extreme quality of life standards, through a simple, minimal fee process, with the burden of proof on the adjacent neighbor; 2) the current 42” front yard limit will be maintained for any new hedge installation, however, application may be made for a higher limit, or to increase the height of a current 42” hedge, if certain standards are met (e.g., busy street, front yard the only open lawn area) and adjacent neighbors do not object. Again, any process for requesting the height variance or making an objection should be simple and low cost. The Council accepted the current definition of fences and walls and directed staff to return with more information on the hedge definition, taking into consideration Council comments regarding trees vs. shrubs and the difference between screening and obscuring view.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Council heard a consultant analysis of 15 options, four of which were recommended for action by the Housing and Planning Commissions, to increase the city’s supply of new affordable units as required by Proposition R (adopted by the voters in 1992 mandating that 30% of all newly constructed multifamily housing each year be affordable to low and moderate income households). After the public hearing on the matter, it was continued for discussion to the meeting of May 17.

BIG BLUE BUS The Council approved the design and placement of new “Rapid 3” Big Blue Bus shelters. The Rapid 3 is a new service connecting Santa Monica to LAX and the Green Line via Lincoln Boulevard on weekdays. Santa Monica is the first municipal operator in the county to have a rapid bus. Service starts in late June.

APPOINTMENTS Appointments were continued to May 17, 2005.

OTHER MATTERS Council voted to support SB 51 (Kuehl), permanently extending tenant notice for no-fault evictions to 60 days, with the action to be communicated to legislators and the Governor.

ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned in memory of Miguel Contreras, who died at a young age, a tragic loss for the community; George Gordon, the founder of Playland Arcade and a business presence on the Santa Monica Pier for more than 50 years, who passed away in mid-April and whose daughters, Marlene and Joanie, and grandchildren are the current operators of Playland; and mother of city Risk Manager Tom Phillips, Dorrit C. Phillips, who passed away May 1.

The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for May 17, 2005, beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the wheelchair-accessible Council Chamber at City Hall.  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 May 10 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 CityTV2 cable channel 20.

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Watch and listen to Santa Monica City Council meetings on the Web!

MEETING WRAP-UP ARCHIVE