The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of June 14, 2005 by recognizing the players, coaches and mascots of the White Sox team (boys age 10-12)  that won the Santa Monica Little League championship on June 4.  Coach (and SMPD Sgt.) Steve Heineman told the Council that Officer Rick Crocker, who was killed in Iraq in late May, was to have helped coach the team and his name was inscribed posthumously on the trophy.

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

• awarding a bid to Harbor Diesel and Equipment for overhaul of diesel and natural gas engines for the Big Blue Bus;
• purchase of two pumper trucks, which carry hoses, ladders and water, for the Fire Department;
• a contract with TruGreen Landcare for FY 2005-06 landscape maintenance services at parks, on streets and various other public locations;
• a partially grant-funded contract with ConservArt Associates for the conservation and installation of the Stanton MacDonald Wright Mural Series, recently returned to the city by the Smithsonian, in the new Main Library;
• an agreement with Provenzano Resources, Inc., to operate the Third Street Promenade Vending Cart Program;
• lease of space at 2121 Cloverfield for Housing and Redevelopment Agency offices;
• a contract with KDC, Inc. for traffic signal modification at the 23^rd Street and Cloverfield Boulevard intersections on Ocean Park;
• a contract with GeoTrans, Inc., to provide ground water consulting services related to the clean-up of the city’s Charnock wellfield;
• a contract with Community Partners to provide fiscal management and administration of grant funds for the Sustainable Works Residential and Business Programs;
• explore renegotiation of option allowing the city or Redevelopment Agency in the year 2018 to purchase improves at 3100 Neilson Way.
• a contract with the City of Los Angeles for Regional Fire Dispatch to improve service to the community and enhance firefighter safety, with direction from the Council that actions be taken to minimize adverse impact on SMFD dispatch staff.

ORDINANCES  Council held second reading and adopted ordinances 1) amending the Municipal Code to adopt the 2004 edition of the California Electrical Code and 2) exempting certain small businesses from the business license tax.  Council held first reading on an ordinance allowing administrative approval of the number and types of driveways required for parking structures with more than 40 parking spaces.  Council held first reading on an interim ordinance extending and adjusting modifications to the development standards and application process requirements for R-1 parcels in Sunset Park and north of Wilshire, adding an allowance for a 12” eave overhang on a 40’ lot increasing proportionately out to a maximum of 18” on larger lots.  Council also directed staff to return as soon as possible with a comparative analysis of an administrative approval process/appeal to Architectural Review Board, with mail notification to a 300’ radius around an R-1 project, versus the ARB approval required in the interim ordinance.

EMPLOYEE PERMIT PARKING CONCEPT After hearing a report on preliminary community input and staff work on a potential employee permit parking plan, and hearing from the public on the matter, Council directed staff to further investigate and develop an employee permit parking plan, with the following criteria:

• Applicable only to more or less vacant (underparked) blocks
• Approximate 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday time frame
• Pilot of no longer than one year
• Get feedback on preference of permit issued to car or issued to employer (providing flexibility without potential for abuse)
• Extensive public noticing
• Consideration of an additional annual parking fee to be paid by employers

EUCLID PARK CONCEPT DESIGN  Council heard from staff and landscape architect Mark Rios on the community process that informed the proposed design and the elements proposed for the park, including a children’s play area, a garden area, seating areas, two small green lawn areas, and a trellis linking the open space with adjacent meeting rooms in the Hacienda del Mar residential facility.  While sensitive to safety concerns raised by residents, Council decided against fencing the park, but directed heightened security and usage monitoring and enforcement by staff when the park opens.

SMC BUNDY CAMPUS ACCESS ISSUES  Council approved one-time only, temporary pedestrian access for students attending the summer session at the Bundy Campus, by an agreement to be drafted by the Attorney’s Office.  Council was adamant about the need for SMC to present a master plan for the Bundy Campus before any long-term vehicular access decisions are made.

PREFERENTIAL PARKING ZONE TT  The Council passed a resolution reducing hours for parking restrictions on 24^th and 25^th Streets between California and Washington Avenues.

HOMELESSNESS  Council directed staff to work expeditiously with homeless agencies currently providing service at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration, along with the Westside Council of Governments’ cities, to develop a proposed concept plan for long-term therapeutic supportive housing for homeless veterans on the north campus of the V.A.

HEAL THE BAY  Council allocated $25,000 of remaining 2004-05 Council discretionary funds to Heal the Bay on the occasion of the organization’s 20^th anniversary.

APPOINTMENTS  Brenda Katz was appointed to the Pier Restoration Corporation Board of Directors (other appointments were continued).  Council voted to vacate a seat on the Building & Safety Commission and authorized the Clerk to publish the vacancy.  Council appointed Councilmember Shriver as Mayor O’Connor’s alternate to the Exposition Light Rail Construction Authority and changed the liaisons to the Commission on the Status of Women to the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.  Council accepted with regret and best wishes the resignation of Ruth Elwell from the Bayside District Corporation Board.

(Item 8-C on Water, Solid Waste and Wastewater rates was continued to the meeting of June 21, 2005, as were Item 10-A on amending the schedule for Shape the Future 2025 and Item 13-D regarding support for two state gun control-related bills, AB352 and SB357.)

PUBLIC COMMENT  Council asked staff to review the schedule for removing palm trees from a beach parking lot, as requested by a nearby resident, to see if there might be an opportunity for dialog with neighbors prior to the removal. 

ADJOURNMENT  The Council adjourned in memory of Officer Ricardo Crocker.  Mayor O’Connor, assisted by Councilmember Holbrook, said, “Ricardo Crocker, Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a 10-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department, was killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on May 26 during his second tour of duty in Iraq, where he was helping rebuild communities.  Known to all as ‘Rick’, he was an excellent Santa Monica Police officer and ambassador and protector of this community.  Rick’s last assignment was with the Police Activities League where he served as an outstanding role model and mentor for the youth of Santa Monica.  Chief Jim Butts, who eulogized Rick at his funeral at St. Monica’s on June 2^nd, referred to this fine man as ‘the consummate caring professional who represented the highest standards and traditions of law enforcement.’  Chief Butts said Officer Crocker ‘was admired and loved by most everyone who had the opportunity to know him and it was just that, an opportunity, to know Rick.’

“Rick is survived by his mother Jeanette, father Curtis, sisters Marisa and Maria, and brother Carlos.  He was buried in Puerto Rico on June 4 at the National Cemetery next to his sister Linda who died 11 years ago, as was his expressed wish.  Chief Butts and others from SMPD traveled with the family to Puerto Rico and the entire Police Department and many, many other city staff and members of the community embraced this family during their time of sorrow, helping with funeral, travel and other arrangements.  Donations may be made to PAL in Rick’s name.  We celebrate the life of Rick Crocker, thank him for his service to our city, our nation and the people of Iraq, and extend our deepest sympathies to his family and many, many friends.”

The Council also adjourned in memory of Mrs. Bernadine Edmunds, who with her husband built many of the earliest tract homes on the Westside, providing first homes for many current Santa Monica residents; Wally Breisch, father of Library Board member Ken Breisch, who passed away June 1 in Napierville, Illinois; Max Ganezer, father of David Ganezer, publisher of the Santa Monica Observer, who died in a car accident in Malibu on June 10; and Adonis Harris, son of city employee Tony Harris, whose young life was tragically lost in a senseless act of violence last weekend.  Council expressed deepest sympathy and concern for all the family members and friends of  these individuals.

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council, which will include a public hearing and adoption of the city’s 2005-06 budget, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, 2005 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.