CIVIC CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN  The City Council certified the environmental impact report for the update to the Civic Center Specific Plan; gave direction that, within the context of a potential development agreement amendment with Macerich for Santa Monica Place, a separate traffic study would be required using the methodology in place at that time and additional environmental issues may also be studied; adopted the plan update with adjustments proposed by the Working Group, including the recommendations in Exhibit B to the staff report, with addition of language allowing the housing developer to approach 325 units rather than requiring that number and limiting the height limit of the housing to 56 feet.  Council directed staff to study the potential for subterranean parking under the new Civic Center park spaces, within the context of park design.

ORDINANCES  The Council held second reading and adopted interim ordinances allowing administrative approval of the number and types of driveways required for parking structures with more than 40 parking spaces in multi-family, commercial and industrial districts in the city; and adjusting the modifications to the development standards for parcels in the R-1 Districts located in the Sunset Park and North of Wilshire neighborhoods.

415 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY  The Council approved a design-build contract with Pankow Special Projects for preconstruction services for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 415 PCH and appropriated $21,000,000 in grant funds received from the Annenberg Foundation.

CROSSWALK ENHANCEMENTS ON COLORADO  Council approved an amendment to a contract with Kabbara Engineering for design engineering services and with DMR Team for project and construction management and inspection services for crosswalk enhancements and neighborhood traffic improvements for Colorado Avenue between 20th and Centinela.

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BYLAWS DISCUSSION  Council complimented the CVB Board and staff on the job they are doing.  Council ratified the last Bylaws change and invited the Board of the CVB, which is funded by taxpayer dollars, to work with the Council to find an alternative method of making appointments that represent the business community, with the hope that a plan could be achieved within 120 days.  Council indicated its intent, should a new appointment method be approved, to reappoint all current Board members for the remainders of their terms.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT & RATES  The Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Herb Katz and Councilmember Ken Genser to an ad hoc committee to work with staff to address options for a solid waste management study, to include rate structures. 

CONSENT CALENDAR  Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, the following were approved by City Council: a lease amendment with Windward School in West L.A., increasing the lease payments, extending the term to 2055 and allowing Windward additional use of the city’s Charnock wellfield property; a contract with Rutan & Tucker for legal and financial services related to the transfer of Adelphia Cable to Time Warner; a final parcel map for a three condominium project at 219 California Avenue; a contract with JAS Pacific for temporary planning services; a contract with Reedcorp Engineering for civil and electrical engineering services for the annual street and park lighting projects; a bid award to Insight Public Sector to provide computer networking equipment for the new Main Library; a contract with WestEd to provide an external evaluation of city-funded, school-based mental health and support services; and a resolution setting water and solid waste rates and fees, as directed by Council on June 21. 

APPOINTMENTS  The Council continued all Board and Commission appointments to the next meeting and accepted the Richard Hilton’s resignation from the Disabilities Commission and authorized the City Clerk to publish the vacancy. 

OTHER MATTERS  After hearing from a member of the public regarding a request for the City Attorney to enforce compliance with state and municipal law by management and boards in condo and cooperative developments,  the City Attorney said she would make sure the attorney in charge of the Consumer Affairs Unit considers all pertinent statutes and factors in reviewing the particular board of directors’ dispute mentioned by the speaker and would provide the Council with additional information on the process in general.

ADJOURNMENT  The meeting was adjourned in memory of former El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon, who was elected to the state Assembly in November, was active in SCAG and the South Bay Cities organization, and who passed away of a brain tumor late last week at the age of 47.  Council expressed sympathy to his family.

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 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.