The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of July 26, 2005 by introducing and welcoming newly elected Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl of the 11th District, which “embraces” (the Councilman’s word) Santa Monica on three sides.  Rosendahl laid out a number of matters he intends to pursue for his district’s residents, including several interjurisdictional issues of concern to Santa Monica.

CONSENT CALENDAR  Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, the Council approved the following:  a contract for engineering design services for the city’s traffic management system and parking management network; a resolution affirming the city’s compliance with the 2004 Congestion Management Program; and cancellation of the regular August 23, 2005 City Council meeting.

APPEALS  On appeal, the Council overturned the Landmarks Commission’s designation of 125 Pacific Street as a city landmark and approved an airspace subdivision for a condominium project at 851 19th Street.

ORDINANCES  The Council held second reading and adopted interim ordinances:

1) establishing new fence, wall and hedge height standards, grandparenting existing nonconforming hedges, fences and walls and establishing administrative and discretionary height modification procedures; and
2) extending a moratorium on new or expanded ground floor retail uses on the Third Street Promenade.

The Council held first reading on ordinances establishing a new 5/10K beach-view race route in the city, allowing administrative approval of driveways required for parking structures with more than 40 spaces, adopting the 2005 California Energy Code and local amendments to the California Building, Energy and Plumbing Codes; and making non-substantive, clarifying amendments to the Landmarks Ordinance.   

An ordinance allowing existing commercial and industrial uses with valid conditional use permits without expiration dates to remain, subject to a renewed CUP, was continued to the meeting of August 9.  An ordinance establishing new affordable housing production fees paid by developers failed to pass, but will be rescheduled at the request of a Councilmember on the prevailing side to the next Council meeting at which a full Council will be present, most likely in September.

SMC BUNDY CAMPUS ACCESS  After hearing from more than 25 speakers, the Council authorized a short-term extension of the temporary pedestrian access agreement.  Council further directed staff to analyze Santa Monica College’s 7-26-05 access proposal and to re-engage with SMC and city of L.A. staff on options to resolve outstanding issues related to pedestrian and vehicle access to the Bundy Campus and to include consideration of the college’s 7/26/05 proposal, neighbor concerns, Airport staff concerns and Airport Park construction impacts in developing options for Council review (as early as August 9, if possible).  Council also directed that ample time be given for the community to weigh-in on any short- and long-term options to be considered.

OTHER MATTERS  Council approved the Stormwater Parcel Report and associated fees for 2005-06.  A discussion of California’s density bonus law was continued to an upcoming meeting, as was a request to discuss the matter of day laborers at 11th and Colorado and a potential no loitering zone.

COUNCILMEMBER ITEMS  Council waived fees for use of the Council Chambers on August 11 by the Assembly Select Committee on Air and Water Quality and accepted with regret the resignation of Colin Maduzia from the Landmarks Commission.  All other Councilmember items were continued to a future meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, 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.