CONSENT CALENDAR  Council approved 1) final tract map for a five-unit condominium project at 1537 16th Street; 2) Keyser Marston contract amendment for additional financial analysis of the Village project in the Civic Center; 3) a new system for providing temporary staffing services to city departments, through purchase orders with 12 staffing agencies; 4) accepting tree-planting grant funds from the state Department of Forestry’s Green Trees for the Golden State program; 5) a contract with PC Imaging to scan and index permit and plan documents; 6) a contract with Cultural + Planning Group to develop a community cultural plan; 7) a resolution declaring Council intent to create a Transportation Preservation Zoning District for the Exposition Right-of-Way; 8) an upgrade of the electrical service for the Civic Auditorium’s cooling system; 9) a resolution authorizing the City Manager to designate another city employee as project director for the Wilshire Dry-Wet Weather Runoff Diversion Project grant contract; and 10) a memorandum of understanding with the Public Attorneys Union. 

The Council also appropriated $1.3 million for the purchase of a Public Video Security System, comprised of 123 security cameras installed on and around the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier to aid in the detection and investigation of suspicious activity, including potential acts of terrorism.  Council directed staff to return with the Public Video Security Policy, which outlines procedures for the collection and storage of digital images for Council action. 

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL  The Council approved in open session a settlement agreement among all parties charged with violating Southern California AQMD regulations on asbestos removal (from the old Main Library site).  The agreement calls for the city’s contractors on the project to pay the $256,000 fine.

HOMELESS UPDATE REPORT  The city’s representative on homeless issues, former county Supervisor Ed Edelman, gave his first update to Council on his regionally focused efforts in the first weeks of his engagement.  He stressed the work begun to redefine the mission of the L.A. Homeless Services Agency (LAHSA), an organization he founded which currently focuses primarily on the city and county of L.A.; the work begun to look at a new type of regional governance on the issue; and the great need for all jurisdictions and agencies to “step up to the plate” as each plays a role the others can’t fill.  He spoke of the knowledge gained from a recent trip to New York City with a large delegation of officials to see what has been accomplished in the Times Square area of NYC on homelessness [details are available at http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/information_items/2006/TimesSquareHomeless.pdf].  Councilmembers and staff reported on State Senator Gil Cedillo’s package of legislation, which includes a requirement for “Fair Share Zoning” which would require cities to identify in their general plans sites where supportive services and housing for homeless individuals would be located.  Edelman mentioned the L.A. Times’ forum, "Saving L.A.’s Homeless:  What Must Be Done," which will be broadcast on Channel 5, at 11 p.m. on Feb. 15 (taped earlier in the evening). Columnist Steve Lopez and Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Shriver are among the panelists.

MID-YEAR BUDGET STATUS/COMMUNITY PRIORITIES INPUT  The Council received a report on mid-year 2005-06 budget changes, including an estimated $5.5 million increase in general fund revenues (primarily due to increased taxable value of property in the city, increases in the hotel room tax, business growth resulting in higher business license revenue and a repayment of Vehicle License Fees borrowed in previous years by the state).   $3 million in mid-year expenditures were approved.  The Council set aside the remaining $2.5 million, allowing the new City Manager time to complete his analysis of capital and other needs.  He will report back to the Council in 30 days, at which time Council also will discuss broad community budget priorities for the coming year.  More than 50 individuals spoke to the Council on their budget priority recommendations, which ranged from dog parks to traffic studies, arts to child care, Pico Youth and Family Center to business parking issues, Meals on Wheels to the Santa Monica Symphony, school funding to Airport safety, biodiesel fuel to joint city-school district-college strategic planning.  In setting priorities, Council will consider a great deal of additional input from the community via letters, e-mails, budget suggestions submitted via the city website, input from Boards and Commission and input gleaned in a wide variety of ways throughout the year. 

While continuing their priorities discussion to a future meeting, Council took the following actions related to some of the evening’s testimony:  authorized staff to explore with the 18th Street Arts Center financial options for refinancing the center’s expansion; directed staff to meet with Meals on Wheels staff and return with recommendations on how the city might help them on a one-time basis, perhaps from Council discretionary funds, with costs associated with their operation’s recent move.  Council also directed that an item be agendized regarding support for AB 359, which would authorize a pilot program dog beach at Dockweiller State Beach; and asked staff to report back in the most appropriate way (Information Item or agenda item) on the status of a pilot program for a dog beach in Santa Monica. 

ORDINANCES  Council held second reading and approved ordinances 1) establishing a discretionary review process on conversion of any portion of a Third Street Promenade ground floor restaurant use to a new expanded retail use; 2) modifying the city’s Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Incentives to bring them in accord with state law; and 3) approving the transfer of the Adelphia Cable to Time Warner Cable.

COUNCILMEMBER ITEMS   

Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance (perhaps an emergency ordinance) requiring a transitional worker retention period when grocery stores undergo a change of ownership, to protect Santa Monica workers from sudden job displacement.   

Council directed staff to review the recent California Air Resources Board report on secondhand smoke and report back to Council about implications for residents, visitors and employees in Santa Monica.  Staff was also directed to review recent legislation regarding secondhand smoke and return to Council with a summary of measures the Council might consider locally.  Council noted that a list of Santa Monica restaurants offering smoke-free outdoor dining can be found at www.freshairdining.com.

Council voted to provide $1,000 from the Council discretionary funds to help sponsor the Latina Youth Conference on March 25 at Santa Monica College. 

Council directed staff to prepare an amendment to Interim Ordinance 2149 to permit the legalization of “bootleg” rental units when the Rent Control Board determines the unit to have been rented on April 10, 1979, provided the unit meets the all provisions of the interim ordinance.

APPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS  The appointment to the Pier Restoration Corporation was continued to the next meeting.  The Council accepted with regret the resignations of Kelly Hayes-Raitt from the Commission on the Status of Women and D. Joshua Staub from the Commission for the Senior Community.

ADJOURNMENT  The Council adjourned in memory of actor Chris Penn, 40, who passed away in Santa Monica on January 24.  A long-time Santa Monica resident, Penn was a Samohi graduate and had been commended by the Council for his contributions to the pedestrian safety in the city.  He starred in the SMPD-produced public service announcement “Look Both Ways,” donating his time and talents.  

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2006, 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/2006/ as soon as possible after the meeting. (Click on the February 14 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.