The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of March 28, 2006 by recognizing the Commission on the Status of Women on the occasion of their 25th anniversary, which is celebrated during Women’s History Month; and recognizing a fantastic group of young runners and their coaches from the Police Activities League who participated in the L.A. Marathon earlier this month.  Honored were youth runners:

• James Barr

• Mahealani Barr               

• Samuel Barr                   

• Reyna Bonilla                  

• Andrea Cruz                    

• Freddy Cruz                          

• James Cuellar                      

• Luis Evangelista               

• Carmen Fernandez           

• Christian Franco                   

• Jose Franco

• Emma Gonzalez

• Monique Gutierrez          

• Daisy Hernandez             

• Melina Hernandez           

• Nestor Hernandez           

• Noah Klein                      

• Aria Mahsoul                  

• Cherise McDonald           

• Karina Oblea                   

• Sebastian Pacheco           

• Amado Sernas                 

• Jivanto Van Hemert        

• Leo Zaldivar    

Their coaches were also honored:

• Karen Humphrey              

• Don Condon                   

• Shirley Tse                     

• Leon Caballero                

• Wendy Escobar               

• Lt. Frank Fabrega   

CONSENT CALENDAR  Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, the following were approved by Council:  Statement of official action on a December 13, 2005 appeal denial for the expansion of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica; use of $270,405 in grant funds to purchase 25 mobile computers for use in police vehicles; an annual $40,000 expenditure to Aramark Uniform Services for Big Blue Bus uniforms, shop towels and floor mat rentals; and a resolution adopting the National Incident Management System and incorporating its principles and policies into the city’s emergency plan.

HOMELESS UPDATE REPORT  Former County Supervisor Ed Edelman, the city’s representative on homelessness, noted that L.A. County has released "a remarkable plan" to reduce and prevent homelessness in the region—a funded plan with specifics set for action by the Board of Supervisors in April.  "This plan signals that the region has awakened to this issue," he said.  He also commented on L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa’s naming Torrie Osborne his point person on homelessness, the Bring L.A. Home report due to be released on April 6, and the need for the "vision of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Agency" (which he founded) to be modified to make it a thoroughly regional body, and meetings held with the federal and state homeless issues representatives and with local food providers.

Kate Vernez of the City Manager’s Office reported on efforts underway with the judicial community to establish a community court on the Westside and unprecedented collaboration on the issue with the Westside Council of Governments cities and with Westside hospitals.  Mona Miyasato, who head’s the city’s Homeless Services efforts, commented on the success of the city’s interdepartmental Chronic Homeless Program and a proposal that will come to Council in April to expand that program using $900,000 in federal grant funds, the evaluation of current continuum of care systems, and cards and referral guides to be distributed throughout the community as a resource for residents and businesses.  Following the update, Council voted to support a package of regional homeless bills being sponsored by State Senator Gil Cedillos to address problems on Skid Row in Los Angeles as well as in Santa Monica.  All nine bills are outlined in an Information Item posted at http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/information_items/2006/Cedillo.pdf.

ORDINANCES  The Council held first reading on an interim ordinance--as amended to address several lingering concerns of auto dealers while still maintaining resident protections--modifying regulations related to automobile dealerships, associated auto parking structures and storage lots, storage facilities, and related uses on certain residentially zoned sites and authorizing auto dealers in the M1 district.  Council also certified the final EIR related to the ordinance, made other necessary environmental findings, and adopted related General Plan Land Use amendments.  Certain elements of the interim ordinance, including floor area of rooftop parking, permitting inventory parking in R-zoned surface lots and limiting outdoor work in the M1 zone, will be reworked by staff for Council consideration when the ordinance extension is agendized.  Council removed a requirement for dealers to install solar photovoltaic systems in residentially zoned parking structures, but directed staff to encourage such systems and to make dealers aware that technical assistance is available.

Council held first reading on an interim ordinance, as amended, extending with modifications and clarifications the ordinance modifying the city’s density bonus and affordable housing incentives in accordance with state density bonus law.

EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA TAX ALLOCATION REFUNDING BONDS  Council and the Redevelopment Agency took required actions to refund bonds to take advantage of reduced interest rates.

CHILD CARE LINKAGE PROGRAM & DEVELOPER CULTURAL ARTS REQUIREMENTS  Discussion was continued to the meeting of April 11, as a 5-item to be heard early in the agenda.

APPOINTMENTS  Council extended the term of Dr. Nancy Greenstein’s appointment to the Los Angeles County Vector Control District by two years, to a four-year term.  Other appointments were continued to a future meeting.

ADJOURNMENT  The Council adjourned in memory of Thomas (Tommy) Garcia, retired employee of the city’s Water Department and husband of Finance Department employee Donna Garcia, who passed away on March 20; and in memory of Werner Simon Phillips, father of Risk Manager Tom Phillips, who passed away on March 4.  Deepest sympathy was expressed to Donna Garcia and her daughter, Alexandra, and to the Phillips family.  Council also remembered resident Carrie Phillips, teacher at Turning Point School in Culver City, who was killed when a car struck her as she was walking students back to school from a nearby park.

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, 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 March 28 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.