The Santa Monica City Council began the meeting of April 11, 2006 by recognizing Sylvia Anderle, children’s Latino outreach librarian at the Fairview Branch Library, for having received a New York Times Librarian of the Year award and being named Woman of the Year in State Assemblymember Fran Pavley’s district.  A resident of Sunset Park, Anderle is considered a "neighborhood treasure." 

The Mayor also reminded residents they can call the city at 458-8411 ("4-1-1, just like the telephone information number") with any question or request, to be connected to staff who can help, and announced the impending publication of the second edition of the city’s Customer Services Directory, which provides contact information for hundreds of  services by topic.  The directory will be available later this month, in print or CD versions, at various city locations, or by calling 458-8411.  The information is also found on-line at www.smgov.net by clicking on City Services.

Councilmembers welcomed back to the dais their colleague Ken Genser who had missed a few meetings recovering from a kidney transplant.

CONSENT CALENDAR  Among items not requiring extensive discussion, Council approved the following:  a resolution setting a $30 per quarter year fee for employee on-street parking in the 10th Street and Pico Boulevard area, as part of a one-year pilot project approved by Council in February; a $271,200 contract with Pima Corporation for construction of the courtyard area between City Hall and the Public Safety Facility (in the area formerly occupied by the demolished old police building); acceptance of $1.57 million in 2005 Homeland Security grant funds to be used for equipment, supplies and training in support of regional security goals; a $1.875 million bid by Boerner Truck Center to supply eight automated refuse collection trucks; a $133,500 bid by SunWest Engineering Constructors to provide annual testing, maintenance and certification of underground storage tanks at various city locations; and a five-year General Services agreement with L.A. County which would allow the city to engage county services, such as supplemental animal control, street maintenance and emergency services, as needed and quickly.  A contract for 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard streetscape designs was referred back to staff, to revisit the selection criteria and return with additional information and recommendations.

CLOSED SESSION  After discussing the matters in closed session, the Council took action in open session to approve a settlement among Morley Construction, Watson Land Company and the city in a dispute over asbestos removal from the Main Library site, with the city being removed as a party to the suit; and a settlement in a suit brought by the Coalition for a Livable Santa Monica, in which the suit will be dismissed with prejudice, the city will provide remaining documents requested and pay $36,000 in plaintiff’s attorney fees.

CHILD CARE LINKAGE PROGRAM AND DEVELOPER CULTURAL ARTS REQUIREMENTS  Council received a Keyser Marston analysis of the impacts that new development has on child care and the arts in Santa Monica and voted to direct staff to draft two ordinances requiring developers to pay a 2% for arts on-site and 1% for arts in-lieu fee and to pay for child care center development on a sliding scale from $5.27/s.f. to $2.64/s.f. , depending on commercial development type, and $111 per unit for residential developments. 

ORDINANCES  Council held second reading and adopted interim ordinances modifying regulations on automobile dealerships and modifying the city’s density bonus and affordable housing incentives in accordance with state law (both first readings held March 28).  Council held first reading of an ordinance allowing continuation of existing nonconforming hotel and motel uses in the OP-3 Zone.  Council held first reading of an ordinance, as amended, establishing a Transportation Preservation District along the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Exposition rail right-of-way, allowing for interim parking, film production and commercial nursery uses with a Performance Standards Permit (PSP).  Council also directed staff to investigate and provide information on any nonconforming grandparented uses adjacent to/in the right-of-way and include in the ordinance a provision that allows such uses to remain on a month-to-month basis.

UPDATE ON CITY’S FINANCIAL STATUS  The City Manager reported to Council on his operational review of all departments and the overall financial position of the city.  He suggested the Council formally adopt six budget and finance principles or goals in June to guide budget decisions along with Council-adopted community priorities.  The Council agreed with his recommendation to defer appropriation of the $2.5 million fund balance reported at mid-term and to consider its use as part of the upcoming budget process.  Also as recommended, Council approved a $24,807 grant from the Council contingency to Meals on Wheels West to help pay for tenant improvements at their new location.  Council directed staff to continue working with the 18th Street Arts Complex to explore ways to refinance their debt and/or develop their property (options were mentioned, with the city’s becoming an equity partner at this time removed from the mix).

PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY PLAN 2006-07  After a public hearing, the Council approved the Housing Agency Plan for the current fiscal year and certified its compliance with the city’s FY2005-2010 Consolidated Plan, as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

PREFERENTIAL PARKING  Council did not vote to expand Zones G, K, O and TT by 150 feet as proposed.  

APPOINTMENTS  The Council continued appointments to the Pier Restoration Corporation, the Commission for the Senior Community and the Commission on the Status of Women.  Council also responded to the Social Services Commission request to remove Commissioner Marizsa Bravo for nonparticipation and directed the City Clerk to publish the vacancy.

COUNCILMEMBER ITEMS  Council endorsed Proposition 82, the Preschool for All Act, urging a yes vote on June 6 for high quality, voluntary preschool education for every four-year-old in California.  Council adopted a resolution in support of survivors and victims of genocide, proclaiming April as Survivors and Victims of Genocide Remembrance month.  Finally, Council nominated city Cultural Affairs Manager Jessica Cusick and Father Mike Gutierrez of St. Anne’s Church to the Exposition Light Rail Construction Authority’s urban design committee.  The committee will work with MTA staff and the design-build contractor to provide and help obtain community input on landscaping, station design, soundwalls, art and other aesthetic features of the line (work on Phase One from downtown L.A. to Culver City will begin this year).

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 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 April 11 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.