The Council 2006-07 Budget Study Sessions begun at the Council meeting of May 23, reconvened at 5:30 p.m. on May 24, with additional information provided on the Capital Improvement Program for the coming year and presentations by the Resource Management, Community & Cultural Services, Planning & Community Development and Environmental and Public Works Management departments. As on the previous night, questions posed by Council were noted, with answers to be provided by staff in writing prior to the public hearing on and adoption of the budget on June 20, 2006.

The meeting was adjourned in memory of David Asper Johnson, founding editor and publisher of the Argonaut who passed away at age 68 on May 17 after a long battle with a rare blood disease. The Argonaut has provided good coverage of Santa Monica since 1971 and Dave was an active member of the Westside community, serving on the board of the Venice Family Clinic, named Citizen of the Year by the Marina del Rey Chamber of Commerce and Man of the Year by the Venice Boys & Girls Club. He was editor of the UCLA Law School Docket the year it was named the best law school newspaper in the country! He always participated in the Santa Monica’s election programming on CityTV, asking questions in candidate forums. He is survived by friend Mark Ikeda, brother Ronald, and a host of friends, colleagues and readers.

A special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 6:45 p.m. when appeals related to the 415 PCH project will be heard, along with an Airport-related matter, several ordinances and Councilmember items (a closed session to discuss legal matters will be held at 5:30, prior to the open meeting).

 

May 23, 2006

The Santa Monica City Council’s 2006-07 Budget Study Session began on May 23 with a presentation from City Manager P. Lamont Ewell on the national and local economic outlook (the former mixed, the latter moderately improving) and the city’s refocus on core services (safety & security, deferred maintenance, facilities operation) in the proposed balanced $444.8 million budget (all funds) for the coming year, while addressing community priorities, needs and values and special attention to business systems, human resource practices and customer service. Ewell noted that several Enterprise Funds (funds that should be self-supporting, e.g., water, Pier, Civic Auditorium, cemetery) continue to be subsidized by the General Fund and were balanced for 2006-07 with one-time funds to allow time for Council and staff to
study options this summer for ongoing operation of those funds.

The proposed $105.3 million 06-07 Capital Improvement Program budget also was presented, with special note made of initiatives underway and funded in prior years (e.g., Airport Park, Civic Center Parking Structure, Euclid Park, 415 PCH) and projects newly funded for the coming year (California Incline, Pier Bridge improvements, streetscapes on 20th and Cloverfield). Reports were made by the following departments, funded primarily from the proposed $239.5 million General Fund: City Council and City Manager, Records and Election Services, City Attorney, Finance, Human Resources, Library, Fire Department, Police Department and Big Blue Bus. Questions posed by Council were noted, with answers to be provided by staff in writing prior to the public hearing on and adoption of the budget on June 20, 2006.

The Study Session will continue on Wednesday, May 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the accessible Council Chambers at City Hall, 1685 Main St., with presentations from the Resource Management, Community and Cultural Services, Planning and Community Development and Environmental and Public Works Management departments. A special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 6:45 p.m. when appeals related to the 415 PCH project will be heard, along with an Airport-related matter, several ordinances and Councilmember items (a closed session to discuss legal matters will be held at 5:30, prior to the open meeting).

[Full information on the proposed 2006-07 budget, including the City Manager’s budget message, is posted at http://www.smgov.net/finance/budget/2006- 07/Index.htm.] 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 May 23 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.