CONSENT CALENDAR   The following matters not requiring extensive discussion were approved by Council: a $1,949,865 contract with John S. Meek Company and a $110,000 agreement with Moffatt & Nichol for the Pier Structural Rehabilitation and Repair Project; a $312,000 contract with Worley Parsons Komex for engineering support services on the Charnock and Olympic well fields restoration project; a hearing was set for September 26 to consider a Resolution of Necessity to acquire a storm drain easement at 120 Colorado Avenue; a final subdivision map for 947-4th Street was approved; and a resolution finding the City in conformance with the Congestion Management Program was adopted.

The City Council and Redevelopment Agency authorized an extension through March 4, 2007 of the lease with RAND Corporation for property at 1700 Main Street (authorization for two additional three-month extensions was also approved). City Manager P. Lamont Ewell was appointed executive director of the Redevelopment Agency for matters related to the RAND Corporation.

INSPIRATION  Ms. Louise Gabriel, president of the Santa Monica Historical Society, presented her book, Early Santa Monica, a pictorial celebrating Santa Monica’s 131st birthday, to Council.

STUDY SESSIONS

Homeless Update   Former County Supervisor Ed Edelman, the city’s representative on homelessness, provided an update on regional homeless issues including the status of the recruitment of a new executive director of the Los Angeles County Homeless Services Agency and Los Angeles County’s authorization of $6 million towards homeless issues. Mr. Edelman also provided an update on the status of the Community Court and the implementation of a plan to move homeless food providers to indoor locations.  

Big Blue Bus Facility Expansion Project   A revised Big Blue Bus Facility Project was presented.  The revised plan includes a maintenance building along 7th Street and landscaping along Colorado Avenue and 7th. The project no longer includes the construction of a new administration building.

SPECIAL AGENDA ITEM

Eileen Fogarty was introduced as the city's new director of Planning & Community Development.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 

November Ballot Measures    Council adopted resolutions placing the following measures on the November 7 ballot. Councilmembers Ken Genser, Bobby Shriver, Herb Katz and Richard Bloom were designated to prepare ballot statements: 

• Lowest Police Priority for Marijuana Ordinance Ballot Measure
  This measure would designate marijuana as the lowest police priority.

• Ballot Measure Amending Charter Section XXII, the Taxpayer Protection Amendment of 2000
  The proposal would amend City Charter Article XXII (also known as the “Oaks Initiative”) while preserving the spirit of the initiative to prohibit kickbacks for votes, better protecting the rights of elected and appointed officials and taking into account comments made at the July 25 Council meeting regarding several points.   

• Amending various City Charter sections
  Council adopted a revised resolution to place on the ballot a measure that removes department directors from the classified service, modifies positions in the City Clerk’s Office and makes other clarifying changes. The resolution is unchanged from the July 25 meeting except that the length of the ballot language now meets the 75 word limit.   

Policy Guidelines for Leaseholds for Properties on Santa Monica Pier   Council adopted revised Santa Monica Pier leasing guidelines which include identification of various preferred operations, including a performance arts venue or restaurant at 250 Santa Monica Pier; the development of a central plaza multiuse facility which would include a restaurant and commercial space; the development of a new multiuse facility at 370 Santa Monica Pier; the development of a boat gangway at the end of the pier; and updates guidelines affecting activities on the deck and in other buildings.  

Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Pier Restoration Corporation Work Plan and Budget   Council adopted a $674,100 budget and work plan for FY 2006-2007, including a grant from the City in the amount of $422,200.

Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Bayside Corporation Work Plan and Budget   Council adopted a $1,042,256 budget and work plan for FY 2006-2007, including a grant from the City in the amount of $636,100. One of the highlights of the work plan includes a special initiative that will involve outreach to the community to determine the level of support for an increased assessment.

Council voted to join its Westside Cities Council of Governments colleagues in West Hollywood as founding members of the Pro-Choice City Campaign, reaffirming support of reproductive rights, including women's right to choose.  

An announcement was made for this Sunday’s free jazz concert on the City Hall lawn with Francisco Aquabella at 5:00 p.m.  

ADJOURNMENT   Council adjourned in memory of John Smith, a former City of Santa Monica employee, at 10:07 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12, 2006, beginning at 5:45 p.m. (although Council expects to take a half hour break at 6 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. 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 August 8, 2006 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. 

CITY COUNCIL NETCAST!
Watch and listen to Santa Monica City Council meetings on the Web!

MEETING WRAP-UP ARCHIVE