January 9, 2007

HAIL TO THE CHIEF – The City Council rang in the new year with the swearing in of Police Chief Timothy Jackman, the former Long Beach Deputy Chief of Police who began his Santa Monica post last month.  After taking the oath of office, Jackman expressed his appreciation to the Council and City Manager and his intentions to collaborate with the community in making Santa Monica the greatest city in the world. 

CONSENT CALENDAR – Among items not requiring discussion, Council awarded a bid for water pump maintenance and repairs; authorized a two-year contract with ICF International to operate and maintain the landfill gas extraction system at the City Yards; amended contracts with Keyser Marston Associates for real estate analysis involving the proposed Village housing component of the Civic Center Specific Plan; and approved an amendment to a contract for voter pamphlet mailing that occurred during the 2006 November election.  The Council also accepted funds from the California Endowment for a statewide conference on homeless community courts, arranged by Ed Edelman, the city’s Special Representative on Homeless Initiatives. 

After much discussion on contracting for janitorial services at the Pier, Council tabled the award of the contract to The Resource Collection and directed the City Manager to return with a recommendation for providing these services for an interim period of time.  Council also approved a contract for printing bus schedules contingent on the Big Blue Bus’ adherence to the city’s graphic identity guidelines on printed material. 

HOMELESS UPDATE AND EVALUATION – Ed Edelman, the city’s Special Representative on Homeless Initiatives, briefed the Council on regional activities and legislation.  Edelman introduced Rebecca Isaacs, a Santa Monica resident and the new executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the regional body that governs homeless funding and policy.  Isaacs reported that the agency is doing its 2007 Homeless Count in Los Angeles County on January 24-25 and is seeking volunteers to help the effort.  

The Urban Institute presented findings of a system-wide evaluation of the city’s homeless provider system.  Their recommendations included, among other things, an independent roundtable of all stakeholders, which would develop a strategic plan and be the primary community forum for problem solving.  They also suggested a public education campaign to promote fair share in the region and ways to better manage shared, public spaces, such as good neighbor agreements, “clean and safe” teams to assist with maintenance and safety in public areas, and an anti-panhandling campaign. The consultants also emphasized better data collection as well as better linkages to mainstream services and agencies outside of Santa Monica.  The consultants noted the excellent performance of service providers in moving people into, and retaining them in, housing. Council directed staff to return at a future meeting for Council to further discuss the report and its recommendations. 

APPEAL OF 939 SAN VICENTE - Council granted an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to allow the subdivision of 939 San Vicente Boulevard into three lots.  The appellants contended that the division of the lots was inconsistent with the character and scale of the surrounding neighborhood.  Council granted the appellants' request and allowed for the subdivision of the property into two lots only. 

NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTIC BAN - The Council adopted an ordinance banning non-recyclable plastic disposal food service containers.  The ban applies to “to-go” containers made from non-recyclable plastic, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS—better known as Styrofoam®) and clear polystyrene, both of which carry the #6 recycling symbol and are commonly used in food and beverage containers.  The ban does not affect recyclable plastics, paper, coated paper, foil or bio-based products.  Businesses have until next year to make the switch from the non-recyclable containers.  City facilities and its managed concessions, as well as events permitted or sponsored by the city, must comply with the ban beginning with its effective date, February 8, 2007.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXEMPTION – After hearing from 38 speakers, Council held first reading of an ordinance that would make permanent an interim law that exempts 100% affordable housing developments of less than 50 units from certain types of review (development review in multi-family districts and conditional use permit requirements in certain commercial and industrial zones).   The exemption would reduce the time required for planning processing and applicant costs for affordable housing developments.

CONTINUED ITEMS – Council continued to a later meeting the following items:  review of the city’s financial forecast and priorities for next year’s budget; discussion of a temporary office building east of City Hall; and the location of a public safety storage facility building south of Fire Station 5 on the Santa Monica Airport property.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS –  The Council accepted with regret resignations from Deborah Levin from the Landmarks Commission, Geraldine Starr from the Commission on the Status of Women, Angie Kim from the Arts Commission, and Victor Ludwig from the Housing Commission. Council appointed Louisa Fish  to the Commission for the Senior Community. 

Appointments of Councilmember liaisons to the following boards and commissions were made:

• Airport – Councilmember Genser

• Architecture Review Board – Councilmember Katz

• Bayside  - Councilmembers Genser and Holbrook

• Convention and Visitors’ Bureau – Councilmembers Holbrook and O’Connor  

• Landmarks Commission – Councilmember McKeown

• Pier Restoration Corporation – Councilmember Genser

• Planning Commission – Councilmembers O’Connor and McKeown

• Recreation and Parks Commission – Councilmember Holbrook

The Mayor deferred appointments to other bodies, and Council agreed to discuss approaches to commission-Council relations at a future meeting. The Mayor encouraged all Councilmembers when they are available to attend meetings of those other bodies.

ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT MEETING - The meeting was adjourned at 12:57 a.m. in memory of Herman Louisa, one of the operators of H & H Body Shop, and Miguel Martin, who was killed tragically two weeks ago. The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2007 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.

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