April 24, 2007 

Consent Calendar – Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, the Council approved final tract maps for a five-unit affordable housing project at 2018 19th Street, a four-unit condominium project at 907 18th Street and a four-unit condominium project at 919 18th St.; an eight-month extension with WISE to operate dial-a-ride service; agreements with Surf Academy and Socceropolis to operate sports camps and classes; a purchase order with FPA software for the installation of a data management system for Woodlawn Cemetery; authorized a Memorandum of Agreement with neighboring municipalities who are parties to the Santa Monica Bay Bacterial Total Maximum Load Implementation Plan; and an agreement with Kaplan, Kirsh & Rockwell LLP for legal services related to the Santa Monica Airport. 

A report requesting a “work with author” position on SB2 related to fair share homeless housing and shelters was pulled.  

Closed Session – Council approved two settlements, one for $30,000 related to a trip and fall and a second in the amount for $142,000 related to an accident with a Solid Waste vehicle.  

Homeless Update – Staff provided an update on various efforts addressing homelessness.

• Chronic Homeless Program has engaged 113 individuals who are mentally ill or addicted to drugs or alcohol. The program, with an average participant age of 66, has placed 57 in housing, 39 of those were in permanent housing.

• SEOP – CLARE staff has made 400 contacts in the city’s jail, 103 of which resulted in being connected with services.

• Project Homecoming – Has reunited 23 individuals with friends and family at an average cost of $144.

• Homeless Community Court – Has had three sessions to date with a total of 26 cases.

• Homelessness 101 – This new program will provide training to city staff to provide customer service to homeless individuals.

• It’s Your Call: Homelessness in Our Community – City TV will air this show live Wednesday (April 25-June 13) from noon to 1:00.

Council proclaimed May 2007 as "Older Americans Month" in the City of Santa Monica  

Administrative Proceedings – An item related to a Landmark appeal for a property at 2219 Ocean Avenue was continued to a future meeting.

Ordinances – Following a second reading, Council adopted an ordinance modifying the special conditional use permit standards for existing nonconforming neighborhood markets.

An ordinance was adopted, as amended, and a resolution was adopted related to a Development Agreement, allowing the development of a 73-room hotel at 1333-1337 Ocean Avenue to proceed. The hotel includes the adaptive reuse of two historic properties: a Victorian house at 1333 Ocean Ave and a Spanish Colonial house at 1337 Ocean Ave.  Council also adopted a resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report. Landmarks Commission in their review will pay special attention to the development’s façade with the goal of providing greater harmony between historic buildings and the new building.

An emergency ordinance was also introduced that implements provisions of the state’s Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006. This ordinance preserves the city’s ability to impose time, place and manner restrictions on the use of public right-of-way; provides penalties for violation of customer-service standards; provides a process for appeal of encroachment permit denials; clarifies the city’s role in collecting franchise fees; and obtains funds for Public Education Government (PEG) broadcast channels.  

After discussion and debate, Council adopted an emergency interim ordinance that modifies development review thresholds, including establishing a requirement for a development review permit for any development that exceeds 50 units. Exemptions for affordable housing projects below 50 units remain in effect.   

Support for a variety of state legislation related to preservation of affordable housing and protection of tenant rights – Council adopted support the following legislation:

• SB 464 – Ellis Act: Preventing speculators from taking advantage of renters

• SB 900 – Mobile home park conversion

• AB 607 – Residential hotels: locking mail receptacles

• AB 641 – Developer fees

• AB 864 – Substandard buildings: new ownership interest

• AB 987 – Low and moderate income housing fund: affordability covenants and restrictions

• AB 1542 – Mobile home park conversions

 Summaries of the bills can be found at www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2007/20070424/s2007042408-A.htm 

Master Facility Use Agreement with Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District – Council continued this item to a future meeting.  

Big Blue Bus Maintenance Building and Site Improvements – Council approved activation of phase II of an agreement with Morley Construction Company for the Big Blue Bus Maintenance Building and Site Improvements. Council also approved a guaranteed maximum price in a total amount of $63,482,236, including contingencies.

Proposed Changes to Bayside District Corporation (BDC) Structure, Downtown Management and Business Assessments and Loan to BDC – Council directed staff to return with greater detail as a plan is progressed and to assist the BDC in implementing a new strategy for assessment and governance. Council also approved a loan of $80,000 for a consultant to prepare studies necessary to implement the program. Parameters to look at include:

• Governance – half private, half Council-appointed as an option.

• Maintenance – city would commit a defined amount of resources, district can supplement resources above city-committed level. Need transparency of revenue and expenditures. Under any arrangement, the City needs to maintain control of public space. Council also expressed direction that no existing city jobs are to be privatized.

• City to establish performance standards for private activity on public property.

• Staff to return with further details of a plan.

• If plan includes residential building, residents are represented.

• Any creation of an ambassador program includes discussions with Police and City Attorney representatives.  

Sale of Partnership Interest in Supermarine of Santa Monica LP at Santa Monica Airport to Atlantic Aviation FBO – Council reviewed the sale of the partnership interest in Supermarine of Santa Monica LP to Atlantic Aviation FBO. Council also reviewed and approved the related Commercial Operations Permit. Staff was directed to return with additional information about the status of the Museum of Flying, a discussion of future uses at the airport and information on options to enforce conditions imposed in use permits.     

Mid-term Report on the Redevelopment Agency’s FY 2004-2005 through FY 2008-2009 Five-Year Implementation Plan – A public hearing was held on the mid-term report. Council also conceptually approved the proposed long-term prioritization of agency resources which includes: affordable housing; Civic Center improvements; downtown parking plan; commercial corridor improvements; traffic signal master plan implementation; infrastructure assessment and design; and Memorial Park expansion and design.  

Other Matters – Among other items discussed, Council:

• Declined to endorsed the peace education activities of Veterans for Peace Los Angeles, who are organizers of the Arlington West memorial at Santa Monica Pier and an upcoming “Americans for Peace 2007” West Coast tour.

• Directed staff to explore public outreach options to engage the community to provide unified city input to the Exposition Light Rail Construction Authority. Staff was also directed to provide regular updates to Council.

• Directed staff to review and provide initial analysis and comment on the "Olympic/Pico One-Way Pair Initial Feasibility Report" prepared for County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.  

ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT MEETING - The meeting was adjourned at 12:12 a.m. in memory of Ted Walters, retired city noise monitor at the Santa Monica Airport, and Perry O’Brien, a Santa Monica High School Hall of Famer in shot put.  The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is on Tuesday, May 8, 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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