PROPOSITION I IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY THE CITY ATTORNEY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT ADDING ARTICLE XXI TO THE SANTA MONICA CITY CHARTER

 Article 34 of the California Constitution requires voter approval before a City may  develop, construct or acquire certain categories of "low rent housing." In June 1978, Santa Monica voters authorized the City to develop, finance or rehabilitate a certain amount of low income housing. That amount was one percent (1 %) of the City's dwelling units. This authorization will be exhausted in the near future.

 This proposed Charter Amendment provides the City with an annual authorization to develop, construct, acquire and finance low income housing units, including senior housing. The City's annual authorization would equal one-half of one percent (½ of 1%) of the total dwelling units existing in the City for the prior fiscal year. To determine starting authorization, the proposition sets 48,573 units as the number of residential dwelling units existing in the City on June 30, 1998. So, during fiscal year 1998-99, the proposition would authorize the City to develop, acquire, finance or construct ½ of 1% of 48,573 dwelling units, which equals 243 low income dwelling units.

 The proposal provides that any portion of an annual authorization which is not used within that fiscal year may be carried over into the future for up to three additional  years. Finally, City staff would be required to provide an annual report to the City Council on the implementation of the proposed Charter Amendment. Among other   things that report would include the number of low income units authorized, approved for funding, granted planning approval and constructed.

Prepared by:
Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
Joseph Lawrence, Assistant City Attorney
Barry Rosenbaum, Senior Land Use Attorney

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