BUDGET SUGGESTIONS &
COMMENTS
2006-07 CITY BUDGET
Paul Thomas Bahn Von Reynolds,
Santa Monica: There is an existing city ordinance for the safety
of traffic on and off the streets and sidewalks that prohibit parking of
cars on the city parkway property. Whoever it is that enforces this
(law) Parking enforcement? needs to be fully supported with even more
equipment backing. New equipment costs money and one of the main public
funding for the city is the enforcement of parking. There are several
examples of this overlooked problem. One is at the east corner of 10th
and Marguerita Ave. in northwest Santa Monica area at the address of 501
10th Street and there are many more of similar nature all over private
residential Santa Monica. Some of these people, actually have a cement
curbside cut and no entrance to or from a garage. (When the foundation
was altered the what was a driveway was not removed. Lets call this
closed in space management ) The first mistake made was allowing this
to happen and now that it is out of control, take a look at what has to
be done to correct it. A lot of the residential property in Santa
Monica is only designed for a single family and not a rental unit in the
back or over a garage, as a fact that is illegal too. I hope this info
is helpful with getting the city back to normal.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Put "dip" warning signs at the intersection of 11th and Georgina and other streets with dips and no stop signs. You can tell which intersections need them by the scrapes in the roadway. Allow two lanes to turn right onto Ocean Ave from the PCH ramp near the McClure tunnel. Traffic backs up onto PCH and it is dangerous condition that can be alleviated at little expense. Work on computerizing the traffic signals in SM as is done in LA. It will speed the flow of traffic and save gas. Also do not install any more "traffic calming" devices. In case you have not noticed, look at the curbs of each device and notice the the tire marks. It has added no safety and put pedestrians even closer to oncoming traffic.
Joe B. Hall, Hawthorne: I had an idea when I saw how filthy downtown Los Angeles was and then saw a homeless person pushing a cart full of recyclables. Let's pay them for picking up all trash. There still is plenty of it lying in gutters around Santa Monica. Pay them something reasonable per pound. Street cleaners just don't get it all. Thank you.
Michael Hill, Santa Monica: I'd like to see an expanded effort to green the beaches. The Gobi Desert area north of the pier would be a great place for six, synthetic turf soccer fields. It's so broad it wouldn't affect beach-goers at all. And wouldn't it be great to have soccer matches on the beach in SANTA MONICA! And they could also be used for flag or touch football tournaments. A spot on winner! You could use redevelopment funds, too!
J. Larry Carroll, Santa Monica: The Branch Libraries (Ocean Park, Fairview, and Montana) urgently need to have full-time security personnel (Library Inspectors) on site during the hours they are open.
We have just experienced the brutal assault and battery of an on-duty Ocean Park Librarian (my wife, Celia). Additionally, many parents have expressed their fears to me of allowing their children to visit the branches on their own. Unfortunately, these fears are not unfounded. There have been many documented instances of improper and bizarre behavior at the branches as well as vandalism and arson.
The city has long recognized the need for Inspectors at the Main Library. We need them at the branches, too. Before something truly awful happens.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Two things...first off, the parking situation between Wilshire and Montana on the lower streets is getting worse and worse. With summer coming, it is just not right for residents to not be able to get a spot at night when we get home from work. Maybe 1 way streets with diagonal parking spots on every street? Also, I would like to see something done to help the homeless population living in the parks and at the Promenade. My out of town guests cannot believe we don't help these people, and they are afraid to go for a walk in the park as last time they did, they were verbally assaulted by a mentally ill man. Please use the budget to help these people get off the streets and into some housing.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Parking and traffic are obviously big issues. May I suggest adding more buses to the bus routes. I take route 9 and my husband takes the UCLA line, and they are both standing room only most of the way--all times of day. This is a big detour to those considering taking the bus instead of driving. Last week it wouldn't even pick me up--it was too full. When the bus does not make its stops it is too unreliable to be used for work. I would love to give up my car otherwise. Just think--more frequent, less crowded buses--maybe most of us would give up our parking! Thanks for your consideration.
Paulette Rochelle-Levy, Santa Monica: Please get very creative regarding the intense traffic tie-up every week night from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Sunset-Park-Pico- Olympic, Santa Monica Blvd. area. I have been a resident of 16 years in the Sunset Park area and watched the situation worsen. The gridlock is so bad I now cannot go to classes, dinner or Sabbath services. Ocean Park Blvd. has become the new 405! How about encouraging the businesses to stagger their departure time?
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Street and sidewalk maintenance should be a priority. More importantly, the city must reduce its programs for the homeless--stated simply the city has become a magnet for the homeless and the financial burden for the city in not sustainable. While I am a strong advocate of public safety the police and fire departments carry so much political clout the city council and city budgetary process have skewed spending dramatically in the favor of public safety agencies. When compared to other municipalities pay and benefits for public safety personnel is akin to the California prison guard union. A more balanced approach is appropriate although I sure it would be difficult to bring about change in light of the police & fire union clout.
The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City proposes taking
$200,000 (8% of the surplus budget funds) for an outside study of one of
Santa Monica's most fundamental problems --- massive traffic congestion.
The City’s current traffic impact methodology is seriously outmoded and
flawed. We propose using this money to replace its outdated methodology
with one that is newer and more accurate. Without this, as new
development projects come on line it will become even more difficult to
traverse our city and reach destinations within our city in reasonable
time. As it is now, it is hard to imagine how it could worsen since
we’re at or almost at gridlock in certain sections of our city.
The current methodology that Santa Monica’s consultants use for
Environmental Impact Report traffic studies is not working because it is
not intended to help planners deal with traffic impacts. It evaluates
only isolated street intersections (often using data that is several
years old). Consequently, any mitigations recommended to increase
capacity frequently cannot work because there are no more effective
mitigation options available. All the simple things to do have already
been done.
Last March, the City took an important first step of hearing from
traffic experts about alternative traffic impact methodologies which are
far better. They are more effective because they map traffic on an
area-wide grid basis to establish the traffic trends. This means that
planners could use the model for long-term planning in order to
understand the true traffic impacts of proposed projects. This new
methodology would aid decision-makers in approving or disapproving a
specific project, and if approved, determine the appropriate size,
density, and location. It would also help to determine whether more
effective mitigations exist, not just to an intersection, but to the
entire impacted area. Such mitigations could include such things as
one-way streets, over and underpasses, reverse lanes (time of day),
shuttle buses, etc.
We have a wonderful opportunity now, with these surplus funds, to fund a
study of a better traffic impact methodology for our City’s future. It
will help the City revise the circulation element of its General Plan so
that it actually will work for the future growth of our City and will
promote accurate, long-range planning to reduce future traffic impacts.
For these reasons, SMCLC has asked the Institute for Transportation
Studies at UC Irvine, one of the leaders in the field (which presented
its ideas to the City last year), to submit a proposal to the City under
separate cover for a new traffic impact methodology for Santa Monica
which will help our City solve our growing traffic congestion, encourage
continued use of our local resources and businesses, and ultimately
serve as a model for other cities.
The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City urges the City to take
this important step as part of the General Plan update.
Katherine Reuter, Santa Monica:
1) Because plans include increased population density, convert the
old Fisher-Lumber into more park space so that the whole block is a
park. I would like to see soccer fields! We don't have enough.
(2) Big Blue Bus - need better crosstown coverage! The #11 bus goes too
infrequently and only in one direction! This is not adequate for SMC
students who take Wilshire or SM Blvd buses west.
(3) Buy up right of ways for the Expo Light Rail Line that will soon be
coming to Culver City, and hopefully to Santa Monica in the future!
Alison Kendall, Santa Monica: I would like to suggest allocating funds for joint City/School District school facility and transportation planning in coordination with the City's LUCE Update effort and the SMMUSD Facility Master Planning Process. There is potential for exciting coordination on both facility and circulation issues. The SMMUSD plan will be looking for ways to improve their programs and facilities which may require new or upgraded facilities or new approaches to using community facilities for school programs.
On the circulation front, SMMUSD will be looking at improving the safety and convenience of access to school facilities for students, parents, staff, and community members. There are exciting models for promoting walking, biking and transit use by schoolchildren in other California communities such as Palo Alto. These cities have developed effective City/School/community partnerships to promote the health of students, the community and the environment.
Helen Zielinski Landon, Santa Monica: I am requesting that a new small playground be built within walking distance of the northernmost part of the city. San Vicente Blvd. between 7th and Ocean is now dense with young families. A good model of such a playground is the one at Ozone park which is for 2 to 5 year olds. It takes little space and yet serves an important community function. This is one of the only neighborhoods in Santa Monica that does not have a local playground.
Sheelagh O'Connor, Santa Monica: Benches and lighting in Joslyn Park Off Leash dog area. ( I was bitten by a dog while walking in the unlighted area, it seemed to spook the dog, not to mention me!)
Chris Vander Kolk, Santa Monica: I think Santa Monica should consider expanding its Municipal Wireless Internet (Wi-fi) past that of the Promenade. The benefits of such a project are numerous: 1) Economies of scale: Many tax payers using and paying for a large efficient system; 2) Accessible internet to lower income families they may not be able to afford the monthly fee of internet; 3) Emergency Medical Teams could have reliable internet to coordinate with hospitals; 4) Government protections of the internet: Freedom of speech, Privacy laws of Santa Monica and the US government would be protected, unlike though a commercial provider; 5) Increased Security: Many people do not know how to protect their internet access and are susceptible to hackers and viruses; 6) Community Schools and College would have unlimited internet access in classrooms and around campuses; 7) Can be a special user tax if residents do not wish to use
Cindy Carey, Santa Monica: The business owners and employees
working in the area between Olympic-Broadway/16th-20th do not have
adequate parking available to us. The few spaces allotted us by our
landlords are utilized by visiting clients. We believe a city PARKING
STRUCTURE should be built to help manage this increasing problem. As the
city has recently taken over the Fisher Lumber complex so has it's
employees have taken over the FREE parking on 16th street. One of the
very few areas we can park safely without fear of a $48. ticket or
having to run out in the middle of a meeting to move our cars because of
street cleaning. As a tax paying resident and business owner (and one
who car pools every day) I should not have to contribute an additional
$500. yearly to the city for parking tickets and neither should my
employees. I will attend the meeting tomorrow night and offer additional
short term solutions but a PARKING STRUCTURE would be tremendously
valuable in this area and could be another source!
of revenue for the city.
Jeanne Dodson, Santa Monica: The Wilshire Montana Neighborhood
Coalition is being joined by the Montana Merchants’ Association and
several other neighborhood groups in requesting that the City Council
set aside funds for a feasibility study that would examine a recent
proposal to solve Santa Monica’s parking problems. While the Plan is
specifically being proposed for the city’s most densely populated area
between Wilshire and Montana, it could also be applicable to other
areas. Although it’s not a perfect solution, it’s better than any other
suggestion – and, most importantly, would provide plentiful parking for
our neighborhoods. The Plan proposes that the north-south streets in the
Wilshire-Montana District be changed to “One-Way” driving. Then, with
only one lane being used for traffic, the second lane would provide
enough space for diagonal parking – instead of parallel parking.
Depending on the width of the individual streets and other factors,
parking could potentially be increased from 30-70%. That’s 30-70% more
parking on every block, every street, throughout the entire residential
area. This solution wouldn’t entail tearing down existing structures to
make room for new parking lots, wouldn’t take months of construction,
nor cost tens of millions of dollars. It would only require some paint
and new signs! And this Plan would benefit merchants, as well as
residents. There would be more parking for businesses when they are open
during the day, and more parking for residents when they return home
from work at night.
Help! The parking situation in our neighborhoods is reaching a crisis
point! We would like to join our neighbors in requesting that the City
Council include funds for this feasibility study in Santa Monica’s
upcoming budget.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Memorial [skatepark] should be free to enter for at least city residents....
Anonymous, Santa Monica: 1. Make a section of beach available to dogs and their owners. 2. Ensure 14th Street dog park remains available for dogs and their owners. Thank you.
Georja Umano Jones, Pres. SMDOG & Unleash the Beach: (1)
Improvements to Dog Park at Jocelyn - Including: Addition of a Community
Bulletin Board/Kiosk, more lighting, Athletic Equipment for Dogs, and
Improved ground cover and trees. Look into possibility of water
recycling and more maintenance As a meeting place for dog owners, it is
usually muddy or dusty and filthy. A nationally acclaimed Public
Art Sculptor member of our group is available to design and fabricate
these fixtures for our Dog Parks. The fixtures would be made of steel
reinforced concrete. All would be safe, weather, vandal, and dog
resilient, and be incorporated into the landscape (reducing wear and
tear on landscaping and improving dog play opportunities). This
would make the parks more functional, require less maintenance, and be
artistically unique and pleasing.
(2) Construction of Dog Park at Centinela & Douglas Parkway (adjacent to
SM Airport) with similar amenities as above.
(3) Authorization and Construction of Dog Park at 14th & Memorial –
same.
(4) CONTINUED CONCERN Regarding Dog Accessible Beaches:
Authorization of a Beach allowing Access for our Dogs is still being
discussed in the State legislature. We ask SM City Council to support
such access. Los Angeles is the ONLY coastal county in California
which denies access to dogs. Officials of All other counties unanimously
report that the cleanliness of the beaches IS NOT IN ANY WAY correlated
to dog access (sewer run off and bird droppings are the ONLY
statistically significant factors). Similarly, Safety is also NOT A
PROBLEM at dog beaches – in fact, dog beaches, like dog parks, often
enhance safety for humans by bringing friendly conscientious people to
areas otherwise sparsely populated. We have 100 committed volunteers for
a pilot program to monitor and clean. Further we will raise funds for
storm drain cleaning.
Karen Brooks, Santa Monica: As Founder of Santa Monica Dog Owners
Group, I would like money set aside for improvements at Joslyn's off
leash areas, creation of a new (and improved) off leash area at Memorial
Park and the creation of the off leash area at Santa Monica airport.
Joslyn is in dire need of some basic improvements - lighting,
landscaping, working dog fountains, seating areas, is a start. With the
exception of some fencing, nothing else has been created to make it an
actual dog park. The creation of new dog parks should include
state-of-the-art amenities that are needed to attract a large portion of
the over 5,000 registered dogs and their human companions in SM.
Peter Tigler, Santa Monica: The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) will require all gov'ts to disclose their FULL pension and benefit exposure to the public. This practice should come into effect over the next few years. Amazing to me this is not done now. I believe SM has an item in the yearly budget that states the year's obligation but I do not think they have a full projection into following years for the public to scrutinize. SM should get ahead of the curve and disclose now.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: I hope you will consider
letting dogs on the beach. Or at least set aside a portion of the beach
specifically for dogs and their owners. My dog, and many other dogs in
the area, would die to be allowed to romp around. And why can't they? I
grew up with dogs on the beach and it was never a problem.
I heard through the grapevine that one of the officials was worried
about runoff from "dog poop". Come on. How sterile will we get before
it's not a life anymore? Does anyone ever think about the runoff from
the excrements of the homeless. I would think that would be much less
sanitary. There is tons of it, and it stinks!
And homeless people bite more than dogs. I have been harassed a number
of times by the homeless.
And, it is rare that I see an irresponsible dog owner who doesn't pick
up after their dog. If it happens, usually he/she is confronted by
another dog owner. We know the affect it has on others. And we like our
dogs to be loved. Ninety-nine percent of dog owners pick up
carefully after their dogs. No other animal gets picked up after! And
the homeless don't pick up after themselves.
And, 99% of dogs are safe to be around.
So, please consider a spot, or more, for our dogs to romp and play with
the rest of us.
Thank you.
Greg Chasen, Santa Monica: SKATEPARK! The Cove needs lights and longer hours--the park would be filled well into the evenings but only open 2 hours a day right now--this is a poor return on the city's investment in the park.
Lorraine Sanchez, Santa Monica: 1. Increase Funding for Pedestrian Safety measures. A crossing guard is needed for 16th St and Ocean Park Blvd. There have been a number of injury accidents at this intersection. 2. Initiate a contest for city workers and users to identify cost saving, and sustainability measures they and others can implement and then implement them. this contest could also be extended to the residents. However do any survey in a simple and straightforward manner. No expensive, fancy questionnaires and consultant staffing. Apply these savings to implementing the most needed services for residents.
J. A., Santa Monica: I would like to see additional resources expended, both political and financial, toward stopping surrounding communities from dumping their homeless in Santa Monica.
Katherine McTaggart, Santa Monica: Strong emphasis, please, on providing services for and easier access to those services for our most vulnerable populations: the homeless, mentally ill, drug addicted, dual diagnosis, families below the poverty line. The emphasis on "housing first" is a worthy one. Please give it the support and time it needs to succeed. A public education program focusing on the needs and realities faced every day by these most vulnerable populations and how they are least served by the culture we live in might help to soften a few hearts. Perhaps this could be a task for the City of Santa Monica, in partnership with Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
Rebecca Kennerly, Santa Monica: I applaud the Council's past support of our public schools which are vital to our community's health and prosperity. I hope that any increased city revenues can find their way into our schools and classrooms.
Anonymous, Santa Monica: Allow for lost revenue when meters become free for hybrid vehicles.
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This page was last updated on 05/16/06.