VOLUME 14  NO. 1

A 2006-07 CITY BUDGET ADOPTED

On June 20, the City Council adopted a $443 million budget, with a $239.7 million general fund (operating) budget, for the fiscal year 2006-07 that began on July 1. City Manager P. Lamont Ewell noted the challenge posed by the potential loss to the city of $12 million in utility user tax from phone and wireless services (see details at www.smgov.net/cityclerk/
council/information_items/2006/UUT.pdf) owing to a late-May decision by the IRS. He presented a slightly reduced budget from that considered during budget study sessions in May, recommending an $8.2 million set-aside in discretionary one-time funds to buttress Santa Monica’s financial position should legal challenges to the loss of the UUT go against cities. He also recommended filling some of the 24.9 new positions in the budget, but holding 10.1 positions open until at least mid-year when the city should have a better understanding of the impact of UUT loss, if any. The Council approved both recommendations. Complete information on the budget is available at www.smgov.net, including a list of the budget additions made by Council on June 20.

 

MAJOR MATTERS EXPECTED TO
COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL
FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER:

• Homeless updates

• Plan check and inspection services-related ordinance

• Expo bike path design contract

• Big Blue Bus Transit Store construction contract

• Child care-related ordinance

• Ordinance setting 2006-07 tax rate for 1990 and 2002 Library bonds

• Sustainable City Implementation Plan

• Key lot ordinance

• Year-end budget report

The long-range nature of this list means that some items may not be heard in the month originally scheduled, as new matters emerge and agendas are re-worked. No item will come to Council before the date originally published. Also available on-line at www.smgov.net.

POLICE CHIEF MOVES ON TO NEW CHALLENGE

After 15 years as Santa Monica’s Chief of Police, James T. Butts, Jr. will leave in August to become Deputy Executive Director of Airport Law Enforcement & Protection Services at Los Angeles World Airports.

Chief Butts began his law enforcement career in 1972 at the Inglewood Police Department, where he had the opportunity to work every specialized assignment including 12 years on the SWAT team as an officer, squad leader and commander. By 1991, he had risen to the rank of deputy chief of police and decided to prepare himself for Inglewood’s police chief selection process by participating in recruitments for the Santa Monica and Pasadena police departments. He was selected as Santa Monica’s top candidate and after careful consideration, accepted the city’s offer to become its police chief.

Chief Butts, then 38, was appointed to lead the Santa Monica Police Department on September 9, 1991, becoming the youngest chief of police and the first African-American to hold a rank above sergeant in the department’s history. Under his leadership, Santa Monica’s rate of serious crime decreased 63%, reaching its lowest level since 1957. These historic reductions all took place while citizen complaints against officers fell by more than 50%, annual departmental liability dropped to unprecedented lows, and workers’ compensation absences decreased dramatically.

Chief Butts’ commitment to diversity has been reflected throughout the police department, especially in the management and supervisory ranks is consistently recognized by his peers as having created one of the most technologically advanced departments in the entire region. His frequent appearance at civic events, readiness to meet with community members, and easy accessibility to Santa Monica’s service recipients by both phone and e-mail have made him a well-recognized and respected public figure.

"Chief Butts leaves a great legacy of safety and security here in Santa Monica, having built a police department second to none over the past 15 years," said City Manager P. Lamont Ewell. "I’ve greatly appreciated his service and support in my early tenure here and wish him all the best in his new position."
 

EAST COAST PLANNING PROFESSIONAL TAPPED FOR SANTA MONICA POSITION

Eileen P. Fogarty, director of Planning & Zoning for the city of Alexandria, Virginia since 2000, will take charge of Santa Monica’s Planning and Community Development Department in mid-September following her appointment to the post by City Manager Lamont Ewell. With 23 years of planning director experience in Santa Cruz and in Annapolis, Maryland, in addition to Alexandria, Fogarty is known as an agency "turn-around specialist" with a proven track record in community outreach, resolving conflicts and building consensus.

"I am very impressed with Ms. Fogarty’s success in redesigning processes and in bringing together the residential and development communities in each city she’s worked in," said Ewell. "She brings a wealth of knowledge in areas of real concern to Santa Monica, including smart growth, green technology, comprehensive planning, preservation and affordable housing."

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