The following suggestions regarding community priorities for FY09/10 were submitted using the budget feedback form or via email. Suggestions are posted anonymously if requested by the sender.
From Charles Duncombe (Managing Director, City Garage):
I'd just like to express our agency's whole-hearted support for the staff's recommendation that significant funding be set aside from the Earthquake Redevelopment fund in order to renovate the Civic auditorium as provided for in the City's Cultural Master Plan. This is tremendously worthwhile and far-sighted project and deserves the city's support. The community deserves a serious cultural venue at its heart in order to serve both its artists and its audience.
I think it is always important to put available funds to the most efficient use as possible, but especially now.
I have felt for a LONG time that the 'Gerber' people should either be eliminated or at the very least downsized. There have been times that THREE vehicles meet at one of our parks and chit chat, eat, and WORST OF ALL PLAY BALL OR FRISBEE while dressed in uniform. Sometimes tha parks are crowded and they take up parking our families need, and should they receive a call, a 30 second delay could mean the difference between someone living or dying. It does not seem to me that initial responding vehicles are so busy that they couldn't also do transport, but if it is proven this is the case, you should at least downsize their staff and ABSOLUTELY have them refrain from their displays of completely unprofessional behavior. During a time when many are losing their jobs in seems quite inappropriate for these employees to be so idle. I sincerely hope you will heed some of these recommendations because I feel it makes a poor image of our city - to residents and the many visitors.
From Kilian Kerwin:
As a parent of two students at Lincoln Middle School, I strongly support the Civic Center Joint-use Project. We need more field space in Santa Monica and this is a great way to make that happen. I urge your support for capital improvement funding in the 2009-10 fiscal year and through the completion of the Project.
From Angela Brooks, Principal, Pugh + Scarpa Architects:
I am a co-principal of a business in Santa Monica and support the staff recommendation that $25 million be set aside specifically for Civic Auditorium Adaptive Reuse and Renovation and $21 million be set aside for the 5.6-acre park and new cultural facility as envisioned in the City¹s nationally recognized and well researched cultural master plan, Creative Capital, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2007 as well as the recent joint use study of the Samohi and Civic Auditorium campuses.
West Hollywood is known as the Œcreative city¹ and Santa Monica, while Œahead of the pack¹ on sustainability issues, is only beginning to be a destination for the arts. I believe the act of maintaining and nurturing the arts and cultural facilities is one of the most important things that we as a society must do in order to thrive, grow and maintain a sense of place and community.
From Alison Buell:
The proposed Civic Center Joint Use Project seems to me to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community. In addition to the obvious benefit of sharing and enhancing cultural and athletic facilities, I am particularly impressed by the wise use of pedestrian and bike space and pathways. Currently this part of town is easily accessed by car. The joining of the Civic Center and Samohi campus is brilliant in its simplicity. I am sure all of you are well versed in the seemingly endless needs for parking, for more athletic facilities, and for pedestrian and bike friendly public spaces. Instead of the city and schools working in separate universes, this is really a wonderful opportunity for the city to pull together as one community for all our citizens.
From Madeleine Mizrahi:
I've lived in Santa Monica for 25 years and am now extremely excited about what this project can do for our Civic Center and our high school. The Civic Center Joint Use Project is a wonderful way to bring us together to play and enjoy the arts, and puts the city at the forefront where I believe it should be. I strongly urge you to fully support this project and start it as soon as possible. You have been talking about working on the Civic Center for twenty years and all we have is a parking lot.
This project will start to make the Civic Center something we can all be proud of.
From Dorothy Dudley (Fuller):
I urge you to support the Civic Center joint Use Project and to ask you to fund it. This Project will make our Civic Center a place to come to for recreational and cultural community activities and make our high school a place its students can be proud of.
From Victoria Goldfarb:
As an avid biker (I bike to and from work everyday because I am fortunate enough to live and work in Santa Monica) I think that being able to bicycle through the campus at Samohi and get to the Pier, the beach and Palisades Park is the best part of the Civic Center Joint Use Project. We need to have more bike-friendly paths like this one. Please make the Project your highest priority.
From Stacey and Joshua Abarbanel:
The Civic Center Joint Use Projects (CCJUP) and Samohi renovation have our complete support, despite the fact that our children will be long-gone from the high school by the time this project is completed! We support this project not just as parents in the school system, but as 20-year residents of the city and members of the wider Santa Monica community who want to see our city's assets maximized to their fullest potential.
From Susan Leary:
I completely support the Civic Center Joint Use Projects (CCJUP) and Samohi. Submitted by Susan Leary
From Joe Rosenblum:
Vote of Support For The Samohi/Civic Center Joint Use Project: These are tough economic times, but that doesn't mean we should stop investing in our community -- on the contrary, now is a time to be nnovating in our community. The Civic Center Joint Use Project has a lot of great plans for Samohi
that will benefit the whole community. Please show us that you support our community by making it your highest priority.
From Eric W. Golden:
I live in Santa Monica and send my kids to the public schools. Please register my strong support for the Civic Center/Samohi Joint Use Project, which would be a wonder addition to the downtown area and a true commitment to our children’s education. Everyone I know in our neighborhood supports this project; please lend your support as well.
From Elena Mary Siff:
I strongly support these ideas:
1. Civic Auditorium Adaptive Reuse and Renovation: The Civic Center Specific Plan and Cultural Capital envision the Auditorium as a rehabilitated cultural gem with additional cultural amenities. ($25 Million)
2. Civic Auditorium District Projects: The Civic Center Specific Plan envisions a 5.6-acre park, a new cultElena Mary Siffural facility as envisioned in Creative Capital and the more recent joint use study of the Samohi and Civic Auditorium campuses, surrounding streetscapes and pedestrian linkages that complement the Civic Auditorium¹s programs. ($21 Million)
I am an artist and live and work in Santa Monica..I have applied to be a member of the Santa Monica Arts Commission and my primary interest is to see the development of a City run Art gallery for Santa Monica artists. Prior to living here I lived in Santa Barbara and the city of Santa Barbara has long had a successful and active city run gallery program for local artists housed in the SB County Administration building in downtown Santa Barbara.. A perfect model for such a program in Santa Monica.
From Mehran Taslimi:
I am a residence of Santa Monica and I support the Civic Center Joint-Use Project.
From Tatyana Gurlo, Ph.D:
I support of the Civic Center Joint Use Projects (CCJUP) and Samohi. Submitted by Tatyana Gurlo, Ph.D. on May 8, 2009
From Nina Andro:
I have lived and worked in Santa Monica for the past three decades. The proposed joint use project with SAMOHI is exciting and a wonderful way to allocate funds already in place. SAMOHI is in sad shape and desperately needs this project. We need to invest in our children and education as well as the civic center and this project does both. During this statewide budget crises that has hit schools disproportionately, this project is something the entire city can be proud of and benefit from. Please give it your support and make it your highest priority!
From Maya Emdsden, Arts Commissioner:
As a member of the community, a parent and a member of the Santa Monica Arts Commission I urge you to please support the staff recommendation on the Item before you on May 12th regarding Redevelopment Fund Priorities. In doing so you will also be supporting the extensive research and community process that went into THREE significant City plans: Civic Center Specific Plan-2005, Creative Capital Cultural Master Plan- 2007, Joint Use Study Plan-2008.
Each one of these studies done by the City reinforces the community’s request and stated need for another cultural facility in the heart for the Civic Center.
The Arts Commission--indeed the city as a whole--envisions a revitalized Civic Auditorium as one component of a new multi-faceted civic and cultural core that extends several blocks along Main Street from the Colorado to Pico, and ultimately includes performing and visual arts venues, educational facilities, parks and open space, as well as housing and civic facilities.
These facilities will be accessible and available to ALL segments of our community. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or wish to discuss this further.
From Alyssa Ziman, M.D:
I have lived in Los Angeles all of my life and always dreamed of living in Santa Monica. Now that I am a resident, I am continually impressed the the city's efforts and dedication towards improving the community through the arts and the environment. The Civic Center/Samohi joint use project is a remarkable example of all that Santa Monica represents and should serve as a model for other communities to create a venue where all ages can come together! I strongly urge you to fully support this project and start it as soon as possible - we can not wait any longer! This project will be of benefit to everyone in the community and will be something that we can all be proud of!
From Lance Wichmann:
I am speaking as a resident for sixty-eight years and a graduate of Santa Monica High School, I certainly hope that redevelopment dollars will be spent to update and enhance my wonderful old campus. The school has been getting along by doing patchwork enhancements and repairs for a long time. Major projects are needed to make Samohi a first rate modern campus along with keeping much of the old charm that makes it such a great campus and a proud place for all Santa Monicans.
From Susan Schomburg:
Please support the staff recommendation that $25 million be set aside specifically for Civic Auditorium Adaptive Reuse and Renovation and $21 million be set aside for the 5.6 acre park and new cultural facility.
Every recent study done by the City reinforces the community’s request and stated need for another cultural facility in the heart for the Civic Center. (Civic Center Specific Plan-2005, Creative Capital Cultural Master Plan- 2007, Joint Use Study Plan-2008) The residents of Santa Monica have consistently stated they want the Civic Auditorium area to be renovated to include public arts classrooms, artists’ studios, meeting rooms, and performing spaces where they can take ceramic, acting or painting classes, visit artists studios, perform poetry outdoors and the like.
As you are well aware, both the Civic Center Specific Plan (CCSP) and Creative Capital Cultural Master Plan place a high priority on renovation and upgrades to the Landmark Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Policies in the CCSP call for the expansion and improvement of the landmark Civic Auditorium to support musical and cultural performances as well as exhibitions and community gatherings. Creative Capital, approved by the City Council on February 27, 2007, committed the City to a cultural use of the Civic Auditorium in line with the community’s vision for this facility. That vision includes the need for significant upgrades to the building and its technical equipment.
Again, I urge you to support the cultural uses of the Civic Center by setting aside the appropriate funds to achieve these goals.
From Kathy (King) Barrett, Samohi Class of '81:
This project looks wonderful. Please support it. I think these facilities will be an incredible asset both to the school and the community. Thank you!!
From Brian Egan:
I am a Santa Monica resident and father of a 1st grader and I support the Civic Center Joint Use Projects!
From Dale Franzen:
As Director of Santa Monica's vibrant and dynamic new arts and culture center, The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, I see firsthand how highly our fellow Santa Monicans, and indeed, people from all over the Los Angeles area, value the arts. Ours is a community that continues to be eager and more than willing to support all forms of the arts, and that is proud of the cultural destination that Santa Monica increasingly is becoming. I urge you to support the staff recommendation that $25 million of the Earthquake Redevelopment Fund be set aside specifically for Civic Auditorium Adaptive Reuse and Renovations; and that $21 million be set aside for the 5.6 acre park and new cultural facility as envisioned in the City's nationally recognized and well-researched cultural masterplan, Creative Capital. This masterplan was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2007. When this issue comes before the City Council on May 12th, please vote to support this funding, which will serve to enhance not only the quality of life for all Santa Monicans who love the arts, but also expand our beautiful city's profile as an arts destination that arts lovers from all over Los Angeles, California, and places farther afield will benefit from for generations to come.
From Aimee Goldberg.
the civic center and samohi. This project will benefit the entire community. Thank you.
From Michael Hill:
The attached PDF of the CCJUP showing phases, projects and costs might be helpful. Please contact me if you have any questions,
From Bob Brode:
I'd like to ask you to support the Civic Center Joint Use Project, which looks to me like it will benefit both Samohi and the community at large. (One exception: I think the proposed second underground parking facility at Samohi is excessive, and subsidizes driving/parking at too high a cost.)
From Mary Marlow, President for the Ocean Park:
Thank you for your support of the Ocean Park Boulevard "Complete Green Street" Improvement Project over the past two years. Authorizing additional funding for necessary soils, trees and traffic studies will insure that all the design criteria to make Ocean Park Blvd. the city's premier "Complete Green Street" project is completed and facilitate preparation of a refined alternative for both council and public review.
From Kesmo Brown:
"I strongly support the Civic Center Joint-Use Project and urge your support for capital improvement funding in the 2009-2010 fiscal year and through the completion of the Project.
As a 14-year resident of Santa Monica with two school-age children who participate in AYSO soccer and youth football, I believe this project will dramatically improve recreational, cultural and educational opportunities in our community for generations to come.
The design of this project means that "everybody wins" and I look to your leadership to guide it into reality."
From Miles Cotton:
"I strongly support the Civic Center Joint-use Project and urge your support for capital improvement funding in the 2009-10 fiscal year and through the completion of the Project. As a Santa Monica native and current resident, I believe this project will dramatically improve recreational, cultural and educational opportunities in our community for generations to come. This excellently designed project is an "everybody wins" project and I look to your leadership to guide this into reality.
As a 8 year member of the Santa Monica Rugby Club, I have seen how the lack of available field space has created logistical issues for our highly successful and growing youth programs. I firmly believe that this Joint-Use project could help get more youth of our city outdoors and active, where they should be.
Thank you for your consideration."
Click here to read 48 emails regarding Civic Center Joint Use Project and the budget
Click here to read a budget memo from the Commission on the Senior Community
Click here to read a budget memo from the Commission on the Status of Women
Click here to read a budget memo from the Police Activities League
Click here to read a budget memo from the Library Board
Click here to read a budget memo from the Recreation and Parks Commission
Click here to read a budget memo from the Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Click here to read a budget memo from the Disabilities Commission
Click here to read a budget memo from the Cultural Affairs Division/Arts Commission
Click here to read a mailed suggestion regarding Joint Use Agreements
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From Al Rosen:
"I am a member of Santa Monica's Sustainable City Task Force and the Solar Santa Monica Advisory Board, but these comments are my own.
It is absolutely essential that the City continue to fund Solar Santa Monica at least at current levels! The program is making great progress in encouraging and faciliting PV installation in Santa Monica and improving energy efficiency. Additional funding to add staff to expand SSM's energy efficiency programs would go a long way toward helping Santa Monica reach its goals to become a net zero energy city."
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From Mary Spata:
"We are new residents in Santa Monica and chose to live here for many reasons. Top among them is the quality of government services. Having served on a town legislature, I am very impressed with all of SM services thus far. I would like to encourage the banning of plastic bag use and whatever budget and resources are necessary to do so. Secondly, I would like to discourage the town from continuing the tradition of holiday manger displays on Ocean Ave.
I would be happy to work toward either project."
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From Alison Kendall:
"Please include funding for Big Blue Bus to do a user survey of Santa Monica High school to analyze ways to provide better service to this largely transit dependent population. Despite major fee increases, there have been virtually no service increases for this population, which uses the BBB in rates similar to SMC. Among the unmet needs: providing benches, weather protection and bus information at major stops serving Samohi including Fourth Street, 6th and Pico, Lincoln and Pico, and Olympic near 4th. Providing more convenient transit pass sales, providing adequate bus capacity for after school hours through early evening hours, and expanding Mini Blue service to serve Samohi and Santa Monica neighborhoods."
" Please plan to initiate the Safe Routes to School Programs at our middle schools and elementary schools in FY2009-10 or sooner. This program is budget neutral, since it uses the Safe Routes to School Grant awarded to SMMUSD and City of Santa Monica based on a grant application I helped Beth Rolandson prepare. We now have a well established model program for promoting walking, biking and bus use at the high school, and lots of parent and student interest in extending this program to the two middle schools and ultimately the elementary schools. Every parent who drives their child to school represents four trips a day, and a threat to the safety of students who walk and bike to school. Walking and biking to school builds healthy habits and strengthens the school community—let’s start this effort today."
"Please redesign the landscaping and lighting at Douglas Park to address problems which impact neighbors and make the park less safe for users. Current problems include glare from lighting which shines right into the windows of homes surrounding the park, lack of on street shade trees for cars parked along 25th Street, and a homeless encampment in the dense landscaping near Wilshire and 25th. In addition, water used by the fountain in the oval is completely wasted — it discharges into the gutter on 25th after one use rather than being reused for landscape irrigation."
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Click here to read a mailed suggestion form.
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Click here to read a mailed suggestion form
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From Julie McCue:
"Education, it is our most valuable resource and investment."
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From Ann Raziel:
"I think the money should go to our schools. The education of our children is a top priority and needs more funds so that these children can compete in a challenging world. Our future depends on it. Thank you."
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From Patricia Stallone
"Suggestion: In line with fiscal survival necessary at this time in our country's economy, it is of paramount importance to focus on the survival of and nurturance of those elements of the budget that contribute directly to our survival, our safety and our children's education, none of which can, by definition, wait for economic recovery.
In addition, the creation of more jobs, specifically green jobs may be more important at this time than continuing with contracts that do not directly provide jobs for the citizens of the City of Santa Monica. Like Canadian work requirements, ask our outside businesses and developers to hire locally and incentivize them to do so.
As our President Elect Barack Obama's priorities, so should the City of Santa Monica Administration.
1. Survival & Safety:
-Prepare to protect foreclosure property w/ additional resources for police and fire and incentives to banks to put off foreclosures.
-Keep fire and police at full ready for natural disaster, terrorist attack and survival thereof.
-Keep utilities in check regarding fees, availability and accountability to the residents. There is some nonsense going on.
-Spend money on water and sewage, but not pulling up every tree in Santa Monica while we're in a financial crisis, even though it may be long term solution. If it does not need to be fixed in the next 3 years, stop it. Priorities are fixing what is breaking.
2. Education
I heard education given a very disrespectful reception when Lamont was asked where it would fit in the budget. He said that money would be "layered in" after first monies were allocated. Please re-examine that mentality.
1.It is not in line with keeping families in the area.
2.If we are not competitive educationally, we lose more than the children's minds. We lose the future and increase the aging demographic now in Santa Monica.
3. Jobs
Santa Monica would do well to lead the nation along with the federal government in considering itself a pro-active participant in the creation of new jobs, using some of the budget from the city to create work, specifically green jobs. I believe that it would also put our City in good standing when the Feds are ready to hand out money to boost the national economy. If the Administration of the Çity of Santa Monica would think conservatively and creatively, perhaps we will come out of this projected 3 year recession well on the way to leadership that mirrors the plans on a Federal level.
Thank you."
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From Eric Rosenthal:
"Myself and many other apartment residents would like to recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic but it is not easy for us. I would like to see incentives for apartment building owners to implement recycling programs."
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From David Kaplan:
"Please include landscape and other buffers between the Santa Monica Airport and adjacent residential uses.
Please provide money to have a facilities study of Fire Department and other Facilities groups. There is no such capability at the City and an outside consultant should be used.
In addition to a study, to support these departments (Fire, Facilities, etc), purchase sites in the industrial area that can provide facilities activity and central fire station/equipment yard with minimal impacts on residential neighborhoods."
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From Mary Carroll McCormick:
"Please consider diagonal parking on some of our many wider streets. Even a pilot program--would not require much money and would prove or disprove the advantages of the extra spaces developed. Thanks."
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