February 27, 2007
Consent Calendar - Among
matters not requiring extensive discussion, the following
items were approved by Council: annual update of the city's
investment policy; renovations of the restrooms at the
Palisades Park Senior Center; a contract amendment for
interim planning services to assist staff until positions
can be filled; statements of official action for 1707
Cloverfield Boulevard and 2617 Third Street; tract maps for
condominium projects at 1027 21st Street and 1038 11th
Street; and an agreement for specialized legal services for
the city, redevelopment agency and parking authority. A
contract for assistance for the preparation of responses to
Solid Waste Request for Proposals was withdrawn. After
further discussion, council approved a construction contract
for the Big Blue Bus Transit Store.
Closed Session – Council
approved a settlement in the amount of $75,000 related to a
sewer backup and a settlement of $1.3 million related to a
fatal bus incident.
Update on the Exposition Corridor
Light Rail – Rick Thorpe, a representative of the Metro
Expo Line, presented an update on the current status of the
Exposition Light Rail. Phase I is 8.6 miles between Downtown
L.A. and Culver City. Phase II is between Culver City and
Santa Monica and is currently anticipated to begin service
in 2014-2015. A scoping meeting for Phase II will be held on
March 6 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica Auditorium
East Wing.
Appeal of 2646 2nd Street –
Council denied an appeal of the Landmarks Commission denial
of a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct a new
single family home on a 25 x 100 foot lot in the Third
Street Historic District and remanded the project to the
Landmarks Commission. The appellant claimed that the denial
was based on the incompatibility of the front façade, which
does not include a front entrance in order to meet the
zoning requirements for a two-car garage. Discussion and
comments related to this item focused on the conflict
between the historic district guidelines and requirements
for a two-car garage.
Ordinances - Council approved
an interim ordinance extending until September 30 the
fences, walls and hedges interim ordinance. Council also
approved an ordinance amending the City’s contract with the
California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
An ordinance was introduced that
clarifies that permits are needed to engage in
product-sampling activities. The permits would be issued by
Bayside Cooperation for Third Street Promenade and the Pier
Restoration Corporation for the Santa Monica Pier.
Property Acquisition – The
City Council took the actions necessary to acquire
properties located at 430 Arizona Avenue, 1324 Fifth Street,
1320 Fifth Street and 1321 Fifth Street for $30.9 million.
The 52,500 sq. ft. was acquired in accordance with the
Downtown Parking Strategy Plan; however, acquisition does
not determine future use.
Long-range Community Cultural
Plan – Results of the long range cultural planning
process Creative Capital: Culture, Community, Vision
were presented and conceptually approved by Council. The
plan highlights that 43% of all Santa Monica adults make all
or part of their living in arts-related fields and creative
fields comprise 8.89% of all jobs in the city, well above
the national average of 1.4%. Santa Monicans are also more
likely to have participated in cultural activities than the
average person in the United States. The plan identifies
various strategies and recommendations to capitalize on this
unique aspect of Santa Monica including:
-
Celebrating innovation -
recognizing and supporting the creative community;
-
Increasing cultural
participation – increasing activities that market the
city’s art and cultural resources, incorporate public
art into private projects and expand on the city’s
festivals and other programming.
-
Enhancing sustainability –
expanding and capitalizing on under-utilized space, such
as alleys, for artist studios and lofts, developing
zoning and other policies that encourage the development
of art space.
-
Leadership, funding and
implementation – developing the tools and resources
needed to fully implement the proposed five-year plan.
The first steps include an emphasis on innovation,
partnerships, festivals and integration with the Civic
Auditorium Plan and Land Use Element update.
Update on Proposed Runway Safety
Enhancements for Santa Monica Airport – Staff presented
an update on ongoing negotiations between the city and
Federal Aviation Administration to create runway safety
areas at both ends of the airport. The current concept plan
envisions a 300-foot runway safety area (RSA) with a
250-foot "Engineered Materials Arresting System" (EMAS) bed
on the west end and a 600-foot RSA on the east end of the
runway. Council continued deliberation until after the March
26 Airport Commission meeting.
Council continued discussions on the
following items to a future meeting:
-
Access to Airport Property from
Santa Monica College Bundy Campus
-
Douglas Aircraft Company DC-3
Monument Plaza
-
Green Building, Landscaping
Standards, and Construction and Demolition Waste
Ordinances and expedited permitting for Solar Electric
and Solar Thermal Systems
-
Proposed Public Financing of
Electoral Campaigns
Other Matters – Council
allocated $10,000 from Council Contingency funds to the
Santa Monica High School Band Parent Association to defray
the cost of travel, accommodations and related expenses so
that the Santa Monica High School Wind Ensemble can travel
to Carnegie Hall on May 27, 2007.
Council made the following
appointments:
-
Betty Mueller - Housing
Commission
-
Linda Jassim – Arts Commission
-
Margaret Bach - Landmarks
Commission.
Council continued discussions
related to the appointment of councilmember liaisons to
boards and commissions, agenda management, use of
contingency funds and reconsideration of the installation of
red light cameras to a future meeting.
ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT
MEETING - The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 p.m. in
memory of Beth Feinstein, Santa Monica resident and mother
of former Councilmember Michael Feinstein, and Steven
Alpert, a long-time Santa Monica activist.
The next meeting
of the Santa Monica City Council is on Tuesday, March 13,
2007 beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the wheelchair-accessible
Council Chamber at City Hall.
Council meetings are aired live on
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