June 19, 2007 

NOTE: This wrap-up is not an official record of Council action. The official record is posted by the City Clerk on this website at http://santa-monica.org/cityclerk/council/agendas/2007/ as soon as possible after the meeting.  (Click on the June 19 agenda link.) 

Consent Calendar – Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, Council approved a contract in the amount of $250,000 with Comprehensive Housing Services for administration of the residential rehabilitation program; adopted a resolution of support to submit an application for Preserve America grant funds; and approved a purchase order in the amount of $447,507 with GFI Genfare for replacement of Big Blue Bus fare boxes.  

Closed Session – Council approved a settlement in the amount of $30,000 related to a slip and fall incident on a sidewalk.  

Endorsement of Neighborhood Conservation and Placemaking Principles for the Land Use and Circulation Element – Staff presented a report which outlines the principles for the Land Use and Circulation Elements that arose out of the extensive community workshops. The principles focus on placemaking and neighborhood conservation. There are 40 general principles and 15 that were specific to Pico, Wilshire, Lincoln and Ocean Park Boulevards. The principles will integrated into policies and the General Plan. The next step is a workshop in early July that will focus on industrial areas. Council directed staff to create a design policies manual to guide discretionary review and to move forward with three short-term actions:

• Initiate Pico Corridor Study

• Initiate Parking Study for Wilshire Boulevard

• Initiate Ocean Park Boulevard streetscape pilot program. 

Council also directed staff to look at options to study impacts from large projects in the M1 and LMSD zones and return as quickly as possible; staff should also consider impacts on adjacent areas.  Council also directed staff to return with additional recommendations on economic considerations.   

Concept Plan for the Village Residential, Open Space and Retail Components of the Civic Center Specific Plan – Council reviewed concept plans for the mixed use element of the Village project in the Civic Center. Council provided comments for staff to consider, including but not limited to: the massing and scale of the buildings; additional height on the southerly portion of site C as an opportunity to address scale and massing elsewhere; landscaping plan will be important; corners should step back; methods for enlivening the "Living Street"; and to be creative in ways to address massing within current heights. Council continued the item and directed staff to return with revised options addressing concerns related to heights and massing.   

Consolidated Rental Housing Trust Fund Guidelines Revisions – Council approved revisions to the Housing Trust Fund Guidelines related to funding limits and terms. Specifically, the administrative approval limit was increase to $19,300 ($386,000 per unit) for new construction and $24,050,000 ($481,000 per unit) for acquisition and rehabilitation. The new limits reflect recent increases in construction costs. Council also adopted staff's recommendation to index future increases. Council directed staff to formally notify Council of commitments made. Council also increased related developer fees by 16% and made various other technical revisions. Council provided a mechanism for the city to invest funds in affordable housing outside of the city, provided Santa Monica receives a propositional share of the housing and Council approves funds spent outside of the city. 

Recommendation to Support California State Assembly Bill 700, if Amended – Council voted to support AB 700, which requires a study of airplane emissions at Santa Monica Airport, as long as it is amended to address the city’s concerns. Council directed staff to work with the bill’s author to amend the existing legislation so that is supports a scientific study which builds on data generated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and provides protections for the city against actions and liability, without limiting the option to proceed with action against the federal government.

Report on Community Meeting: Improving the Electoral Process – Council heard a report detailing the results of a community meeting held to discuss the electoral process in Santa Monica. Issues addressed included, but weren’t limited to: negative, false or misleading campaign literature; lack of women and minority and women candidates; need to maintain voter-owned elections; possibility of adjusting the $250 local campaign contribution limit; political sustainability; ranked voting and instant runoffs; public financing of campaigns; effect of independent expenditures; sources of bulk contributions; and whether elections are working well in Santa Monica.  Staff presented results from the meeting, current case law and research performed. Council directed staff to investigate improvements for campaign filings and disclosures, including new software; review enforcement challenges of current campaign limit ordinances; continue work on public financing system, using documents provided by smvote.org as a springboard for information; estimation of cost and potential funding sources; and to bring the item back to Council in the fall, earlier in the agenda, when a full Council is present.    

Council Meeting Rules and Contingency Funds Policy Revisions – Council continued to a future meeting a resolution modifying Council Rule 14(e), which would reduce the number of speakers needed to trigger a reduction of speaking time from 3 minutes to 2 minutes to 10 speakers on any one item or 30 speakers total. Council also continued a proposal to adopt guidelines related to the use of Council contingency funds.  

Other Matters – Council heard from Julien Isaacs and other speakers regarding concerns about the display of exotic and trained animals on Third Street Promenade. Council directed staff to return with information on the condition of the animals specified, status of performers and to return with recommendations on possible ordinances.  

Council directed staff to return with an ordinance prohibiting the exterior installation of ATM machines without first obtaining ARB approval, a performance standard permit and/or a conditional use permit. 

Council also discussed scheduling Council meetings on additional Tuesdays in fiscal year 2007-2008. The Mayor will work with staff to schedule dates throughout the year.    

Adjournment and Next Meeting - The meeting was adjourned at 12:59 a.m. The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the wheelchair-accessible Council Chamber at City Hall.   Council meetings are aired live on CityTV Channel 16 and on the Netcast on the city's website and, for regularly scheduled meetings, from 8 p.m. to midnight on KCRW 89.9 FM.

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MEETING WRAP-UP ARCHIVE