Council Meeting Wrap-up

July 24, 2008

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://smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2008 / as soon as possible after the meeting.

Consent calendar – Among matters not requiring extensive discussion, Council:

Ordinances – Council introduced and adopted an ordinance amending the current fence, wall and hedge interim ordinance appeals by assigning the appeals to an independent hearing examiner instead of the Planning Commission and declared the presence of an emergency. Council directed staff to schedule review of a permanent ordinance at the earliest possible Planning Commission meeting that allows for Council consideration of the permanent ordinance by Council in September and that this is Planning Commission’s opportunity to comment.

Closed Session – Council amended the terms of employment for the City Manager, increasing vacation day accrual to 21 and authorized a bonus to be paid.

Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) Strategy Framework – Council discussion focused on LUCE Strategy Framework topics related to neighborhoods, boulevards, districts and specific plan areas, including heights and density. Council directed staff to study LUCE recommendations on Lincoln Blvd, including ensuring that public benefit as stated in discussion includes affordable housing. Council directed staff to study the reduced LUCE recommendations on the Memorial Park district. Council defined the downtown district as recommended by the Planning Commission, bounded by Lincoln, I-10, Ocean and Wilshire, with the inclusion of the Huntley and Fairmont Hotel properties. Directed the inclusion of the Airport in the LUCE analysis and to create a specific plan for the Airport Business Park, modified the Civic Center Specific Plan area to include all Santa Monica High School property and excluding the Sears site; confirmed the boundary of the Healthcare Specific Plan to include the south side of Broadway near Saint John's and including direction to identify where hospitals can expand; Adopted the recommendations for the beach and Oceanfront, Montana and Main preserving existing character; and voted to adopt the industrial conservation zones, generally along Olympic.

Council also directed staff to include a policy for multifamily neighborhoods that ensures that new development will be compatible in scale and character with the existing neighborhood. The policy could allow exceptions when certain performance measures are achieved. Council also directed staff to return with a study session early in the process for review and input; return with options for a “check point and break” review of the various aspects of the General Plan; to include a policy clarifying that unbundling parking shall not have a negative impact on nearby residents; and focus on definition of workforce housing, target population between qualification for affordable and ability to pay market-rate, utilizing net income.

Property Based Assessment District (PBAD) Election results (Downtown Management Plan) – Council accepted the certified canvass of the results of the assessment district election; adopted the resolution approving the revised Engineer's Report and Levying Assessments; and directed staff to return for authorization to enter into agreements necessary to implement the PBAD.

Architectural Review Board – Michael Folonis
Arts Commission – Maya Emsden, Asuka Hisa, Jan Williamson; three other appointments continued to September 9
Bayside District Corporation – Randy Brant
Building & Safety Commission - Charles Muttillo, James Wilson
Commission for the Senior Community – Emeritus: Melva Heinsohn, LaVerne Ross
Commission for the Senior Community – Regular: Nel Steele, Monroe Friedman
Disabilities Commission – Christofer Arroyo, Christopher Knauf, Kecia Weller
Housing Commission – Father Gutierrez
Landmarks Commission – Barbara Kaplan, Ruth Shari
Library Board – Kenneth Blackwell
Personnel Board – Donald Burris
Planning Commission – Gwynne Pugh, Gerda Newbold
Commission on the Status of Women – Trish Moon, Autum Peebles, Darlene Evans
Recreation & Parks Commission – Phil Brock, Lori Nafshun, Deborah Cohen
Social Services Commission – Tshombe Sampson, Albin Gielicz

ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT MEETING - The meeting was adjourned at 9:54. The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council is on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 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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