COUNCIL COUNTDOWN

(The following is a summation of what went on in the Santa Monica City Council chambers during the council’s April 11 meeting, including a timeline, notable public comments and excerpts taken.)

TIMELINE:

5:52 p.m.: Mayor Bob Holbrook calls the City Council meeting to order. Councilmembers Richard Bloom, Kevin McKeown and Ken Genser are present. Genser, who returned from a short leave of absence following a kidney transplant, thanks all of those who were concerned about his health and who wished him well during his absence.

Holbrook reminds residents they can call City Hall at 458-8411 with any questions or requests. Holbrook also announces the impending publication of the second edition of the city’s customer services directory, which provides contact information for hundreds of services offered in the city. The directory will be available later this month in print or on CD.

5:55 p.m.: Public comment begins on items listed on the consent agenda.

6:05 p.m.: The council pulls several items from the consent agenda for discussion. Councilmember Pam O’Connor arrives. Council passes the remaining items, which include setting a $30 per quarter year fee for limited employee parking near 10th Street and Pico Boulevard; awarding $271,200 for courtyard construction near City Hall; the acceptance of a $1.57 million in 2005 Homeland Security grant; awarding a bid for $1.875 million for eight new dump trucks; and awarding $133,500 to provide annual testing and maintenance for underground storage tanks at various city locations, where gasoline and diesel fuel is stored.

A contract for 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard streetscape designs is referred back to staff to see if another firm can be chosen. Councilmembers Genser and McKeown raised concerns that the company selected to work on the designs for the project performed poorly on the city’s Transit Mall project, which they said is not pedestrian friendly.

6:21 p.m.: The council goes into closed session to discuss litigation against City Hall.

7:29 p.m.: The council reconvenes. Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Shriver is present.

Council approves a settlement among Morley Construction, Watson Land Company and City Hall in a dispute over asbestos removal from the Main Library site, with City Hall being removed as a party to the suit and Morley agreeing to pay $6 million to Watson. The council also approves a settlement with Coalition for a Livable Santa Monica, in which City Hall will give up all documents requested and pay $36,000 in the coalition’s attorney fees.

The council honors Fairview Branch librarian Sylvia Anderle, City Hall’s children’s Latino outreach librarian, for receiving a New York Times Librarian of the Year award and for being named Woman of the Year by State Assemblywoman Fran Pavley.

7:40 p.m.: The council hears reports from staff on the impacts that new development has on childcare and the arts, and whether or not a fee should be assessed on new development to help increase funding for both.

7:56 p.m.: Public comment begins.

8:27 p.m.: Public comment ends. The council orders staff to draft two ordinances requiring developers to pay fees when developing new commercial and residential projects.

9:07 p.m.: The council hears comments from the public and adopts an interim ordinance modifying automobile dealerships and the city’s density housing bonus and affordable housing incentives. The council holds first reading of an ordinance allowing the Bayside Hotel to continue operations in an area of the coastal zone that does not allow hotels. The council also holds first reading of an ordinance establishing a Transportation Preservation District to protect the MTA’s Exposition right of way, allowing for interim parking, film production and commercial nurseries.

9:55 p.m.: City Manager Lamont Ewell gives a presentation to the council on the city’s financial health and budget forecast. He recommends that $2.5 million in additional revenues not be spent until next year’s budget is completed. The council agrees and approves a grant for $24,807 from the council’s contingency fund to Meals on Wheels West to help pay for tenant improvements at their new office.

10:52 p.m.: The council puts the meeting on hold and convenes a special meeting of the Housing Authority, in which council members approved the Public Agency Housing Plan for 2006-07.

10:57 p.m.: The council reconvenes and hears a report from staff on extending preferential parking zones by 150 feet in areas near Montana Avenue. The council discusses the issues and does not take action on the item.

11:25 p.m.: The council continues appointments to the Pier Restoration Corp., Commission for the Senior Community and the Commission on the Status of Women. The council also votes to remove Commissioner Marizsa Bravo from the Social Services Commission for non participation, and directs City Clerk Maria Stewart to publish the vacancy.

11:36 p.m.: The council hears from the public on issues not included on the agenda.

11:46 p.m.: The council adjourns.



BY THE NUMBERS
Time spent on the top three issues facing Santa Monicans based on city surveys:

Homelessness: 0 minutes
Traffic: 0 minutes
Parking : 28 minutes
Public comment: 1 hour, 33 minutes
City Council/staff discussion: 3 hours



LET’S TALK CHIT
“Chits” (Public addressing City Council)

-“If other cities can spend a fortune on sports teams, we can do the same thing with the arts.”
— Lawrence Shapiro, a resident and member of the Arts Commission, on the council’s consideration for placing a fee on developers to pay for art projects on new developments.

Joy Fulmer Incite: (Joy Fulmer speaks at every City Council meeting regardless of the topic up for discussion.)
- “I think the thing that is really bothering the kids is that you treat them like precious idiots, always protecting them. When we were children, we were encouraged to participate in other things. We went out to help firemen, we learned self-esteem that way. We took risks. That’s how things were.”



QUOTE OF NOTE
“I want to send out a special thank you to the city of Santa Monica, because you arranged on the very morning after the first night home (from the hospital) a construction crew right outside my home, complete with jackhammers. And they started right at 8 o’clock. I think that is such a wonderful greeting. So thank you very much.”
Councilman Ken Genser’s sarcastic remark about his first day home from the hospital following his kidney transplant.

“We need to make it public record that if you are using your computer in the council chambers do not use them to exchange e-mails with the councilmembers. We need everything on the record, to be on the record.”
City Attorney Marsha Moutrie, advising members of the audience about laws governing open meetings following the announcement that the council chambers now offer free, wireless Internet access.