(The following is a summation of what went on in the Santa Monica City Council chambers during the council’s meeting April 25, including a timeline, notable public comments and excerpts taken.)

TIMELINE:

(The following is a summation of what went on in the Santa Monica City Council chambers during the council’s meeting April 25, including a timeline, notable public comments and excerpts taken.)

5:53 p.m.: Mayor Bob Holbrook calls the City Council meeting to order. After leading the council in the pledge of allegiance, Holbrook opens the floor for public comment on items on the consent agenda. There are two requests to speak.

6 p.m.: Public comment ends. The council approves the consent calendar, which includes: amending an existing contract with Oracle USA in the amount of $72,000 to upgrade the City Hall’s financial software; a contract with LaserFiche in the amount of $120,000 for the purchase of a document imaging and content management system; an amendment to an existing contract with New Flyer of America in the amount of $941,900 for the purchase of 10 liquefied natural gas (LNG) buses and spare parts; awarding a $10 million contract with Clean Energy for LNG fuel for four years; approving a lease in the amount of $9,636 with Google to use City Hall’s supply of dark fiber (or fiber optics that have yet to be used); and approving a contract with landscape architects ah’bé in the amount of $450,000 for design services for 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard street improvements.

6:04 p.m.: Council moves into closed session, in which it discusses several lawsuits involving City Hall.

7:23 p.m.: Council reconvenes following the end of closed session. City Attorney Marsha Moutrie reports on three items, all settlements. In two cases involving accidents where the Big Blue Bus was determined at fault, the council agrees to pay a total of $175,000. In another case involving a dispute over the creation of a driveway, the council approves a settlement in which the city will pay $40,000 for the initial cost of constructing a driveway at the property, 161 Ocean Park Boulevard. If the project goes over $40,000, City Hall will split the remaining costs with the property owners, up to $70,000.

7:27 p.m.: On behalf of the council, Holbrook declares May as “Older Americans Month.” A proclamation was accepted by Marilyn Wilson, co-chair of the Commission on the Senior Community. The council also welcomes Santa Monica College President Chui Tsang, Ph.D., who pledges to build great relationships with City Hall.

7:34 p.m.: Council votes to move around items on the agenda to accommodate members who must leave early. Council approves ordinances allowing the Bayside Hotel to continue operating and for the creation a transportation preservation district to protect the Exposition Right-of-Way for future light rail. Council also holds the first reading of an ordinance allowing for the re-division of combined parcels, or lots.

7:56 p.m.: Council approves the appointment of Dr. Kaveta Patel to the Pier Restoration Corp. Her term will end Nov. 10, 2009. Council also approves the appointments of Robert Schwenker to the Commission for the Senior Community for a term ending June 30, 2007, and Madeline Davis Heller for one special vacancy on the Commission on the Status of Women for a term ending June 30, 2007.

8:08 p.m.: Staff gives a report on changes to the current zoning code addressing anomalies pertaining to “key lots” where current definitions of a side yard and front yard conflict with adjacent homes. Council hears from two residents in conflict over the construction of a wall that will block one resident’s views from his front yard. Council votes to have city staff prepare amendments to the zoning code to provide some relief for residents and instructs staff to investigate if there are other situations to bring back before the council.

8:26 p.m.: Council hears an update from city staff on the status of homelessness in Santa Monica. Council approves an extension of the city’s chronic homeless program at a cost of $189,000. The council also agrees to spend $126,000 for The Urban Institute to conduct an audit of City Hall’s homeless programs.

Council also expresses grave concern over the possible sale of land by the U.S. Army where a cold-weather homeless shelter is located. Council instructs city staff to contact representatives in Congress to see how they can help stop the sale.

9:11 p.m.: Council considers changes to outdoor dining on the Third Street Promenade, voting to allow outdoor dining in the pavilion areas only. Staff is instructed to work with Bayside District Corp. to come up with standards for center court and sidewalk edge dining.

10:05 p.m.: Council hears from staff and the public about changes to rates charged to residents and businesses for garbage collection. Council approves an interim rate hike of 7 percent, which includes inflation, so that the City Manager can devise a potential budget around that figure, which will be reconsidered as the council forms next year’s budget.

10:40 p.m.: Council convenes for a special meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency. The agency discusses and approves the purchase and rehabilitation of an 8-unit apartment complex at 1944 20th Street for low-income families. The total cost of the project is $3,010,789. The apartment complex is expected to provide 24 beds. Each unit has three bedrooms.

10:56 p.m.: Council reconvenes and receives public comment on items not on the agenda.

11:04 p.m.: Council adjourns in the memory of former commissioner Anita Phillips and 50-year-resident Luz Ospitia, both of whom passed away recently.



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

Homelessness: 45 minutes
Traffic: 0 minutes
Parking: 0 minutes
Public Comments: 1 hour and 6 minutes
City Council/staff discussions: 2 hours and 44 minutes.



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

“There are apparently lots of important issues like hedges, property lines and fences, that I had no idea people were so concerned about.”
Madeline Moore, a senior at Santa Monica High School, telling councilmembers about her observations of the council meeting and urging them to focus more on homelessness.

“Why are we paying top dollar for a building that isn’t worth half that? You could look in some of the local papers and find better deals. Who’s getting paid off here?”
Resident Chuck Allard, who is critical of the City Council’s decision to spend more than $3 million purchasing and rehabilitating an 8-unit apartment complex in the Pico Neighborhood for low-income families.

Joy Fulmer Incite: “Poor people should be paying less because they don’t buy as much and don’t have as much waste. You’re giving businesses a break with lower (trash) rates.”



QUOTE OF NOTE
“I don’t think we can afford to lose housing at any level of affordability, even if its unaffordable.”
Councilman Kevin McKeown, who fears that allowing property owners to purchase adjacent lots and expand their homes might prevent much-needed housing.