COUNCIL COUNTDOWN
(The following is a summation of what went on in Santa Monica City Council chambers during the City Council’s meeting Feb. 14, including a timeline, notable public comments and excerpts taken.)

The Santa Monica City Council meeting began at 5:58 p.m. Mayor Bob Holbrook could not call the meeting to order at the regularly scheduled time of 5:45 p.m. because there were not enough council members present to create a quorum. Council members Ken Genser, Richard Bloom and Kevin McKeown arrived shortly after, the pledge of allegiance was recited and roll was called.

6:01 p.m. Mayor Holbrook wished everyone a happy Valentine’s Day.

6:04 p.m. Council heard from the public regarding consent items on the agenda.

6:10 p.m. Council member McKeown pulled consent items having to do with installing 123 security cameras around the promenade and the pier at a cost of $1.3 million, and the expansion of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church. The items were debated, but no action could be taken because the items required five votes and only four members were present.

6:30 p.m. Council moves to closed session to discuss potential and pending litigation against City Hall.

8:04 p.m. Council reconvenes. Council member Pam O’Connor and Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Shriver took their seats. The agenda items regarding the church and the cameras were brought back for discussion. The cameras were approved and the church expansion was held over for further study.

8:13 p.m. Council approved remaining consent items on the agenda and received a report from closed session. In the meeting with City Attorney Marsha Moutrie, it was suggested that the council approve a settlement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District regarding violations when asbestos was removed from the old Main Library site. The council voted unanimously to approve the settlement, which would require contractors, both prime and sub, to pay a fine of $256,000.

8:17 p.m. City Hall homeless czar, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman, gave a report to council regarding his efforts to change the governance structure so that all 88 cities in the county will be able to work together on homeless programs. He also spoke of the benefits reaped from a recent visit to New York City to study their solutions to ending homelessness.
The council also heard from the public on this issue, and briefly discussed supporting a bill by State Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) that would include a “Fair Share Zoning” requirement for cities to identify in their general plans sites where social services and housing for homeless could be located.

8:50 p.m. The council heard a presentation from city staff regarding roughly $5.5 million in unexpected revenues to be added to the city’s budget. Council then took public comment regarding spending priorities for the rest of this year and for 2006-07. There were 51 requests to speak on this item. Speakers were given two minutes each.

10:20 p.m. Council called for a short recess.

10:26 p.m. Council members returned and resumed public comment.

10:37 p.m. End of public comment on the mid-year fiscal budget review. Council debated but decided not to spend any money until a report by City Manager Lamont Ewell could be issued detailing the budget needs of city departments. Council did approve motions to help the 18th Street Arts Center restructure its debt, and study capital improvements made by Meals on Wheels West, which is seeking more than $24,000 in assistance.
The council also directed that an item be put on the agenda for the next meeting dealing with support for AB 359, which would create a temporary dog beach at Dockweiller State Beach. The council also asked for staff to report back on the status of a pilot program for a dog beach in Santa Monica.

11:20 p.m. Council moved to approve ordinances on the agenda including one which creates a review process on the conversion of any ground floor restaurant on the promenade into retail space. The council also unanimously approved a change to the city’s density bonus and affordable housing incentives and approved the transfer of cable service from Adelphia Cable to Time Warner Cable.

11:25 p.m. Council considered items presented by council members. The council voted to order staff to prepare an ordinance requiring a transitional retention period for employees of grocery stores when those stores change ownership. The idea, floated by McKeown and opposed by grocers, is intended to protect Santa Monica workers from sudden job loss.
Council also directed staff to review a recent report from the California Air Resources Board on the dangers of second-hand smoke and report back on how the report affects people here. The motion was sponsored by council member Bloom.
Council member McKeown asked, and the council unanimously approved, allocating $1,000 in matching funds to help sponsor the Latina Youth Conference at Santa Monica College next month.

Council member Genser sponsored a motion, and the council approved, to direct city staff to amend an ordinance to permit the use of non-permitted, or bootleg, rental units if the Rent Control Board determines the unit was rented on April 10, 1979 and meets all habitability provisions.
12:25 p.m. Council adjourned in memory of actor Chris Penn, 40, who died Jan. 24 at his home in Santa Monica. Penn, a Santa Monica High School graduate, had been commended by the council for his contributions to pedestrian safety when he starred in a public service announcement “Look Both Ways.”



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

Homelessness: 33 minutes
Traffic: Zero minutes
Parking: Zero minutes

Public Comment: 2 hours, 55 minutes
City Council/staff discussions: 2 hours and 8 minutes



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

“I have had it. I can’t take it anymore. I have spent the last two nights, gagging, removing human feces out of my garage. It’s bad enough outside, but when you bring it into a closed area, it’s terrible. I’m tired of it. Why is it Santa Monica feeds these people, lets them stay here? I’m asking you to come to my house and clean it up.”

— Vicki Luckenbach
A resident, who became extremely emotional as she told the council that she has had to call the police more than 20 times since November of last year to keep homeless people from sleeping, urinating and defecating on her property. Recently, she said homeless people have been defecating in her driveway.

QUOTE OF NOTE
“If you’re watching this (meeting) live, you’ve still got time. If you’re watching this in a rerun, like Ricky Ricardo, you’ve got some explaining to do.”

— Mayor Holbrook
Reminding those in attendance and those watching and listening to the meeting on TV and radio that if they plan to do something for Valentine’s Day, they better do it soon, or pay the consequences.