(The following is a summation of what went on in the Santa Monica City Council chambers during the council’s meeting March 14, including a timeline, notable public comments and excerpts taken.) TIMELINE: 5:50 p.m.: With Mayor Bob Holbrook in Washington, D.C., Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Shriver assumed control over the City Council session and called the meeting to order by proclaiming March as “Mayors for Meals Month,” honoring the national “Meals on Wheels” program and its March 22 celebration. Councilman Ken Genser was not present as he is recovering from a kidney transplant. The hands on the clock in the council chambers were missing. The clock has been broken for at least two weeks. 5:55 p.m.: The council approved consent items, including spending $558,000 for the design and construction of the Exposition Corridor Bike and Pedestrian Path, $42,000 for the management of the city-owned Mountain View Mobile Home Park, and $88,500 for the operation of the Pier Carousel. The council also voted to accept $298,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a public beach club at the Marion Davies estate at 415 Pacific Coast Highway. The council directed State Sen. Sheila Kuehl, (D-Santa Monica), to carry legislation to allow posting of a memorial sign along the Santa Monica Freeway or PCH in memory of Santa Monica Police officer Ricardo Crocker, who was killed in Iraq last year. With two council members absent and one recusing himself, the council voted to postpone action on the purchase of mobile computers for police cars. 6:10 p.m.: The council went into closed session to discuss existing litigation against the city. The City Attorney reported no action taken by the council. 7:05 p.m.: The council reconvened following closed session and participated in a study session regarding City Hall’s collection and recycling of solid waste. Consultants gave the city high marks for its recycling program, which is one of the best in the region, but noted shortcomings in infrastructure, as well as the absence of a reserve fund to be used in case of an emergency. Consultants suggested the council may want to contract out or franchise
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 16, 2006. Read the original PDF.