> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Council set to spend nearly $2.5 million on Colorado Avenue, Big Blue Bus repairs - URL: https://www.smdp.com/111307-story/ - Published: 2007-11-13T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:55:17.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness (Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.) Hey, big spender CITY HALL The City Council is expected to spend tonight nearly $2.5 million on a variety of projects, including street improvements on Colorado Avenue, air conditioning repairs for Big Blue Buses, and the creation of a regional, emergency shelter for families in Culver City. The big ticket item will be the pedestrian and neighborhood traffic improvements on Colorado between 20th Street and Centinela Avenue. The project is budgeted at $1,035,496, according to a city staff report. A construction contract is expected to be awarded to Genesis Development, Inc., which has done similar projects including the Pacific Palms Resort paving and landscaping project for the city of Industry and the Big League Dreams Baseball Park project for the city of Riverside. Improvements here will include: mid-block crosswalks with in-pavement flashers between 20th and 26th streets; crosswalk enhancements at all intersections east of 26th; raised landscaped median islands and curb extensions at various locations; five new streetlights and other lighting enhancements; traffic signal modifications at Stewart Street; and striping and signage improvements. The work is part of the final phase of the Mid City Traffic Plan, which was developed in response to a call for a safer, more active pedestrian environment. Police said jaywalking across Colorado has become a concern, especially near the Water Gardens, where employees can often be seen darting across Colorado illegally to get to the Yahoo Center. Community workshops were held in April 2002 and again in December 2004, according to a city staff report. KEEPING IT COOL For $425,000, the council could secure for three years on-site repair services for air conditioning systems on Big Blue Buses. BBB does not currently have the infrastructure or technicians on staff to perform the repairs and believes contracting out is the most cost effective measure at this time. The contract, if awarded, would go to Bus Systems Unlimited. “Contracting for these services ensures that the city’s equipment is maintained to the highest standards and that our customers are treated to a comfortable ride even during the warmest weather months,” a city staff report reads. A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS Looking to follow though on a promise to spread homeless services throughout the region, city staff is asking the council to grant a housing trust fund loan to Upward Bound House in the amount of $400,000 to help the Santa Monica-based non-profit purchase a 20-room motel at 12841 West Washington Blvd. in Culver City. The motel would be converted into a 72-bed emergency shelter for homeless families with children under the age of 18\. The cities of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, the county of Los Angeles and the state have committed funding for the development. The development of a regional emergency shelter for families with children in conjunction with other entities “would further a regional ‘fair share’ strategy”regarding homelessness and would benefit families in and outside of Santa Monica, according to a city staff report. Upward Bound will connect families with a case manager and provide services that will help them transition from homelessness to permanent housing as rapidly as possible, an approach known as “housing first.” If approved, this will be the third City Hall-funded facility located outside of Santa Monica and funded jointly with other jurisdictions. In September of 1995, the council authorized a housing trust fund loan of $400,000 in federal HOME funds to New Directions, Inc. for the development of a 165 bed facility for homeless veterans on the grounds of the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration. That project received funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the cities of Lo Angeles, Beverly Hills and Culver City. In June 2006, the council spent $75,000 in one-time funds to help St. Joseph Center’s Homeless Services Center located in Venice. St. Joseph received funding from the city and county of Los Angeles to identify and rehabilitate a site on Lincoln Boulevard. There is currently no emergency shelter in the Westside that serves homeless families in custody of minor children, according to a city staff report. The total cost of the Upward Bound project is estimated at $3.5 million. The county CARE is expected to contribute $750,000\. The city of Los Angeles will contribute $200,000, while the state Emergency Housing Assistance Program will contribute $1 million. Upward Bound is expected to raise $750,000. The motel was built in 1953 and has 20 units, of which 18 are one-bedroom units. The property is said to be in good condition and is located only four miles from Santa Monica. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 13, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)