Ball fields supported by some council members
City officials may have to start doling out No Doz to those who want to participate in the public process.
When the $120 million Civic Center redevelopment plan finally came up on the agenda at last week’s city council meeting it was 1 a.m., but the only ones still standing were city officials and their staff.
Nearly everyone who had something to say about the colossal project couldn’t keep their eyes open long enough to speak. They finally threw in the towel and went home. But it was-n’t only residents who couldn’t stay awake — council members Bob Holbrook, Herb Katz and Ken Genser — left early too.
“Right now, you have 147 requests to speak but I think a lot of them have left,” city clerk Maria Stewart told the council.
When the remaining council members opened the public hearing, they knew they had put too much on their plate that night.
But Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein, a self-proclaimed night owl, tried humor to mask people’s frustrations.
“People, no staying power,” he said of people leaving before speaking. He then joked with those who were still watching the meeting on City TV channel 16. “For all of you folks who are up watching at home, what are you doing?”
“For all of you folks who are up watching at home, what are you doing?” — — MIKE FEINSTEIN Santa Monica mayor
But some citizens aren’t laughing about the lengthy council meetings.
A group of residents are gearing up for a lawsuit against the Santa Monica City Council, arguing the long meetings are a violation of the Brown Act, which mandates that public meetings be accessible. (See related story).
The council heard the staff’s presentation on the civic center project and continued the public hearing until Feb. 5. At that meeting, council members can look forward to at least five hours of public testimony on the civic center plan. And those who invested hours into waiting at the Jan. 22 meeting can look forward to spending another Tuesday night waiting to be heard.
Some council members said it was a mistake to put two large projects on the same agenda. But they didn’t expect four hours of public testimony on the Virginia Avenue Park expansion, despite that the controversial plan was debated for a decade.
“Hindsight is 20/20,” said Councilman Richard Bloom. “I don’t blame them for being upset. It was an unfortunate decision in retrospect that Virginia Avenue Park and the civic center were scheduled on one night and I apologize to the community. But I don’t think anyone predicted 120 (requests to speak) on the civic center. This was a particularly bad Tuesday.”
Bloom said the other unfortunate circumstance about the civic center plan is that staff recommended that athletic fields not be included, which drew a lot of criticism.
“That was a very, very unfortunate choice of words,” Bloom said. “It upset a lot of people and it sparked a lot of controversy and anger in the community.”
The civic center, located on Fourth Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard, is the city’s symbolic geographical point. It serves as an integral part of the town because of its proximity to downtown, Santa Monica Place, Palisades Park, the Ocean Park neighborhood and Main Street.
The city purchased 11 acres from the RAND Corporation in 2000 for $53 million with the intention of completely overhauling the civic center area so it would connect to downtown Santa Monica better.
Based on recommendations of a “working group” which has created the current proposal, the civic center area would have a town square, a garden walk with botanical and sculpture gardens, plenty of open space and bicycle paths, as well as a childhood development facility and a revamped City Hall.
An estimated 300 housing units are planned that could include family town-houses, flats and live-work units for artists. The working group suggested that 160 of those units be affordable to very low-income households.
The project would take up to 10 years to complete and would be paid for through the capital improvement plan, redevelopment agency tax increment funds, general obligation bonds and regional, state and federal funding sources. Affordable housing would be supported by local, state and federal housing funds.
Not only will the design of the plan around City Hall be heavily scrutinized, but many people want there to be less low-income housing and more playing fields.
“I think a lot of people were there for that,” said Tom Larmore, a resident who waited three hours to speak on the plan but gave up and went home before the public hearing began. “I think a lot of people were there for that.”
Santa Monica Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, along with Bloom and Genser, said the council most likely will be in favor of adding ball fields in the civic center area.
McKeown points out that the four remaining council members decided to open the civic center public hearing even though it was 1 a.m. because they knew the meeting would be rebroadcast on channel 16 at least twice before Feb. 5, assuming most residents have cable television.
“If we did not have City TV we would not have made that decision,” he said. “Now (citizens) can come to the (Feb. 5) debate more informed.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 28, 2002. Read the original PDF.