Funding for traffic signals, surf school to be discussed
By Daily Press staff
(Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures, which appear on the upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agenda. 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).
CITY HALL — Nearly $2 million is expected to be spent tonight on everything from new street and traffic lights to surfing lessons for less fortunate kids.
The most expensive expenditure on tonight’s agenda is a $1.5 million contract to replace deteriorated electrical circuits and lighting throughout the city. The following locations have been identified as priorities: ■ Ocean Avenue from Montana Avenue to Colorado Avenue. ■ California Avenue from Ocean Avenue to Seventh Street. ■ Fifth Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado Avenue. ■ Wilshire Boulevard from Sixth Court to 12th Court. ■ Santa Monica Boulevard from Sixth Court to 12th Court. ■ Colorado Avenue from Ocean Avenue to Sixth Street. ■ Michigan Avenue from Seventh Street to Lincoln Boulevard. ■ Douglas Park, Marine Park and Clover Park.
The council is expected to authorize a contract with Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc. for $211,807 to purchase a central traffic signal control system. The system will cover 53 intersections in the downtown area.
The City Council is expected to spend an additional $100,000 for sewer repairs at Ocean Avenue and Main Street.
Construction work was delayed so it wouldn’t disrupt merchants and commuters along Main Street, which cost an extra $187,490.
The expenditure will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement. After the Northridge Earthquake of 1994, a citywide inspection of the sewer system was done to identify locations that were damaged. City Hall subsequently accepted a grant from FEMA in the amount of $78 million for sewer repair, which has occurred over the past eight years.
Council members also might elect to continue their affiliation with Surf Academy for $175,000.
The program, which began in 2002, drew 828 youth and 688 adults in 2003. Surf Academy allows about 20 youth participating in the city’s financial assistance program to participate in one week of camp at no charge to the city, and they conduct approximately 670 free lessons for youth participating in other city camps and programs such as Rosie’s Girls, Camp Santa Monica, Sports Experience and the Police Activities League.
Santa Monica will be safer from potential terrorist attacks, thanks to $1 million given to City Hall by the Homeland Security Office.
The City Council is expected to officially accept a $1,148,579 grant, which is administered through the federal Homeland Security Grant Program. However, City Hall must spend the money for various programs before getting reimbursed.
The grant includes: ■ $967,747 from the 2004 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program to fund a hazardous materials response vehicle, a fire and police personnel notification system, and shatter-proof glass that was built into the city’s public safety facility. ■ $127,862 from the 2004 State Homeland Security Grant Program that will help state and local agencies prevent and respond to terrorism attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive weapons. The grant will fund the training of emergency personnel, as well as the purchase of a new City Hall public address system. ■ $52,970 from the 2004 Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program that will allow officials to communicate more effectively, in an effort to ward off terrorist attacks.
The City Council also is expected to accept a $99,492 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to fund overtime costs for additional enforcement of underage drinking laws. The city was one of six randomly selected California communities invited to participate in a national project designed to help states create effective means of reducing alcohol consumption by minors.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 14, 2004. Read the original PDF.