The Santa Monica City Council will debate the future of Santa Monica Airport at a study session Tuesday night, reviewing three scenarios for transforming the 192-acre site into public parkland if the facility closes Dec. 31, 2028.
The three conceptual plans, developed through community engagement involving nearly 5,000 survey participants, offer different approaches to balancing open space, recreation, housing and financial sustainability on one of the city’s most valuable properties.
“Reuse, Restoration and Resilience” emphasizes ecological restoration without new development beyond current allowances. The nature-forward approach would not require voter approval under Measure LC, a 2014 ballot measure restricting airport land development, but faces significant funding challenges.
“Weaving Park and Community” proposes connecting parks, culture and neighborhoods through a multi-use path and waterway called “The Bend.” This scenario introduces limited housing and commercial development at the site’s edges while maintaining a park-first vision, requiring voter approval for expanded commercial uses.
The most ambitious option, “Growing Park, Growing Community,” envisions extensive housing and commercial development surrounding a large recreational lake. This scenario would generate the most revenue but requires the highest level of voter approval and carries the greatest political complexity.
All scenarios dedicate more than two-thirds of the site to recreation and aim for financial self-sufficiency. However, debate over the inclusion of any housing at the site has been fierce in recent months with park-only supporters appearing to gain momentum heading into the Council meeting following the endorsement of a park by the local democratic club and a public statement by one Councilmember that they would not support housing on airport property.
The council must decide whether the preferred scenario should include uses requiring future voter approval under Measure LC as the project moves toward environmental review and implementation planning.
Financial Approvals
Before Council even gets to the Airport, they will approve a host of financial issues via the consent calendar.
Council has to approve Santa Monica Travel and Tourism Marketing District’s $7.1 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget. The district, funded through hotel assessments, projects revenues of $7.1 million with expenditures focused on travel industry sales ($1.35 million), marketing ($1.6 million) and salaries and benefits ($2.33 million). The budget reflects 19% revenue growth as the district works to strengthen Santa Monica’s tourism brand and increase hotel occupancy rates.
Downtown Santa Monica Inc. is seeking approval for its $9.6 million budget, representing a slight decrease from the previous year despite increased operational costs. The organization plans to boost spending on its Downtown Outreach Program by 328% to $867,316, emphasizing enhanced security and ambassador services. The budget deficit will be covered by cash reserves.
The Santa Monica Pier Corporation’s $2.5 million balanced budget projects revenues from event rentals, filming and corporate partnerships. Event deck rentals remain the corporation’s main revenue source as it works to diversify income streams through its nonprofit status.
Council will also consider accepting a $2.5 million federal Urban Area Security Initiative grant for homeland security projects in the Fire and Police departments. The grant will fund radio upgrades for police interoperability ($1 million), multi-utility vehicles for emergency response ($120,000) and regional training programs for the Fire Department ($700,000).
The city is also hoping for a tentative agreements with two bargaining units in fiscal year 2025-26. The California Teamsters Local 986 agreement covers 410 skilled trades and maintenance employees, while the Santa Monica Police Officers Association represents 231 public safety employees. Both agreements include cost-of-living adjustments and enhanced benefits.
Policy Reforms
While Santa Monica has a long history of drawn out meetings that force non-essential items to be pushed to future agendas, the July 8 meeting does include several high profile requests by councilmembers for discussions on significant policy reforms.
Council members Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin and Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis are requesting suspension of the Neighborhood Association Grant Program until new policy frameworks are adopted. The motion seeks to reform conditions for official recognition of community organizations and participation in grant programs.
The proposal would continue funding only 501(c)(3) organizations for community-building events like block parties through fiscal year 2027, subject to independent audits and nonpartisan activity restrictions.
Council members are also requesting development of a “Right to Recall” ordinance for Santa Monica Pier businesses, modeled after policies in Los Angeles and Long Beach. The ordinance would require employers to offer positions to qualified laid-off workers before hiring new employees. The proposal also calls for Labor Peace Agreements for new or renewed leases on city-owned property.
In addition Councilmembers are asking for a boards and commissions reorganization study to streamline Santa Monica’s 26 standing bodies, and a 30-day report on compliance with new state housing approval mandates.
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 1685 Main Street.
editor@smdp.com