Neighborhood Council - Minutes for June 2010

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Santa Monica Neighborhood Council
June 18, 2010 --- 10 AM
Ken Edwards Center

MINUTES

Future meetings: July 17 and August 21.

1. LUCE -- Issues discussed included the need to increase housing
opportunities on the boulevards in order to downzone the residential
neighborhoods; the fact that while we may not like everything in the
Draft LUCE, it's the result of a 6-year community process of
compromising; limiting the number of units per acre; parking
requirements; whether to locate parking entrances off of alleys or
side streets; no doubling of the FAR for affordable housing; the state
height and density bonus is included in the LUCE; breaking up long
blocks in the Bergamot and Mixed Use Creative districts could be
beneficial, but extending Pennsylvania Ave., through the Village
Trailer Park would not be; hospital zones on Wilshire from 14th to
26th vs. residential; auto dealerships wanting to expand; neighborhood
conservation zones - will apartment building owners get to decide;
keeping second stories residentail on the boulevards; residential/
commercial ratios; how much new business does the city need; tying
public benefits to within 1/2 mile of a project; preserving R zoning,
including RMH (Village Trailer Park); breaking up long blocks with
bike paths and walking paths, not roads; specifying more spacious
efficiencies and one-bedroom apartments; "senior supportive" housing;
chronic shortage of parking in Wilmont - what happened to the Parking
Tzar?

2. Jerry's Liquor development project on Wilshire -- An increase of
500 car trips per day is projected. Should a traffic signal be
installed at Wilshire and Stanford?

3. Wilshire and 23rd development project -- currently a carwash, the
project will be 4 stories, same size as the Whole Foods parcel, with a
loading dock planned in the 15-foot-wide alley south of Wilshire --
this could be a public safety issue.

4. "Save Our Schools" -- 60-day fundraising campaign to re-hire SMMUSD
teachers and staff laid off in June

5. 4th of July Parade -- More volunteers and sponsors needed. It costs
$10,000 above the the city grant.

6. City budget -- No firings or layoffs were required. All departments
shared the cuts.

7. City Council -- Current proposal to streamline meetings by
eliminating staff reports at meetings and putting a time limit on each
agenda item

8. SM Airport -- City actions regarding the FAA test include hiring an
air traffic control consultant, hiring a noise impact consultant, and
adding "real-time" tracking on the SMO web site. The OPA president
stated that planes are still using the test flight path 250-heading,
even though the test is over.

9. Affordable housing -- Issues discussed included "shelter plus"; a
reduction in the Housing Authority budget; deed-restricted buildings;
the consolidated plan -- the small size of some units (250 sq ft)
discourage renters; the state allows 3 people per 1-bedroom apartment,
the city(?) allows 4 people per 1-bedroom apartment, but if you need a
live-in caregiver, they're not allowed.

10. November election -- 5 Council seats will be open. August 9 is the
deadline to file.