Neighborhood Council - notes from August 2010 meeting
Z
August 21, 2010 -- 10 AM
Ken Edwards Center
Future NC meetings: September 11, October 16, and November 20
1. Fire Chief Scott Ferguson spoke a bit about his background, with a
bachelor’s degree in business and English, a master’s in management
psychology, and working in Washington state, Arizona, and Manhattan
Beach before coming to Santa Monica. Since joining the department he
organized a 2-day strategic planning meeting. Department needs include
seismic upgrades for Fire Stations 1 and 3, additional parking for
Station 1, a new training tower in the City Yards, and a storage
facility for equipment.
On the topic of disaster preparedness, emergency services include EOC
(police, fire, and public works), businesses (SMOAID), and residences
(“I’ve Got Seven”). DART is a 4-hour training program that includes
learning how to find and use the gas shut-off. The CERT program is for
neighborhoods. Residents should be prepared to be self-sufficient for
72 hours. It’s important to have one person in each neighborhood to
focus on this issue.
2. NOMA – A block party is planned for 15th St. on August 22nd, 12 to
4 PM.
3. Wilmont – The FAA test at SM Airport has affected Wilmont, as well
as Sunset Park and Ocean Park.
4. PNA – They’re hoping to organize a City Council candidate forum
focusing on the LMSD.
5. FOSP – A meeting between Rep. Waxman, neighborhood representatives,
city officials, and Councilman McKeown was held recently regarding the
FAA test and the need for an Environmental Impact Study before making
the 250-heading permanent. T-Mobile wants to put cell phone antennas
on a multi-family building on Ocean Park Blvd. near 11th. The “Save
Our Schools” campaign raised $1.5 million between June 15 and August
15. The federal education jobs bill will also bring funds to the
school district.
6. OPA – SM Airport was discussed, along with two planned candidate
forums, one organized by the Daily Press, and another at The Shores.
7. Mid-City – They are meeting once-a-week to complete bylaws.
8. Mountain View Mobile Home Park and the Arizona boycott – Catherine
suggested that the city’s contract with a company in Arizona to
provide new mobile homes was inappropriate, that $150,000 per unit was
too high, that residents who wanted to purchase their home would not
have been able to afford to do so, and that homes could have been
purchased elsewhere for $35,000 to $65,000.
9. Pico Branch Library – A survey is posted online, and community
workshops are scheduled for September 11, October 9, November 6, and
December 4, with completion expected in 2013.
10. Santa Monica Airport – Councilmember McKeown stated that residents
made the case to Rep. Waxman that we want the FAA to do a full EIS,
and he said, “Yes.” Kevin requested that the Council authorize staff
to take action if a FONSI is issued. Kevin also requested that the
Council endorse AJR 41, which calls on the state to support Santa
Monica re the FAA. The airport will be closed for 5 days in September
to re-surface the runway. During that time, the SCAQMD will do
baseline measurements.
11. 1800 Stewart – This is the first of a series of Development
Agreements coming to the Planning Commission and the City Council.
12. 301 Ocean Avenue – Trammell Crow evicted residents from 47 units.
The building was landmarked by the Landmarks Commission, but that
designation was overturned by the City Council. The plan for 15 market
rate and 5 moderate income condos was presented to the Planning
Commission on August 18th.
13. Local ballot measures – Y, YY, and RR. Regarding RR, one attendee
stated that the owner/manager can determine whether a sub-tenant can
stay. If the renter who “qualified” moves out, that person’s roommate
doesn’t automatically get to stay. He also passed out some examples of
warning notices handed out to tenants that the Legal Aid Foundation of
Los Angeles had overturned.
14. The Parlor – It’s closed.
15. Housing enforcement – Failures to enforce development agreements
in the past include the Arboretum, the Sea Castle, the Dorchester, and
the Craig Jones apartment buildings in downtown. The city now has a
policy to do an annual review of development agreements.
16. 808 Wilshire – A gas station is being replaced with an office
building.
Ellen Brennan
Wilshire, unless you're talking about a gas pump somewhere inside a
building. The only visible gas station I know nearby is at 5th and
Wilshire. Any clarifying info available?
Ellen Brennan
2. NOMA - A block party is planned for 15th St. on August 22nd, 12 to
4 PM.
3. Wilmont - The FAA test at SM Airport has affected Wilmont, as well
as Sunset Park and Ocean Park.
4. PNA - They're hoping to organize a City Council candidate forum
focusing on the LMSD.
5. FOSP - A meeting between Rep. Waxman, neighborhood representatives,
city officials, and Councilman McKeown was held recently regarding the
FAA test and the need for an Environmental Impact Study before making
the 250-heading permanent. T-Mobile wants to put cell phone antennas
on a multi-family building on Ocean Park Blvd. near 11th. The "Save
Our Schools" campaign raised $1.5 million between June 15 and August
15. The federal education jobs bill will also bring funds to the
school district.
6. OPA - SM Airport was discussed, along with two planned candidate
forums, one organized by the Daily Press, and another at The Shores.
7. Mid-City - They are meeting once-a-week to complete bylaws.
8. Mountain View Mobile Home Park and the Arizona boycott - Catherine
suggested that the city's contract with a company in Arizona to
provide new mobile homes was inappropriate, that $150,000 per unit was
too high, that residents who wanted to purchase their home would not
have been able to afford to do so, and that homes could have been
purchased elsewhere for $35,000 to $65,000.
9. Pico Branch Library - A survey is posted online, and community
workshops are scheduled for September 11, October 9, November 6, and
December 4, with completion expected in 2013.
10. Santa Monica Airport - Councilmember McKeown stated that residents
made the case to Rep. Waxman that we want the FAA to do a full EIS,
and he said, "Yes." Kevin requested that the Council authorize staff
to take action if a FONSI is issued. Kevin also requested that the
Council endorse AJR 41, which calls on the state to support Santa
Monica re the FAA. The airport will be closed for 5 days in September
to re-surface the runway. During that time, the SCAQMD will do
baseline measurements.
11. 1800 Stewart - This is the first of a series of Development
Agreements coming to the Planning Commission and the City Council.
12. 301 Ocean Avenue - Trammell Crow evicted residents from 47 units.
The building was landmarked by the Landmarks Commission, but that
designation was overturned by the City Council. The plan for 15 market
rate and 5 moderate income condos was presented to the Planning
Commission on August 18th.
13. Local ballot measures - Y, YY, and RR. Regarding RR, one attendee
stated that the owner/manager can determine whether a sub-tenant can
stay. If the renter who "qualified" moves out, that person's roommate
doesn't automatically get to stay. He also passed out some examples of
warning notices handed out to tenants that the Legal Aid Foundation of
Los Angeles had overturned.
14. The Parlor - It's closed.
15. Housing enforcement - Failures to enforce development agreements
in the past include the Arboretum, the Sea Castle, the Dorchester, and
the Craig Jones apartment buildings in downtown. The city now has a
policy to do an annual review of development agreements.
16. 808 Wilshire - A gas station is being replaced with an office
building.
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Z
September 11, 2010 -- 10 AM
Ken Edwards Center
Future NC meetings: October 16, and November 20
1. PRC survey -- Ellen Brennan expressed gratitude for the increase in
participation.
2. SM Airport -- a) the runway will be closing at 9 PM and then
closing completely for 4 days for re-surfacing, during which the city
will have noise and air quality measurements taken, b) the RAND
Corporation is doing an economic study on the airport and various
options, and c) there will be a public process for deciding the future
of the airport in 2015.
3. Code enforcement – a) the building at 14th and California has
finally been demolished, and b) the Parlor re-opened without meeting
all the code compliance issues, then had to close again.
4. Enforcing deed restrictions – 15 of the units at The Dorchester, a
condo building on 4th St., are deed-restricted for low-income tenants.
Last year, it became apparent that not all the units were in
compliance, and the City Council took up the matter.
5. Props Y and YY – Shari Davis and Mike Gruning spoke about the
proposed ½ cent increase in the city’s transaction and use tax. Food,
prescription drugs, and services would be exempted. The city had to
send $21 million back to Sacramento this year, and the school district
has ongoing problems with state funding cuts.
6. Leaf blower ordinance – A revision is on the City Council agenda,
which will move enforcement from the Police Department to the Office
of Sustainability and Environment. This is a health issue, as matter
that gets blown into the air can remain suspended for up to 3 days.
There will be a warning system and citations for property owners,
managers, and gardeners.
7. Agensys – This proposed Development Agreement near Bergamot Station
will consolidate 5 existing locations in Santa Monica into one bio-
medical facility. Attendees asked about internships and school tours.
One suggestion on public hearings for DAs was that the existing zoning
code should be explained first, before describing the requested
variances.
8. Council rules – Proposed revisions are on the agenda of the next
meeting, including starting the meetings at 5:30.
9. Youth Violence Prevention Plan – This will also be on the upcoming
Council agenda. The goal is to get kids out of gangs and into
productive activities. This needs to be a regional effort in order to
be successful.
10. Prop RR – Todd Flora stated a) that this measure is a reasonable
opportunity to correct violations to rental agreements, b) that it
would protect tenants who are over 62, disabled, or terminally ill,
and
c) that it is a City Charter amendment that would also provide
protections for apartments not covered by Rent Control. Discussion
included that it offers a reasonable warning before an eviction notice
can be issued, that there is currently a disparity of power between
owners and renters, that 20% of renters in deed-restricted units are
Section 8, that currently 3-day notices are often issued on Friday
afternoon or evening, and that the Ellis Act allows owners to take
rental units off the market and evict tenants.
11. Candidate forums are scheduled for 9/22 (Realtors), 9/27 (CEPS),
10/4 (Squirm Night), 10/11 (Mirror), 10/13 (Chamber of Commerce),
10/14 (The Shores), and 10/21 (CRAAP). LWV of Santa Monica President
Joanne Leavitt announced that the LWV is holding for forum for Board
of Ed candidates on October 6. CityTV will also be running interviews
with City Council candidates, with 3 to 5 questions per candidate, and
she asked that attendees email questions to her.
Rob Schwenker of the Daily Press discussed Squirm Night, which will
include pro’s and con’s on local ballot measures, Board of Ed
candidates, and Council candidates. He invited neighborhood
organizations to co-sponsor the event, propose questions, provide
volunteers, and inform their members about the event.
Joanne Leavitt stated that LWV would like to hold a pro’s and con’s
event for statewide ballot measures, which would be open to the public
and hopefully co-sponsored by the neighborhood groups. LWV would
provide speakers and printed materials.
12. Housing Division – Richard stated that the Housing Division has
notified Section 8 tenants that it is increasing their water allowance
to $252 per year. In deed restricted buildings, there is no longer a
$7 trash collection fee for low-income tenants, the owners now have to
pay that fee.
13. Tree removal – The city is planning to remove and replace city
trees on California and Arizona Avenues.
14. Code compliance – One attendee stated that it took 8 years for a
vacant, fenced property on California and 14th to be demolished.
Consensus was reached to invite staff to speak to us on this topic at
a future meeting.
15. Roberts Business Center – This project is on the next Planning
Commission agenda as a discussion item. The three adjacent projects
(Roberts, Lionsgate, and the Village Trailer Park) comprise 9 acres –
the same size as an activity center. The plan also includes extending
Pennsylvania Avenue, which currently dead-ends at Stewart, across the
south end of the three parcels to Stanford.