Neighborhood Council - Minutes for March 2010

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Santa Monica Neighborhood Council
March 20, 2010 --- 10 AM
Ken Edwards Center

MINUTES

Calendar review: Future NC meetings are scheduled for April 17, May
15, and June 19

1. SMMUSD parcel tax -- Re the proposed debate, due to difficulty in
identifying opposition speakers, OPA has therefore withdrawn. The
Daily Press, LWV, and Wilmont will wait until the end of March to make
a decision as to whether or not to go forward.

2. Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights -- SMRR Chair Patricia Hoffman
spoke about the organization, noting that the Santa Monica rent
control ordinance was passed on April 9, 1979. SMRR is having a
Platform meeting on April 25, and people have to join 21 days before
that in order to participate. SMRR will hold a convention in August to
endorse candidates for the November election. To apply for
endorsement, candidates have to be SMRR members for 90 days and have
pulled papers to run. A 55% vote is required for endorsement, and
several rounds of voting can occur. If candidates are not endorsed at
the convention for all open seats, according to the bylaws, the SMRR
Steering Committee can add endorsements after the convention. The 13-
member Steering Committee meets monthly, and the members are elected
in odd, non-election years for 2-year terms.

Questions/comments from attendees were related to the Village Trailer
Park, plus a suggestion that SMRR have an advisory panel that would
meet regularly to inform the organization about tenants' problems.

3. Southern California Disposal -- PNA Board member Maria Loya spoke
about the three waste facilities in the Pico neighborhood -- the old
landfill, the transfer station, and the recycling center. SCD, which
has entered into a partnership with the city, is planning to expand
its facilities. There's disagreement as to whether an EIR should be
done, or if a mitigated negative declaration is sufficient. A
community meeting will be held at Virginia Avenue Park on March 29 at
7 PM.

4. New City Manager -- Regarding the plan for neighborhood groups to
meet with Mr. Gould, Jeanne or Zina will check to see when he's
available.

5. Carousel public ride fee increases to support the Twilight Dance
Series -- Ellen Brennan, a member of the Pier Restoration Corporation
Board, described the history of the dance series and the current
situation. Rather than using existing funds to contract with CBS Radio
to provide Twilight Dance performers, the PRC has recommended that the
city raise prices at the Carousel to provide additional funds for
hiring performers. It was noted that the Carousel is the one ride on
the Pier that low income families can afford. This is a Council agenda
item 8-B on March 24.

6. Big Blue Bus fare increases -- Also on the March 24 Council agenda
is item 9-A to approve increased BBB fares. BBB is eliminating
transfers between BBB buses, as well as the Little Blue Card. The
increases for seniors and the disabled seem to be significant, and it
was stated that the Commission for the Senior Community took a
position on this matter, but that it wasn't forwarded to Council by
staff.

7. Wilmont forum on long term care -- A panel discussion by experts on
long term care will be moderated by Jay Johnson and take place at the
Main Library on April 10 at 11 AM.

8. Google -- Valerie Griffin stated that the City of Santa Monica is
preparing an application to participate in a trial of ultra-high speed
broadband networks offered by Google. If selected, Google proposes to
construct a fiber optic network in Santa Monica capable of delivering
Internet speeds of 1GB per second, more than 100 times faster than
what most Americans have access to today. Google is planning to offer
services at a competitive price to at least 50,000, and potentially up
to 500,000 people. The deadline to comment is March 26. More info at
http://www.smgov.net/Content.aspx?id=13398

9. Community needs survey -- The City of Santa Monica is in the
process of developing a new plan that will address priority housing
and community development needs. The plan will cover 2010-2015 and
will identify the City’s priorities for allocating federal grant funds
to meet community needs. Hard copies are available in city facilities,
and the online survey link is posted on the home page of www.smgov.net.
It takes about 10 minutes to complete the survey.

10. Draft LUCE -- Mary Marlow suggested that the neighborhood groups
assign members to review various sections of the document, since it's
so voluminous.