Neighborhood Council - notes from February 2012 meeting
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Neighborhood Council
February 25, 2012 -- Meeting Notes
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Calendar review: Next meeting on March 17. The consensus was to try to reserve meeting rooms for April 21, May 12, and June 16.
Valerie Griffin chaired the meeting. The invited speaker, Kim Braun from Resource Recovery, was unable to attend.
1. Neighborhood updates
a. Friends of Sunset Park (FOSP) – Zina discussed the current Airport Visioning focus groups – Sign-ups at www.SMOvisioning.org -- which pilots from as far away as Escondido are participating in, along with residents. Joe Justice offered freebies to encourage pilots to participate. Residents posted an online survey at www.CASMAT.org, and OPA has also posted an online survey. Valerie suggested that a cost benefit analysis is needed for various options for land use on the entire 227-acre Airport campus.
The other “hot topic” is the re-location of Common Ground to 2401 Lincoln Blvd. A letter from the owner of Mittel’s Art Supply, which was located adjacent to the former location at 2012 Lincoln Blvd., detailed the ongoing problems with Common Ground clients over a period of 10 years. Suggestions from attendees included advocating an ordinance to require CUP’s for social service agencies in Santa Monica, as is done in Los Angeles and other cities, as well as requiring “standards of operation.”
Zina asked whether any of the organizations have sent their membership letter to Rachel Waugh.
b. Mid-City Neighbors – Ellen Hannan said that their monthly meetings are going well, that their Annual Meeting is scheduled for March 31st at the Main Library, and that a new hot topic is a proposed Fresh and Easy grocery store on Wilshire.
c. Pico Neighborhood Association (PNA) – Catherine stated that the Pico Neighborhood has become “ground zero” for large developments. The Village Trailer Park owner wants to get all residents moved out by June. Wes asked, “Where’s the Bergamot Area Plan?” Ellen suggested that we all start asking for a moratorium and also start telling businesses that we can’t get to their stores because of traffic gridlock.
d. Ocean Park Association (OPA) – Marcy discussed the OPA online Airport survey and their goal of increasing membership.
e. Wilshire-Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont) – Valerie stated that they have a new NRO, that they’re putting together a newsletter, that a city staff person will come to discuss parking at their March meeting, and that Jory Phillips, the city planner assigned to the zoning ordinance update came to their last meeting. She suggested that all the groups invite Jory to their meetings and discuss such topics as how various components of the new zoning ordinance will affect us, maximum building heights, making the discussion of community benefits part of the entire approval process, adding CUP’s for social service organizations, and creating a public process for affordable housing projects below 50 units in size. Ellen stated that the next zoning update issue paper will focus on Community Benefits. Catherine suggested inviting Jory to speak at Annual Meetings. She said that the consultant, Vivien Kahn, was familiar with state law, including state mobile residency law. Marcy will contact Ms. Kahn for more information.
f. North of Montana Association (NOMA) – Valerie reported that they had a meeting in January, that their next meeting is on March 1st, and that Albin Gielicz is serving as interim chair until a new Board and officers are elected.
g. Northeast Neighbors (NEN) – Lewis Perkins reported that they are meeting monthly and that development, traffic, and parking are the major concerns in that neighborhood.
2. Emergency Preparedness – Marcy passed out copies of the OPA Household Disaster Preparedness Survey, which also includes an appeal for residents to serve as block or area captains. OPA is recruiting 7 to 10 captains in order to set up a network and a plan. She has asked Paul Weinberg, Emergency Services Coordinator, OEM, for a list of the Neighborhood Watch block captains.
3. Bergamot Transit Village – The comment deadline for the Draft EIR is March 12th. The Final EIR will have to include written responses to all the comments. SMCLC has sent a letter opposing the project moving forward until the Bergamot Area Plan is complete. If residents email letters to the Council about any project, they should copy the Planner so their comments become part of the public record.
4. Affordable housing – Richard reported on a Housing Commission study session on February 16th. 75% of the housing trust fund money came from the Redevelopment Agency, which has been disbanded. The staff report stated that $250,000 to $1.5 million comes from developer fees each year, but that “by right” development projects, including commercial, creative use, and hotel that don’t require development agreements, are excluded from those developer fee requirements. There has also been a 20% reduction in federal grants.
There are 33,000 people currently on the waiting list for housing in Santa Monica, 10% of whom live in the city. They receive priority, along with the disabled. The vouchers are not matching market rate. Public comment at the meeting indicated a desire for spacious efficiency apartments and small singles. One suggestion was a new tax to support housing, which would require a ballot measure.
The February 28th Council agenda includes a study session on housing. 30% of all new multi-family housing has been affordable for years. Among SM residents needing housing, 1/3 have disabilities and 1/3 are seniors. Meanwhile, city policy has been incentivizing 2- and 3-bedroom units. 190 of those are in process at High Place in the Pico neighborhood and at The Village in the civic center.
Median area income is $68,000, so 120% of area median income is about $80,000, which is moderate income. Moderate-income units don’t need subsidies because they’re market rate. SRO’s should be aimed at extremely low income residents. Social Security and SSI is about $900 per month, which is too low to qualify a resident for CCSM housing. With the quicker approval process for affordable housing developers, the community process should occur at the beginning. Should workforce housing be receiving subsidies for rental or for ownership? Perhaps a Nexus study is needed.
5. Dial-a-Ride – Some disabled residents have reported that Dial-a-Ride service is inadequate. It seems to be run by both WISE and Big Blue Bus, and different websites list different hours of operation. One resident who uses a wheelchair has described reserving transportation on Dial-a-Ride and then getting stranded on the Pier for several hours after a Twilight Dance Series concert.
6. Miramar update and staff reports– In comparing 710 Wilshire with the Miramar, Ellen stated that it seems that in staff reports, the views of groups that can afford to hire an attorney are given more weight than groups who can’t afford an attorney. An example was shade problems affecting the Boys and Girls Club and an apartment building, versus shade affecting the Huntley Hotel. Kevin stated that all the information is included in the staff reports but, because the reports are quite lengthy, in recommendations and verbal presentations, the staff focuses on only some issues. Council members and Commissioners can be swayed by Public Comment. “Overriding considerations” can also allow the Council to ignore issues raised in the EIR. Regarding staff reports, Planning Commission staff reports are reviewed by the Planning Director, and City Council staff reports are reviewed by the City Manager.
7. Fresh and Easy – Maryanne stated that a community meeting will be held on March 1st, 6:30 PM at Douglas Park regarding this proposed store at Wilshire and Harvard. Parking is insufficient, i.e., the store will be about the same size as Trader Joe’s on Pico, but with half the parking spaces. The workers are not unionized.
8. Village Trailer Park – Catherine stated that the Landmarks Commission had voted against landmark designation. One VTP resident is sending out emails about an appeal as if she represents all VTP residents, but she does not. Catherine is co-chair of the VTP residents association. The EIR is not finished. The owner wants the remaining residents out by June, but is offering them very poor choices – give up the home they own for a subsidized rental apartment. In order for VTP to be redeveloped, the City Council would have to re-zone a residential parcel to mixed use, which is counter to the LUCE goal of preserving residential neighborhoods.
9. Ocean Park Blvd. “green street” construction – Ellen Hannan stated that in driving to work at Muir Elementary School, she noticed that children are crossing Ocean Park Blvd. east of the school, where there’s no crossing guard. Where the crossing guard is currently assigned (at OPB and 6th?), there’s so much construction activity that pedestrians can’t cross the street. Suggestions were to contact the SMPD NRO, the principals at Muir and SMASH, and the PTA’s.
10. Neighborhood Council – discussion of possible re-organization – After serving ably for a number of years, former Wilmont Chair Jeanne Dodson has resigned as NC Chair. Albin Gielicz has offered to chair the March meeting and Wilmont will be responsible for bringing coffee, etc. Valerie will invite Kate Vernez and Rachel Waugh to come for 30 minutes to answer questions about the NC and the individual neighborhood groups.
The NC could remain an informal organization focused on sharing information, while we focus on increasing membership in the neighborhood organizations, or the NC could be more formalized. Pros and cons can be discussed in the following months. Continuity could be improved by eventually electing a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and back-up Secretary. And, the lack of a downtown resident organization is apparent when one looks at the “stakeholders” for the proposed Downtown Specific Plan, which is on the February 28th Council agenda.
Valerie suggested that time could be saved at the March meeting if we email our agenda suggestions to her ahead of time, including estimated minutes required to discuss each item.