Neighborhood Council - minutes for August 23, 2008

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Santa Monica Neighborhood Council

August 23, 2008 -- 10 AM
Ken Edwards Center

MINUTES


Agenda:
1. League of Women Voters
2. Neighborhood updates
3. Measure SM - Utility Users Tax
4. Human Relations Council
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1. League of Women Voters - Amy Bishop Dunbar, president of League of
Women Voters Santa Monica, spoke about the upcoming election on
November 4th.
a. There is a shortage of poll workers. Hours are 6 AM to 9 PM.
Inspectors earn $100, others earn $80, plus $25 if they attend a
training session. If interested, phone the County Registrar of Voters
at 562-462-2226 or go to http://www.lavote.net/
b. The League's Easy Voter Guide will be available in early
October. The City Attorney has stated that the League can no longer
distribute materials at public libraries. (No non-city-affiliated
materials can be distributed.)
c. With the delay in the state budget, there's not enough money to
print materials.
d. Mock Elections were held with the 12th grade at Samohi in
February. The students now understand the difference between caucuses
and primaries. The ROP will be organizing a Mock Election for grades 9
- 12 in November.
e. Candidate and Issues Forums sponsored by the League and the
Center for Governmental Studies will be taped by CityTV. Questions can
be emailed to Inat...@aol.com
f. Voter registration - In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson had women
rallying in Washington, DC for the right to vote jailed for 3 months.
They endured forced feedings and broken bones.

2. Neighborhood updates

a. FOSP - Concerns include crime (two home invasion robberies of
elderly women living alone, plus numerous burglaries), S.M. Airport
(still awaiting the 9th Circuit ruling on the ban of C and D
aircraft), the upcoming SMC $295 million bond measure, ficus tree
debris and pruning issues on residential streets, dozens of
construction trucks from the re-surfacing of the SMC and JAMS fields
using residential streets, and the effect of the added college-serving
Big Blue Bus routes on narrow residential streets (118-146 buses per
day). Discussion: Human relations dialogues and/or panel discussions
about quality of life vs. public transportation could lead to
solutions.

b. Wilmont - Concerns include the Wilmont website (down for 10
months, now up but not operational), the project at 17th & Montana,
residential robberies, and parking (the new city parking tsar is
supposed to be hired in January). Discussion: In the LUCE framework,
commercial developments will be required to provide "shared parking"
for employees, customers, and residents. With the large numbers of
people coming to work in Santa Monica, they need either a place to
park or adequate public transportation. Where is the "hire locally"
plan? The League and RAND will be hosting a public forum on countywide
traffic in September or October. BBB raised fares while reducing
service on some lines this year -- the #9 now runs only once an hour
in the evening. The Tide Shuttle route be extended to the Montana
business district and also serve Wilmont residents.

c. PNA - On September 27th there will be an enrollment block party.
No further word from Richard Swezey re a new Mid-City neighborhood
organization. Discussion: Enlist the aid of Rev. Kemp and Father Mike
Gutierrez.

d. NOMA - Jeanne Dodson stated that NOMA residents are concerned
about city trees being cut down and will be speaking at next month's
Wilmont meetings. A city Tree Commission is being considered.

3. Utility Users Tax - Measure SM on the November ballot. Kate Vernez
had been invited to speak on behalf of the city but was unable to
attend. Peter Tigler and Don Gray spoke in opposition to the measure.
What does the UUT tax? Gas, electricity, water, land line telephones,
cable, trash collection and waste water. Four counties and 150 cities
in California have UUT's. The most common rate is 5%, not 10%, as in
Santa Monica. Measure SM would extend the tax not only to
telecommunications but to all transmission of data. Internet delivery
is protected from taxation by a Congressional stay only until 2014.

If Measure SM fails, the city will still be able to collect the
current UUT. The proposed ordinance has exemptions for seniors and the
disabled, but no sunset clause. The money is not earmarked, it will go
into the general fund. In Los Angeles, the city proposed lowering its
UUT rate but extending it to additional services, and the Neighborhood
Councils opposed that. Covina voters turned down their update. San
Francisco broadened its UUT but lowered the rate from 9% to 7%. A
statewide measure was passed in Florida. Opponents of Measure SM have
set up a website, www.KeepInformationFree.com

4. Human Relations Council - Michelle Wittig spoke briefly about the
work of the Santa Monica Human Relations Council. The organization was
previously called the National Conference for Community and Justice
and, before that, the National Conference of Christians and Jews
(sponsor of Brotherhood Week). The HRC can be reached at
HRC@smmusd,org or at 310-450-8338 x285. The current chair is SMFD
Chief Jim Hone.