m20240123 1 January 23, 2024
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 23, 2024
A regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Brock at 5:35 p.m., on
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Phil Brock
Mayor Pro Tem Lana Negrete
Councilmember Gleam Davis
Councilmember Oscar de la Torre
Councilmember Christine Parra
Councilmember Caroline Torosis (arrived at 5:39 p.m.)
Councilmember Jesse Zwick
Also Present: City Manager David White
City Attorney Douglas Sloan
Interim City Clerk Nikima S. Newsome
CONVENE/PLEDGE
On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:35 p.m., with all
members present except Councilmember Torosis. Mayor Pro Tem Negrete
led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
LEVINE ACT
DISCLOSURE
(Councilmember Torosis
arrived at 5:39 p.m.)
Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a
permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is
required to disclose on the record any contribution, including
aggregated contributions, of more than $250 made by the party or the
party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official.
Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well.
The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent,
and any other person making the contribution; the name of the
recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution
was made.
There were no recusals pursuant to the Levine Act.
GENERAL PUBLIC
INPUT:
Members of the public John Medlim, Jill Hawkins, Maria Espinoza,
Johnathan Foster, Jerry Rubin, Mike Russell, Rebekah Russell, and Bryan
Gobin commented on various local issues.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION,
SPECIAL AGENDA
Member of the public Mr. Sullaman commented on Special Agenda Items.
Member of the public Denise Barton commented on Consent Calendar Items.
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ITEMS AND CONSENT
CALENDAR ONLY:
PROCLAMATIONS/
COMMENDATIONS/
SPECIAL AGENDA
ITEMS
3.A. Proclamation: Black History Month, was presented.
3.B. City Manager Report - Santa Monica Fire Department 2023-
2028 Strategic Plan, was presented.
CLOSED SESSIONS
On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 6:45 p.m. to consider
Closed Sessions and returned at 8:04 p.m., with all members present to report
the following:
4.A. Conference with labor negotiator – Gov. Code §54957.6: agency
designated representatives: City Manager David White, Acting Human
Resources Director Oles Gordeev, and Human Resources Manager
Sarah Rebensdorf; bargaining units: Supervisory Team Association
(STA) and California Teamsters Local 911 (IBT)
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.B. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Christina Choi, et al. v. City of Santa Monica, et al.;
LASC Case No. 22STCV21608
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.C. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Black Lives Matter, et al. v. City of Santa Monica, et al.;
U.S. Dist. Court, Central District of California, Case No. 2:21-cv-05253
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.D. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Alejandra Garcia, et al. v. City of Santa Monica, et al.;
LASC Case No. 21STCV07940
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.E. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Cheyenne Robinson, et al. v. City of Santa Monica, et
al.; LASC Case No. 21STCV22392
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The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.F. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Paula Rosado v. City of Santa Monica, et al.; LASC Case
No. 22STCV19789
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.G. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Sean Singletary v. City of Santa Monica, et al.; U.S. Dist.
Court, Central District of California, Case No. 2:22-cv-01606
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.H. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): City of Whittier, et al. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles
County, et al.; LASC Case No. 23STCP03579
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
4.I. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Dennis Lettenmeier v. City of Santa Monica, et al.;
LASC Case No. 23SMCV01287 [report out only]
The City Attorney advised this matter involved a personal injury case, and
the Council approved Settlement Agreement No. 11531 (CCS), in the
amount of $225,000 at the November 28, 2023 meeting by a vote of 7-0.
4.J. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code
§54956.9(d)(1): Yossi Shimshi v. City of Santa Monica, et al.; LASC
Case No. 22SMCV01799 [report out only]
The City Attorney reported Council approved Settlement Agreement No.
11532 (CCS), in the amount of $190,000 at the December 19, 2023 meeting
with a vote of 5-0, with Councilmembers de la Torre and Davis absent.
REPORT ON COUNCIL
TRAVEL
Mayor Brock reported that he traveled to Washington D.C. for the U.S.
Mayor’s Conference.
CONSENT CALENDAR: All items were considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a
Councilmember for discussion.
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At the request of Councilmembers Parra, de la Torre and Mayor Brock, Items
5.H., 5.I. and 5.K. were removed from the Consent Calendar.
Motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Negrete, to approve the Consent Calendar except for Items 5.H., 5.I., and
5.K., reading resolutions by title only and waiving further reading thereof.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra, Zwick
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
OLYMPIC BLVD
IMPROVEMENTS
5.A. Award Bid SP2593-1 to Access Pacific, Inc. for Construction of
Olympic Blvd Improvements, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections
15301 and 15311 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines and Section 21080.25 of CEQA.
2. Award Bid #2593-1 to Access Pacific Inc. for construction services
for the Olympic Boulevard Improvements Project for the Public
Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Contract No.
11533 (CCS) with Access Pacific, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
$3,006,830 (including a 15% contingency).
4. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary
change orders to complete additional work within contract authority.
NETWORK AND SERVER
INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADES
5.B. Award Professional Services Contract No. 11534 (CCS) to
Vertech for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Network and Server Infrastructure Upgrades for Remote Monitoring,
Operating, and Data Collection of Water and Wastewater, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemptions pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3) and Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award RFP #347 to Vertech to provide professional services for
SCADA Network and Server Infrastructure Upgrades for the Public
Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11534 (CCS) with Vertech in an amount not to exceed $364,000
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(including a 10% contingency) over a three-year period, with future
year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
BUS VACUUM SYSTEM 5.C. Award Bid to Air & Lube Systems, Inc. for Replacement of Bus
Vacuum System at SMDOT, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption (Class 1 Existing
Facilities) pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award Bid #4463 to Air & Lube Systems, Inc. for the replacement
of the bus vacuum system at the Department of Transportation’s Fuel
& Wash facility; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11535 (CCS) with Air & Lube Systems, Inc., in an amount not to
exceed $695,321, including a $63,211 contingency, over a two-year
period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget
approval.
PURCHASE OF
AMMONIUM SULFATE
5.D. Award Purchase Orders to Industrial Solution Services
(Primary) and Brenntag Pacific (Secondary) for the Purchase of
Ammonium Sulfate for the Arcadia WTP and SWIP AWTF, was
approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301
(Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4466 to Industrial Solution Services, Inc. (Industrial) as
the primary vendor for the purchase of ammonium sulfate and to
Brenntag Pacific, Inc. (Brenntag) as the secondary vendor for the
purchase of ammonium sulfate for the Public Works Department.
3. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with
Industrial for ammonium sulfate for a total amount not to exceed
$700,000 over a five-year period, with future year funding contingent
on Council budget approval.
4. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with
Brenntag as the secondary vendor for ammonium sulfate for a total
amount not to exceed $700,000 over a five-year period, with future
year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
MAPS EMERGENCY
GENERATOR REPAIR
5.E. Approval of Ratification of Purchase Order to Global Power
Group, Inc. for MAPS Emergency Generator Repair, was approved.
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Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301
of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Ratify the Procurement Manager’s issuance of a purchase order with
Global Power Group, Inc. to repair the emergency generator at the
Moss Avenue Pump Station (MAPS) for the Public Works
Department. The emergency purchase was made as an exception to
the competitive bidding process pursuant to Section 2.24.250(i) and
is for a total amount not to exceed $75,000.
TRACT MAP 5.F. Adoption of Resolution No. 11569 (CCS) Approving Final Parcel
Map No. 83284 for a 4-Unit Commercial Airspace Subdivision at 1315
3rd Street Promenade, was adopted.
Recommended Action
1. Staff recommends that the City Council take following actions:
2. Adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Public Resources
Code Section 21080(b)(1) and Section 15268(b)(3) of the California
Environmental Quality Act; and
3. Adopt the attached resolution approving Final Parcel Map No. 83284.
AMENDED MUNICIPAL
CODE
5.G. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2773 (CCS)
Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 4.68.160
Related to Athletic Events, was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance.
ADVANCED METERING
INFRASTRUCTURE
(AMI)
5.J. Adoption of Resolution No. 11570 (CCS) for Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI) Water Meter Opt-Out Fee, was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemptions pursuant to Section 15273
and Section 15302 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Adopt the attached Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Opt-
Out Fee Resolution to establish the one-time AMI opt-out fee and
routine water meter reading fee per billing cycle for customers that
opt-out.
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT
5.L. Award Construction Bid to Access Pacific, Inc. for Wilshire
Boulevard Safety Improvements Project Phase 2A, was approved.
Recommended Action
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Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections
15301 and 15311 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines and Section 21080.25 of CEQA.
2. Award Bid #SP2669 to Access Pacific, Inc. for the construction of
the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvements Phase 2A Project for
the Public Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11539 (CCS) with Access Pacific, Inc. for an amount not to exceed
$1,711,848 (including a 10% contingency).
4. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary
change orders to complete additional work within contract authority.
5. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget
Actions section of this report.
EQUITY AND
INCLUSION STUDY
5.H. Award Request For Proposal #357 to BBC Research &
Consulting for a Procurement Study to Explore Barriers to Equity and
Inclusion, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award RFP# 357 to BBC Research & Consulting for a Procurement
Study to explore barriers to equity and inclusion in the City’s
procurement and contracting practices for the Finance Department.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11536 (CCS) with BBC Research & Consulting, for a total not to
exceed $175,000 over a two year period with future year funding
contingent on Council budget approval.
3. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to
Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Questions asked and answered by staff included: regarding Procurement
practices and if applicants are required to self-identify their race, ethnicity
and gender; and what is the annual spend by the City.
Motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by Councilmember
Torosis, to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra, Zwick,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
TRANSIT SAFETY
OFFICER PROGRAM
5.I. Award Bid to Good Guard Security, Inc. for Transit Safety
Officer Program for Big Blue Bus, was presented.
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Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to
Section 15601(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4469 to Good Guard Security, Inc., for security guard
services at Department of Transportation (DOT) facilities and
onboard buses.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Contractual
Service Agreement No. 11537 (CCS) with Good Guard Security,
Inc., in an amount not to exceed $7,407,816, for five years, with
future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: will officers be paired up
and how many officers will be working concurrently; which weekdays will
officers be working; has the City worked with this vendor before; will
officers be clearly identifiable; how was the contract length determined; does
security have jurisdiction at bus stops located outside of Santa Monica; at
peak hours, how many total buses are on the road and how many incidents
were reported in the previous year; does the vendor have any prior experience
patrolling buses; regarding route 3, what is the percentage of incidents in
Santa Monica versus outside of the City; are guards prohibited to get off the
bus outside of the City; how do incident response times compare in and out
of Santa Monica; what was the contract spending breakdown; how much was
being spent on the prior contract; are these funds unencumbered and is any
amount coming from the Federal Infrastructure Act and regarding the
reported increase in assaults, what were the exact numbers.
Motion by Councilmember Parra, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, to
adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CITYWIDE CUSTODIAL
SERVICES
5.K. Award Bid to UNISERVE Facilities Services for Citywide
Contracted Custodial Services, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemptions pursuant to
Section15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), Section 15301,
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and Section 15324 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4457 to UNISERVE Facilities Services for custodial
services for various City locations as required by the Public Works
Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11538 (CCS) with UNISERVE Facilities Services, in an amount not
to exceed $5,995,985 (including a 10% contingency), for two years,
with two additional four-year renewal options in the amount of
$27,864,726 (including a 10% contingency) for a total amount not
to exceed $33,860,711 over a 10-year period with future year funding
contingent on Council budget approval.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: is the vendor unionized and
are there any unresolved worker complaints, or issues with unionization
efforts; are issues such as worker wages and benefits considered in the
vendor assessment; what the cost savings would be to outsource; how did
pay rates compare among different worker classes and was this a low-bid
contract.
Motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Negrete, to approve the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC INPUT ON
REMAINING AGENDA
ITEMS:
Member of the public Denise Barton spoke on Item 10.A.
Members of the public Harvey Eder, Anya Baroff, Carl Hansen, Brad Ewing,
Natalya Zernitskaya, Michael Soloff, Ellis Raskins and Barry spoke on Item
10.B.
Member of the public Peterson Loftin spoke on item 10.C.
Member of the public Anya Baroff spoke on item 16.D.
Members of the public Denise Barton, Angela Scott, Ericka Lesley, Robbie
Jones, Natalya Zernitskaya. Ellis Raskins and Barry spoke on item 16.F.
Members of the public Brad Ewing, Natalya Zernitskaya and Barry spoke on
item 16.G.
CONTINUED ITEMS: 8.A. Appointment to two unscheduled vacancies on the Disabilities
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DISABILITIES
COMMISSION
Commission for both terms ending on June 30, 2025 (Continued from
10/24/2023 and 12/19/2023), was removed at the request of staff.
ORDINANCES:
ELECTIONS CODE
10.A. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Updating Santa
Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Article 11 Elections Code, was
presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Introduce for first reading the attached ordinance updating various
sections of the Election Code, and
2. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to
Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: have costs tied to be
included in the County voting pamphlet increased and if so, why; were these
costs covered by the City previously and what would the anticipated costs be
if the City continued to; if any subsidies existed; how many cities in the
County cover these costs; do any programs exist to assist low-income
candidates with payments and if appearing in the County voting pamphlet
was required to run for election.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, seconded by Councilmember Torosis,
to introduce and hold first reading of the ordinance reading by title only and
waiving further reading thereof. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
TENANT PROTECTION
LAWS
10.B. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the
City’s Tenant Protection Laws and Discussion of Potential Resolution
for Charter Amendments for additional Tenant Protections, was
presented.
Recommended Actions
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Introduce for first reading an ordinance amending the City’s Tenant
Protection Code, Housing Anti-Discrimination Code, Tenant
Harassment Code, and Tenant Buyout Agreements Code; and
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3. Consider directing staff to draft a Resolution to amend the City
Charter related to tenant protections, including, but not limited to
amendments to Chapters 18 and 23 of the City Charter, which govern
just causes for eviction from rent controlled and non-rent-controlled
units respectively.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: which tenancies would the
proposed Ordinances and Charter Amendments apply to; could the Rent
Control Board be consulted and any decisions brought to their Board before
reaching Council; how accurate are reported eviction rates; is Los Angeles
also seeing excessive rates of Buyout Agreements; will the City Charter
amendments prevent landlords from collecting on outstanding rent or
expenses; if any eviction data exists that include tenant rental lengths; how
were the increases in fine amounts determined; will there be any educational
outreach regarding Buyout Agreements; how would these changes impact
subletting; is there any data on evictions or 3-day notices given to tenants
who owe less than a single month’s rent; would the Ordinance language
reference median rental rates; how many months does the landlord have to
wait before filing an evection; how does the proposed Ordinance compare
with Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles’s version and what can
be done to protect small-scale landlords.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to:
equity concerns between tenants and landlords; concerns with tenants being
inundated with Buyout Agreement offers and overestimating purchasing
power of proposed offers; focus should be on community and not renter
versus landlord; strengthening the Right to Counsel programs and develop
flexible assistance program for at-risk renters and concerns with corporations
buying out smaller landlords.
Motion by Mayor Brock, seconded by Councilmember Torosis, to adopt the
staff recommendation, as corrected, and request the Rent Control Board
provide assistance drafting the Charter Amendment. The motion was
approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MEETING
MANAGEMENT
Motion by Mayor Brock, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to continue
the meeting after 11 p.m. and hear the remainder of the agenda. The motion
was unanimously approved by voice vote, with all members present.
OVERNIGHT PARKING
PERMITS
10.C. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending
Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.12.900 on Overnight Parking
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Permits for Oversized Vehicles, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to
Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Introduce for first reading the attached ordinance amending Santa
Monica Municipal Code Section 3.12.900 on overnight parking
permits for oversized vehicles.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: is there a fee tied to the
oversized vehicle permit; when does the permit expire; what percentage of
people in oversized vehicles are experiencing homelessness, are there any
communication plans to inform the public of proposed changes; are people
with disabled placards required to get the oversized vehicle permit and has
the City researched finding an off-street parking location.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to:
concerns with there being no fee to obtain an oversized vehicle permit and
for any unintended consequence for people experiencing vehicular
homelessness.
Mayor Brock proposed adding direction to have staff research a potential
safe parking area in Santa Monica. After further discussion, Mayor Brock
withdrew the proposal.
Motion by Councilmember Zwick, seconded by Councilmember Torosis, to
adopt the staff recommendation with an amendment to include the following
language: “The City Council shall establish by Resolution such fees as may
be required for the review and processing of an overnight parking permit.”
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra, Zwick,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
QUALIFYING HOUSING
PROJECTS DESIGN
STANDARDS
10.D. Introduction and First Reading of an Interim Zoning Ordinance
Extending Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance Number 2772 (CCS)
Authorizing the Establishment by Resolution, of Objective Design
Standards for Qualifying Housing Projects that Elect to Use the
Streamlined, Ministerial Approval Process Established by Senate Bill
35, was removed at the request of staff.
Recommended Action
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Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to
Section 15061(b)(3)(Common Sense Exemption) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Introduction and first reading of an Interim Zoning Ordinance
extending Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance Number 2772
(CCS) authorizing Council to establish, by Resolution, objective
design standards for housing projects that qualify for the streamlined,
ministerial approval process established by SB 35 housing projects.
COUNCILMEMBER
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
LANDMARKS
COMMISSION
16.A. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Landmarks
Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2026, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Councilmember Davis nominated Pam O’Connor.
Substitute motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by
Councilmember Parra, to postpone all appointments to the second meeting
in February, and direct the City Clerk’s Office to return with an updated
voluntary self-identification survey from current Board and Commission
members. The motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Parra, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete
NOES: Councilmembers Zwick, Davis, Torosis,
Mayor Brock
ABSENT: None
The Council voted on the original motion to appoint Pam O’Connor by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Torosis, Davis, Zwick,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers de la Torre, Parra
HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION
16.B. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Human
Services Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2025, was
presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Councilmember Davis nominated Giselle G. Yilmazer
Giselle G. Yilmazer was appointed by acclamation with all members
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present.
ARTS COMMISSION 16.C. Recommendation to accept Kathleen Benjamin's resignation
from the Arts Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish the
vacancy, was presented.
Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Zwick, to
accept the resignation with regret.
The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, with all members
present.
HOUSING COMMISSION 16.D. Recommendation to accept Debra Senopole's resignation from
the Housing Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish the
vacancy, was presented.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, seconded by Councilmember Torosis,
to accept the resignation with regret.
The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, with all members
present.
DISABILITIES
COMMISSION
16.E. Request of the Disabilities Commission to declare Cara
Hendler's seat vacant due to absenteeism and lack of communication
from the incumbent, was presented.
Motion by Councilmember Torosis, seconded by Councilmember de la
Torre, to accept the resignation with regret.
The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, with all members
present.
STATEMENT OF
APOLOGY
16.F. Request of Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Torosis, and
Councilmember Zwick that the City of Santa Monica acknowledge the
one-year anniversary of City Council’s adoption of the Statement
Apologizing to Santa Monica’s African American Residents and their
Descendants by (1) agreeing to annually acknowledge and read the
Statement at the beginning of the first City Council meeting every
November, (2) allocating $10,000 in City Council discretionary funds
to the Santa Monica High School Black Student Union to provide
financial support to seniors aspiring to attend college in the form of
application fees, scholarships, and other costs associated with the
transition to college, (3) direct the City Manager to explore the
installation of the Statement outside of City Hall so the statement can
be publicly accessible for all to read, and (4) direct the City Manager to
survey reparations efforts in other jurisdictions and direct the City
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Attorney to identify any potential legal issues and report back to the
City Council within 180 days, was presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete proposed increasing the allocated funds from
$10,000 to $15,000.
Councilmember de la Torre proposed increasing the allocated funds from
$15,000 to $18,000.
Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Zwick, to
approve the motion with an amendment to include homeschooled students
and increasing the allocated funds from $10,000 to $18,000. The motion was
approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra, Zwick,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ROLLER-SKATING RINK 16.G. Request of Councilmember Parra and Vice Mayor Negrete that
the City Manager continue to work in collaboration with Downtown
Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) to expand entertainment offerings to
attract residents and visitors to support the City’s continued economic
recovery. More specifically, the City Manager is being asked to
partner with DTSM to identify and evaluate opportunities for an entity
to operate a roller-skating rink for a specified period in 2024 on city-
owned property in downtown in a manner that is similar to the
popular Ice at Santa Monica, was presented.
Motion by Councilmember Parra, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, to
approve the recommendation. The motion was approved unanimously by
voice vote, with all members present.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 12:45 a.m.,
in memory of Ernie Marquez.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Nikima S. Newsome Phil Brock
Interim City Clerk Mayor
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