m20240227
1 February 27, 2024
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
A regular meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Brock at 5:37 p.m., on
Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, and at a
teleconference site in Texas and Austria.
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 (via teleconference)
Councilmember Jesse Zwick (via teleconference)
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 5:37 p.m., with all
members present. Councilmember Parra led the assemblage in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
LEVINE ACT
DISCLOSURE
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 Jaysom Gladstone, Janet Gollery, Jill Hawkins,
Nycole Washington, Neil Comess-Daniels, Nate Rugh, Mary Jo Dalton,
Matthew Hom, Kavon Ward, Cathie Gentile, Louis Watanabe, Jim Conn,
Autum Breon, Patricia Ibanez, Liliana Hernandez, Brittney, Zackory,
Shondra, Chase Sherman, Mykael, Milana, Joanne Berlin, Denise Barton,
Darya, April Banks, John Medlin, Laurence Cohen, Jerry Rubin, Johnathan
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Foster, Harvey Eder, Zoe Muntaner, Michael Pitkin, Eliza Jane Franklin
Leggett, Regina Ramirez, and Robbie Jones commented on various local
issues.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION,
SPECIAL AGENDA
ITEMS AND CONSENT
CALENDAR ONLY:
Members of the public Natalya Zernitskaya, Ericka Lesley, Nancy Coleman,
and Nicole Faries commented on Closed Session items.
Members of the public Natalya Zernitskaya, Ian Dutton, Caro Vilain,
Michael Brodsky, Rowan Sullivan, Christian Adera, Laurene von Klan,
Paula Cizek, Juan Matute, Sudeepti Rachakonda, Varun Bhatnagar, Connor
Webb, Nancy Coleman, and Johnathan Foster commented on Special
Agenda Items.
Members of the public Johnathan Foster, Harvey Eder, Regina Ramirez, and
Ericka Lesley commented on Consent Calendar Items.
PROCLAMATIONS/
COMMENDATIONS/
SPECIAL AGENDA
ITEMS
3.A. Proclamation: Frieze Week Los Angeles, was presented.
3.B. City Manager Report -Bike Action Plan and Vision Zero Update,
was presented.
CLOSED SESSIONS
Councilmember Parra
returned at 9:52 p.m.
On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 8:19 p.m., to consider
closed sessions and returned at 9:50 p.m., with all members present except
Councilmembers Parra and Zwick, to report the following:
4.A. Consider appointment of unrepresented employee - Government
Code §54957(b); City negotiator: Mayor; Unrepresented employee: City
Clerk/Interim City Clerk; conference with labor negotiator - Gov. Code
§54957.6; City negotiator: Mayor; Unrepresented employee: City
Clerk/Interim City Clerk
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): Pico Neighborhood Association and Maria Loya v. City
of Santa Monica, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 616804; Second District Court
of Appeal Case No. B295935
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): Daniel Reygosa v. Charlesetta Grant, et al.; LASC Case
No. 21STCV39861
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The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action
taken.
REPORT ON COUNCIL
TRAVEL
Councilmember Zwick
returned at 10:00 p.m.
Mayor Brock reported that he traveled to Goleta, California for the United
States Conference of Mayors leadership meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR: All items were considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a
Councilmember for discussion.
Motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Negrete, to approve the Consent Calendar, 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
SANTA MONICA BAY
SHORELINE
COORDINATED
MONITORING PLAN
5.A. Authorization to Enter into Cost-Sharing Agreement No. 11542
(CCS) with the City of Los Angeles for the Santa Monica Bay Shoreline
Coordinated Monitoring Plan, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
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.
1. Approve the use of available funding from the Clean Beaches and
Ocean Parcel Tax Fund for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
with the City of Los Angeles to implement a cost-share shoreline
water quality monitoring plan for the Santa Monica Bay Shoreline
Monitoring in an amount not to exceed $484,555 (including a 15%
contingency) over a five-year period through FY 2027-28.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) No. 11542 (CCS) with the City of Los Angeles
to implement a cost-share shoreline water quality monitoring plan to
comply with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control
Board's (Board) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit requirements for Santa Monica Bay.
LUMBER FOR SANTA
MONICA PIER
5.B. Award Bid 4473 to Ganahl Lumber for the Purchase and
Delivery of Lumber for the Santa Monica Pier, 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
(Existing Facilities) and Section 15331 (Historical Resource
Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4473 to Ganahl Lumber for the purchase and delivery of
treated lumber to the Santa Monica Pier for the Public Works
Department.
3. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with
Ganahl Lumber for the purchase and delivery of treated lumber in the
amount not to exceed $120,000 for one year, with four additional
one-year renewal options to extend on the same terms and conditions
for a total amount not to exceed $600,000 over a five-year period,
with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
UNLEADED FUEL
PURCHASE AND
DELIVERY
5.C. Authorization to Issue Purchase Orders with Falcon Fuels, Inc.
for the Purchase and Delivery of Unleaded Fuel, 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; and
2. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with
Falcon Fuels, Inc. for the purchase and delivery of unleaded fuel for
the City of Santa Monica. This recommended award is made as an
exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Section
2.24.250 (c) and is for a total amount not to exceed $3,161,991
(including a 10% contingency) with future year funding contingent
on Council budget approval.
TEMPORARY STAFFING 5.D. Award RFP to True North Compliance Services and Willdan
Engineering for Temporary Staffing, was approved.
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. Award RFP# 385 to True North Compliance Services, Inc. and
Willdan Engineering for temporary building inspection and plan
review services for the Community Development Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11543 (CCS) with True North Compliance Service, Inc., in an
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amount not to exceed $225,000 (for three years, with two-additional
one-year renewal options in the amount of $75,000, on the same
terms and conditions) for a total amount not to exceed $375,000 over
a five-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council
budget approval.; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute Agreement No.
11544 (CCS) with Willdan Engineering, in an amount not to exceed
$150,000 (for three years, with two-additional one-year renewal
options in the amount of $50,000, on the same terms and conditions)
for a total amount not to exceed $250,000 over a five-year period,
with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
PROHOUSING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
(PIP) GRANT
5.E. Adoption of Resolution No. 11572 (CCS) entitled “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN
APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPT RECEIPT OF PROHOUSING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM FUNDS,” was adopted.
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 and find that uses of
grant funding for short term housing assistance are consistent with
the certified 6th Cycle Housing Element Environmental Impact
Report;
2. Adopt attached Resolution No. 11572 (CCS) authorizing the City
manager to submit an application for grant funds in the amount of
$1,000,000 from the California Department of Housing and
Community Development’s Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP) and
to authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to
apply for the grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant
renewals and modifications, if awarded; and
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and
Budget Actions section of this report, in the event the grant is
awarded.
ASSIGNMENT BONUS
AND STAND-BY PAY
5.F. Adoption of Resolution No. 11573 (CCS) entitled “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA ACCEPTING THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SIDE LETTERS
OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA TEAMSTERS LOCAL 911
AND THE SUPERVISORY TEAM ASSOCIATES,” was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
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1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15324
(Class 24 Regulations of Working Conditions) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Adopt proposed Resolution No. 11573 (CCS) (Attachment A)
accepting the Tentative Agreement (TA) and authorizing the City
Manager to execute Side Letters of Agreement with the California
Teamsters Local 911 and the Supervisory Team Associates.
CITY ATTORNEY
EMPLOYEMENT
AGREEMENT
5.G. Adoption of Resolution No. 11574 (CCS) entitled “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA ADOPTING A SALARY RATE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY,”
was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15324
(Regulations of Working Conditions) of the CEQA Guidelines
2. Adopt Resolution No. 11574 (CCS) of the City of Santa Monica
adjusting the salary rate for City Attorney (Attachment A).
3. Approve modification to employment agreement with Douglas Sloan
for service as City Attorney and authorize the Mayor to sign the
modification to employment agreement on behalf of the City
(Attachment B).
MINUTES 5.H. Minutes of City Council - Regular and Special Joint Meeting -
Feb 13, 2024, were approved.
PUBLIC INPUT ON
REMAINING AGENDA
ITEMS:
Members of the public Denise Barton, Lori Brown, Michael Soloff, and
Ericka Lesley commented on Item 11.B.
Members of the public Charlotte Barrett and Erin Inatsugu commented on
Item 16.A.
SPECIAL JOINT
MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, HOUSING
AUTHORITY/ROLL
CALL
On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened to a joint meeting with
the Housing Authority at 10:10 p.m., with all members present except
Authority Members Cochran and Lauretano.
REPORT ON MEETING
COMPENSATION
Pursuant to State law, Interim City Clerk Nikima S. Newsome announced
that Council will receive $50 for meeting as the Housing Authority
STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE
ITEMS:
MINUTES
11.A. Minutes for Housing Authority Meetings, were approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Housing Authority approve the minutes of the
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April 11, 2023, April 25, 2023, and June 27, 2023 meetings.
Motion by Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, seconded by
Authority/Councilmember de la Torre, to adopt the staff recommendation.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Authority/Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la
Torre
Vice Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Chair/Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: Authority Members Cochran and Lauretano
FY 2023-24 MIDYEAR
BUDGET UPDATE
11.B. Financial Status Update and FY 2023-24 Midyear Budget, was
presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council and Housing Authority:
1. Appropriate FY 2023-24 midyear revenue and expenditure budget
adjustments and approve corresponding adjustments to the FY 2024-
25 budget plan. (Attachment A)
Staff also recommends that the City Council:
1. Receive an update to the FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 Five Year
Financial Forecast;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 11575 (CCS) establishing new classifications
and adopting salary rates for various positions (Attachment B);
3. Approve the position and classification changes (Attachment C);
4. Adopt Resolution No. 11576 (CCS) abolishing unused and obsolete
classifications and associated salary rates (Attachment D);
5. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant award in the amount of
$200,000 from the California Department of Aging’s Local Aging &
Disability Action Planning (LADAP) Grant Program in support of
strategic planning efforts to address the needs of older adults and
people with disabilities, and to execute all necessary documents to
accept the grant and all grant renewals;
6. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant award in the amount of
$135,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) through the State of California, Governor’s Office
of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Office of Emergency
Management in the City Manager’s Office, and to accept all grant
renewals; and
7. 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: regarding the right to
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counsel contract, will funds be used solely to pay consultants or for the
provision of legal services; will the requested flexible problem-solving
dollars to keep tenants in their units be included in the right to counsel funds
allocation; what type of inspections are the Community Development
building inspectors performing; what approach is the City taking to control
costs tied to higher expenditures around insurance claims, premiums,
healthcare costs and unfunded pension liabilities; status update on coastal
zone parking rate increase; how were these changes determined and what is
an equity adjustment; are equity increases a one time-payment and have
comparative studies occurred with neighboring cities.
Motion by Authority/Councilmember Davis, seconded by Authority/
Councilmember Torosis, to adopt the staff recommendation, with an
amendment to move the proposed $14,000 Council travel budget and adding
an additional $1,000 from the discretionary funds, to allocate $5,000 each to
the Montana Merchants, Pico Improvement Organization and Main Street
Merchants Business Improvement Districts for programs and events to
promote local businesses and community.
Substitute motion proposed by Authority/Councilmember de la Torre, to
divide the $15,000 between the small bids and neighborhood groups while
still increasing the travel budget by $14,000. The substitute motion died for
lack of a second.
Substitute motion by Chair/Mayor Brock, seconded by
Authority/Councilmember de la Torre, to adopt the original staff
recommendation for the City Council and Housing Authority. The motion
failed by the following vote:
AYES: Authority/Councilmembers de la Torre, Parra,
Vice Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Chair/Mayor Brock
NOES: Authority/Councilmembers Torosis, Davis, Zwick
ABSENT: Authority Members Cochran and Lauretano
Substitute motion by Authority/Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by
Chair/Mayor Brock, to conduct a second vote to adopt the original staff
recommendation for the City Council and Housing Authority. The motion
failed by the following vote:
AYES: Authority/Councilmembers de la Torre, Parra,
Vice Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Chair/Mayor Brock
NOES: Authority/Councilmembers Torosis, Davis, Zwick
ABSENT: Authority Members Cochran and Lauretano
Substitute motion by Authority/Councilmember Zwick, seconded by
Authority/Councilmember Davis, to adopt staff recommendation with an
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amendment to move the proposed $14,000 of Council travel funds with the
$36,000 Council discretionary funds, thereby totaling $50,000.
AYES: Authority/Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra,
Zwick
Vice Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Chair/Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: Authority Members Cochran and Lauretano
Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Parra, to
adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following
roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CONTINUE MEETING
PAST 11:00 P.M.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, seconded by Mayor Brock, to continue
the meeting after 11 p.m. and hear the remainder of the agenda. The motion
was approved by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT OF
SPECIAL JOINT
MEETING
On order of the Chair/Mayor, the special joint meeting with the Housing
Authority was adjourned at 11:10 p.m., and the regular meeting of the City
Council was reconvened with all members present.
COUNCILMEMBER
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
16.A. Request of Vice Mayor Negrete and Mayor Brock that the City
Council allocate $15,000 in Council discretionary funds to support the
Santa Monica High School Choir program. The funds will aid students
in participating in a unique opportunity to perform in cathedrals across
Spain, including Barcelona, Burgos, and Madrid. These seniors, who
experienced disruptions due to the pandemic during their freshman
year in 2020, are fundraising for the trip, and this allocation would help
match some of their raised funds, was presented.
Councilmember Zwick proposed an amendment to increase allocated funds
from $15,000 to $20,000.
Motion by Councilmember de la Torre, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Negrete, to approve the recommendation with an amendment to increase
allocated funds from $15,000 to $20,000. The motion was approved by the
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following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Parra, Davis, Torosis, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 11:36 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Nikima S. Newsome Phil Brock
Interim City Clerk Mayor
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