M-1/31/1984
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 31, 1984
A meet1ng of the Santa Monica C1ty Councl1 was called to order by
Mayor Edwards at 7:38 P.M. on Tuesday. January 31, 1984, having
been continued from January 24, 1984. Councilmernber Reed led the
assemblage in the plege of allegiance to the united States of
America.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Ken Edwards
Mayor Pro Tempore Dolores M. Press
Counci1member James P. Conn
(arrived 7:46 P.M.)
Councilmember David G. Epstein
Councilmember William H. Jennings
Councilmember Christ1ne E. Reed
Councilmember Denn1S Zane
(arrived 7:41 P.M.)
C1ty Manager John H. Alschuler, Jr.
City Attorney Robert M. Myers
City Clerk Ann M. Shore
Absent: Councilmember ~ames P. Conn
Counci1member Epsteln moved to add Item l4-G to the agenda. Second
by Oouncilmember Conn. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
5-B: CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING CITY COUNCIL SALARIES: Presented
was a recommendation regarding a proposed Charter Amendment to
provide salaries for members of the City Council. Discussion was
held. Councilmember Epstein moved to approve Option 4, which would
provide that each of the Councilmembers receive a salary the amount
of which shall not exceed the salary that could be adopted by
ordinance of a General Law City of the same population as the City
of Santa Monica, members of the Council to receive reimbursement
for necessary travel and other expenses when on official duty out
of the City on order of the City Council, and providing that salary
be paid only to members of the City Council elected or appointed to
serve a term of office commencing after the date of adoption of the
section. Second by Mayor Edwards. Discuss10n was held.
Councilmember Zane moved a substitute motion to direct the City
Attorney to return to the Council with wording for a proposed
Charter Amendment that would retain the language of the Charter,
'that would set the amount at $300 with an option that the Council
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January 31, 1984
could adopt an increase according to an inflation factor by
ordinance in subsequent years, and that it go into effect
immediately upon its adoption. During discussion, Councilmember
Zane included in the motion the request of Mayor Edwards to modify
the wording to include the words "inflation factor" to coincide
with the state's increase permitted to General Law cities. During
further discussion, Councilmember Zane included in the motion the
request of Councilmember Epstein that the proposed Charter wording
include the options of future increases to be set by Government
Code Section 36516 which provides for increases of Counc1lmembers
of General Law cities and that increases may be subjected to
specific Council action by ordinance, not to exceed 5 percent a
year. Second by Mayor Pro Tempore Press. Additional discussion
was held. With the consent of the second. Councilmember Zane
included in the motion an amendment suggested by Mayor Edwards that
the compensation increase take place at the next municipal
election, and that if a Councilmember chooses not to accept it,
they either refuse it or make a contribution to charity. The
motion was approved by the following vote:
Council Vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Conn, Epstein,
Jennings, Press, Zane and Mayor
Edwards
Negative:
Councilmember Reed
5-C: CITY ELECTIONS COSTS AND PROCEDURES: Presented was a staff
report referring to informational reports which had been provided
to the City Council relating to election costs, voter turnout and
methods for conduct~ng City elections. Councilmember Epstein moved
to receive and file the reports which have been received. Second
by Mayor Edwards. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
6-J: NEWSRACK ORDINANCE: Presented was a staff report regarding
amendments to the newsrack ordinance. Councilmember Epstein
introduced discussion. Councilmember Epstein moved to approve the
staff recommendation thereby directing the City Attorney to prepare
an ordinance amending the present newsrack ordinance, enlarging
Zone A to include the entire City in the area requiring special
newsracks. Second by Mayor Edwards. Discussion was held. The
motion was approved by the following vote:
Council Vote: Unanimously approved 7-0
11-C: 1984-85 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDING: Presented was
a staff report recommending approval ..of the 1984-85 Community
Development Program funding rationale for receipt and expenditure
of federal and local funding. Member of the public Jessica
Friedman spoke in support of the staff recommendation. Discussion
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January 31, 1984
was held. Councilmember Epstein moved to approve the staff
recommendation, thereby approving the grant rationale and selection
criteria as specified in the staff report in regard to the 1984-85
Community Development Program funding and authorizing the City
Manager to implement the grant funding process within the time line
specified. Second by Mayor Edwards. Discussion was held.
Counci1member Epstein included in the motion a modification to
paragraph 4 on on page 15 so that it read "assistance and
counseling to tenants and landlords in need." Second by Mayor
Edwards. Discussion was held. councilmember Zane moved a
substitute motion to modify the staff recommendation to request the
City Manager, in the preparation of the budget, to make a
recommendation to Council at that time in regard to the appropriate
level of funding, i.e., how much money is available for these
purposes without making cuts in services in other areas of the
budget. Second by Mayor Pro Tempore Press. Disussion was held.
The substitute motion failed by the following vote:
Council Vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Press, Reed and Zane
Negative:
Councilmembers Conn, Epstein,
Jennings and Mayor Edwards
Discussion was held. With the consent of the second, Councilmember
Epstein included in the main motion that one of the criteria staff
should consider is an appropriate level of funding for preventive
programs as well as curative. The motion, as amended, was approved
py the following vote:
Council Vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Conn, Epstein,
Jennings, Press, Zane and Mayor
Edwards
Negative:
Councilmember Reed
Councilmember Reed requested the record to reflect that her no vote
is cast due to the fact that this incorporates $459,000 - plus of
Capital General Funds and she believed that $1.3 million in federal
funds is more than adequate.
11-D: Closed Session held later in the meeting.
l4-C: RENT CONTROL BOARD BUDGET: Presented was the request of
Councilmember Epstein to discuss appropriate action regarding the
case of Creighton vs. Dennis which court decision placed the Rent
Control Board budget under the direction of of the City Council.
: An informal oral staff report was received. Councilmember Epstein
jwithdrew the request for action at this time.
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January 31, 1984
l4-G: RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSIONER: Presented was the
resignation of Recreation and Parks Commissioner Ronald Guercio.
councilmember Evstein moved to accept the resignation of Recreation
and Parks Commissioner Ronald Guercio and authorize the City Clerk
to publish a notice of vacancy. Second by Mayor Edwards. The
motion was approved by unanimous vote.
11-0: CLOSED SESSION: Presented was a request for Closed Session
to discuss pending litigation and personnel matters. At 9:40 P.M.,
Councilmember Epstein moved to adjourn to Closed Session for the
stated purposes. Second by Councilmember Conn. The motion was
approved by unanimous vote. Coucilmembers reconvened at 9:45 P.M.,
with all members present as at the roll call. It was announced
that no action had been taken during the Closed Session.
AUJOURNMENT: At 9:45 P.M., Councilmember Reed moved to adjourn the
meeting in memory of Henry "Tex" Mays and Martin Paul Markley.
Second by Mayor Edwards. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
Council Vote: Unanimously approved 7-0
ATTEST:
2f:-57
Ken 'dwar;?"'.4--:;:-
Mayor
L ~ud1L~_kx
Ann M. Shore
City Clerk
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January 31, 1984