SR-405-002 (3)
PCD:AA:f:\plan\admin\civctr\planning\review1\civiccenter.doc
Council Meeting: January 22, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Preliminary Review of Civic Center Plan
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council conceptually approve the proposed Civic
Center Land Use Plan and authorize the Civic Center Working Group and staff to begin
preparation of the written Civic Center Specific Plan and environmental review.
BACKGROUND
For many years, the revitalization of the Civic Center has been an important community
objective. As the seat of City government, the Civic Center is the symbolic heart of the
community. In addition, the Civic Center is located in the midst of several of Santa
Monica’s prime assets: Downtown and the Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park,
South Beach, and Ocean Park. In spite of its location and symbolic properties, the Civic
Center is largely underutilized and disconnected from the adjacent neighborhoods. The
Civic Center’s predominant land use is surface parking, which discourages pedestrian
activities and community uses of adjacent areas from integrating into the Civic Center
(see Exhibit 1: Civic Center Aerial View).
In 1993, the City adopted the Civic Center Specific Plan, which set forth a new vision for
the Civic Center area as an integral community resource. The plan anticipated that a
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variety of public improvements in the area would be funded by private commercial and
residential development on the RAND property. Following adoption of the plan, RAND
spent several years working with private developers to pursue implementation of the
Specific Plan.
In April 2000, the revitalization of the Civic Center took a major step forward when the
City’s Redevelopment Agency purchased 11.3 acres of the 15 acres of RAND property
(see Exhibit 2: Redevelopment Agency purchase). Later that year, the City Council
approved a Development Agreement for construction of a new RAND Headquarters
facility and demolition of the existing RAND facilities. In addition to the RAND
Headquarters, several other development projects included in the 1993 Specific Plan
are currently in design or under construction, including the Public Safety Facility,
Olympic Drive, the Civic Center Parking Structure, Vicente Terrace and the 1733 Ocean
Avenue office building (see Exhibit 3: Current Development Projects).
Recognizing the unique opportunities associated with public ownership of a majority of
the properties in the Civic Center area, the City is moving forward with an update to the
Civic Center Specific Plan. In January 2001, the City Council established the Civic
Center Working Group to guide the Civic Center community planning process. The
Working Group is comprised of three City Council members and one representative
each from the Planning Commission, Housing Commission and Recreation and Parks
Commission. In addition, the City Council invited other boards, commissions, and task
forces to designate liaisons to participate in the community planning process and
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adopted a set of guidelines for the Working Group’s efforts (see Exhibit 4: Civic Center
Working Group Guidelines).
Over the past several months, the Civic Center Working Group has been facilitating
community input in developing a recommended plan for the Civic Center. During the
spring, the Working Group held a series of community workshops focused on specific
elements of the plan, including open space, housing, circulation and infrastructure, and
civic, cultural and community uses. In July, the Working Group hosted a Community
Planning Day, where approximately 150 community members considered a variety of
alternatives and the Working Group gave direction on preferred alternatives and issues
for further study.
In response to the Working Group’s direction, an operational and financial evaluation
and preliminary plan were prepared by the project consultants, the ROMA Design
Group, and a staff team comprised of Community and Cultural Services, Environmental
and Public Works Management, Resource Management, Planning and Community
Development and the City Manager’s Office. In October, the Working Group hosted a
community workshop for over 120 community members to review the operational and
financial evaluation and preliminary plan. Following input from the community, the
Working Group asked for refinements and discrete alternatives to the preliminary plan.
In late October, the Working Group solicited additional public input and developed a
consensus regarding a preferred Land-Use Plan and recommendations related to
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implementation of the plan. The Land-Use Plan is the precursor to full development of
the Specific Plan as it sets forth the underlying development parameters of the plan.
DISCUSSION
The recommended Civic Center Land-Use Plan (see Exhibit 5: Recommended Land-
Use Plan) sets forth a vision for the Civic Center area as a mixed-use, pedestrian-
oriented center of the community. The plan facilitates a strong Civic Center
neighborhood by including significant housing opportunities, while providing a diversity
of recreational, civic, cultural and community amenities that can be enjoyed by all
residents of Santa Monica. These elements are designed to integrate the Civic Center
into the larger Santa Monica context and to create a place that serves Civic Center
residents and employees as well as the entire community.
OPEN SPACE
The creation of meaningful open space is a basic goal of the Civic Center Specific Plan.
The open space system is designed to achieve visual, pedestrian and bicycle linkages
through the area, to create an attractive outdoor environment for civic, cultural and
residential uses, and to provide a flexible setting for a diversity of informal and
predominantly passive recreational activities. These elements are designed to give the
Civic Center a clear structure and unique civic identity, while contributing to a public
realm that supports the development of a strong neighborhood.
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The recommended Civic Center Land-Use Plan includes a variety of linked open
spaces, each with its own unique identity and character, as follows:
The Town Square: This open space is conceived in the tradition of memorable civic
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spaces that act as gathering places for the community and create opportunities for a
variety of social and cultural events, as well as informal activities. The edges of the
Town Square are defined by surrounding civic, residential, and open space uses.
Palisades Garden Walk: This open space is designed to become a unique new
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element in Santa Monica’s open space system, while providing an extension of the
continually unfolding experience of Palisades Park as it progresses from north to
south. This space will differ from a traditional neighborhood park and will be
designed and programmed as a special resource that has meaning for the entire
community. Some initial ideas for the space include an arboretum, botanical garden,
or sculpture garden. It is important for the area to be protected from vandalism and
maintained at a high level so that it creates a unique retreat and oasis within a busy
part of Santa Monica. The space could be complemented by a community-oriented
restaurant, an interpretative center, and potentially a limited amount of existing
lodging. Decking over the Santa Monica Freeway could allow for expansion of this
area and strengthen its link to Palisades Park and the Pier.
The Civic Auditorium Park: This park provides for a strong visual and open space
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link between the Ocean Park neighborhood and the Civic Center. It provides a
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series of linked meadows defined by informal clusters of trees and an attractive
setting for a variety of recreational activities and informal play. Dispersed small
sport courts, a children’s playground, and possible exercise stations along the
pathways could complement and broaden the recreational appeal of the park and
promote daytime and evening activities to make the park an active and secure place
for residents. The Civic Auditorium will play an integral role in the life of the park,
providing a platform for community activities that can utilize indoor and outdoor
spaces.
The Village Green: This triangular green and associated pedestrian linkages act as
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a focal point for the adjacent residential and office uses. The open space will
enhance the livability of the proposed adjacent housing and create a more public-
friendly environment in conjunction with RAND and the 1733 Ocean Avenue office
building.
Olympic Drive and Main Street: These two streets are designed to become “green”
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streets with strong visual, pedestrian and bicycle linkages. Olympic Drive will
include a 20-foot wide pedestrian promenade linking the Public Safety Facility Plaza
with Ocean Avenue and creating a view corridor all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The lawn area in front of the County Courts could be redesigned to become a more
meaningful part of the open space system and to reinforce the north-south
pedestrian linkage within the Civic Center. Main Street will be redesigned with
landscaped medians and a unique focal point, the Main Street Circle open space, to
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mark the location where Main Street changes direction and to better integrate Main
Street with the adjacent open spaces. Main Street could be closed for special
weekend events, allowing for outdoor performances on a temporary stage at the
Circle open space, indoor performances or exhibits at the Civic Auditorium, and
community activities in the open spaces.
The proposed Civic Center open space system will create a “green necklace” that links
the Ocean Park neighborhood to the Beach and Palisades Park. The concept also
furthers the concept of citywide greenways for pedestrians and bicyclists. These open
spaces will create a variety of passive recreational activities and, as a sequence of
managed open spaces, can become a stage for a variety of activities and events. After
adoption of the Civic Center Specific Plan, community participation will play a critical
role in the design of the open spaces.
HOUSING
The introduction of housing in the Civic Center area is not only an important objective
for meeting citywide housing goals, but also a critical element in integrating the Civic
Center into the rest of Santa Monica and making it a viable and active neighborhood.
The “Village” area south of Olympic Drive is the most desirable location for housing as a
mixed-use day and night urban village organized in concert with RAND, 1733 Ocean
Avenue and the Village Green. Active ground-level uses will be incorporated along
Ocean Avenue in order to promote an attractive and safe pedestrian environment.
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A wide range of housing types could be accommodated within this area, including family
townhouses, flats, live-work units suitable for artists, and units that could be suitable for
seniors or individuals entering the work force. An estimated 300 housing units can be
developed in the Village area. The Working Group has recommended that a minimum of
160 units be affordable to very low- and low-income households in order to meet the
requirements of the funds originally used to purchase the RAND property. The
remaining units would not have explicit requirements (housing type, income level, etc.)
in the Specific Plan in order to allow the City to respond to specific conditions at the time
of development.
CIVIC, CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY USES
The Civic Center is the principal location for governmental uses and a key venue for
cultural activity within Santa Monica. The Working Group has identified a desire to
enhance the Civic Center’s role as a cultural and community center, as follows:
The Civic Auditorium: The community planning process has considered the role of
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the Civic Auditorium in the future of the Civic Center. A variety of options for the
future programming of the Auditorium have been considered, including a regional
performing arts center, a conference center, a concert venue, a community events
center, and a continuation of the status quo with a variety of consumer shows and
other events. The Working Group recommended that the Civic Auditorium be
positioned to focus on community and cultural events, with an opportunity to expand
the East Wing to allow for additional community and cultural space and to better
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integrate the Auditorium with the future Civic Auditorium Park. Parking will be
provided underground around the perimeter of the Auditorium’s primary footprint to
support weekday Auditorium parking needs.
Childhood Development Facility: Provision of a state-of-the-art early childhood
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education and development center has been an important goal for the Civic Center.
The center will serve the needs of Civic Center employees and residents, as well as
the larger community. The location within the Civic Auditorium Park site is most
suitable as it is close to employment and housing sites, offers convenient drop-off
and parking, can provide a larger than required play area, and can access the larger
park area for activities.
City Hall: With the construction of the Public Safety Facility and the need to
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seismically retrofit City Hall, there is an opportunity to bring City offices that are
currently scattered throughout the City back to the Civic Center. Rehabilitating the
existing Police addition to City Hall is not recommended as such rehabilitation will be
more costly than new construction and the space is not large enough to meet the
City’s needs. Demolition of this structure will allow for restoration of the historic City
Hall structure and its adjacent eastern courtyard. Construction of a new City
Services Building is recommended to meet the City’s needs. This new structure is
proposed for the north edge of the Town Square, with activities that reinforce the
public nature of the building and its relationship to the park. The new building will
create a northern terminus to the Civic Center north-south spine as a counterpoint to
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the Civic Auditorium terminus at the south. As subsequently discussed, the Main
Street Bridge would be limited to pedestrian and bicycle use, allowing for the
creation of a significant portal through the building that would create a dramatic
gateway from the downtown into the Civic Center.
Performing Arts Facility: The Working Group recommended that the site at the
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southwest corner of Fourth Street and Civic Center Drive be reserved for a potential
performing arts facility and that Santa Monica College be invited to locate its
proposed 500-seat theater at this site rather than at the Madison School site.
CIRCULATION AND PARKING
The circulation system for the Civic Center is designed to support the proposed land-
use program, enhance accessibility for all modes of travel, serve to better integrate the
area with the surrounding community, and contribute to the creation of an attractive
public environment with pedestrian-oriented streets. Primary elements of the circulation
system include extending Olympic Drive as a local street from Main Street to Ocean
Avenue in order to serve the proposed residential uses in the Village area and to
complete the pedestrian and bicycle link to the ocean. The Main Street Bridge would be
converted to pedestrian-use only and Second Street would be extended over the
freeway from Colorado Avenue to Olympic Drive, allowing for improved pedestrian,
bicycle, transit and auto access to the downtown.
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Parking for the housing, Civic Auditorium, City Services Building and potential
Performing Arts Facility will be provided below grade at each site. A small surface
parking lot at the southwest corner of Fourth Street and Civic Center Drive will serve the
Civic Auditorium Park and early childhood development center and will reserve the site
for a future performing arts facility. The Civic Center Parking Structure will provide
additional parking to support Civic Center uses on evenings and weekends.
IMPLEMENTATION
The estimated construction costs in current dollars for the proposed public
improvements in the Civic Center is approximately $120 million, including the City Hall
rehabilitation and new City Services Building. The program could be phased over a 10-
year period, depending on availability of funds. Funding could come from a variety of
sources, including the Capital Improvement Program, Redevelopment Agency tax
increment funds, general obligation bonds, and regional, state and federal funding
sources. Affordable housing development will be supported by local, state and federal
housing funds.
RESIDENT SURVEY
At its last meeting, the City Council received the results of the 2001 Santa Monica
Resident Survey. In order to broadly assess residents’ desires for the Civic Center,
respondents were asked to designate a variety of land-uses as very important,
somewhat important, or not important for inclusion in the Civic Center Plan. The highest
percentage of residents ranked park space for sitting and reading (51%) and walking
and bicycling paths (49%) as very important. Also high on the residents’ list of very
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important uses are pre-school educational facilities (43%), a botanical garden (42%),
park space for gatherings or festivals (42%), and affordable housing (40%). All of these
uses are included in the proposed Civic Center Plan. Less than a quarter of
respondents ranked basketball and tennis courts (24%), baseball and soccer
fields (19%), hotels (5%) and commercial office buildings (4%) as very important (see
Exhibit 6: 2001 Resident Survey responses on Civic Center Development).
COMMISSION COMMENTS
Prior to review by the City Council, the proposed Land-Use Plan was presented to
several City Commissions for review. The comments from these Commissions are
presented below.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission considered the Civic Center conceptual plan on
January 9, 2002. While the Planning Commission did not make a formal
recommendation, they did reach general consensus that the housing and other uses in
the conceptual plan are appropriately sited and that the Council may wish to consider a
limited amount of space for organized youth sports.
HOUSING COMMISSION
On December 20, 2001, the Housing Commission recommended the City Council adopt
the Civic Center conceptual plan while giving consideration to the following
recommendations:
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1. In addition to the proposed 300 units of housing, include provisions for affordable
live/work space for artists in a smaller building on the north side of Olympic Drive
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between Ocean Avenue and 2 Street or in close proximity to the other housing.
2. Consider the benefits of playing fields in the open space at the southeastern corner
of Civic Center Area 1 and of integrating these with the housing and the community
at large.
3. Exceed the minimum of 160 units of housing affordable to very low and low-income
households with the intention of creating a viable, mixed-income community in the
Village Area.
RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION
On December 13, 2001, the Recreation and Parks Commission recommended approval
of the Civic Center Working Group’s Consensus Direction, with one exception:
Elimination of the last line of Paragraph 1 and replacement with “A minimum of two full-
size playfields with lighting must be incorporated into the southeast corner of the
project.”
ARTS COMMISSION
On December 17, 2001, the Arts Commission voted to articulate that desirable
organized attractions are the key to creating an animated, vibrant, highly trafficked,
pedestrian destination at the Civic Center. The Arts Commission strongly recommends
that the following items be incorporated into the Civic Center Plan immediately:
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Resident working artists will add cultural vibrancy to the Civic Center. Housing
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should include a substantial number of live/work units appropriately located and
designed for income-qualified working artists. This recommendation echoes those in
the recently commissioned Artist Live/Work and Studio Space in Santa Monica
Study, which was adopted by Council in 2001 and clearly identified the need for city-
supported artist live/work housing.
A professionally run exhibition space for visual art, featuring changing exhibition
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programs as recommend in the Santa Monica Cultural Arts Master Plan Update
adopted by Council in 1996.
A professionally run, mid-sized theater with between 300 and 700 seats with a
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regular program of events and performances as recommended by the Santa Monica
Cultural Arts Master Plan Update adopted by Council 1996. The need for mid-size
theater space on the west side of Los Angeles County has also been noted in a
survey commissioned by the Audrey Skirball Kennis Theater Project (ASK) in 1994.
TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
On December 17, 2001, the Task Force on the Environmental made the following
recommendations regarding the Civic Center Plan:
1. All new buildings in the Civic Center should be required to meet or exceed LEED
silver criteria and all housing should meet or exceed the LEED housing standard.
2. Set a goal of installing solar photovoltaic panels on every rooftop and to meet at
least 25% of building energy requirements with solar power.
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3. Space should be designated at the Civic Center as affordable office space reserved
for local non-profit organizations that promote sustainability.
4. A Sustainable Resource Center should be included in the final plan.
5. Design and construction of the Civic Center should be illustrative of the Sustainable
City Program. All development at the site should comply with all pertinent aspects of
environmental law.
In addition, many public comments have been submitted to the City’s website regarding
the Civic Center Plan (see Exhibit 7: Additional Public Comments).
MAIN LIBRARY AND THE CIVIC CENTER
At its meeting on December 18, 2001, the City Council asked staff to consider
opportunities and constraints regarding locating the new Main Library in the Civic
Center, rather than at its current site on Santa Monica Boulevard. The following
summarizes these opportunities and constraints.
Opportunities
1. Continuous Library Operations - An alternative location would allow the Main Library
to continue to operate at its current location until the new facility was constructed,
thereby minimizing disruption of library services to the public. Associated costs of
creating a temporary library would not be incurred.
2. Governmental Campus - Locating the Main Library in the Civic Center would
complement the other municipal functions (City Hall, Public Safety Facility and Civic
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Auditorium) that are already located in the Civic Center and enhance the area’s
focus on community-oriented uses.
3. Civic Center Diversity – The Main Library would enhance the diversity of uses in the
Civic Center and create a daytime, evening and weekend draw for residents to visit
the area. It would also be well located to serve the needs of Santa Monica High
School students.
Constraints
1. Project Delays - The Civic Center sites that could most likely accommodate
construction of a new Main Library are the former RAND property and the Civic
Auditorium parking lot. Construction on the RAND site would be delayed until RAND
has built its new facility and demolished its existing facilities, while construction on
the Civic Auditorium parking lot would be delayed until the major elements of the
downtown parking structure retrofit have been completed. Either site would result in
a Library project delay of at least three, and possibly many more, years. Further
delay would likely result in an escalation of estimated Library project costs.
2. Library Accessibility – The Civic Center is approximately one mile from the Ocean
Park Branch Library. Relocating the Main Library to the Civic Center would result in
a heavy concentration of libraries on the south side of Santa Monica. The Montana
Avenue Branch would become the only library located north of the Santa Monica
Freeway.
3. Downtown Diversity – The location of the Main Library in the downtown provides a
unique land use that complements the downtown’s commercial and residential uses
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and enhances the diversity of the downtown experience. The Main Library also
serves as an anchor destination for the east end of the Transit Mall and provides
pedestrian, bicycle and transit activity in the eastern portion of the downtown.
4. Public Process – The community has invested large amounts of time and energy in
developing the Main Library and Civic Center conceptual plans. Changing the
library location would likely require significant new public process to consider this
dramatic change. With a new location, the preliminary design of the Main Library
would need to be completely reconceived.
5. Community Expectations – Both in 1988 and 1998, the community approved bonds
based on Library expansion occurring at the downtown site. Relocating the Main
Library to the Civic Center would likely result in a reduction of open space or housing
in the Civic Center plan – both of which are critical community objectives for the area
and play a key role in the future success of the Civic Center.
On January 3, 2002, the Library Board voted unanimously to recommend that the new
Main Library stay at its current site, as a move to the Civic Center would incur project
delays, increased costs and a loss of project momentum.
NEXT STEPS
Following conceptual approval of the recommended Civic Center Land-Use Plan by the
City Council, the Working Group will facilitate the preparation of the written Draft
Specific Plan. The Specific Plan will include property development standards (setbacks,
stepbacks, building heights, etc.), circulation routes for pedestrians, bicycles, transit and
vehicles, parking requirements, street sections, conservation and sustainability goals,
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utility service requirements, and implementation strategies. In addition, the
redevelopment planning for Santa Monica Place will be incorporated into the Civic
Center Specific Plan planning process. Public workshops on Santa Monica Place are
expected to be hosted by the Working Group during the early spring of this year. Prior
to consideration of adoption of a Specific Plan, CEQA analysis will be completed.
BUDGET / FINANCIAL IMPACT
Conceptual approval of the Civic Center Land-Use Plan will have no direct impact on
the budget as funds for preparation of the written Civic Center Specific Plan were
previously approved by the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Provide conceptual approval of the Civic Center Land-Use Plan.
2. Authorize the Civic Center Working Group and staff to begin preparation of the
written Civic Center Specific Plan and environmental review.
Prepared by:
Planning and Community Development
Suzanne Frick, Director
Andy Agle, Assistant Director
Community and Cultural Services
Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director
Carole Curtin, Event Facilities Manager
Resource Management
Jeff Mathieu, Director
Bob Moncrief, Housing and Redevelopment Manager
Tad Read, Housing Coordinator
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Environmental and Public Works Management
Craig Perkins, Director
City Manager’s Office
Judy Rambeau, Assistant to the City Manager for Community Relations
Exhibits:
NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
1. Civic Center Aerial View
NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
2. Redevelopment Agency Purchase
NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
3. Current Development Projects
4. Civic Center Working Group Guidelines
NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
5. Recommended Land-Use Plan
NOT
6. 2001 Resident Survey Responses on Civic Center Development
AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
7. Additional Public Comments
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CIVIC CENTER PLAN
WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES
ADOPTED BY SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 23, 2001
1. The plan shall include all properties within the boundaries of Pico Boulevard,
Ocean Avenue, Fourth Street, and the Santa Monica Freeway.
2. The plan shall maintain the permitted development intensities for the City Hall,
Public Safety Facility, new RAND Headquarters, City Hall Public Parking
Structure, and Pacific Shore Hotel sites.
3. The plan shall identify a location for the development of an early childhood
education and development center in the Civic Center.
4. In accordance with the Federal Tax Code, the amount of sale or lease revenue to
be received from private uses on the 11.3 acres of former RAND property is
generally limited to an amount not exceed ten percent of the total bond proceeds
used to purchase said property.
5. The plan shall include low- and moderate-income housing development on the
11.3 acres of former RAND property at a level commensurate with no less than
30 percent of the total bond proceeds used to purchase said property.
6. The plan shall include goals and policies related to land use and urban design,
circulation, open space, public services and utilities, conservation and
sustainability, and implementation.
7. The Working Group shall complete its work by November 30, 2001,
culminating with a recommended draft specific plan.
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EXHIBIT 7: ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
RECEIVED FOLLOWING OCTOBER 29 WORKSHOP
12/11/01 11:05AM
Name: Steve Mount
Address: 2519 California Avenue
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 828-6222
Business_Phone: 909-350-4440
Email: sjmount@msn.com
The Civic Center must and should have a full size soccer pitch located at the corner of
Pico and 4th easily accessed by Saohi and other sports organizations. We have
demonstrated time and again that this community has a dire shortage of active space
and this is a prime location. This is the type of life we need in the parks. This is the
community in full participation. This activity is a joy to watch and to participate.
12/11/01 10:17PM
Name: Nick Steers
Address: 1719 Ashland Ave
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 452-1080
Business_Phone: (310)
Email: nsteers@earthlink.net
The Civic Center should have a play field that can accommodate a full size soccer pitch.
Situated next to Samohi, it will help with Marching Band, football, soccer, and of course
AYSO, Pop Warner, etc.
The need still exists and the working group has totally shut out the sports families and I
think it is wrong. I think that the Master plan that I worked on, requires that whenever
availability for open space that ball fields need to implemented. This city needs more
playing field for orginized sport for our youth.
Please advise me when your next meeting will be.
Thanks
Nick Steers
Former Recreation and Parks Commisioner
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12/18/01 3:44PM
Name: Jody Kreiman
Address: 1037 18th Street, Apt. 1
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310)828-2330
Business_Phone: (310) 825-0736
Email: jkreiman@ucla.edu
I am alarmed and concerned that Civic Center plan excludes permitted
playing fields. The city has far too few places for kids to participate in
team sports as it is! In an age where obesity is epidemic, both common
sense and community health considerations suggest that MORE fields should
be placed wherever they can. The Civic Center area is a perfect opportunity
to improve the quality of life for SM's kids. PLEASE modify the plan
to include permitted fields!
12/19/01 8:44AM
Name: Fernando Inzunza
Address: 2416 29th St
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 396 2912
Business_Phone: (213) 629 0451
Email: ezpatari@yahoo.com
The most valuable resource of the City of Santa Monica is not the beach. Nor is it the
Promenade. It is not even its dedicated corps of municipal employees. The most
valuable resource is the youth of this city. For a city with as high a per capita income as
Santa Monica, the children of Santa Monica are remarkably underserved by our city
government. This is especially true when it comes to playing fields. Forty years ago I
lived in a small city of 60,000 in a less developed country, where the per capita income
at the time was approximately $800 to $1200 per year. I nevertheless had equal access
to seven immaculately maintained soccer fields. It pains me that my children must play
on fields that are in much worse condition -- indeed, they are dangerous -- and that their
playing time is so severely limited. Our city truly does not have a good excuse for this
deplorable situation. The city where I lived during the 1950's, like the City of Santa
Monica, was seemingly l!
acking in usable open space (although arguably Santa Monica today is in a better long-
term strategic position since at some point in time we will figure out how to make better
use of our widest beaches that receive little true use). Yet the children of my community
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back then had both the soccer complex and an actual full-sized baseball park complete
with a rudimentary wooden "stadium". So, the issues cannot be space and money. The
issues must be will and priorities. Should our priority be the construction of monumental
architecture? A reflecting pond, when we already have the Pacific Ocean? Another
public meeting place (when we already are unable to fill even the very modest, restored
playhouse on Lincoln and Wilshire) across the street from an underutilized auditorium?
Linkages? Necklaces? Passive recreational areas? [words used often, perhaps too
often, in the plan] Or, do we say to the families of the City of Santa Monica that our
collective priority is the chil!
dren of this city? It must be said that the silver lining in the pl
12/19/01 9:11 AM
Name: Brian Hammer
Address: 524 22nd Street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 260-9804
Business_Phone: (213) 670-3220
Email: bhammer@linkline.com
Any plan for open space in the city of Santa Monica should include lighted field space
for our youth. The city is woefully short of well-maintained athletic fields.
12/19/01 11:04AM
Name: Ahmed Yehia
Address: 2928 Washington Ave.
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 829 9106
Business_Phone: (310) 315 9700
Email: AEYehia@aol.com
Maintaining access to soccer fields necessary for the Santa Monica AYSO program is
critical to the development of our children as solid citizens and contributors to our
community. I have contributed my time as a coach for the past 12 years primarily to help
our kids develop social skills, sense of community as well as achieve individual
distinction. What they ultimately learn is recognizing and holding the creative tension
between the opposing imperatives of individuality and teamwork. They also learn about
life, which includes knowing how to win and lose as winners. I hope and trust that this
vision for personal and societal development will not be fatally diluted by people who
unquestionably have the best intentions for our community. Thank you.
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12/19/01 12:57PM
Name: Kevin McCarthy
Address: 1206 Grant ST
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 392-9763
Business_Phone: (310)
Email: kevin.mccarthy@ la.ddb.com
The city needs more soccer fields. Let's make sure they are designed in to a plan.
12/19/01 1:09PM
Name: Michael J. Strumwasser
Address: 100 Wilshire Blvd., #1900
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90401
Home_Phone:
Business_Phone: (310) 576-1233
Email: mstrumwasser@strumwooch.com
I urge that the Civic Center plan provide top-quality soccer fields to meet the severe
shortage of facilities to support youth soccer.
12/19/01 1:25PM
Name: Doug Thomas
Address: 2519 26th Street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 452-7861
Business_Phone: (310) 726-5250
Email: DTsfamily@aol.com
The working group's plan needs to be modified to include to full size soccer/football
fields at the corner of Pico and 4th. These fields and the parking structure should be
the first part of the plan to be implemented.
This will provide numerous benefits to Samohi in particular and the community in
general.
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The additional parking can be used during the day to provide parking for Samohi
students as well as visitors, jurors and workers in the City Hall area. Samohi students
would welcome the chance to park in this structure and would probably even pay to do
so.
The two full size soccer/football fields will give Samohi sports teams and marching band
more practice space and, on the weekends and evenings,provide more room for our
burgeoning youth sports groups to practice and play. The addition of these fields will
also allow other fields in the city and at the high school to be allowed to lay fallow for
brief periods of time.
The location of these fields make them perfect for lights because they are not near
residences.
Santa Monica High School also needs to be more incorporated into the Civic Center
Plan. The speaker for the working group claimed that they are leaving space in the plan
for performing arts. I submit that just across Pico on the Samohi campus is one of the
best performing arts halls on the westside, Barnum Hall. The amphitheatre on campus
is also under used. Both should be figured into the plan.
In the 20 years that I have lived in Santa Monica, we have added one field, the Clover
Park extension (the pit). During that time, the number of kids playing youth sports has
grown immensely. AYSO and club soccer has doubled. Little League, Pony League,
and Bobby Sox have grown and become a year long endeavor. Pop Warner football
has started up and has hundreds of participants in just a few years of operation. Santa
Monica High School, St Monica's, Crossroads, and Santa Monica College also use the
city's fields. There is very little open space in this city left...We need sports fields
whereever we can put them that it makes sense. It makes sense as part of the Civic
Center plan.
12/19/01 2:06PM
Name: Linda Nussbaum
Address: 421 Lincoln blvd
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 451-2125
Business_Phone: (310) 393-9784
Email: lnussbau@ucla.edu
I think we desperately need playing fields (2, if not more!) included in the Civic Center
plans. Recent studies have shown the tremendous increase in childhood obesity, partly
from lack of physical activity. Gone are the days when parents feel safe letting their
children "out to play" without supervision; we need to get our children interested in
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organized sports to pull them away from their TVs and computers. And we need the
support from our city to provide the playing fields to do so!
12/19/01 2:14PM
Name: Nicola Edwards and Tracy Edwards
Address: 2505 26th street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 392-1230
Business_Phone: (310)
Email: tnedwards@earthlink.net
Please include 2 full size sports fields with lights in the Civic Center plans. I attended
the Parks & Rec meeting on Dec 13 and listened to the presentation and there is
definitely space to provide these playing fields and a definite need in this community.
We have three boys ages five through twelve who play soccer and baseball and we are
involved in coaching.
Thankyou for your attention to this matter.
12/19/01 4:09PM
Name: Mark Kahn
Address: 3240 Federal Ave
City: Los Angeles
Zip_Code: 90066
Home_Phone: (310) 398-2088
Business_Phone: (310) 970-9255
Email: DrMSKahn@aol.com
We all know that busy children get into less trouble. Sports provides a wholesome
outlet for our children. Santa Monica has a chronic shortage of sports fields. Why not
devote the open land around the civic center to activities that promote the welfare of our
children? We don't need another fountain. We need more places for our children to be
engaged in healthy pursuits.
12/19/01 3:56PM
Name: Nancy Parson
Address: 859 Princeton St.
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
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Home_Phone: (310) 586-1020
Business_Phone: (323)931-3123
Email: npar53@aol.com
I have recently learned the new Civic Center Development project does not allow any
provisions for soccer fields and am appalled at that decision. This city is sorely lacking
in sports fields and is plentiful in capital development. Where are the interests of this city
to provide for our youth? There is room for 2 fields. Create them.
12/19/01 4:49PM
Name: Nikki Ross
Address: 421 Lincoln blvd.
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 451-2125
Business_Phone: (310)
Email: Crabbycat4@yahoo.com
I am a softball and soccer player and I am definitely supportive of having two football or
soccer fields put in. Soccer players have been trampling on baseball fields, and vice
versa. It would make the lives of so many kids and adults so much easier. There will be
more use out of it, then a place to relax. There are other places for long walks such as
the beach. What we need is a place for the children of today, to get excercise and have
fun.
Thank you
-Nikki
12/19/01 4:54PM
Name: Ashley WRobel
Address: 1508 Idaho Avenue
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 393-2093
Business_Phone: (310) 300-3319
Email: ashleywrobel@aol.com
We need permit field space in Santa Monica. This city is dense with people and our
kids and sport need support too. I request you allow permit use of the new park...
12/19/01 5:50PM
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Name: David Birney
Address: 20 Ocean Park Blvd. #11
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310)
Business_Phone: (310) 2082646
Email: birney1@earthlink.net
As a resident of Santa Monica for over 20 years, I would like to add my voice to those in
support of at least two soccer fields in the new Civic Center development.
Sincerely,
David Birney
12/19/01 8:19PM
Name: Mark Shanley
Address: 1127 11th st, #202
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: 310-395-1083
Business_Phone: (310) 617-7720
Email: Reds@adelphia.net
I have been a SM resident for the past 15yrs and I am currently raising 4 young children
in this wonderful city who all attend SM schools, I was completely flabergasted when I
heard the news about the plans for the new complex facing Samohi in regards to the
lack of soccer playing feilds. I thoroughly believe soccer is an essential part of this
community and there should be an allocation for a minimum of at least 2 full size soccer
feilds.
12/19/01 9:18PM
Name: Jack Epps
Address: 457 25th Street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 458-6430
Business_Phone: (310) 451-9432
Email: alohajack99@aol.com
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As a 25 year resident of Santa Monica and a father of two children who have played
AYSO soccer, BobbySox softball, and Little League Softball, I am outraged that the
biggest park plan in the history of the City of Santa Monica does not include any field
space for organized teams. Where else should the kids play? On the street? We don't
have enought field space in Santa Monica. That is not news. We need more fields for
our sports organizations to play on. There is a great spot behind the Civic Center that is
great for at least 2 fields for soccer, football, softball and baseball. That corner is
bounded by Santa Monica High and a gas station. There are no neighbors to complain
about lights and noise.
I've coached children for over 10 years -- literally hundreds of kids -- and I can tell you
that if you can get them involved with sports at a young age you have good citizens for
life! We have enough open space on the Palisades Park, the entire beach. Please add
real fields for organized sports behind the Civic Center. It's for the kids!
12/20/01 5:52AM
Name: Maren Stenseth
Address: 607 9th Street, #B
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 394-0252
Business_Phone:
Email: Stensethm@aol.com
as the parent of a young Santa Monica soccer player, and as a soccer player myself, I
strongly encourage the City of Santa Monica to implement the plan to add additional
lighted soccer fields at the Civic Center. We are in definite need of good, additional
space to play!
Thank you for your consideration.
12/20/01 6:51AM
Name: Steve Gleitman
Address: 511 15th st
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310)
Business_Phone: (310) 553-5080
Email: sgleitman@pacbell.net
Please include two soccer fields across from Samohi as part of the civic center revision
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12/20/01 8:21AM
Name: Diane Kuntz
Address: 660 Marine St
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 9040
Home_Phone: (310) 396-2727
Business_Phone: (310) 41-3601
Email: DKuntz@gte.net
Suggestions:
The city of Santa Monica is so desparately short of playing fields for soccer. We simply
must think of the kids when planning an area of this size. Certainly two fields in all of
that space is not too much to ask.
Please take this into consideration when finalizing the plans for this large open space.
12/21/01 9:08AM
Name: Daryl Keighley
Address: 4442 Stewart Avenue
City: Los Angeles
Zip_Code: 90066
Home_Phone: (310) 397-9981
Business_Phone: (310) 397-9981
Email: keighly@gte.net
Suggestions:
I am a parent of a Santa Monica Girls Soccer All Star. My boy/girl twins attend John
Adams. I appeal to you to include field playing space in your overall plans for the city.
In this regard, Santa Monica is not keeping pace with the rest of the state.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Daryl Keighley
12/20/01 12:14PM
Name: Tom Glennon
Address: 1037 18th Street Apt. 1
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 828-2330
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Business_Phone: (818) 763-2745
Email:
Suggestions:
Santa Monica does not have enough soccer fields to accomodate all the kids
that want to play soccer. At practice, as many as FOUR TEAMS have to
share a single field. This means that no one has enough room to do
drills or scrimmage. On game day, games start at the first light of
dawn (I'm not kidding) and run until dark.
Physical fitness among children has become a national issue. Kids who p
play soccer get a good cardiovascular workout twice a week--at practice
and at gametime. They also learn cooperation, teamwork, responsibility,
and develop a positive attitude toward physical activity that can last
a lifetime. They cannot do this unless they have fields to play on.
As a Santa Monica resident, a property tax payer, and a voter, I demand
that soccer fields be included in the plan for the new Civic Center
recreational area.
12/20/01 2:03PM
Name: David Stevens
Address: 817 Euclid St
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 451-3601
Business_Phone: (310)
Email:
Suggestions:
This city needs more field space desparately. Please look into this shortage before
deciding usage of this large tract of land.
Thank you.
12/20/01 5:07PM
Name: Meredith Baxter
Address: 14186 Alisal Lane
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90402
Home_Phone: (310) 454-5243
Business_Phone: (310)
31
Email: mbax5243@yahoo.com
Suggestions:
I wish I could have been present for the public meeting but am pleased for the
opportunity to have my voice heard. I am requesting that The new Civic Center
Development have two soccer fields for use for Santa Monica teams. The need is great
and immediate. Thank you.
M Baxter
12/20/01 7:20PM
Name: Virginia Martinez
Address: 1220 Second St.
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90401
Home_Phone: (310) 508-0365
Business_Phone: (310) 451-9259
Email: Virginialorena@msn.com
Suggestions:
I would like to see fields at the Civic Center dedicated to soccer which is a sport that
provides great discipline in children. Soccer needs more support and respect from us
the community.
12/20/01 11:38PM
Name: Jerry Persky
Address: 859 Princeton Street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90403
Home_Phone: (310) 586-1020
Business_Phone: 323 938-4000
Email: jpersky48@aol.com
Suggestions:
I want to add my voice to those who have urged creation of more athletic field space in
the proposed new Civic Center. Having had two children play AYSO soccer in Santa
Monica for the past 5 years, I know how important it is for the city to encourage youth
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sports by setting aside adequate space so programs like AYSO soccer can attract the
city's youth and keep them off the streets. Youth sports is vital in light of the recent
report by the Surgeon General that youth obesity has become a national epidemic.
Santa Monica needs to take the lead in creating multiple areas of athletic facilities, and
to prohibit use of Civic Center land for such endeavors is narrow minded and heartless.
Our family moved to Santa Monica because of good schools, nice neighborhoods, and
great athletic programs. Now is not the time to slap families like mine in the face. Be
sure to set aside land in the Civic Center for soccer fields, basketball, etc.
12/21/01 9:04AM
Name: Ronald E. Joyal
Address: 2117 Marine Street
City: Santa Monica
Zip_Code: 90405
Home_Phone: (310) 396-2262
Business_Phone: (310) 215-6408
Email: ron.joyal@futuredontics.com
Suggestions:
Our children are our greatest resource and hope for the future. Let's provide them with
the soccer fields where they play as a team and grow into the leaders of the future.
Please see your way to putting two fields at the new location.
Thank you
Ron Joyal
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