SR-410-014 (7)
Council Meeting: November 8, 2005 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation on Pedestrian or other Vehicular Access to the Santa
Monica College Bundy Campus Los Angeles from Airport Property and
Overall Parking and Traffic Management Strategies Including the
Temporary Student Shuttle Parking at the South Beach Lots in the Ocean
Park Neighborhood
Introduction
This report conveys recent developments in discussions between the City, Santa
Monica College (SMC) and the City of Los Angeles and options to consider for
addressing access to the SMC Bundy campus in Los Angeles. The report recommends
extension of the pedestrian access agreement between the City and SMC to the end of
the current semester, December 20, 2005. The report also recommends a six month
extension of temporary use of the south beach parking lots for student shuttle parking.
Finally, staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and enter into
agreements that will effect Council’s direction in these matters and to initiate any
required environmental reviews.
Background
As noted in prior staff reports (see links following this report text), SMC has initiated
operations on its Bundy campus located in the City of Los Angeles and abutting Santa
Monica airport. Vehicular access to the campus remains to be resolved. Limited
licenses for temporary pedestrian access from lots on airport property leased by SMC
for student shuttle parking have expired. Soil remediation and construction of Airport
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park on the site of the leased lots is commencing. Temporary arrangements to use the
south beach lots for shuttle parking are to end in December.
The City, SMC and the City of Los Angeles have worked to balance interests in
assisting students who live in Los Angeles and Santa Monica to benefit from programs
on the Bundy campus, minimizing traffic impacts on surrounding Los Angeles and Santa
Monica neighborhoods, and upon operations of the Santa Monica Airport and the new
Airport Park. To that end, a tri-party agreement has been proposed and discussed.
City and SMC staff have also discussed extending the use of the south beach lots for an
additional six months so that SMC can finalize negotiations for a permanent shuttle
parking location.
Discussion
Access
The three jurisdictions discussed a proposed tri-party agreement whereby Los Angeles
City Council Member Rosendahl would seek a half-signal on Bundy at the SMC
driveway to be paid for by SMC (see Attachment A, location 3). Santa Monica would
allow egress only from the campus onto a proposed extension of Donald Douglas Loop
South (DDLS extension) with a right turn only onto Airport Avenue with any necessary
improvements to be paid for by SMC (see Attachment A, location 5). SMC would agree
to keep the gate from the campus to Stewart Street closed except in emergency
situations (see Attachment A, location 4). All parties would agree to pursue longer term
solutions.
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At a meeting called by Council Member Rosendahl on Friday, October 28, 2005 and
attended by Los Angeles, Santa Monica and SMC elected officials and staff as well as
Mar Vista and Santa Monica neighbors including Airport Commissioners, the Council
Member asked that Santa Monica permit ingress as well as egress on the proposed
DDLS extension while the signalization at Bundy and the campus driveway is being
evaluated and approved by Los Angeles, a process that will take several months.
Ingress would cease with installation of the Los Angeles signal.
City airport, engineering and legal staff have reviewed the original concept and the
modification requested by Council Member Rosendahl. Converting the driveway into an
extension of Donald Douglas Loop South for both ingress and egress would raise
significant safety, liability and environmental issues. Even allowing temporary vehicular
egress by that route would require realignment and pavement improvements. Much
more extensive modifications would be required to accommodate ingress and egress.
Moreover, work of that magnitude would trigger CEQA requirements. Additionally, the
Airport Commission and Friends of Sunset Park continue to ask that egress and right
turn only be authorized as part of the tri-party agreement.
Temporary measures have been suggested. SMC staff has suggested other access
points further east on Airport Avenue (see Attachment A, locations 1 and 2). City staff
has proposed use of traffic safety personnel at the Bundy entrance to enhance its use.
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There is no impediment to extending the agreement regarding pedestrian access from
airport property as the City has identified and offered to the College 100 spaces
elsewhere on airport property for their temporary use.
In general, in considering the options, the City’s diverse, related responsibilities must be
kept in mind. These responsibilities include operating the Airport, honoring the rights of
leasees, effectuating plans for Airport Park, complying with environmental mandates,
and protecting residents’ quality of life. Additionally, there are practical concerns that
any temporary solution which involves granting expanded access over City property
may become extended and permanent.
Temporary Beach Lot Shuttle Parking
This fall, the City and SMC agreed to allow use of the south beach lots for student
shuttle parking while SMC sought a permanent or alternative temporary location.
Ocean Park neighbors objected both to short notice of the arrangement and to potential
traffic impacts. While police traffic services have responded to requests for enforcement
on Barnard Way, OPA opposes any extension of use of the south beach lots.
Budget/Financial Impact
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this item at this time. Costs of
improvements related to student parking that might be required in the future are likely to
be borne by the College.
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Recommendation
It is recommended that Council authorize extension of the pedestrian access to the
Bundy Campus at Donald Douglas Loop South to December 20, 2005; determine
whether staff should initiate improvements and necessary reviews for limited vehicular
access; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into agreements that will
effect Council’s direction in these matters and to initiate any required environmental
reviews.
It is further recommended that Council authorize a six month extension of temporary
use of the south beach parking lots for student shuttle parking.
Prepared by: Susan E. McCarthy, City Manager
Gordon R. Anderson, Assistant City Manager
Kate Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Government Relations
Marsha Moutrie, City Attorney
Joe Lawrence, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Tachiki, Deputy City Attorney
Santa Monica College Bundy Campus and associated
Links: June 14, 2005 Staff Report --
access and impact issues
– recommendation to authorize staff to enter into a one-
time interim pedestrian access agreement with Santa Monica College (SMC) to facilitate
the 2005 summer session and approve associated pedestrian safety improvements on
Airport property to be funded by SMC.
http://santa-monica.org/cityclerk/council/agendas/2005/20050614/s2005061408-D.htm
Santa Monica College (SMC) Bundy Campus
July 26, 2005 Staff Report --
Pedestrian Access
- recommendation to extend current temporary pedestrian access
agreement with SMC to facilitate start up of 2005 semester provided SMC identifies
alternative location for fall shuttle operations and uses lot it currently leases from Airport
solely for those attending classes at the Bundy Campus; and, that the city, Los Angeles,
and SMC immediately commence discussions to cooperatively identify parking and
traffic management solutions for SMC operations system-wide.
http://santa-monica.org/cityclerk/council/agendas/2005/20050726/s2005072608-B.htm
Attachment: Final Phase Master Plan – Bundy Campus Site Plan
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Attachment A
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