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City Council Meeting: January 26, 2010 Agenda Item: ~"'~ To: Mayor and City Council From: Carol Swindell, Director of Finance Subject: Five Year Financial Forecast, Public Comment on Budget Priorities Including Comments on Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) Programs, Discussion of Community Priorities for FY2011-12 Budget Development, and Establish Community Development (CD) Grant Program and Cultural Arts Organizational Support Program (OSP) Grant Cycles. Recommended Action Staff recommends that City Council: 1) Receive the FY2010-11 through FY2014-2015 Five Year Financial Forecast as background for development of the FY2010-11 budget; 2) Receive public comments on FY2010-11 budget priorities, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) program funds; 3) Provide staff with direction on Community Priorities to guide the development of the FY2010-11 budget and FY2011-12 budget plan; and 4) Renew grant funding for one year contingent upon available funding and postpone the next grant cycle to begin FY2011-12 for the Community Development (CD) Grant Program and Cultural Arts Organizational Support Program (OSP). Executive Summary This report provides an update on the current status of the economy and its potential impact on budget revenues, presents a forecast of revenues and expenditures for the major City funds, and provides an update on community input received during the neighborhood meetings conducted by the City Manager in November and December. The report requests that Council receive public comment on community budget priorities and provide direction to staff regarding Council recommendations on budget development for FY2010-11. 1 Despite the end of the worst global recession since the Great Depression, most economists project mild to moderate economic recovery in the coming years. In addition, national, state, and local economies remain relatively weak. The lingering impacts of the recession and the uncertain path of recovery make forecasting difficult, and staff has used different scenarios to examine the City's future fiscal health. The Five Year Forecast provides three major scenarios that examine the effect of economic conditions on City revenues and expenditures. The Baseline Scenario incorporates revenue and expenditure assumptions that staff consider the most probable, based on currently available information. This scenario indicates a deficit of $6.9 million in FY2010-11 (this deficit would be $13.2 million before the use of one-time funds of $6.3 million from the Economic Uncertainty designation). Growth in expenditures outpaces revenue growth to provide an annual deficit of $35.4 million in FY2014-15. Supplies and expenses are expected to grow at 2 percent in 2010-11 and remain less than 3 percent for the five years of the forecast. Likewise, cost of living allowances (COLA) for salaries and wages is expected to range from 2.5 percent in FY2010-11 to 2.9 percent in FY2014-15. Total compensation increases range between 5.3 percent and 6.8 percent during the term of the forecast, reflecting the provisions of the City's agreements with bargaining units. A significant contributor to the increase in total compensation arises from required increases in employer contribution rates for the CaIPERS retirement system, primarly due to CaIPERS' investment losses. As a result, the General Fund cost is projected to increase by $11.5 million, or 44 percent between FY2009-10 and FY2014-15. Revenues projected in the Baseline Scenario assume that Santa Monica Place reopens in August 2010 and that the City continues to be affected by the housing and commercial real estate slumps. Modest growth in transient occupancy tax (TOT) is expected in FY2010-11. Amore detailed discussion of the assumptions used in all scenarios is available in Attachment A. The Worst Case Scenario assumes that COLA levels increase from 2.5 percent in FY2010-11 to 4 percent in 2014-15, although the escalation factor for supplies and expenses increases at the same rate as the Baseline Scenario. Property tax revenues in this scenario maintain only 2 percent annual growth rates. Sales tax and TOT revenues maintain slower growth rates than those used in the Baseline Scenario. Under the Worst Case Scenario, the deficit increases from $12.1 million in FY2010-11 ($18.4 million before the use of one time funds) to $52.8 million in FY2014-15. Finally, the Best Case Scenario uses expenditure assumptions from the Baseline combined with slightly higher revenue projections. In this scenario, sales tax revenues from Santa Monica Place are assumed to be 10 percent higher than those projected in the Baseline. Property tax revenues are projected at double the Baseline projections, or 4 percent annually, short of the average annual increase of approximately 5 percent since 1997. TOT revenues are adjusted for the addition of two new hotels currently in the development process and recoveries in utility users tax (UUT) and business license tax revenues are accelerated. Under the Best Case Scenario, the annual deficit 2 increases from $6.5 million in FY2010-11 ($12.8 million before the use of one-time funds) to $30.4 million in FY2014-15. The Five Year Financial Forecast projects that General Fund expenditures will grow at a faster rate than revenues over the entire forecast period. It is important to note that the Five Year Forecast assumes normal growth in existing salaries and wages and does not include any additional programs, except for the operating costs associated with the new Pico library. Likewise there are no additional capital improvement projects included in the General Fund beyond those in the current plan. The forecast also does not include operating costs associated with the planned capital improvement projects to be financed through the Redevelopment Agency. Non-General funds are also briefly presented, and some also show structural imbalances in their forecasts. There are a number of funds that were intended to be self-supporting which are currently subsidized by the General Fund. These funds are projected to require continuing annual subsidies that total $5 million by 2015-15. To begin the prioritization, community priorities have been sought over the past four months from community meetings, a-mails to budget(a~smgov.net, and comments from City boards and commissions. The majority of comments received to date identified issues of concern as: • Mobility • Public Safety and Violence Prevention Livable Neighborhoods Discussion Economic Update National and State Economies On the national level, the economy appears to have bottomed .out and the worst recession since the Great Depression is over. Economic growth returned in the third quarter of 2009 as Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a 2.2 percent increase after four consecutive quarters of contraction. Although home foreclosures remain at or near historic high levels, the housing market is showing signs of stabilizing. However, it will likely be some time before prices and sales return to pre-recession levels. Retail sales, consumer spending, and consumer confidence have all showed recent signs of improvement. The United States stock market, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, has increased approximately 62 percent from the low point of March 2009. 3 However, there still are some troubling areas of the economy. The December national unemployment rate of 10 percent is among the highest in twenty-five years. Although residential real estate has shown some recent improvement, the commercial real estate market is showing signs of distress. A heavy debt load is resulting in many large commercial property owners walking away and turning properties over to the bank. One of the largest mall owners in the country has filed for bankruptcy protection. Economic growth is expected over the next few years, but at fairly low levels. While the unemployment rate is expected to decline in 2010, it still is expected to remain over 9 percent until at least the end of 2011. The credit markets are still tight, making expansion difficult. While inflation is relatively low, it has been increasing in recent months, and some analysts believe that increasing government debt will result in high inflation at some point in the next few years. The California economy has been plagued by many of the same issues confronting the national economy. The State unemployment rate was 12.3 percent in November, down slightly from October, but still at a historically high level. On the positive side, the housing crisis appears to be coming. to an end. Home sales in November were up 11.5 percent from a year ago and median prices showed a 1.6 percent gain from the prior year, but are still well below historical highs. Personal income and retail sales are expected to turn positive in 2010 after two years of declines, but the rate of growth is projected to be below typical levels until at least the end of 2012. In addition to these economic indicators, the biggest threat to the California economy is the State budget. The latest estimates indicate that the State is facing a $21 billion deficit by the end of FY2010-11. To help balance the current year budget, the State borrowed/transferred property taxes from local agencies. There is concern that the State may attempt to take other local government funding sources next year. 4 Local Economy Historically, Santa Monica has tended to be more resilient than its neighbors in tough economic times due, in large part, to a relatively strong, diversified economy and tax base. Property taxes, utility users taxes, sales taxes, transient occupancy taxes, and business license taxes together account for about 60 percent of total General Fund revenues. Unlike most cities that are heavily dependent on sales and/or property taxes, no single source accounts for more than 15 percent of the total. However, the current recession has had a severe impact on Santa Monica tax revenues. Local sales tax trends are difficult to predict because of the lag in available data (the City currently has results through the third quarter of 2009). Sales taxes are expected to decline in FY2009-10 for the second consecutive year. However, the most recent data indicates that receipts from new auto sales and leases, which account for over 20 percent of Santa Monica's sales tax revenues, may be recovering after a period of sharp declines, but remain at low levels. In addition, Santa Monica Place will reopen in FY2010-11 after being closed for more than a year and a half. Property values have held up better in Santa Monica than in many other local areas. Santa Monica's FY2009-10 assessed valuation showed a 4 percent increase from last year, even though the County as a whole declined. However, the State recently announced that for the first time since the passage of Proposition 13, the annual inflation adjustment for property values will be negative, declining by 0.6 percent. This will impact City property tax revenues in FY2010-11 and may continue to have an effect in following years. The number of property transfers in FY2009-10 through November showed a slight increase from last year's historic low. However, after five consecutive years of decline, transfers will likely take some time to return to more typical levels. The commercial real estate market has also been suffering and will likely continue to do so in the near term. While Santa Monica's asking price for Class A office space of $3.95 per square foot remains the highest in West Los Angeles, it is significantly down from the high mark of $6.02 per square foot. In addition, the vacancy rate has increased to about 14 percent, a marked increase from 5.9 percent in March 2007. The adopted 5 State budget includes aone-time Prop A borrowing of a little more than $3.1 million from the City; however, a statewide securitization program has allowed the City to be made whole this year. In addition, the State budget includes the transfer of over $21 million in Santa Monica Redevelopment Agency tax increment funds in FY2009-10 and $4.3 million in FY2010-11. Economic activity from tourism began to fall sharply in late 2008 and continues to show year-over-year decreases. While the rate of decrease has begun to slow in recent months, and a bottoming out is expected in early to mid 2010, average room rates may take years to return to pre-recession levels. Utility users taxes have been negatively impacted by a crash in natural gas prices, but are expected to grow slowly over the forecast period. Business license taxes have held up through FY2009-10; however,. due to the lag time between actual business activity and receipt of tax revenues in FY2010-11 and FY2011-12, revenues are projected to be less than FY2009-10 levels. The struggling economy has led to record low interest rates in the zero to five year maturity range where the City can legally invest. Most economists now expect that it will be at least early to mid-2010 before the Federal Reserve begins to increase short term interest rates. The extended period of record low interest rates has reduced City investment income. The forecast assumes that interest rate for the City portfolio ranges from 2.3 percent in FY2010-11 to 3.75 percent in FY2014-15. Based on revenues received to date, staff estimates that FY2009-10 revenues will end the year approximately $5 million less than budget. Decreases in sales taxes, transient occupancy taxes, utility users taxes, and user fees will be partially offset by higher than anticipated business license taxes and property taxes. While revenues are expected to recover somewhat beginning in FY2010-11, the rates of growth are projected to be relatively low compared to historical trends. 6 Five Year Forecast of Major Funds Each year, staff projects the status of the City's major funds for the coming five year period, focusing primarily on the General Fund. The projections begin with available fund balances at the end of the prior fiscal year. Staff then updates current revenue received to date (FY2009-10, in this instance) and begins to build a forecast using updated economic information and assumptions about growth rates for both revenues and expenditures. These forecasts provide a framework for the development of the budgets for next year. The assumptions used in preparing the FY2010-11 through FY2014-15 Five Year Forecast reflect an analysis of information concerning the national, state, regional, and local economies. A number of respected sources of data were used, including the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management, the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), chief economists of several different financial institutions, and various consulting firms. Genera/ Fund This year, three revenue and two expenditure scenarios were prepared based on staffs assessment of the economic environment. The Baseline scenario provides staff's most likely forecast, while the .other scenarios examine the effects of less likely, or less expected, changes in the economic environment. Assumptions used in the development of these scenarios are contained in Attachment A. Outlook Combining revenue projections with expenditure projections, plus available balance sheet resources, the financial forecast shows a structural deficit in all scenarios. A structural deficit is defined as a budget where ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover ongoing expenditures at current service levels. The Baseline Scenario shows a General Fund deficit of $6.9 million beginning in FY2010-11, growing to $35.4 million in the fifth year of the Forecast. Compensation 7 costs increases range from 5.3 to 6.8 percent per year over the five year period. This Scenario also assumes that the Civic Auditorium subsidy discontinues during FY2010- 11 (this will be dependent upon the terms of an operating agreement that is currently under negotiation) and that the new Pico Library will be in full operation in FY2013-14 with annual operating costs of $1.2 million and additional one-time funds of $1.5 million in the first year for purchases of the opening collection and computer equipment. Costs for CaIPERS retirement contributions are expected to rise significantly over the five year period, particularly in FY 2012-13 and 2013-14, where increases of 10.8 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, are projected. Baseline Scenario $350 $300 o $zso $200 Siso $loo Sources Uses Fiscal Year • Slow economic recovery and revenue growth • 5.3 percent-6.8 percent compensation cost increases after FY2009-10 • CPI on Supplies & Expenses • New Pico Library beginning in FY2013-14 The Worst Case Scenario shows a General Fund structural deficit of $12.1 million beginning in FY2010-11. This deficit grows to $52.8 million in the fifth year. The scenario assumes a slower and more flat economic recovery than the other scenarios. On the expenditure side, compensation costs increase by 5.8 to 7.9 percent over the five year period and Civic subsidies remain at previously forecast levels, ranging from $2.4 to $4.2 million. 8 FY09-10 FY10-11 FY11-12 FY12-13 FY1314 FY14-15 Worst Case Scenario $350 S3oo N `_ $zso ~ 5200 Siso Sloo Sources ®Uses Fiscal Year • Extended impact of economic downturn on tax revenues • State takeaway of local public safety funds • Compensation cost increases of 5.8 percent to 7.9 percent after FY2009-10 • Ongoing Civic subsidies • New Pico Library The Best Case Scenario projects higher revenues, mostly in the final four years of the forecast In this case, the deficit grows from $6.5 million in FY 2010-11 ($12.8 million before the use of one-time funds) to $30.4 million in the last year of the forecast. Best Case Scenario c 0 $350 $300 Szso $200 S1so S1oo $so $o Sources ®Uses Fiscal Year • Faster and slightly more robust economic recovery • Two new hotels • Higher Santa Monica Place revenues • 5.3%-6.8% compensation cost increases after FY2009-10 • CPI on Supplies & Expenses • New Pico Library in FY2013-14 and beyond 9 FY09-30 FY10-11 FY31-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY34-15 FY09-10 FY10-11 FY11-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY14-35 Other Funds Other major funds that are reviewed during the Five Year Forecast fall into three categories: • Enterprise funds that are operated to generate sufficient revenues to sustain necessary operation and capital needs (although some have required General Fund subsidies) o .Airport /Special Aviation o Big Blue Bus o Solid Waste o Wastewater o Water o Cemetery • Non-General funds that are intended to be self-supporting but which require General Fund subsidies in order to meet their operating and capital needs o Civic Auditorium (subsidy will depend on future operating agreement) o Pier o Stormwater • Special Revenue Funds where funds are restricted for specific purposes (both are forecasted to require General Fund subsidies) o Beach/Beach House o Housing Authority For these funds, only one baseline scenario was developed. In general, fee revenues are assumed to increase by CPI and water and wastewater rates are based on the Council approved rate increases through FY2012-13 and CPI afterwards. Solid Waste will be undergoing a rate study and staff expects to report back to Council in fall 2010 with a proposed rate structure. A summary of the status of individual funds follows. NON-SUBSIDIZED ENTERPRISE FUNDS Airport Fund -The baseline forecast, including the Special Aviation Fund, shows that it will be self-sufficient during the forecast period. The fund maintains no operating or capital reserves for unknown needs. 10 Revenue projections are conservative for the forecast period due to the current economic downturn and rental lease contracts that are below fair market value. The Fund manager has indicated that after 2015, when these lease contracts are due for renewal, lease rental revenues should increase to levels reflecting the market rates. At that time, with available fund balance, the fund will begin repaying its General Fund loans totaling $9.5 million. Big Blue Bus -Forecasting for the Big Blue Bus provides unique challenges, since a majority of the Bus' funds are not controlled by the City, but are available from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the form of grant subsidy funds per a formula share allocation. Annual allocations of funds not spent in the year of allocation are available up to two years later for use by the transit system. The majority of the subsidies available to the BBB, including Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, State Transit Assistance (STA) funds, and Proposition A and Proposition C funds are based on sales taxes collected in the County of Los Angeles, and are influenced by the same economic factors that affect General Fund sales tax revenues. Due to the State budget crisis this forecast assumes the loss of all STA appropriations to local transit systems. For the purposes of this forecast, subsidy funds are increased slightly based on the sales tax growth assumptions from the UCLA Anderson Forecast and modified by Metro forecasts and Big Blue Bus staff assessments. The Big Blue Bus' baseline forecast projects an operating deficit of $1.6 million in the current fiscal year; however this includes the use of $6.3 million in one-time funds and expenditure savings of $2.2 million offset by $2.9 in additional necessary expenditures. The Bus is working with the City Manager's Office and the Finance Department to determine possible solutions to close the structural deficit by the end of the fiscal year. Even with a new revenue stream of approximately $6 million per year generated from recently the portion of the adopted Measure R dedicated to transit systems 11 beginning in FY2010-11 and additional revenue of $3.5 million generated from a fare increase proposed to be implemented beginning July 1, 2010, the Bus fund has a projected structural deficit of $3.8 million in FY2011-12 and growing to $51.7 million by FY2014-15 without corrective action. Solid Waste Fund -The City entered into apublic/private partnership for transfer and recycling services in November 2008 and subsequently issued a request for proposal for a rate study. In order to provide the rate consultant with meaningful cost data reflecting changes associated with the public/private partnership, two management consultants were hired for operating efficiency review and best management practices. The management consultants' reports are due February 2010; their findings and recommendations will be incorporated into FY2010-11 Proposed Budget and the rate study. The preliminary rate study report is tentatively scheduled for a September Council meeting with a tentative adoption in January 2011. For the first six months of FY2010-11, staff projects a CPI increase in rates of 2 percent. Water Fund -The baseline forecast is prepared with the maximum rate increases approved by Council on July 8, 2008, with an operating reserve at 25 percent of operating budget and a capital reserve at 50 percent of the capital budget. This fund is projected to maintain a positive balance in each year, ending Year 5 with an estimated fund balance of $15.5 million, assuming maximum allowable rate increases. The forecast also reflects a reduction of 2 percent in water consumption to reflect the Water Master Plan. Other issues to be included in future forecasts: • Arcadia water treatment costs of $7.2 million are currently funded by the Charnock fund. When Charnock funds are exhausted, currently projected by FY2016-17, the full cost will be absorbed by the Water fund. 12 The forecast does not reflect a sustainable goal of water reductions of 20 percent by 2010. Water staff and Sustainable staff are working, together for an implementation plan to be included in the future forecasts. Wastewater Fund -The baseline forecast is prepared with the maximum rate increases approved by Council on July 8, 2008, with an operating reserve of 25 percent of operating budget and a capital reserve of 50 percent of capital budget. The capital costs relating to the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by the City of Los Angeles, is projected at 16.7 percent of capital budget. The fund is projected to maintain a positive balance in each year, ending Year 5 with an estimated fund balance of $10.9 million. The baseline forecast also reflects a reduction of $1.6 million in revenues in sewer service fees and construction and development related fees due to slowing economy. Cemetery Fund -The forecast reflects the implementation of the Cemetery Business Plan, which was adopted by Council in April 2009 for implementation in this fiscal year (FY2009-10). The Business Plan was developed to address various issues, including three financial goals: to achieve fiscally sustainable cemetery operations, to repay General Fund loans of $1.2 million and previous General Fund subsidies, and to increase the Cemetery and Mausoleum Perpetual Care Fund to a level that can sustain Cemetery operations in perpetuity. When the Business Plan is fully implemented, the Fund is projected to end each year with a surplus after a loan repayment ranging from $0.3 million to $1.7 million per year. Since FY2009-10 is the first year of the implementation, adjustments will be made to future forecasts based on FY2009-10 experience. SUBSIDIZED NON-GENERAL FUNDS Civic Auditorium -The City is currently in negotiations with Nederlander to operate a remodeled Civic Center. The Baseline Civic Auditorium forecast reflects FY2010-11 as the last year to receive a General fund subsidy, although this assumption is uncertain. The Worst Case scenario reflects an ongoing 13 annual General Fund subsidy of $2.4 to $4.2 million based on previous forecasts. Adjustments will be made to future forecasts once an agreement is finalized. Pier. Fund -Pier Fund operating expenses include Pier related activities in Housing and Economic Development Department, Harbor Unit expenses from Police Department, and other maintenance related activities from Community Maintenance Department. Pier revenues include Pier vendor rentals, parking lot operations, carousel operations, partial reimbursements from the Beach Fund for Harbor costs and other miscellaneous revenue categories. Capital Improvement Projects expenditures for the baseline only include the basic fleet, computer, and telecommunication expenditures. Under this scenario, a General fund subsidy is required ranging from $0.2 to $0.6 million a year. The forecast does not include Pier Infrastructure CIPs which over the forecast period would total $11.3 million, increasing General fund subsidies to $1.1 to $1.5 million a year. Stormwater Management Fund -The Stormwater Fund, together with the Clean Beaches and Ocean (Measure V) fund, implements the City's Watershed Management Master Plan. The primary funding source for the Fund is the flat per parcel fee collected from all property owners in the City. Unlike Measure V, parcel tax revenues for Stormwater do not contain an annual CPI escalator. Primary operating expenses include storm drain maintenance, SMURRF operations and maintenance and support for various environmental programs. The fund is projected to require an annual General fund subsidy of $1 million due to flat revenues not sufficient to cover the rising City staff costs for performing storm drain maintenance and SMURRF operations and maintenance. Options to address the structural deficit include a ballot measure to raise one time funds, 14 adding an annual CPI escalator to the per parcel fee and implementation of cost cutting measures. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS Beach Fund - Incorporating operating expenditures for the Annenberg Community Beach House, the Beach Fund will require a General Fund subsidy of $1.5 million beginning in FY2011-12, growing to $2.7 million in FY2014-15. Beach parking revenue is the single largest revenue and it is projected to grow by 2 percent based on the average growth in the last three years. The Beach House began full operations in FY2009-10. However, most of the facilities have been underutilized. Community and Cultural Services staff is currently working with consultants and other City staff to review the programming, facility lease/rental rates and parking fees in order to address the fund balance issues. While the Beach and Beach House are special revenue funds, the General Fund is assumed to subsidize these funds in the Five Year Forecast. Housing Authority Fund -This fund is projected to require a General fund subsidy or loan of $0.2 million beginning in FY2010-11, growing to $0.6 million in FY2014-15 to maintain the same level of service currently provided. Stagnant Federal subsidies and rising City staff costs to administer the housing programs have depleted reserves accumulated in prior years, prompting the need for General fund subsidies. Community Priorities Community Outreach for FY2010-11 Budget Priorities During the months of November and December, five neighborhood meetings were conducted by the City Manager's Office in partnership with the five active neighborhood associations. The meetings, held throughout Santa Monica, were focused on receiving comments from the community regarding their priorities for City programs and services. 15 Comments were received at the. neighborhood meetings, both through discussions and on comment cards. Further public input was provided through a-mail to the budget e- mail address (budget@smgov.net) and the City Manager's a-mail address, as well as through conventional postal mail. Community input is summarized in the following paragraphs. Mobility Mobility issues continue to be of major concern among residents. Residents expressed frustration with traffic and described the difficulty of getting around in the City. While acknowledging that longer-term solutions are in progress, residents expressed a need for more immediate actions. Improved enforcement of traffic laws and traffic calming measures, such as streetscape and striping, were suggested as methods to improve traffic in Santa Monica. Community members agreed that a balanced approach to parking is needed. Many agreed on the need to encourage the use of alternative transportation to help alleviate traffic and decrease parking demands. Public Safety and Violence Prevention Residents expressed concerns for public safety, especially in light of the recent shooting death of a youth at Virginia Avenue Park. Some requested increased Police presence in neighborhoods and continued efforts to .provide positive alternatives for youth to combat youth violence. Residents .expressed their continued support of programs to prevent youth violence and gang involvement and a desire to see increased crime prevention measures implemented throughout the City. As the number of bicycle riders increases, community members expressed the need for more innovative ways to ensure bicyclist safety (i.e., bike-only streets, bike pathways along congested streets, improved bike lanes & signage) and 16 enforcement of traffic and bicycle laws especially at intersections and around schools to ensure that motorists are obeying traffic laws and bicycle riders are stopping at stop signs and obeying all traffic laws. Livable Neighborhoods Residents expressed their desire that neighborhood improvements be aesthetically pleasing. Many suggested that the City improve crosswalks to increase pedestrian visibility, increase the number of flashing smart crosswalks, increase the length of time provided for pedestrians to clear crosswalks before signal changes, and assess the use of diagonal crosswalks to avoid pedestrian and vehicle conflicts. Some residents expressed a desire for additional bicycle racks throughout the City to respond to the increased number of bicycle riders and encourage additional bicycle ridership. More detailed summaries of each Community Meeting. are included in Attachment C, as well as letters from the City's Commissions and Boards. In addition, public comments may be offered during the January 26 Council meeting. Community Development (CD) Grant Program and Cultural Arts Organizational Support Program (OSP) The City engages in a competitive process to allocate funds to non-profit human service and arts organizations through the Community Development (CD) Grant Program and Cultural Arts Organizational Support Program (OSP). Funds are awarded to agencies for amulti-year period and provide predictable resources for stable program operation and organizational support. In 2007, Council awarded three-year grants to 37 non-profit agencies through the. CD Grant Program and the Cultural Arts OSP. The current fiscal year, FY2009-10, is the last year of the FY2007-10 grant cycle. 17 Past practice would have the City open the next grant funding cycle by issuing an RFP in February 2010. The economy appears to be recovering from the worst recession since WWII, but the recovery is likely to be fairly weak as compared to historical trends. City-funded nonprofits continue to be challenged with limited resources and increased. demand for services. In light of economic concerns, staff proposes to extend the grant cycle for the current grantees for one additional year and begin the next grant cycle in FY2011-12, rather than FY2010-11. Historically, the City has been able to provide level funding or annual cost of living adjustments when grants are renewed. Due to the current economic climate and budget shortfall a reduction for grantees may be necessary. Community Development (CD) Grant Program Over the next several months, staff will work with the community to verify and document Santa Monica's anticipated needs. This work will be incorporated into the upcoming FY2010-15 Consolidated Plan, a strategic plan required by HUD for all communities receiving federal funds. The social service priorities set out in the Consolidated Plan will guide a recommended funding rationale for the next CD Grant Program grant cycle beginning July 1, 2011. Cultural Arts Organizational Support Program (OSP) Creative Capital, the City of Santa Monica's long-range cultural plan, unanimously adopted by the City Council in February 2007, and the consultant's report, An Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding Program Supporting the City of Santa Monica & Our Residents, accepted by City Council in January 2008, recommend the sustained implementation of operational support grants to Santa Monica's arts nonprofits. During the preparation of the plan and subsequent report a number of well-attended public meetings were held to gather input. That input shaped the recommendations for the Organizational Support Program (OSP), which is designed to help strengthen the capacity of Santa Monica arts organizations and encourage sustainable growth and development. Significant growth now has indeed occurred in Santa Monica's cultural 18 infrastructure since the inception of the OSP. In 2010, staff will update its assessment of the nonprofit arts community's organizational needs and prepare recommendations for future funding priorities. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions There is no immediate budget impact as a result of receiving the information provided in this report. Direction provided by City Council based on information in this staff report and public input received during the Council meetings will assist in determining the direction to be taken in developing the FY2010-11 budget. Prepared by: Chuck McBride, Assistant Director of Finance Approved: Forward~etl,to Council: ~~ /`~~~2// ~, O Carol Swindell P. m t Ewell Director of Finance Ci anaoer Attachments: A -Five Year Forecast B -Community Priority Update C -Community Comments 19 ATTACHMENT A Five-Year Financial Forecast FY2010-11 through FY2014-15 Economic Update National and State Economies On the national level, the economy appears to have bottomed out and the worst recession since World War II is over. Economic growth returned in the third quarter of 2009 as Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a 2.2 percent increase after four consecutive quarters of contraction. The housing market is showing signs of stabilizing. Most economists now predict relatively tepid economic growth over the next several years. Annualized sales of existing homes in November were up 44 percent from one year earlier, the biggest gain on record. The decline in housing prices also appears to be ending, although November median prices for existing home sales were still 4.3 percent below November 2008; and it will be some time before prices and sales return to pre-recession levels. Retail sales, consumer spending, and consumer confidence have all showed recent signs of improvement. The United States stock market, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, has increased approximately 60 percent from the low point of March 2009. However, there still are some troubling indications in certain areas of the economy. The December unemployment rate is 10 percent, a decline from November, but still at the highest seen in over twenty-five years. Foreclosures are still at record highs. A recent study estimated that nearly one in seven mortgages was in the foreclosure process and nearly one-third of homes sold in November were in foreclosure. The commercial real estate market is showing signs of distress. A heavy debt load is resulting in many large commercial property owners simply walking away and turning properties over to the bank. One of the largest mall owners in the country has filed for bankruptcy protection. Economic growth is expected over the next few years, but at fairly low levels. While the unemployment rate is expected to decline in 2010, it still is expected to remain over 9 percent until at least the end of 2011. The credit markets are still tight. While inflation is relatively low, it has been increasing in recent months, and some analysts believe that increasing government debt will result in high inflation sometime in the next few years. The California economy has been plagued by many of the same issues confronting the national economy. The State unemployment rate was 12.3 percent in November, down slightly from October, but still at a historically high level. The housing crisis appears to be coming to an end. California home sales in November were up 11.5 percent from a year ago and median prices showed a 1.6 percent gain from the prior year, but are still well below historical highs. Personal income and retail sales are expected to turn positive in 2010 after two years of decline, but the rate of growth is projected to be below typical levels until at least the end of 2012. In addition to these indicators of anemic economic growth, the biggest threat to the California economy is the State budget. The latest estimates are that the State is facing a $21 billion deficit by the end of FY2010-11. To help balance the current year budget, A-1 the State borrowed/transferred property taxes from local agencies. There is concern that the State may attempt to take other local government funding sources next year. Santa Monica Economy Historically, Santa Monica has tended to be more resilient than its neighbors in tough economic times due, in large part, to a relatively strong, diversified economy. Unlike many cities, no single source of revenue accounts for more than 15 percent of total General Fund revenues. However, the current recession has had a severe impact on Santa Monica tax revenues, particularly sales taxes and transient occupancy taxes (TOT). Both of these sources are expected to decease in FY2009-10 for the second straight year. Property values have held up better in Santa Monica than in many other local areas as FY2009-10 City assessed valuation showed a 4 percent increase from last year even thought the County as a whole declined. However, the State recently announced that for the first time since the passage of Proposition 13, the annual inflation adjustment for property values will be negative. This will impact City property tax revenues in FY2010-2011 and perhaps beyond. Local sales tax trends are difficult to predict because of the lag ih available data (the City currently has some summary results through the third quarter of 2009). The most recent data indicates that receipts from auto sales and leases, which account for over 20 percent of Santa Monica's sales tax revenues, may be recovering after a period of sharp declines, but remain at low levels. In addition, Santa Monica Place will reopen in FY2010-11 after being closed for more than a year and a half. The number of property transfers in FY2009-10 through November shows a slight increase from last year's historic low. However, after five consecutive years of decline, it will likely take some time to return to more typical levels. The struggling economy has led to record low interest rates in the zero to five year maturity range where the City can legally invest. Most economists now expect that it will be at least early to mid-2010 before the Federal Reserve begins to increase short term interest rates. The extended period of record low interest rates has reduced City investment income. Economic activity from tourism began to fall sharply in late 2008 and continues to show year over year decreases. However, the rate of decrease has begun to slow in recent months, and a bottoming out is expected in early to mid 2010. The commercial real estate market has also been suffering. While Santa Monica's asking price for Class A office space of $3.95 per square foot remains the highest in the county, it is significantly down from the high mark $6.02 per square foot. In addition, the vacancy rate has increased to about 14 percent. The struggling economy has led to record low interest rates in the zero to five year maturity range where the City can legally invest. Most economists now expect that it will be at least early to mid-2010 before the Federal Reserve begins to increase short term interest rates. The extended period of record low interest rates has reduced City investment income. The adopted State budget includes cone-time Proposition A borrowing of a little more than $3.1 million from the City. However, a statewide securitization program will allow the City to be made whole this year. In addition, the State budget called for transfer of A-2 over $21 million in Santa Monica Redevelopment Agency tax increment funds. There are fears that the State may attempt to take additional funds in FY2010-11, but options are limited. A-3 Five Year Forecast of Maior Funds Each year, staff projects the status of the City's major funds for the coming five year period, with a primary focus on the General Fund. The projections .begin with available fund balances at the end of last fiscal year (FY2008-09, in this case), update current revenue received to date (FY2009-10), update economic forecast informatidn, project revenue growth, identify expenditure growth assumptions and .project expenditure growth. These forecasts set the stage for the development of the budget for next year. The assumptions used in preparing the FY2010-11 through FY2014-15 Five Year Forecast reflect a review of information concerning the national, state, regional, and local economies. A number of respected sources of data were used, including the UCLA Graduate School of Management, the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), chief economists of several different financial institutions, and various consulting firms. The volatility of economic data will require continued review and adjustment as we develop the FY2010-11 Annual Budget. A-4 General Fund REVENUE PROJECTIONS As noted above, the baseline forecast assumes that while the recession is over, the economic recovery will be relatively mild. Growth in the major economy-driven tax revenues, such as sales taxes, business license taxes, and property taxes, are all expected to be below historical trends for the entire forecast period. The decline in tourism is expected to bottom out by the end of 2010 and then begin to improve. Transient occupancy taxes are projected to grow over the forecast period, mostly due to increased room rates. However, it could be FY2013-14 before revenues return to pre- recession levels. The baseline forecast also takes into account certain known impacts including re-opening of Santa Monica Place. The FY2009-10 estimated actual revenues are the starting point for revenue projections for future years. These revenues have been updated to reflect current year-to-date actual receipts. Overall, revenue adjustments in FY2009-10 reflect a decrease of $4.9 million, or 2 percent less than budgeted. The major decreases were from transient occupancy taxes ($2.8 million), utility user's taxes ($1.7 million), sales taxes ($0.8 million), and certain other local taxes ($0.9 million). Fees and charges and parking related revenues show a net decrease of 0.5 million each. These deceases are partially offset increases business license taxes ($0:5 million) and property taxes ($1.6 million). Property Taxes, and Utility User Taxes were more than offset by declines in revenue. Details of the revenue changes are presented in the Review of Mid-Year 2009-10 Budget Status staff report, also presented to Council on January 26, 2010. Future years' revenue growth is based on a variety of factors, depending upon the revenue source. The five major General Fund revenue sources are projected for the Baseline Scenario as follows: • Utility Users Tax -Revenues derived from cable television services forecast a stable growth factor of 2.4 percent during the forecast period. The telephone portion is increased at 2 percent per year, reflecting a decrease in hardwire services offset by an increase in wireless services. Taxes from electric utilities are driven by Southern California Edison (SCE) rates. FY2010-11 revenues reflect a pending 4 percent rate increase requested by SCE, and a general rate increase of 5 percent is projected for 2012. In other years, revenues are projected to grow by CPI reflecting increases in distribution and transportation costs. Taxes derived from the sale of water and wastewater are forecast to mirror the rate increases passed by City Council. The results are the following growth in overall UUT revenues: FY2010-11 - 4.7 percent, FY2011-12 - 2.8 percent, FY2012-13 - 3.7 percent, FY2013-14 - 2.4 percent, and FY2014-15 - 2.5 percent. A-5 • Sales Tax -Revenues are expected to increase by 7.4 percent in FY2010-11. and another 7.2 percent, primarily due to the re-opening of Santa Monica Place. Baseline growth projection is 2.5 percent. Due to timing differences between actual sales transactions and remittances to the City by the State, approximately one-half year's taxes will be received from Santa Monica Place in FY2010-11. The growth rate in sales taxes is projected to be 4 percent in FY2012-13 and FY2013-14, then increase to 4.5 percent in FY2014-15. These rates of growth are slightly below long term historical averages. Also, the City is heavily dependent on new auto sales as a source of revenues (over 20 percent of sales tax). Auto sales have declined sharply in recent quarters, although the decline is showing signs of leveling off. • Property Tax -The forecast assumes that the significant slump in the housing and commercial real estate markets will affect Santa Monica. The State recently announced that the annual "Prop 13 adjustment " in assessed value, usually 2 percent, will be slightly negative, down 0.6 percent, for the first time ever. Although the housing market is expected to begin recovery, the commercial real estate market is weakening as office vacancy rates are increasing. Based on this, it is anticipated that FY2010-11 assessed value in Santa Monica will be flat with FY2009-10 levels and then begin to grow, but at slower rates of increase than experienced the last several years. The City's percentage revenue increase will be less than the assessed .valuation increases due to the City share of tax revenues from the Earthquake Recovery Redevelopment Project Area, where the highest rates of growth are anticipated, being frozen at the base year assessed value. Gross secured taxes are expected to increase by 2 percent in FY2011-12, and 3 percent in FY2012-13, and 4 percent annually the remaining two years of the forecast period. Revenues from property taxes other than secured, mostly delinquent taxes, are expected to drop some in FY2010-11, and then remain essentially flat over the forecast period with the exception of statutory pass- throughs from the Redevelopment Agency, which are projected to grow at a rate commensurate with tax increment growth in the Earthquake Redevelopment Recovery Project Area, and Public Safety Augmentation Funds (Prop 172), which are projected to grow at a rate essentially equal to the increases in sales taxes. • Business License Tax -Slower economic growth in the City is expected to impact business license- revenues beginning in FY2010-11 (taxes will be based on calendar-year 2009 gross receipts). FY2010-11 and FY2011-12 revenues are projected to be approximately 2 percent less than in FY2009-10. Revenues are then expected to resume growth rates consistent with historical trends beginning in FY2012-13. Additionally, the full impact of the re-opening of Santa Monica Place will be realized in FY2012-13. • Transient Occupancy Tax -The global economic recession has severely impacted domestic and international leisure and business travel. Recent years' increases in occupancy rates reversed and there has been significant downward pressure on room rates. Based on information provided by PKF Consulting and A-6 the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, tourism is expected to begin recovery by mid-2010. Revenues are projected to increase by 4.3 percent in FY2010-11; 7 percent in FY2011-12; 6 percent in FY 2012-13, and 5 percent in both FY2013-14 and FY2014-15. The increases are almost entirely due to room rental rate increases. Revenues can be affected by certain geo-political events as well as world economic conditions and an increase in the number of luxury hotel rooms in the local area. The baseline scenario does not include the impact of any new hotels or hotel remodels. Based on the above, the General Fund revenues grow from $242.3 million in this fiscal year to $283.1 million in the fifth year of the projection (FY2014-15). The chart below shows growth in total revenues available for operations and capital in the General Fund by year. Other sources of funds, such as the use of designations, are not included. General Fund Revenues Baseline Scenario $300 $250 $200 c -° $150 $100 $50 $0 Fiscal Year !: All Other ::;;:Fees/Charges ~ Other Taxes ~TransientOccupancy Tax Business License Tax Property Tax Sales and Use Tax ^ Utility Users Tax The Five Year Financial Forecast also provides two alternative revenue scenarios for Santa Monica. These scenarios include a "low Revenue" alternative that shows slower revenue growth than the Baseline and the "High Revenue" scenarios that reflect higher revenues, Further detail on the difference between the Baseline and "Low" Case alternatives are detailed below: Property Tax - Assumes a significant impact of the commercial real estate slump and lingering impacts of the housing downturn on Santa Monica. This scenario assumes annual property tax growth rates will be flat in the first year of the forecast, and then grow only 2 percent annually in the remaining four years of the forecast. This scenario also assumes the State will permanently transfer local public safety augmentation (Prop 172) funds away from cities beginning in FY2010-11. A-7 FY09-10 FY10-il FY11-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY14-15 • Sales Tax -Assumes resumption of growth will be delayed one year. Except for the re-opening of Santa Monica Place, this scenario assumes FY2010-11 taxes will be flat with FY2009-10 levels. Rates of growth are then assumed at 2.5 percent in FY2011-12, 3 percent in FY2012-13, 4 percent in FY2013-14, and 4.5% in FY2014-15. • Transient Occupancy Tax -Similar to sales tax, this scenario assumes recovery in tourism will be delayed one year. The projection assumes FY2010-11 revenues will be flat with FY2009-10. Rates of growth are assumed to be the same as baseline forecast for the remaining years of forecast. • Business License Tax -Revenue decline in FY 10-11 will be twice the baseline percentage reflecting impacts of recession. Other years -same rates of growth as baseline. Decrease of $2.3 million over the forecast period. Should all the pessimistic assumptions occur, the total loss of revenue over the forecast period would be $20.6 million. General Fund Revenues Worst Case Scenario $300 $250 $200 c -° $150 $100 $SO $0 Fiscal Year All Other :::::Fees/Charges Other Taxes ~ Transient Occupancy Tax Business License Tax "Property Tax Sales and Use Tax ^ Utility Users Tax The "High Revenue" Scenario assumes that economic recovery in Santa Monica will occur faster than the other scenarios and that the recovery will be slightly stronger. This scenario makes modifications to the five major tax sources: • Utility Users Tax -Assumes natural gas prices will recover to pre-collapse levels over the next two years. • Sales Tax - FY 2010-11 and FY2011-12 projections assume an additional 10% in revenues from Santa Monica Place, in addition to what is assumed in the A-8 FY09-10 FY10-11 FY11-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY14-15 baseline forecast. This scenario also assumes in the final three years of the forecast, growth will approximate historical averages (4.7 percent annually). Property Taxes -The FY2010-11 forecast is same as the baseline. Growth in the remaining years of the forecast will be 4 percent annually or about twice the baseline growth. • Transient Occupancy Taxes -Assumes the addition of two new hotels that are currently in the predevelopment process. • Business License Taxes -The scenario assumes growth will return one year earlier than baseline (in FY2011-12). Increase in FY2011-12 will be about 50 percent of growth rate for remainder of forecast. Growth rates in the last three years of forecast will be the same as in baseline forecast. These modifications increase General Fund revenues approximately $17.2 million over the forecast period. General Fund Revenues Best Case Scenario $300 $250 $200 c -° $150 $100 $SO $0 Fiscal Year EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS Primary Cost Escalator- Labor -All Other i Fees/Charges Other Taxes ~ Transient Occupancy Tax Business License Tax !' Property Tax Sales and Use Tax ^ Utility Users Tax Government is primarily a service industry. Labor costs, including associated fringe benefits, comprise 71 percent of the FY2009-10 General Fund operating budget city- wide. Increases in compensation costs range as high as 8 percent (under the worst case scenario), outpacing. revenue growth of 2 - 4 percent. This situation has led to a structural imbalance seen in all forecast scenarios. A-9 FY09-10 FY10-il FY11-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY14-15 Adopted Budget General Fund Operating Expenditures Supplies & Expenses $74.5 M 29% ies & ges 3M Adopted Budget Labor Cost Components Retirement $27.7 M 16% Salaries & Wages $130.6 M 69 Expenditure Scenarios The assumptions used for expenditures in the various scenarios are detailed- in the following paragraphs. The baseline forecast assumes that the expenses escalate at 2 percent in FY2010-11 and between 2 to 2.4 percent, thereafter. The cost of living allowance (COLA) is expected to be 2.5 percent in FY2010-11 and between 2.5 to 4 percent, thereafter. The Worst Case scenario assumes higher COLA factors in the out years between 3 and 4 percent. Other expenditure assumptions in the forecasts include: A-10 All Other Health Benefits Insurance $8.8 $21.0 5% ~a°t • Medical insurance costs are inflated. at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) cap of 12 percent per year. • Retirement costs reflect actuarial projections over the forecast period. • In general, supplies and expenses are projected to increase at CPI. However, the Worst Case scenario keeps the growth steady between 2 to 2.4 percent in the forecast period even though the COLA reflects a range between 2.5 to 4 percent. • Capital Improvement expenditures are primarily flat for ongoing expenditures with variations for known internal service fund contributions such as vehicle and computer replacements. Funding for one-time projects is not reflected in the forecast. • Balance Sheet Transfers assume General Fund loans to other funds such as the Housing Authority and Stormwater fund. Transfers to the Pier and Civic funds to support operations are included in the Non-Departmental supplies and expenses line item in the budget. The forecast assumes that the new Pico Library will be in full operation in FY2013-14, with annual operating costs of $1.2 million and additional one-time costs of $1.5 million for materials and the purchase of computer equipment irr the opening year. • No additional one-time capital improvement projects are included in the General Fund in all versions of the forecast (with the exception of the new Pico Library). BUDGETARY EFFECTS With the revenue projections plus available balance sheet resources and the expenditure projections, the City financial forecast shows a structural deficit in all three scenarios. A structural deficit is defined as a budget where ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover ongoing expenditures at current service levels. The baseline scenario shows a Geheral Fund deficit beginning in FY2010-11 of $6.9 million ($13.2 before the use of the remaining $5.3 million in the Economic Uncertainty designation), growing to $35.4million in the fifth year of-the Forecast. The following table shows the projected fund balance under each scenario: A-11 FY2010-11 Lhrough FY2014-15 Five-Year Fund Balance Forecast FY09-10 FY10-11 FYll-12 FY12-13 FY13-14 FY14-15 BASELINE Sources $262.8 $254.3 $257.5 $265.9 $274.2. $283.6 Uses $270.5 $261.2 $274.2 $288.8 $305.0 $319.0 Surplus/(Deficit) > ($7.7) ($6.9) ($.1.6.7) ($22.9)r ($30':8) ($35.4) "WORST" CASE Sources $262.8 $251.3 $254.2 $261.9 $269.5 $277.9 Uses $270.5 $263.4 $279.0 $295.2 $314.1 $330.7 Surplus/(Deficit) ($7.7) ($12.1) ($24.8) ` ($33.3)> ($44.6) (.$52.8) "BEST" CASE Sources $262.8 $254.7 $260.2 $270.2 $278.9 $288.6 Uses $270.5 $261.2 $274.2 $288.8 $305.0 $319.0 Surplus/(Deficit) ($7.7) ($6':5) ($14.0) - ($18.6) ($26.1) ($30.4) A-12 Other Funds NON-SUBSIDIZED ENTERPRISE FUNDS Airport Fund -The baseline forecast, including the Special Aviation Fund, shows that it will be self-sufficient during the forecast period. The fund maintains no operating or capital reserves for unknown. needs. Revenue projections are conservative for the forecast period due to the current economic downturn and due to rental lease contracts that are below fair market value. Fund manager has indicated that after 2015 .when these lease contracts are due for renewal, lease rental revenues should increase to levels reflecting the market rates. At that time, with available fund balance, the fund will begin repaying its General Fund loans totaling $9.5 million. Big Blue Bus -Forecasting for the Big Blue Bus provides unique challenges, since a majority of the Bus' funds are not controlled by the City, but are available from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the form of grant subsidy funds per a formula share allocation. Annual allocations of funds not spent in the year of allocation are available up to two years later for use by the transit system. The majority of the subsidies available to the BBB, including Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, State Transit Assistance (STA) funds, and Proposition A and Proposition C funds are based on sales taxes collected in the County of Los Angeles, and are influenced by the same economic factors that affect General Fund sales tax revenues. Due to the State budget crisis this forecast assumes the loss of all STA appropriations to local transit systems. For the purposes of this forecast, subsidy funds are increased slightly based on the sales tax growth assumptions from the UCLA Anderson Forecast and modified by Metro forecasts and Big Blue Bus staff assessments. The Big Blue Bus' baseline forecast projects an operating deficit of $1.6 million in the current fiscal year; however this includes the use of $6.3 million in one-time funds and A-13 expenditure savings of $2.2 million offset by $2.9 in additional necessary expenditures. The Bus is working with the City Manager's Office and the Finance Department to determine possible solutions to close the structural deficit by the end of the fiscal year. Even with a new revenue stream of approximately $6 million per year generated from the portion of the recently adopted Measure R that is dedicated to transit beginning in FY2010-11 and additional revenue of $3.5 million generated from a fare increase proposed to be implemented beginning July 1, 2010 the Bus fund has a projected structural deficit of $3.8 million in FY2011-12 growing to $51.7 million by FY2014-15 without corrective action. Solid Waste Fund -The City entered into apublic/private partnership for transfer and recycling services in November 2008 and subsequently issued a request for proposal for a rate study. In order to provide the rate consultant with meaningful cost data reflecting changes associated with the public/private partnership, two management consultants were hired for operating efficiency review and best management practices. The management consultants' reports are due February 2010; their findings and recommendations will be incorporated into FY2010-11 Proposed Budget and the rate study. The preliminary rate study report is tentatively scheduled for a September Council meeting and the rate adoption tentatively in January 2011. For the first six months of FY2010-11, staff recommends a CPI increase of 2%. Water Fund -The baseline forecast is prepared with the maximum rate increases approved by Council on July 8, 2008, with an operating reserve at 25 percent of operating budget and a capital reserve at 50 percent of the capital budget. This fund is projected to maintain a positive balance in each year, ending Year 5 with an estimated fund balance of $15.5 million, assuming maximum allowable rate increases. The forecast also reflects a reduction of 2 percent in water consumption to reflect the Water Master Plan. A-14 Other issues to be included in future forecasts: • Arcadia water treatment costs of $7.2 million are currently funded by the Charnock fund. When Charnock funds are exhausted, currently projected in FY2016- 17, the full cost will be absorbed by the Water fund. • The forecast does not reflect a sustainable goal of water reductions of 20% by 2010. Water staff and Sustainable staff are working together for an implementation plan to be included in the future forecasts. Wastewater Fund -The baseline forecast is prepared with the maximum rate increases approved by Council on July 8, 2008, with an operating reserve of 25 percent of operating budget and a capital reserve of 50 percent of capital budget. The capital costs relating to the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by the City of Los Angeles, is projected at 16.7 percent of capital budget. The fund is .projected to maintain a positive balance in each year, ending Year 5 with an estimated fund balance of $10.9 million. The baseline forecast also reflects a reduction of $1.6 million in revenues in sewer service fees and construction and development related fees due to slowing economy. Cemetery Fund -The forecast reflects the implementation of the Cemetery Business Plan, which was adopted by Council in April 2009 for implementation in this fiscal year (FY2009-10). The Business Plan was developed to address various issues, including three financial goals: to achieve fiscally sustainable cemetery operations, to repay General Fund loans of $1.2 million and previous General Fund subsidies, and to increase the Cemetery and Mausoleum Perpetual Care Fund to a level that can sustain Cemetery operations in perpetuity. When the Business Plan is fully implemented, the Fund is projected to end each year with a surplus after a loan repayment ranging from $0.3 million to $1.7 million per year. Since FY2009-10 is the first year of the implementation, adjustments will be made to future forecasts based on FY2009-10 experience. A-15 SUBSIDIZED NON-GENERAL FUNDS Civic Auditorium -The City is currently in negotiations with Nederlander to operate a remodeled Civic Center. The Baseline Civic Auditorium forecast reflects FY2010-11 as the last year to receive a General fund subsidy, although this assumption is uncertain. The Worst case scenario reflects an ongoing annual General Fund subsidy of $2.4 to $42 million based on previous forecasts. Adjustments will be made to future forecasts once an agreement is finalized. Pier Fund -Pier Fund operating expenses include Pier related activities in Housing and Economic Development Department, Harbor Unit expenses from Police Department, and other maintenance related activities from Community Maintenance Department. Pier revenues include Pier vendor rentals, parking lot operations, carousel operations, partial reimbursements from the Beach Fund for Harbor costs and other miscellaneous revenue categories. Capital Improvement Projects expenditures for the baseline only include the basic fleet, computer, and telecommunication expenditures. Under this scenario, a General fund subsidy is required ranging from $0.2 to $0.6 million a year. The baseline does not include Pier Infrastructure CIPs which over the forecast period would total $11.3 million, increasing General fund subsidies to $1.1 to $1.5 million a year. Stormwater Management Fund -Stormwater fund, together with the Clean Beaches and Ocean (Measure V) fund, implements the City's Watershed Management Master Plan. The primary funding source for the Fund is the flat per parcel fee collected from all property owners in the City. Primary operating expenses include storm drain maintenance, SMURRF operations and maintenance and support for various environmental programs. The fund is projected to require an annual General fund A-16 subsidy of $1 million due to stagnant revenues not sufficient to cover the rising City staff costs performing storm drain maintenance and SMURRF operations and maintenance. Options to address the structural deficit include a ballot measure to raise one time funds and add an annual CPI escalator to the -per parcel fee and implementation of cost cutting measures. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS Beach Fund - Incorporating operating expenditures for the Annenberg Community Beach House, the Beach Fund will require a General Fund subsidy of $1.5 million beginning in FY2011-12, growing to $2.7 million in FY2014-15. Beach parking revenue is the single largest revenue and it is projected to grow by 2 percent based on the average growth in the last three years. Beach House entered into full operations in FY2009-10. However, most of the facilities have been under utilized. Community and Cultural staff is currently working with consultants and other City staff to review the programming, facility lease/rental rates and parking fees to address the fund balance issues. While the Beach and Beach House are special revenue funds, the General Fund is assumed to subsidize these funds in the Five Year Forecast. Housing Authority Fund -This fund is projected to require a General fund subsidy or loan of $0.2 million beginning in FY2010-11, growing to $0.6 million in FY2014-15 to maintain the same level of service currently provided. Stagnant Federal subsidies and rising City staff costs to administer the housing programs have depleted reserves accumulated in prior years, prompting the need for General fund subsidies. A-17 ATTACHMENT B Update on FY2009-10 Community Priorities Departmental Objectives FY2009-10 budget adoption- established the Community Priorities Departmental Objectives to be addressed by departments over the current and next few fiscal years. Highlights of accomplishments to date on these objectives include: Special Focus Areas Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) and Other Long-tem Planning Efforts • Planning and Community Development released draft LUCE in November. • Planning and Community Development and Big Blue Bus departments prepared Final Circulation Plan. Community Priorities Homelessness • Community and Cultural Services fully implemented the Homeless Management Information System to track client service outcomes Sustainabilitv • Housing and Economic Development prepared a Request for Proposal to select vendor to manufacture homes at Mountain View Mobile Home. • Planning and Community Development and Housing and Economic Development departments implemented joint Rideshare Week promotion with Bayside District in October 2009. • Planning and Community Development, Community and Cultural Services, and Big Blue Bus departments partnered with SamoHi at during student registration to encourage bicycle riding and assisted with Bike to School Day. Culture • Community and Cultural Services supported the public art component of capital improvement projects including the Big Blue Bus Campus Expansion and Downtown parking structure improvements 1 - 6 • Community and Cultural Services facilitated the return of the Cirque du Soleil to Santa Monica Beach Capital Needs and Infrastructure • Housing and Economic Development prepared the Five-Year RDA Implementation / 10-Year Housing Plan Customer Service • Community and Cultural Services expanded use of Airport Park Office to offer conveniently-located registration for leagues and other programs. • Community and Cultural Services integrated all community permitting functions in the new Community Recreation Division. • Housing and Economic Development transitioned to a web portal for inclusionary housing monitoring.. • Planning and Community Development restructured public counter functions for greater efficiency. FY2010-11 Budget Planning Community Meeting Input During November and December 2009 the City of Santa Monica conducted a series of community meetings designed to engage the public in dialogue with City staff regarding the Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget. Five community meetings were held between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. in locations throughout the City: 119 community members signed-in during the meefings November 9 Ocean Park Neighborhood held at SMASH/John Muir School (32) November 12 Sunset Park Neighborhood held at Grant Elementary School (22) November 16 Wilshire Montana Neighborhood held at Ken Edwards Center (20) December 1 North of Montana Neighborhood held at Montana Branch Library (18) December 2 Pico Neighborhood held at Virginia Avenue Park (27) The community expressed their concerns and identified the following common areas they would like the City to focus resources: Mobility -enhanced bicycle and pedestrian safety, improved traffic flow, and improved parking • Livable Neighborhoods -improved neighborhood aesthetics, additional and improved crosswalks, and improved bicycle amenities • Public Safety and Violence Prevention - providing positive alternatives for youth, increased gang prevention, better enforcement of traffic and bicycle laws especially at intersections and around schools, and increased crime prevention measures Meeting notes from Community Budget Meeting with Ocean Park Association held at John Muir Elementary School on November 9, 2009 Community Infrastructure • South end beach restrooms should be retrofitted versus being torn down which will keep them out of service for a longer period of time • Need improved infrastructure and dedicated bicycle infrastructures like bicycle only avenues connecting east-west and north-south points in city • Continued commitment to affordable housing • More funding for bicycle lanes and racks throughout City • Ocean Park Boulevard needs additional funds since it is a high priority with long term benefits • Streets need improvements • Desire to proceed with Ocean Park Boulevard; the project has taken way too long • Need seamless transportation system once Expo is here; desire for bike path from terminal to beach • Create a stage or outdoor theater at beach C-1 Public Safety • Keep youth involved in programs to prevent gang violence • Concerned about recent shootings • What security measures are in place to protect City's sensitive electronic information Quality of Life • Need more zero to five year old educational programs to prevent future violence • Continued commitment to education funding (2) e More Redevelopment funding dedicated to Santa Monica High School • Improved communication about early child programs The Environment • Encourage people to use bicycles as preferred transportation mode; not only is it better for environment but saves money too • Concerned about landscaping use of green grass; should be using sustainable drought tolerant plants instead Additional Items • A potential revenue source could be to have residents buy into the City's health insurance plan • The budget can only be cut so much; new revenue streams should be considered s Look for creative solutions; Portland Oregon has a strong volunteer program to help maintain parks and open space • Is the Cirque du Soleil's an economic benefit to the City Meeting notes from Community Budget Meeting with Friends of Sunset Park held at Grant Elementary School on November 12, 2009 Community Infrastructure • Pedestrian access must be incorporated into street improvements on Cloverfield Public Safety • Additional emphasis on personal safety needed Customer Service • Coordinate street cleaning day with trash day Additional Items • Need additional programs for special needs children and adults • Concern about increased development due to budget problems; notices have not been posted, want notices from Planning Commission on projects within 500 feet and 300 foot moratorium on cell phone towers • Want notices of new proposed cell phone towers • Concern about increases in water rates C-2 • Need services for single family homeowners Friends of Sunset Park Association's Identified Priorities Transportation Management -Traffic • Publish the evaluation of the Ocean Park Blvd. re-striping pilot program (December 2007 - June 2008), including data regarding "before and after" daily traffic counts and accidents on Ocean Park Blvd., Pearl Street, Oak Street, and Hill Street, between Lincoln and 25tH Street. • Reduce congestion caused by cut-through traffic: Morning: westbound (Pico, Ocean Park Blvd.) and northbound (23`a, Cloverfield) and Afternoon: eastbound (Pico, Pearl, Ocean Park Blvd.) and southbound (l la', 14`h, 20a', 2151 23`a ) • Pico Blvd. -congestion near Trader Joe's (33`a St.), 99-cent store (28th St.), SMC (20tH St.) • Ocean Park Blvd. -increased congestion during rush hours since re-striping • Pearl St. and 20th - a dangerous combination of cars, buses, and school children in the morning • Southbound 23`a Street filled with idling cars from Dewey back to Pearl St. some afternoons • Left-turn pockets that aren't long enough: southbound left-turn pockets at Pico on 20`h, Clove~eld, and 28tH; westbound left-turn pocket on OPB at 23`a in the evening - spillover blocks the other westbound lane • overlapping left-turn pockets on OPB (westbound at 18`n overlaps eastbound at 20`h) • no left-turn pockets on the median section of Pico • Drivers using east-west alleys to avoid congestion: north of Pico near 20tH, north of Ocean Park Blvd. near 23`a, north of Dewey near 23`a • Fast traffic on Grant St. between l hn & 14a', 26'h Street. between Pico & Pearl, 31st, 33`a, and 34`n Streets • More "speed feedback" signs are needed. Transportation Management -Pedestrians • Pedestrian concerns at Pearl & 20th; crossing Ocean Park Blvd. at 16th and 18th; crossing 23`a south of OPB; crossing Pico at 28tH and 33`a (no traffic signals between those two intersections, and the "smart crosswalk" lights in front of McCabe's are often broken); crossing 1 lth St. between Pico and Ocean Park. • Maintain the flashing lights in the "smart crosswalks" on Pico and OPB, and replace the yellow pavement light covers with red or some color that can be seen by drivers in the middle of the day. Transportation Management -Parking • Parking issues near Santa Monica College; 24tH St. between Pico & Pearl; 26tH St. near Pico, 29th St. near Ocean Pazk Blvd. • Future concerns: o Concern over future traffic from: SMC Main Campus (500 parking spaces under construction), the Academy for Entertainment & Technology on Stewart (450 C-3 parking spaces planned), a plan to eventually build a 3-story building at the Olympic Shuttle Lot on Stewart (630 parking spaces), or a land swap with the city that would move the Olympic Shuttle Parking Lot to the Airport and possibly add traffic there. o Colorado Creative Studios Project (579 parking spaces), Roberts Business Center (538 parking spaces), Village Trailer Park (738 parking spaces), Paper Mate (300,000 sq ft development and probably 1,000 parking spaces), and the Bergamot Station Activity Center o Outside Santa Monica, Playa Vista Phase 2 and Bundy Medical Village (1.3 million sq ft development with 385 condos, 120,000 sq ft of retail, 385,000 sq ft of medical offices and over 20,000 daily car trips -- S.M. Planning staff predicts impacts at the Centinela on and off ramps to the 1-10, on Pico Blvd. at Centinela, Cloverfield, 23`d, and Lincoln, and on Ocean Park Blvd. at Centinela and 23rd) Santa Monica Airport • Confinue funding the court case with the FAA so the C and D jet ban can be implemented and the standards-based Runway Safety Areas can be installed. • Concem over new takeoff flight pattern over Sunset Park homes north of Pem'~Iar Golf Course. • Concern over planes currently taking off and fuming north before the west end of the runway. • Allocate funds for additional noise monitors re the new FAA-mandated takeoff pattern, which will bring planes closer to homes. • Allocate funds for air quality studies re the Airport pollution at Clover Park. • Allocate funds to study the residue from unspent jet fuel that falls on homes, playgrounds, and gardens. (The EPA study is related to lead emissions from piston planes, not kerosene residue from jets.) • Stop expanded facilities activities on Airport property adjacent to residential neighborhoods. • Develop buffers around the Airport to protect residential areas. • Develop formal planning and review guidelines for work on Airport property. Public Safety • Continue the Neighborhood Resource Officer program • Increase funding for neighborhood patrols to shorten response time for all priorities. • Continue saturation patrols and increase prevention intervention programs to reduce youth violence. • Patrol alleys to reduce theft, burglaries, and vandalism. • Email all SMPD press releases to heads of all neighborhood organizations. • hnprove street lighting around the college and elsewhere in the neighborhood (Pier, Ashland, Cloverfield) • Keep the crossing guards at OPB/ 16`h and Pearl/ 20th. • Enforcement: o Keep bicyclists off sidewalks, especially on Ocean Park Blvd. where there are bike lanes. C-4 o Enforce traffic and parking regulations around the SMC Main Campus/JAMS o Ticket speeding BBB bus drivers on 20th Street. o Ticket drivers running stop signs at 17th/Robson/Tvlarine. o Ticket speeding cars on Grant Street between 11 `h & 14th; 26`h Street between Pico & Pearl; 31st Street; 33rd Street; and 34th Street. o Ticket gardeners using leaf blowers. Planning/Development/Over-Development • Find a way to maintain the city's fiscal stability without allowing the construction of even more office space in the Special Office District, which will create even more traffic congestion in Sunset Park. • Sunset Park cannot be protected from increased cut-through traffic and traffic congestion if the city encourages 3- to 5-story developments in the LMSD (Lionsgate, Roberts. VTP, Papermate, Bergamot Station) and the activity center at Lincoln & OPB, at the same time that SMC is planning additional facilities and parking structures at two locations on Stewart Street and on the Main Campus. The promise of "No New Net Trips" seems counterintuitive when we see thousands of additional parking spaces being planned on the east side of town. In addition, we're looking at the huge Bundy Medical Village at Olympic and Bundy in Los Angeles that staff has stated will impact many intersections in Sunset Park, and Playa Vista Phase 2. The increase in traffic which will result from all of those projects, on all sides of Sunset Park, is truly astounding. • Stop staff approvals of variances that allow 3-story homes in Rl districts in Sunset Park. Protect view comdors for hillside homes. (What's the use of owning/buying a home overlooking PenMar Golf Course if you can't see it?) • Opposition to the expedited review process for affordable housing projects under 50 units, which result in increased density and which allow for no public hearing other than ARB. The proposed 4-story CCSM project at 2802 Pico would be an example. At both community meetings, residents expressed support for affordable housing, while strongly opposing the 4th story. That parcel is zoned for 2 stories and 30-feet max, not 4 stories and 40 feet. When we asked the assigned planner where in the zoning ordinances the 4th story is allowed, the response was that it was the intent of the Council that the 4th story be allowed. We would hope that staff members enforce the ordinances as written, not according to what they think the Council may have intended. Santa Monica College • Enforce city noise ordinances and regulations regarding prior notification about construction projects and trucking of construction materials and debris through residential streets (including on the weekends). • Establish an enrollment cap until can mitigate its traffic and parking impacts on Sunset Park, based on college infrastructure and city infrastructure. Applications increased 24% from July 2008 to July 2009, and actual emollment increased 8% to over 37,000 in Fall 2009. It makes little sense for SMC, with its 39-acre campus, to spend nearly $700,000 in taxpayer dollars this year recruiting even more students from West Los Angeles, when West LA College has fewer than 10,000 students on its spacious 70-acre campus. C-5 • Do a better job of both (1) directing SMC students to parking structures and shuttle lots at the beginning of each semester and (2) informing them about preferential parking zones around the main campus. • Ticket SMC students who illegally use handicapped parking placards to park in preferential parking zones (SMC Police and SMPD). • Do a better job coordinating inter-campus shuttle bus schedules with class schedules so more students ride the buses rather than driving back and forth from campus to campus between classes • Charter buses for the Evening Bundy Shuttle that would be quieter than the noisy diesel Fast Deer buses currently running past homes unfil 10 PM. Big Blue Bus • Do a better job of balancing the needs of residents and students when designing college- serving Big Blue Bus routes and designating college-serving bus stops. It doesn't make sense to have dozens of college students loitering 4 feet from homes, waiting for buses all day long, when the bus routes and bus stops could be located on arterials such as Pico and Ocean Park Blvd.. where SMC students currently use the #7 and the #8 buses. • Limit the use of the bus stop at the NW corner of Pearl and 20th to the Crosstown line. • Start using the quiet, alternative fuel mini-buses that were promised two years ago for the Mini-Blue lines. Emergency Preparedness • Continue publicizing the "I've Got 7" campaign. • DART o Make it easier to fmd information about DART classes on the Fire Deparhnent web site. o Offer the DART classes more than twice a year. • hi publicizing the annual earthquake Shakeout drill, include the neighborhood organizations. Youth • Continue the Joint Use Agreement to support SMMUSD. • Continue to address citywide issues such as gang violence. • Evaluate programs for at-risk youth, in conjunction with SMMUSD, SMPD, the • Social Service Commission, Recreations and Parks, and other agencies/organizations Homelessness • Continue current efforts to move homeless people, especially the mentally ill, off the streets, out of the alleys, and into housing where they can receive appropriate services. • Special concern about the Marine Park area and alleys behind the 2400 block of Cloverfield, the 2400 block of Ocean Park Blvd., and the 2500 block of 22nd. Improve Quality of Life for People with Disabilities • Provide year-round programs, following the model of Camp Santa Monica, for young adults with disabilities in order to give them opportunities to interact with other young people. C-6 Open Space/Public Landscape e Increase canopy by improving the tree replacement program. • Allocate funds for better quality tree trimming using better-trained workers. • Include landscape and other buffers between the Santa Monica Airport and adjacent Clover Park and residential areas. Public Works • When will the Wilson Place improvements actually occur? • When will the utility undergrounding on Ashland actually take place? Meeting notes from Community Budget Meeting with Wilshire-Montana Neighborhood Coalition held at Ken Edwards Center on November 16, 2009 Community Infrastructure • Many residents expressed concerns over the increase in pazking rates for downtown parking structures. They contended that if the rate increases were intended to encourage residents to leave cars home, Big Blue Bus should maintain, if not increase, the community services. Instead, residents are forced to pay higher pazking rates as Big Blue Bus has cut No. 4 evening service which primarily serves the Wil-Mont Neighborhood. The Environment • Some residents expressed concerns over the use of fluoride in the water Community and Budget Concerns from Wilmont Members Parking Issues • How about some budget to subsidize residents' use of the promenade parking if they do the proposed parking rate increase? Reducing the time to just one hour will SIGNIFICANTLY interfere with the Farmers' Market! • Parking fee increases -something for residents? • Free visitor parking to do city services Development • Today's SMDP mentions the development of a 12-screen cinema at the site of parking structure 3 on 4th Street. This seems like another question for Lamont -removal of an entire parking structure? • My primary concerns are about the development at 2300 Wilshire. I understand that it will consist of retail space on the first floor topped by 30 condos. Parking is already at a premium in our neighborhood so I hope that the underground parking on this site is sufficient so it will help rather than hinder the parking. situation. If the parking is free, like it is at Staples, rather than being controlled it would take some of the demand for street parking off of the neighborhood streets. There may be a solufion like controlled parking on the lower level for employees and condo owners with free parking on the upper level of the parking garage for retail customers and local visitors. C-7 Buses/Transportation Concerns • Buses o Large and readable "No Smoking" signs by bus stops o Increased service to Wilmont area in evenings (#4 and #9 buses have been drastically cut. Need shorter route for night service.) • Subway to the sea underneath Wilshire. • Elevated or underground light rail or subway instead of running the trains down Colorado. It is only a matter oftime before Santa Monica has some accident and the light rail is not effective since it will have to travel 10 mph. • Develop computer dispatched shuttle system so residents (particularly -but not limited to -seniors) can have improved choices/accessibility re: shopping~entertainment/recreation- leisure activities. Improve and widely published hours of mini buses, cross town buses, etc. Community Safety • Crime and neighborhood safety issues. • Safety efforts to prevent violence. Youth Services • Exchanges between youth in North and South Santa Monica. • Efforts to create internships with Santa Monica based companies/media. • Virginia Avenue Park: More money for increased staff. Addiflonal Concerns • Centralization of city services in one location • Urban Forest: proper maintenance and replacement of urban forest. Improper maintenance has been destroying trees. • Enforcement of leaf blower ordinance. • Library: Revisit funding for staffing given increased usage/patronage. Meeting notes from Community Budget Meeting with North of Montana Association held at Montana Branch Library on December 1, 2009 Community Infrastructure • Increased density does have impact on mobility • Traffic will be impacted by closure of California Incline • Close a portion of the City streets on certain days to promote bicycling • Improve parking for bicycles in downtown area • Improve bicycle access and routes to schools, especially Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica City College • Need a bicycle coordinator; possibly a volunteer position Public Safety • Create a joint partnership with schools to improve gang diversion C-8 Quality of Life • Continued support for schools • Concern about density and size of big low income housing projects in 90404 area The Environment • Do not cut the urban forest budget Customer Service e City needs to be more film friendly; industry complains about "red tape" • Need ombudsman for business start-ups Meeting notes from Community Budget Meeting with Pico Neighborhood Association held at Virginia Avenue Park on December 2, 2009 Community Infrastructure • The improvements at the Mountain View mobile home park seem expensive for that number of housing units • Pico area deserved its fair share of RDA funds for projects • Need another anchor on Pico Boulevard to revitalize community • Invest in process to determine best use of purchased spaces; engage the community in the process Public Safety • Additional safety net needed for youth • The substation at Virginia Avenue Park should be a 24-hour operation • Virginia Avenue Park should have solar powered security cameras and lighting • Need more visible Police presence in Pico neighborhood • More prevention and intervention for youth violence Quality of Life • Align resources to meet the needs of the neighborhoods • Pico Boulevard has a high concentration of liquor stores; we need to eliminate areas that cause problems in the neighborhoods (2) • Eddie's liquor store is a neighborhood destructive influence on the neighborhood • City should use eminent domain to purchase Eddie's liquor store and other businesses (2) • Resource Recovery Center is too loud Pico Library • Disagreement remains about where the Pico Library should be located • City should use RDA funds to buy Eddie's liquor store and adjacent buildings and site the library at these locations • Neighborhood serving things should be spread out and not concentrated at Virginia Avenue Park C-9 • Why is another library necessary; we could use those funds for other things in the'Pico neighborhood • Pico library is a good idea but spread things around on Pico Boulevard; Virginia Avenue Park is a good beacon but is over-utilized now it could be more of an asset if located in another area in the neighborhood • Main library is nice since it has a theater which can provide cultural programs • Library should not be located in Virginia Avenue Park (2) • Library should be an anchor for mixed use project on Pico Boulevard e Library should be at the park to entice youth to participate in other activities at the park and it should provide services for special needs children • Need another educational center but not at Virginia Avenue Park Additional Items • Additional cuts to department programs will be problematic especially if they in turn cut their support ofnon-profits • Increased revenues from Santa Monica Place should be spent on Pico neighborhood youth programs or Pico youth should have priorities on new jobs • LUCE needs to help small businesses not just Main Street and Montana which aze the only business areas mentioned in the LUCE • Need a moratorium on projects that are in the queue that are under the old 1984 General Plan • Youth programs should be providing training so youth can get jobs at the new Santa Monica Place (2) • City Council should provide youth internship opportunities so youth can learn about government • As square foot prices decline for retail space more professionaUpost production facilities are moving into the neighborhood and it is losing its neighborhood serving businesses, which are essential to getting people out of their cars • Revitalize the neighborhood by getting people in the neighborhood jobs • Job training programs need to provide training for careers rather than just part-time jobs • Desire for a youth commission and more interaction between youth and Councilmembers • Open door policy at City Hall so people can express ideas • Provide opportunifies for youth to work with retired contractors to work on start-to-finish construction project and get trained in a variety of trades • Neighborhood gentrification is creating more pressure for affordable housing • Want Pico neighborhood back as a Council priority • Need improved communication about evictions and use of Ellis Act to evict tenants • Need systematic change; the City spends millions of dollars each year on contractors which should have provisions about local hiring and apprenticeship opportunities • Programs need to be systematically integrated (PAL, PYFC, VAP) should all be working together C-10 PIease complete and return this form at the end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1685 Main Street, Room 249, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Yau can also past your feedback at www.smgov.net/budget or email your comments to budgetC~smgov.net Thank you? ~ ~ (C~J1 ,~ ~~ vvv ~Qi,,~-~- ~/, rrll~' ~,r~~ ~ ~~%-~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~u ~~ ~ ~ 4 t t y ~n~ q NirL~~G~iwv`.i g ~~ W ~~~t'~~Vt~i r ~1 ~ w/~~ ,~,a , Provide us your feedback and tell us what you want included in the budget priorities for the upcoming FY2010-11 budget. Please complete and return this. farm at the end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1685 Main Street,lZaom 209, Santa Monica, CA 9fl4fl1. You can also post your feedback at wwwsmgov.net jbudget or email your comments to budgetC~smgov.net Thank you! G12 Provide us your feedback and tell us what you want included in the budget priorities for the upcoming FY2010-11 budget. Please. complete and return this form at the end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1b85 Main Street, Raom Z09, Santa Monica, CA 90401. You can also past your feedback at www.smgov.netJbudget or email your comments to budgetC~smgov.net Thank you? c ~~ ~ C~ c1 t ~ ~® ~' ~S r ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~. ~~ C-13 Please complete and return this form at the end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Manisa, CA 90401. You can also post your feedback at www,smgov.net/budget or email your comments to budget@smgov.net Thank you! ~~-s ~v,- 1 ~ ~ 1 ~..- O~ ~~T~' ~ ~r ~ ~ ~lG ~ ~~~~ G14 City of Santa Monica FY2010-11 Budget Planning Community Meetings e Provide us your feedback and tell us what you want included in the budget priorities for the upcoming FY2010-11 budget. Please complete and return this format the-end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Monica, CA 9040,1. You can also post your feedback at www.smgov.net jbudget or email your comments to budgetC~smgov.net Thank youl ~ ~ L r~ cocfl~5~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~o~-~ ~~G~.2^c-ice`; C. ~ . ~ £-~r~`~ ~ ~`t~V S T S cam' i 4~ ~3 u ~ G~^ `~~.-~-~ t `emu i ~ ~t~~~~ -1~-~~ ~~ `~F~ ~`~ e~ . ~ C-15 Caline Evans From: mail@winout.smgov.net Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:26 PM To: Budget Mailbox Subject: Budget Suggestion Form Submission Name: Janice K Address: 2445 20th street City:santa monica Zip: 90405 HomePhone: 310 450-8745 Bus Phone: Email: Suggestion: Please cut back on all the BIG Blue Buses going up and down our street- They are too big and noisey. The ridership is not filling these buses up-and it is a waste of fuel and disturbing to the residents. Keep the SMC SHUTTLE off our streets-Not going to and from the Airport Campus ! Post Anonymously: False C716 Caline Evans From: Roger Swanson [reswanson@toast.net] Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:13 PM To: Budget Mailbox Subject: FY2010-11 Budget Comments/suggestions resulting from Planning Meeting at SMASH 1) Create redevelopment district for Lincoln Blvd. south of the 10 freeway -this is one of the most neglected entrances to Santa Monica that needs to be upgraded. Put this at the head of the list for improvements recommended by LUCE. 2) Next, focus on Colorado Ave. upgrades to coincide with the Expo Line construction. (1 favor a third route for Expo: elevated route along 10 Freeway right of way. I think city residents will ultimately dislike the Colorado Ave. route and this dislike will be intense. My prediction: this issue will result in a turnover of City Council members who voted forthe Colorado Ave. route!) 3) Delay Ocean Park Blvd. upgrades for item #1 and #2. OP Blvd. is functional today and item #1 is a far greater need. Add stop signs at 3rd Street crosswalk on OP Blvd. - it is unsafe with vehicles barreling down OP Blvd. heading West. 4) Re Bikes: a) Install bike racks everywhere in business districts. Remove vehicle parking spots on the street and install bike racks that can hold multiple bikes. Put signs on the street bike parking that say: "Ride a bike and stop driving around looking for parking!" b) Connect disconnected bike lanes and ensure that all roads leading to and through downtown have bike lanes. c) Support the Bike to School program with real actions. d) Identify bike lanes with green paint or two white lines that clearly delineate the lane. Ensure that the curbside boundary of the bike lane is not in the car door zone. Issue parking tickets for obstructing bike lanes. Prohibit and enforce vehicles driving in bike lanes, except for right turns. e) Eliminate "bike routes" that are not marked as in 4d. f) Hire/designate a bike czar/coordinator to be the "go to" person for all bike related activities. Thanks, Roger Swanson 310.663.4142 C~17 Caline Evans From: Michael Lambert [Michael@jtarchitects.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 4:39 PM To: Budget Mailbox Subject: FW: Follow Up from Last Nights Meeting Thank you for the informative meeting last night. In regards to the progression of the redevelopment of Ocean Park Blvd it seemed at the meeting as if the next step forward was uncertain between the city and the community. According to the website it seems as if Option B has been decided upon, but many options still remain in finalizing the concept. I would like to suggest that minor modifications be eliminated from the plan to save money without compromising the overal concept of Option B. Minor modifications would be things like smaller street islands, pedestrian viewing platforms, pedestrian skybridges,modifications to 4th street bridge(which would create costly engineering analysis) etc. Let's move forward with the most simple cost effective plan that still achieves the main overall goals of improving the visual appearance and sustainable functionality of Ocean Park Blvd. -Michael lambert C~18 Caline Evans From: starbird [bonnie@estarbird.com] Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 11:18 PM To: Budget Mailbox Subject: comments Attachments: Comment Sheet.doc; ATT00001.txt AND... whose stupid idea was it to make Ocean Park BI. a one lane street? IT'S A HORRIBLE MISTAKE. YOU CONTINUETO MEDDLE IN THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T BE MEDDLING IN. START FIXING YOUR MISTAKES INSTEAD OF MAKING NEW ONES. C719 City of Santa Monica FY2010-11 Budget Planning Community Meetings Provide us your feedback and tell us what you want included in the budget priorities for the upcoming FY2010-11 budget. Please complete and return this form at the end of the meeting or mail it back to us at City Manager's Office, 1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401. You can also post your feedback at www.smgov.net/budget or email your comments to budgetC~smgov.net Thank you! I want you to restore the two lanes on Ocean Park BI. It is my main street for getting anywhere and since it was changed, only one lane of cars can get across and that leaves many cars behind waiting through YET ANOTHER three way signal. It was a stupid stupid idea and it needs to be reversed. I HATE IT. It serves absolutely no function except to keep more cars wairing longer when they NEVER used to have to wait this long. There is too much new construction in Santa Monica and not enough street or parking to handle it. The construction of condos and hotels MUST BE STOPPED. It is not intelligent to continue and it makes the community angry when we can't get where we are trying to go because of overbuilding. C-20 Caline Evans From: Santa Monica City Manager's Office Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:51 PM To: Andy Agle; P. Lamont Ewell; Jennifer Phillips; Elaine Polachek; Kate Vernez; Danielle Noble; Terese Toomey; Bobby Shriver; Bobby Shriver; Bobby Shriver; Gleam Davis; Ken Genser; Kevin McKeown; Pam O'Connor; Richard Bloom; Robert Holbrook Cc: Caline Evans; Rachel Waugh Subject: Budget Suggestion FYI From: Donna Preece [mailto:Donna.Preece@fox.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:23 PM To: Santa Monica City Manager's Office Subject: Better Community! I have been a renter in Santa Monica for 22 years. As a single parent of 3, it has been impossible for me to afford to buy anything in this city. I think as part of neighborhood planning, instead of keeping people in an endless cycle of renting or section 8 subsidies, more should be done to move people like me out of rentals and into our own homes/condos. This, is the American dream, not to be a renter for the rest of my life. I could afford to buy a condo in Inglewood, but I have raised three children here, I work right down Pico and my family is all in this area. I feel the people who already have established themselves here, should be given priority over random people looking for a better way of life. I see building being done everywhere in this city yet nothing is offered to the long time residents. I live in the Pico neighborhood and would like to stay. I think that is the important thing to remember when planning for our city. Donna Preece C~21 Caline Evans From: Santa Monica City Manager's Office Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 3:32 PM To: Andy Agle; P. Lamont Ewell; Jennifer Phillips; Elaine Polachek; Kate Vernez; Danielle Noble; Terese Toomey; Bobby Shriver; Bobby Shriver; Bobby Shriver; Gleam Davis; Ken Genser; Kevin McKeown; Pam O'Connor; Richard Bloom; Robert Holbrook Cc: Rachel Waugh; Caline Evans Subject: FW: City BudgeULow Income Housing FYI From: Mathew Millen [mailto:matmillen@msn.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 1:44 PM To: Santa Monica City Manager's Office Subject: City Budget/Low Income Housing City Budget: the City needs to end it's George Wallace policy of housing segregation via their location of the low income housing developed. In the Pico Neighborhood which is saturated with low income housing every. shooting is adjacent to a low income housing project. The City has funded more low income housing for the one block of 20th St between Pico and Delaware then in all of the No of Wilshire neighborhood....Maybr Genser has been on the council the longest and has the least number of multi family low income housing in his neighborhood..the Pico Neighborhood has NO representation on the Council, and the highest concentration of low income housing and the highest crime...we need a freeze on low income housing in the Pico Neighborhood until the area from Wilshire to San Vicente Blvd has an equal number of low income housing units.. mathew millen C~22 Caline Evans From:. Santa Monica City Manager's Office Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:30 PM To: Barbara Stinchfield; P. Lamont Ewell; Jennifer Phillips; Elaine Polachek; Kate Vernez; Danielle Noble; Terese Toomey; Rachel Waugh; Caline Evans; Sonia Ramos Subject: FW: school. budget as a priority in budget planning FYI From: Nancy Geshke [mailto:ngeshke@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 10:05 AM To: richard@bloomlaw.net; bobby.shriver@smgov.net; Gleam Davis; pam.oconnor@smgov.net; kevin@mckeown.net; robert.holbrook@smgov.net; city@genser.org Cc: Santa Monica City Manager's Office; Tim Cuneo Subject: school budget as a priority in budget planning Dear City Council Members, I am writing to you to express my concern about the city budget priorities for 2010- 2011. We all know that the recession has hit all of us hard and our children are baring the brunt of last years cuts with increased class sizes and reduced services. I am writing as an involved citizen and a parent at Edison Language Academy. I cannot stress enough the importance of supporting our public schools through these next several trying years. I am proud that you did your part last year to make these cuts as little as possible given the state's title wave of cuts to our schools. I ask you to stand up again and increase funding to our schools. I live in Santa Monica because of the world-class education that is offered though our great public schools. Schools are facing the worst financial cuts in years, as you well know. While the city services will be affected this year by the economic downturn and state budget crisis, I believe it is in the best interests of the City to help our schools as much as the budget allows. Educating our youth cannot wait. Our youth represent our future and I implore your support to increase funding from the city in this next fiscal year. We are lucky enough to live in such a prosperous community and our schools reflect the rich diversity of our bounty. We need your help for our schools to retain: small class size, newly-recruited and trained teaching staff (who would otherwise be the first to go), and those crucial ancillary positions (reading/learning specialists, nurses and librarians). CZ23 Please protect our schools from budget cuts by increasing the City's financial support. Our kids are the best investment of all. Sincerely, Consultant, Writer 310-396-1629 phone 310-428-0240 mobile C~4 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Mihai Peteu -Mid C... Page 1 of 1 of Santa Nonica .ti text Administration Airport Community and Government Relations cltyTV Office of Sustainability and the Environment Pro3rams and Priorities Contact Us Tell Us! We ie interestetl in wha[you have to say--wheNer it's about an issue currently on the Ciry Council agentla, ' the information youve read on Nis '. website, or anoNer topic of '. community concern. Send your comments and questions to: manager@smgov.net 1685 Main gL, Rm. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 '. Click Here far online customer ser•nce '. forms '. Budget Discussion Response -Mihai Peteu -Mid City Please choose to tledicate more funding xo complete sVeetr, safe routes to uhool, and human-scale lighting on Santa Monica's many tlark sVeetr. Also, while it may seem minor, make an effort to enforce the gas-powered teafblower ban. Repave aR of Santa Monica Blvd east of Down[ovm SM and create a bike lane to link it to Ne existing one outride of city limits. CTy of Santa lMnica J 2008 ~ 1685 Meln St, sanla Nonica, CA 90401 ~ (310) 456-80t1 ~ TiY h10) 90fi616 Oixtalma Privacy Poliry I nccessibNty Po&y Contact Os City Services C-25 http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=9297 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Scott Reiter -Ocean... Page 1 of 1 ®Ciry of Santa Monica TeM Size: ' ' Spare -'~~~~t`~~'r'. yam... 0 '~ '. a. , t ~ t ~~ ~ 1 ' i' ;'~ I~ ;,. Atlminiztration Airport 'Community and Government Relations CityTV Office of Sustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Tau us( ,Budget Discussion Response -Scott Reiter -Ocean Park We're interestetl in what you have fo say -- whether iCS about an issue Speaking as a local rydixq ax well as Ne presitlent of the Santa Monica Cycling Club, it ix imperative that Santa Monica invest in Ne currently on Ne Clry Council agenda, 'anonal development of its cycling infrastructure.I would tike to seeganN Monica change from justa'Cycting Friendly Ciry'to Ne ' vangard of a movement Nat will funtlamentally change [he tourism industry. l envision Veto-Hostels (chat studentr can easily Ne information youve read on Nis afford) as well as interactive bike tours. People clamor for'eco-tourism", but we have all the ingredients to develop the leatl in Ne website, or anoNer topic of "Cycling TOUdsm Industry'. We have the natual beauty of Ne coast, 300+days of sunshine, Ne topography, Ne political vnLL and I community concern. will even say THE IMPERATIVE to develop a green industry that wilt henefif all our citizens. The amelioraHVe healN aspects of human poweretl vehicles to Ne parncipanrs and Ne enNronmeni is unambiguous. What fs the downside? Maybe spentling some Send your comments and questions to: oney to improve cycling safety, access, parking, and other amenities. To start, I recommend butlgedng for the appointment of a ' Santa Monies Bike or Cycing Czar to help pion these issues wiN cyders (and everyone s) input. Le[ us seize the tlay antl start Ne world renaisxance with Noughttul infastructure that will grow a local xustainable cycling industry as well as promote the use of onager@smgov.net human powered vehicles for ALL Of our well being. 1685 Main SC, Rm. 209, ', Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forma Cly of Santa Nnnica € 2008 - 1665 Na1n St, Santa Nonlca, CA 9Wp1 ~ (3ID) S58~B411 ~ TN (310) 9 V-66$6 Oixlalmer Privacy Pot1ry A«essibility Polity I ConGC[ Os City Services C-26 http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=9298 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Jim Ries -Pico Page 1 of 1 Text:ice: Administration ~ Airport ~ Community and Government Relations ~ CityN Offi<e of Sustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu us! ',. Budget Discussion Response -Jim Ries -Pico We ie inleres[etl in what you have fo '. say-whether it's about an issue Pay attentionto issues of youth violence in the Pico area. This indutles supporting or promotlng job creatlon, education incWding currenrty on Ne Ciry C°wtlt agenda, ', °°cational and direct intervention. Ne information yoWe reatl on Nis '. website, or another topic of community concern. '. Send your comments antl questions to: onager@smy°v.net '. 1685 Main 8C, Wn. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 '. Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forms CiTy °f Santa Abnica ®2008 -1fi85 Mein SC, Sane Nonlca, CA 90401 ~ 1318) 458-8411 ~ TiY (310) 91]-6624 Oisdaimet Privacy Policy i Accessibifi(y Poliry ConGCt Us Cil{y $QNIC25 G27 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=9376 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Roger Swanson - Oc... Page 1 of 1 ®Cityof Santa hbnica - TPM Size: i /~ r1 t ) L~ {1 ~ / % „. - ' I . 0 ~ - I ~ '~= '1 Y I t i ~' Ip ~~ ~ li ,~ r ~ !II ~ i~~(I~p~.: . ~ ~ ~. f4`'~N~rt`*r;T, I ` e° • - Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV Office of Sustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu us( '! Budget Discussion Response -Roger Swanson -Ocean Park We're interested in what you have YO ' say--whether it's about an issue ', Comments/suggestions resulting from Planning Meeting at SMASH:1)Create redevelopment dismct for Lincoln Blvtl. south of the l0 currently on the Ciry Council agenda, Freeway - this is one of the most neglectetl entrances [o Santa Monica that needs to be upgradetl. Put this at the head of [he list far improvements recommended by W CE. 2) Next, focus on Colorado Ave. upgrades to coinnde with the Expo Line construction. (I Ne information yoWe reatl on Nis I favor a third route for Fxpo: elevated route along 10 Freeway right of way. I think city resitlents will ultimately dislike the Cotoado websiYe, or another Fopic of Ave. route and this dislike wilt be intenx. My predictlon: [his issue will result in a turnover of Ciry Council members who voted for community concern. [he Colorado Ave. route!) 3) Oelay Ocean Park Btvd, upgrades for ftem Rt and H2. OP Blvd. is functlonal today and item #1 is a far greater need. Add stop signs at 3rd Street crosrv+alk on OP Blvtl. - it is unsafe with veMdes barreling dawn OP Blvtl. heatling West. 4) Re Bikes: a) Install bike racks everywhere in business disMCts. Remove vehicle parking spots on the street antl install bike racks Send your comments antl questions ro: that can hold multiple bikes. Put signs on [he sVeet bike parking that say: "Ride a bike and stop driving around looking far parking!" ' b) Connect dixonnectetl bike lanes antl ensure [hat all roads @ading m and through tlowntown have bike lanes. c) Support the Bike onager@smgov.net to School program with real actions, d) Identify bike lanes with green pain[ or two white lines that clearly delineate the lane. 1685 Main S[., Rm. 209, Ensure that the curbside boundary of the bike lane is no[ Yn the car door zone. Issue parkng tickets far obstructing bike lanes. Santa Monica, CA 90401 Prohibit antl enforce vehicles ddhng in bike Lanes, excepHOr right toms. e) Eliminate "bike routei that are not marked as in 4d. f) " " Hire/designate a bike ¢ar/coortlinator Yo be the go to person far all bike related activitles. Phone: (310) 458-8301 Glick Here for online customer xrnce forms Gty of SanO Nanira 9IDI08 ~ 16fl5 Mzln St, Santa Abni[e, CA 90401 - (310) 458-8411 ~ T1Y (3l0) 91]6626 prsrscla~mer I Pd~acy Poocv I a«evnenity Porry I contact u. City Services C-28 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/emo/content.aspx?id=9377 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Michael Lambert - ... Page 1 of 1 Santa 1Mnica Teri Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV I Office of Sustainability and [he Environment Programs and Priorities toniact Us Tau us! Budget Discussion Response -Michael Lambert -Ocean Park We're interestetl in what you have to '', say --whether ifz abeu[ an issue '. Thank you for the informative meeting Iasi night. In regards to the progression of the redevelopment of Ocean Park Olvtl it seemed rently on the City Council agentla, at the meeting as if Ne neM step forward was uncertain between the my and the community. According to [he webzite it uems as Our if Opton 8 has been deddetl upon, but many options still remain in finalizing the concept. I would like Yo suggest that minor the information you've read on [his motlifications be eliminatetl fromthe plan rosave money vnthout compromising the overal concept of Option B. Minor modifications website, or another mpic of would be things like smaller sVeet islands, pedestrian viewing platforms, pedestrian skybridges, modifications to 4111 street bodge community concern. (which woultl create costly engineering analysis) em. Lees move forward with the most simple cost effective plan that still achieves the main overal! goats of improving the visual appearance and sustainable functionality of Ocean Park Blvtl. Send your comments and questions to: managerCZSmgov.net '. 1685 Main g[., Rm. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service ' forms City of Santa Abnlca ®2W8 ~ 1685 Main SL. Santa M1bnlca, CA 9W01 ~ 1310) 458~84t1 ~ TiY 1910) 9D-6636 Dlxlalmer P[Vacy Policy Accessibility Foliry I Contact Us City Services C-29 htlp://wwwsmgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=9422 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response - P Baldwin -Ocean ... Page 1 of 1 ®City of Santa NOM<d Te # S1m ~ ~ - m gy,{ ~ 1~ ~1 ! ~ 1 4~ k~~3 , L,. 1 hI } yk .n ~. i~ ~ n6`v ~lN Y o ......... .... .. ~..".. ... ,...i C~~t'i~a~~~~ p ~' -:~A~~~~' r - ~ : -- . r ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ ° ( ~ Administration Airport Community and Government Relations cltyTy Office of gustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu u:! Budget Discussion Response - P Baldwin -Ocean Park We're intereztetl in what you have to say -- wheNer it's about an issue A tlght budget is a good occasion to raise some hard questions. Are our emergency services in Santa MoNCa spending money wisely? currently on the Ciry Coundl agenda, I understand Nat an arrangement wiN the city of lA is about to be terminated, and calling 911 will now provide Ne local and ' personal service we are said to expect in an emergenry. eut lei us not confuse an emergency service w4N an hotel, an airline or a the information you ve reatl on this restaurant, where'personal service" may mean someNing. Has computerized way-finding not replacetl "local knowledge"? 1 am also websi[e, or another topic of surprisetl that eight new dispatchers are being vained N operate Ne new system. Where does all [Ms money come from? I would community concern. ask Ne counalto dwelt upon economies of scale, especially whenthe budget iz tight, rather than personal service in case of an mergency. Antl let me raise another point. Has Ne council ever investigated the benefitr and costs of ambulance pWS fire-engine Sentl your comments antl questions to: service we are seeing in Santa Monica? Oo we really neetl two vehicles? Perhaps three would be even better? Could this be wasteful too? There is no country in the world where emergency services have the power N help themselves N this kind of duplication. Are medical outcomes justlfying iH I woultl like to see some hard facts here. Perhaps Nere are better uses for our money than sending a anager~smgov.net fire engine after an ambulance.l know Nat itis no[very popularte cntlnze the emergency services. They are Ne ultimate 1685 Main St, Wn. 209, bedrock of our sodety, but Neir tendency N create work for themselves is rarely considered. Time for some hartl questions? Santa Moni[a, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forms C1ty o(Santa NAnica ©2008 1685 Main St, Santa Noni[a, tP 90901 (310) 4588411 Ttt 31019ll6626 Dixlaimer I Pn~2cy PoPCy PccenUS¢y Policy Conmct Os Gify $ENICCS C-30 http://www.smgov.net/deparkments/cmo/content.aspx?id=9485 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -John Neu -Main Str... Page 1 of 1 ®Gty of Santa Abnica Te# Siu; ~ YiiYY _ yyfiw .. '~ ( ~ gg i®1 x ~ j --~.,, l ` ',>, Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV Office of Hustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu us! I, Budget Discussion Response -John Neu -Main Street/Ocean Park We're interested in what you have to '. say --whether it's about an issue ', I would like to see a b[ more butlget money spent to beautify and Landscape the Main Sveet area of Santa Monica, and particularty ' currently on the City Council agenda, along certain parts of Neilson Way (e.g., between Pacific and Stand). I d alw like W see more of an effort to beautify the parking ' lot and the beach sitle of fhe berm, which is fuR of trash antl weeds, and is awful. Main St [oNe beach hasihe potential of the information you ve read on this geneadng more revenues forthe city ffltwereamore atvactive des[ination, butil is very tlumpy.In parECUlaq the Neilson website, or another topic of orridor needs io be sprucetl ug particularly between Pacific and Strand rtreets. The east sitle of the street is mainly weeds, dirt community concern. antl dumpsters, which mmpletety negates the attactiveness of the planted median. Plantr also would absorb more of the noise of the Vaffic on Neilson, which seems to have gotten M1eavier (or butler) recently. Alw there should be a sidewalk in front of the dog Send is and uestions t¢ your cammen q Park on Neilson, just south of Strand, especially to faatitate traffic m Ne retail space at the old Houlangerie site from the beach. manager@smgov.net 1fi85 Main St, Rm. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service '. forms C1ty of Santa Mgnlca ¢ 3W8 16851Aa1n SL, Santa Nonlca CA 9W01 (31 D) 458-8411 Tf1 i]10i 90fi616 Disclaimer I'riva<y Foticy Accessibility Goliry I Contact Os City Services C-31 http://www.smgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=9486 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Anonymous Page 1 of 1 City Services C-32 http://www.smgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=9492 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Chris Ford -Ocean ... Page 1 of 1 ®City of santa Fbnica Text Size: r"~1~pIiA1~t y ~A ~~~r ~ °.+1 ' t° ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ t . 2 .. ~ ~`~ Administration Airport Community and Government Relations c;tyTV Office of 8ustainability antl the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu u5! I, Budget Discussion Response -Chris Ford -Ocean Park We're interested in what you have to say -- whether its about an issue Please make Educatlon a TOP priority for We budget! Thank you currently on Ne City Council agenda, ', the information yoWe read on this I website, or another topicof '. ommuniry concern. '. Send your comments and questions to: manager@smgov.net 1685 Main St, Rm. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 ', Phone: (310)456-8301 Click Here Foron!ine customer service forms City at Saota A4nica ®2008 ~ 1685 Main SL, Santa Abnlca, CA 90401 ~ [3ID1458~8411 ~ TN 110191 J-6626 OiuUimxr Privacy Policy Accezzibiliry Policy I Contact Us City Services C-33 http://wwwsmgov.neUdepartments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10055 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response - Ericka Verba - Ocea... Page 1 of 1 Te.t si=e: Administration Airport I Community antl Government Relations CityTV I Office of Sustainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us reu us! Budget Discussion Response - Ericka Verba -Ocean Park We ie in[eresfetl in what you M1ave to '. say -- whether it's about an issue Please make etlucadon a priority Yn this year's city butlge[. My son attends Edison Language Academy. It is an outstanding uhaot, as currently on Ne City Council agentla, are Ne other whools in our system. Please work to keep Ne rystem so excellent It took years of consistent efforts [o builtl such a wonderful school district We need to keep it Nis way. Thank you. Ne information youve read on Nis '.. websi[e, or anoNer topic of ', community concern. '. Send your comments and questions to: anager~smgov.net 1685 Main 5f., Rm. 209, '.. Santa Monica, CA 90401 '. Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forms CITy of Sane Nanica ®2008 ~ 1685 Naln SL, Santa Abnica, CA 90401 ~ (310) 458-8411 -TTY (310) 91Y6636 Oixtaimxr Privzcy Policy gccesSibiGty PoBq Con[ac[ Os City Services C-34 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10056 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Anonymous -Pico Page 1 of 1 City of Santa M1bnica TRS y W ~ ~~'a~ci'iti~,r~,~ii~y ~, .r • ~ .. ~ _ 2~! D I Administration Airport I Community and Government Relations cltyTy I Office of Sustainability and the Environment ~ Programs and Priorities Contact Us re((ug( I, Budget Discussion Response -Anonymous -Pico Were interested in what you haveW say -- whether it's about an issue EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!! I want to echo Ne calls of many, many others who are appealed [o the City to make the rently on Ne Ciry Council agenda, ~ education of our chiltlren a [op prioriry. I know that running a city is a complicated affair and [hat budgets are among Ne most cur difficult Issues to resolve. Bu[ at [he end of the day, etlucation must be at the top of the list for our Ciry. There are many items the information you've read on this that could be cu[ antl/or reduced to ensure a top-level education far our chiltl. Far example, SMPD pawl cars roll with a shotgun webstte, or another topic of and an AR-1 h urban assault rifle. Don't you think the shotgun is enough? Couldn't the funtls spent on these arguable unneccesary mmuniry concern. weapons be retlire<ted to our xhoots? Send a message to the community and the state that we inves[in books over bullets. Many Hanks for your attention to this issue. Send your comments antl questions to: manager@smgov.net '. 1fi85 Main St, Wn. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)958-8301 Click Here for online costumer service ' forms Gty of Santa IMnica 9 2008 ~ 1585 Ma1n 5[., Santa NanicA CA 90401 ~ (310) 458~84t1 ~ TTY (910191 )fi63fi Oisclalmer I P[Vacy POliry I ncceesiblbryP0bcy I Contact Oz City Services C-35 http://wwwsmgov.neUdepartments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10057 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Julie Adler -Sunset ... Page 1 of 1 of 6an:a Hbn;ca rei si~:~ - ,, c~om~:eama ~~~ ," i ~ ~- ~ ", "Re 0i ,..Sriibri .. .. t.. _ ,~; Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV Office of Sustainability and the Environment I Programs and Priorities Coniad Us Teu us) 'Budget Discussion Response -Julie Adler -Sunset Park We're interested in what you have to '. say -whether its about an issue Please make educafion a tap priority for the butlget. There is nothing mare important Nan Ne future of our children! Already my ' currently on the City Counnl agenda, son s doss sizes are larger antl there is no money for anything beyontl Ne bare necessities. AO of our children deurve Ne besf we ' can give, and they are the teas[ responsible for this mess. the informatton you ve read on this ' vrebsite, or another topic of '. community concern. '. Send your commentr and questions to: manager@zmgov.net '. 1685 Main S0., Rm. 209, '. Santa Monica, CA 90901 ' Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forms Cfty of Sans Nnnica a 2008 ~ 1685 Main St, Sane Abnlca, CA 9W01 ~ (310) 4586011 ~ TiY (310) 91 )fi62fi Oixtafiner Prrvazy PoGCy AccxslblUry Poliry I Contact Us City Services C-36 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10894 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Roberta Brown - Wi... Page 1 of 1 City Services C-37 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10895 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response - Anonymous(2) Page 1 of 1 ®Gry of saata uomea re,t see: i ~. ri _ ,.- ~ n, ,., t ~, i t' ~~ 1 ~i I ~ il, . ~b~;~>r"1r erg i ~~,; 0 ~ - Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV Offite of Suztainability and the Environment Programs and Priorities Contact Us reu u:! Budget Discussion Response - Anonymous(2) Were interestetl in what you have co '.. say -- whether its about an issue Education NEE05 to be the top priority. M[hou[ a proper education, small class size, MUSIC and ART help children be creative and a currently oP the CityCoundl agenda, Seta break from ALL the testing prep they need...Education!! the information you've reatl on this '. website, or another Npic of community concern. Send your mmmen[s antl questions to: manager@smgov.net 1685 Main SL, Rm. 209, ', Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 '. Click Here far online customer service forms Ci ry of Santa (JOnica O 3008 ~ 1685 Main SL, Soma Abnica, CA 90001 ~ (311) 0588011 ~ i71't310) 91 ]fi636 Oizdaimer I Privacy Policy I AccessibiUty Policy Contact U5 Ciry Services C-38 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10896 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Amanda -Venice Page 1 of 1 Te.t sae: n Administration I Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV ~ Offi<e of Sustainabi lity and the Environment Programs and Priorities ~ Contact lls Teu u5! 'Budget Discussion Response -Amanda -Venice We're interested in what you have to ', say -- whether it's about an issue I want educa[lon to be a top prionry for me budget. rrently on the City Council agentla, '. the information yo We read on this webste, or another topic of community cancem. Send your comments and questions m: manager@smgov.net 1685 Main 8i., Rm. 2(19, Santa Monies, CA 90401 ' Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here for online customer service forms City of Santa Monica ~ 3008 ~ 1685 hWin SL, Santa Abnlca, CA 90501 ~ (3101458~84ll ~ TIY l10) 9D-6626 Oiulaimer Pnvary Policy Accessibility Goliry I ConGCt llz City Services C-39 http://wwwsmgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=10897 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response - Melisa Lauer - Ocea... Page 1 of 1 City Services C-40 http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10898 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Megan Nunez -Sant... Page 1 of 1 wmca re.t si.e: Atlministration ~ Airport (tommuni[y and Government Relations ~ CityTV ~ Office of Sustainability antl the Environment ~ Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu u:t ', Budget Discussion Response -Megan Nunez -Santa Monica We ie inceresletl in what you have [o ' say -- whether it's about an issue Please make educatlon [op priority in the coming budget decisions. currently on the City Countll agentla, '.. Ne information you've read on this website, or another topic of community concern Send your <ommentr and questions to anager@smgov.net 1685 Main St, Wn. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here far online customer sernce forms CITy of Santa Monica ®1p08 ~ 1685 Narn SL, Santa Abnica, CA 90401 ~ (310) 458-801f ~ TiY (310) 91]EQ6 Ulsdafinet Pnva<y POficy Accessibility Pofcy Contact U5 City Services C-41 http://wwwsmgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=10899 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Amy Spiegel -Suns... Page 1 of 1 Santa.Vnnica Text Size: m eass~sxrsg9 ~ ~ ry_ `.~`~a'~"a-,~`vg-,i''`?"~t~P~'~~at~`~f ,..,,, ®®e rte., Administration Airport Community and Government Relations GILyTy Office of Sustainability and the Environment I Programs and Priorities Contact Us Teu us) '... Budget Discussion Response -Amy Spiegel -Sunset Park Were interested in what you have to say -- whether it's about an issue Public xhool etlucatlon in Santa Monica is very important to me and almost all the people Thai I know. It should be a top budget currently on [he Ciry Counal agentla, P^onty. [he information you've reatl on this '. website, or anoNer topic of '. community concern ', Send your comments and questions to: I. manager@smgov.net tfi85 Main 8[., Rm. 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 Click Here far online customer service forms CITy o! San3 Monica ®2008 -1685 Naln St, Santa Abnica, CA 90901 ~ (210) 4588411 -TTY (91UI9 Vb626 Ofsclaimer Privacy Policy B<ce59blBty Policy Con[ac[Uz C.I[y $2NILf5 C-42 http://wwwsmgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=10900 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Erin Fitzsimmons Page 1 of 1 City Services C-43 http://wwwsmgov.net/deparhnents/cmo/content.aspx?id=10901 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -President MVMHP ... Page 1 of 1 ~ ~;~y of =onto uomca Te.t 3i=e: i v ~~i . I ~ 0 i~ .w ~ j . Administration Airport Community and Government Relations CityTV Office of Sustainability and the Environment Programs antl Priorities Contact Us Teu usl I, Budget Discussion Response -President MVMHP Residents Association - we're inierestetl inwhat You have m ', Pico say --whether it's about an issue '. currenlly on the City Council agenda, Money should be allocated [o improve on-site management at Mountain View Mobile Home Park. The city owns this park antl the the information you've read on this current managementis nearly nomexis[ent. The management company, Castle Breckenridge Managmenq is so negligent they create website, or another topic of a great deal of liability for the nry. Residents are so tlissadsfietl, they regularly go tlirectly to the city Housing department wiN community concern. complaints. Housing department staff are overwhetmetl by the deluge and don'[ respond at aft. No private landlord would ever get way with the abuses at MVMHP. The my of Santa Monica claims [o be a positive force in city housing issues, but their own property is one of the worst lantllortl offenders. $end yOllr COmmenti and gnes[lons io: onager@snigov.net 1685 Main St, Rm. 209, I Santa Moni[a, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 ' Click Here for online customer service forms CIry of Santa hbnlca ®2W8 ~ 1685 Main 5L, Santa Abnica, CA 90401 -1310) 4586411 ~ TTY (3t0) 91I-6626 plsdaimer I Privacy Pobcy Accustll[y PoOq Con[acf Vs City Services C-44 http://wwwsmgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=10902 1/12/2010 Santa Monica City Managers Office -Budget Discussion Response -Bill Green -Pico Page 1 of 1 Te.t si=e: r,. ,y ° s r r ~ ~ y~aa ~~~~ ;EL Administration Airport Community antl Government Relations CityTV Office of gustainabllity and the Environment Programs and Priorities ~ Contact Us I reu us! I, Budget Discussion Response -Bill Green -Pico We're interested in what you have to say -- whether iCS about an issue Two years ago we were promise Vaffic bghss at ifiN antl Ocean Park Blvd and 18th and Ocean Park Blvd. Maybe the Mayor (censer) currently on the Cirycouncil agentla, shouttl ask the Vaffic ¢ar when are we going to get them. the information youWe read Onthis '.. websiie, or another topic of ', community concern Send your comments and questlons to: anager@smgov.net 1685 Main St, Rm. 209, '. Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)458-8301 '. Click Here for online customer sernce '. farms City of Sane Mgnica 9 2008 ~ 1685 Maln SL, Santa 1Mnica~ CA 90401 ~ (31e) 458-8411 ~ Ttt hID191 ]-6626 Oixlaimer Privacy Policy Acce55lblGty POI(cy ConlaR lls City Services C-45 http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=11235 1/12/2010