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m-041515CITY OF SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 15, 2015 A continued meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor McKeown at 6:35 p.m., on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street. Roll Call: Present: Mayor Kevin McKeown Mayor Pro Tern Tony Vazquez Councilmember Gleam Davis Councilmember Sue Himmelrich Councilmember Pam O'Connor Councilmember Terry O'Day Councilmember Ted Winterer Also Present: Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek City Attorney Marsha Jones Moutrie City Cleric Sarah P. Gorman CONVENEIPLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council reconvened at 6:35 p.m., with all members present. As a continuation of the Study Session presentations and public comments made to the City Council on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, the Mayor closed the public hearing and opened Council discussion as follows: April 15, 2015 STUDY SESSION: 4 -A: Study Session on the Draft Zoning Ordinance, Proposed Land DRAFT ZONING Use and Circulation Element Amendments, Draft LUCE Land Use ORDINANCE AND LUCE Designation Map Amendments, LUCE Amendments and Designation Map Appeals, and Draft Official Districting Map - recommendation that the City Council hold a public hearing study session to review, comment, and provided preliminary direction on the following: (1) Draft Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance Update Redline Public Review Draft, as modified by the Greenline Changes to Redline Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinance As Recommended By the Planning Commission on March 4, 2015); (2) Proposed Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) Amendments; (3) Draft LUCE Land Use Designation Map Amendments (112 Parcels as identified in Exhibit A of Attachment K 3); (4) Appeals of Planning Commission Denials of Specified LUCE Amendments and LUCE Land Use Designation Map Amendments; (5) Draft Official Districting Map; (6) Land Use and Zoning Related Provisions (Division 6); and (7) Initial Study/Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse #2013121053); and City Council is further recommended to direct staff to return on May 5, 2015 with a Zoning Ordinance and related provisions for 1" reading, LUCE amendments, LUCE Land Use Map amendments, and the Official Districting Map, was presented. Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to: density calculations, hours and location of child care facilities, development regulations, and land use regulations. Determining residential density Motion by Councilmember Winterer. seconded by Mavor Pro Tem Vazquez, to approve the staff recommendation to modify the method of calculating residential density in the R2, R3, and R4 districts so that no portion of the alley would be used to calculate the area of the site in these districts. Motion to amend by Councilmember Winterer, to clarify that this motion is to give direction to staff to return on May 5 with a revised proposed ordinance that reflects this change. The amendment was fiiendly to the seconder. The Mayor clarified that, unless otherwise specified, all motions on this item are to give direction to staff to be included in a revised proposed ordinance that will be brought back to Council and are not to adopt the code. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. 2 April 15, 2015 Council then provided direction on items discussed in the staff report. Child care and early education facilities in the Rl /OPI Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to give direction to staff to return on May 5 with a revised proposed ordinance incorporating the staff recommendation allowing child care in RI with a Conditional Use Permit and modifying the hours in multifamily to allow activity until 8 p.m. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Davis to give staff direction to return on May 5 with a proposed ordinance incorporating the staff recommendation maintaining the 100 foot concentration limits for large family day cares. Substitute motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Himmehich, to give staff direction to return on May 5 with a proposed ordinance providing that the large family day care concentration limits be placed at the 300 foot level recommended by the Planning Commission. The substitute motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers Davis, O'Day, O'Connor ABSENT: None Existing hotels in r -2 and r -3 districts Motion by Councilmember Himmehich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to incorporate into the proposed ordinance the staff recommendation to changing the categorization of existing hotels in the R2 and R3 zoning districts to legal non - conforming uses from permitted uses. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Multi -unit density limitations Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Councilmember Hinunelrich, to approve the staff recommendation of maximum unit density as follows: in R2, the lesser of one unit per 2,000 square feet of parcel area or 4 units total; in R3, the lesser of one unit per 1,500 square feet of parcel area or 5 units total; in R4, the lesser of one unit per 1,250 square feet of parcel area April 15, 2015 or 6 units total. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmehich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Day, O'Connor ABSENT: None No story limit for projects with 100% residential use above the ground floor Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember O'Day, for staff recommendation of no limitations on the number of stories for any project that provides 100% residential uses above the ground floor for the mixed use commercial districts as well as the Oceanfront District, and would establish a firm cap on the number of stories for all other development and projects with 100% residential uses above the ground floor would still be subject to all other development standards, including established standards for discretionary review. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Conditional Use Permit requirements for office uses Motion by Councilmember Himmehich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation that all new medical and dental offices, general offices, and creative offices, in newly constructed buildings within the commercial and mixed -use corridor districts, must obtain conditional use permits. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Development on multiple parcels Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, that staff should return with a revised proposed ordinance for our review that incorporates the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report and further directing staff to look harder at neighborhoods with existing smaller parcels. Motion to amend by Councilmember Davis, to direct staff to examine the Pasadena example of working with courtyard housing in this context. The motion was friendly to the maker. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Tier 2 community benefits 4 April 15, 2015 Motion by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily approve staff's recommendation as discussed in the staff report with the exception of directing staff to consider a formulation that would require 10 or 15% or an alternative number of three bedroom units, and that overall for all the units provided within the project, the average number of bedrooms for all units be 1.5 or another number staff believes that achieves the desired unit mix. Motion to amend by Councilmember Winterer, to direct staff to examine permit waiver from standards for extraordinary circumstances, such as lot dimensions. The motion was friendly to the maker and seconder. Motion to amend by Councilmember Winterer, to have staff further explore the idea of historic preservation community benefit offsite by preserving courtyard housing. The motion was friendly to the maker and the seconder. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to direct staff to re- examine the affordable housing production plan in the context of tier 2 community benefits and return with recommendations, and to direct staff to look at the potential for directing monies accumulated through the Tier 2 program back into the neighborhoods where the projects occur and that staff evaluate whether that is possible or desirable and if it is possible and desirable, that staff propose methodology to do so. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to direct staff to pursue new nexus studies to review fees going forward. Motion to amend by Councilmember Winterer, to review feasibility, as opposed to only pursuing new nexus studies. The motion was friendly to the maker and the seconder. Motion by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, seconded by Councilmember Himrneh-ich to look at feasibility regarding fees. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Leeal nonconformine use provisions Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation to allow a non- conforming use of a City - Designated Historic Resource to be resumed, 5 April 15, 2015 reestablished, or reopened with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit, subject to specific findings. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Parking, loading, circulation standards Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, to modify the proposed ordinance by reducing the transit radius in a mixed use transportation district from %2 mile to '/4 mile, have maximum parking amounts but with the opportunity for a Conditional Use Permit or variance to exceed the maximum parking amounts for public and private use parking, allow but not require unbundling, and adopt increased Transportation Demand Management measures as recommended by staff. Motion to amend by Councilmember Winterer, to create a process by which a person within the '/4 - %2 radius may apply for the '/2 radius with an appropriate parking study. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Day, O'Connor ABSTAIN: None Auto dealer standards Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report, and increase the threshold for discretionary review for Tier 1 expansion on existing auto use commercial lots up to 25,000 feet and allowing an additional .25 area ratio for Tier 1 expansions. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Winterer, O'Day, O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmember Himmelrich ABSENT: None Medical marijuana dispensaries Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. 6 April 15, 2015 Motion to amend by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to ask staff to evaluate the locations suggested. The motion to amend was friendly to the maker and seconder. Motion to amend by Councilmember Davis, to consider distance between the dispensaries. The motion to amend was friendly to the maker and seconder. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Winterer, Himmehich, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day ABSENT: None Major modifications for landmarks /structures of merit Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily support the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Winterer, O'Day, O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmember Himmelrich ABSENT: None Neighborhood overlay Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily support the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. LUCE amendments 1 -5 Staff direction was provided preliminarily approving the staff Councilmember O'Day was recommendation as discussed in the staff report. excused at 9:49 p.m. Negative declaration Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Councilmember O'Day Vazquez, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in returned to the meeting at the staff report. 9 :52 p. m. April 15, 2015 The motion was approved with a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember O'Day. Councilmember Himmelrich uvas excused at 10:07p. m. LUCE Amendment concerning 3 foot height bonus in NC Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily recommend to staff to not include the three foot Neighborhood Commercial height bonus in the draft zoning ordinance. The motion was approved with a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember Himmelrich. Councilmember Himmelrich LUCE amendments concerning landmarks/structures of merit returned to the meeting at consideration 10:08 p.m. Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember O'Day, to preliminarily approve staff and Planning Commission recommendations as discussed in the staff report. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present and Councilmember Himmelrich abstaining. LUCE amendments regarding Wilshire Boulevard activity centers Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to preliminarily approve removal of the activity centers from Wilshire Boulevard. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Winterer, Himmelrich, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmember O'Connor, Councilmember O'Day ABSENT: None Amendment removing Tier 3 from the Mixed -Use Boulevard (MUB) land use designation with selected exceptions Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember O'Day, to preliminarily allow only Tier 3 for 100 percent housing above the first floor, only on parcels that do not currently have housing, have a mix of units like the suggestions in community benefits for Tier 2, and to include tier 3 for landmarks and structures of merit. Substitute motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, to remove Tier 3 from the mixed use boulevard designation other than for 100% affordable April 15, 2015 housing and structures of merit and landmarks, with no exceptions. Substitute motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily remove Tier 3 from the mixed use boulevard designation other than for 100% affordable housing and structures of merit and landmarks, including the staff recommended exceptions other than Fourth Street between 1 -10 and Pico Boulevard. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers Davis, O'Day, O'Connor ABSENT: None Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez made a statement of personal privilege: Amendment removing Tier 3 from the Mixed -Use Boulevard Low (MUBL) land use designation with selected exceptions Motion by Councilmember Himmelricb, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to preliminarily remove Tier 3 from the mixed use boulevard low land use designation excepting 100% affordable housing and landmark or structure of merit. The motion failed by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day, Winterer, Davis ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Winterer. seconded by Mavor McKeown, to preliminarily remove Tier 3 from the mixed use boulevard low land use designation excepting 100% affordable housing and landmark or structure of merit, with exceptions recommended by staff as described in the staff report. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day, Davis ABSENT: None Pico neighborhood zoning district 9 April 15, 2015 Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. Councilmember O'Connor uras excused at 10:53 p.m. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember O'Connor. One year review of zoning ordinance implementation Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation with an additional provision to, upon return at the one year review, provide a list with a description of housing types and projects proposed for the boulevards. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember O'Connor. Clarification to the active commercial design standards Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember O'Connor. Land Use and Zoning Designation for the St. Monica Catholic Councilmember O'Connor Community returned to Chambers at 10:57p.m. Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to preliminarily change the block that St. Monica currently occupies and convert it to R3 designation for reasons unrelated to its status as a religious institution. Councilmember O'Day made a statement for the record that the use is not related to the decision. The motion passed by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Winterer, O'Day, O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez NOES: Councilmember Himmelrich, Mayor McKeown ABSENT: None Deputy City Attorney Barry Rosenbaum clarified for the record that the 10 April 15, 2015 designation in the motion is more appropriately termed medium density housing. The Council affirmed that it understood this by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Requirement of Development Agreements for Tier 2 Developments Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily no longer require Development Agreements on Tier 2 developments. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present, and with Councilmember O'Connor abstaining. Draft land use map amendments Motion by Councilmember Himmehich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to preliminarily revert the 115 parcels that were originally residential and became commercial on the map, including parcels on Second Street, to revert to residential. The motion failed by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Day, Winterer, Davis ABSTAIN: Councilmember O'Connor ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily revert all 115 parcels to residential, with the exception of the three parcels on Second Street, which would be addressed in the Downtown Specific Plan. The motion was approved by the following vote AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, O'Day, O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez NOES: Mayor McKeown ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to preliminarily change the designation at the rear of the parcel at 1801 Wilshire to low density housing. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers O'Day, Winterer, Himmelrich, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown 11 April 15, 2015 NOES: Councilmember O'Connor ABSENT: None Residential/ commercial adiacencies Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Live/work Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember O'Connor, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report with regarding to live /work and home occupation. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Staff direction was provided to attempt to make the units affordable to artists. Demolition defined Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff repot. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Historic resources Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to preliminarily approve the staff recommendation as discussed in the staff report with a modification that bed and breakfasts in all residential areas be only in designated landmarks or structures of historic merit. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. The Council then provided direction on additional topics. Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to direct staff to prepare an ordinance regarding short term rentals, and return 12 April 15, 2015 with it at the April 28, 2015 Council meeting. Motion to amend by Councilmember Davis, to clarify that persons participating in the shared economy not be subject to eviction. The amendment was friendly to the maker and seconder. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to direct staff to look at returning with a revised proposed zoning ordinance amending language to no longer require food to be ordered when alcohol is ordered in restaurants. The motion was approved with a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to direct staff to in the future have planning processes for the neighborhoods that would examine what their needs are and apply other standards, perhaps including those of the Ocean Park neighborhood, as applicable. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to direct staff to explore regulations relating to dancing in businesses on Main Street. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to direct staff to prepare a Resolution of Intent for the Planning Commission for Pico Boulevard in the context of the Pico Neighborhood as a whole. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to direct staff to prepare an Resolution of Intent for the Planning Commission to remove the activity center at Ocean Park and Lincoln. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Day, O'Connor ABSENT: None Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Councilmember Davis, to direct 13 April 15, 2015 staff to explore ways to allow conversion to condominiums for long term tenancies in common. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, for direction to staff to explore issues regarding encouraging labor and fair wages at hotels and to make every effort to come up with policies that will avoid residential conversions into hotels. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich to direct staff to prepare a Resolution of Intent to reconsider the housing /office ratio in the Bergamot area. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers O'Day, Winterer, Himmelrich, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmember O'Connor ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, to modify the proposed ordinance to change development review thresholds to 7500 square feet for Pico and Mid -City pending development of the Pico plan. Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, to amend the motion to change development review thresholds to 7500 square feet until adoption of the Pico Neighborhood Plan, for the area boundaries indicated in the interim zoning ordinance map for the Pico neighborhood area and a portion of Mid - City. The amendment was accepted as friendly to the seconder. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, to override previous direction and direct staff to return with a proposal to change all development review thresholds in neighborhoods potentially covered by the Pico neighborhood plan to 7500 square feet. The amendment was friendly to the seconder. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, 14 April 15, 2015 Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day ABSENT: None Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, to direct staff to amend the language of page 3.111 concerning alcohol exemption zoning conformance permits to require that all restaurants over 50 seats obtain Conditional Use Permits as was in the prior code. Motion to amend by Councilmember Himmehich, to direct staff to revise the proposal so that administrative approvals of alcohol licenses in restaurants over 50 seats should be appealable to the Planning Commission. The motion was friendly to the seconder. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmembers O'Day, O'Connor ABSENT: None Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, to modify the proposal to permit adjustment of a grandparented hedge only if the neighbor agrees and if there is a substantive change in the neighboring Councilmember O'Day was property adjacent to the hedge. excused at 12:51 a. in. Motion to amend by Councilmember Davis, to direct staff to consider a cap on hedge height. The amendment was approved as friendly by the maker and seconder. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Councilmember O'Day returned to Chambers at Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem 12:57 a. m. Vazquez, to direct staff to review the issue of not requiring accessory structures to be smaller than the principal structure. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present. Motion by Mavor McKeown. seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich, to direct staff to review the issue of not defining corporations as persons within the zoning code. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with Councilmember O'Day absent and Councilmember O'Connor abstaining and all other members present. Councilmember O'Day was Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor McKeown, to excused from the meeting at direct staff to review the issue in the future of whether decks in single 1:02 a.m. family residences should count towards density. The motion was approved 15 April 15, 2015 by a unanimous voice vote, with Councilmember O'Day absent and with Councilmember O'Connor abstaining, and all other members present. Motion by Councilmember Himmeh•ich, to direct staff that when a street is counted as part of the parcel area for floor area ratio purposes, it is disclosed in the development documents or staff report. The motion failed for lack of a second. Motion by Councilmember Himmelrich, seconded by Mayor McKeown, to direct staff to review within the code how front setbacks are defined. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with Councilmember O'Day absent and with Councilmember O'Connor abstaining. Motion by Mayor McKeown, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to direct staff to continue efforts reviewing how auditory accommodations are included in the zoning code and building code, and to consider inclusion of auditory accommodations in the annual budget. Motion to amend by Councilmember Davis, to provide direction to staff to continue to explore accommodations for persons with visually and hearing impairments and to explore accommodations for the visually and hearing impaired in Council Chambers in the budget process. The motion was friendly to the maker and seconder. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting CouncilmemberO'Day . Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Himmelrich to direct staff to review the issue of park size. AYES: Couneilmembers Winterer, Himmelrich, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: Councilmember O'Connor ABSENT: Councilmember O'Day Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Winterer, to direct staff to reconsider and reduce the Conditional Use Permit threshold for retail on Wilshire, in an attempt to reduce the opportunity for big box stores on Wilshire. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmember O'Day. COUNCILMEMBER 13 -A: Recommendation to accept Carter C. Rubin's resignation from DISCUSSION ITEMS: the Housing Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish the HOUSING COMMISSION vacancy, was presented. 16 April 15, 2015 Member of the public Denise Barton commented on this item. Councilmember O'Connor tivas excused from the meeting Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Councilmember Davis, at 1:40 a. m. to accept the resignation with regret. The motion was approved by a unanimous voice vote, with all members present excepting Councilmembers O'Connor and O'Day. SISTER CITY 13 -B: Request of Mayor McKeown that the Council authorize the use CELEBRATION of Council travel funds for attendance at the 40th Annual Sister City partnership celebration August 11th through 17th in Fujinomiya, Japan, for the purpose of continuing our long- standing cultural ties with Santa Monica's third sister city, was presented. No members of the public spoke on this item. Motion by Councilmember Winterer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, to approve the recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Davis, Himmelrich, Winterer Mayor Pro Tern Vazquez, Mayor McKeown NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmembers O'Connor, O'Day PUBLIC INPUT: Members of the public Denise Barton and People of California commented on various local issues. ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting was adjourned at 1:52 a.m. in memory of Richard Dysart. ATTEST: APPROVED: Sarah P. Gorman Kevin McKeown City Clerk Mayor 17 April 15, 2015