SR 09-13-2016 13C 13.C
September 13, 2016
Council Meeting: September 13, 2016 Santa Monica, California
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CITY CLERK’S OFFICE - MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson -Warren, City Clerk , Records & Elections Services
Department
Date : September 13, 2016
13.C Request of Councilmember McKeown that Council Direct Staff to Explore
and Re turn with Recommendations for a Two -year Pilot Program Offering
Extremely Reduced -Cost Big Blue Bus Passes for SMMUSD Students, as
Part of our Ongoing GoSaMo Program, in Pursuit of the Council’s Adopted
Top -five Priority of Mobility, and with Hopes of Incr easing Safety and
Reducing Individual Private Vehicular Traffic near Schools
1
Anne Samartha
From:Laurie Lieberman <lieberman@hlkklaw.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 13, 2016 12:26 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Support for Councilmember Item 13C
Dear Mayor Vazquez, Mayor Pro Tem Winterer and Councilmembers,
We are writing to express our support and deep appreciation for the City’s hard work and commitment that has resulted
in Councilmember McKeown’s item. Changing our culture from one that is completely automobile ‐dependent to one
which uses other means of transportation is a huge challenge an d this is an important step in that direction. There have
been conversations going on about this for a long time; it is extremely exciting to know that there will soon be a pilot
program targeting our students and families, building on what was put in place earlier this year. As you all know, the
School District wants very much to partner with the City in r educing traffic, promoting use of different transportation
modes and increasing safety near our schools. This program appears to have the potential to help a larger number of
residents as well, as pointed out in th e September 10, 2016 SMDP article. Bravo to Ed King at the BBB and to all others
who are working to formulate this plan and identify a funding source for it. And thank you to Councilmember McKeown
for staying on top of this and for helping move this ite m forward.
We are hoping that as part of this pilot, consideration can be given to addressing the peak time frame when students are
going to school in the morning. We do not know whether special bus routes and/or additional buses, or some other
approach is viable but having efficient morning routes to school is a key issue that needs attent ion in order for this
program to have the success we all desire. We know that there are not easy solutions but the more we can ensure
easy, safe, efficient opportunities for students to get to school in the morning along with aff ordability, the greater the
likelihood that a culture change will occur.
We will ensure that the School District does its part in sharing information and encouraging bus ridership throughout our
schools, especially in the middle and high schools. Our District is already working on ideas for how to involve our
studen ts and families in ways that can help make this pilot a success and we are eager to have our staff continue to work
with City staff on this program. We support all measures that help reduce the number of students, particularly those in
high school, driving to or being driven to school in the morni ng.
Thanks very much,
Laurie Lieberman, President
Ralph Mechur, Vice President
SMMUSD Board of Education
Add to 13-C
09/13/2016