m20220824_Spec 1 August 24, 2022
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 24, 2022
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Himmelrich at 6:07 p.m.,
on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Sue Himmelrich
Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan (arrived at 6:08 p.m.)
Councilmember Phil Brock
Councilmember Gleam Davis
Councilmember Lana Negrete (arrived at 6:08 p.m.)
Councilmember Oscar de la Torre
Councilmember Christine Parra
Also Present: City Manager David White
City Attorney Douglas Sloan
City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren
CONVENE/PLEDGE
On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 6:07 p.m., with all
members present except Councilmembers Negrete and Mayor Pro Tem
McCowan. Councilmember Davis led the assemblage in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
PUBLIC INPUT AGENDA
ITEMS:
Councilmember Negrete and
Mayor Pro Tem McCowan
arrived at 6:08 p.m.
Members of the public Ann Maggio, Jerry Rubin, and Judith Meister
commented Item 11.A.
Members of the public Jerry Rubin and Eddy Roche commented on Item
11.B.
Members of the public Ann Maggio, Shari Davis, Denise Barton, Jerry
Rubin, Shuli Lotan, Rhoda Weiss, Brian Stedge, Genevieve Riutort, and
Jennifer Cowan commented on 11.C.
STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE
ITEMS:
LIBRARY BUDGET
11.A. Approval of Library Budget Changes to Expand Hours and
Service, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the FY 2022-23 budget
and position changes described in the Financial Impact and Budget Action
section and Attachment A of this report to provide support for the
expansion of library operating hours.
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Questions asked and answered of staff included: is this funding dedicated
for only one year, and does that mean that these expanded programs could
go away if additional funding is not found in next year’s budget; explain
how Self Service works at the libraries; do we keep count of how many
visitors at all of the libraries, and how does Ocean Park compare to the
others for visitors; where is the need and priorities from residents at the
libraries; is it true that residents can only stay at the library for a limited
amount of time; has there always been time limits at the branch locations;
is there any contingency funding to reopen the Montana Library to hold
community meetings; what type of collaboration is happening with the
public schools; and, could staff see what the cost would be to open the
branch libraries to allow neighborhood meetings.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to
adding literature to help students meet their ethnic and diversity
requirements for school.
Motion by Councilmember Negrete, seconded by Councilmember Brock, to
adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Brock, Negrete, Davis, Parra,
Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, Mayor Himmelrich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
COMMERCIAL
TRAINER FEES
11.B. Adoption of Resolution No. 11458 (CCS) entitled “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA REVISING THE CITY’S MASTER USER FEE SCHEDULE
TO ELIMINATE AND REDUCE QUARTERLY USE CHARGES FOR
COMMERCIAL FITNESS OR ATHLETIC
INSTRUCTION, CLASSES OR CAMPS”, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution to revise the schedule of fees for Commercial
Fitness or Athletic Instruction, Classes, or Camps to eliminate
quarterly use charges at General City Parks and at the Santa Monica
Beach (Tier 1 Fees) and reduce quarterly use charges for Commercial
Fitness or Athletic Instruction, Classes or Camps at Palisades Park
and Beach Parks (Tier 2 Fees).
2. Approve modifying Commercial Fitness or Athletic Instruction,
Camps, or Classes at Palisades Park to include Barnard Way Linear
Park, Ocean View Park, Beach Park #1, South Beach Park, Crescent
Bay and Beach Green and renamed to “Palisades Park and Beach
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Parks”.
3. Approve continued use of small and medium group sizes at Barnard
Way Linear Park and Memorial Park for Commercial Fitness
Trainers or Athletic Instruction, Classes, or Camps.
4. Remove Ken Genser Square and Airport Park Interim Open Space
from the approved general park list for Commercial Fitness Trainers
or Athletic Instruction, Classes, or Camps.
5. Approve a cap of 75 permits per calendar year for General City
Parks and at the Santa Monica Beach.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: what’s the annual revenue
generated for this program; are there any funds to go towards landscaping
the parks for these programs; by taking away some of the programs, what is
the process to add them back in, if needed; are the residents on Ocean
Avenue okay with this program, or are there still a lot of complaints; have
there been any problems with trainers refusing to pay the permit fee; are the
activities at Tower 26, a piloted program; and, are there plans to extend
programs on the beach.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to:
making sure the trainer programs do not conflict with the new amplified
noise ordinance in Ocean View and, would like to see the trainer fees
waived at Tongva Park for the next 12 months.
Motion by Councilmember Negrete, seconded by Councilmember Brock, to
adopt the resolution, reading by title only, and approve the staff
recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Parra, Davis, Negrete, Brock, de la Torre,
Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, Mayor Himmelrich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
HUMAN SERVICES
GRANTS
11.C. Approval of Human Services Grants Program FY 2023-27
Request for Proposals, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the proposed FY 2023-27 Human Services Grants
Program (HSGP) Funding Guidelines (Attachment H); and
2. Authorize staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next
four-year HSGP funding cycle (FY 2023-27).
Questions asked and answered of staff included: is there only the $8 million
for grants available, are there any additional funds; is the 70/30 percent
formula a change, or has that always been the formula; as part of the
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survey, did the public support the types of programs that are currently
being funded; is staff planning to wait for the results of the Moss Adams
audit to incorporate them into the process; with the listed exemptions,
including using funds for religious belief or practices, does this mean that
the Salvation Army would not be able to apply for a grant; explain the
category for those who are underserved in the community; is there a reason
that the underaged youth don’t fit into one of those categories; how many
non-profits in Santa Monica are run by people of color; are there other
diversity questions that are asked of the grantees that are relevant; what
number of African-American and Latinos are currently serving on the We
Are Santa Monica Board; when was the last time the youth Wellbeing
timecard was released; is there a reason why we don’t have agencies that
engage in advocacy for their clients; where’s the money of the CBDG
money; is there a request to ask diversity question on the RFP; are there
any roadways to connect local career with local business; is credit being
given for past performances; how will you handle those organizations that
didn’t do well during Covid; would it be okay to add to the agency
eligibility criteria that the City Council could change the criteria; in the
eligibility criteria, explain how expanding to organizations outside of Santa
Monica would work for service providers; to what extend is it being asked
what is their proven record providing services; does the city look at more
than their own internal data; how much different is this RFP from the one
issued in 2015; how do we achieve a transformative, nimble, innovative
grant program; define disability; how do you access best practices for
clients; if an agency wanted to introduce a new program, could they do it
within the scope of work that they are covered under this program; is it
realistic to set 40% as the amount of the population who will be served
under this program; will students who are new to Santa Monica be able to
receive services; what is the complaint procedure when agencies are being
considered as part of the RFP process, and, will any complaints be
considered as part of the record.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to:
would like to see increased opportunities for seniors and people with
disabilities ; think about expanding the underserved youth population; more
transparency in reporting out on a regular basis, what is being done with the
grant programs; it’s important to gather data on diversity to make sure that
we are providing grants to a variety of recipients; look at non-profits who
could coordinate with the school district; on the area of stability, check and
work with organizations to provide more entrepreneurial opportunities in
the guidelines; ask one person from each Neighborhood organization to
serve on the selection committee; add the 38% to Attachment H for
clarification; and, add gender-identity and trans-identity.
Motion by Councilmember Davis, seconded by Councilmember Negrete, to
adopt the staff recommendation, with adding the finance criteria to
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Attachment H and to update and add the language for gender-identity and
gender-expression.
Councilmember de la Torre proposed a friendly amendment to include
adding client testimony or recommendations in the approval of the RFP
criteria. The motion was considered friendly by the maker and seconder.
The motion, with amendments was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Brock, Negrete, Davis, Parra,
Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, Mayor Himmelrich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m. in
memory of Mary Susan Jimenez Barrett.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Denise Anderson-Warren Sue Himmelrich
City Clerk Mayor
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