SR 09-14-2021 13I 13.I
September 14, 2021
Council Meeting: September 14, 2021 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 14, 2021
13.I Request of Mayor Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, and
Councilmember Davis that Council adopt the attached resolution
supporting the denial of the City of Malibu’s October 12, 2020 petition to
split the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District into two separate
districts based on the substantial negative effect of the proposed
reorganization on the fiscal health of the remaining Santa Monica Unified
School District.
13.I
Packet Pg. 341
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005332.00431
34409545.1
RESOLUTION NO. _________
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA REQUESTING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
DENY THE CITY OF MALIBU UNIFICATION PETITION
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2020, the City of Malibu submitted a Petition to form a new Malibu
Unified School District from territory currently within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School
District (“Malibu Petition”); and
WHEREAS, on November 10, 2020, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica (the
“Council”) re-affirmed its support for such a split but only if the terms of separation, including
but not limited to, the division of revenues and assets, are fair and just to students in Santa
Monica schools and provide robust and equal educational opportunity for both Malibu and Santa
Monica students; and
WHEREAS, On March 10, 2021, the Council through its Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tempore,
ubmitted a letter to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization (the
“Committee”) requesting the Committee deny the Malibu Petition as the Malibu Petition did not
propose an equitable split; and
WHEREAS, On March 23, 2021, the Council approved a 13-item motion reaffirming the
Council’s position and requesting the denial of the Malibu Petition; and
WHEREAS, On April 17, 2021, the Committee conducted a public hearing at which it received
a presentation from the City of Malibu and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
(“SMMUSD”) on the Malibu Petition as well as public testimony from residents and
organizations from each of the affected territories; and
WHEREAS, the information provided highlighted the shortcomings of the Malibu Petition; and
WHEREAS, these shortcomings were further elucidated with the release of the September 2,
2021 staff report submitted by the Committee’s Business Advisory Services Division and its
outside consultant (collectively, “Staff Report”) which concluded that among other significant
deficiencies, the Malibu Petition “would have a substantial negative effect on the fiscal health of
the remaining Santa Monica USD.”; and
WHEREAS, owing to the extreme failings of the Malibu Petition, the Committee should
exercise its discretion to deny the Malibu Petition rather than approve the submittal of the
Malibu Petition into the full hearing process of Education Code section 35705, particularly
during a time of pandemic when SMMUSD and its students and families are focusing their time,
resources and energy into returning to campuses in a safe and sustainable manner; and
WHEREAS, In light of this and the other negative findings in the Staff Report, the Council
cannot support the Malibu Petition and hereby requests that it be summarily denied immediately
following the Committee hearing on September 18, 2021.
13.I.a
Packet Pg. 342 Attachment: Resolution City of SM - Malibu Petition (4766 : Support denial to split SMMUSD)
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005332.00431
34409545.1
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Monica, California hereby finds,
determines, declares, orders and resolves as follows:
Section 1. That all of the recitals set forth above are true and correct, and the
Council so finds and determines.
Section 2. That the Council requests the County Committee summarily deny
the Malibu Petition following the Committee’s public hearing on September 18, 2021.
APPROVED, PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of
Santa Monica, California on the _____ day of September, 2021, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
___________________________________
Mayor of the City of Santa Monica
Attested to: ___________________________________
Clerk of the City Council of the
City of Santa Monica
13.I.a
Packet Pg. 343 Attachment: Resolution City of SM - Malibu Petition (4766 : Support denial to split SMMUSD)