Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved Santa Monica’s Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance to implement Phase 2 Outdoor Watering Restrictions, limit outdoor watering to two days per week, and prohibit watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in response to on-going drought conditions across the State of California. The new restrictions will go into effect on July 5, 2022.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2022/06/15/city-council-approves-emergency-ordinance-to-limit-outdoor-watering

One of the letters -- both of which are dated June 5 -- is from former Mayor Dennis Zane, a close adviser and former campaign manager for the mayor, who is widely viewed as representing Santa Monica's political establishment.

The other is written by Marc L. Verville, a relative newcomer to Santa Monica's political scene whose expertise in finance recently earned him a seat on the City's Audit Subcommittee.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/June-2022/06_14_2022_Dueling_Letters_Offer_Radically_Different_Takes_on_Mayors_Transfer_Tax.html

by Marc L. Verville, member of the Santa Monica Audit Subcommittee who served as Vice President of Finance and Business Analysis at Warner Bros. before his retirement.

To be clear, the Himmelrich tax proposal’s rate is 804% (5.71% ÷ 0.71%) of the existing tax and is a 704% (5.00% ÷ 0.71%) increase over the existing tax, which is less than 1 percentage point. The Himmelrich proposal would increase the transfer tax at the threshold $8 million level to 5.71% from the current 0.71%, on the entire transaction value. That is the basic math that seems to elude both Mr. Zane and Ms. Himmelrich.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2022/06_14_2022_OPINION_Marc_Vervilles_Rebuttal_to_Denny_Zane.html

by John Alle

As crazy as this sounds, Block-by-Block is paying their Ambassadors between $16.40 to $19.10 an hour, then charging DTSM $32 + + an hour. In addition, DTSM has agreed to continue paying Block-by-Block for 3,900 hours….in advance. There is nobody who is making sure these folks are doing their job.

In the Garages and alleyways, incidents of theft, tire slashings, people sleeping in cars, people dealing drugs, have increased, not decreased. Allied Security has done an awful job, ‘ missing in action’, mainly because they do not show up and walk their assigned areas. When they do show up it is for a total of an hour at intermittent times. The assigned guard has stated he is afraid, and oftentimes will stay away from those sleeping in the garages or dealing drugs. They are armed, he is not. If the Guard sees something illegal he must still call 911. But we have insufficient police officers to even respond at night within 45 minutes to 911 calls on the Promenade and in Downtown. Guards and Ambassadors are afraid and intimidated by a new criminal element that has taken over, especially at night. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/06/op-ed-response-to-dtsm-board-chair-barry-snell-and-plea-to-city-council-regarding-safety-ambassadors-and-ambassador-program/

While Santa Monica does not need to actually construct 9,000 new housing units by 2029, the City does need to provide a plan that would allow that state-mandated housing need to be met. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/housing-element-still-under-revision-at-planning-commission-as-deadline-looms/218512

At their meeting Tuesday night, however, Santa Monica City Council will vote on an ordinance that would implement further water restrictions, including limiting outdoor watering to two days per week. Current law in Santa Monica does not limit how many days a week residents can water outdoors. The proposed ordinance includes four stages: Phase 1 – outdoor watering limited to 3 days per week; Phase 2 – outdoor watering limited to 2 days per week; Phase 3 – outdoor watering limited to 1 day per week; and Phase 4 – No outdoor watering allowed. City staff is recommending implementing Phase 2 restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to two days per week.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/06/santa-monica-considering-limiting-watering-lawns-to-twice-a-week/

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to ask staff to prepare a report analyzing the impacts of Mayor Sue Himmelrich's proposed ballot measure to dramatically hike the real estate transfer tax on high-end properties.

The report requested by three Councilmembers would focus on the fiscal and land use impacts of Himmelrich's “Funding for Homelessness Prevention, Affordable Housing, and Schools” tax measure.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/June-2022/06_10_2022_Council_Members_Request_Analysis_of_Mayors_Tax_Measure.html

September Rent Increases - What You Need to Know (Santa Monica Only)

• The Annual General (rent) Adjustment that landlords may implement effective September 1, 2022, is 6.0%, subject to a maximum increase of $140 that would apply to all units with MARs of $2,325 and above.
• • The annual registration fee will be increased to $228.
  • The allowable registration fee pass through to tenants will be $9.50 per month.

Read More: https://files.constantcontact.com/588963b0501/bb816920-d38b-4270-bfbd-9d7eab43f6ae.pdf

City Councilmembers Sue Himmelrich and Phil Brock both agree the City needs to raise more revenue, but they disagree on the best way to do so and are backing competing property transfer tax measures.

Neither proposed measure has been confirmed on the November ballot yet. However, in the case that they both are, the measure with the greatest votes will be enacted.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/councilmembers-back-dueling-tax-measures-for-november-ballot/218366

ITEMS OF INTEREST TO YOU:

11 A. Consideration of whether to establish a ceiling on the 2022 General

Adjustment.

11 B. Consideration and adoption of the RCB FY 22/23 Operating Budget.

11 C. Consideration of whether to amend subsection (b) of Regulation 11200

respecting an increase in the annual registration fee.

11 D. Consideration of whether to recommend to the City Council that the City place

on the November 2022 ballot an amendment to the City Charter and Rent

Control Amendment allowing for a suspension of rent increases during certain

declared emergencies.

12 A Recommendation to declare a vacancy on the Rent Board and discuss procedures for the appointment of a commissioner.

Send an email to rentcontrol@santamonica.gov before 4:30pm today with your comments and input

Watch the Rent 'Bored' Meeting tonight on CITY TV: Cable Channel 16 or Streaming at 7pm: https://www.smgov.net/content.aspx?id=4292