Santa Monica City Council made mid-year adjustments to the City’s budget based on updated revenues and expenditures and received a five-year financial forecast. Although future economic uncertainty remains a factor, Santa Monica is entering a phase of recovery and restoration.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2022/02/09/santa-monica-city-council-adopts-midyear-budget-adjustments-and-receives-updated-financial-forecast

One new idea, which was presented to the LA County Mental Health Commission in January, suggests sheltering people on the underutilized roofs of parking structures dotted around greater Los Angeles.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/new-proposal-for-housing-in-parking-garages/213105

The staff report recommends allocating funding for additional full and part-time staff hours that total to the equivalent of 32.1 full-time positions spread across the City’s departments. The plan also allocates funding towards parks and recreation programming, housing resources and library services.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-to-restore-services-and-rehire-over-30-positions-thanks-to-rebounding-economy/213108

Staff have begun drafting amendments to the Land Use and Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan, Bergamot Area Plan, Downtown Community Plan, and the Zoning Ordinance to facilitate the goals of the City’s Housing Element.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/planning-commission-discusses-zoning-changes-to-boost-housing-development/213063

SMa.r.t.

And we need a planning staff and director who listens to residents, not developers. Instead of raising heights and increasing density, we need to capitalize on our untapped zoning. We already have capacity for all the growth needed within our existing 3 and 4-story General Plan and previous Zoning Ordinance.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/02/santa-monicas-future-will-developers-or-residents-rule-part-5-our-future/

Santa Monica College is considering building student housing for low-income and unhoused students. 

The proposed housing for low-income and unhoused students could be built next to the College’s Bundy campus on the border the city shares with Los Angeles as reported by The Santa Monica Lookout. SMC is conducting a feasibility study for a potential 275-bed housing unit that “would ideally [be] fully furnished with all utilities included.” in a parking lot near the edge of the campus. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/02/santa-monica-college-investigating-options-to-build-housing-for-poor-and-unhoused-students/

The petition, which would see the School District split into seven districts, is among the first filed in LA County under a new state law giving control to county education boards to create trustee voting areas.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/smmusd-by-district-voting-petition-heralds-shift-toward-voting-districts-countywide/213022

The 2022 State of the City hosted by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Santa Monica will be held on Tuesday, February 15 at 5 p.m. streamed on YouTube.

Read More:  https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2022/02/02/2022-state-of-the-city-envisioning-our-future-set-for-february-15

 Assemblymember Richard Bloom announced Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race to replace Sheila Kuehl as County Supervisor, upending what promises to be a hotly contested June primary.

Bloom, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2012 after serving as Santa Monica Mayor, said he will complete his fifth term, which expires in December 2024.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/February-2022/02_01_2022_Bloom_Drops_Out_of_Race_for_County_Supervisor.html

Friday's order continues the City's 41st Emergency Supplement issued October 29 that bars no-fault termination of leases and evictions for owner move-ins, nuisance and unauthorized occupants or pets.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/January-2022/01_31_2022_City_Extends_Emergency_Health_Orders.html