ACTION Apartment Association

City Settles With Police Union Over Role on New Commission

11/11/2021 12:04 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The agreement -- which was approved on a 6 to 0 vote -- adds a non-voting member selected by the union and police chief to the 11-member Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.

The new member cannot be a City official or member of the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), said Interim City Attorney Joe Lawrence.

Demand for a single-family rental is 'through the roof'

11/10/2021 1:15 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The intense competition and shortage of homes for sale have contributed to the rising popularity of the single-family rental market, spawning many built-for-rent communities.

Santa Monica Housing Market

11/10/2021 1:13 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The median sale price for a single-family home in the 90405 ZIP code was about $2.3 million from the beginning of July through the end of September, according to Redfin. That was 9 percent higher than the price over the same period last year.

How to Comply with the City’s New Mandatory Organics Recycling Law

11/09/2021 2:05 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

How do I get started to meet the January 1, 2022 deadline?

STEP 1: If you don’t currently have a green organics container (many people do have one already), request one from the City and we’ll get one to you at no additional charge.

Malibu Split Gets Third Hearing Wednesday

11/09/2021 1:59 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

School District and Malibu City officials are gearing up for the next round Wednesday in the contentious battle over Malibu's proposal to split from the District.

The 6 p.m. Zoom meeting of the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization comes nearly two months after it overwhelmingly voted to keep alive Malibu's proposal ("Malibu Petition to Split from School District Stays on Track," September 20, 2021).

The Committee's third hearing Wednesday focuses on gathering more information and taking additional public testimony, but both sides are mobilizing their troops.

Sacto Dems Dump Prop. 13 Reforms

11/08/2021 1:25 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Right now, Prop. 13 limits property tax on any sort of real estate to 1 percent of the 1975 assessed value or 1 percent of the most recent purchase price if the property has changed hands. This levy can subsequently increase by no more than 2 percent each year.

It’s easy to gloss over the words “change hands” in that description, as it seems obvious that changing hands means a shift in who controls a property.

City Council Approves Housing Element Update

11/08/2021 1:21 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Two days ahead of the state’s deadline, the City Council of Santa Monica last month approved the required 6th Cycle Housing Element Update for the years of 2021 to 2029 and the Environmental Impact Report.

The Housing Element Update passed with a vote of 5 for approval and 2 voting against approval. The Environmental Impact Report assent passed unanimously.

Developer Proposes 20 New Units for Santa Monica Apartment Project

11/08/2021 1:19 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Developer Lee & Yen Property LLC has changed plans from a proposed office building that they have been attempting to develop in the place of a vacant apartment building located at 1448 7th Street in Santa Monica according to Urbanize Los Angeles.

California attorney general puts focus on affordable housing

11/05/2021 5:25 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The 12-member strike force will draw on attorneys from four existing sections within the state Department of Justice, said Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat who took office in April and must run for reelection next year.

“This is, I believe, something unique in the history of the California Department of Justice to have the priority and emphasis and focus on housing, law enforcement, that we have” with the new approach, Bonta said.

Independent Commission to Choose from Four County District Maps

11/05/2021 1:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In a little over a month, Santa Monica will end up in a new County Supervisorial District, possibly grouped with cities in the San Fernando Valley or in the South Bay.

An independent Citizens Redistricting Commission comprised of 14-members, including one from Santa Monica, has been busy sorting through proposed districting maps.