ACTION Apartment Association

Renters will have 12 months to repay unpaid rent

04/30/2020 5:52 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica extended its moratorium on residential and commercial evictions to June 30, city officials announced Thursday.

The order also extends from six to twelve months the time tenants have to pay rent they were unable to pay. City spokesperson Constance Farrell said the city extended the moratorium and deadline in response to the deep economic impacts of COVID-19 and public health projections that indicate people will be required to remain at home.

Santa Monica to merge departments and lay off staff

04/30/2020 10:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica will merge several departments and lay off staff as it moves to reduce its budget amid a sharp decline in revenues.

The city relies on tax revenue from sectors such as retail and tourism that have been devastated by stay-at-home orders. By June 30, the end of the fiscal year, the city will have a $72 million General Fund shortfall. Next fiscal year, projections show a nearly 40% drop in city revenues and a $154 million General Fund gap. Officials will release a proposed plan for organizational restructuring and budget cuts Friday that City Council will vote on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Interim City Manager Lane Dilg shared some details of the plan in a videoconference with city staff.

City Council Adopts Resolution for Public Comments

04/30/2020 10:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council voted to adopt a resolution to temporarily amend its Rule of Order and Procedure 15 regarding public comment to reflect new procedures under which members of the public will be able to call into teleconference meetings to provide oral comment. The May 5 City Council meeting will be the first with the new procedures and the new rule.

City Manager Lays Out Plan to Fill "Gaping Holes" in Budget

04/30/2020 10:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

During an online meeting with municipal employees Wednesday, Santa Monica City Manager Lane Dilg outlined a plan to fill "gaping holes" in the budget that includes department mergers and widespread layoffs by May 30.

The plan to address the sudden and devastating financial impacts of the coronavirus shutdown lays off workers by order of seniority, while allowing longtime employees to "bump down" to jobs at a lower classification, both standard practices under union contracts.

Fair Housing and COVID-19

04/30/2020 10:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Gary Rhoades

Deputy City Attorney in the Public Rights Division of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office.

Our federal, state, and local fair housing laws together prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of several categories, including but not limited to race, national origin, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, age, and source of income. During the pandemic, housing advocates and enforcement agencies such as the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office (CAO), are especially concerned about discrimination based on national origin, disability, and age.

Council Approves Seven Months Severance Pay for Rick Cole

04/30/2020 10:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Former Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole, who recently stepped down facing a massive budget deficit, will receive seven months of severance pay after a separation agreement was approved without public discussion by City Council.

Cuts are coming, and we’re all going to feel it

04/29/2020 9:59 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

All residents, staff and officials should understand this reality: Everyone is going to lose something they love.

Years of infilling our eight square miles produced plentiful buckets of revenue for the city (and more than a few big developers). Rapid growth of tourism to a peak of $2 billion further added to the coffers.

Going forward, cuts are mandatory because the city has allowed programs to bloat when times were unusually good, and even prior to COVID-19 City Council was struggling to adapt to a more subdued economic landscape.

Santa Monica Launches Economic Recovery Task Force

04/29/2020 9:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At last night’s City Council meeting, City leadership announced the Santa Monica Economic Recovery Task Force, a collaboration between City staff across departments and dozens of business and community partners to quickly develop and implement measures to get our businesses and workers back on their feet, and get our dynamic local economy moving again. The Economic Recovery Task Force is now working in parallel with active emergency response to lay the groundwork for a multifaceted recovery.

Renters and landlords have questioned whether one-time stimulus checks and unemployment benefits will provide enough money to cover rent, and small businesses have complained that the CARES Act offers little money that could be allocated to rent. The city’s temporary moratorium on evictions holds businesses and renters liable for any unpaid rent six months after the crisis is over.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-creates-task-force-to-aid-in-economic-recovery-from-covid-19/190261

City Council Appoints George Cardona to Serve as Interim City Attorney

04/29/2020 9:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting tonight, the Santa Monica City Council named George Cardona as Interim City Attorney. Cardona has served as Special Counsel/Chief of Staff for the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office for the past three years. He steps in to lead the City Attorney’s Office while Lane Dilg serves as Interim City Manager.

Supplemental Order Pauses Deadlines for Building Projects

04/29/2020 9:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Building deadlines have been paused, hotel stays can last longer than 30 days and the City's gift policy has been waived for first responders under Santa Monica's latest emergency order.

The order -- issued Friday by newly appointed Interim City Manager Lane Dilg -- is the 12th supplemental order since a local emergency was declared on Friday, March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the order, deadlines for reviewing and acting on planning applications, exercising rights under planning entitlements, and expiration of building permits are paused as of March 16.