ACTION Apartment Association

Rent Control: A Reckoning

01/31/2018 6:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The eventual drawbacks of rent restriction policies appear to outweigh the benefits to low-income individuals. So, is it time to reform them? Rent control. Advocates say it really helps low-income tenants keep their homes, especially in places where they’re likely to be priced out, helping maintain economic and cultural diversity. Critics say it’s, at best, a mere Band-Aid. So, which is it?

A new working paper published in the National Bureau for Economic Research provides a complicated answer: While these policies are a boon to many low-income tenants who directly benefit, they worsen the affordability crisis in the long-term. “It’s somewhat of a transfer from future tenants to incumbent tenants,” said Rebecca Diamond, an assistant professor of economics at Stanford University, who authored the paper along with colleagues Timothy McQuade and Franklin Qian.

Ballot measure filed to establish term limits for City Council

01/30/2018 3:46 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Local community advocate Mary Marlow and Councilwoman Sue Himmelrich have filed a ballot initiative for the 2018 election that would limit councilmembers to three terms.

The measure would provide individuals with up to 12 years (three terms of four years each) over the course of their lifetime and only applies to Council as elections for school board and the SMC college board are governed by state law. It would start counting those years from the date of the election allowing anyone currently on the council to serve an additional 12 years from November.

AND

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/February-2018/02_01_2018_Proposed_Ballot_Measure_Calls_for_Term_Limits_for_Santa_Monica_Council_Members.html

Santa Monica sees 12 percent spike in crime

01/30/2018 7:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica saw a 12 percent increase in serious crime in 2017, with 5,076 “Part 1” incidents, which include murder, arson, burglary, assault and grand theft auto. The spike follows a 5.5 percent increase in the same crimes in 2016.

“We hope that it’s leveled out,” said Lt. Saul Rodriguez with the Santa Monica Police Department, who attributed the increase to legislative changes like Propositions 47 and 57, which reduced sentences for petty theft and drug offenses and allowed parole for nonviolent felons. “We know what our problems are and how to continue to tackle these problems, like property crime.”

The department averages about 330 calls for service every day, thirty percent of those are homeless-related...

Pension Costs to Climb Almost 75 Percent at Santa Monica City Hall, Think Tank Estimates

01/29/2018 2:46 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

January 29, 2018 -- Total pension costs at Santa Monica City Hall will climb almost 75 percent by the 2024-2025 fiscal year, as the City continues to shoulder a huge unfunded liability -- or pension obligations it failed to fully fund -- and ongoing annual payments, according to a new analysis by a Sacramento-based think tank.

The report by the California Policy Center, based on data from the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), forecasts total pensions payment from City coffers to CalPERS will reach about $94 million seven years from now, compared to the $54 million the City paid in the 2017-2018 year.

Santa Monica earns an “A” for smoke-free rules

01/29/2018 7:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica continues to score well for its anti-smoking efforts according to the American Lung Association.

The ALA releases an annual report grading states, counties and individual cities. Santa Monica received an “A” for its Overall Tobacco Control. The overall grade is based on a points average across three categories. The City received an A for Smokefree Outdoor Air, a B for Smoke-free Housing, an A for Reducing Sales of Tobacco Products and bonus points for tackling second-hand smoke and licensing.

The outdoor category ranks the city based on the strength of its anti-smoking rules in seven outdoor areas and assigns points from 0-4. Santa Monica scored 19 out of a possible 28 points for dining areas (4), entryways (4), public events (2), recreation areas (4), service areas (4), sidewalks in commercial areas (1) and worksites (0).

The City earned eight points across three categories for Smoke-free Housing: Nonsmoking apartments (2), Nonsmoking Condominiums (2) and Nonsmoking Common Areas (4). In the single category for reducing sales, Santa Monica was awarded the full 4 points for licensing retailers.

Homeowners rush to file plans before anti-mansion ordinance limits new construction

01/29/2018 7:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The clock is ticking for homeowners to submit development plans before a new, temporary ordinance intending to slash the size of new houses hits the books. The City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday to approve the interim ordinance, which will be valid for 60 days starting March 16 and then will need to be extended by the City Council. Homeowners have until Feb. 24 to submit plans governed by the old rules.

The new ordinance is geared to address the “mansionization” of Santa Monica by targeting new construction in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes (R1). The rules restrict the height of new homes to 28 feet, the maximum parcel coverage to 50 percent on a sliding scale with a maximum of 20 percent on the second floor and limits the square footage of second floor decks and balconies. In an effort to encourage more housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are exempt from the parcel coverage restrictions.

Santa Monica Hires LA's Top Advisor on Homelessness to Fill New Post

01/26/2018 2:18 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

January 26, 2018 -- Alisa Orduña -- who currently is in charge of homeless policies for the City of Los Angeles -- will assume a similar post in Santa Monica, City officials announced Thursday.

As the Senior Advisor on Homelessness to City Manager Rick Cole, Orduña will help coordinate efforts across City departments, as well as participate in policy and resource discussions with regional governments.

Her monthly salary will be $10,937

AND

https://smmirror.com/2018/01/alisa-orduna-will-lead-santa-monicas-regional-collaboration-homelessness-senior-advisor-role/

THE STATE OF OUR CITY

01/26/2018 9:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce will hold its 8th annual “State of the City” summit Thursday, February 1, 2018, from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the SGI World Peace Auditorium. The summit is open to the public and will focus on trending economic industry developments and disruptions that will impact future growth and sustainability of the city and other communities locally, nationally, and globally, according to the Chamber.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 5 p.m. A networking reception with exhibitors and tastings from local restaurants will take place immediately after the event. Tickets are $50. for Chamber members and $60 for non-members, $10 for students and seniors. More information is available at www.smchamber.com/SOTC or by calling 310.393.9825.

AND: http://smchamber.com/stateofthecity/

PRESCHOOL PUSHES AHEAD RESIDENTS DISMAYED AT DECISION

01/26/2018 9:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Consistent pleas and a sizeable fundraising campaign by Gandara Park neighborhood residents to uphold an appeal against a 20-child preschool set to open in the area fell on deaf ears Tuesday night as Santa Monica City Council denied the plea during a “quasi judicial hearing”, pushing ahead with the center albeit with 58 design and operation conditions.

Located at 2953 Delaware Ave., Santa Monica, “Untitled No.1” Child Care and Early Education Facility made its way through City Planning, filing a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) (17ENT-0075), Variance (17ENT-0147), and Fence Modification (17ENT-0148) for a change of use of the 1,478 square-foot, single-unit dwelling, located in the R1 zoned area.

AND: http://smdp.com/new-pico-neighborhood-preschool-prevails-despite-unified-opposition/164085

SMA.R.T.-MANSIONIZATION REDUX

01/26/2018 9:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Bob Taylor, AIA for SMa.r.t.

Recently our City Manager, Rick Cole, was quoted regarding the imminent threat of larger single-family homes negatively impacting adjacent homes and commercial properties in our beach town. The threat is apparently so grave that he and staff are recommending an emergency measure to severely restrict and reduce the size of any proposed new home.

Rick Cole’s quote referring to current residential codes allowing “mansionization” has merit, but there is a sense of irony based on the lax oversight of the commercial sector where the negative impacts to sunlight, City services and the environment are much more egregious and without guidelines.