SMa.r.t.-A Conversation About Santa Monica’s Future, Part 2

04/21/2017 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This week we continue with our review of important issues facing our community.

Housing and affordability: How much do we need and how best to accommodate it? With the influx of millennials, how many will become permanent residents and/or able to afford housing.

Proposed Change Sparks Worries Over Lobbying Law for Santa Monica

04/20/2017 12:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 20, 2017 -- City officials said they were only trying to clarify -- even strengthen -- a law designed to shine a bright light on the scores of paid lobbyists who jockey for influence at Santa Monica City Hall.

By the time the item reached the council Tuesday night, a clear exemption to the lobbying law was included that covered neighborhood groups, non-profit organizations and the chamber of commerce -- as long as no hired representatives lobbied on their behalf.

The council approved the changes unanimously.

L.A. stiffens rules for replacing rent-controlled units

04/20/2017 11:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Los Angeles lawmakers voted Wednesday to stiffen city rules surrounding the demolition of rent-controlled apartments, aiming to ensure that more affordable housing is built.

But business groups have challenged whether the plan is fair — and whether it will stand up in court.

10 Los Angeles renters' rights your landlord doesn't want you to know

04/20/2017 10:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

WARNING! Some of the contents pertain to LA only, not Santa Monica

Los Angeles has the fourth-highest percentage of renters of any major U.S. metro area at nearly 54 percent, according to a study by Abodo, which looked at 2015 Census Bureau data. And how many of those renters know their rights as tenants, from the basic to the more obscure?

Santa Monica Watchdog Group Warns New Plan Primes Downtown for “Runaway” Building and Traffic

04/19/2017 3:24 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 19, 2017 -- After years of alterations, the final City plan designed to guide new building in the heart of Santa Monica has left downtown primed for "runaway” development and traffic, a local watchdog group is warning.

The Downtown Community Plan (DCP) is still weighted too heavily in favor of developers and leaves residents with little -- if any -- voice in the downtown’s future, said the nine-page critique by the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC).

Cautious Hope for Proposed Citizen Committee on Santa Monica City Employee Costs

04/19/2017 3:15 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 19, 2017 -- Just a day after being recommended, a novel new City proposal for a citizen committee to help delve into high compensation for City of Santa Monica employees was already getting early reviews -- and an applicant -- on Tuesday.

“It’s not optimal,” said Dominick Gomez, a member of Northeast Neighbors, a neighborhood association that, with others, has been sharply critical of City employee compensation -- among the highest for California municipalities ("Santa Monica Ranks Third in County for City Employee Compensation Costs, Survey Finds," June 23, 2016).

“It’s a start,” Gomez said.

Code Compliance officers charged with increased responsibility for tenant harassment cases

04/18/2017 7:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City is hoping the Code Enforcement Team can add some additional teeth to tenant harassment rules.

Next week, code enforcement officers will undergo training so they can begin pursuing tenant harassment violations May 1. Under the previous system, the City Attorney’s Office was solely responsible for reviewing and possibly prosecuting all allegations of landlord harassment. Harassment can be any action intended to upset the tenants and make them move out like taking away services provided in the lease, lying, threats or intentionally disturbing a tenant’s peace and quiet or privacy. The law stipulates the landlord must be acting in bad faith.

“Certainly, everyone knows this has been a priority for the City Council, so as of July 1, the fines will go from $75 – we anticipate – to $1,000 per day,” Sharon Guidry said.

Residents Committee Recommended to Examine High Cost of Santa Monica City Employee Compensation

04/18/2017 7:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 18, 2017 -- Faced with rising complaints about salaries and benefits for Santa Monica City employees -- among the highest for California municipalities -- staff is recommending a temporary panel of residents be created to examine the contentious issue.

The ad hoc committee would be comprised of five residents and assist “in critically reviewing and objectively considering” employee compensation, according to the report by Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, the City’s finance director, released on Monday.

Downtown Things’ll Be Great: ...

04/17/2017 7:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Downtown Things’ll Be Great: Big Promises in the Community Plan Draft Sees Down-Zoning of Height Limits, Promises of Open Space, and a Cap on Development Post-Implementation

City Manager Rick Cole and City Planning Manager Jing Yeo, both reiterated that the DCP was primarily a housing plan – creating space and housing for people “who work and live here.”

Bloom pulls controversial Rent Control Bill

04/14/2017 8:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Less than three weeks after the Rent Control Board voted unanimously to support an Assembly bill that would repeal the CostaHawkins Act, the bill itself is on life support. In fact, several sources familiar with talks in Sacramento say AB 1506 is dead. “No one is ready for it yet,” said the senior field representative for Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), Tim Harter. Bloom recently made the decision to pull the bill for now. AB 1506 could still come back before the Assembly next year, giving Bloom more time to sell the idea to its many detractors.

Read More on page 1: http://backissues.smdp.com/041417.pdf