ACTION Apartment Association

Live in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, or Beverly Hills? Quake retrofits for apartments may be coming to you

11/25/2016 2:47 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The movement to retrofit buildings at risk of collapse in a large earthquake could take a major step forward in the coming months as three prominent Westside cities — Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and West Hollywood — consider sweeping laws mandating that thousands of structures be strengthened.

The move is part of a larger political movement that began in San Francisco and Los Angeles to tackle seismic retrofitting that is slowly spreading to smaller communities around the state.

Next Logical Step after LV is RCV

11/21/2016 2:38 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Michael Feinstein

RCV stands for ranked-choice voting. Ranked-choice voting is a voting system that empowers voters to rank candidates in the order of their preference. If used for Santa Monica City Council elections, RCV would preserve the best of our current system and improve it, by giving residents even more voice, and by rendering election results more proportional of the electorate.

RCV is the next logical step after LV because at its core, Measure LV was about radically altering the City’s development approval process.

Santa Monica City Staff Recommends Lower Water Rate Increase

11/21/2016 10:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica residents and businesses will likely see a hike in their water bill next year, but not as high as previously proposed.

With more money coming into the so-called water fund than expected, City staff has recommended that the rate hike for 2017 be decreased from the previously approved 9 percent to 5 percent.

OpEd: SMa.r.t – The City That Ate Its Taxpayers

11/19/2016 3:32 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With the recent election ushering in yet another sales tax on Santa Monicans, the expenditure of City Council has once again come under the microscope with a variety of local news outlets adding weight to the issue: this year 72 percent of our City’s general operating fund will be used for payroll.

Water theme runs through Nov. 22 Council meeting

11/19/2016 9:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Hall will be wading into a pair of water related topics at the Nov. 22 Council meeting including a study session on land use priorities for the coast and a public hearing on 2017 water rates.

The Council’s closed session will include recruitment for a new City Attorney, updates on several lawsuits (including ongoing litigation with AirBnB) and negotiations over property sales. The consent calendar includes grants from Homeland Security, property management services at the airport, contracts for building public restrooms and the purchase of protective equipment for firefighters.

“The recommended 5% water rate increase for 2017 instead of the previously approved 9% increase would be effective for calendar year 2017 on bills issued on or about March 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018, with up to 9% increases authorized for 2018 and 2019 pending annual evaluation by Council and staff.”

Santa Monica Hotel Union Urges Taller Buildings After Victory

11/18/2016 2:51 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

November 18, 2016 -- One day after housekeepers at the JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot Hotel voted to form a union with UNITE HERE Local 11, union workers and officials urged city planners to allow taller buildings downtown.

City Hall wants greater presence in vacant buildings

11/16/2016 1:17 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A handful of vacant buildings with stalled construction projects will be subject to additional regulation following the Nov. 1 council meeting.

Council debated establishing a full-fledged vacant building registry that would have placed additional constraints on vacant buildings but ultimately chose a minor revision to code compliance rules with direction to revisit the issue down the road.

According to City Staff, about 29 properties were vacant at the time of their most recent inventory. Of those, only 10 were vacant without some kind of development project or Ellis Act process currently underway.

Santa Monica Municipal Budget Among Highest Per Capita in California

11/16/2016 1:13 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

November 15, 2016 -- The City of Santa Monica's $1.1 billion biennial budget was among the highest in the state and is driven by “unbelievably excessive employee compensation,” according to a new study by Transparent California, a statewide watchdog group.

Transparent California Outs Santa Monica City Hall's Lavish Salaries

11/16/2016 7:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

No City in the State of California pays employees as much as Santa Monica does.

A CBS 2 investigation called "Small City, Big Pay" says Santa Monica has some of the highest taxes in the State, and also the highest paid employees in the State. Could it be a coincidence?

Affordable Apartments Along Famed Santa Monica Boardwalk Bid Farewell

11/15/2016 1:46 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

November 15, 2016 -- After a final shuffle of paperwork, the City of Santa Monica is bidding farewell to two of the last affordable apartments along its storied boardwalk.

Late last month, the City approved an occupancy permit to the owner of 10 apartments at 1401 Palisades Beach Road, a move that clears the way for rents to be raised to market value, officials said.