NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL

SUBJECT: Consideration of proposed resolution to automatically adjust the Affordable Housing Unit Development Cost for new market-rate multifamily development pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.64.070(c) 

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 6:30 P.M. 

WHERE: Santa Monica City Hall, Council Chambers

Read More on page 8 and 11: http://backissues.smdp.com/081816.pdf

By Matthew Hall on August 18, 2016 

Nominations for the City Council, Rent Control Board and Santa Monica College board ended last week but the deadline for the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District board was extended to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 as at least one incumbent did not file. At the close of the day, four residents filed paperwork to compete for three seats.

Read More: http://smdp.com/candidate-fields-finalized-for-santa-monica-municipal-elections/156733

August 17, 2016 -- A pitched battle to stop demolition of a 1950s ocean-front apartment complex built for a then booming middle-class in Santa Monica quietly ended last month, clearing the path to the leasing soon of ultra-deluxe-apartments there instead.

After nearly a decade, 301 Ocean Avenue has been granted an occupancy permit for the one-acre site, a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/August-2016/08_17_%202016_Front_Apartments_in_Santa_Monica_Ends_Quietly.html

By Elizabeth Van Denburgh, a member of the Santa Monica Transparency Project. 

Election season is upon us and the piles of campaign literature will follow. While all campaign literature is paid advertising, there is a difference between literature issued by the candidate committee or the ballot measure committee and what is called a slate mailer or card.

Candidates, office holders and ballot measures pay varying fees to be placed on the slate mailers/cards.

Read More: http://smdp.com/show-me-the-asterisk/156668

August 15, 2016 -- For the first time since 2008, the powerful political group Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) will not back a full slate of candidates for the City Council.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/August-2016/08_15_2016_SMRR_Decides_Not_to_Endorse_Full_Slate_for_Santa_Monica_City_Council.html

August 15, 2016 -- A field of as many as 11 candidates will compete in the November election for four seats on the Santa Monica City Council.

As many as four candidates could be featured in the Rent Control Board contest for two seats.

Appointed incumbent Anastasia Foster and challenger Caroline Torosis are confirmed candidates.

Elected incumbent Christopher Walton and challenger Elaine Golden-Gealer have submitted nomination papers, but they had not been validated as of Friday.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/August-2016/08_15_2016_Nomination_Period_Ends_with_Potential_Field_of_11_Candidates_for_Santa_Monica_Council.html

A group of renters living on the 800 block of 2nd Street successfully prevented the removal of several eucalyptus trees on their property. 

Read More: http://backissues.smdp.com/081316.pdf

Almost a dozen candidates will vie for City Council this year.

RENT CONTROL BOARD

Four residents returned paperwork to compete for two spots on the Rent Control Board. Incumbents Anastasia Foster and Caroline Torosis will compete against challengers Elaine Golden‐Gealer and Christopher D. Walton.

If good fences make good neighbors, then questionable fences apparently create 4-hour City Council hearings.

City Council on Tuesday heard an appeal of the proposal to reoccupy the former post office building at the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue. However, the vast majority of the hearing focused on how a fence around the property was approved, why a fence was needed and how tall a fence should be.

Read More: http://smdp.com/fence-gives-rise-to-controversy-at-5tharizona-site/156663

Phil finds out all you've wanted to know about Santa Monica's water, with the Assistant Manager of Water Production and Treatment for the City of Santa Monica, Myriam Cardenas.

See the video: http://www.smmirror.com/articles/Santa-Monica/BOYB-Filtering-Through-the-Water-Treatment-Plant/45886