Latest City Council Agenda

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE 

SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL AND 

HOUSING AUTHORITY

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025

OPEN SESSION BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M.

 

     NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Joint Meeting of the Santa Monica City Council and the Housing Authority will be held at 9:00 A.M., on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in the Main Library, Multi-Purpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, for the purpose of conducting the following business:

 

See attached March 8, 2025, City Council Agenda

 

No other business will be conducted at the Special Meeting.

 

 

 

 

Lana Negrete

Mayor/Chair

AGENDA

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

Special Joint Meeting

Main Library, Multi-Purpose Room

601 Santa Monica Blvd., 

Saturday, March 8, 2025
MEETING Begins at 9:00 AM
 

HOW TO PROVIDE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT

Written public comment can be submitted via email to councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov.  Written comments received prior to 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting will be available online. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments. 

This meeting is an in-person public meeting held at the Main Library, Multi-purpose room, at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Following the in-person meeting, an audio recording of the meeting will posted to the City’s YouTube Channel and santamonica.gov.

CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ROLL CALL

(This is a special City Council meeting. Public comment is restricted to only items listed on the agenda.)


City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement)

The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With great respect, the City acknowledges the Gabrieleño/Tongva as the First People of this ancestral and unceded territory of Kuruvungna, a village that we know as Santa Monica. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Gabrieleño descendants who are part of the Gabrieleño /Tongva tribes.

We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for their land in partnership with them. The City of Santa Monica commits to work in partnership with the Gabrieleño/Tongva people to uplift their voices and visibility on their ancestral land.

(Please note that Agenda Items may be reordered during the Council meeting at the discretion of the City Council.)

 

LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

1.       PUBLIC INPUT
(Public comment is permitted only on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City.  State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item.)

 

 Public input under this item will not be heard at this meeting. This is a special meeting and public input is limited to agenda items only.

 

2.       PUBLIC INPUT (AGENDA ITEMS UNDER SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS, CONSENT CALENDAR, CLOSED SESSION ONLY)

No items

CITY MANAGER REPORT


TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYOR'S HIGHLIGHT
 

6.       PUBLIC INPUT ON REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS


11.      STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS


SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY
ROLL CALL


11.A.  Approval of Minutes for the Housing Authority Board

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the Housing Authority Board approve the minutes for the following:

  1. April 9, 2024, Housing Authority Board meeting.

  2. June 25, 2024, Housing Authority Board meeting.
     

11.B.  Fiscal Years 2025-2027 Council Budget Workshop

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Receive the FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 Five Year Financial Forecast;

  2. Discuss and provide direction on items that will inform the preparation of the Fiscal Year 2025-27 budget; 

  3. Consider and affirm the proposed organizational priorities; 

  4. Adopt the Council federal and state legislative platforms;

  5. Establish and appoint an Economic Development Ad Hoc Subcommittee focused on developing an economic development strategy and recommendations for the FY 2025-26 mid-year budget;

  6. Provide direction to shape the public and stakeholder engagement process intended for the parking rate restructuring and which components of the parking rates and fees to target;

  7. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant award in the amount of $19,155 from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, through the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant, and to accept all grant renewals; and

  8. Adopt a finding that the actions are not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines.

Staff recommends that the City Council and Housing Authority:

  1. Appropriate FY 2024-25 midyear revenue and expenditure budget adjustments (Attachment A), requires 5 votes.
     

ADJOURNMENT OF SPECIAL JOINT MEETING

ADJOURNMENT

Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas.  They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or clerk@santamonica.gov.

Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov.  Written comments received from the public by 12 PM on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online.  Members of the public who submit written public comment on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.


City Hall and the Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible.  If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917-6626 or via email at clerk.mailbox@santamonica.gov at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.  Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline. In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon the day of the special Council meeting.


Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall.  Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).

AGENDA
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250, SANTA MONICA, CA AND, AT A TELECONFERENCE SITE IN TEXAS

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025

MEETING Begins at 5:30 PM (PDT) AND   
AT A TELECONFERENCE SITE AT 7:30 PM (CDT)

The Santa Monica City Council Meeting will be held at 5:30 P.M. (Pacific Daylight Time), on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in the City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401 and at 7:30 P.M. (Central Daylight Time) at a teleconference site located at Omni PGA Frisco Resort, 4341 PGA Parkway, Frisco, Texas 75033 where one of the Councilmembers will be present and will participate via teleconference.

HOW TO PROVIDE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT:

Written public comment can be submitted via email to councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov.  Written comments received prior to 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting will be available online. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments. 

CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ROLL CALL

City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement)

The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With great respect, the City acknowledges the Gabrieleño/Tongva as the First People of this ancestral and unceded territory of Kuruvungna, a village that we know as Santa Monica. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Gabrieleño descendants who are part of the Gabrieleño /Tongva tribes.

We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for their land in partnership with them. The City of Santa Monica commits to work in partnership with the Gabrieleño/Tongva people to uplift their voices and visibility on their ancestral land.

LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

1.    PUBLIC INPUT
(Public comment is permitted only on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City.  State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item.)

2.    PUBLIC INPUT (ITEMS UNDER SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS, CONSENT CALENDAR, CLOSED SESSION ONLY)

3.    SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS
3.A.    Commendation: Dr. Lizzy Moore - Santa Monica College Foundation

4.    CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion.  In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents.  No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption.)

4.A.    Approval of Department of Transportation's Big Blue Bus Service Design Guidelines Update

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Adopt a finding that the Guidelines updates is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

  2. Approve the proposed updates to the Big Blue Bus Transit Service Guidelines, formerly known as the “Big Blue Bus Service Design, Performance, and Evaluation Guidelines”.

4.B.    Award Request for Proposal SP2721 and Agreements for On-Call Civil Engineering Design Services

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Adopt a finding of exemptions pursuant to Section 15262 and Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;

  2. Award RFP #SP2721 On-Call Civil Design to Tetra Tech, Inc., Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., and Willdan Engineering to provide on-call civil engineering design services for the Public Works Department; and

  3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute agreements with Tetra Tech, Inc., Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., and Willdan Engineering, each in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 over a five-year period, with one (1) five-year renewal option to extend in the amount of $1,500,000 on the same terms and conditions, for a total amount not to exceed $3,000,000 per agreement and $9,000,000 total for all three agreements over a ten-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.

4.C.    Award Bid SP2744 and Construction Contract for the Police Department Smart Center Project

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;

  2. Award contract for Bid #SP2744 to Urban Professional Builders, INC. for the construction of the SMART Center Project for the Public Works Department; and

  3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Urban Professional Builders, INC., in an amount not to exceed $1,290,000 (including a $76,000 contingency).

4.D.    Award Bid SP2739 and Agreement to Best Contracting Services, Inc. for the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Roof Replacement Project

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;

  2. Award Bid #SP2739 to Best Contracting Services, Inc. for the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Roof Replacement Project for the Public Works Department; and

  3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Best Contracting Services, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $310,000 (including a 20% contingency).

4.E.    Award Bid SP2710 and Construction Agreement to RAMCO General Engineering Contractors, Inc. for Phase 1 of the 19th Street Community Garden Project

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council: 

  1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;

  2. Award Bid #SP2710 to RAMCO General Engineering Contractors, Inc. for construction services for Phase 1 of the 19th Street Community Garden Project for the Department of Public Works; and

  3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with RAMCO General Engineering Contractors, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $355,000 (including a 10% contingency).

4.F.    Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Receipt of State of California Cannabis Equity Grant Funding for $35,000 for Development of a Cannabis Equity Program and Authorization for City Manager to Execute All Necessary Associated Documents

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

  1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

  2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the acceptance of a grant awarded in the amount of $35,000 from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development for the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions.

  3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all grant renewals.

  4. Authorize budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).

4.G.    Adoption of Salary Resolution to Reflect Title Change for Assistant Building Officer

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council

  1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15324 and a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15601(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

  2. Adopt a salary resolution changing the classification title of Assistant Building Officer to Assistant Building Official.

4.H.    Approval of Corrected Minutes for the City Council Meeting of May 14, 2024

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the corrected minutes of the May 14, 2024 meeting.

4.I.     Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.08.095, Prohibition Against Camping in Public Places

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance.

4.J.     Approval of City Attorney Amended and Restated Employment Agreement

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council

  1. Adopt a finding that the actions are not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15601(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines;

  2. Approve the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Douglas Sloan for his services as City Attorney; and

  3. Authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement on behalf of the City.

4.K.    Adoption of Resolution Amending the Council Rules of Procedure

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt resolution amending the Council Rules of Procedure to address technological failure during public comment, and a change to the ranked choice voting process.

5.    CLOSED SESSIONS

No items

The following is the order of business for items to be heard no earlier than 7:00 p.m.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYOR'S HIGHLIGHT 

6.    PUBLIC INPUT ON REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS

11.    STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

11.A.    Receive Homelessness Strategic Plan and Renters' Protections Program, Approval of Human Services Division Reorganization Plan and Adoption of Classification and Salary Resolution
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council: 
1.    Receive the City of Santa Monica Homelessness Strategic Plan 2025-2030. (Attachment A) 
2.    Receive the Renters’ Protections Program: Analysis, Key Findings, and Recommendations. (Attachment B)
3.    Approve the Human Services Division Reorganization Plan.
4.    Adopt a Resolution of the City of Santa Monica establishing new classifications and adopting salary rates for various listed positions (Attachment C) and approve the position and classification changes (Attachment D).
5.    Adopt the 2025 Proclamation Declaring a Local Emergency on Homelessness through 12/31/2026 (Attachment E), unless repealed or extended by Council, due to the ongoing crisis of homelessness exacerbated by the recent wildfires.  
6.    Authorize budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
7.    Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. 

16.    COUNCILMEMBER DISCUSSION ITEMS

16.A.    Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Recreation and Parks Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2028.

 ADJOURNMENT

Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas.  They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request.  For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or clerk@santamonica.gov.

Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov.  Written comments received from the public by 12 PM on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online.  Members of the public who submit written public comment on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.

City Hall and the Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible.  If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917-6626 or via email at clerk.mailbox@santamonica.gov at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline.  In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon on the day of the special Council meeting.

Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall.  Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).