ACTION Apartment Association

City Council to Consider Doubling Water Rates by 2024

01/27/2020 2:42 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica residents could see water rates double over the next five years under hikes the City Council will consider Tuesday.

Under the proposed rates, starting this year the bi-monthly water and wastewater bill for a single family home would increase by $36 every year over the next five years.

An 8-unit multi-family building would see bimonthly rates increase by $48 over the same period -- or about $6 per unit--, while the average commercial bimonthly bill would jump by $87.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/water-rates-could-double-in-five-years/185255

Protest Water Rate Increases or They'll Continue Going Up

01/22/2020 11:13 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Linda's letter to the editor:

The City is proposing water and wastewater water (sewer) rates increases. It is complicated for many to understand.

While it seems laudable that we achieve water sustainability by digging more wells so we use less water that is now obtained from the MWD (Metropolitan water district) and costs more, the City’s goals note this should be accomplished by 2023 with these proposed increases.

The Homeless Call LAX Home, as Prop 47 Takes It's Toll on the Nation's Busiest Airport

01/17/2020 10:01 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

"On any given night, up to 130 homeless people are camping out in the terminals at Los Angeles International Airport, according to an internal LAX document obtained by NBC4 News" that outlet tweeted on December 12, 2019. The airport employees I spoke to say that is a low end estimate, and that the number is above 200.

Community Corp’s First Project Outside Santa Monica Underway

01/15/2020 1:16 PM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Community Corporation Santa Monica (Community Corp) recently broke ground on a 100 percent affordable housing project in Mar Vista, the organization’s first development outside of Santa Monica as part of its broader plans to expand throughout the Westside.

City Revs Up for Annual Homeless Count

01/13/2020 10:48 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Next Wednesday night, some 300 volunteers are expected to comb every Santa Monica street, alley and park as they attempt to count every homeless person living in the city.

The annual Homeless Census -- for which the City is seeking volunteers -- will provide a snapshot of who is living on the streets of the 8.3 square-mile city.

The count -- which takes place January 22 between 10:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. -- "wouldn’t be possible without the community coming together for one night for this point-in-time observation count," City officials said.

Santa Monica to Consider EV Charging Fees

01/13/2020 9:57 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

With electric vehicles eating into parking revenues and boosting charging station costs, Santa Monica is rethinking its policies encouraging their use.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider imposing a fee to use City owned charging stations, which are currently free, as well as charging a $1 per minute "overstay fee" for those who exceed the posted time limit.

The Council also will consider revisiting a program that allows EVs displaying the proper decals to park for free at City parking meters that are losing potential revenues.

Largest Private Lot in Santa Monica On Sale for $20,000,000

01/12/2020 10:46 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Largest Private Lot in Santa Monica On Sale for $20,000,000. 1.223 acre home could be yours!

808 Woodacres Road is a five-bedroom, three-bathroom, 4,726-square-foot er, cottage.

It's not exactly affordable housing. If you want the two story 5,000 square foot home on like, 50K square feet of land; it'll only cost you about as much as an F-135 Raptor.

Controversial Housing Bill SB 50 is Back

01/08/2020 9:53 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

A state bill that would override local zoning laws to allow mid-rise apartments to be constructed, including in some single-family neighborhoods, is up for consideration again by California lawmakers.

Senate Bill 50 (SB 50), authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would, if passed, permit the development of four and five-story apartment buildings within half a mile of major transit corridors and job hubs, overriding any local laws that may prohibit such development from occurring in these areas.

Plaintiffs File Response in Voting Rights Appeal

01/06/2020 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Emphasizing that only one Latino candidate has ever been elected to serve on the Santa Monica City Council, plaintiffs in the voting rights lawsuit urged an appeals court to uphold a ruling that Santa Monica's election system should be replaced.

The responding brief filed by the plaintiffs on October 27 argues that the California Appeals Court should not reweigh the evidence that led to a Superior Court ruling that the City's at-large election system discriminates against Latinos.

City releases Workers’ Compensation Annual Report

01/03/2020 6:19 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As it has every year since 2009, the city’s Workers’ Compensation Program once again saw an increase to its total program liabilities, according to a report recently presented to City Council.

The city’s Risk Management Division compiles its Workers’ Compensation Annual Report every year in an effort to provide local stakeholders with information and statistics related to the city’s medical and indemnity payments, claim settlements as well as general claim and cost trends.

“In summary, in FY 2018-19, medical and indemnity payments increased 23% from the prior year, claim settlements were up 53% over the prior year and total program liabilities...