ACTION Apartment Association

City Hires Two Labs to Conduct Water Quality Tests

10/17/2019 5:41 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday approved contracts totaling more than $3 million with two laboratories that will analyze Santa Monica's water quality over the next five years.

The larger contract will pay Weck Laboratories $2.35 million for laboratory analysis of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater and urban runoff for the Public Works Department.

Eurofins Eaton Analytical, LLC was awarded a $1 million contract over five years to "provide flexibility and to help ensure timely reporting of water quality results."

Santa Monica Announces New Budget Task Force

10/15/2019 3:48 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica’s Budget Task Force has been selected as a strong balance of thoughtful and talented community and staff members. This group will evaluate ideas generated by City Departments and make recommendations to the City Manager for:

Fiscal Year 2020-2021: $1.5 million in budget reductions
Fiscal Years 2021-2025: A minimum of $2.5 million in reductions

Rent-controlled buildings will stay that way

10/15/2019 7:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Rent Control Board has clarified existing rules stipulating landlords may not take rent-controlled apartments off the market and later rent them at market rate.

The Rent Control Board voted unanimously Thursday to clarify that a previously rent-controlled unit that is no longer on the rental market will become subject to rent control if its owner decides to put it back on the market. The board’s action comes two months after a final ruling in a legal battle between the board and a landlord that brought a 13-unit apartment building at 1041 20th St. back under rent control.

Great California ShakeOut prompts earthquake safety discussion

10/14/2019 1:55 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Thursday, Oct. 17, at 10:17 a.m., participating cities, organizations and citizens across the state will participate in the 12th annual drill that aims to help residents practice their “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” skills.

A natural catastrophe could strike at any time with very little warning, according to the city’s Chief Resilience Officer Lindsay Call, who spoke on earthquake safety at a recent community event hosted at the Santa Monica Public Library.

California voters may be asked to steer homeless to services

10/11/2019 9:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California voters could decide next year whether to create new county courts to steer homeless people to mental health and drug addiction treatment programs.

Former Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a Democrat, proposed a ballot measure on Thursday aimed at providing services to people who commit crimes like defecating in public or using drugs.

How will California’s new rent cap affect me?

10/10/2019 2:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The law limits yearly rent increases at 5% plus inflation for the next 10 years. Had the policy been in place this year, rent increases in the Los Angeles area would be limited to 8.3% while those in San Francisco would have been capped at 9%.

There are a number of exceptions to these rules. The rent cap would not apply to apartments built within the last 15 years or single-family home rentals unless they’re owned by corporations or other institutional investors.

Rent Board to Consider Expiration Dates for Removal Permits

10/10/2019 2:35 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica Rent Board on Thursday will consider a regulation that sets expiration dates for permits that allow an owner to remove units or entire properties from the rental market.

The regulation proposed by the Board's general counsel comes after a California Appeals Court ruled on July 30 that a removal permit does not remove the unit from rent control.

Bloom's "Granny Flat" Measure Signed Into Law

10/10/2019 2:33 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A measure by Santa Monica Assemblymenber Richard Bloom that reduces barriers to building accessory dwelling units (ADU), or "granny flats," was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

Newsom signs bill seeking to streamline homebuilding

10/10/2019 9:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill Wednesday, Oct. 9, aimed at boosting homebuilding in California by capping fees, slashing the time to get new developments approved and banning local governments from imposing population and housing caps.

Other bills signed Tuesday include a measure requiring a 90-day notice for rent hikes greater than 10%, up from 60 days; a measure prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants with Section 8 vouchers or other public assistance paid to landlords; and a bill banning discrimination against people in the military and veterans.

Rent Control Board to Consider Whether a Rental Unit May be Removed from Rent Control

10/09/2019 8:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its Thursday night meeting, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board will consider the removal of a rent controlled unit from the rental market. A recent California Court of Appeal decision seems to say that when the RCB grants permission for a landlord to remove a unit from the rental market, they are in fact removing rent control itself from that property.