City Council approved the improvements to the chambers’ audiovisual, agenda and meeting management systems last week at the urging of city staff, who said the existing equipment and software, which were installed in 2009, are becoming obsolete and unreliable.

“It is increasingly difficult to repair or find replacements for many of the system’s components since many of the models have been discontinued,” staff said.

The new audiovisual and meeting management systems will allow the public to request to speak electronically using a kiosk in the lobby. Councilmembers will vote electronically and the results will be automatically displayed on new high-resolution monitors with closed captioning.

Meeting minutes will be automatically generated and speakers will be able to plug in their tablets and laptops to give presentations.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/council-approves-450000-to-improve-council-chambers/177216

On Tuesday, June 25, the Santa Monica City Council adopted a balanced budget for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, a Proposed Budget Plan for FY 2020-21 and a strategy for the future that focuses on “financial sustainability” and change in the way the City will manage success.

According to the City, fiscal policy over the next six years will focus on “fiscal sustainability and shifts emphasis to delivering outcomes by measuring and managing performance.” 

The final budget is $712.9 million for FY 2019-20 and $756.4 million for FY 2020-21. Last year’s adopted budget was $802.1 million. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2019/07/citys-2019-20-budget-includes-parking-rate-increases-reed-park-ambassador/

Rent increases for rent controlled units will be limited to 2% this year with a maximum monthly increase of $44.

Rent control increases are governed by formulas in the City Charter and while the Rent Control Board has no control over the percentage increase they do have a choice when setting the additional dollar cap. The board unanimously approved the increases at their June meeting and only one individual spoke about the decision.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/rent-control-increases-capped-at-44/177006

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and a group of other city leaders from around California and the nation are backing the proposed Ending Homelessness Act.

The legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters would use more than $13 billion to the efforts of cities to deal with the homelessness crisis.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/la-mayor-backs-proposed-federal-ending-homelessness-act/176994

Six market-rate single room occupancy (SRO) developments slated for Downtown Santa Monica have received the go-ahead under a settlement agreement between the City and WS Communities.

The agreement, approved by the City Council on Tuesday, paves the way for the proposed SRO developments totaling 361 "micro-units" and moves forward two of the developer's projects currently in the planning pipeline, said City Attorney Lane Dilg.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2019/July-2019/07_01_2019_Market_Rate_SROs_Get_Go_ahead_Under_Settlement_Agreement%20.html

Hosts must register with the city and pay an $89 fee

New home-sharing regulations are in place for the city of Los Angeles today, changing the way hosts from Airbnb and other rental platforms can book vacation stays and short-term rentals.  

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/las-new-airbnb-rules-go-into-effect-today%E2%80%94heres-what-you-need-to-know/ar-AADHECF

A developer will be able to build the six micro-apartment buildings that the city of Santa Monica moved to block earlier this year.

WS Communities, a spinoff of developer NMS Properties, threatened to sue the city after City Council temporarily banned micro-apartments in response to the developer applying to construct 363 units between 219 and 373 square feet. City Manager Lane Dilg announced Tuesday that the city and WS have reached a settlement that allows the developer to build the six projects on an expedited schedule under certain conditions.

The buildings will rise at 1323, 1338 1415 and 1437 5th St., 1437 6th St. and 1557 7th Street, which are all in a four-block radius downtown.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/micro-apartment-developments-avoid-ban-with-new-settlement/176950

GUEST COMMENTARY

So with the prospect of a major battle over Proposition 13 looming on next year's general election ballot, the likely combatants on both sides of the split roll fight are sifting through the results from this month's special election in Los Angeles in which an effort to increase taxes on business properties was soundly defeated.

Read More: https://patch.com/california/santamonica/s/gri5s/if-la-won-t-raises-taxes-schools-will-ca-overhaul-prop-13

While cutting 29 jobs, now vacant, allegedly lowering administrative costs, and trimming some childcare programs, the city will still be funding - or even increasing funding - on some controversial matters. Funding for homeless services will be boosted, despite a distinct lack of evidence that the money already spent on this issue has produced any particular results. Furthermore, the city insists on going forward with their massively expensive "global environmental statement" of a City Hall Annex at $77 million ($1,528/ square foot).

Another new expenditure in the budget will be $100,000 to fund "city ambassadors" for Reed Park.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2019/06/29/news/though-down-7-santa-monica-city-budget-maintains-some-costly-items/4073.html

Check out the Santa Monica Police Department's latest update [video] featuring Chief Cynthia Renaud as she discusses the state of crime in Santa Monica highlighting an 8 percent decrease in Part 1 Crimes from January to May 2019.

See more: https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/smpd-chief-cynthia-renaud-s-quarterly-crime-update

AND: https://smmirror.com/2019/06/santa-monica-sees-8-percent-decline-in-part-1-crime/