The county and the Home for Good Funders Collaborative—a joint initiative of United Way of Greater Los Angeles—are calling on cities to submit plans that would serve as a blueprint to combat homelessness both locally and regionally. If approved by the collaborative, the cities would be given planning grants ranging from $30,000 to $70,000, depending on the number of homeless individuals within their jurisdictions.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2017/08/new-program-enlists-cities-homelessness-fight/

By Mathew L. Millen

August 8, 2017 -- The City Council wanted to raise funds for low income housing. The Council put two measures on the November 2016 ballot. Measure GS increased the sales tax to 10.25 percent.

Measure GSH was an “advisory” measure that stated in summary, if GS passed the City would donate one half the revenue to the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District [SMMUSD], and use one half for low income housing."

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2017/08_08_2017_OPINION_Council_Does_a_Bait_and_Switch_With_Sales_Tax_Revenue.html

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Public hearings on the following topics will be conducted at the regular Santa Monica Rent Control Board meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401: 

1) Proposed Revisions to Regulation 4038 respecting the restoration of rents when rent-decrease conditions have been remedied; and 

2) Amendments to Rent Control Board Regulation 4400 respecting construction-related rent decreases

Read More on pg. 4: http://backissues.smdp.com/080717.pdf

August 7, 2017 -- When the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission meets next Monday, a familiar face will be on the dais serving in a very different capacity.

Barry Rosenbaum, who was appointed to the Commission by the City Council on June 27, will serve on one of the boards he formerly advised as the City's former land use attorney.

A Santa Monica resident who worked for the City for more than 30 years, Rosenbaum formerly advised the Council, as well as boards and commissions, in areas that included planning, historic preservation, housing policies, ethics and constitutional law.

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/August-2017/08_07_2017_Citys_Former_Land_Use_Attorney_Now_Serves_on_Santa_Monica_Landmarks_Commission.html

Ironically, the residents’ conservation efforts have resulted in water rates being raised 9 percent in 2015 to cover administrative costs and needed capital improvements. In the subsequent years, a 13-percent annual increase is forecast. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2017/08/sma-r-t-sustainability-carries-load/

August 4, 2017 -- Tackling a project touted for its environmental features and blasted for its cost, the Santa Monica City Council next Tuesday will hold a public hearing on its plan to bond out almost $77 million for a new uber-green annex to its 1938 City Hall.

Staff is recommending the City issue lease revenue bonds of $76.76 million to fund the City Services Building project, which was in effect approved by the City Council in January ("Council Rejects Appeal of $75 Million Santa Monica City Hall Annex," January 26, 2017).

At 50,200 square feet, the three-story building is approximately the size of the current City Hall and will house about 240 employees currently scattered in leased spaces into one location, as well as feature an emergency operations center.

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/August-2017/08_04_2017_City_of_Santa_Monica_Prepares_to_Bond_Nearly_77_Million_for_Greenest_Building_in_California_History.html

and

http://smdp.com/city-hall-built-for-a-21st-century-government/162008

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY 

City of Santa Monica 

The City of Santa Monica will be accepting applications for MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS to be considered for deed restricted apartments created by City Code 9.64. 

Read Requirements on pg. 11: http://backissues.smdp.com/080417.pdf

Thursday, August 10, 2017 

Public hearings on the following topics will be conducted at the regular Santa Monica Rent Control Board meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401:

1) Proposed Revisions to Regulation 4038 respecting the restoration of rents when rent-decrease conditions have been remedied; and 

2) Amendments to Rent Control Board Regulation 4400 respecting construction-related rent decreases.

Read More on pg. 11: http://backissues.smdp.com/080417.pdf

The multi-year quest to physical expand City Hall will be before Council on August 8 with potential approval of about $70 million in bonds to finance the new construction.

Staff have said the new building is necessary to reduce long-term spending on rent and consolidate city services.

Read More: http://smdp.com/city-hall-expansion-back-on-the-agenda/161991

August 3, 2017 -- The Ford Motors Company’s “Model T” was replacing horses and buggies and open spaces were still plentiful in Santa Monica back in 1910, when a Craftsman-style home at 1035 21st Street in a new tract called Green Acres was built.

More than a century later, the modest brown-shingled family home is the oldest left in 10-block Green Acres, in northeast Santa Monica.

But not for much longer.

The single-story house, partially shaded by a towering Yucca tree just as old, will become a two-story condominium complex with three units, following approval of the project by the City’s Planning Commission in February.

Read More:  https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/August-2017/08_03_2017_Oldest_Home_in_Santa_Monicas_Century_Old_Green_Acres_Set_to_Become_Condos.html