ACTION Apartment Association

City of Santa Monica on Top List of Biggest Public Pensions in California

08/10/2017 2:08 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 10, 2017 -- A total of 190 retirees of Santa Monica’s City government are receiving annual public pensions ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, a new analysis of 2016 public pension data statewide by a California watchdog group has found.

Released Tuesday by Transparent California, the findings secured a spot for the City among the top 25 public entities with the highest, and most numerous, six-figure pension payouts from the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).

The City of Santa Monica placed 11th on the list and was the only Westside city in the top 25.

The only governments with more employees receiving $100,000 or more in payments were much larger than Santa Monica, which has an estimated population of nearly 94,000.

EMPLOYEE UNION AGREEMENTS HOLD SALARY INCREASES AT OR BELOW THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OF 1.7% ANNUALLY

08/10/2017 2:00 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On August 8, 2017, the Santa Monica City Council authorized City Manager Rick Cole to execute seven employee union agreements representing the largest percentage of municipal employees. Overall, the agreements limit annual salary increases to 1.5 to 1.7%, which is equal to or below the region’s Consumer Price Index increase of 1.7% (as of January 2017). The net increase over the two or three year term of the contracts range from 3.5 to 4.7%. The total cost of the negotiated changes is approximately $2,842,088 for FY 2017-18. The budget impact of these changes was included in the General Fund FY 2017-18 through FY 2021-22 Five-Year Financial Forecast.

City of Santa Monica Adds to “Smart” Irrigation System in Conservation Move

08/09/2017 3:30 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 9, 2017 -- In a move to save water, the City of Santa Monica is adding to the new “smart” irrigation system used for its hundreds of acres of parkland, landscaped byways, lawn bowling, Woodlawn Cemetery and other public green spaces.

Staff wants to replace the current irrigation infrastructure, which it says is 15 years old, no longer under warranty and in disrepair in some cases, according to a report by Susan Cline, the City’s director of public works, before the City Council Tuesday.

Her recommendation follows a pilot project started in 2015 at two City parks using “Calsense smart controllers,” which conserve water by automatically adjusting to climate and environmental changes.

City of Santa Monica to Accept Applications for Affordable Housing from Santa Monica Workers and Residents

08/09/2017 7:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The wait list for moderate-income households opens at 8 a.m. on Thursday, August 10

The City of Santa Monica will be accepting applications for moderate-income households to be considered for deed restricted apartments created through the City's Affordable Housing Production Program.

AND

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/August-2017/08_09_2017_First_Housing_Wait_List_Opens_for_Moderate_Income_Santa_Monica_Residents_Workers.html

NEW PROGRAM ENLISTS CITIES IN HOMELESSNESS FIGHT

08/08/2017 10:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.

OPINION: Council Does a Bait and Switch With Sales Tax Revenue

08/08/2017 7:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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."

The Council broke their promise the tax revenue would be used for Great Senior Housing. The result of the Council bait and switch is that for example the Housing Manager can give Step Up $20 million to develop low income housing for mentally ill across from an elementary school and the residents have no right to object.

SANTA MONICA RENT CONTROL BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

08/07/2017 8:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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

City's Former Land Use Attorney Now Serves on Santa Monica Landmarks Commission

08/07/2017 7:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.

SMA.R.T.- SUSTAINABILITY: WHO CARRIES THE LOAD?

08/04/2017 1:26 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.

City of Santa Monica Prepares to Bond Nearly $77 million for Greenest Building in California History

08/04/2017 1:21 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.

and

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