ACTION Apartment Association

A SMa.r.t. Invitation

08/13/2016 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow (SMa.r.t.) is happy to connect with our longtime readers, and to introduce new visitors to our writings in The Mirror.

Who are we, and what is our column about?

Rivals on Santa Monica Tax Measure Address Different Issues

08/12/2016 10:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 12, 2016 -- Supporters of two related Santa Monica measures calling for a half-cent sales tax say it would bring much-needed funding for public education and the City's affordable housing program.

Opponents say it would lead to increased development in an already crowded city.

Santa Monica Council Authorizes Study of Ellis-Based Evictions

08/12/2016 9:59 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 12, 2016 -- City Council members want to know why an increased number of Santa Monica residents are being evicted via a State law that allows landlords to leave the rental business and how the trend can be reversed.

The council unanimously voted Tuesday to authorize City staff or a consultant to study this issue and report back. The study could cost as much as $80,000.

Downtown 2030

08/12/2016 7:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica will host Preservation + Change, a community event and workshop about preserving Downtown’s past while preparing for its future on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, 1210 4th Street

The “See Downtown 2030” tab was created to address the policy questions and environmental considerations related to future development and change within the Downtown. The tool allows users to view the potential amount and location of future development that may be allowed to occur Downtown in the next 15-20 years.

City Council Lowers Tax for Library Bonds

08/12/2016 7:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monicans to see property tax decrease

The Santa Monica City Council voted to lower the tax rate on bonds that funded the Santa Monica Public Library system remodel. This will lower property taxes by $.0000795 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Former Santa Monica Planning Commissioner Returns to Post After 16 Years

08/11/2016 12:04 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 11, 2016 -- A divided City Council on Tuesday appointed Santa Monica political veteran Leslie Lambert to a four-year term on the Planning Commission.

Lambert, who sits on the steering committee of Santa Monica Forward, one of two groups that opposes the slow-growth Land Use Voter Empowerment (LUVE) initiative on the November ballot, served on the Planning Commission from 1987 to 1990.

Brock Appointed to Santa Monica Arts Commission, "Evaluating" School Board Bid

08/11/2016 12:01 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 11, 2016 -- Santa Monica slow-growth activist Phil Brock shocked many political observers last month when he announced he would run for a school board seat rather than make another City Council bid, but now he might do neither.

Brock told The Lookout on Wednesday that he would soon determine what to do after City Council members appointed him to the Arts Commission the previous day.

Changes to Daily Press columnists

08/11/2016 7:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With the start of election season, the Daily Press has made some changes to its Op-Ed page. The policy in place for the last two years has been if a column’s authors move from independent analysis to an active participation in local politics, the column will be suspended for the duration of the campaign. This year, members Santa Monica Forward and SMa.r.t. Thinking entered local politics in one way or another. Both columns were put on hiatus for the duration of the election and SMa.r.t. has decided to discontinue writing for the Daily Press.

Read More on page 3: http://backissues.smdp.com/081116.pdf

Santa Monica lobbyists required to register with City Hall

08/11/2016 7:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

BY MATTHEW HALL

Daily Press Editor

Individuals paid to influence decisions at City Hall will be required to publicly disclose their activities as of Sept. 19.

A unanimous City Council passed new rules regulating lobbying at their Aug. 9 meeting with little discussion and a few very minor modifications.

Solar for Renters and Property Owners [SMRCB Staff Report]

08/10/2016 2:32 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Aug. 11, 2016

The Center for Sustainable Energy’s pilot project in Santa Monica is specifically aimed at overcoming market and policy barriers in order to promote a larger uptake of VNEM and solar adoption within the multifamily building sector. In Santa Monica, there are more than 3,000 rent controlled buildings. Adoption of solar energy in a portion of Santa Monica’s rent controlled properties would help the City achieve the goal to become a carbon neutral community by 2050.

While Virtual Net Metering offers an opportunity for landlords and tenants to enjoy clean electricity and reduced utility bills, and therefore overall reduced living expenses, current rent control restrictions may limit the property owner’s ability for cost recovery of the initial investment.