ACTION Apartment Association

Amendments to Santa Monica’s Anti-Corruption Law Headed for Ballot

07/05/2016 8:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

July 5, 2016 -- After a discussion among officials and activists that only a lawyer could love, the City Council on Tuesday directed staff to craft a ballot measure to strengthen Santa Monica's anti-corruption law.

Santa Monica Council Rejects Rival Measure to Counter LUVE

06/30/2016 7:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 30, 2016 -- A last-ditch effort to put a City-backed measure on the November ballot to rival the slow-growth LUVE initiative died quickly after failing to garner a second vote at Tuesday's Santa Monica City Council meeting.

and at: http://smdp.com/alternative-to-luve-dismissed-by-city-council/156050

Santa Monica Ballot Will Include Two Sales Tax Measures

06/30/2016 7:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 30, 2016 -- Shoppers in Santa Monica could soon be paying more money in sales tax if two measures -- one local and another countywide -- are approved in the November election.

The Santa Monica City Council voted 5-0 (Kevin McKeown and Pam O’Connor were absent) on Tuesday to place a half-cent tax hike on the ballot.

Also, the council voted to include a non-binding companion measure recommending the tax money support the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and affordable housing programs.

Santa Monica Surveys Rent Control Tenants to Assess Needs

06/29/2016 7:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 29, 2016 -- A new City survey is trying to determine how many Santa Monica tenants can no longer afford even rent-controlled units and would qualify for a new, but little-known, pilot project that offers subsidies.

The surveys were mailed to tenants in Santa Monica's 27,542 rent-controlled apartments on Friday and posted at www.surveymonkey.com/r/renterneeds, City housing officials said. It can also be found at www.smgov.net under the title of 2016 Santa Monica Renter Needs Survey.

Auditors to Comb $90 Million in Santa Monica Tax Receipts

06/28/2016 7:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 28, 2016 -- The City of Santa Monica is expected Tuesday to hire outside auditors to comb through receipts for an estimated $90 million in taxes collected from hotels, businesses licenses and through public and private parking fees.

Santa Monica’s LUVE Initiative Not Unique Concept in California

06/27/2016 7:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 27, 2016 -- If voters approve Santa Monica’s LUVE initiative in November, it would radically change the local development process, but it would not be a unique moment in California history.

State budget provides development incentives

06/27/2016 7:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a new state budget that guarantees developers the ability to build housing projects if they meet preexisting zoning standards.

The budget contains a provision known as “by right” construction and is tied to new spending to incentive affordable housing. The new rules will allow developers to bypass discretionary approvals (like a public vote or a vote by the City Council) if a project meets conditions defined by a municipality’s Zoning Code.

Changes coming to Santa Monica’s ethics rules

06/23/2016 7:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Hall is moving forward with a ballot measure to amend the city’s anti-corruption laws.

Santa Monica Ranks Third in County for City Employee Compensation

06/23/2016 7:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 23, 2016 -- Pay and benefits for Santa Monica City employees were the third-highest in Los Angeles County last year, averaging $152,050 annually for the municipality’s full-time workforce, a new survey has found.

And at: http://smdp.com/overtime-pay-looms-large-on-santa-monica-books/155945

Santa Monica Ballot Could Feature Three Tax Measures

06/23/2016 7:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

June 23, 2016 -- Santa Monica voters will face a large number of decisions at the federal, State and local levels in November, including possibly three tax measures.

Potentially going on the ballot are a half-cent or quarter-cent sales tax from the City and a half-cent sales tax from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Also, Santa Monica College (SMC) has proposed a bond measure that would be funded through a property tax averaging about $8.65 per month for Santa Monica homeowners and $1.59 for renters.