you you you you you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Santa Monica, and welcome to tonight's Council meeting. Today's Tuesday, May 10th. If members of the audience would turn their phones off or to vibrate, so it's not to disrupt the meeting. There's one person. Okay, if the city clerk could call the close, oh, you know, it will start with the pledge of allegiance. Council member Nguerite, would you mind? Okay. Can the clerk please call the closed session items? Actually, let me call the roll first. Okay. Can the clerk please call the closed session items? Actually, let me call the roll first. Oh, yes, that too. Thank you. Okay. Council Member Davis. Council Member Negrette. Here. Council Member Brock. Here. member Negrette here. Council member Brock here. Council member Okay. Okay. Okay. Denise, did you? Oh, there we go. I can turn everybody off. I can turn everybody on or turn everybody off. Okay. Okay, so let me call the closed session items and we have no, we have no request to speak on closed session. Our first item is conference with labor negotiator and it's the agency designated representative is a city manager day white, David White, and Chief People Officer Lori Gentles. Bargain unions, ATA, the Administrative Team Association, IBT, California Teamsters Local 9-11. FEMA Santa Monica Fire Fighter Executive Management Association, Fire Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 IAFF, the Municipal Employees Association, AFSCME Local 4819 Management Team Association, Public Attorney's Legal Support Staff Union, the Public Attorney's Union, the P.O.A. Santa Monica Police Office Association, SMART-TD, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Division, Local 1785, Supervisory Team Association and the Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees. And then the second item is the Public Employee Appointment and the title is the City Attorney. And we didn't have any call. We had no request to Attorney. Okay. And we didn't have any call. We had no request. No. No request to speak. Okay. Before we adjourn for, oh, Council Member De La Torre. And before we adjourn for closed session, can the interim City Attorney give us for best estimate of one will return? Oops. 645. Okay, we will adjourn for closed session. See you at about 645. you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you The decree does not record. 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And I would like to propose agenda management to hear, oh, you know, I think it's going to be the first item after the consent calendar anyway. Now is that right? Denise? Okay. Denise. The council needs to vote on that to do the agenda management. Yes. I move. A second. Okay. There was a motion motion in the second that we would hear item 8A after the consent calendar out of respect for the mayor's time so that she can return to her. We miss you Sue. I will choose you. All right. So. Do we need to vote on the motion? And it needs to be a roll call, right? Okay. Can the clerk please call the roll? And you guys can go ahead and vote as well. Council Member De La Torre. Yes. Council Member Brock. Yes. Council Member Nogrette. Council Member Davis. Mayor Hamamelrich. Yes. Mayor? Yes. Okay. Okay. So let me go. Are we going to do the, we're going to do the, the, the first. Okay. So the first is a proclamationclamation May 2022 as Asian America and Pacific Islander AAPI here at Titch Month. And we have no request to speak on this item. Okay, Council Member Dela Torrey, if you can start us off. Yes, so we have a proclamation to recognize Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month. And so I have a series of where as is, whereas members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community represent over 30 ethnically distinct groups originating from the Asian and Pacific regions and whereas people from Asia and the Pacific Islands have shaped the history of California, even before statehood in 1850, from gold mining and railroad building to agriculture, urban development, and beyond. In particular, Chinese migrants built the rail lines of Santa Monica that made the city and economically viable town at its very inception. Whereas, despite these contributions, the United States passed the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States, the United States, and the United States. This was followed by the Immigration Act of 1924, which sought to prevent immigration by Asians and set caps on immigrants from East Asia. And whereas hate and fear facilitated the interment and relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have repeatedly been scapegoated for social and economic ills, endured legal and de facto segregation, and have been scaped-goated for social and economic ills, endured legal and de facto segregation, and have been excluded from land ownership voting and other aspects of citizenship. And whereas, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there continues to be exponential growth in violence and hate against the AAPI community, largely because of very public and racist rhetoric rooted in harmful stereotypes. In 2021, hate incidents toward AAPI communities increased by 15% nationally. And whereas to end AAPI hate requires dismantling all racism and race-based hate, the AAPI community continues to stand with black indigenous and other people of color communities who have suffered social, economic, and physical harm from generations of systemic racism. And whereas the city's API employee employees share all two common stories of bullying, disrespect, and explicit and implicit bias, thereby developing the affinity group, the coalition of Asian and Pacific employees of Santa Monica, Cape SM, and whereas the city's political and administrative leaders have a civic duty to continue to speak out against the violence and bias perpetuated against members of the AAPI community and to celebrate the contributions of the AAPI community. Furthermore, the city applots the passage of the COVID-19 hate crimes act. Now, therefore, the mayor, the city of Santa Monica, on behalf of the COVID-19 H8 crimes act. Now therefore, the mayor of the city of Santa Monica on behalf of the members of the city council do hereby declare Asian, sorry, declare Amproclaim May 2022 as Asian American Pacific Islander Month in the city of Santa Monica. Thank you, council member Dela Torre. I'd like to now co-forward Erica, Kayi Yugen, our interim city librarian to share a few words. Thank you. Good evening, Council Members and city staff. As a management advisor of the Coalition of Asian and Pacific Employees of Santa Monica or KPSM Affinity Group, thank you for acknowledging the Asian and Pacific Islander community and staff. Asian, American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is when we pay tribute to generations of AAPI who have enriched America's history and contribute to our country's future success. The AAPI community currently make up about 6.1% of the total U.S. population, 10.4% of the Santa Monica community, and about 8% of city employees. As the interim city librarian and a firm believer in community learning through shared stories and experiences, I must take this opportunity to share Santa Monica's history in relation to the AAPI community. When Gold was discovered in California, Chinese migrants escaping civil war and famine arrived in Northern California and worked in mines that were too difficult and abandoned by Anglo miners. When mining magnate John P. Jones drew up plans to develop Santa Monica as a rival port to Los Angeles, he recruited Chinese laborers to build the Long Wharf and the LA and Independence Railroad that helped establish Santa Monica when the first lots of the new town were sold in 1875. Japanese immigrants also played a role in Santa Monica. By establishing a fishing village past Santa Monica Canyon that prospered and served as a tourist destination until a fire ravaged it in 1916. While many Japanese Americans relocated to San Pedro after the fire, some stayed and became early residents in the Ocean Park and Pico neighborhoods. However, when anti-Japanese hysteria swept through Southern California after Pearl Harbor, many were relocated into internment camps, causing them to lose their homes and businesses in Santa Monica. Many of us, just like other immigrants and minority groups, came here to chase the American dream in the land of opportunity. When my parents immigrated to North America and moved to the United States, their dreams were of starting a family, buying a house, and joining a community. This was years after my dad, the first one in his family to move from the Philippines to Canada, worked to put himself through school. Graduated night school, supported his siblings while being abroad and eventually sent for his brothers to come to North America. Years later, his brother gave him back a photo that he had sent to his family in the Philippines, with a note on the back saying, I will make the difference. My sister and I keep this photo as a reminder, he like so many immigrants who came here absolutely made the difference. It was these dreams that enabled my sister and I both born in the United States to grow up with the opportunities and experiences that enriched our lives. I am lucky to be a college graduate and doing what I love to do, working with the community, promoting learning and literacy, and like my dad, making a difference in people's lives. But along the journey, and specifically in my youth growing up on the East Coast, I experience and witness firsthand the racism towards the AAPI community. I experienced and witnessed first hand the racism towards the AAPI community. From racist sentiments to hurtful insults and gestures to microaggressions and outright discrimination. Often when directed towards me, I was too scared to speak up. For fear, it would escalate a situation. So I stayed quiet and I ignored them. These experiences, as well as the many stories I heard on the media, in the media, and from our friends and family, made me wonder whether my voice even mattered, whether my story mattered. But I realized that for our society to improve for our children, including my own children, to have a better future, we need to keep sharing our stories. We need to make sure that others understand that we too have struggled, and that we continue to struggle even as we offer our support, hard work, and commitment to our communities and our fellow colleagues. According to the stop AAPI Hate Organization, hate incidents increased by 15% in 2021, and hate crimes continued to occur. One that stands out was an elderly Filipino woman from New York who ignored a racial slur and was punched 125 times, stomped on seven more times, and then spat on. This woman, turning the other cheek, was one of the reasons the AAPI community is portrayed as a model minority because we don't complain. We work hard and we tend to avoid confrontation, choosing to stay silent instead of standing up for ourselves. Some progress has been made with the passage of but there is still work to be done. The Federal Asian Pacific American Council's theme for this year's AAPI Heritage Month is advancing leaders through collaboration. This theme is relevant to's AAPI Heritage Month is advancing leaders through collaboration. This theme is relevant to our AAPI City staff who continue to collaborate to serve the community, to form the Cape SM Affinity Group, and to host community events for AAPI Month. As the newest executive sponsor and a proud member of Cape SM, I have to share how invigorating these past few months have been, working with this group. If we have anyone in the audience who are members of Cape SM, few who aren't here right now, but who are probably listening in our powerful reminders of how strong we are when we work together and how each of our voices matter. Some of the collaborative work we want to highlight are the take and make kits in front of you that are available at the libraries and Korean music and dance performance at the main library on May 12th. At City Hall on May 26th, we will be hosting a rhythm and spice event, a celebration with food trucks, music and dance. We also collaborated with the Human Services Division's Mental Health Awareness Month event at Virginia Avenue Park on May 27. Before their movie screening of Inside Out, Cape SM is sponsoring free chair massages before the movie from a local AAPI-owned business. Who doesn't need a good chair massage? A full list of events is on a blog post on the city's website. I hope that this presentation has made you more aware of the contributions of your AAPI employees and that you come and visit and take part in our programs this month. And hopefully also that you feel the gratitude that we feel in working for the city. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, Erica. Can you come back to the microphone? I'm so number Dela Torre. It's going to be so. Oh. Oh, yeah. And Mayor Himorich just because I can't see you. Did you want to start anything before I give any of other council members an opportunity? It's pretty, am I that voice and the ceiling that comes down to you? I see our in fact a voice of God up there. Yeah, I think that I will stay as silent as possible. So you are the head. Okay. Anyone else? Thank you. Thank you so much. Next we will move on to agenda item 2B. Proclamation, public works week May 15 through the 21st and we have no request to speak on this. Okay. Council member Nguerte, if you can read the proclamation, please. This proclamation is whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure facilities and services that are vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life and well-being of the people of Santa Monica. And whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our community. And whereas it is in the public interest for the residents' youth, civic leaders, and businesses in Santa Monica to gain knowledge of and to maintain an ongoing interest in understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the City Council appointed the Santa Monica Disabilities Commission to advance awareness of disabilities, including mental and behavioral health and its planning, decision making, and advisory activities. And whereas the year 2022 marks the 62nd annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association. Therefore, Sue Himmlerich may have Santa Monica and on behalf of the members of the City Council, do hereby the great pleasure in proclaiming the week of May 15th through the 21st of 2022 as National Public Works Week. Thank you, councilmember Nguerte. I'd like to call forward Rick Valti, Public Works Director to say a few words. Good evening, Mayor. Mayor Protang and City Council. Rick Walty, your Director of Public Works. This year's theme for the National Public Works Week is Ready and Resilient. And on behalf of the 443 men and women of the Public Works Department, I'd like to thank you for acknowledging their dedication and their hard work that they perform on a daily basis. Your public works department is always ready to serve the Santa Monica community, ever resilient as it pushes forward past the pandemic. And I'd like to call my colleagues from public works to join me here because this is not about myself. It's about my colleagues from public works to join me because this is not about myself, it's about my colleagues. As is customary during national public work, works week are divisions acknowledge a employee of the year who embodies the work ethic and commitment that we are all accustomed to. And joining me here today are some of the employees of the year, Sergio Ramirez, he is from the admin services team. Steven Hall from the Engineering and Street Services team. We've got to raise your hand. And Drew Johnstone from the Office of Sustainability in the Environment. And then also joining us is Sunny Wang. The manager of water resources. We are celebrating on next Wednesday May 18th at the city yards from 11 to 3 p.m. and I encourage you whenever you have a moment that data stop by. Say hello to the folks. Especially the you see a lot of our custodians are grounds keepers out in public. But I'd love for you to come by and say hello to those of us that work behind closed doors, perform magic without the public eye seeing it like our mechanics. You will never see them out on the streets or even the folks from the water cheating plant. So please come by and visit whenever you can. And also if I may take a few seconds of your time, I'd like to introduce our new Assistant Director of Public Works, Chris Anishlan. Chris was in a former life. He was our facilities maintenance manager. He was our capital programs manager. And I'm really looking forward to Chris with his 19 years of experience to be my partner in bringing public works to the next level. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay item 2C. Item 2C is a proclamation for National Foster Care Month. I want to opine for a minute that every month needs to be foster care month and we need to do all we can to help our children have great lives. And the way to do that is to make sure they're loved and cared for. Whereas Los Angeles County has the largest population in the nation of children who have suffered, the trauma of abuse and neglect and who require a special kind of person to help them heal, with the goal of successful reunification or permanent placement, and whereas the City of Santa Monica is committed to supporting foster children and the patient, loving, and committed adults who provide these children with safety during a time of crisis, make a difference in a child's life, and whereas the City Council appointed the Santa Micah Social Services Commission to preserve and enhance the quality of, for all Santa Micah residents, and to advise City Council and City staff on identifying need for social services. And whereas the social service commission encourages all residents to explore fostering and or serving as a mentor to a child in foster care. And whereas National Foster Care Month is a time for people across our community to get involved, has foster parents, volunteers, mentors, and employers, and to show our appreciation for the dedication of the foster families who care for foster children and youth and the social workers who support them. Now therefore, I sue him or which may or the city Santa Monica, on behalf of the members of the City Council. Due to Claire, hereby declare, Proclaim May 2022 has national foster care month in the city of Santa Monica. Thank you. Is there anyone to receive this? I'd like to call forward, Winifred Westclar, the Social Services Commission to say a few words. Thank you so much to all the members of the council. I'm here because I have been chair of the Social Services Commission for the last two to three years and have served on the Social Services Commission for six years. That commission sunsets next month. And I will say that the issue of foster care is something that's very meaningful to me personally and to many people in our community. I think it's sometimes overlooked and I really appreciate the proclamation that you read just now because it is very meaningful while there are 35,000 young people in our county who have been removed from their home or have an open case in the foster care system. Hearing Santa Monica the numbers are much smaller but they be lie much more serious issues. About 66 children have either been removed from their homes in the last year here in Santa Monica or placed in foster care within the community or from other parts of Los Angeles. And while those numbers might seem small, they've been a lot of hundreds of not thousands of struggling parents and families who are trying to make it through their everyday lives. While the numbers are small, they do mean a lot because about 50 percent of any of the children who have somehow experienced parental separation and foster care end up either incarcerated, homeless, with some sort of substance abuse problem or related issue as well as unemployment. So when we look at our own community and the issues that we are struggling with here locally, I think foster care is one of those hidden issues that we really can be doing much more to address and prevent. We do have a county, excuse me, a city contract with San Monica Family Services, which is a subsidiary of this Valmar, and they do offer some services. And that's really important, and I think often is overlooked. I just want to put in a plug right now. I know you're going to all be considering the human services grants program RFP that will be issued this summer and how much money will be devoted to that grants program. Eight million dollars has been steadily what the budget has been for the entire program, including homeless, behavioral health, any kind of other family support, early childhood education and other services really encourage you to consider increasing that budget. I know that you have lots of hard decisions to make, but this isn't just about intervention, it's also about prevention. And certainly in the case of foster care, we can be doing more. But I do appreciate so much your reading that proclamation and everything that you do to support our city's most vulnerable citizens. And so really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I appreciate this. I see it from time to time. That's why he's the new assistant director. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Next up item 2D. 2D is a city manager Report and we have two speakers. We have John Alley who is getting time donated from Kimby. Can you come on up and then we have Daveon Ray Harris. Kim, are you here? Oh, okay. Hi, good evening. With all of you in the same room tonight, I'd like to address an important item regarding our parking garages. Prior to 2019, our promenade was netting the city, about 30 to 40 million dollars net per year. We'll get back to that level, but for now we must feel and look first class. And we do that with a good facility and good parking. We're discussing safety, rising crime due to vagrants, doing their business in our garages and our surrounding parks. They arrive here from out of state, live at the beach, many at Pell State's in the city. With a new board and a board president in the next couple months, DTSM will be leaner, smaller and size, more efficient because it won't cover such a large geographic area. Tonight, I want to focus on the garages. Maintenance repairs in capital costs that are normal for any real estate investments. We will be doing a lot of area. Tonight I want to just focus on the garages. Maintenance repairs and capital costs that are normal for any real estate investments aren't being made. Assessment paying property owners and businesses paid for their construction and so did the city. The city is one of the largest property owners in downtown but the management agreements clear regarding the city's obligations to maintain them today Half the elevators don't work due to being destroyed by fires Elevator permits have long expired inspections are overdue They don't all meet fire life safety requirements if you walk by the ADA parking of garage five You'll see a broken down swing set That a lady tried to commit suicide by hanging herself on the ropes on five weeks ago. YDTSM would store it there taking up three parking spaces is stupid. The city maintenance workers do an unbelievable good job. We don't need any duplication of efforts with more cleaning ambassadors. The majority of stakeholders don't want the block by block ambassadors or any private security. We want the city to sign a new contract with the maintenance workers. It's been six months. And until Chief Batista in his department are fully staffed to provide law enforcement, we want the Sheriff's Department to assist. The Sheriff's Department already provides lots of services to the police department through mental health training and training some recruits. We want the city to invest its funds and the garages as well. By not doing so, we're telling the residents and visitors to basically stay home. They're not welcome. We want them cleaner and we want them safer. Property owners do a good job of fighting the right tenants and leasing their spaces. We want the city to reallocate funds for immediate repairs and ADA required improvements. The ADA has nothing to do with city codes or laws. It's a federal law. Civil rights. It's been around since 1992. It's a simple matter of priorities. Santa Monica residents and businesses are one of the highest tax cities in the state. We're in the top tier of all cities for staff per residence. We're opening up the possibility of a lawsuit against our city and property owners by not following the federal law. So city manager white I'd like to ask if you would make this a priority and report back to us in say 60 days. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. All right. I think that's it. Okay. I can be gave her time to Mr. Alley. Okay. Good evening. Mayor. Thank you. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley. Mr. Alley to Mr. Alley. Good evening, Mayor, up there in Council. So a few things. One I want to give a few updates on a number of events going on throughout the community and then I do want to comment on our current deployment with our police department around the promenade. want to comment on our current deployment with our police department around the promenade. So first I think I saw our fire chief somewhere sneak in there is. So this Saturday we will be celebrating fire service day. It will be occurring at fire station number one from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. So really excited. I think the swearing in for you, chief, was our first public event in quite a long time. So really excited to invite the community and public out to that event this Saturday. And then we already heard about a couple of other events, but also this Saturday, RRR will be hosting a free recycling event at the city yard's facility at 2500 Michigan Avenue. And then also occurring this Saturday, it's going to be a very busy Saturday at Ishaar Park. We'll be having critical mass family by cried. So lots of wonderful activities on the horizon. Next, I'd like to talk a little bit about our work to address public safety and homelessness. So going back I guess now a few weeks ago we announced the work that our police chief had led with his command staff and the union to really focus on redeploying our officers and you're seeing this really occur in many different cities throughout the country, to really focus on a strong 9-1-1 response. And so, at great pains, they made some really strong decisions to reallocate officers from various ant-cillary units, whether it was traffic investigations or whatnot, to really focus and be available on the street. And you've already seen the work through our peer cast force and so really building on that model a week ago, our police chief working again with his command staff has put together a new special operational unit that will be working in the downtown and promenade area. And so I just want to run through some of the highlights of that for you this evening because I know it's been an area of community discussion and concern. So first of all we'll be running to sworn into non sworn. Two will be officers and two will be public safety officers that will be on bikes. They will be providing high visibility Monday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. And they will be on the promenade and riding through the park instructors. We will also be having our public safety officers doing overnight park and structure checks. And this has been an effect since November of 2021 when the holiday season kicked off. Our police department will also be locating a neighborhood resource officer to the promenade to provide direct interaction and coordination with business owners. And we anticipate this officer will be focused or starting and being based in DTSM's offices. We also will be having neighborhood resource officers partnering with our homeless liaison program team, which you will hear a lot about officers partnering with our homeless liaison program team, which you will hear a lot about tomorrow evening and our work to address homelessness to assist with outreach and enforcement on the streets. And then lastly, when possible, officers assigned to our downtown services unit. So that's a unit within the police department that focuses on the downtown area and help team will be doing checks of all of our bus stops and downtown Santa Monica footprint on an overnight basis. And this will be paid for through our big blue bus funds to help really support improvement and quality life issues that we've been experiencing. So that's a little bit of case of what our department is doing right now to address some of the community concerns that we've been hearing and that concludes my report. Thank you for that report. Before we move on to the consent calendar, the clerk will ask if any council members have any travel to the point. We've asked the question. Are there any council members that have anything to report on travel since the last meeting? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. General Assembly and conference this past weekend in Palm Desert. I voted on topics that came up during the General Assembly. There are 191 cities that composed the Southern California Association and governments over 125 were present, including all the mayors and council members from all of our neighboring cities. I found that the sessions, one session was on homelessness and trying to find ways to provide housing to those that need. Another one that I found very interesting was on community internet and ways to provide low cost or free internet to those that need in every community On a personal basis. I've long felt we should have a utility in Santa Monica that would provide Wide-band service for the community. So I found it very interesting and it also Becomes a real place to interact with the mayors of West Hollywood, Culver City, with Beverly Hills, with Malibu, Calabasas, all of our local cities and have some real substantial conversations with them. So I appreciate the opportunity and that is my travel for the week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Councilmember Brock. Does anyone else have any report? Okay. Let's see. Moving on to the consent calendar. Okay. So the consent calendar all items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by Councilmember for discussion. In accordance with Charter Section 615, the adoption of all ordinance and resolution shall be by reading of title only unless a council member present descents. And we have one request to speak and it's Denise Barton for one minute. Ms. Barton. the council meeting. Good evening. Does the email think it's a contradiction for the council to be teleconferencing for City Council Board and commission meetings via AB 361 in item 3G. While in item 3H in attachment B tattles 12, 706, you will see under section 15, all references to the public be they able to use teleconferencing for public common as being removed from the charter. Under the premise that on May 24, 2020, the city manager will have a steady session concerning possible meeting meeting format changes for City Council Board and Commission and Board Commission meetings including the cost and staff needed So the real question here is why would the City Council want to remove those parts before something new is in place? And again, why would they say they are continuing the action in item 3g but then remove the action from the charter item 3h. It's also worth noting that despite the mayor's previous F. Thank you Miss Barton. Does anyone want to pull an item? Okay hearing them. I'm going to move on to the next item. Does anyone want to pull an item? Okay. Hearing none. Can I request a motion? I'll make a motion. Is there a second second? Second. Motion by an agrote. Second by Davis. Please call the roll. Councilmember Davis. Yes. Council member Nugrete. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member De La Torre. Yes. Mayor Humberich. Yes. Mayor Pro Temma-Cowin. Yes. So the next item is we're going to go to the 888 and give me just a second. So item 888 is the thank you. And thank you all for doing this. Item 888 is the appointment of city attorney and authorization to execute the agreement and let me see if we have any speakers for that. We have Jerry Rubin and we have Devon Ray Morgan. somebody going to present on this? Is there staff report? I guess it's our job to present is we are hiring this person. I'll let you go. I guess I will from above. So as the public is aware we have been interviewing for the position of city attorney for quite a while and at long last we have found a city attorney who we intend to hire. His name is Douglas Sloan. He's been the city attorney in Fresno for nine years. He's been in the Fresno City Attorney's office for 16 years. We have met him some of us many times. And I think that you will now see us vote to approve a contract that I'm hoping Susan Cola our interim city attorney will describe. I'm going to have anything in a formal presentation. Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, I got that wrong. My bad. No, no, no, that's okay. So I'll just give a quick overview. So the Mayor well described Mr. Sloan really excited for him to Join the city as the Mayor described it was a very thorough and deliberative Process that the council went through to ultimately make this selection and Agreement that is front of you this evening is an agreement for a five-year term with automatic extensions. The salary is at a rate of 320,136. It has a severance of nine months, and then it has ancillary rent assistance for seven months at $3,000 a month, and relocation expenses based on actual expenses up to $20,000. And so if this is approved by the Council this evening, Mr. Sloan would join the city on June 6, 2022 and we're obviously very much looking forward to that. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to open the hearing and hear from Mr. Rubin first. Thank you very, very much. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, fitting manager, city staff, fellow Saddam Americans. Certainly looking forward to the appointment of a new city attorney. I know how important that is for our great city. I want to thank all of the people that filled in the dedicated attorneys, one that's been a difficult process. I think we're on the right track. I've heard a lot of good things about Douglas Sloan from the great city of Fresno. I do want to say I can't imagine it's not going to be something where we understand how lucky we are to have him. He understands how lucky he is to be serving this great city. So I'm looking forward to meeting him in person as I'm sure most of you are, and all I could say is onward together. I hope it's unanimously passed and keep up the good work. Thank you, Mr. Ruben. Your optimism and positivity is always appreciated. Is Mr. Zavon Ray Morgan here? Is he Mr. Morgan is okay. Is there any discussion on the item? Is there a, I move. Tell your Mr. Sean. Second. Yes, Mayor Cimmaric. Thank you. So I was simply gonna say that I really appreciate all that our city manager said and I wanted very much to put together with this council leadership team that everybody feels comfortable with and feels as if it's their leadership team. And I like to think that now we're there. We now have a team that I think that everybody owns. So that first. But I too want to thank Susan Cola who stepped forward for us when I'm sorry Susan, nobody else would and you were there and I don't gave it, I'll never forget it, right? And I am just relieved that we finally have this final piece of the puzzle. So on that note, I think Denise, do we do a roll call? I need to clarify my motion if you don't mind, Mayor. I'm on the... What motion? I missed that in time. She's going to do it right now. I moved to hire Mr. Sloan, but apparently I was not technically correct. So I'm moving to a point Douglas Sloan, a city attorney commencing on June 6, 2022, and authorizing you, Madam Mayor, to execute an employment agreement with Mr. Sloan for his services, city attorney. I second. Any discussion? Okay. Thank you, Susan. Okay. Council Member Dele, let's hear it. Any discussion? Thank you, Susan. Okay, Council Member De La Tula. You're welcome. It was a pleasure. Yes. Can you hear me clapping? Okay, Council Member Brock. Yes. Council member Nurgete. Yes. Council member Davis. Yes. Mayor Hemelridge. Yeah. And Mayor Pro Temmukhallen. Yes. Welcome, Mr. Sloan. Congratulations. He's probably watching. Yeah. We're looking forward to seeing you. Welcome, Mr. Sloan. And on that note, Council, I think you can do well without me, but I did not want to miss this moment in our progress. So thank you a lot. And thanks, Kristen Kristen for covering. Yeah, thanks Mayor Himmourage for your leadership through that process and feel better soon. Okay. So with that, we will move on to item 7a. So 7a is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending the text of the city's zoning ordinance to establish a conditional use permit requirement to allow a lawful, nonconforming restaurant located within the R2 or R3 zoning district that meets minimum requirements to provide meal and alcohol service to the general public. And this is a second reading. Yes. Is there a motion? Good motion. Second. It was at Davis that second. Yes. Motion by Nugrete. Second by Davis. Can the clerk please call the roll? Council member Davis. Yes. Council member Nugrete. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member De La. Yes. Council Member Brock. Yes. Council Member De La Torre. Yes. And Mayor Pro Temma-Cowin. Yes. Okay. Item 7B. Item 7B is introduction and first reading of an ordinance extending Santa Monica Municipal Code chapter 6.40. Santa Monica Outdoors pilot program. Introduction and adoption of an emergency interim zoning ordinance changes to support Santa Monica's economic recovery and adoption of a resolution related to fee waivers and reductions. And we have no speakers on this item. of a resolution related to fee waivers and reductions. And we have no speakers on this item. I see two speakers for 7B. Is that for 7B? I see Mr. Rubin and Ms. Barton. Thank you. Okay. Let me get there. You see it? Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Before me get there. You see it? Okay. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. You think I look for me? Yeah. No. We can have the staff report first. Sorry. Great. Thank you. Good evening. Mayor Pro Tem and Council. Jennifer Taylor. I'm the Economic Development Manager. And I'm actually here on behalf of the Economic Recovery Task Force. And tonight we're asking for Council to extend the Santa Monica Outdoors temporary outdoor program. So this was adopted under initially and emergency orders. This helped to support all the Santa Monica Outdoor Business Operations that we see city wide from sidewalk dining, the Main Street Alfresco, Parkland Operations, the Pomanoid Satellite Dining, extended operations on the San Monica Pier, as well as beach and fitness permits and activations on private property. Tonight's request is involves three components of what staff is asking for council. The first is to adopt, sorry here, first is to introduce for first reading an ordinance that would amend our municipal code chapter 6.40, which is for our San Juanca outdoors pilot program, which would extend this term through to September 30, 2022. Currently the program is due to expire at the end of June. So this would help support ongoing activations through the summertime and include fee waivers associated with it. The second component tied to the fee waivers is to adopt a resolution that will authorize the extension of fee waivers. These are for pre-existing programs prior to COVID. So our monthly sidewalk dining license fees as well as a number of other fees including fitness fees for trainers in our parks and on our beach. And then the third component is to introduce an adopted emergency interim zoning ordinance that would basically extend the emergency ICO through to the end of this year through December 31st. A little bit of background on the San Monica, Doris pilot program as I mentioned this was first adopted under emergency order. It was then to continue to facilitate these uses during COVID. You all adopted this as a resolution and it turned into a San Monica George pilot program with associated fee waivers in June of last year. That was then extended to where we are now to the program that expires on June 30th. And as I said tonight, the recommended action is for us to continue to extend this pilot program through the end of September 30th. And the reason behind this is really twofold. First is to continue to provide critical and continued support for our small businesses as part of our COVID business relief measures. This is so that our businesses that are wide can help to do outdoor operations at no cost during the busy summer months to help support their ongoing economic recovery efforts. We're on the road economic recovery, but it's still a slow road for many of our small businesses who are still struggling to pay deferred rents. And so this would be a much needed relief effort to help support them. And the second reason behind this is to help to facilitate a smooth transition to longer-term programs. So we will be coming back to you at the end of June to review options for longer-term programs to support the parklets. Currently, we don't have a policy in place for those. So by extending this program through the end of September, that will help us to transition for businesses that want to continue operations effective October 1st under our longer term programs. And then for the third component, which is the Interim Zoning Ordnance Extension, this is for outdoor use of private property. We're asking for the to extend this through December 30th, 2022. This will allow our businesses to continue to use private property under the Santa Monica Outdoors program to support outdoor dining, retail, fitness, and personal services on surface parking lots and other open space areas. It will continue to provide and facilitate support for emergency response and economic recovery efforts, including public safety facilities and emergency shelters in all of our zones, as well as temporarily allowing for dry-through facilities, including supporting COVID testing and vaccination sites. And it will continue to support economic recovery through allowing temporary uses, supportive of the economic recovery efforts for up to six months, as well as critical for many of our restaurants we here continuing to allow for offsite restaurant alcohol sales and retail alcohol sales under this ICO. And we're asking for this extension to allow for staff for time to return to you in the fall for a specific program for the outdoor used to private property. So with that, I conclude if anyone has any questions and know we have some public comment too. Thank you, Ms. Taylor. Are there any questions for staff before we move on to public comment? Seeing none. Oh, Council Member Davis. Sorry, thank you, Ms. Taylor. I just have a quick question. I know there's been a survey going around. Is that still open? Okay. No, the survey closed, I think a week and a half ago. We're still in the process of tabulating the results. That's primarily tied to the parklets. I think we'll be releasing that as part of a press release in about two weeks time and we'll also be including it in our report to you at the end of June. Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Council Member De O'Toura. Yeah, no, I just, I was eating at Gilbert's and on Pico, you know, Pico Boulevard in Indio. And it's just kind of hard to imagine, like, Indio not having that option, that outdoor, it's just, I think if we work with businesses they can turn that you know into something a little bit nicer than just an older parking lot. A greater amenity for that neighborhood which we were always looking at how can we increase sort of walkability and more outdoor sort of presence and dining I think that's one of the I think probably one of the few good things that COVID has given us is is that the outdoor dining option and so I'm really looking forward to staff coming back to us with something more permanent so that these businesses can really integrate sort of those outdoor dining experiences is a permanent feature of what they offer residents. So thank you very much. Thank you very much Councillor Chaudinot. So that Thank you, Miss Taylor. So we can proceed with public comment. I believe Mr. Rubin, you're first followed by Miss Burton. All right. Well, thank you again and thank you to Ms. Taylor and the good work of the economic recovery test force. I think this is really important especially at this point in time, but I do see this as being very supportive of our small businesses and seeing what we can't bring about down the road even after the end of the year. So I hope you'll continue to support this. I think it makes the city more pedestrian friendly and it'll actually do a lot of good to make the city safer in many ways. And I'm sure the businesses have full capability and responsibility to make sure everything is clean and good and safe and it's just a great way to show that support. So thank you very, very much. Thank you, Mr. Rubin. Miss Barton? Good evening. Staff's contradictions just continue in the staff report. The main one being, are the areas private outdoor dining areas or parklets? Because aren't they two different things? Or is it outdoor dining within the city and parklets still other entities? My next issue with the private outdoor dining areas is that they intrude onto the sidewalk to be clear. Have an additional city seating up against the building with more private outdoor dining area completely in the street curbside does not seem to be a problem. Allow any enough sidewalk for pedestrians. When you start putting up metal framing like Chaiho cheeseburger, that extends out past the tree wells, put that together with putting planters to the edge of the metal framing, instead of having enough planners to buffer the traffic street side to protect the patrons. And on top of that, these planners on the sidewalk are used as public urinals at night. With urine rings around the base of the planners and urine trails running from many of them. Along with the swarm of flies over the sidewalk next to the planners, due to flies hatching on the plants and the planners, then just think of how the array will smell when it gets warlar. So as a resident of downtown who has to endure these conditions outside the front door of the building I live in, I would like to request that the private outdoor dining areas not be in front of the front door of residential buildings. For all the reasons I previously specified. Otherwise it looks like you don't care about the residents living downtown. Oh wait what am I saying? By your actions of trying to turn it into a crime ridden slum you never did. Thank you. Thank you Miss Barton. Okay is there any discussion on this item? Seeing none I'd like to call for a motion to introduce for first reading an ordinance reading by title only and waving further reading thereof to amend Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 6.40 Santa Monica Outdoors pilot program by extending the term of the pilot program through September 30th 2022. So moved. Moved by De La Torre. Is there a second? Second. Second by Council Member Negrete. Can the clerk please call the roll. Council Member Davis. Yes. Council Member Negrete. Yes. Council Member Brock. Yes. Council Member De La Torre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor McIntyre. Councillor reductions through September 30 of 2022 for monthly outdoor dining license fees, monthly license fees for businesses with permits under Santa Monica Municipal Code, Chapter 6.40 outdoor fitness fees in city parks in the beach and certain temporary use permits. Do I hear a motion? I thought he was the motion. Oh, sorry, he was the motion. He said call for a motion. Okay. He can also make the motion. I make the motion. Okay. Is there a second? Second by Ngurete. If the clerk could please call the roll. So these next couple motions are going to be all. I'll be calling those. Okay. Council member Dela Torrey. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member Dela Torrey. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member Nogrette. Yes. Council member Davis. Yes. And they're Potem and Collin. Yes. Motion passes. Council member Nogrette. I'd like to make a motion to introduce and adopt an emergency interim zoning ordinance reading by title only and weaving further reading there of amending and extending the interim zoning the second. We will be opening the recording order. We will be opening the recording order. We will be opening the recording. We will be opening the recording. We will be opening the recording. We will be opening the recording. We will be opening the changes necessary for continued emergency response and economic recovery. Is there a second? Motion by Nguyen Gritte. Second. Second by Brock. Can the clerk please call the roll. Council member Davis. Yes. Council member Nguyen Gritte. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member Dela Tories. Yes. And Mayor Patina Calan. Yes. And that passes. Okay. Our next item is 13A. It's recommendation to accept Marcy Kaplan's resignation from the Recreation and Parks Commission and Authorized City Clerk to publish the vacancy. And we have no request to speak on this item. I move with regret. Moved by Council Member Brock. Second. Second by Davis. Can the clerk please call the roll. Council Member Davis. Yes. Council Member Nguete. Yes. Council Member Brock. Yes. Council Member De La Tori. Yes. In Mayor Potimma, Cowan. Yes. Council Member De La Torre. Yes. In Mayor Patimic Allen. Yes. Yes and we accept Miss Kaplan's resignation from the Recreation and Parks Commission with regrets and thank her for her service to our community. Item 13 B. Item 13 B is request of Council Members Negrette, Dela Torrey and Brock, that the City Manager schedule a study session as soon as practical regarding whether to allow for the sale of non-medical cannabis in the City of Santa Monica. As the City currently allows the sale of municipal, medicinal cannabis, the study sessions shall include suggested municipal code changes as well as options for city council direction on potential locations, permitting process, social equity provisions to make legal cannabis business ownership and employment opportunities more accessible to low income individuals and communities most impacted by the criminalization of cannabis and any other regulatory restrictions as may be appropriate. Did you guys want to continue? No, I think you're good. Thank you, Denise. Mr. Councilmember Dela Torre is going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I think we're going to be able to do it today. So I that benefit from cannabis and also to come up to bring our policies up to the times. Los Angeles has a recreational policy, Santa Monica still has an archaic policy of having to deliver a doctor's note in order to have access to cannabis. So we wanted to look into changing that. So this is really a study session where we're directing staff is today's to look into this to come back with you know various options so that this council can give direction if we decide that is it's the right way to go. We want to be obviously cautious. The city Santa Monica has been much more conservative than you know than any other city I think the region, definitely if you look at what's happening in Los Angeles. So the city's going to look into, you know, looking at where, where, where dispensaries might be able to open, how many there'll be a lot of details in terms of also the criteria of how we select individual organizations and businesses that would be able to offer that as a service to residents and also to our visitors. One thing that I did want to add is that's not in the request is looking also at delivery as people have called and said, hey, you're looking, there's other options as well for delivery. Sometimes delivery might be a more cost effective way for people to enter, you know, the business. And we do also have a very strong appetite to ensure that there's an equity provision so that, you know, individuals that have had, you know, problems with the law get second opportunities, you know, to enter the business as well and maybe delivery might be a cheaper way for them to participate. This is a highly regulated industry at every step from cultivation to sales. The state of California obviously has policies that and also the county, but that have to be followed. And so, you know, we are assured that anyone coming to Santa Monica will be following all those policies as well. And the other thing that I wanted to add is, that's not in here is, I did, you know, get some calls, talk to residents, and there was concern about, you know, gateway, gateway drugs, and, you know, alcohol drugs and alcohol obviously is very plentiful in our community, not so much cannabis. So we debated a little bit about that but one thing that in that discussion one thing that did come out and one thing I want to know and maybe we can add this if everybody agrees is that if there's a possibility for a percentage of the tax to be earmarked for substance abuse prevention and intervention services so that we address that issue. You know, so if there's a possibility to do that, I don't know if there's a possibility to do that, but I think if there's a way for us to today give that direction of staff that'd be great and I just want to open it up to Councilwoman Nighrette or Brock, if they have anything else to add. I was just going to add that we also wanted to focus on local business operators as well. And looking at the small business operator and not the large conglomerate business operator that I know that was in here at some point. So just to make sure that we focus on that as well. and the first one is the community. I know that was in here at some point. Just to make sure we focus on that as well. I will echo both flota and oscar. But emphasize that there is a strong community component to this in terms of finding ways to help the community. It is not only tax revenue, not only service the community, but it is also ways that we help people in need of the community by, as Oscar said, alcohol prevention. Other types of services, there can be service, some of that extra revenue if we decide later on to go for, could go to services of the police department and homeless services as well. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Brock, Council Member Davis. So a couple of times you've mentioned revenue and actually under the state law, there is a state tax, but we don't get any of that. That goes to the state. So if we want to get local tax revenue, one of that. That goes to the state. So if we want to get local tax revenue, one of the things we need to do, and that's not in the 13 items, so you might consider adding it, is to ask staff to come back with an examination of what other localities have done in terms of tax-seen measures so that we might impose a local tax, because that's the only way we will get any direct tax revenue from the sale of cannabis. Can we add that? Yeah, I think that's great. I think that's, we just need to make that clear. So that staff knows to come back and look at it. And I certainly agree with targeting the revenues from such a tax to addiction prevention and treatment as well as public safety probably make sense. Because again, under Prop 220, we'd have to put the tax on the ballot. You can't just adopt the tax from the Dias. So you would have to actually put the potential tax measure before the voters. The Grace suggestion, Councilwoman Davis. Okay, and I think we have speakers on this. Mr. Foster. Hello. Hi, Jonathan Foster. I don't approve of the last line final, where allow cannabis themes, special events, specified locations in the city. I don't approve of that whatsoever. I play on through, I smoke pots, I was 13, on and off, I went 10 years, I didn't smoke pot, started smoking again. On third street prom and not I play out there, I see everybody as little kids and I smelled more pot out there than I've ever smelled, I played out there for 22 years and the last four years I smelled more pot on Thursday and it's disgusting even if I smoke pot I don't want to smell your pot please get your pot out of here it's absolutely effing disgusting to smell other people's pot the state wasn't supposed to make money off of this this was supposed to be legal for us pot smokers and the state and the governments weren't supposed to make a penny on this. It's absolutely disgusting to see that. You want to make tax revenue on this. The other part, I wanted to say this to Ma-wa, smokeable flowers Chinese. So it was Mawa. And it got turned into Mawa, Mawa Wana, which is the Spanish Mexican part. They put a, oh, on that because it's female. This is where that word comes from. It's actually Mawa. But I don't, you know, I thought this was supposed to be about like a personal take home kind of thing where you could do it at home and keep it away from the kids. I mean, the cigarette smoking too. I moved to California because of a guy who's Jewish, a Henry Waxman, I believe, a Senator Waxman. He passed the bill for no smoking, cigarette smoking. And I want to sue every cigarette smoker that blows that crap in my face, I want to sue them, but I don't have enough money to answer it. But it's the same as the cannabis, right? So there's so much about this. It's convoluted. Even though I support the idea of the pot and all that kind of stuff, I just just thank you, Mr. Foster. Council member Nguyengrete. I just wanted to say, Mr. Foster, that I agree with your comment on the overwhelming smell in the public. I completely understand I have kids and we often comment on that. This is a study session. So I think it's, I mean, I'm sorry, calling myself a laboratory. This is a study session and so we're looking at what's best and I think it's going to evolve. I think ultimately what we're looking at is the idea that we're not inviting this opportunity and inventing it. This is happening anyways and putting this business in the light of day so to speak is a theory that people have other cities, other counties have jumped on a long time ago. Yes, there is a profit aspect of it. And as Councilmember Davis pointed out and unless we put something on the ballot, the city won't really see any of that. It's at the state level. But I think it's important to note that, in my opinion, it was about having these places actually would inspire people if it's not just for medicinal that you can actually smoke inside. The same way if you were to go to a bar and you have a drink, you can't walk with your open beverage outside. You have, well, you can't walk, you're not supposed to, so people walk around they're not supposed to. So I just wanted to point out that that's the spirit that this is going in and as we look at the study session, we'll continue to tweak it to make sure that it's in the right spirit. I don't think any of us up here would like it to become that there's gonna be a cannabis festival and I can see how that last line might suggest that. Rather, we're looking at the business aspect of it instead. So. Okay, thank you. Council member Dela Tornay. Yeah, just to clarify on the events so that we all understand, I think that's a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit people wanted to exhibit sort of like a, you know, like an expo type thing. And that was, that was it. But in any case, as you stated, Councilwoman Nguyenette, this is a study session for us to talk about all the ins and outs. What do we want in the city? What's appropriate for Santa Monica? We don't want it to turn into, I agree with Mr. Foster said, I also, you know, I want to keep a family-friendly environment on the Santa Monica promenade, for example. So those are things that we'll be able to discuss. Thank you. I'd like to move this forward for a study session. Please with the amendment. Thank you. No amendment needed. Oh, okay. Hi. Is there a second? Second. Second by an agritte. I just want to make sure the city manager got all that. I did and just to clarify, just make sure I'm on the same page. So you want us, as part of the study session, we'll explore delivery. We will look at local taxes as well as I think part of that survey will look at where those local taxes as well as I think part of that survey will look at where those local taxes go to because there's a discussion about allocating resources to certain specific items like drug prevention or substance abuse. We'll want to look at the selection criteria and how to prioritize a local operator. I heard that come up as well. The one item I did want to clarify was, did you also want us to explore about areas where we would a facility is able to allow consumption indoors or just focus on it? So can I just recommend, because this is a study session, that you all bring back whatever is permissible? And then how it might be applied in Santa Monica. And then people can remove things that don't fit for a community and sort of talk it through but I think it would be perfect. You know, state laws pretty clear on all the options and just whatever. Yeah, Council member Davis. Yeah, I agree. I just want to say I do think it is worth looking at because this is happens to be the new hot trend. I just came back from New York cannabis lounges which actually addresses the issue of some of people smoking in public Because they're required to have filtration systems and things like that so people You know have a place where they can smoke cannabis if they want to do so But it doesn't impinge necessarily as much on the public so I think cannabis lounges should be part of that Are we good? Okay, motion by Brock, second by De La Torre. Can the mayor of the grad? Oh, sorry, in the grad, if the clerk could call the roll. Hi, grad, yay. Council member De La Torre? Yes. Council member Brock? Yes. Council member Brickday? Yes. Council member Davis? Yes. Council member Brick Day. Yes. Council member Davis. Yes. Mayor Potimacalan. Yes. Can everyone vote please? Just you know Denise I can't actually hit mine. Oh. That's why I've not been doing it. No it says I'm inactive because Mayor Himoray is voting from home. Oh, that she's absolutely right. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right. Next we have. Next we have 13C and its request of Mayor Homo Ridge and council members Brock and Davis that city council suspend the meetings of the housing commission until city council considers its annual appointments in June 2022. Once the Housing Commission resumes meeting, following the appointments, it shall immediately hold elections for chair and advice chair. And you have one, two, three, four. It looks like seven speakers, but I know that there's a donation amongst these. Councilmember Davis, would you like to present on this? Sure. And let me start out because I've gotten some very strange emails over the past few days. This is not an attempt to just ban the Housing Commission. This is not an attempt to take it over in any way, shape or form. But what we do have is a problem where there seems to be a fairly serious dispute about the leadership of the commission that has interfered with the commission's ability to do its job. There's a person who believes he was elected chair. There are also people on the commission who believe he resigned for chair. There are also people on the commission who believe he resigned for that chairperson position. At the most recent housing commission, the vice chair ran the meeting but then turned the meeting over to someone who was literally sworn into the commission five minutes earlier. And while she did a perfectly all right job of running the meeting, there just seems to be a lot of confusion around the leadership of the commission. And having watched the meeting, it's clear that it is interfering in some ways with both its effectiveness and its efficiency. Although I haven't been party to this, it's my understanding that when there have been attempts by staff to try and sort of bring the relevant parties into the room, that hasn't happened. They have refused to join on calls or whatever. And so there doesn't seem to be any other way to resolve this rather than by waiting until we actually finish appointments at the end of the year, which would be in June. And then having the Housing Commission hold elections for new leadership, and then presumably there won't be any dispute about who the chair and the vice chair are and who should be running the meetings. And so again, this is not an attempt to try and undermine the commission. It's really just an attempt to try and make it more efficient and effective. Since I have them, I do want to say one thing. I, over the last few days, been accused of trying to violate people's First Amendment rights. I'm certainly personally not trying to do that. Nor do I think anyone on this diias is. I will say it's a little sad in all honesty to see some of the horrible, horrible, personal attacks that have been made upon members of the commission in the context of this dispute. But people have a First Amendment right to say those horrible things and they can continue to do so. But I think it just underscores the need for this commission to have leadership at the top undisputed leadership. And so rather than try and make it sort of for lack of a better term, fluster, you know, flumics around until there's, well, identified, agreed upon leadership at the top of the commission. The idea is to wait until we do the appointments in June, have them choose a chair and a vice chair and then let them go forward and do their work. Thank you, Council Member Davis. Ms. Warren, Anderson Warren, I just want to confirm. I'll start by calling the first three names, but it appears that the first person is listed twice. Did they have a donation? She has a time donation, so it's all go Zoroska. With how many minutes? She has two minutes, and then she has two minutes being donated from Denise. So total of four minutes? Yes, four minutes. Ms. Burton? Okay, so I will first call forward Ms. Zoroska. And then to raise the number of Ms. Murosco. Same thing, she has two minutes from Michael Loewitz. Okay. And so she has four minutes. Okay, and Mr. Alley, you'll be the third person. Once we get to Ms. Murosco, I will then call the additional folks up. Mr. Roscoe, you can begin. If you take action on this item tonight, it will be in violation of the Brown Act. There have been private discussions regarding this item among more than three council members, which constitutes an unlawful serial meeting. The public will seek to invalidate any action you take on this item. One of the sponsors of this item, Mayor Himmlerich, would have had to recuse for self from this item due to a well-documented and self-admitted bias concerning the housing commission. As for suspending the meetings, the mayor's husband, Michael Salov, argued for the commission's vital importance and the need to meet monthly only a year ago. You granted his request. Now you want to suspend the commission. There is no precedent for this. This item is unlawful and unethical. It attempts to target specific commissioners in an attempt to silence them. This is a violation of the first and 14th amendment and an example of government overreach. You may not proceed with this item. There will be legal consequences. And again, there is no precedent. And Council Member Davis, your liar. Mr. Roska, if you have a minute, can you mention the Brown Act violation? I'm just, can you please clarify while you're here who violated the Brown Act? Maybe the people come forward. It's not will as the DA. Okay. Okay. You have, okay. I just want to make sure you didn't need your full amount of time. Okay. I guess that's no. Ms. Marosco. Good evening. Mayor Himmerech and Council members. I'm the Vice Chair of the Housing Commission, but speaking only on my own behalf, I oppose agenda item 13c because it is a complete about phase from city halls narrative regarding the housing commission on April 28th, 2021, which stated at its meeting that last night, the City Council approved changes to Santa Monica's Board's commissions and task forces to increase effectiveness, attract diverse representation from the Santa Monica community in line boards and commission activities with departmental work plans. Council's adopted changes come after a community working group sent the past year reviewing the bylaws and purview of Santa Monica's advisory bodies and formulating recommendations which council considered as it approved changes. Council will weigh in on streamlining some advisory body bodies to increase effectiveness at a later meeting. At City Council meeting on April 27, 2021, Pro Temporary Mayor, Chris, Christy McCown's statement regarding item 88B, Comprehensive Review of Board's commissions and task forces was, quote, Santa Monica is fortunate to have deeply knowledgeable and dedicated residents who participate in boards and commissions, contributing to carrying and thriving community for all people, said Mayor, Pro Tem, Kristen McCallan. It's important to regularly evaluate where we are and where we want to go, and that's what this action signals. We want more participation, more diverse participants. We encourage more voices to consider advisory bodies as a meaningful way to get involved. And during that same meeting, then housing commissioner chair, Michael Solov spoke as the chair on behalf of the entire commission to address item 8b of that meeting regarding comprehensive review of boards, commissions, and task forces and stated quote, I'm addressing the issue of how often we're going to be allowed to meet moving forward from this point. At our last meeting we voted seven to nothing to urge the council to permit us to resume our normal operations. Affordable housing is one of the key issues in the city right now. We're faced with the idea of coming up with 6,158 additional housing units. We have to get homeless folks into temporary and permanent housing. And we have to keep our residents housed who are under severe rent burden shortage. And we can't do that work for you unless we're allowed to meet. We strongly urge that you authorize us to resume our normal operations. We challenge you to show that you're seriously committed to affordable housing in the city. Would this be happening right now if we still had chair solar? Today, when more recently homeless low-income housing commission members have taken charge of the commission, this motion appears to be an attack to prevent control from the bottom up so to speak. There should not be an action preventing free speech through control of the commission and its agenda, which is actually the real issue. However, the language in this item expressly states that the intention is to control the housing commission's leadership. In order to maintain control of the agenda, I am exercising that quote once the housing commission resumes meeting following the appointments it shall immediately hold elections for chair and vice chair. Is that necessary to state that? To be clear the real issue is larger than control over the agenda. A few council members and staff members told me that the discussions have led to certain people stating that the housing commission is dysfunctional, does not have work to do. I'd like to call it Mr. Alley and Mr. Morris and Mr. Ray Morgan. Mr. Alley, you have two minutes. My friend, Michelle Gray, is ill. She wanted to speak tonight's issues. Oh, I just want to turn on your mic. Okay, you can repeat that before your time starts if you'd like. My friend Michelle Gray was not able to attend tonight and she's asked if she could speak. So hold this up. Thank you, John. This is Michelle Gray. Please start my time now. What do you have any council members? In my short time on the housing commission, I've tried to address some longstanding housing issues. In return, a few senior city staff and council members have pressured, patronized, ignored, and lied to me and others. Finally threatening me and others with being recalled, suspending commission meetings, or dismantling the commission entirely. You are about to vote on enacting one of those threats. Despite whatever lies have preceded these comments and whatever lies follow, this is not about conflicts among commissioners. It is not about budget cuts or staffing shortages or the drama created by an unprofessional and inconsistent former chair. This is about control. Suspending these meetings will prevent each CD and HUD speakers from addressing city fair housing violations, the commission from advising the council on the budget in May, and residents from influencing the use of vast forthcoming federal funds. Item 13C is just the latest and most public, unethical and unlawful action by certain senior city staff, and council members trying to control the housing commission agenda, and dispense with any conflict by silencing honest commissioners. This is not how good city governance works. We need unbiased and ethical senior city staff and officials who serve Santa Monica's collective interests, not their own. The only appropriate response to the sunscreen list attack on public participation is to vote no on item 13c. Then work to address the real problems we face. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Alley. Well, Ms. Gray, by Mr. Alley. Mr. Morris. Good evening, Council members. I can't underline the comments of these ladies tonight. It's truth and facts. So I'll go from there. The Santa Monica Housing Commission was created by ordinance in 1976, and has been successfully serving the community almost half a century, 46 years to be exact. And the City Council considered the Commission's workload so important and extensive that one year ago, it granted the commission, that then commission chair Mr. Sola that the council voted and granted the commission to resume monthly meetings. Six months later, Mr. Sola became ineligible to continue serving because he is married to Mayor Himmerich. Fast forward another six months until now when all of a sudden this council wants to reverse itself by suspending the commission meetings as if the housing commissions issues in the city are no longer important. You cannot sway the general public to believe that there's not an issue here with the mayor supporting this agenda item tonight. And the comments that you made is Davis somewhat I disagree. I disagree totally actually. There's not a schism between the leaders so much. One meeting together and that will all be solved by vote. So I'm asking you all to vote that the meetings continue. They're necessary for this city, and we support that. The people support that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Morris. Mr. Ray Morgan, are you here? Okay. With that, are there any other speakers on this agenda item? Okay. Council Member Brock. I appreciate the speakers who have spoken tonight including two of the housing commissioners. I also do want to note that I participated in trying to calm the waters. I spent several hours talking to a portion of the housing commissioners as well. It appeared to me at the time as well as other council members that the controversy that had gone on over the past 60 to 90 days was going to continue. And they were going to be unable that that commission was going to be subject to character assassination on all sides. I want our commissions, our appointed members, that we on the diast appointed, or didn't, depending on how you voted. I want them to represent the people of the city well. In many cases, some of us voted for new commissioners because we thought there would be a new attitude, a new way of doing business for the housing commission. But living in disharmony and attacking and assailing each other, doesn't help the business of the people of the city. And it certainly doesn't help the psyche of the various commissioners. So that was my reasoning for co-sponsoring. Now, I've just heard from two commissioners who believe that they can solve this in their next meeting and that they can take care of this issue. I hope they can and I hope they can without ranker and without distress caused to any of the commissioners of that commission. And I hope that they will pledge to work together if we allow them to continue meeting right now. It is not a plot to silence the commission. It was simply an effort to try and restore reason and calm to a commission that seemed to have lost its way. Thank you. Before Ms. Anderson Warren, the appointments in June, what is the date currently scheduled for those appointments and how many appointments relate to the housing commission specifically? So it would be the second meeting in June and I'm not sure of the number. I think it was two or I know there's at least two. Okay, at least two. And how many meetings does the housing commission currently have scheduled before June? What is that 24th or? So there would be one meeting and May and one in June. And the June one would fall before we meet on the- Pointments, because it's June 1st. I think they meet the third week and of the month. Okay, so that would probably take place after our appointments, but it would still consist of the same membership until July 1st. I think it could happen the week before. Because you guys meet the second and fourth Tuesday. our appointments but it would still consist of the same membership until I won't. I think it happened a week before because you guys make the second and fourth. Oh yeah, sorry we need the 27th. The 28th. Okay so we're talking about two meetings. Yes. Two meetings. Okay. Council member Davis. So I just want to say a couple of things in response to the public testimony. Okay. Council member Davis. So I just want to say a couple of things in response to the public testimony. First of all, I have not spoken to anybody and told them that this is an attempt to disband the commission or anything like this. My concern is this, that yes, there are two more meetings and I appreciate the promises from the commissioners who spoke this evening. They are not the only people involved in this controversy. It's the problem. And my concern is that they may think that it can get resolved. I think they may already think it has been resolved. The problem is that staff is there are other commissioners who don't think it's been resolved. And we haven't heard from those commissioners tonight and for whatever reason I don't know. But I think my concern is if they want to continue to meet, there has to be, it's not just a question of will they take a vote, but there has to be some meeting of the minds among the current commissioners that every commissioner can live with that vote. I mean the problem we have now is we have one commissioner who believes he is the chair. We have other commissioners who believe he is not the chair. And if they just simply outvote him again and he thinks he's still the chair, we're going to be back to having staff spend a lot of time trying to do negotiations to make this commission run more smoothly. So I mean, I get the sense from Councilmember Brock statement that he no longer supports this idea. But if that is the case, I do think what we need to effectively tell the commission is that they can no longer rely on staff to sort of negotiate these treacherous waters that if they take a vote and they do elect a chair and a vice chair and everyone on the commission agrees with that. That staff cannot act as the go between or the mediator. There can't be complaints from anyone about that. And my concern is I don't think anyone can guarantee that because that's how we ended up in this position initially. And so that this is my concern. So if they want to continue to meet, I mean, I have, I did not speak with any housing commissioners about this, you know, who mentioned tonight what they were told that was not me. This is never an intent to disband the commission. If they want to continue to meet, that's fine. But then they have to meet and everyone has to agree on who the leadership of the and when I say everyone I mean everyone has to agree who the leadership of the commission is and who's going to be doing the assignments of work plans and things like that and to the extent there's any dissension in the commission we're going to be right back here which was a whole idea about waiting till because we know there are at least two openings I don't know who's going to be appointed to those people maybe reappointed maybe not but at least then because it'll be effectively a reconstitution of the commission at that point anybody who currently claims to be the chair their term is chair will effectively end and there would be election of new chair and vice chair and at that point, presumably everyone, whether they agreed with this election or not would have to live with it. So if they want to continue to meet, that's fine, but they, I mean, I won't be honest with you. I've seen some of the things that have been said about staff. I mean, staff has been abused in all of this. And yes, you have a First Amendment right to attack council members. Bring it on as somebody said in an email to me. Bring it on. We knew this job was dangerous when we took it. But staff members should be afforded respect. They are only there to try and help the commissioners. And yet terrible things have been said about them. The commissioners are saying terrible things about each other, which can't be conducive to the commission working together. So until everyone can sort of take a deep breath, you know, if they want to continue to meet, that's fine with me, but they can't expect, they can't be attacking staff. You can't be accusing staff of the things that staff has been accused of. You can't be attacking each other because how are you supposed to work as a group when you're calling other people names that I think are so horrible I'm not going to repeat from up here. And so you have a first amendment right to say those but you can't expect the council to function if you do say those. So I mean the commission to function if you do. So I just think you know I'm fine. You guys want to meet that's fine but I think then the city administration has to step out of it and if there are disputes and it gets in the way of the work being done there's nothing we can do at this point. You guys have to work it out amongst yourselves. Council member Dela Torre. I appreciate the dialogue and I appreciate your comments, Councilwoman Davis. I think part of what's missing is having a conflict is good. I think adults are going to disagree on certain things and there will be some conflict. But having more of a facilitated process, you know, where people like a mediation for lack of a better term so that people can really get a deeper understanding. I think there's a lot of new people, you know, on this commission and it's good for people to hear sort of why they're there, you know, on a human level, you know, to find common ground. And so I would recommend that the, that we support the commission meetings continuing, but to offer, you know, for the commission any type of facilitation that they, that they can identify that would probably be beneficial to them. And getting to sort of find purpose, you know purpose in their work and develop a set of agreements so that they can move their work forward. I mean, I've seen organizations, experiences, I've been in many situations throughout my life where there was very contentious meetings and through mediation, through dialogue, you know, through train facilitation. People can understand, they can develop a better understanding of why they're involved and what their goals are and find common ground. And I hope that that is what we can accomplish in these next couple of meetings before the elections happen for the leadership in June. So a couple of things. So I think that I think Councilmember Dela Torres definitely on to something. I would argue that since we do have some new appointments coming up for that commission it would probably make the most sense to hold off on putting staff resources. I mean city resources into facilitated mediation type thing or retreat sounds like for the housing commission until we have a full commission, right? I don't know that it makes sense to invest that right now and people who may or may not be there in a month and a half. But I hear what you're saying. I think on the, you know, I'm concerned about creating a hostile work environment for our staff knowingly putting them into a hostile environment. I don't know, Ms. Anderson, Warren or Ms. Cola or Mr. White, if there's a way that the commission could meet similar to like during COVID without staff support, and if any report out not being the name of a chair or vice chair that, or that it not officially be on behalf of the commission as a whole, but on behalf of certain commissioners. Is there a way that they can sort of proceed with their work for those that want to and that were kind of in like a hold pattern on the resources that we provide? Because again, it does sound a little worrisome that we're putting staff in this position. So the issue we're facing is that Council allocated resources in February so that the commission could have a permanent staff liaison. That resource will be in place in the summertime. Should by the time we turn the fiscal year, that resource will be in place. So right now we really don't have dedicated staffing. The challenge that we're facing is we're having a hard time mediating disputes with the commission so that they can meet. And we know who to defer to to do things like develop agendas on their behalf. We just have a part time person facilitating that. So I think we just need some direction from you about what form the this body should take. Because right now we don't really have, we don't have the resources for them, so that's our current state of affairs as we sort of get this person on board. They can't meet in a way similar to other commissions that met during COVID without staff support. I mean, we know we don't have the funds for that until July 1 anyway. We know we'll have clear leadership after that point anyway. So in interim, what is the harm in them meeting? That is their current disposition. And the challenge specifically is there's individual who has resigned, not resigned as chair of long story. So there's difficulty in understanding who is supposed to set the agenda at this point in time. So we don't know how to moderate the conflict about who's going to set up the meetings in that format you're describing. And it has to be that formal. I guess. There are Brown Act commissions so there has to be a notice. Send out that there has to be an opportunity for public comment. You can't just say, hey you guys get together amongst yourselves and have a meeting in someone's front room. So that's the problem is there has to be some formality that meets the requirements of the Brown Act, I think. Councillor Member Nguyengritte. If there's an active vice chair, can that person set the agenda and make, I mean, since we're confused about who the chair is. That's kind of the loop we're stuck in. So yes, there is absolutely an active vice chair. The person who is chair has a different perspective of events and so we don't believe it's our role to moderate or decide that outcome and so we're stuck at the staff level of how so we tried I mean just like the full story councilmember Brock and I tried to bring the chair and vice chair together to have chair didn't, so we couldn't. We thought we had an outcome in that meeting, it didn't work out. So yes, there is a vice chair, there's disagreement amongst the parties about that situation, so we at staffer, we don't know what to do. I guess what I'm saying, if the disagreement or the confusion is around the chair, but there isn't any confusion around who the vice chair is. And that person's role. So is it, I mean, I know now we're stepping into the details, but if that's the confusion and there's an active vice chair that's not, why can't we, can staff say well, until that gets resolved, this is the person who's setting the agenda. I'll defer, I wanted to further to turn out this, because maybe that's the direction we need in terms of who to work with. Yeah, the problem was there, it was the chair, the chair who sent the facts prior to the March 17th meeting saying he was resigning but there was some ambiguity because it appeared his intent at least from his perspective was he was resigning as chair for that meeting only and then some of the other commissioners interpreted that to mean he was resigning permanently and therefore he would not have a role in the agenda. But he was quite adamant and therefore we got into the, you know, we were caught in the middle and we attempted to resolve the situation by suggesting that they chair and the co-chair worked together to put together an agenda and include in the agenda an item that would allow all of the commissioners to vote to either confirm that the chair resigned or not. And then what happened was at the April meeting there was not a quorum so there was no meeting and that was part of the problem. So it's, unfortunately, the situation is still the same in that unless the commissioners agree to, at least for this upcoming meeting, avoid the dispute of who's the chair, who's not the chair, but to at least have the two work together to set the agenda. And they could still put an item on there just saying to either decide whether the chair is still the chair or not the chair, or they could just agree to just until the, for the next two meetings until the appointments are made, to work just cooperatively to put together the agenda and forgetting about who's the chair, who's not the chair, but just to, you know, set the agenda and allow some flexibility so that anybody who wants to get an item on the agenda can get the item on the agenda and they can just vote. So it really is just a matter of cooperation and then I think we would have think we would be fine. But the problem is we couldn't get to that point because the chair and the co-chair weren't talking to each other and we were caught in the middle because we were asked to take sides. Well, I think I've reached my moment of frustration. The chair of the commission resigned in writing from being chair. In his letter, he did not resign for that day or two hours or three hours. He didn't recuse. He didn't say, I'm staying home this week, someone else needs to take care of it. It is clear from the facts in large black letters that he resigned as Chair of the Commission. Two days later, the next, the vice chair ran the meeting, a couple of days later, ran the meeting, and thanked the Chair of the Commission for his service to the commission. That part is clear. Then the chair sent another fact saying, in effect just kidding, I have not resigned. I just resigned for that meeting. It's something I have never heard of before. Then send another fax. No, these are faxes. He is a wonderful person who's been on that commission for many, many years. He is partially disabled. He sent a fax. Now, later, because of all the Discussion, the city manager and I Met via telephone with the chair Of that commission who had resigned. He resigned three more times during That hour and a half, three more times. The city manager set out a memo saying the commission has resigned. We've resolved it. The following day, the former, now I would call the former chair of the commission, said another letter saying, we bullied him. He didn't really resign. He doesn't want to resign. He wants to be chair. At some point, I have a question. I'm not sure if I can say that I'm not sure if I can say that We bullied him. He didn't really resign. He doesn't want to resign. He wants to be chair. At some point, I would say that our city's staff, not to throw you guys under the bus. I apologize, but should have just said, look at you resigned. Someone else is the chair, a point of new vice chair at your next meeting. We are going beyond politically correct at this point. To we spend a half an hour or more hashing, huh? Yeah, hashing something out that really should have been done day one. If I wrote on a piece of paper right now, I resign from the city council, I'm not doing that. Sorry guys, don't start clapping yet. But if I said right then, I resign from the city council I'm not doing that. Sorry guys don't start clapping yet. But if I said right then I resigned from the city council right now and turning this letter to the mayor pro tem. Everyone's going to the policemen are going to take me out of the room. They're going to lock the doors and make sure I can't come back in and tomorrow morning there you go. And tomorrow morning, there you go. And tomorrow morning, if I turn around and say, just kidding, I was just resigning for the rest of the meeting. I can guarantee the City Council, or any board I've been ever been on, or the commissions I served on in the city for almost 18 years would not let me reneg on that and come back. We are playing a silly game at this point. I appreciate the chair's service to the city. I appreciate, I've sat in a neighborhood meeting with them back in 2013, 2014. He is a valuable member of that commission. He's been a valuable, I mean, extremely valuable, knowledgeable member of our community. But the fact is he resigned has chair of the commission. There is a vice chair. As far as I'm concerned, if Ms. Morosco wants to conduct the next meeting and they want to hold it a election, which I don't know if they want to hold a election, which I don't know if they need to do, for two months. Then so be it. But honestly, I am so tired of we have tried everything to get this commission to work together. I hope Miss Davis' comments, Mr. Dela Torrey's comments and my comments will the commission. I'm going to take a moment of personal privilege here because we're back in the city. I'm going to take a moment of privilege here because we're back in the city. I'm going to take a moment of privilege here because we're back in the city. I'm going to take a moment of privilege here because we're back in the city. I'm going to take a moment of privilege here because we're back in the city. I'm going to take a moment of privilege privilege here because we're back in person for a long time. There is no clapping in this chamber. If you want to show your agreement, you can do this, but we're respectful of every one's opinions whether you agree with them or not. You can do the jazz hands things, but there's no clapping. We ask that you not laugh, shout out, or react to anybody because we want everyone to feel comfortable when they're making their statements. Okay, so do we have a motion? We're going to be saying more. Okay. All right, so I get the sense that we just shouldn't make a motion and we'll just move on. I think that's the thing to do. But I hope that everyone involved in this controversy has heard this, that we are hopeful that you can treat each other with respect. You can treat staff with respect. And we intend to treat the work of the commission with respect. Okay, Council member Brock. I mean, I just want to offer myself and my experience in mediation services to commission members. If they feel that it would be useful. If any commissioners feel you know what, let's try that out. I'm willing to come in and be part of the process, you know, to try to find some reconciliation, set some ground rules, some agreements, figure out what the agenda is and how this commission can move forward. I would offer that. So, please let me know if that could be useful to you and I would love to dedicate some time and commit some time as my service, you know service to you all and to show that this council is committed to your work moving forward and being positive and I want to help you make that happen. Thank you council member D'Altori and we do hope that the commission can come together because they do have important works to do and particularly ahead of the budget session. So thank you so much item 13D please. Item 13D is request of Councilmember Brock that the city manager returned with a study session on an expedient basis with a report on the status of existing safety and security on the Third Street Prominent, parking garages and surrounding areas in downtown Santa Monica, including potential options to enhance the safety and security of residents, workforce and visitors. And it looks like we have three requests to speak on this. Okay, so Council Member Brock, if you'd like to introduce your item. I would like to introduce your item. I would like to thank council member Nick Rites family for joining us today. I would like to thank council member Nick Rites family for joining us today. I would like to thank council member Brock. I would like to thank council member Nick Rites family for joining us today. Was that birthday girl? Yeah. Okay. Well, we should have all said happy birthday to her. So, I have heard from residents, business owners, property owners, merchants, and I have walked our downtown area more than usual over the last couple of months to see for myself where we're succeeding and possibly where we're failing. I made a maybe an ill-time email out to the public that I didn to make it a priority to look at public safety and restore the trust of residents so that they feel safe and comfortable enjoying our downtown. Because as I've said many times in the past, if our residents love our downtown, if our residents feel safe going to and from our downtown via bicycle via car via pedestrian path, which is what I do, or via e-cycles, et cetera, e-scuters, that I want them to feel that the city, even though it's a big city, even though there's always gonna be some problems in every city that our police department, our public safety apparatus are doing their best to keep our downtown safe, that our custodial services and our contract services through their downtown Santa Micah Inc. Or through our city are doing their best to keep the promenade in all related areas safe, clean, hospitable for our merchants to do business in, for our property owners to be proud of the area they own business, they own property in, and for our residents who live downtown to feel that they, their interests are also at heart. So all I'm asking is that the city manager come back with looking at the status of existing safety and security of the promenade parking garages surrounding areas and if there is room to improve that he'll let us know. That's it. Thank you, Council Member Davis. Would you like to go before the public comment? No, I would Barton and Mr. Foster. Mr. Rubin, you have two minutes. Thank you all very, very much again. Of course, there's always room for improvement. And the issue of homelessness and public safety has been a challenge for decades and decades. The Santa Monica's been doing a pretty good job under challenging circumstances more than some of our neighboring cities, even. That's why it is such an important thing to do it on a regional basis. It's not only the promenade, it's everywhere. You hear about things. In some way, you can kind of expect during the COVID period that a lot of challenges like this are going to be happening So there's a need for us to Make sure we're all working together not attacking staff and not attacking each other I Don't know if we need another Study session which is already on the top of the minds of everybody and there's going to be a special City Council meeting tomorrow. I know I'll be happy because it's very important on the issue of homelessness, what we can do and how we can help. So I just want to say I think we all know how important the issues are. I don't know. I can't say that another study session is going to be needed or not. But let's wait till tomorrow and hear what some of the ideas are and then proceed from there together. It is so important. It's distressing to hear what's happening in the housing commission. But it takes good people to make sure we're doing this. We didn't pay. doing this. We didn't pet ourselves. So let's do that. Hey, Ruby. Thank you. I'm just going to go home now and talk my way. I think the same. All of you guys are good work and trying to do. So you sure do? Of course, I like this. It's very, very difficult. Doing some of this is very beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Rubin. Your'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm going to go ahead and move on. I'm like to thank the staff for their support and support for the staff. I would like to thank the staff for their support and support for the staff. I would like to thank the staff for their support and support for the staff. I would like to thank the staff for their support and support for the staff. I would like to thank the staff for their support and support for the staff. the board was discussing hiring a homeless outreach coordinator and overnight supervisor. But can't both those positions be covered by the Sheriff's Department? Especially because the Sheriff's Department comes with the so-and-homeless team, which has had more success with the homeless than any other service currently operating within the city now. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Burton. Mr. Foster? You have two minutes. Hi, again, Jonathan Foster. I just want to say I need an hour to speak on this. And also, I'm not high now. But I was going to say this is a bit of a quality life issue versus real crime. And so, vandalism theft, assault, that can be very broad from simple battery all the way to murder. Right? They got peeing out there, sleeping in secure structures. They got public drunkenness going on constantly and this place gives out alcohol licenses everywhere. They're drinking wide open cups and bottles of beer on 3rd Street Prominent. I think it absolutely is disgusting. I don't know how anybody lets that happen here. I've had people this girl was spitting for three hours in front of my drum set to spit everywhere. One suggestion is you write the laws on the concrete. That's where everybody looks. If you write the laws down there, especially by the trash cans where people stand in smoke. If it said no smoking here and no smoking around the thing, it might help a little. Try to give some suggestions to set a tell of you. Everything you already know that people are peeing out there. You've heard that for 10 years, right? You need to see it again. But let's look at some of the other issues. The Pentagon budget and the audit of the Pentagon, how much money has gone out the window. We're giving all that money to the Ukraine. I'd give you guys a billion dollars like that. We need it. The police departments need a billion dollars every single one of them. You got Elon Musk that creeps, got $44 billion to buy a business, didn't help one female in a wheelchair that's out there tonight again. Elon Musk, I would grind him into the ground. Every congressperson I would put in jail. If you were dead, I would dig you up and put you in a jail cell. This is disgusting what they have let happen. Money changes most of this versus mental illness. And the money is going out the window. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Okay. Council member Davis. So I just want to pick up on something Council member Brock said where he said, all I'm asking is. And I'm wondering if the city manager can, because I think there's this sense that study sessions are, well, everyone just shows up in talks. And I wonder if the city manager can give us some idea about the kind of work that goes into doing a study session like this, you know, because it asks for it to come back on an expedited basis. So what work wouldn't you be able to do while you were doing this preparing for this study? So I'm just trying to get a sense of what's really involved because it's a fairly broad topic and I can imagine would not only take up hours of council time discussing it, but probably take a multitude of hours and staff in terms of preparing for it. So I just like to get a sense of that. Well, the honest answer is the time it takes to put into is what you want to get out of it. So we would obviously want to deliver to you a thorough and thoughtful conversation of issues of community safety and public safety, particularly as it pertains to the promenade. So I haven't sat down with the chief to get a specific estimate of how much time we'll go into it, but it will require a significant amount of time for him to prepare for the discussion. I will want to work with Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor on agenda setting because we have some fairly long meetings coming down the pike. So we'll need to think through with you. When a study session can come back, this demands a separate meeting of the council, and that's obviously your purview for that. But yes, I mean, we will want to invest a good amount of time to make sure that we can give you a thorough presentation on the issue so you can deliberate and give us recommendations and advice. And so realistically, I mean, again, I'm just sort of focusing on the word expedited in the thing. I mean it's sound we have budget sessions coming up or in the midst of some other cotton heavy issues that we need to resolve sooner rather than later. We have our housing element review that sort of thing. So I'm just curious I mean realistically are we gonna have to put something aside to do this or if we don't put something aside realistically I mean realistically, are we going to have to put something aside to do this, or if we don't put something aside realistically, I mean, what are we talking about? I just don't want people, I mean, I support having this discussion, but I don't want people to think we're coming back in two weeks and having a study session about it, that it's going to take some time to really pull it all together and realistically, I'm not holding you too any particular date, but what you think might happen. I mean, when we might be discussing this. And we did just add another study session earlier in the evening that we have to. So Council Member Brock, would you potentially be open to the language saying as soon as is practicable, especially considering tomorrow night, we're gonna be getting a comprehensive study session addressing the regional homelessness crisis. Right and I believe there are different issues. So I am I was concerned. I don't know if it has to be a study session. I think the city manager wrote part of the language for me. And it could be a series of reports by the police chief and public safety personnel. I'm not sure Councilmember Davis has a good point that we are gonna be backed up the next two or three months. And I'm concerned deeply that safety and security is prominent on our promenade because summer is coming. And so we need to do the best we can. And yes, I'll have words about homelessness and what I hope that we can accomplish downtown because even though they're intertwined, they are separate issues. So, but we'll city manager, you can determine which way you come back. Okay, because we're enough. Yeah, and I think a few things. Tomorrow night certainly we'll talk about our work on addressing homelessness. And as I mentioned earlier, asking us to come back on an expedited basis leading off this council meeting, I hope I express the urgency by which we're acting today to address these issues and deploying our resources so we can certainly, and I can talk to the chief about weaving in some of the approaches that he's bringing forward with his department and the context of homelessness, perhaps in the context of our budget discussions as well. We can bring back some information and some discussion as well. So hopefully that will provide a nice balance. And what I'm really concerned about is that we make sure that we flag this as a priority in our city and that it doesn't get left behind. So I'll move this forward and I think you could put slash study, study session or staff, series of staff reports and I'll leave that up to the city manager. The timing. I think the timing of the reports can be the police chief or city manager making report even as part of their City Manager's report coming up. Okay. Is that, are you good with that? Yes, that's what. Okay. So that's the motion. Yes, second. Second by De La Torre. Are we all clear on what? Okay. Just want to make a quick comment. Just, I want to thank Councillor McKinide for bringing this forward and thank you City Manager David White for your comments as well. I think many of us understand that public safety is a big priority. I think everybody on the council agrees with that. So we want to see some resolve. We've seen some really positive steps taken at Santa Monica Pier. It came from council leadership and staff working together and I think it's time for us to expand from really extend the good work that's happened at the Santa Monica Pier into the other parts of the downtown and eventually to other parts of our city. So this council is shown resolve and I'm very proud that we're moving this item forward and we're working collaboratively to make it happen. So move the item. We're very proud that we're moving this item forward and we're working collaboratively to make it happen. So move the item. Okay, moved by Brock, seconded by Dela Torre. If the clerk could call the roll, please. Council member Dela Torre. Yes. Council member Brock. Yes. Council member Noregrette. Yes. Council member Davis. Yes. And Mayor Coochan Macau. Yes. Okay. Yes, Council Member Davis. Yes, the Mayor put him account. Yes Okay Next item next is public input Public comment is permitted only on items not on the agenda that are within the subject manager's diction of the city State law prohibits the city council from taking action on any items not listed on the agenda including issues raised under this agenda item and we have three requests to speak. Mr. Morris, Mr. Foster and Ms. Morosco, in that order, please. And Mr. Morris, you have two minutes. Oh, okay. We'll wait for you, sir. I'm deeply concerned that multiple residents called in and actually emailed within the grace period allowed by the city requesting a reasonable accommodation to be allowed to speak to the council by phone. The city council or city clerk rather denied them this right. That's why John Alley had the phone up to the microphone. There are people in this city that are handicapped. They cannot come to this meeting. They definitely can't make it to this time of the night, which is early by your standards. To be allowed to speak to the council by phone in a endemic, if you wanna call it, is absolutely mandatory. We can't, there's people, it just left. People would ask, you people have masks. Those people are afraid to come here. So we need to make some kind of arrangement so people can call in to this council. It's necessary. I have some concerns about the promenade, not concerning with the general item. The restaurants which are basically cocktail lounges in the Cantina, the two in the third block towards Wilshire, have taken up about two-thirds of the promenade area, plus expanded lengthwise over the least spaces that are not being least. The one, the furthest towards Wilshire, has 50 tables outside, 50, 50 tables outside and they blare music like crazy. How are we going to get least people like renovations which used to be there on the promenade? What was the name of the store? Restoration. Restoration hardware. How are we going to get clients like that to come in or lease spaces what they have taken over the promenade the cantina has 30 I'm 72 and I've been here on the council for a long time so I'm retiring by. By the way, abortion is a heating up isn't it? I'd still want to do the late term abortion for all you because it don't really appreciate you. Another one on global warming. You know, if we had more gas, excuse me, more grass all over the place it would be cooler and what's happening is they're pouring more concrete everywhere so it's getting hotter. Yep, and there's more sun radiation is increasing and we'll continue. That's right. And the earth is slowing so we're going to just heat up. So I was coming to talk about promenade 3.0 and the Hanukkah menorah out there that's been going on, which is against the separation of church and state. It's been going on with the hiberness of Santa Monica and a business which I would love to be able to file a lawsuit on, which I don't know enough lawyers and have enough money to get it going with. The separation to church and state prevents us from doing a holy land, but the federal government is doing it, right? So anything that happens here, you're going to go along with it. I read in the Bible, it said, David was a man of war. He wasn't able to build the temple. He had to give it the Solomon who's got as much sexual sin as David. So this, I have been harassed out here ongoingly by this one kid he died, Brandon was screaming at me that I was going to be kicked out of here. And what I've noticed really is that I'm a Christian and they got some way to attack me. Either I suck on drums or I'm no good or, I mean, it's just been a harassment constantly, right? So I support all the USA laws. You know, I support Jewish people here to arrest anybody's doing vandalism or civil rights activity I want to bust it here. That's for sure, but helping over there. Thank you Mr. Closter your time is expired. Ms. Morosco is she still here okay. Are there any other speakers? Okay. We have one adjournment and I will turn to council member Davis for our adjournment tonight. Yes, and this is a, I mean all adjournments are said, but unfortunately tonight I'm asking that we adjourn in the memory of Yao Category, who was a perfect example of someone who unselfishly gave to this community. And so many people in this community are lives are better because of just the tremendous amount of work that she did. She was Rand's long time director of community relations and a local community activist. After graduating, whether bachelor's degree in political science from UC Berkeley and a master's of public affairs from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. She joined Rand as a researcher in 1975. While at Rand, she paid a plate of pivotal role in replacing Rand's old headquarters building establishment of first Rand's first privately funded research center, the Institute for Civil Justice. And she also managed its extensive art collection of more than 200 remarkable works. Although she had retired in 2006, Yale remained active at Rand as an adjunct staff member and a member of the Graduate School faculty. She's credited with being the internal force behind Rand becoming more involved in this community, recognizing the value the community could provide to Rand and the value that Rand could provide to the community. And specifically, she was the driving force that, with the development agreement that established Rand's new headquarters, where they became very active in the early childhood education, effort and sponsored as part of their obligations under the development agreement annual conferences bringing together experts from around the world on the topic of early childhood education. Yeah, was the chair of the Board of Directors of Providence, St. John's Health Center. She was vice chair of the Santa Monica Chamber. She was co-chair of the early childhood district advisory committee for the Santa Monica Chamber. She was co-chair of the early childhood district advisory committee for the Santa Monica Malapu Unified School District. She was a past president of connections for children, a past co-chair of the early childhood task force. She also served on the boards of the Santa Monica College Associates and was the first vice chair of the board and wise and healthy asian. And that was not everything she did in this community. Those are just the highlights. She will be missed by so many in this community and we all owe her an incredible debt of gratitude. She is survived by a sister who lives in Hawaii and on behalf of this entire community want to convey to her sister and her friends our deepest condolences. Thank you, Councilmember Davis. Councilmember Brock? I just wanted to add, she was such a steady force because has some of you may know. Sometimes I'm volatile and very seldom seldom but once in a while. But I served with her on the arts commission for several years. I served with her on the civic working group. I found her always to be a welcoming presence. It didn't matter if you agreed with her, disagreed with her. She was so willing to have those conversations and so willing to be calm and reasonable and thought so much of the good of our community. So I agree with councilmember Davis, she will be missed by so many in our city. Thank you. True loss for our community, but her legacy lives on in all of the great work. So without, are there any other comments? Okay. This, our next meeting is tomorrow when, say, May 11th at 6 p.m. where we will have a study session and update on local efforts addressing the regional homelessness crisis. We hope you'll join us then. And this meeting is adjourned. you