Agenda packet — Santa Monica City Council, November 1, 2022 (part 2 of 2)

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Packet Pg. 356 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Steve Barnett <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 2:46 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: I Support passing Agenda Item 16.I

EXTERNAL
Good day.

As 32 year residents of Santa Monica, from an apartment to a house, we heartily endorse the proposals in Agenda Item 16.I:
"Request of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre, in the wake of residents’ concerns about the “Builder’s remedy” permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelmingly market rate and up to 15 stories, that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired to conduct this review shall be selected by the City Council and shall have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials." Please prevent traffic from becoming untenable and keep developments in keeping with the city’s unique character.

Regards,
Steve Barnett and Pamela Winn Barnett
Item 16.I
10/25/22
91 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 357 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Stephen Bergauer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:27 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Comment - 10/25 Council Meeting - Item 13.I

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers:

I am writing to urge you to oppose item 13.I.

Santa Monica faces an enormous imbalance between jobs and housing. We are a dynamic business hub, home to Snap, Hulu, and Activision. But because we refuse to build more housing, our city’s population more than doubles each day with commuters driving here for work because they cannot afford to live any closer. This increases traffic, hurts the environment, and degrades our quality of life.

In one swoop, these projects would build more more housing and more deed‐restricted affordable housing than Santa Monica has built in the past decade ‐ all at zero public cost. These buildings are located downtown or near the Expo line and will help decrease our car dependency and revitalize neighborhoods near the 10. They will increase our property tax base and bring new residents who live and shop here, at a time when many storefronts are vacant and our libraries are only open limited hours.

It’s disheartening to see Council plan to ignore the City Attorney’s advice and waste our tax dollars on fighting these projects that would do so much good for our city. As a renter in this city, I ask you to do the right thing, follow state law, and oppose this fool’s errand.

Thank you for your time.

Stephen Bergauer
Item 16.I
10/25/22
92 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 358 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: jules redlich <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:31 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Agenda Item 16.1

EXTERNAL
As Santa Monica residents residing within 100 feet of Wilshire Blvd., we support Agenda Item 16.1.

Jules Redlich
Joan Redlich
Aimee Hunter
Item 16.I
10/25/22
93 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 359 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Shari Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:42 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: Agenda Item 16.1

EXTERNAL
Dear SM City Council Members,
I support Council Members Brock, Parra, and de la Torre to hire legal counsel to conduct a thorough review, including a report outlining the city’s legal options and remedies AND also reject the building applications of NMS and WSC. This is very important because if they’re allowed to build these massive structures they will continue, along with other developers, until the very personality and fiber of this city is gone forever.

Thank you for your consideration,
Shari Phillips
Item 16.I
10/25/22
94 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 360 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Request to have Council allow further study on housing density increase in Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
As an over 35 year resident and seeing the great recent changes to the quality of life here in Santa Monica I, like my neighbors, are very concerned.

In the wake of residents’ concerns about the “Builder’s remedy” permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelming market rate and up to 15 stories, I request as a resident of Santa Monica who is deeply concerned about the increase in traffic and strain on our aging infrastruction that the Council study the matter further.

I request that the City Attorney hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired to conduct this review selected by the City Council should have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials.

Please help preserve the character of Santa Monica by studying the impact of the housing density before permitting these projects to go forward.

Kind Regards,
Maria Blase
448 Adelaide Dr
Santa Monica, CA 90402
Item 16.I
10/25/22
95 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 361 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Philip Schwartz <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 4:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock
Subject: Item 16.1

EXTERNAL
We would respectfully urge the Council to adopt item 16.1, demanding that the City hire outside counsel to provide a thorough review and issue a report regarding the last‐minute submission of permit applications for the construction of over 1000 market‐rate housing units. Some of these applications would also have the City approve a completely unjustified zoning variance for a fifteen‐story building.

We have to ask ourselves exactly when ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!......are the City's resources not strained enough now??
Cordially,
Philip D Schwartz, Treasurer
909‐911 Arizona Ave HOA
Item 16.I
10/25/22
96 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 362 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: City Building allowance
From: JUDITH SPECTOR <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:29 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: City Building allowance

EXTERNAL
Dear Sirs,
I have been a resident of Santa Monica since 1981.

The city we moved to is no more, unfortunately.

Your new allowance for TOO MANY buildings, and buildings that are way higher than allowed will ruin the long time admired aspect of this beautiful place.

It will increase the number of residents who need assistance in all kinds of ways: schools, hospitals, overcrowded streets,
Transportation, mental health availability, elder services, etc.

It will drive away tourists, will drive away young families, making the city a dying city rather than a young and vibrant place with restaurants, shopping and walking areas.
it will increase pollution, homelessness, crime and dirt and it will make unbearable demands on the Fire Department and Police Department .

Please, sirs, respect the character of this city!
respect the citizens who worked hard to make it what it is! Respect the will of the people who live here, rather than the plans of developers whose sole purpose is to enrich themselves!
I thank you respectfully,
Judith Spector
1139 Stanford Street
From my little phone that is often hiding from me
Judy
Item 16.I
10/25/22
97 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 363 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Drew Traglia <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:47 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: In support of October 25 Agenda Item 16.I

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern,
I writing to urge the City's support of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre's proposal in Councilmember Discussion Item 16.I scheduled for the October 25th, 2022 City Council meeting.

Thank you for your consideration.

Drew Traglia
24th Street
Item 16.I
10/25/22
98 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 364 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:31 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council Members.

I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I to:

1. Take no further action to process any of these filed applications pending a review of potential challenges to them under all applicable laws (if they are impermissible, as SMCLC’s initial review indicates.)

2. Hire experienced outside legal counsel to conduct a review of our city’s legal rights and remedies under all applicable laws to reject these applications.

I believe outside counsel review is imperative in part because of statements made by City planning staff who have told council members as well as the press that we’re stuck with these projects even though they massively exceed what Santa Monica zoning allows and ignore relevant state law.

I am appalled by the lack of any factual or legal analysis of what occurred and are urging Council to take this up at the next Council hearing on October 25th.

The City needs to immediately take these steps to restore residents’ confidence in good city governance.

Wendy Lamm
Item 16.I
10/25/22
99 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 365 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Judy Hopkins <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 6:55 PM
To: [email protected]; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan Subject: Council Mtg. 10/24/22 - SUPPORT ITEM 16.l to hire outside legal counsel to determine the city's legal options and remedies concerning "builder's remedy" submissions

EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich and City Council Members,
I am very concerned by the lack of any factual or legal analysis of what occurred regarding the "builder's remedy" submissions. I believe that outside counsel review is imperative in part because of statements made by City planning staff to council members and the press that we are "required" to proceed with these submissions. These permit submissions massively exceed what Santa Monica zoning allows, ignore relevant state law and are based on a rejection by HCDD with NO ABILITY OR TIME to resolve misunderstandings of data and policy BEFORE the "builder's remedy" could be initiated.

I strongly support Councilmember Discussion Item 16.l, Request of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre, in the wake of residents' concerns about the "Builder's remedy" permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelmingly market rate and up to 15 stories, that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City's legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired to conduct this review shall be selected by the City Council and shall have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials.

Thank‐you for your attention to this important matter.

Judy Hopkins
844 7th St. #7
SM 90403
Item 16.I
10/25/22
100 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 366 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Gemma Corfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 7:13 PM
Cc: councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan; Council Mailbox Subject: Council Member Discussion Item 16.1 Stopping Builder’s Remedy

EXTERNAL
Dear SM City Members,
I support Council Members Brock, Parra, and de la Torre to hire outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review,
including a report outlining the city’s legal options and remedies AND also reject the building applications of builders,
NMS and WSC. This is very important because if they’re allowed to build these massive structures they will continue,
along with other developers, until the very personality and fiber of this city is gone forever.

PLEASE PLEASE don’t allow our city to be ruined by greedy developers.

Many thanks
Gemma Corfield
Item 16.I
10/25/22
101 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 367 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Amani Abou-Zamzam MBA <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 10:03 PM
To: David White; Douglas Sloan; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems Subject: I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I

EXTERNAL
I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I to:

Councilmember Discussion Item 16.I:

Request of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre, in the wake of residents’ concerns about the “Builder’s remedy” permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelmingly market rate and up to 15 stories, that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired to conduct this review shall be selected by the City Council and shall have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials.

Thanks, Amani
Amani Spielman SM resident
[email protected] 310.780.0881
Item 16.I
10/25/22
102 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 368 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Richard Brand <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:02 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

In the last few weeks, applications for 16 housing projects totaling nearly 5,000 units, roughly 1000 of which are reserved for low income homes, have been filed with the City of Santa Monica under the “Builder’s Remedy” provision of the State Housing Accountability Act (“HAA”). These projects represent a tremendous opportunity to increase desperately needed housing supply in the City – particularly affordable housing with no required public subsidy.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Richard Brand using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots prohousing organization.

Sincerely,
Richard Brand
1528 6th St Santa Monica, CA 90401-2552 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
103 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 369 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Haley Feng <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:06 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Haley Feng using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots prohousing organization.

Sincerely,
Haley Feng
3155 S Sepulveda Blvd Apt 102 Los Angeles, CA 90034-4220 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
104 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 370 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Brett Hollenbeck <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:06 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Brett Hollenbeck using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Brett Hollenbeck
4431 Purdue Ave Los Angeles, CA 90230-5155 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
105 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 371 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Mariana Mellor <mcns.777 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, As a mother of 3 boys and understanding how crucial housing is to raise a family, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Mariana Mellor using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Mariana Mellor
768 Tuolumne Ave Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-4250 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
106 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 372 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Matthew Brehove <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Matthew Brehove using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Matthew Brehove
1250 N Mentor Ave Apt 12 Pasadena, CA 91104-2986 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
107 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 373 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Partho Kalyani <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Partho Kalyani using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots prohousing organization.

Sincerely,
Partho Kalyani
11764 Idaho Ave Unit 102 Los Angeles, CA 90025-6768 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
108 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 374 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of D.Denell Gibson <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 10:10 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by D. Denell Gibson using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
D. Denell Gibson
2810 W Slauson Ave Apt 9 Los Angeles, CA 90043-2583 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
109 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 375 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Daniel Brockert <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 10:52 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica. It's time for Santa Monica to move forward, not stubbornly cling to the past.

Personally sent by Daniel Brockert using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Daniel Brockert
11630 Hamlin St Apt 5 North Hollywood, CA 91606-2568 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
110 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 376 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Rebecca Cannara <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 11:54 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Rebecca Cannara using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Cannara
1638 Franklin St Santa Monica, CA 90404-4206 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
111 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 377 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Tieira Ryder <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 12:49 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Best,
Tieira
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://htwws.org/__;!!OfuUnHCITYtmmjM!tq7Km34CALlY_Dnwu71vp7SM7h6rucEXx81L A6X59JyIiLJ1GhfwwuaktPMVvZqu0YRDBubOmmTGt-A2W41C7xA6fnEW0NMNBxLkUhV518A$ Sincerely,
Tieira Ryder
3826 Grand View Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066-4406 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
112 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 378 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Elena Christopoulos <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 1:06 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Elena Christopoulos using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Elena Christopoulos
1528 6th St Santa Monica, CA 90401-2552 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
113 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 379 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Hugh C Martinez <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2022 9:56 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Hugh C Martinez using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Hugh C Martinez
677 S Marengo Ave Apt 4 Pasadena, CA 91106-3662 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
114 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 380 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected] on behalf of Juan Matute <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I Dear City Council Public Comment Santa Monica City Council, ڶڵڴڶڵڴHCD is watching you ڶڵڴڶڵڴ.

All agenda items, discussions at council meetings, and actions by City Council will be used as evidence for future determinations of whether or not Santa Monica is compliant with implementation of its Housing Element under the Housing Accountability Act. The 1990 Housing Accountability Act's provisions have gifted Santa Monica 1000 affordable units toward HE compliance. If the City of Santa Monica entangles any questions of fact regarding the city's RHNA allocation, commitment to HE zoning implementation, commitment to meeting state affirmatively furthering fair housing guidance, along with its questions of law regarding GOV 65589.5(d), the City's implementation of the HE will be seen in bad faith and the Builder's Remedy will re-activate. That's a very high risk to take, since the next re-opening of the builder's remedy will be more public and will have happened after developers had time to assemble multiple R1 lots, which could bring 10 to 15 story housing projects in to neighborhoods currently zoned for single family homes.

For those looking back on the public record in 2 years once the HE is deemed non-compliant and the Builder's Remedy re-opened, know that this council was warned of the risks. The actions they took were either a gamble or responsible, given the understanding of risks.
--
I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Juan Matute using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots prohousing organization.

Sincerely,
Juan Matute
1435 26th St Unit 10 Santa Monica, CA 90404-3051 [email protected] Item 16.I
10/25/22
115 of 137 Item 16.I
10/25/22

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Packet Pg. 381 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Grafton Harper <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 11:22 PM
To: councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan; [email protected] Subject: Council Mtg. 10/24/22 - SUPPORT ITEM 16.l to hire outside legal counsel to determine the city's legal options and remedies concerning "builder's remedy" submissions

EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich and City Council Members,
I am very concerned (appalled) by the lack of any factual or legal analysis of what occurred regarding the "builder's remedy" submissions. I believe that outside counsel review is imperative in part because of statements made by City planning staff to council members and the press that we are "required" to proceed with these submissions. These permit submissions massively exceed what Santa Monica zoning allow, ignore relevant state law and are based on a rejection by HCDD with NO ABILITY OR TIME to resolve misunderstandings of data and policy BEFORE the "builder's remedy" could be initiated.

I strongly support Councilmember Discussion Item 16.l
Request of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre, in the wake of residents' concerns about the "Builder's remedy" permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelmingly market rate and up to 15 stories, that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City's legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired t conduct this review shall be selected by the City Council and shall have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials.

Thank-you for your attention to this important matter.
____________________________
Grafton S. Harper
[email protected] (My new inbox as of 12/2018)
Lost track of me?
Permanent Forwarding available at [email protected] Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 382 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:33 AM
To: Sue Himmelrich; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Kristin McCowan; councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan
Subject: Council Mtg. 10/25/22 - Support item 16.l to hire outside legal counsel to address "builder's remedy" submissions via legal options and remedies regarding it.

EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich and City Council Members,
The Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont) Board is very concerned by the lack of any factual or legal analysis of what occurred regarding the "builder's remedy" submissions. We believe that outside counsel review is imperative in part because of statements made by City planning staff to council members and the press that we are "required" to proceed with these submissions. These permit submissions massively exceed what Santa Monica zoning allow, ignore relevant state law and are based on a rejection by HCDD with NO ABILITY OR TIME to resolve misunderstandings of data and policy BEFORE to the "builder's remedy" being initiated. Given the number of housing elements rejected by HCDD in the past year with no appeal or timely discussion prior to the "builder's remedy" submissions it is clear that an investigation of the reasons for the HCDD rejections should be studied and determined why historical and current Housing Element methodologies and approaches were so widely rejected and whether subjective or objective criteria was used.

Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont) Board of Directors strongly support Councilmember Discussion Item 16.l
Request of Councilmembers Brock, Parra and de la Torre, in the wake of residents' concerns about the "Builder's remedy" permits just filed for 1,000s of new housing units, overwhelmingly market rate and up to 15 stories, that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City's legal options and remedies, including rejecting the applications under all applicable laws. The law firm hired to conduct this review shall be selected by the City Council and shall have the power to obtain documents it deems useful to its legal review and be given full cooperation by staff and elected and appointed officials.

Thank-you for your attention to this important matter.

Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont)
Board of Directors
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 383 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 384 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:46 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan Subject: Council Mtg. 10/25/22 - ITEM 16.l - SUPPORT - Hire outside legal counsel to determine the city's legal options and remedies concerning "builder's remedy" submissions

EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich and City Council Members,
I am appalled by the lack of any factual or legal analysis of what occurred regarding the "builder's remedy" submissions. I believe that outside counsel review is imperative in part because of statements made by City planning staff to council members and the press that we are "required" to proceed with these submissions. These permit submissions massively exceed what Santa Monica zoning allow, ignore relevant state law and are based on a rejection by HCDD with unclear and subjective criteria and NO ABILITY OR TIME to resolve misunderstandings of data and policy BEFORE the "builder's remedy" could be initiated.

Thank-you.

Elizabeth Van Denburgh
Item 16.I
10/25/22
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Packet Pg. 385 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:59 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Council Member Discussion Item 16.1 Stopping Builder’s Remedy From: Gemma Corfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 7:12 PM
Cc: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; David White <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Council Member Discussion Item 16.1 Stopping Builder’s Remedy

PLEASE PLEASE don’t allow our city to be ruined by greedy developers.

Many thanks
Gemma Corfield
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 386 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:59 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Brett Hollenbeck <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:06 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Brett Hollenbeck using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Brett Hollenbeck
4431 Purdue Ave Los Angeles, CA 90230-5155
[email protected]
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 387 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Richard Brand <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:01 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I

Sincerely,
Richard Brand
1528 6th St Santa Monica, CA 90401-2552
[email protected]
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 388 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Stopping "Builder's remedy"
From: Shari Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 4:31 PM
To: David White <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Stopping "Builder's remedy"

EXTERNAL
Dear City Manager David White, City Attorney Douglas Sloan, and SM City Council, I support Council Members Brock, Parra, and de la Torre in their request to hire outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review, including a report outlining the city’s legal options and remedies AND also reject the building applications of builders, NMS and WSC. This is very important because if they’re allowed to build these massive structures they will continue, along with other developers, until the very personality and fiber of this beautiful city is gone forever.

Thank you for your consideration,
Shari Phillips
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 389 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 8:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Michael Hayes <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 6:24 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Michael Hayes using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots prohousing organization.

Sincerely,
Michael Hayes
933 N Benton Way Los Angeles, CA 90026-3825
[email protected]
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 390 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 8:02 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I From: Amani Abou-Zamzam MBA <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 10:02 PM
To: David White <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; councilmtgitems <[email protected]> Subject: I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I

EXTERNAL
I SUPPORT the action advocated in Agenda Item 16.I to:

Councilmember Discussion Item 16.I:

Thanks, Amani
Amani Spielman SM resident
[email protected] 310.780.0881
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Packet Pg. 391 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 8:01 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Proposed 4,562 Housing Units
From: Carol Dickinson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:58 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed 4,562 Housing Units

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Himmelrich and City Council,
Please hire experienced outside legal counsel to analyze the legal options and remedies that the City can take to reject the sixteen proposed developments that were submitted during the Builder’s Remedy window. We residents of Santa Monica desperately need your help to stop these huge projects that exceed what our zoning rules allow. We should not rely on comments by City Planning Staff that nothing can be done about this matter.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Carol Dickinson
Item 16.I
10/25/22
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Packet Pg. 392 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: John Ellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 8:09 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda #16 Save Pickleball

EXTERNAL
Hello City Council,
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States and world. Please reconsider your approach toward Pickleball at Memorial Park.

Santa Monica need more dedicated Pickleball Courts. Dozens of people each day, and hundreds each week play at Memorial Park.

Please save our courts as we could lose them for many years depending on how you plan construction. 1: Courts are in good shape as is.
2: Pickleball barely meets current demands and demand is growing. 3: Find more places to build dedicated Pickleball Courts in Santa Monica. 4: Pickleball grew during pandemic, spans age ranges, appeals to millennials, baby-boomers and beyond.
5: Pickleball promotes health, is outdoors, appeals to teens and young adults (Crossroads currently uses courts, I imagine other high schools will too) 6: Pickleball is accessible and invites all socio-economic and racial groups 7: Former boxers, volleyball, ping-pong, basketball and other athletes eventually find Pickleball as a ‘go-to’ sport.
8: Think about future demand of Pickleball and broad-based appeal of the growing sport. 9: Parking and other issues about space should be addressed more holistically, then tearing down good courts
10: Build MORE dedicated Pickleball courts throughout the City of Santa Monica.

I’m a retired teacher, former ARB member and have never seen a sport ‘bring together’ community in such a strong way as pickle Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 393 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 ball. Political, age, race seem to disappear, and sport, friendly competition, friendship and community building occur naturally. http://www.johnellisphoto.com
310 994 6469
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Packet Pg. 394 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Daniel Galamba <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:20 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Daniel Galamba
Subject: City Council Meeting October 25, 2022 Item 16.I.-Please Support: Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I request that you support this item that the Council ask the City Attorney to hire appropriate outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies, including rejecting the Builders' Remedy applications under all applicable laws.

I believe that these Builders' Remedy applications are not valid and should not be approved. In February 2022 the State extended the deadline for the approval of the City's Housing Plan to October 15, 2022 and the City's Housing Plan was approved by the State before this new deadline. Therefore Builders' Remedy applications before October 15, 2022 are not valid and should not be approved.

If the original deadline of October 15, 2021 could not be extended then the State wouldn't have done so in their February 2022 letter. Also it is not realistic to assume that a city's initial submittal of a Housing Plan will be approved by the State because give-and-take and iteration is required before final approval. The Builders' Remedy and fines from the State are intended to punish a city that refuses to cooperate with the State and this was not the case for our City of Santa Monica. The City negotiated with the State in good faith and our Housing Plan was approved by the State before the State's extended deadline of October 15, 2022.

Also if the State's extended deadline of October 15, 2022 was not valid then why didn't developers come in with their Builders' Remedy applications in February 2022 after the State issued their letter? Instead these Builders' Remedy applications came in just a few weeks before the extended October 15, 2022 deadline.

All of the actions above and several more indicate to me that Builders' Remedy applications before October 15, 2022 are not valid and can not be approved. Therefore appropriate outside legal counsel is needed to conduct a thorough review and write a report regarding the City’s legal options and remedies including rejecting the Builders' Remedy applications under all applicable laws. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr Daniel Galamba

Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 395 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: danilobach <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:16 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; David Martin
Subject: Item 16.I on 10/25/22 Council agenda

EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
I join with the many other concerned residents of our city to urge the Council instruct the City Attorney to hire outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review of the punitive, so-called 'Builders remedy' Santa Monica is said to be now facing and to conduct a study of the City’s legal options and remedies, including rejecting all applications pending until the issue is appropriately resolved. The law firm hired to conduct this review should of course be selected by the City Council and empowered to obtain all relevant documents and full cooperation of staff and city officials.

Respectfully,
Danilo Bach
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 396 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Joe Antognini <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:26 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda item 16-I

EXTERNAL
Dear city councilmembers,
I urge you to reject the request of several councilmembers to hire legal counsel regarding the "Builder's Remedy." This is a meritless request that will waste the City's resources on frivolous legal fees.

Due to the City Council's failure to pass a compliant housing element, a number of developers have applied for permits to construct new housing in Santa Monica in accordance with the law. I understand that several city councilmembers are upset with this fact. Nevertheless, if those councilmembers wished to prevent this from happening, they had multiple opportunities to pass a compliant housing element. City staff, other councilmembers, and ordinary citizens all warned them of the consequences of failing to pass a compliant housing element. They chose to ignore those warnings and are now reaping the consequences of their choices. The City Council should accept this fact rather than fruitlessly throwing our money at lawyers who will be paid handsomely for telling you exactly the same thing.

Setting aside the bumbling manner in which the City has found itself in a place where it is forced to permit these new developments, I also urge the City Council to reconsider their negative attitude to development. Santa Monica has failed to allow adequate housing to be constructed for nearly fifty years and as a consequence around 80% of the people who work in the city do not live here. This is not because they do not want to live in Santa Monica, but because they cannot afford to live in a city where the median home price is more than $1.6 million. These are individuals who serve and contribute to our community in a variety of ways. It is a shame that Santa Monica has shut them out for so long.

Joe Antognini
2677 Centinela Ave, Unit 203
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Packet Pg. 397 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:56 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Elena Christopoulos <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 1:05 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Builder's Remedy projects in Santa Monica - Agenda item 16. I

Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I write to urge you to embrace Builder's Remedy projects, support housing of all types, and to not waste precious City resources and funds fighting new affordable housing opportunities in Santa Monica.

State law allows these projects to exceed General Plan and zoning limits because our city lacked a legally compliant Housing Element. I am in full support of Builder's Remedy housing projects and believe the city council should be in support, too. Santa Monica needs more homes and affordable homes, not wasteful litigation! Personally sent by Elena Christopoulos using Abundant Housing LA's Advocacy Tool. Abundant Housing LA is a grassroots pro-housing organization.

Sincerely,
Elena Christopoulos
1528 6th St Santa Monica, CA 90401-2552
[email protected]
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 398 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Continued parking on driveway aprons in the City of Santa Monica From: Winnie Wechsler <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:59 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Continued parking on driveway aprons in the City of Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council:

Our family has been residing on 12th Street since 1996, and for the past 26 years we have parked one of our cars in the “driveway apron” in front of our home. We are extremely careful about parking our car so that it does not in any way block the sidewalk or interfere with the street and the weekly street cleaning. So, we are perplexed as to the rationale for the City of Santa Monica to suddenly decide that this parking practice will no longer permitted as of 11/1/22. There has been no explanation for the change in policy, which will certainly lead to more congestion on our block.

My understanding is that the City of Los Angeles has a similar ordinance to SMMC section 3.12.380, but that “parkway” is defined as the area of "the public right-of-way not intended for vehicular use between the sidewalk and the curb.” Based on that definition, the City of Los Angeles allows the owner of a property with a driveway apron to park on that apron as long as the vehicle doesn’t block the sidewalk or stick out into the street. The same is true for Unincorporated L.A. County and Malibu.

Allowing driveway apron parking has not and will not infringe on the rights of pedestrians, who do not walk on the parkways. So given all this, please reconsider this decision to enforce this regulation as it relates to parkways, whose benefits to homeowners and neighborhoods have proven worthwhile for decades and outweigh any negative impact on the community.

Sincerely,
Winnie Wechsler & Jeffrey Wasserman
521 12th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90402
310-415-7283
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Packet Pg. 399 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Driveway Apron Parking When Not Blocking Street or Sidewalk -----Original Message-----
From: Spencer Hunt <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:48 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Driveway Apron Parking When Not Blocking Street or Sidewalk

EXTERNAL
Please align Santa Monica’s new driveway apron rules with Los Angeles and Malibu so that cars can park on aprons that are wide enough so that a parked car does not stick out onto the road or into the sidewalk. I do not understand why Santa Monica needs to be exceptional on established rules held by our neighbors.

My apron at 1012 Pearl St. is wide enough to accommodate a car where the car fits between sidewalk and curb. I do not understand why you would take away a parking spot that has never been needed by the city for any service work in a neighborhood that can regularly be filled with cars to the point where I have to park on a different street.

Parking in an apron that is wide enough for a car does not infringe on pedestrians or street activity. Nor has it historically had any impact on city services. It’s also allowed in our neighboring communities. Taking this away seems capricious and bureaucratic - neither characteristic is what I expect from my local government.

I have called the parking enforcement to discuss this, who referred me to the city manager. I left a message at the city manager’s office more than a week ago and have yet to receive a call back.

Thank you for your consideration,
Spencer and Nancy Hunt
35 year residents of Pearl St in Santa Monica
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Packet Pg. 400 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Apron parking
From: Bronwyn Barkan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:25 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Apron parking

EXTERNAL
Dear members of the City Council,
I am writing to urge you to amend the municipal code to permit driveway apron parking so long as it does not block the sidewalk or stick out into the street. This amendment would put the code in line with the city of LA, unincorporated LA, and the city of Malibu. Thank you for making this common sense decision.

Sincerely,
Bronwyn Barkan
(resident Sunset Park)
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 401 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Ro Fad <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 11:29 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan; R Fad Subject: Stopping Huge Building Projects in SM - Council vote Tomorrow

EXTERNAL
Dear SM City Members,
I support Council Members Brock, Parra, and de la Torre to hire outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough review, including a report outlining the city’s legal options and remedies AND also reject the building applications of builders, NMS and WSC. This is very important because if they’re allowed to build these massive structures they will continue, along with other developers, until the very personality and fiber of this city is gone forever.

Thank you for your consideration,
--
Rozita Fadakar
Santa Monica Resident
Item 16.I
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Packet Pg. 402 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Santa Monica Forward <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 11:41 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 13-I, Builders Remedy

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Himmelrich and Council members:

On behalf of Santa Monica Forward, I want to urge you to NOT spend our taxpayer funds on a lawsuit challenging the so-called Builders Remedy law. You were not willing to spend even $100,000 on an investigation of a serious breach of confidentiality of your executive session, and many of you gave reasons about taking funds away from other important City needs. The lawsuit you propose is expected to cost well over $1 million. What would that money mean for our local merchants, residents, and visitors?
We note that your staff warned you at least four times about the consequences for failing to submit a compliant housing element:
· Dec 15, 2020 Staff Report: Warned of SB35 consequences (overruling of local zoning and planning authority) · June 21, 2021: Staff warns council that out of compliance means any developer can build a 20% low-income / 100% moderate income project (this is the "Builder's Remedy") · October 12, 2021: Staff warns council *again* about the Builder's Remedy consequences. · April 26, 2022: Staff warns council *again* about the Builder's Remedy consequences.

In addition, there were many public comments (written and spoken at Council) from residents and pro-housing advocacy groups identifying glaring deficiencies in the housing element (HCD flagged many of these same reasons in their rejection letter).

The Council-appointed Planning Commission was clearly aware of the consequences of a non-compliant housing element.

Santa Monica Forward has been aware of this law for several years. Throughout our work for a compliant housing element the consequences have been foundational to our advocacy. We wrote to you as early as June 15, 2021 about the Builders Remedy. Our only goal all along was for Santa Monica to stop resisting the state and adopt a Housing Element that would be approved by HCD.

It is time for the Council to accept its responsibility to provide its share of housing opportunities rather than fighting the mandate. We stand ready to support you in that endeavor.

Abby Arnold and Carl Hansen
Co-Chairs
Santa Monica Forward
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Packet Pg. 403 Attachment: Written Comments (5456 : Builders Remedy Permits) City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 1, 2022
Agenda Item: 8.H
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department
Subject: Request of Mayor Pro Tem McCowan that the City Council authorize use of her travel funds for costs incurred from her July 27-30, 2022 travel to Brighton, England for the official Friendship City signing ceremony in partnership with Santa Monica Travel and Tourism and the Santa Monica Sister City Association. (Continued from 10/25/2022)
Prepared By: Esterlina Lugo, Deputy City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council

8.H
Packet Pg. 404

Santa Monica City CouncilNovember 1, 2022

Santa Monica City Council
November 1, 2022