Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, February 14, 2023

1 Vernice Hankins
From: Michael Bezerra <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 4:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Regarding Amendment to SMMC Chapter 6.42

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers and City Staff,
I write to you yet again as a concerned business owner/operator with regard to the outdoor dining spaces that were previously awarded to us and our fellow hospitality establishments throughout the city of Santa Monica, specifically on Main Street. Please know that the addition of outdoor dining at our restaurant not only allowed us to stay in business during Covid, but it prevented the loss of jobs, added jobs, and activated an unprecedented vitalization of Main Street, the 3rd St. Promenade, and surrounding neighborhoods where outdoor dining was integrated. Since, outdoor dining has become an important element in the fabric of our business culture, community, and quality of life for locals, neighbors, residents, business owners, and visitors to our city.

In contrast, my restaurants located in other cities that were not able to expand outdoors unfortunately could not survive and were forced to go out of business permanently. What remains of those locations are empty shuttered storefronts. Since the time Covid restrictions were lifted and the need for outdoor dining space no longer became a health requirement, alternate benefits of the outdoor spaces came to light. With the addition of al fresco options, Main Street became a more desired destination for locals, visitors, travelers, and tourists, something I have not seen in our 18 years of business in Santa Monica. The expanded outdoor dining spaces provided a lively, elevated social experience and competed on the same heightened level as destination properties like The Grove and Palisades Village. It drew activity to our desolated area void of abundance and vibrance. We witnessed it drawing in guests from surrounding cities and states and more activity to our area and thereby higher sales tax revenues to the city. Reducing the outdoor dining spaces and their footprints as anticipated has been a detriment to the success of our businesses, employment for our valued team members, as well as Santa Monica tourism. For example, since outdoor dining on 3rd Street has been downsized, inevitably we have seen a dramatic 30% loss of customers and visitors to competitive neighboring cities such as Manhattan Beach, Culver City, LA, and Malibu who provide aggressive Al Fresco offerings to their locals and guests. I am in favor of allowing those businesses with preexisting outdoor dining footprints measuring more than two parking spaces to keep the maximum allowable space permanently. This will result in the opportunity for higher seating capacities, higher sales, increased profitability, and ultimately higher tax revenues for the City of Santa Monica as mentioned. We would be disheartened to see the once vibrant and bustling consumer activity revert back to its previous state of desolation. This would likely cause or heavily contribute to the demise of parts of Santa Monica that have progressed so far.

In addition, I understand there will be a new requirement added to the permitting process whereby special permission must be obtained from not only the neighboring business operators, but their property owners as well. Please take into consideration the challenges this will pose for many if not most applicants. One main Item 10.A
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2 challenge being that majority of property owners have proven to be nearly impossible to contact. Some are public companies and large REITs headquartered in other states while many are out of state family trusts or blind trusts. This requirement will impose hurdles not only on the businesses during the application process but will halt progress for the city as well.

In conclusion, I implore you to draft a policy that allows for the continued use of the current outdoor dining footprints along Main Street and maximum square footage per business in order to maintain the stream of necessary revenue for my venues, my fellow business neighbors, and the city of Santa Monica as a whole.

Thank you for your consideration,
Michael Bezerra
Owner/Operator
Michael Bezerra
Sunset Restaurant Management Group
Office: 323.822.0817 | Fax: 323.822.0871 | Cell: 310.666.6250 Email: [email protected]
Cabo Cantina | Fiesta Cantina | Baja Beach Cafe | Jameson’s Irish Pub | Baja Beach Bar | PB Cantina | Jameson’s Pub Item 10.A
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From: Debra Jean <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 1:59 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: PARKLETS – Please eliminate fees

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members;
I am so disappointed that after difficulties imposed upon small businesses, and specifically restaurants, the parklet was a huge boost to business for Santa Monica's restaurants.

The exorbitant fees being imposed have led to massive closures of outdoor dining options.

I am adamantly opposed to the challenges created by our City's policies. Maintaining a parklet has become an option numerous restaurants cannot afford.

The parklets added a new level of vibrancy to our City. There is a large customer base who prefers to dine outdoors.

Please reconsider these impacts upon our dedicated restauranteurs.

Thank you,
Debra Rawdin
Santa Monica 90401
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: parklets
From: pootatervb <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:01 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: parklets

EXTERNAL
The restaurants and bars have suffered enough... half of the places that I used to frequent that didn't have parklets are now gone it seems to me like the only businesses on Main Street Santa Monica Venice area or restaurants and bars all those retail outlets seem to open and then close use your brains people Sent from my T‐Mobile 5G Device
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:38 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: MAIN STREET OUTDOOR DINING - NO to personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Brooke Oliver <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:21 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: MAIN STREET OUTDOOR DINING ‐ NO to personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee

EXTERNAL
Hello City of Santa Monica,
As a resident of Santa Monica for the past 10 years and Los Angeles resident for 30, I have seen businesses go to die on Main Street. Over the past 3 years since Santa Monica opened up the streets of Main Street for outdoor dining, there has been a new wave of life and interest on the street. It has become a nice place to dine, walk, gather with friends and find new places to eat/shop. Where in the past it was a sleepy street, quiet during the day with almost only indoor dining (some with dining off the street in dark outdooer patios). Such a shame when we live in such a beautiful place with great weather year round.

It has come to my attention by business owners on Main Street that the city is now requiring new fees for business owners making it impossible for them to survive.

I am asking you to remove the personal guarantee and the water waste capital facility fee entirely from your new contract. Save these companies who saved the city during the pandemic. Keep local businesses alive.

Respectfully,
Santa Monica Resident Brooke Oliver
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:38 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: We should be helping restaurants
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Kevin Tyler <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:13 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: We should be helping restaurants

EXTERNAL
My partner and I chose to live in Santa Monica because of how charming and walkable the Main St corridor seemed. As soon as we saw it, we envisioned all of the outdoor dinners we could walk to, sitting under the lights lining our street.

Now, the city has decided to take aim at an industry left hobbling throughout and after the pandemic: neighborhood restaurants.

In 2021, according to Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, visitor spending on meals was Alonso’s $160m and over $60m was spent on beverages ‐ each a fraction of 2019/pre‐pandemic levels. ($343m and $146m, respectively.

As a prominent destination for business, families, and others, our dining scene deserves support from the municipality it serves.

As a tax payer, I’m asking you to consider removing the personal guarantee and the water waste capital faculty fee so these restaurants can get back on their feet and continue serving the residents and tourists in our neighborhood.

Thank you.

Kevin Tyler.

Sent from my iPhone
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:38 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor dining
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Jen Liles <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:22 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Outdoor dining

EXTERNAL
Hi to whoever may actually read this!
I’m writing to say horribly sad it is that the city is making it so difficult for our beloved restaurants to continue outdoor dining, specifically Crudo e Nudo in Santa Monica.

Main Street has been dead for years, and the pandemic outdoor dining project brought it back to life. We got to know the owners well while they opened, and know they truly care for the city, sustainability, community and more.

Making it so difficult for businesses to save outdoor dining is absolutely baffling to me. We live in Southern California! We want to eat outside! What do you save, like 3 parking spots? Don’t we pay enough in taxes to keep programs like this running?
Restaurants have suffered enough and so have angelenos. Please reconsider the recent measures you have put into place.

Thanks,
Jen
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Concern about City policies re:outdoor dining in SM From: Steve Sutton <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:30 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Concern about City policies re:outdoor dining in SM

EXTERNAL
Hi there.

We are very concerned about the decisions being made to close down parklets on Main St in SM. The impact these closures will have on the quality of life of those who choose to work and/or recreate in the area will go down, and for what? As a business owners who recreate and who have customers there, we do understand the importance of business/balance sheets and the idea of charging money for space, but you need to look at getting fees inline with what these small businesses can afford. As a city, isn't it part of the job to manage the health and vibrancy of a place? Not only is it the job, but it's in the long term best interest financially. In a vibrant area such as the one you and the pandemic and these business owners had helped create, people will come from thousands of miles away, spend more money and generate more tax dollars over time a than you will collect from any parking meters or money grabs at present, especially because most business owners simply won't pay these ridiculous rates. Has this calculation been made? Are those parking meters worth it?
We hope you'll reconsider the ongoing demands choking out small business for the future of the city and it's inhabitants, who enjoy some of the best weather in the world to dine al fresco. What an opportunity to sacrifice a few parking spots and create one of the most lively streets around. It's hard to watch it be cast away. If anyone would like to discuss more, please email or call me.

Steve Sutton
Founder & President
518.764.0359
www.transparentseafarm.com
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5 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Let Main St. restaurants keep their patios! From: Jonathan Shigematsu <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:46 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Gleam Davis <[email protected]> Subject: Let Main St. restaurants keep their patios!

EXTERNAL
I'm emailing as a lifelong Westsider and Santa Monica property owner and resident. The street patios that restaurants were allowed to put up on Main St. and elsewhere were a godsend during the pandemic, and it brought a vibrancy to Santa Monica restaurant life that has previously been missing. As someone who has traveled extensively I always wondered why LA at large, and Santa Monica specifically, hasn't embraced outdoor dining in the way that so many other cities do, many with far worse weather than us. These patios helped us achieve our unrealized potential. Now with the pandemic over, to make it so hard and so expensive for those restaurants to keep these up, is nothing less than a crime against business and against our very residents. We want this. WE ALL WANT THIS. Please don't stand in the way.

There's truly no reason and it only makes you look out of touch. We want our leaders to embrace small business and work to give residents the lifestyle we live here for. Please do the right thing and let them keep these spaces.

Jonathan Shigematsu
[email protected]
(310) 701‐0519
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6 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor Dining
From: Laura Chooljian <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:48 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Outdoor Dining

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis and City Council Members,
Increased outdoor dining in Santa Monica has been the one silver lining during this pandemic. Many many residents and visitors still rely on the increased availability of outdoor seating to feel comfortable with eating in a restaurant setting while remaining as safe as possible from an exposure standpoint. I'm dismayed to learn of the difficulties the city is imposing on restaurants, making it largely unfeasible for them to continue this offering, and in many cases likely jeopardizing the business as a whole. At the very least, please remove the personal guarantee and the water waste capital facility fee from the outdoor dining requirements.

Thank you for your consideration,
Laura Chooljian
Santa Monica renter since 2009
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7 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor dining
From: Jen Liles <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:49 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Outdoor dining

Making it so difficult for businesses to save outdoor dining is absolutely baffling to me. We live in Southern California! We want to eat outside! What do you save, like 3 parking spots? Don’t we pay enough in taxes to keep programs like this running?
Restaurants have suffered enough and so have Angelenos. Please reconsider the recent measures you have put into place.

Thanks,
Jen
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor seating petition
From: Seth Mcgowan <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 5:13 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Outdoor seating petition

EXTERNAL
Collect your revenue somewhere. Stay away from outdoor dining.

Best,
Concerned citizen
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Parklets
From: Sarah Mourra MD <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 5:02 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Parklets

EXTERNAL
Dear Whomever It May Concern,
I am shocked and horrified at this water waste capital facility fee which is squeezing our beloved businesses and getting rid of outdoor dining which was a wonderful experience for all of us in the community, and also was key for individuals who remain concerned about covid spread. I am enraged that this is even something that you are proposing to take away and that now has stressed so much of our small businesses. I am demanding that this be revoking immediately.

Sincerely,
Sarah Mourra Ziaeian
2260 26th street
Santa Monica 90405
7142726389
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Save Main Street & Revoke Personal Guarantee & Water Cap Fee From: Ananda Day <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 4:58 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Save Main Street & Revoke Personal Guarantee & Water Cap Fee

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica Council‐
It's with a heavy heart I am writing this message. After moving to Main St in 2020 I witnessed a lackluster Main Street lose what the meager offering‐ creative restaurants but a lack of community and life.

Over the past few years Main Street has blossomed due largely to the quality and community that outdoor dining has enabled and the creative business owners who have come to the area. I frequent the outdoor spaces offered by businesses 2‐3 times a week.

The Personal Guarantee requirement and Water Cap Fee are disgusting with the only clear effect being depravity of culture, a dead street, and myself, my partner, and many of my peers chosing to leave Santa Monica. Please revisit your proposals and think about the good of the community.

Ananda Day
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Remove personal guarantee fee
From: Lisa Chen <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 3:33 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Remove personal guarantee fee

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor,
I am writing to express my concern about the recent introduction of the "personal guarantee" and the "water waste capital facility fee" in our city. As a resident and taxpayer, I believe that these measures are unfair and unjustified, and I respectfully request that you take steps to have them removed.

The personal guarantee requirement imposes a significant financial burden on residents and business owners, and it unfairly places the responsibility for water waste solely on the shoulders of the property owner, rather than considering other factors such as leaky pipes or weather conditions. This could result in many individuals facing financial difficulties simply because of circumstances beyond their control.

Similarly, the water waste capital facility fee is a disproportionate burden on ratepayers and does not take into account their ability to pay. It is unreasonable to expect individuals to bear the cost of expensive infrastructure upgrades when there are more equitable solutions available, such as implementing conservation programs or exploring alternative sources of funding.

I strongly believe that these measures are not in the best interest of our community, and I ask that you consider alternative solutions that are more equitable and sustainable in the long run. I would be more than happy to discuss this matter further with you or your staff, and I am eager to work with you to find a solution that benefits all residents of our city.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Lisa Chen
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: REMOVE FEES PLEASE. SAVE MAIN ST!
From: Nina Doering <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 2:23 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Gleam Davis <[email protected]> Subject: REMOVE FEES PLEASE. SAVE MAIN ST!

EXTERNAL
Hello,
I’m writing to request you to PLEASE remove the personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee entirely from the new legislation affecting restaurants in Santa Monica.

Please have mercy on restaurants already struggling post‐pandemic during a global recession. Thank you.

Best,
Nina
‐‐
nina doering
ninadoering.com
619.793.8287
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Isn’t this bad for our city!!??
From: Justin Levine <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 2:17 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Isn’t this bad for our city!!??

EXTERNAL
Hello there,
As I understand, the city of Santa Monica is now making it very expensive for our restaurant owners to continue to provide outdoor dining. This has been the best thing to come out of the pandemic and what the city is proposing now is not only hurtful to our beloved community, but it’s also a slap in the face to all of the city’s business owners. Please help me understand why it is you’re making these decisions and how you plan on making sure this doesn’t harm all of the wonderful small businesses that make our little community so wonderful. Also, why is the city putting the responsibility on the business owners to pay for the outdoor dining space, as I remember the city of Santa Monica clearly stated during the pandemic that outdoor dining would be a permanent thing, now it seems like in order to do so you’ll have to pay an unattainable fee, this seems so disgusting…
‐ Justin, lifelong Santa Monica resident
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: Justin Levine <[email protected]>
Date: February 10, 2023 at 2:14:10 PM PST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Isn’t is bad for our city!!??
Hello there,
As I understand, the city of Santa Monica is now making it very expensive for our restaurant owners to continue to provide outdoor dining. This has been the best thing to come out of the pandemic and what the city is proposing now is not only hurtful to our beloved community, but it’s also a slap in the face to all of the city’s business owners. Please help me understand why it is you’re making these decisions and how you plan on making sure this doesn’t harm all of the wonderful small businesses that make our little community so wonderful. Also, why is the city putting the responsibility on the business owners to pay for the outdoor dining space, as I remember the city of Santa Monica clearly stated during the pandemic that outdoor dining would be a permanent thing, now it seems like in order to do so you’ll have to pay an unattainable fee, this seems so disgusting…
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7 ‐ Justin, lifelong Santa Monica resident
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:41 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Santa Monica parklet fees
From: Celina Herrero <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 8:36 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica parklet fees

EXTERNAL
Hello,
Thanks for your consideration of this matter.

I reside on the westside and dine often in Santa Monica. I know how much so many of us‐both individuals and business owners‐struggled during lockdown and the entire pandemic phase of Covid‐19. As you know, Covid’s classification officially went from pandemic to endemic very recently and many (maybe even most or almost all?) small businesses are still recovering.

Restaurants were particularly hard hit, and then pivoted beautifully into more outdoor dining spaces. The City of Santa Monica facilitated that on Main Street, it was a blessing to residents, and it saved many small businesses. It was a good example of local government being responsive and flexible in a time of crisis.

And now, the pandemic crisis is over but the city government is CHOOSING to create a new, extremely expensive problem for business owners?
“It’s just a one‐time fee” ?!?
It’s exorbitant!
Why?
No!
Please don’t.

Thank you
Sincerely,
Celina Herrero
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:41 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Save Outdoor Seating
From: Elliot Voss <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 2:41 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Save Outdoor Seating

Hi,
I'm writing to show my support for outdoor seating in Santa Monica. I know how much of a positive impact that it has had on our community. If Santa Monica eliminates the ability for restaurants to operate on the sidewalks/roads it will have devastating consequences for our community. I strongly urge the City to assist and keep outdoor dining available.

Otherwise Santa Monica will suffer a massive loss that brings people together and highlights the walkability of our City.

I also implore you to not financially penalize restaurants for operating outside. We will lose some of our favorite community members and restaurants. Santa Monica and Ocean Park are so important to me but that will be lost if the city does not promote outdoor dining.

Elliot C. Voss
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 206.384.3714.

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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:41 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Restaurant issues - do something
From: Greg Jernigan <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2023 2:21 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Restaurant issues ‐ do something

EXTERNAL
I fully support the email sent by my partner Kevin and have the same sentiment. See below. ‐ Greg Jernigan ‐ SaMo resident and voter.

My partner and I chose to live in Santa Monica because of how charming and walkable the Main St corridor seemed. As soon as we saw it, we envisioned all of the outdoor dinners we could walk to, sitting under the lights lining our street.

Now, the city has decided to take aim at an industry left hobbling throughout and after the pandemic:
neighborhood restaurants.

That means restaurants are working double time to claw themselves back to profit, while enduring extreme hiring difficulties and other obstacles. The City of Santa Monica should be assisting these vital businesses, not harming them. As a prominent destination for business, families, and others, our dining scene deserves support from the municipality it serves.

Thank you.

Kevin Tyler
Sent from my iPhone
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor seating on Main St.

From: Alexander Weiser <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2023 6:48 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Outdoor seating on Main St.

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and City Council,
As a resident of Santa Monica I was happy to see Main St. began to seem like a vibrant community after the pandemic with the allowing of outdoor seating for restaurants. It made Main St. a cool place to dine & walk about. Please lower the fees to keep outdoor seating for these small businesses to survive. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 20 yrs.

Please don’t be unreasonable with these
fees.

Sincerely,
Alex Weiser
511 Hill St.

Santa Monica
Sent from my iPhone
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor dining fee
From: Angelina Chen <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 9:04 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Outdoor dining fee

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern:

The pandemic is not over. Contrary to thought ‐ everyday people are still dying of COVID. Just look at the city's numbers.

It appalls me that the city would ask restaurants, esp small businesses, to pay a fee to keep their outdoor dining. Is your job to create bureaucracy? Isn't your job to help people and small businesses? Explain to me how this will help people by imposing these fees??
If you want to keep your job and not be voted out by angry citizens during the next election, stop this ordinance and make outdoor dining plausible for restaurants. For the health and safety of its citizens.

Best,
Angelina Chen

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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: parklets
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Daisuke Funai <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 11:18 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: parklets

EXTERNAL
To Gleam Davis and the City Council,

As a Santa Monica resident who wants his family to live in a thriving city, I ask you to immediately remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ for restaurants entirely. We already have enough vacancies. Please help small businesses.

https://smmirror.com/2023/02/city-has-killed-the-parklets-says-santa-monica-chef/

Thanks,
Daisuke

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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Main Street stupid fees
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Arch Getty <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 11:21 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Main Street stupid fees

EXTERNAL
Come on, folks. Santa Monica already has enough add-on fees. Making restaurant owners pay personal guarantees and water fees for property they don't own is insulting, counterproductive, and probably illegal.

We need to support local business, not penalize it.

Sincerely,
Arch Getty
915 Ocean Ave.

Santa Monica 90403
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: City Has "Killed the Parklets" - SM Mirror Article Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: David Auch <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:25 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>
Cc: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Ocean Park Association Board <[email protected]> Subject: City Has "Killed the Parklets" - SM Mirror Article

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor David and Council. As a 35 year resident of Ocean Park - Please don’t choke off our vibrant outdoor restaurants. Please don’t kill off our vibrant street life.

The restaurant parklets have transformed Main Street into a much more livable space. They were a miracle of the pandemic. Please do all you can to support continued and expanded outdoor seating. They bring life, people and business to our community.

The restaurants seem willing to do their part to offset parking revenues, but the new costs are way too high.

This is very upsetting. Please lead on this issue. Please reduce the red tape. Please remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely and reduce the fees as much as possible. These restaurants are the lifeblood of our community. Please work with thoughtful owners such as Crudo e Nudo, Urth Cafe, La Vecchia and others to expand parklets and make our city more walkable and enjoyable.

Thank you.

David Auch
2532 5th Street
++++++++++++++
https://smmirror.com/2023/02/city-has-killed-the-parklets-says-santa-monica-chef/ City Has “Killed the Parklets”, Says Santa
Monica Chef
Staff WriterFebruary 13, 2023
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4 “It’s the opposite to helping small businesses. They’re trying to penalize you at all costs,” says chef Brian Bornemann of Crudo e Nudo
By Keemia Zhang
In July, Santa Monica approved a permanent outdoor dining program to preserve the parklets that sustained restaurants during COVID-era rules.

However, local restaurants claim that red tape and new mandates are causing more businesses to shut down their parklets altogether. Brian Bornemann, chef and founder of sustainable seafood restaurant Crudo e Nudo on Main Street, claims that Santa Monica’s regulations are “killing” outdoor dining.
“We understand paying rent for places that used to be parking,” Bornemann said. “It’s about $6,000 in check fees, another $1,000 for building and safety fees, $3,500 for deposit, and then rent.”
But new City requirements have also replaced the previous ones, which have promoted many locations to take down their outdoor dining permanently, instead of “shelling out $20,000” to remake what they already paid for during the pandemic – a time which, Bornemann points out, was already difficult for local businesses.

The chef stated that the government is “treating restaurants like developers”, forcing them to pay upfront fees for new sewage lines to handle new occupancy numbers – this is customary for homeowners, however, Bornemann stresses that restauranters will not own the extensions they are paying for.
“The restaurants who made it through the pandemic are paying this one-time fee that’s exorbitant, $2,400 a seat. It’s a clear money grab from the City,” Bornemann said.

The chef also expressed frustrations with the City forcing restauranters to provide personal guarantees for their patio additions.
“Normally LLC guarantees are corporate guarantees, but for whatever reason, the City is now requiring that if your business should go under because of this, you can personally pay as an individual,” Bornemann said.

Bornemann recognizes that the City is facing financial issues following decreased revenue coming out of the pandemic but still thinks more parklets could provide increased revenue for the City’s coffers.
“The City has its own financial issues coming out of the pandemic, but you would think they would view increased revenue on a busy street as a good thing,” suggests Bornmann. “Many of our neighbors have taken down their patios. We have to put up that money we don’t really have, and it’s very scary.”
Bornmann and his colleagues recently went to City Council in a bid to get the new measures overturned, but were unsuccessful.
“It definitely feels like it’s the end of an era right now,” says Bornmann. “It’s the opposite to helping small businesses. They’re trying to penalize you at all costs.” Item 10.A
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5 Crudo e Nudu recently took to social media asking the public to reach out to Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis ([email protected]) and City Council ([email protected]) asking them to get rid of these fees. “The only way to save outdoor dining is the email the mayor and City council, and ask them to remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely. So if you like eating outdoors, if you enjoyed watching Main St bloom, or if you like independent restaurants in general please send an email as soon as you can,” reads the post.

David Auch
D1 Auto Brokers / West Bank Leasing
Personal Car Buying & Selling Service
18757 Burbank Blvd, Suite #108
Tarzana, CA 91356
310-989-2300 c
www.d1autobrokers.com
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Ocean Park Blvd
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Betsy Brock <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:59 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Ocean Park Blvd

EXTERNAL

Sent from Mail for Windows
As a resident of Ocean Park I urge you to maintain the current businesses and structure of our neighborhood. We do not need upgrades, but we do need to maintain the community that serves us so well.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter and the citizens who live here.

Betsy Brock
2012 Pearl Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor dining.

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: STEVEN ROGERS <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:54 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Outdoor dining.

EXTERNAL
Sitting outdoors at a restaurant with my dog when I’m dining with friends is my favorite way to enjoy Santa Monica. But Santa Monica is shooting itself in the foot by making it more and more impossible to support these restaurants by imposing all these extra fees and not supporting small businesses. Forcing restaurants to opt out of outdoor dining space is HORRIBLE for the city. Please remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely. I’ve loved watching all these restaurants bloom again after the shut down and survive the pandemic! And it’s safer and glorious to eat outdoors with our climate. I promise I will remember you at the polls if these small businesses do not survive you.

Steven Rogers
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Please do not support upzoning
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Paul Berman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:44 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Please do not support upzoning

EXTERNAL
Upzoning will destroy the character of the city, wipe out many remaining businesses and create overcrowding.

Please do not support upzoning.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Paul Berman
1238 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: City Has "Killed the Parklets" - SM Mirror Article Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: David Auch <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:42 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>
Cc: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; OPA BOD <[email protected]> Subject: City Has "Killed the Parklets" - SM Mirror Article

EXTERNAL
[Hi Gleam…. Sorry for name typo! doh. Fingers moving fast than my brain.] Dear Mayor Davis and Council. As a 35 year resident of Ocean Park - Please don’t choke off our vibrant outdoor restaurants. Please don’t kill off our vibrant street life.

The restaurants seem willing to do their part to offset parking revenues, but the new costs are way too high.

Thank you.

David Auch
2532 5th Street
++++++++++++++
https://smmirror.com/2023/02/city-has-killed-the-parklets-says-santa-monica-chef/ City Has “Killed the Parklets”, Says Santa
Monica Chef
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10 Staff WriterFebruary 13, 2023
“It’s the opposite to helping small businesses. They’re trying to penalize you at all costs,” says chef Brian Bornemann of Crudo e Nudo
By Keemia Zhang
In July, Santa Monica approved a permanent outdoor dining program to preserve the parklets that sustained restaurants during COVID-era rules.

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11 “It definitely feels like it’s the end of an era right now,” says Bornmann. “It’s the opposite to helping small businesses. They’re trying to penalize you at all costs.” Crudo e Nudu recently took to social media asking the public to reach out to Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis ([email protected]) and City Council ([email protected]) asking them to get rid of these fees. “The only way to save outdoor dining is the email the mayor and City council, and ask them to remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely. So if you like eating outdoors, if you enjoyed watching Main St bloom, or if you like independent restaurants in general please send an email as soon as you can,” reads the post.

David Auch
D1 Auto Brokers / West Bank Leasing
Personal Car Buying & Selling Service
18757 Burbank Blvd, Suite #108
Tarzana, CA 91356
310-989-2300 c
www.d1autobrokers.com
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Please End the Parklets
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: hm <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 2:36 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Please End the Parklets

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I think you need to end the parklets program, unlike a lot of other folks who are banding together to make a loud cry. Here is my reasoning....

1. Equality is the most important factor to consider, why does one retail business get to claim street or sidewalk use when others are not. A dress shop, book/news stand store, bike shop, etc. all want the same rights and that raises the bar to a new level of consideration. And as a business owner and resident of SM, I can only express that I would also like the right to claim the parking spaces in front of my house too! Property rights are a very deep legal issue that exposes the city to a myriad of potential law suits.

2. Last time I checked, the tract map which defines my parcels describes my land extends to the centerline of the street and the alley. The tract map was recorded explaining my rights dedicated the street and alley for “Highway Use. All other uses would be violating the dedication and if the City wants to now charge me for land I already own since the 1800’s for a new use that violates the dedication rights, law suit time again.

3. State ABC licensing requires a fenced separation between the public and service areas where alcohol is being served. Most of the existing parklets are violating this law. So as you consider any approvals to make these areas legal, you also need to consider the functionally and appearance of what the final designs might look like.

4. My business does not have outdoor dining, I could not afford to lease a space that included a garden or outdoor dining space. But many of the restaurants do have legal existing outdoor dining and bar areas. To now level the playing field for all new comers seems to me to be very unfair to those businesses that are already paying more rent.

5. As a landlord, I leased my restaurant for a sum that included a defined service floor area, 3000SF. The space includes kitchen and restrooms. Now the parklet concept could add 2000SF more to the total area. But I can’t raise my rent to adjust for the increase which makes my space way under market rate. As a landlord this is unfair and now I will stuck with this condition for 8 years on the current lease with one 10 year option to renew… basically the next 20 years my rent will be 1/3 under what my neighbors on Main Street are able to get. This is unfair and leaves me wondering how I can break my lease.

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13 Please consider how bad the parklets program could be for the City of Santa Monica. You are opening a can of worms, removing public parking and exposing the city to a lot of law suits. It is not a popular position, do you have what it takes to make the hard decisions.

Best,
Harvey Mushman
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Reduce restaurant fees
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Fish2000 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 2:33 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Reduce restaurant fees

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Council,
I urge you to save our outdoor dining by removing the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely.

Thank you,
Laura Lim
Santa Monica resident
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Santa Monica restaurant parklets
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: edhdvx <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:01 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica restaurant parklets

EXTERNAL
Hello,
Please remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ entirely for these local restaurants that can't afford these painfully high costs.

Thank you,
Ed Hajarian
Sent from my iBrain.

Sent from my iBrain.

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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ for Santa Monica restaurants
From: Stacy Kitter Hajarian <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:16 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Remove the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ for Santa Monica restaurants

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
In support of independent restaurants and as a homeowner and resident of Santa Monica off Ocean Park I am emailing to ask for the removal of the ‘personal guarantee’ and the ‘water waste capital facility fee’ for Santa Monica restaurants entirely. We've loved eating outdoors and as sad as it was to lose a ton of local restaurants through the pandemic, we've enjoyed watching Main Street bloom over the last year. And we also don't want to literally eat the cost of all the fees your applying when we order food from these restaurants, dining in Santa Monica is expensive enough. NO MORE FEES! Best,
Stacy Hajarian
Santa Monica Ocean Park Home Owner
310-622-3772
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Outdoor dining
From: Deborah Evans <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 1:53 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Outdoor dining

EXTERNAL
Hello
I am writing in support of restaurant owners on Main Street.

Please remove the personal growth guarantee + water waste capital facility fee to help enable these businesses to continue to thrive and grow and support the community.

Yours sincerely,
Deborah
Deborah Evans | Production Design
[email protected]
t: +1 310-505-2433
skype | debevans
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Save the Parklets!!!
From: Christina Hoffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 11:47 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Gleam Davis <[email protected]> Subject: Save the Parklets!!!

EXTERNAL
I personally find it a bit amusing that it took a pandemic for Gorgeous, sunny, Santa Monica to embrace ourdoor dining, but I am ever so thankful!! Turning the streets and parklets over to pedestrians, allowing more human energy to make our streets feel vibrant and alive - it's been an amazing and wonderful welcome for visitors and the best free advertising we could hope for!! And we should be doing all we can to keep it that way!! So please, cut the red tape, remove the 'personal guarantee and waste water capital facility fees', help the parklets stay and allow our businesses to enable us to enjoy sunny afternoons and beautiful warm starry nights with our meals. Its also a great way to recession-proof our city! A loving resident,
Chris Hoffman
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Don't Ruin A Good Thing !
From: Tyler Convery <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 12:57 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Don't Ruin A Good Thing !

EXTERNAL
Council,
Let me tell you, the City of Santa Monica doesn't have much going for it anymore! Downtown is beyond unpleasant and parks are out of control!!
One shining light is the outdoor dining, specifically on Main Street! We need these restaurants and the city does too! Rethink your guidelines!!
Remove the personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee! The city and its residents will NOT benefit from this misguided policy.

Best,
Tyler
--
TYLER M. CONVERY

CAROLWOOD
DRE 01987795
707 Wilshire Blvd, 47th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017
M 708.308.7987
[email protected]
www.carolwoodlp.com
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Remove Excessive Outdoor Dining Fees in Santa Monica Today!! From: Jett Levy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 1:03 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Remove Excessive Outdoor Dining Fees in Santa Monica Today!!

EXTERNAL
Hi SM Government,
I'm a homeowner on the 2700 block 3rd St. in Santa Monica behind Main St. and I'm writing to you to share my disgust with the way you have treated restaurants and outdoor dining in Santa Monica. Remove all fees and allow this to continue today, please!
It has been a blessing to have outdoor dining on Main Street and all over SM for the last 3 years. It has helped attract more revenue and made the area feel lively again. I moved in 2021 from Venice in large part to the revitalized efforts and I would strongly urge you to remove personal guarantee and water waste fees. Please allow our lovely restaurants to exist without making things harder than they already are.. Give them a chance! Why would you want to make it more difficult for local small businesses to thrive? Main St. feels dead without this outdoor dining and we already have so many vacant spaces.

Why hasn't something moved into O'briens? Where is Areal? Where is the old 3110? We need new businesses to keep this street lively and making it harder for existing businesses seems like the worst idea you all could have. Do better.

I will do my vest to vote you out if you do not make this situation right for local businesses. Please remove the additional outdoor dining fees in Santa Monica immediately.

Sincerely,
Jett Levy
--
Jett Levy
[email protected]
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: SM OUTDOOR DINING - Please Remove Personal Guarantee & Water Waste Fee! From: Yvonne Quinonez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 8:57 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: SM OUTDOOR DINING - Please Remove Personal Guarantee & Water Waste Fee!

EXTERNAL
Dearest all,
Santa Monica resident here wanting to share my voice in helping our local restaurants be able to make their full potential revenue that not only serves us as a community but supports the workers and back of the house staff. Our hospitality industry took a big enough hit with covid and now it is only fair that we do all we can to support them and be realistic with fees and taxes.

Please reconsider removing their personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee.

Put yourself in their shoes and how far they have come to even stay afloat in this pandemic and afterward. They need us to be behind them and we can't afford to lose them or lost more jobs.

Thank you!
--
Yvonne Quinonez
[email protected]
559-799-3687
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Stop ruining restaurants in Santa Monica
From: Ron Williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 10:14 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Stop ruining restaurants in Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
The parklet dining has been a huge benefit to the livability of Santa Monica. Attacking restaurants with overpriced fees to maintain outdoor dining is a poor decision. Hammering small business owners who barely survived the pandemic and new ones willing to take a chance to restore Santa Monica is a step back for city leadership.

Focus on real problems the city has like decline of the Promenade into a wasteland and lack of affordable housing for teachers and other workers we need to keep Santa Monica livable.

Ron Williams
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Main Street Dining
From: Gertrude Ayupan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 10:20 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>
Cc: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Main Street Dining

EXTERNAL
The beautification of Main Street involving outdoor dining has been so wonderful to see. Please don’t take it away. Outdoor dining should be a permanent place in Santa Monica, especially for a city that has wonderful weather throughout the year. Main Street needs to be showcased in this way for visitors. This e-mail is to ask that you please remove both the Personal Guarantee and Water Wasted Capital Facility Fee for those businesses being affected on Main Street.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Gertrude Cogo

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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: PLEASE remove unfair outdoor seating fees and regulations From: Ben Godfrey <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 4:18 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: PLEASE remove unfair outdoor seating fees and regulations

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis & City Council,
My name is Ben Godfrey and I have been a Santa Monica resident for 5 years. I am writing to you on behalf of all local restaurants, but in particular, a restaurant named Crudo e Nudo. They are a wonderful neighborhood restaurant located on Main Street and they have been open and transparent with their customers in regards to the exorbitant fees and nearly impossible hoops they are being forced to jump through just to retain their outdoor seating. And therefore, I am asking that the “personal guarantee” and “water waste capital facility fee” be removed entirely. In the wake of the pandemic, we have all watched Main Street blossom into one of LAs greatest streets for gathering and enjoying food & drink with loved ones and friends. This new legislation will devastate that strip of restaurants and retail locations and force many businesses to close. Crudo's interior space cannot support the amount of diners needed for their business to be sustainable, they need exterior overflow seating and the exorbitant fees you are levying on them per seat are absurd.

I believe that city councils and all local elected officials have a responsibility to make the community they serve both welcoming and lucrative for all local businesses, especially restaurants (which are an immense value add to any community). But rather than make our city one in which the government and business owners can positively work together to enrich us as a whole, you have chosen to make us a city that is entirely too demanding and unwelcoming of small businesses. That is incredibly shameful. I know I don’t want to live somewhere where beloved local businesses are shuttering at shockingly high rates and where there is a reputation for an unwillingness to work together to promote small businesses.

I ask that you please share with me the legislation and the motivation behind this change in Santa Monica's policy for street dining in the wake of the pandemic. I understand that there is likely a liability concern for diner's eating so close to the roadway and costs associated with putting up barricades to safely allow diner's to eat along the road. But can't these costs be absorbed by Santa Monica taxpayers?
Just to reiterate, in order to make it possible for our restaurants with outdoor seating to at least survive, I am asking that the “personal guarantee” and “water waste capital facility fee” be removed entirely from the list of fees and regulations placed upon our restaurants.

Thanks,
Ben Godfrey
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Request to remove unfair outdoor seating fees and regulations From: Allison White <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 3:37 PM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Request to remove unfair outdoor seating fees and regulations

EXTERNAL
To whom this may concern,
My name is Allison White and I am a resident of Santa Monica. I am writing to you as a resident and on behalf of all local restaurants, but in particular, a restaurant named Crudo e Nudo. They are a wonderful neighborhood restaurant located on Main Street and they have been open and transparent with their customers in regards to the exorbitant fees and nearly impossible hoops they are being forced to jump through just to retain their outdoor seating. And therefore, I am asking that the “personal guarantee” and “water waste capital facility fee” be removed entirely.

I believe that city councils and all local elected officials have a responsilbity to make the community they serve both welcoming and lucrative for all local businesses, especially restaurants (which are an immense value add to any community). But rather than make our city one in which the government and business owners can positviely work together to enrich us as a whole, you have chosen to make us a city that is entirely too demanding and unwelcoming of small businesses. That is incredibly shameful. I know I don’t want to live someplace where beloved local businesses are shuttering at shockingly high rates and where there is a reputation for an unwillingness to work together to promote small businesses.

As someone who works in the food service industry, I know how incredibly hard the restaurant owners and workers that are being affected by these fees and regulations work. I also know that they are chose to do this hard work every day because they want to share what they care about most with a community they care about deely. Why in the world would we be doing anything other than fostering that?
Just to reiterate, in order to make it possible for our restaurants with outdoor seating to at least survive, I am asking that the “personal guarantee” and “water waste capital facility fee” be removed entirely from the list of fees and regulations placed upon our restaurants.

Thank you for your time.

Allison White
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Save outdoor dining in SM
From: Alastair Duncan <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 11:44 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Save outdoor dining in SM

EXTERNAL
I eat outside in Santa Monica all the time
Why are you charging restaurants and unsustainable fee to keep the outdoor dining? I won’t come and eat indoors ‐ there is still risk
I want to save outdoor dining and make it easy for restaurants Remove the personal guarantee quote and the water waste capital facility fee Why would you kill one of the few positives to come from this pandemic.

Sent from my iPhone
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Fees For Outdoor Dining in Santa Monica
From: Robin Venturelli <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]> Subject: Fees For Outdoor Dining in Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis and City Council Representatives,
I am a resident of Santa Monica. I urge you to remove the personal guarantee and the water waste capital facility fee entirely so our outdoor dining establishments can flourish.

Thank you,
Robin Venturelli
ROBIN VENTURELLI | MUSIC, TRAVEL, PHILANTHROPY, MERRIMENT Phone: (310) 383‐2323
1221 Ocean Ave, Penthouse 1701
Santa Monica CA 90401
BlueHairedBlonde.com
https://www.bluehairedblond.photography/
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Remove Fees
From: Justine M. Jose <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 8:33 AM
To: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>
Cc: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Remove Fees

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor,
I am writing to express my concern about the recent introduction of the "personal guarantee"and the "water waste capital facility fee" in our city. As a resident and taxpayer, I believe that these measures are unfair and unjustified, and I respectfully request that you take steps to have them removed.

I strongly believe that these measures are not in the best interest of our community, and I ask that you consider alternative solutions that are more equitable and sustainable in the long run.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Justine Jose
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Please don’t be greedy!
From: Elizabeth Edouard <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 11:19 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Please don’t be greedy!

EXTERNAL
Hi,
The pandemic was horrible, but the best thing that happened was outdoor seating to make a new normal by charging these absurd fees to restaurants who are near and dear to our communities you are diminishing the lives of your community. That is not what you’d like to do. Please remove the personal guarantee and water waste capital facility fee!!
Regards,
A concerned community member
‐‐
Elizabeth Edouard B.S. Business Administration | May 2016 Haas School of Business | University of California, Berkeley [email protected] | (305) 490‐5210
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: You are damaging our city
From: Jacqueline Holmes <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 8:20 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Gleam Davis <[email protected]>
Subject: You are damaging our city

EXTERNAL
Have you seen what has is happening on Main St ??!?!?! Disappearing outdoor dining.

You have destroyed tremendous value, with unreasonable burdens on restaurants. You should be INVESTING city money to actively build & support vibrant streets, not driving that away!!!! Post 2020 we now spend more time near home. That means more and more vibrant, local, walkable communities are ever more important. Not filled with chain restaurants ‐ with independent local restaurants that contribute to the community and appeal to residents (and tourists) and that cannot afford to be taken advantage of in this way.

The burdensome approach to outdoor dining is unreasonable (especially the personal guarantee, per seat fees) ‐ with this, you have made a choice to drive down : property values; health happiness and satisfaction of residents; business and tax base; economic vibrancy; personal safety and traffic safety.

I hope you will immediately consider how you can invest money to support outdoor dining, not place unreasonable and unrealistic burdens on those businesses who make SM what it is.

Thank you.

Jacqueline Holmes
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From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 4:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Punishing Outdoor fees
From: christine fleming <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 5:39 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Punishing Outdoor fees

EXTERNAL
The Water waste capital facility fee, personal guarantee and $1450/chair charge are all over reaches that hinder small businesses in an already awful economy.

This city is already overtaxed. Why are you punishing businesses that revitalize the area with more and more fees? Main Street will go back to an empty wasteland full of rats.

Please reconsider all of these fees and think about small business and the revitalization of our area.

Christine Fleming
214 Ashland Ave.

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Santa Monica City CouncilFebruary 14, 2023

Santa Monica City Council
February 14, 2023