1 David Yakobson
From: Tim Noonan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 2:55 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Olympic Beach Volleyball
EXTERNAL
As a Palisades Beach Road homeowner, I am hopeful the council will seek input from those (like us) who would be most affected by a venue on the State Beach north of the pier.
From an economic point of view, unless our city stands to at least have a neutral impact to its budget, I cannot imagine why we would want to fund such, given that all of our other services are currently being stretched – particularly our growing need for men and women in uniform.
Tim Noonan
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Shelby Eggers <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 4:20 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: LA28 - A bad deal for Santa Monica City!
EXTERNAL
Hello there!
I am emailing regarding the meeting today about LA28 and to encourage Santa Monica City to REJECT the LA28 Games agreement.
As you have already seen, Santa Monica City is poised to lose millions of dollars by participating in the LA28 Olympic Games. If LA28 fails to raise enough revenue from the games (which is likely because practically every single Olympics ever has lost money from hosting the games), then Santa Monica residents will be on the hook for millions of dollars.
There is also a complete lack of concern regarding the environmental impact of building "temporary" stadiums for these events.
Not to mention, Santa Monica residents never even had the opportunity to vote on whether the LA28 Olympics is something they want.
Please think of what's best for the residents of Santa Monica City and REJECT the LA28 Games Agreement.
--
x Cheers
Shelby Eggers (she/her)
[email protected]
(404) 316-9479
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Jason Vogel <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 1:49 PM
To: Kurt Schwengel
Cc: David Newberg; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Kris Schwengels; Holly; Leo Quinones; [email protected]; Tim Noonan; Paul Schneider; Jon Spica; Ron Miller; Andre de Montesquiou; Andrew & Gail Worswick; Jenny Morant; Jonathan Brandler; Mark Robbins; Nuchow; John C. Smith
Subject: Re: Beach Volleyball Olympic stadium
EXTERNAL
Is this still the plan?
Even without this stadium, I believe that The Pier will be overrun by tourists and that would impact us more than usual.
I’d prefer that they not put the stadium there. That makes me a NIMB - Not In My Beach LOL.
If we are to put up with this, I agree that we should ask for 2 tickets per unit.
Olympic Volleyball still set for Santa Monica
despite lack of signed agreement
smdp.com
Best wishes,
Jason Vogel, MA, MBA
1278 Glenneyre St. Suite 300
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
1642 R Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
CA RE License 01815890
Cell: (310) 770-8081
"What you think about, you bring about."®
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
3 On Oct 8, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Kurt Schwengel <[email protected]> wrote:
First and foremost I would like to make it clear that I welcome the Olympic venue coming to our neighborhood. I cannot imagine another Olympic venue being placed so close to a residential neighborhood. We have 33 homes on our block who are going to be greatly affected by this stadium and virtually none of it will be positive (unless we ask for it).
Logistics:
This will be a 12,000 seat stadium, HOWEVER, they can run 2 or 3 sessions per day which means that except for the final few days there will be either 24K or 36K people moving through the neighborhood per day!
The fans will start arriving around 8am and other fans attending the later session will not be leaving the venue until after midnight.
The noise will be very intrusive. Most of our neighborhood is currently having trouble sleeping due to the music coming from the dance club/bar atop the Shangri-la building and we can also hear the music from the pier on weekends so the stadium noise will be very intrusive.
There will be no parking in the south lot so everyone who arrives in cars will be parking in the north lot and walking right past our houses. Parking will be a disaster for everyone with many people who arrive late parking in our driveways like they do for the Cirque Du Soleil events. I realize that Mayor Bass is calling for a "no car" Olympics but come on, that is not going to happen.
So the question becomes "what can the Olympic committee do for the neighborhood?". I realize they would never ever compensate us financially so I think the only thing we can ask for is tickets to the events. I think 2 tickets to each session each day per household would be fair.
Thanks,
Kurt Schwengel
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Kurt Schwengel <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 1:21 PM
To: David Newberg; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Kris Schwengel Cc: Holly; Leo Quinones; [email protected]; [email protected]; Tim Noonan; Paul Schneider; Jon Spica; Ron Miller; Andre de Montesquiou; Andrew & Gail Worswick; Jenny Morant; Jonathan Brandler; Mark Robbins; Nuchow; John C. Smith Subject: Beach Volleyball Olympic stadium
EXTERNAL
First and foremost I would like to make it clear that I welcome the Olympic venue coming to our neighborhood. I cannot imagine another Olympic venue being placed so close to a residential neighborhood. We have 33 homes on our block who are going to be greatly affected by this stadium and virtually none of it will be positive (unless we ask for it).
Logistics:
This will be a 12,000 seat stadium, HOWEVER, they can run 2 or 3 sessions per day which means that except for the final few days there will be either 24K or 36K people moving through the neighborhood per day!
The fans will start arriving around 8am and other fans attending the later session will not be leaving the venue until after midnight.
The noise will be very intrusive. Most of our neighborhood is currently having trouble sleeping due to the music coming from the dance club/bar atop the Shangri-la building and we can also hear the music from the pier on weekends so the stadium noise will be very intrusive.
There will be no parking in the south lot so everyone who arrives in cars will be parking in the north lot and walking right past our houses. Parking will be a disaster for everyone with many people who arrive late parking in our driveways like they do for the Cirque Du Soleil events. I realize that Mayor Bass is calling for a "no car" Olympics but come on, that is not going to happen.
So the question becomes "what can the Olympic committee do for the neighborhood?". I realize they would never ever compensate us financially so I think the only thing we can ask for is tickets to the events. I think 2 tickets to each session each day per household would be fair.
Thanks,
Kurt Schwengel
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Marianne O'Donnell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 4:55 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: No to Santa Monica hosting LA28's beach volleyball
EXTERNAL
Below my comment to the local papers reporting that City Council is entertaining hosting LA28's beach volleyball - at a substantial net cost to the City = us, taxpayers:
Editor,
I’m shocked to read that, in their usual delusions of grandeur, City Council and City Hall are entertaining the possibility of hosting LA28’s beach volleyball, even though the total net loss to the City is projected to be $12.1 million - of taxpayers’ money! As long-time, middle-class constituents, voters and taxpayers, we’re sick and tired of financing City government’s Marie-Antoinette follies that do not benefit the constituents, who should be the City’s priority.
Enough with being fleeced. Enough with paying taxes for everyone else but those living and doing business in Santa Monica. Enough with giving priority to transients, addicts, criminals, and "aspirational" projects over public safety, street repairs, community services, and more. Enough with de-penalizing crime and ignoring the victims of such crimes. Enough with the City systematically disregarding constituents’ will and well-being, putting visitors at risk, and driving our once beautiful town into a downward spiral.
Enough with the City’s delusions of grandeur that cost but do not benefit the community. Enough with taxation without representation. When will those City ideologues finally learn?! When even a SMPD officer gets stabbed and in danger for his life, and so after a string of violent crimes, constant assault and harassment of residents that’s been dismissed by the City for too many years, when will those supposed to represent us will do their job, and actually represent the constituents?
When City government cannot, and will not, focus on the best interests of its constituents, it’s time to fire them all. E-nough.
Marianne O'Donnell
Santa Monica resident
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Brian Stedge-Stroud <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:41 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 7A - LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee
EXTERNAL
Hi Mayor and Councilmembers,
I strongly support Santa Monica hosting beach volleyball for the Olympics. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the City to showcase to the world, corporations, and potential new businesses how amazing Santa Monica is.
Santa Monica's economy has been slow to bounce back from COVID-19 and consumers' changing spending habits.
This is an opportunity to kick start the 3rd Street Promenade's revival with great restaurants, new entertainment experiences, and a ton of foot traffic for our small businesses.
The increased foot traffic from tourists could also greatly benefit our Main Street business corridor, Montona, and Pico.
This will be an investment in Santa Monica's future. While some will argue that Santa Monica should stick its head in the sand, we will be kneecapping our City's reputation for future profit-driving events.
Please bring LA28 to Santa Monica.
Brian Stedge
90404
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Cindy Pfeifer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 12:27 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Olympics and Pier Tenants
EXTERNAL
Greetings Mayor & Councilmembers,
The Santa Monica Pier Lessees, representing the 29 businesses on the pier, is very interested in the 2028 Olympic Games planning to be discussed under item 7a of your agenda on October 8, 2024. While we agree that the 2028 Olympic Games offer a lot of great opportunities for Santa Monica and the greater LA area, we are concerned about many of the provisions outlined in the City staff report including maintaining access to the pier and our businesses.
From past experience with large scale events, we know that, volleyball or not, Santa Monica will figure prominently in the media and attendees travel and visitation plans throughout the Olympics. We know that Olympic visitors will flock to our hotels, beaches, pier and city businesses as they view Santa Monica and most especially the Santa Monica Pier as a “must see” when visiting the LA area.
Three stark facts stand out in the City Report:
1) Potential net loss of 12.1 million. A number we do not feel takes into effect many of the construction and tear down business revenue losses, loss of percentage rent from city lessees, loss of employee spend, along with other indirect financial losses.
2) There is really nothing in the report on the losses to local businesses due to shut down, loss of customer access, loss of parking and loss of event revenue. Losses that will start during construction and extend for many years on. Once you lose customers it is a long process to build back their return, a lesson the pandemic clearly taught us.
3) The tradeoff for the above negatives are:
a. Community Pride
b. Brand Enhancement
c. Earned Media Coverage
We do not need to host Volleyball to enjoy Community Pride, Brand Enhancement and Earned Media Coverage courtesy of the Olympics. In fact, it does seem like the contracts could force us to give up some of these and/or lessen their value.
A few years ago, a LA24 representative came to our tenant meeting. At that time, we asked about opportunities to do food in the Volleyball venue, but were rebuffed as they stated they would bring in their own vendors. The lack of partnership with local businesses they would probably be displacing is concerning, that concern is compounded by the suggestion in the report that taxes on these sales could be diverted to Los Angeles.
We were further advised that there would be a large scale “security perimeter”. Once guests entered that area, there would be no interaction with local business and all purchases would be made inside the secure area. Guests will be disinclined to leave this area due to the inconvenience of going through security again and the expectation that there will be strict limits on packages and purchases that could be brought in.
Please note, our association has not had any success with our outreach to LA28 Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
4 For the Pier and beach businesses, most who have still not recovered from the pandemic, the scenario presented in the City Report appears to be catastrophic. It will be compounded by any loss of revenue from the bridge construction. It does not present as a good business decision and in fact, for some, presents as the final nail in the coffin.
1) No assurance that the Pier will remain open and fully operational throughout the entirety of the games. What the report leaves out is that these possibilities will not be limited to the Olympics themselves but will include the construction and tear down of the volleyball venue. This would be counterproductive to the stated benefits of Brand Enhancement and Earned Media coverage as it is well known that the Santa Monica Pier is the iconic image blasted out to the world during any event in the LA area.
2) Pier and Beach businesses will be prevented from pursuing alternative revenue sources from special events unless approved by LA28. These months are a busy time for the Pier and Beach businesses with a robust corporate and private events schedule, which we assume would be augmented with additional Olympic corporate events. Many of the businesses count on living off and paying their bills and staff with these profits in the slower winter months. 3) Large scale employee layoffs and/or terminations due to decreased business or possible total shut down. These employees are not only an important part of our community, but also spend a significant amount of their income in Santa Monica.
Given that the staff report indicates the city financial benefit is greater without entering into the venue agreement as currently proposed, we encourage you to continue negotiations with LA28 in a way that protects local businesses, maintains public access to the pier and beaches, and offers protections to our ability to control the Santa Monica Pier experience for our guests.
Thank you for keeping us top-of mind for all issues impacting our pier, Cindy Pfeifer on behalf of the Santa Monica Pier Lessees Association Cell: 310.663.6019
Email: [email protected]
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Hans Beischel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 11:39 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 10/8/24 - Agenda Item 7: Don't Accept a Bad Deal! Reject the LA28 Games Agreement
EXTERNAL
Re: 10/8/24 - Agenda Item 7
Santa Monica’s own analysis shows the city stands to lose more than $12 million from hosting volleyball. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning. When—not if—LA28’s budget balloons well beyond their estimates (as has happened at every Games in memory), Santa Monica will be on the hook for untold sums.
What does Santa Monica hope to gain from this expensive experiment? Don’t fall for the hype.
Reject the Games.
Best,
Hans
—
Hans Beischel
[email protected]
310-880-5615
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Jim Harris <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 10:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 7.A. Study Session on the City of Santa Monica's Proposed Games Agreement with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee Dear Santa Monica City Council Members;
I write you today regarding City Council Meeting Agenda Item 7.A. - Study Session on the City of Santa Monica's Proposed Games Agreement with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee. I know that there is much to consider as you strive to determine the best path for Santa Monica and ask that you apply special consideration to the overall impact that the presence of the beach volleyball games will have on the Pier and the Pier Corporation.
The City Staff Report presents a very thorough examination of the impacts of each side of the proposed Olympic games on Santa Monica Beach and does a good job on Page 10 in pointing out concerns from the City’s perspective regarding “Revenue-Generating Opportunities” and “Pier Operations”. I would like to point out my own concerns regarding the possible impacts within those two subjects that will have on the Santa Monica Pier Corporation.
First, I must state that the Pier Corporation Board of Directors has not taken a position nor made a recommendation on this topic. I write you today as the CEO of the organization specifically to point out the potential financial impacts upon the Pier Corporation that I foresee should the proposed agreement with LA28 go forward.
Santa Monica has a unique opportunity with the potential presence of the 2028 Olympics’ beach volleyball games next to the Pier, especially with regard to social media impressions and overall brand awareness for Santa Monica and the Pier. But there are other realities that come with this as well.
During the summer months for the past three years, the Pier Corporation has averaged almost $250,000 income from event rentals - a significant amount of the income expectations within our annual budget and income that we rely upon to produce the free public programming that the Santa Monica community has come to expect. As you are already aware, our annual grant from the City has been cut from the prepandemic number of $750,000 to the current level of $150,000. That, alongside the nation-wide downward trend of funding from corporate sponsorships, has left us very much reliant upon that summertime income boost in order to provide the community with its expectations.
Loss of that summertime boost will hamper our ability to fulfill those expectations and, simultaneously, our mission to curate the pleasure pier experience for locals, visitors and admirers.
With this information, I hope that the upcoming Study Session will include special consideration regarding the economical impacts beyond those upon the City’s budget, but also toward organizations like the Pier Corporation which will see highly significant impacts as well.
Thank you, and all best regards,
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
3 To help
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from the
Internet.
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 5, 2024 2:09 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Item 7A, on Tuesday - 2028 Olympics
EXTERNAL
This note supplements the comments dated October 4, 2024 relating to Item 7A.
A preliminary consideration is the legal representation of the City in the entire Olympic transaction since May, 2023 by the Sheppard, Mullin law firm.
The Staff Report says that same firm also represents UCLA, USC, the City of Pasadena, and the Rose Bowl in connection with their respective rights and obligations concerning the Olympics. One has to wonder whether such a situation leads to major conflict of issue issues. I suggest that our City Attorney and the law firm each promptly provide Santa Monica with detailed letters as to the conflict of issue question, based in part on the substantive questions the firm has already dealt with on behalf of the 5 clients.
The 2016 Guarantee provided by the City to LA 24, amended last year to apply without change, except as to dates, to the 2028 Games, omits provisions as to many highly significant issues, including several mentioned in the Staff Report. While the omissions do not result in the contract not being binding on both parties, they do result in an obligation on both to reasonably negotiate appropriate additional terms and conditions.
One provision that is not dealt with is the obligation of LA 28 to reimburse the City for all expenses related to the Olympics being here over City costs if they were not here.This obligation is citywide, not limited to the Beach volleyball area.See subsection three of the Guarantee, which clearly confirms the extent of the obligation.There is no language as to when the reimbursement is to be made, but is to be negotiated in an agreement between the parties.
There is no term limiting any right of the City to sue any entity, and that provision may not be implied as to LA 28, the City of LA, or the State.
Three cities have apparently agreed to LA’s form of Games Agreement. Nothing in Santa Monica’s Guarantee obligates to doing anything so foolish, and whoever represents the City, legally and as the business negotiator, must use his or her skills to reach reasonable terms and language on every part of the deal.
One question that is answered by the Guarantee is the situation relating to the Pier. Appendix A to the Guarantee contains a statement that Pier operations will NOT be affected. Nothing could be clearer! Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
5 Sent from my iPad
> On Oct 4, 2024, at 2:51 PM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> The Staff Report for Item 7 A , submitted by David White comprehensively and correctly ( except as explained below) describes the 3 options now available to the City concerning its participation, or lack thereof, in the Beach Volleyball portions of the 2028 LA Olympics. It is particularly strong in describing in some detail the very substantial legal and financial risks to a City with other major monetary problems , including legal fees possibly owed to Plaintiffs’ lawyers in the District elections case and ever continuing huge settlements arising from the sexual abuse actions, if the Games Agreement were signed as now proposed. >
>
>
>
> However, the Staff Report, for unexplained reasons , totally neglects to advise Council or the public that the City lacks the legal right to unilaterally decide to not further contract with LA 28 and therefore Santa Monica would >
>
>
> not be the venue for any event. It is puzzling why neither City Attorney Doug Sloan nor the outstanding law firm representing our City on the matter allowed David to omit entirely from his Staff Report that highly significant obligation assumed by our Ciy.
>
>
>
> In 2016, Council decided to participate in the 2024 Games if it were held in LA. The Agreement was executed by Rod Gould and delivered to the CEOs in LA and Switzerland.It included a rather thorough summary of the main business terms between the City and the LA Committee, and was certainly intended to be an absolutely binding agreement on both parties.I believe a Court would make that finding. >
> In 2023, David White executed and delivered to the Committee a letter saying that all the agreements made in 2016 would apply to the 2024 Games. Bottom line is that if Council decides not to participate, it would be in breach of its obligations to the Committee. The alternative of renegotiating the terms seems to be not acceptable to the Committee since all its Approved Agreements with other cities appear to be on identical forms( see exhibits to the Staff Report).
>
> Of course, the Committee might throw a party if Santa Monica opts to drop out. This, of course, would depend on other options available to the Committee and approved by the International governing body, to hold the same event, either indoors or out. If that happens, perhaps the Committee could not prove in a Court any or a meaningful amount of damages. No one can predict now the results in such a scenario. >
>
> Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
6 David Yakobson
From: Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 4, 2024 2:51 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 7A, on Tuesday - 2028 Olympics
EXTERNAL
The Staff Report for Item 7 A , submitted by David White comprehensively and correctly ( except as explained below) describes the 3 options now available to the City concerning its participation, or lack thereof, in the Beach Volleyball portions of the 2028 LA Olympics. It is particularly strong in describing in some detail the very substantial legal and financial risks to a City with other major monetary problems , including legal fees possibly owed to Plaintiffs’ lawyers in the District elections case and ever continuing huge settlements arising from the sexual abuse actions, if the Games Agreement were signed as now proposed.
However, the Staff Report, for unexplained reasons , totally neglects to advise Council or the public that the City lacks the legal right to unilaterally decide to not further contract with LA 28 and therefore Santa Monica would not be the venue for any event. It is puzzling why neither City Attorney Doug Sloan nor the outstanding law firm representing our City on the matter allowed David to omit entirely from his Staff Report that highly significant obligation assumed by our Ciy.
In 2016, Council decided to participate in the 2024 Games if it were held in LA. The Agreement was executed by Rod Gould and delivered to the CEOs in LA and Switzerland.It included a rather thorough summary of the main business terms between the City and the LA Committee, and was certainly intended to be an absolutely binding agreement on both parties.I believe a Court would make that finding.
In 2023, David White executed and delivered to the Committee a letter saying that all the agreements made in 2016 would apply to the 2024 Games. Bottom line is that if Council decides not to participate, it would be in breach of its obligations to the Committee. The alternative of renegotiating the terms seems to be not acceptable to the Committee since all its Approved Agreements with other cities appear to be on identical forms( see exhibits to the Staff Report).
Of course, the Committee might throw a party if Santa Monica opts to drop out. This, of course, would depend on other options available to the Committee and approved by the International governing body, to hold the same event, either indoors or out. If that happens, perhaps the Committee could not prove in a Court any or a meaningful amount of damages. No one can predict now the results in such a scenario.
Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
7 Sent from my iPad
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024
Item 7-A
October 8, 2024