Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, June 24, 2025

Invoice #:

Travel and Meeting Expense Report Invoice Date:

Employee ID 23994
Employee Name
Department / Division Employee Signature
Purpose of Travel Name of Approver1
Travel or Meeting Date(s) Signature of Approver1
Destination
Registration Other
03/17/25 650.00 650.00
03/17/25 212.96 212.96
04/23/25 267.12
04/23/25 64.50 64.50
04/24/25 32.25 32.25
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL (A): 212.96 - 96.75 650.00 - $1,226.83
Date City PCard City Check Total Amount Net Due to Employee (A less B) $96.75 03/17/25 650 650.00
03/17/25 212.96 212.96
04/23/25 267.12 267.12
- Account Description Amount
- 96.75
-
-
-
-
Effective December 18, 2018 TOTAL (B): $1,130.08
Cal Cities Leaders Summit 0425
4/28/2025
Sacramento, CA
April 23-24, 2025
Cal Cities Leaders Summit
Council
City of Santa Monica
Caroline Torosis
1 Division Manager or Department Director (if Employee is Department Director, Approver should be City Manager or Designee)
By signature, I hereby certify that the expenses listed below reflect actual expenses incurred in the course of authorized business for the benefit of the City of Santa Monica.

Josh Kurpies
Travel and Meeting Expenses Already Paid by City Purchasing Card or City Check Summary 01100001.531702
Hotel Allocate Amount from Summary to Accounts Below
Account #
267.12
Registration If the amount is negative (B is greater than A), this is the amount due back to the City--attach a personal check made payable to "City of Santa Monica." Flight - Southwest Trav/Mtgs/Conf-CT
Description of Expenses
Per Diem - First Day of Travel
Per Diem - Last Day of Travel - breakfast and lunch provided Registration
Flight - Southwest
Hyatt Regency Hotel 4/23-4/24 267.12
Date Daily Total
Description of Expenses
Must attach supporting documentation: conference documentation, required receipts per Administrative Instruction, confirmations, per diem rates, etc.

Lodging
Other Costs
(Must specify what the
expenses are)
Airfare
Ground
(Personal car - attach
Mileage Reimburse-ment
Claim form)
Transportation Meals & Incidentals*
(No Alcohol)
Daily Meal Per Diem
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Invoice #:

Travel and Meeting Expense Report Invoice Date:

Employee ID 23559
Employee Name
Department / Division Employee Signature
Purpose of Travel Name of Approver1
Travel or Meeting Date(s) Signature of Approver1
Destination
Registration Other
03/18/25 650.00 650.00
03/18/25 217.96 217.96
04/23/25 1,129.12
04/23/25 64.50 64.50
04/24/25 43.00 43.00
04/25/25 51.60 51.60
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL (A): 217.96 - 159.10 650.00 - $2,156.18
Date City PCard City Check Total Amount Net Due to Employee (A less B) $159.10 03/18/25 650 650.00
03/18/25 217.96 217.96
04/23/25 1129.12 1,129.12
- Account Description Amount
- 159.10
-
-
-
-
Effective December 18, 2018 TOTAL (B): $1,997.08
Cal Cities Leaders Summit 0425
4/28/2025
Sacramento, CA
April 23-25, 2025
Cal Cities Leaders Summit
Council
City of Santa Monica
Lana Negrete
1 Division Manager or Department Director (if Employee is Department Director, Approver should be City Manager or Designee)
By signature, I hereby certify that the expenses listed below reflect actual expenses incurred in the course of authorized business for the benefit of the City of Santa Monica.

Josh Kurpies
Travel and Meeting Expenses Already Paid by City Purchasing Card or City Check Summary 01100001.531920
Hotel Allocate Amount from Summary to Accounts Below
Account #
1,129.12
Registration If the amount is negative (B is greater than A), this is the amount due back to the City--attach a personal check made payable to "City of Santa Monica." Flight - Southwest Trav/Mtgs/Conf-LN
Description of Expenses
Per Diem - First Day of Travel
Per Diem - breakfast and lunch provided
Per Diem - Last Day of Travel - breakfast provided
Registration
Flight - Southwest
Hyatt Regency Hotel 4/23-4/25 1,129.12
Date Daily Total
Description of Expenses
Must attach supporting documentation: conference documentation, required receipts per Administrative Instruction, confirmations, per diem rates, etc.

Travel and Meeting Expense Report Invoice Date:

Employee ID 23559
Employee Name
Department / Division Employee Signature
Purpose of Travel Name of Approver1
Travel or Meeting Date(s) Signature of Approver1
Destination
Registration Other
03/03/25 $148.48 148.48
03/03/25 148.48 148.48
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL (A): 296.96 - - - - $296.96
Date City PCard City Check Total Amount Net Due to Employee (A less B) $0.00 03/03/25 148.48 148.48
03/03/28 148.48 148.48
-
- Account Description Amount
-
-
-
-
-
Effective December 18, 2018 TOTAL (B): $296.96
Date Daily Total
Description of Expenses
Must attach supporting documentation: conference documentation, required receipts per Administrative Instruction, confirmations, per diem rates, etc.

Lodging
Other Costs
(Must specify what the
expenses are)
Airfare
Ground
(Personal car - attach
Mileage Reimburse-ment
Claim form)
Transportation Meals & Incidentals*
(No Alcohol)
Daily Meal Per Diem
Flight - Los Angeles to Sacramento - United Airlines
Flight - Sacramento to Los Angeles - Southwest Airlines 01100001.

Allocate Amount from Summary to Accounts Below
Account #
-
Flight - Los Angeles to Sacramento - United Airline If the amount is negative (B is greater than A), this is the amount due back to the City--attach a personal check made payable to "City of Santa Monica." Flight - Sacramento to Los Angeles - Southwest A Description of Expenses
Travel and Meeting Expenses Already Paid by City Purchasing Card or City Check Summary Capitol Visit 0325
3/3/2025
Sacramento, CA
March 3, 2025
Capitol Visit
Council
City of Santa Monica
Lana Negrete
1 Division Manager or Department Director (if Employee is Department Director, Approver should be City Manager or Designee)
By signature, I hereby certify that the expenses listed below reflect actual expenses incurred in the course of authorized business for the benefit of the City of Santa Monica.

Josh Kurpies
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
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1 David Yakobson
From: Rob Bailis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 2:58 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: with gratitude

EXTERNAL
Dear esteemed members of City Council and Santa Monica city leadership, As you consider the next fiscal year and the upcoming budget, I reach out today with sincere gratitude for the financial support the arts receive through the Santa Monica Cultural Affairs grant making programs.

This is such a critical component of our civic life, to be able to gather as a community and engage with artists as they in turn engage with the most important issues of our day. To share in spaces of joy, of collaboration, of discourse, and of inspiration, helps to shape our cultural identity. This prepares us to be a resilient and nuanced community ready to work together in the face of challenges, change, and the evolution of most dearly held beliefs. As we at BroadStage prepare to launch a destination, international, Jazz festival that will carry the city's name, we are drawn ever closer to the ways we can directly impact the growth of our economy and play our part in enlivening the many iconic locations of our city with artists, visitors, and locals alike. The arts drive economic growth and civic well being like few other things can. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to secure this multi-year, recurring support from the city, that sustains our operations and enables us to give back in so many ways to all of Santa Monica.

With gratitude - Rob Bailis
--
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

BroadStage Rob Bailis
Artistic and Executive Director
O: 310.434.3412
broadstage.org
This message, including any attachments, may include privileged, confidential and/or inside information. Any distribution or use of this communication by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited unless authorized by the sender and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by replying to this message and then delete it from your system.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 12:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ***Agenda Item 12.B.** Please Hire 5 Police as You Promised in Your Election Campaigns

EXTERNAL
Dear Council.. ONE OF YOUR ELECTION PROMISES WERE “SAFETY AS A PRIORITY” **WE NEED SAFETY NOW MORE THAN EVER WITH PROMENADE PROMOTIONS, BUSINESS

RECOVERY,
TOURISM!
- PLEASE HONOR WHAT OUR CHIEF SAYS WE NEED : THE 5 NEW POLICE OFFICERS. **IT IS YOUR DUTY AS OUR COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE PROTECTING YOUR SM CONSTITUENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS….

1. PLEASE Hire THE FIVE Police Officers as requested by our Chief of Police

2. Preserve the Neighborhood Association grant funding program

3. Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches – 30 YEAR SANTA MONICA RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Mindi Shank <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: 6/24/25 SM City Council Meeting - Item 12B Budget - Oppose Private Business Park Development and Cuts to Basic Resident Services

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I am writing to object to several items in the proposed budget that best exemplify this city council's failure to prioritize residents, our well being, and civic engagement.

Development of the Business Park Using City Staff to help a Private Developer without Community Engagement.

The Community Development Department Workplan, includes: "Assist Boston Properties with planning for strategic changes to Airport Business Park to assist with business retainment Consult with property owner to provide timely feedback on future work at the site, followed by timely review of proposals and applications."
This obviously impacts Sunset Park directly, but it is also integral to the airport closure discussion.

This is 48 acres and you recently gave staff ministerial approval to develop housing here. Residents objected to that because it is inappropriate to allow staff to determine the fate of such a large parcel without a public process, and also for it not being addressed together with the airport since it is adjacent land and any sensible master planning efforts would look at our city as a whole.

Boston Properties has been steadily buying up the entire Business Park and has massive private resources at its disposal. We do not need to provide them with staff "assistance" outside public view to help them maximize their private return on investment at the expense of residents. In the LUCE, the Business Park is supposed to be a specific plan, like Downtown or Bergamot, not a an arrangement between a private developer and city staff made behind closed doors.

Please remove this from staff workflow and establish a public process for development of the Business Park.

Five Basic Resident Services That Cost Relatively Little and Cutting Them Shows Residents Aren't a Priority for this Council.

1. Fund Neighborhood Organizations. This program is a lifeline for grassroots public participation in our local government. Neighborhood groups are also very adept at letting the Council know the pulse of our population. The seven neighborhood groups help empower residents to uplift their blocks and build bridges between neighbors. Fully funding them isn’t just practical – it’s a vote of confidence in people who call Santa Monica home.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 2. Fund Fertilizing our Sports Fields. This is really quite a pathetic cut in a city that is already overcrowded and short on field space. Plus, we can all see this setting up a narrative for what bad shape the fields are in as an excuse to replace them with plastic. This is unacceptable in a city that claims to be progressive, sustainable, healthy, and pro-environment. Soon, there won't be any natural surfaces left in this town. And if caring about residents isn't motivation enough, how about the lawsuits you risk subjecting the city to for knowingly and intentionally failing to properly maintain our fields that thousands of people use every week?

3. Hold Parking Pass Fees. Doubling the cost of parking passes isn't ok. We pay so many taxes and fees already to live here. Your expectation that nobody needs a car is a fantasy in LA, and the increases hit families the hardest. You shouldn't balance the budget by continuing to raise the fees for basic resident needs. Please support the residents, who support this city with property taxes and community involvement. Without residents, there would be little to attract tourists and renters!

4. Reopen our Libraries. Libraries are engines of opportunity and cherished by so many. Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access to learning, connection, and community matters. Jesse Zwick's mea culpa and other council comments in support of our libraries are hollow statements absent funding. In the current political environment it's just shameful to keep libraries closed.

5. Sufficiently Fund Police. Our neighborhoods and business districts must FEEL safe. Our police and public safety teams need the resources to respond swiftly and effectively 24/7. Chief Batista needs an additional five officers to reduce overtime expenditures and better patrol the city, especially given the new initiatives you’ve launched to encourage tourism and activate our downtown core. As much as we admire the work of Public Service Officers, they simply do not have the power, training or ability to handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. Give the Chief what he says he needs. Funding for five additional officers is a clear, necessary step to ensure trust, visibility, and peace of mind across Santa Monica.

These are just some of the choices in the budget that show the focus and priorities of this city council (and city staff) and it is not the residents whom you were elected to represent. Please reverse course and fund these basic resident priorities.

Thank you,
Mindi Shank
SM Resident
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Kathy Knight <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:49 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 12.B - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget

EXTERNAL
To: Mayor Negrete and members of the City Council
From: The Board of Northeast Neighbors
Re: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, Our City is in a structural deficit and we have to make decisions when our ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover our ongoing expenditures. But I feel strongly that there are 3 priorities we need to support:

1. Hire 5 New Police Officers: Chief Batista has clearly said that we need 5 more officers to reduce overtime costs and to protect our residents, businesses and visitors.

2. Support our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches: Even if just 2-3 days per week we need to provide this very important access to learning and community matters.

3. Preserve the neighborhood association grant funding program. They are good groups and form a basic way for neighborhoods to get to know each other and talk about what we like and do not like in our neighborhoods. Also at our meetings we get to talk to City Staff and communicate with them, which makes issues easier to deal with.

Sincerely,
Kathy Knight and Joe Faris
Sunset Park Residents
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Tricia Crane <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:08 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget

EXTERNAL
To: Mayor Negrete and members of the City Council
From: The Board of Northeast Neighbors
Re: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, Our City is in a structural deficit and we are forced to make decisions to address the harsh reality that ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover ongoing expenditures. Revenue generation from economic growth must be the priority of the Council, but there are three element that we feel strongly must be included in the spending plan:

Hire Five New Police Officers – It is central to the economic recovery of our city that our police department is empowered to respond swiftly and effectively 24/7 to the needs of residents, visitors and businesses. Chief Batista has made it clear that he needs five sworn officers to reduce overtime expenditures and better patrol the city. We support Chief Batista and ask the Council to meet his and our needs for increased public safety.

The Chief has voiced his concern that Public Service Officers cannot replace police officers. They do not have the power, training or ability to handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. The presence of SMPD officers is important to residents and business owners who hope to see our city recover swiftly from the current economic stagnation.

Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches – Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 to learning, connection, and community matters. Residents rely on these free and friendly gathering places. They can and should be supported by the City.

Sincerely,
Tricia Crane, chair, and members of the Board of Northeast Neighbors of Santa Monica Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: lmarreola <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:39 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell Subject: Item 12B Budget

EXTERNAL
Please restore funding to fertilize our city fields that serve mostly our youth including high schoolers, ( Samohi, St. Monica, Crossroads ) playing baseball and softball,Little League Baseball, Pony League Baseball, SM Softball, Club teams and Adult Leagues requiring 50% SM residents, Well over a thousand SM residents. They all deserve nice natursl grass Unhealthy Grass fields will cause injuries. Dont cut corners when it comes to servong our field users.

Sincerely
Larry , Carol and Anthony Arreola
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Gavin Scott <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:34 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems
Cc: Nicola Scott
Subject: Fw: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, My wife Nicola and I support Tricia Crane's letter.

Sincerely,
Gavin and Nicola Scott
1801 Marine Street,
Santa Monica
CA 90405

To: Mayor Negrete and members of the City Council
From: The Board of Northeast NeighborsMy wife Nicla and I My Re: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, Our City is in a structural deficit and we are forced to make decisions to address the harsh reality that ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover ongoing expenditures. Revenue generation from economic growth must be the priority of the Council, but there are three elements that we feel strongly must be included in the spending plan:

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
3 The Chief has voiced his concern that Public Service Officers cannot replace police officers. They do not have the power, training or ability to handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. The presence of SMPD officers is important to residents and business owners who hope to see our city recover swiftly from the current economic stagnation.

Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches – Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access to learning, connection, and community matters. Residents rely on these free and friendly gathering places. They can and should be supported by the City.

Sincerely,
Tricia Crane, chair, and members of the Board of Northeast Neighbors of Santa Monica Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:29 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; [email protected]; councilmtgitems; Douglas Sloan; Elaine Polachek; Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Subject: Fwd: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget

EXTERNAL
To: Lana Negrete <[email protected]>, Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>, Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>, : Dan Hall <[email protected]>, Barry Snell <[email protected]>, Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]> Cc: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>
From: Danielle Charney/ Written by Tricia Crane and NEN Board Re: Agenda Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget I cannot say it better so I am copying it..
"Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, Our City is in a structural deficit and we are forced to make decisions to address the harsh reality that ongoing revenues are not sufficient to cover ongoing expenditures. Revenue generation from economic growth must be the priority of the Council, but there are three elements that we feel strongly must be included in the spending plan:

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
5 The Chief has voiced his concern that Public Service Officers cannot replace police officers. They do not have the power, training or ability to handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. The presence of SMPD officers is important to residents and business owners who hope to see our city recover swiftly from the current economic stagnation.

Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches – Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access to learning, connection, and community matters. Residents rely on these free and friendly gathering places. They can and should be supported by the City.

Preserve the neighborhood association grant funding program – The seven nonprofit neighborhood groups help residents understand and access our local government. We rely on funding from the City to do outreach and hold monthly meetings that are open to all. Our meetings routinely offer residents opportunities to have direct contact with guest speakers who include City officials and staff. We foster a sense that through these neighborhood group meetings our voices are heard. The loss of funding from the City would impact the abilities of these longstanding neighborhood groups to function, which is why we ask the Council to provide continued public funding for this quintessential public service."
Sincerely,
Tricia Crane, chair, and members of the Board of Northeast Neighbors of Santa Monica Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:23 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: 6/24/25 City Council Meeting - Item 12B Budget - Oppose Private Business Park Development and Cuts to Basic Resident Services

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council -
I am writing to object to several items in the proposed budget that best exemplify this city council's failure to prioritize residents, our well being, and civic engagement.

Development of the Business Park Using City Staff to help a Private Developer without Community Engagement.

Please remove this from staff workflow and establish a public process for development of the Business Park.

Five Basic Resident Services That Cost Relatively Little and Cutting Them Shows Residents Aren't a Priority for this Council.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
7 2. Fund Fertilizing our Sports Fields. This is really quite a pathetic cut in a city that is already overcrowded and short on field space. Plus, we can all see this setting up a narrative for what bad shape the fields are in as an excuse to replace them with plastic. This is unacceptable in a city that claims to be progressive, sustainable, healthy, and pro-environment. Soon, there won't be any natural surfaces left in this town. And if caring about residents isn't motivation enough, how about the lawsuits you risk subjecting the city to for knowingly and intentionally failing to properly maintain our fields that thousands of people use every week?

These are just some of the choices in the budget that show the focus of this city council (and city staff) is not the residents whom you were elected to represent. Please reverse course and fund these basic resident priorities.

Thank you,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident and Voter
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
8 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:10 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: FOSP: 6/24/25 item 12-B -- city budget + Community Development Department Workplan

EXTERNAL
June 24, 2025

To: Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council

From: Board of Directors, Friends of Sunset Park

RE: 6/2425 item 12-B -- FY 2025-27 budget + Community Development Department Workplan

As you prepare to adopt the city’s next budget, city-recognized and supported Neighborhood Groups urge you to prioritize and give special consideration to three modest yet fundamental commitments that directly shape the well-being and future of our city:

Funding of Basic Services for Residents

1. Hire Five New Police Officers – Our neighborhoods and business districts must FEEL safe.

Our police and public safety teams need the resources to respond swiftly and effectively 24/7. Chief Batista needs these five officers to reduce overtime expenditures and better patrol the city, especially given the new initiatives you’ve launched to encourage tourism and activate our downtown core. As much as we admire the work of Public Service Officers, they simply do not have the power, training or ability to handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. Give the Chief what he says he needs. Funding for five additional officers is a clear, necessary step to ensure trust, visibility, and peace of mind across Santa Monica.

2. Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches – Libraries are engines of opportunity and cherished by so many. Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access to learning, connection, and community matters. Task our Recreation and Arts Department and the Library Board to come up with new ways to activate those two branches and generate revenue to support them.

3. Fully Fund the Neighborhood Grant Program – This program is a lifeline for grassroots public participation in our local government. Neighborhood groups are also very adept at letting the Council know the pulse of our population. The seven neighborhood groups help empower residents to uplift their blocks and build bridges between neighbors. Fully funding them isn’t just practical – it’s a vote of confidence in people who call Santa Monica home.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
9 4. Funding Fertilization our Sports Fields. Cutting fertilization of fields to save $50k is unacceptable in a city that claims to be progressive, sustainable, and pro-environment. We are already short on field space and must maintain what we have. Also, it could expose the city to more litigation from injuries resulting from knowingly and intentionally failing to properly maintain our fields.

5. Do not Raise Parking Pass Fees. Doubling the cost of parking passes isn't okay. We pay so many taxes and fees already to live here. Your expectation that nobody needs a car is a fantasy in LA. Furthermore, the budget shouldn't be balanced by endless fee increases for basic resident needs.

These priorities reflect the kind of city we aspire to be: safe, vibrant, equitable, and deeply connected.

We appreciate your leadership and urge you to make choices that reflect the values we share.

Public Process for Development of the Business Park

This impacts Sunset Park directly, but it is also integral to the airport closure discussion. This is 48 acres and you recently gave staff ministerial approval to develop housing here. FOSP objected to that because it is inappropriate to allow staff to determine the fate of such a large parcel, and also for it not being addressed together with the airport since it is adjacent land.

In the LUCE, the Business Park is supposed to be a specific plan, like Downtown or Bergamot, not a an arrangement between a private developer and city staff made behind closed doors.

With sincere hope and conviction,
Friends of Sunset Park Board
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
10 David Yakobson
From: Liz Bell <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 10:17 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]; [email protected]; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; [email protected]
Subject: Support AGENDA ITEM 12B, Alternative Community Gardens Cost Recovery

EXTERNAL
Hello. I am writing in support of the ALTERNATIVE proposal regarding fees for community gardens. This alternative is the result of a collaborative experience and the community gardeners believe this is a good solution, rather than assessing a substantial fee raise.

I have my own reason for not placing a large increase on this vital part of our Santa Monica community. The dilemma for public administrators is to find the right balance between public goods and benefits, and budget priorities. Governments do not work like private businesses where you can just cut costs in one division to pay for something else, like high salaries. You have to look at the charter of the City in providing public goods. Community gardens are one such good.

The public good that comes from having community gardens is nearly immeasurable by adding/keeping open green space, adding food security in that the gardens have a shared harvest program to donate to the lowest income residents, providing gardeners with fresh produce and flowers, creating pleasant environments for the rest of the community to see, adding to climate resilience, providing an enjoyable and healthy place to be, and much more. The gardeners work closely with City staff to be good stewards. Many won’t be able to afford the large increase in fees.

I know I’m supposed to keep this to one issue, but I also support the addition of more community gardens to the Great Park. We need more gardens for the residents.

I urge a support for the Alternative Community Gardens Cost Recov Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
11 David Yakobson
From: Nicole Cogan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 9:50 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Lana Negrete; [email protected]
Subject: Re council meeting 6/24/25-item 12B budget

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council -
I urge you to restore funding for fertilizing our city fields. This is an essential component of maintaining our fields for use by both children and adults. Allowing our fields to deteriorate can also create safety issues and create more lawsuits.

I also urge you to restore funding to our libraries and reopen them. Now more than ever, public access to books and information is critical and our libraries are Thank you,
Nicole Cogan , Santa Monica Resident and Vote
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Cris Gutierrez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:58 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin; councilmtgitems
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez
Subject: Support AGENDA ITEM 12B, Alternative Community Gardens Cost Recovery (with attachment)
Attachments: 052725CouncilLtr_CommunityGardens.pdf

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and City Council Members:

As the Chairperson of the Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Committee, I write to express our full support for the General Fund Alternative for increased recovery of the community garden program costs by $30,000 with Public Works proposing to cut the amount from the advertising budget and moving forward with Staff piloting a farm to table fundraiser, pursuing sponsorship and other donation opportunities and exploring a nominal fee increase in collaboration with the Advisory Committee. We commend Staff, our Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry and our Community Garden Program Coordinator Teague Weybright, for their exemplary work in identifying a creative solution for the community gardens to generate funds that help with cost recovery.

As we wrote in our letter to Council of 27 May 2025 (see attachment), the community gardeners have served to be community-builders and habitat stewards bringing to life the City’s leadership and commitment to sustainability and climate resilience. Our community gardeners and the Advisory Committee have long sought to generate donations and other funds through a collaboration with the Staff. Now, the budget alternative offers a genuine and needed opportunity to do just that.

For almost 50 years, the Santa Monica Community Gardens Program has permitted diverse residents, typically without much or any outdoor space at home, to demonstrate personal and communal sustainability and organic, regenerative gardening practices and to welcome visitors from across the City, region and world to enjoy the gardens and learn with us. What began in the early years as 60 gardeners with individual plots on Main Street has since blossomed into an extensive program to involve:
• 140 permitted cultivators with dozens of assistants at four sites; • Two communal gardens with scores of volunteers at Ishihara Park Learning Garden and Marine Park Community Gardens;
• Tens of thousands of volunteer labor hours supplied annually for land stewardship; • Six California Climate Action Fellows;
• The City's first public orchard at Ishihara Park;
• The first community composting locale at Marine Park; • Initiatives for new gardening opportunities, such as the community-managed 19th Street Community Farm; • Food harvest donations amounting to tons of weighed produce; • Carbon sequestration and climate actions of composting and soil microbiome initiatives; • At least 48 community gardens events or workshops each year, four each month, for Santa Monica and the region, including several Pride festivities;
• Partnerships and collaboration with Climate Action Santa Monica for workshops and SM Spoke and SaMo Safe Streets Alliance for Kidical Mass rides;
• Youth development endeavors, including the Eagle Scouts and Gold Award projects, and the CASM Climate Corps climate conversations;
• Numerous volunteer workdays with community-based organizations, students, families, and employees from small businesses and corporations;
• Participation in city-wide gatherings, such as the Green Festival, climate summits and closed streets activities; Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025

ATTACHMENT A
27 May 2025
Re: Opposition to Triple Increase of Community Gardens Fees Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and City Council Members:

As we are in the midst of celebrating the City’s 150th year, valuing the role of the Santa Monica Community Gardens Program that has been in place for nearly one-third of the City’s existence matters. Eighteen years before the Sustainable City Plan, the community gardens brought forth personal sustainability and regenerative practices. The community gardeners are grateful for the City providing residents with space to grow food, friendships and habitat, but the current budget proposal to triple the fees is not viable. The Santa Monica Community Garden Advisory Committee has reviewed the budget proposal to significantly increase community garden fees and does not recommend that proposal to move forward. We have formalized our determination in a motion below stating that decision for Council.

Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Motion
The Santa Monica Community Garden Advisory Committee has reviewed the budget proposal to significantly increase community garden fees and does not recommend it to move forward. The proposed garden fee increase is not in keeping with the purpose of the community gardens as a sustainability program established to grow food and habitat by renters, seniors, young families, people without access to garden space at their homes, as well as by diverse community members, many of whom are vulnerable or on a fixed income.

We appreciate the attention that Mayor Negrete and Council Members have given to addressing the fee increase when we first reached out. The Santa Monica Community Garden Program, after all, as a collaboration of the City and community residents, over the decades, has enabled thousands of gardeners and tens of thousands of visitors (of all ages), hundreds of volunteers and workshop participants, as well as organizational and neighborhood partners, to enjoy learning, planting, cultivating, growing food, restoring habitats and making friends. We have donated tons of fresh harvests to families and neighbors throughout the City. We frequently welcome visitors from across the world. Our regenerative land stewardship strengthens our climate resilience and enriches the City and community’s relationship with Nature. Our garden-ambassadorship enlivens Santa Monica's influence regionally and beyond.

The proposal to triple the fees for community gardeners is unadvised as the cost is too high and will disproportionately impact vulnerable members of our community. The community garden program primarily includes renters, elderly residents on a fixed income, and new families just starting out in the community. Tripling the community garden fees from $100/$150/$200 to $300/$450/$600 would be onerous, too difficult, if not impossible, for our community to handle. While we fully realize the dire situation caused by the City’s multi-million dollar budget deficit, the $30,000 generated from this fee increase would be Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025

ATTACHMENT A
insignificant in its contribution, but the negative impact of raising fees this steeply would be enormous to our garden community.

It would be particularly difficult for community gardeners to absorb the significant fee increases because we have just implemented an annual increase in fees for the gardens for the last three years. After the citywide fee study in 2021, the community gardens fees increased annually for three consecutive years, ’21/'22, ’22/'23, ’23/'24. As part of this plan, fees in ’24/'25 and beyond were expected to plateau for a number of years. In fact, our fees are already remarkably higher than those of other community gardens from nearby Ocean View Farms, which has a $100 plot fee, to throughout Los Angeles County where the fees range from $40 to $120.

We empathize with Council diligently working to resolve the significant budget crisis that the City faces. However, the budget proposal to triple the community garden fees with virtually no notice and with no collaboration is not tenable. Such an increase would be an unacceptable burden to impose on community gardeners.

We will explore options, in collaboration with City Staff, through a study in the upcoming FY to understand the full story of the community gardens program cost recovery and impacts of any fee adjustment on our garden community. We will identify our meaningful contribution to the City’s well-being.

We are asking the City Council to exclude the proposal to increase the community garden fee when the budget comes for adoption in June. We trust that Mayor Negrete and City Council Members will join us in the community gardens and delight in Nature and in the beauty, foods, flora and fauna that abound.

Sincerely,
Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Committee
Cris Gutierrez - Chair (Main Street CG)
Ken Hansen - Vice Chair (Park Drive CG)
Martha Bardach (Ishihara)
Alina Bezdikian (19th Street)
Tim Bowler (Main Street CG)
Nancy Desser (Euclid Park CG)
Linda Glasser (Marine Park CG - Co-Rep)
Antony Lewis (Main Street CG)
Susan McCorry (Main Street CG)
Cordula Ohman (Main Street CG)
James Renn (Marine Park CG - Co-Rep)
Cynthia Rose (Park Drive CG)
Traci Takahara (Main Street CG)
Frankie Lou Thorn (Park Drive CG)
Billy Yost (Main Street CG)
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 • School tours; elder support; columns in the local press; educational presentations for organizations, like UCLA’s health outreach;
• Monarch way-stations; and
• So much more with the flourishing biodiversity of flora, fauna and friendships.

Just last week, fourteen of Santa Monica’s littlest explorers from The Growing Place stepped into the Main Street Community Gardens with teachers and discovered the Monarchs, bees, spiders, earthworms, humming birds and sparrows at play and work where squash, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, cucumbers, cilantro, honeysuckle, white sage, corn, peppers, etc. rise and scent the air. The children tucked into their observations keenly and later created a mural of their discoveries.

At one point, one astute little gardener sighed and shook his head noting the noise of the “annoying vehicle” (construction trucks on the street) that competed with his attention to the sounds, scenes and solace of the garden. Nature in the urban setting is nourishing.

That is what the Russian grandmother strolling with twin grandchildren told me recently and the Argentinian representative of Yerba Buena celebrated as she imagined a potential project with us. This June our Pride community garden gatherings have added special sparkle, whimsy and charm. Last year’s Pride story-tellers revealed how respecting our relationships with each other from our diverse backgrounds, neighborhoods and families flows into our relationships with Nature where biodiversity is fundamental.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
3 It should not surprise us that during the COVID closures and lock-downs, the community gardens were opened for the City’s only organized outdoor efforts. Youth, families and neighbors looked forward to producing and sharing organic local food, herbs and flowers for personal and community health. In anticipation, a potential regenerative urban agriculture at a great park following the closure of the airport would enlarge, deepen and enhance the public health.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
4 Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
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5 We trust that the City Council can appreciate and value all that the Santa Monica Community Gardens and gardeners give to those who cultivate and give to everyone who comes to the gardens or shares in the bountiful abundance with us. As the Growing Place children called out, “Seed. Soil. Sun. Air. Water.” they called out the essential elements of our ecological commonwealth. Being with the little learners and their teachers in our community gardens called out that the natural growing place is for everyone.

We urge the Council to approve the General Fund Alternative for the increased community gardens cost recovery so that the work of the community gardeners, the volunteers and friends can continue to serve and flourish. Come to the community gardens and join us!
With a sunny spirit,
Cris Gutierrez
Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Committee Chairperson Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Cris Gutierrez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:38 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin; councilmtgitems
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez
Subject: Support AGENDA ITEM 12B, Alternative Community Gardens Cost Recovery

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis and City Council Members:

EXTERNAL
I oppose the increase of council member travel expense increase.

See the three attached council member travel expense reports.

Denise Barton
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Invoice #:

Travel and Meeting Expense Report Invoice Date:

Employee ID 23559
Employee Name
Department / Division Employee Signature
Purpose of Travel Name of Approver1
Travel or Meeting Date(s) Signature of Approver1
Destination
Registration Other
03/03/25 $148.48 148.48
03/03/25 148.48 148.48
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL (A): 296.96 - - - - $296.96
Date City PCard City Check Total Amount Net Due to Employee (A less B) $0.00 03/03/25 148.48 148.48
03/03/28 148.48 148.48
-
- Account Description Amount
-
-
-
-
-
Effective December 18, 2018 TOTAL (B): $296.96
Date Daily Total
Description of Expenses
Must attach supporting documentation: conference documentation, required receipts per Administrative Instruction, confirmations, per diem rates, etc.

Lodging
Other Costs
(Must specify what the
expenses are)
Airfare
Ground
(Personal car - attach
Mileage Reimburse-ment
Claim form)
Transportation Meals & Incidentals*
(No Alcohol)
Daily Meal Per Diem
Flight - Los Angeles to Sacramento - United Airlines
Flight - Sacramento to Los Angeles - Southwest Airlines 01100001.

Josh Kurpies
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
7 • Monarch way-stations; and
• So much more with the flourishing biodiversity of flora, fauna and friendships.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
8 It should not surprise us that during the COVID closures and lock-downs, the community gardens were opened for the City’s only organized outdoor efforts. Youth, families and neighbors looked forward to producing and sharing organic local food, herbs and flowers for personal and community health. In anticipation, a potential regenerative urban agriculture at a great park following the closure of the airport would enlarge, deepen and enhance the public health.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
9 Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
10 We trust that the City Council can appreciate and value all that the Santa Monica Community Gardens and gardeners give to those who cultivate and give to everyone who comes to the gardens or shares in the bountiful abundance with us. As the Growing Place children called out, “Seed. Soil. Sun. Air. Water.” they called out the essential elements of our ecological commonwealth. Being with the little learners and their teachers in our community gardens called out that the natural growing place is for everyone.

We urge the Council to approve the General Fund Alternative for the increased community gardens cost recovery so that the work of the community gardeners, the volunteers and friends can continue to serve and flourish. Come to the community gardens and join us!
With a sunny spirit,
Cris Gutierrez
Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Committee Chairperson Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
11 David Yakobson
From: DG Brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:24 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: SALARY TRANSPARENCY - Agenda Item 12B (Raises calculated for you. Please read!)

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and Councilmembers,
First, I want to thank you for your continued service and leadership during what I know has been an extraordinarily challenging budget season. The decisions you are asked to make are not easy, and your dedication to the long-term well-being of our community is deeply appreciated.

That said, I write to express my serious concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding proposed staff salary adjustments. While the approved salary resolution outlines new compensation figures, it does not provide the existing salaries or the percentage increases being granted - critical information for you, as decision-makers, and the public you represent.

To that end, I have taken the liberty of compiling those calculations based on the salaries currently on the city's website and have included them below for your reference (in descending order). I hope this additional context proves helpful, and question why this information would not be provided in the staff report or attachments.

Classification Current Salary New Salary Reason
Billing Supervisor $95,028 $114,180 Equity adjus
Planning Manager $206,208 $234,552 Equity adjus
Resource Recovery and Recycling Business Supervisor $98,376 $109,944 Equity adjus Community Services Program Supervisor $89,508 $99,744 Equity adjus Community Services Program Supervisor - Youth $89,508 $99,744 Equity adjus Pier and Harbor Services Supervisor $114,660 $125,952 Equity adjus Customer Service Supervisor $95,028 $103,032 Equity adjus Emergency Services Administrator $141,912 $153,360 Equity adjus Budget Manager $180,468 $194,928 Equity adjus
Resource Recovery and Recycling Supervisor $101,256 $108,840 Equity adjus Traffic Operations Supervisor $115,248 $122,028 Equity adjus Aquatics Program Coordinator $72,084 $76,140 Equity adjus Warehouse Supervisor $100,704 $105,924 Equity adjus
Community Partnerships Manager (At-Will) $168,348 $176,760 Title change Parks Maintenance Supervisor $103,920 $108,336 Equity adjus Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
12 Bin Truck Driver $62,316 $64,884 Equity adjus
Pier and Harbor Services Officer $102,924 $106,512 Equity adjus Lead Pier and Harbor Services Officer $110,628 $114,480 Equity adjus Custodian II $62,928 $64,728 Equity adjus
Circulation Supervisor $95,028 $97,032 Equity adjus
Storekeeper $68,112 $69,336 Equity adjus
Plumber $84,300 $85,272 Equity adjus
Administrative Analyst $106,116 $106,704 Equity adjus
Administrative Analyst (At-Will) $106,116 $106,704 New classific Administrative Analyst – Cemetery $106,116 $106,704 Equity adjus Administrative Analyst - Records and Election Services $106,116 $106,704 Equity adjus Street Services Superintendent $135,672 $136,080 Equity adjus Motor Coach Operator Supervisor $96,552 $96,624 Equity adjus In reviewing the salary data, I was particularly alarmed by the significant increases awarded to the City Manager (35%), Assistant City Manager (22.5%), and Deputy City Manager (40%) over the past five years - especially the disproportionate raises issued between 2023 and 2024. How can that be justified? 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
5 year
increase %
City Manager $304,798 $340,000 $355,296 $355,296 $402,552 $410,640 34.73% Assistant City Manager $290,674 $300,474 $307,608 $307,608 $348,936 $355,920 22.45% Deputy City Manager $199,657 $208,867 $219,624 $219,624 $273,536 $279,048 39.76% While I understand the necessity of offering a competitive salary for a strong City Manager - especially given the need to stabilize and refocus the organization and strengthen our business resiliency - I respectfully question the rationale behind the substantial compensation for the Assistant and Deputy City Manager roles. These positions come with little public visibility, limited community engagement, and unclear deliverables. Who are they, and what exactly do they do? My wife and I are very active in our community and I never see them at any public events or community happenings. Do they care about Santa Monica or only care about collecting their massive paychecks? At a time when our city is weighing service reductions and grappling with tough fiscal choices, I urge you to closely evaluate whether these roles - and their corresponding pay - truly reflect the priorities and values of Santa Monica. If we are looking to make budget cuts, perhaps you should look at those two positions first.

Thank you again for your time, your commitment, and for considering this perspective as you continue your work on behalf of our community.

Respectfully.

David G. Brown
North of Montana Resident

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
13 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: City Council 6/24/25 item 12-B -- FY 2025-27 Police Department Budget

EXTERNAL
June 24, 2025

To: Mayor Negrete and City Council members

From: Zina Josephs

RE: 6/24/25 item 12-B -- Police Department funding

I urge you to approve funding requests from Police Chief Ramon Batista.

I've lived in Santa Monica since 1970 and got to know the following Police Chiefs while serving on the Board of Friends of Sunset Park:
 James T. Butts, Jr. (1991 - 2006)
 Timothy J. Jackman (2006-2012)
 Jacqueline Seabrooks (2012-2018)
 Cynthia Renaud (2018-October 25, 2020)
 Jacqueline Seabrooks - Interim status (2020 - October 2021)  Ramon Batista (October 18, 2021 – Present)

I trust Chief Batista's judgement and, if he requests funding for specific staffing, I hope that you listen to him.

What's in the news lately?

1) Two teenagers shot near 2nd and Broadway while riding in a Waymo car.

2) The attempted rape of an 84-year-old woman.

3) The opening of the Entertainment Zone with open carry and concerns about enforcement.

4) Discussion of re-starting the Pier concerts, which got completely out of hand years ago. (See 2016 letter below from Ellen Brennan.)

Please do not gamble with our public safety. Listen to Chief Batista's requests. ___________________________________________________________________

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
14 Two Children Shot while Riding in a Waymo Taxi Downtown 6/23 25 – Santa Monica Daily Press
https://smdp.com/news/crime/two-children-shot-while-riding-in-waymo-taxi-downtown/ “Two children were hospitalized Sunday night

Man Charged with Attempted Rape of Elderly Woman
6/17/25 – Santa Monica Lookout
https://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2025/June2025/06_17_2025_Man_Charged_with_Attempted_Rape_of_Elderly_Santa_Monica_Woman.html

Santa Monica’s Entertainment Zone Launches, Bringing with It Crowds, Cocktails, and Concerns over Cost and Control
6/20/25 – Santa Monica Daily Press
https://smdp.com/business/santa-monicas-entertainment-zone-launches-bringing-with-it-crowds-cocktails-andconcerns-over-cost-and-control/

2016 letter from Ellen Brennan, who lived near the Pier:

The Pier Concerts have outgrown the Pier. 40,000, people, the largest crowd on record, attended last week. The Pier was closed when it exceeded its capacity, and all arrivals after 7:30 PM were directed to the sand, which raises the cost of security to the city.

The cost per concert has soared to over $100,000 per concert. We in Santa Monica are paying for these concerts, but the people attending seem to be coming primarily from outside of Santa Monica. In fact, two residents from the neighborhood could not get on the Pier for the concerts two weeks running.

Chris Crosby and his family have been in the music industry for his entire lifetime. His uncle was Bing Crosby, and his dad was Bob Crosby -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Crosby Chris lives in the South Beach Neighborhood near the Pier, and he has much to say about the affect of the noise assault from the Pier concerts on the neighborhood and about crime in the area. During last week’s concert, there were two ambulances parked on Ocean Front Walk, in case they were needed.

Those free Pier concerts were started by Katherine King in order to bring people back to the Pier after the storm of 1983 destroyed the west end of the Pier. We no longer need free concerts to bring people to the Pier.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
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15 After the concert last week, I stood on the Pier out near the beer garden and watched the police clear the beach.

They drove police cars covered with colored lights through the crowd, like herding cattle, driving people in front of them. Then the crowd started to run in front of the police cars, like a stampede.

The week before, there was a fight out near the water during the concert, and the rumor is that someone was stabbed during that fight. Fortunately, the police were able to contain it before it became a larger incident.

The Chief of Police is concerned about violence and acts of terror directed to the Pier. Two recent Pier concert goers, who had parked in the beach lots located between Appian Way and Ocean Front Walk, found the convertible tops of their cars slit with a knife after the concert.

The vandalism, the potential for violent incidents on the sand, the cost, and the fact that they no longer benefit people from Santa Monica, call for a serious look at ending those concerts.

The Twilight Dance Series used to be a local tradition. But aggressive visitors to the current Pier concerts have completely taken over. The drug use on the Pier and on the sand, the underage drinking on both the sand and the Pier, the crime on the sand and in the beach parking lots the cost, the blight to the neighborhood, and the outrageously loud sound assault on residential neighbors that obliterates any sense “music” -- all have carried these present Pier concerts very far from the local tradition we all used to love.

Cordially,
Ellen Brennan
12-year member and former Chair
Pier Restoration Corporation

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
16 David Yakobson
From: John Cyrus Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 5:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Clerk Mailbox
Subject: VISUAL ELEMENTS FOR 12.B.Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget

EXTERNAL
Please have the following items ready to show in order they are in this email when it is my turn to speak at Council.

Thank you,
John Cyrus Smith
[email protected]
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
17 Item 12-B
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18 Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
20 David Yakobson
From: Randy Ziglar <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 9:36 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 12B

EXTERNAL
To those of concern:

For over a generation I have worked as a Santa Monica Community Gardener, and I am happy to report the impressive increase of quality and quantity of our gardens over the years.

SM Community Gardening has moved from merely a recreational activity under the Parks and Recreation Department to a force for working with Nature providing beauty, food, and horticultural sharing to those far and near.

Please do whatever you can to help the gardeners though the Garden Advisory Committee and the Office Sustainability and Environment to maintain such sustainable and ecological progress. We gardeners would like to work with the City in good spirit, but the tripling of our garden permit fees seem undo and very unfriendly.

Most Sincerely,
Randy Ziglar
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
21 David Yakobson
From: Marc Verville <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 9:01 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: SMCC 2025-06-24 Item 12.B. - Adoption FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget and FY 2025-26 CIP Budget
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and Honorable Members of the Santa Monica City Council, Revenue Generation
The City is being forced to make increasingly difficult spending tradeoffs specifically because, as the City has noted in its Budget Workshop, General Fund revenues are not keeping pace with the City’s expenditure inflation. This is the direct outcome of the complete afterthought being paid to the city's stagnating / declining visitor-based economy. Simply raising tax rates on stagnant or decline business activity, or increasing residents’ cost of living by raising their taxes directly, has run it’s course. Whatever marginal benefit there may be is now being outweighed by the detrimental impacts on residents’ family budgets, accelerated visitor traffic declines and increasing hurdles to entrepreneurial success. Tellingly, these same economic challenges do not appear to be impacting competing destinations such as Century City, Beverley Hills and Abbott Kinney.

Token initiatives such as open container consumption on the Promenade are wholly insufficient. The City needs to get very serious very quickly about fundamentally fixing our entertainment / shopping environment to reverse our devastating visitor drought. I believe that this must include completely overhauling our homeless policies, improving safety/security and redoubling efforts on cleanliness. These issues are all are linked. For example, in its application for the Prop 47 SaMo Bridge grants, the City noted that SMPD documented that 66% (8,017) of the total 12,147 arrestees in the 2019-2023 period were of individuals experiencing homelessness. These are critical, and fundamental, initiatives the City must pursue if it has any hope of reversing the decline.

Understanding the need to place revenue generation from economic growth as the primary priority of the Council, I also feel strongly that the immediate spending plan must include:

1. Hiring of Five New Police Officers
As noted above, safety is absolutely fundamental to any economic recovery plan. Our business districts, their visitors, our residents (who are shoppers), and our neighborhoods MUST FEEL SAFE. Our police and public safety teams need the resources to respond swiftly and effectively 24/7. Chief Batista needs these five officers to reduce overtime expenditures and better patrol the city, especially given the new initiatives you’ve launched to encourage tourism and activate our downtown core. As much as we admire the work of Public Service Officers, they simply do not have the power, training or ability to Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
22 handle the myriad of situations that occur every day in our city. Give the Chief what he says he needs. Funding for five additional officers is a clear, necessary step to ensure trust, visibility, and peace of mind across Santa Monica.

2. Support Our Public Libraries and Reopen Two Branches Libraries are engines of opportunity and sources of information for specific segments of our community in these increasingly complex times. Fully supporting our library system and reopening two branches -- even if just two days per week -- sends a strong message that access to learning, connection, and community matters. Task our Recreation and Arts Department and the Library Board to come up with new ways to activate those two branches and generate revenue to support them.

3. Fully Fund the Neighborhood Grant Program
This program is fundamental to maintaining the grassroots resident participation that is essential to informing and participating in our local government. Neighborhood groups are also very adept at letting the Council know the pulse of our population. The seven neighborhood groups help empower residents to uplift their blocks and build bridges between neighbors. Fully funding them isn’t just practical – it’s a vote of confidence in people who call Santa Monica home.

These priorities reflect the fundamental requirements of actually jump-starting real recovery of the city’s economic base. This base has been taken for granted for much too long, with the yawning gap between reality and potential increasing year by year. Without this recovery, the City will fail in its ambitions to be vibrant, equitable, safe, and deeply connected.

Thank you,
Marc L. Verville
Sunset Park
Audit Subcommittee Member

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
23 David Yakobson
From: Steven Johnson
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 8:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Jenny Rogers; Micah Akerson; Noe Mendoza; Maryanne LaGuardia; Barry Rosenbaum; John Smith; Ann Bowman; Karen Melick
Subject: Item 12.B in consideration of RAD Positions
Attachments: Item 12B in consideration of RAD positions.pdf; Attachment-P.pdf; Attachment-S.pdf [please find the attached PDF letter on behalf of the Recreation & Parks Commission submitted] Monday, June 23, 2025
Re: Item 12.B in consideration of RAD Positions
Dear Mayor Negrete and Esteemed Councilmembers,
The Recreation and Parks Commissioners voted at our Thursday, June 12th, meeting to write this letter in full and enthusiastic support of Staff's recommendation to retain the following two positions within the City's Recreation and Arts Department (RAD) for the FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget.

Currently, these positions are on the “freeze” list (Attachment P).  Aquatics Site Supervisor
 Cultural Affairs Venue Supervisor
These positions are not only budget net-neutral, but are actually revenue-generating.

Moreover, these positions unfilled could result in significant revenue loss, along with diminished services.

Per adjustments cited in Attachment S, we would also vehemently argue that the Aquatics Supervisor position in particular meets the standard of being vital to health and safety (as well as legal compliance and liability).

We applaud the continued efforts by Director Rogers and her budget-conscious team to rebuild the breadth and scope of RAD services to what the community once enjoyed. The Commission is grateful for Council support of RAD revenue-generating initiatives in the proposed FY 25/27 City Budget.

Thank you in advance for your support of these important recommendations! Sincerely,
City of Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
24 Steven Johnson, Chair
Maryanne LaGuardia, Vice Chair
Lori Brown
John Cyrus Smith
Ann K. Bowman
Barry Rosenbaum
Karen Melick
CC: Elaine Polachek, Jenny Rogers
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 458-8411 • [email protected] santamonica.gov • @cityofsantamonica • @santamonicacity Monday, June 23, 2025
Re: Item 12.B in consideration of RAD Positions
Dear Mayor Negrete and Esteemed Councilmembers,
The Recreation and Parks Commissioners voted at our Thursday, June 12th, meeting to write this letter in full and enthusiastic support of Staff's recommendation to retain the following two positions within the City's Recreation and Arts Department (RAD) for the FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget. Currently, these positions are on the “freeze” list (Attachment P).
• Aquatics Site Supervisor
• Cultural Affairs Venue Supervisor
These positions are not only budget net-neutral, but are actually revenue-generating. Moreover, these positions unfilled could result in significant revenue loss, along with diminished services.

We applaud the continued efforts by Director Rogers and her budget-conscious team to rebuild the breadth and scope of RAD services to what the community once enjoyed. The Commission is grateful for Council support of RAD revenuegenerating initiatives in the proposed FY 25/27 City Budget.

Thank you in advance for your support of these important recommendations! Sincerely,
City of Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission
Steven Johnson, Chair
Maryanne LaGuardia, Vice Chair
Lori Brown
John Cyrus Smith
Ann K. Bowman
Barry Rosenbaum
Karen Melick
CC: Elaine Polachek, Jenny Rogers
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025

ATTACHMENT P
Department FTE
Records & Elections Services 1.00
Recreation and Art 1.00
Community Development 1.00
Public Works 1.00
Information Services 1.00
Information Services 1.00
Police Dept 1.00
Housing and Human Services 1.00
Housing and Human Services 0.75
Recreation and Art 1.00
Public Works 1.00
Police Dept 3.00
City Manager 1.00
Public Works 1.00
Police Dept 1.00
Public Works 1.00
Public Works 2.00
Community Development 1.00
Police Dept 1.00
Police Dept 1.00
Police Dept 1.00
Housing and Human Services 1.00
Public Works 1.00
City Manager 1.00
City Manager 1.00
City Manager 1.00
Police Dept 4.00
Public Works 1.00
Finance 0.50
Transportation 1.00
Police Dept 6.50

41.75 Summary by Fund Savings FTE
General Fund 4,551,704 39.75
Beach Fund 137,015 1.00
Pier Fund 142,629 1.00
Total Savings b 4,831,348 41.75
Custody Officer
Hiring Freeze Positions Status a
b The departmental savings noted above will be set aside in non-departmental in the respective funds a This list reflects positions that were vacant as of May 17, 2025. It excludes positions that have been exempted based on Council direction.

Position Title
Administrative Analyst - Records & Election Services
Aquatic Site Supervisor
Building Officer
Building Systems Technician
Business Process Technology Analyst
Client Services Technician
Community Services Officer
Community Services Program Coordinator
Community Services Program Specialist
Cultural Affairs Venue Supervisor
Custodian I
Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor
Emergency Services Admin
Executive Administrative Assistant
Forensic Specialist
Graffiti Removal Technician
Groundskeeper
Lead Combination Building Inspector
Lead Public Services Officer
Pier & Harbor Services Officer
Police Records Technician
Principal Community Services Supervisor
Project Support Assistant
Traffic Services Officer
Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor
Public Safety Dispatcher
Public Services Officer
Public Works Construction Specialist
Revenue Collections Assistant
Senior Administrative Analyst
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Enact the following adjustments to the overall budget:
● Freeze all currently vacant positions in the city
○ Exempt all vacant sworn-officer positions in PD and FD ○ Exempt new FTEs proposed as part of the city’s budget reduction and new revenue generating initiatives, new FTEs funded through Measure K, and net-zero staffing adjustments in the proposed biennial budget ○ Adopt a zero-based budgeting approach, in which vacancies deemed vital to health and safety or core to basic functioning may be approved by the City Manager and submitted for City Council approval in the final 2025-2026 budget and on an ongoing basis
● Amend the PD budget to create a line item that includes funding for the 9 currently vacant sworn positions and all sworn officer overtime
○ Additional sworn positions beyond the currently approved 232 may be filled using funds from this line item.
○ Council approval shall be required to add or transfer funds to this line item or purpose
● Raise the annual price of Residential and Visitor Parking Permits – from $23 to $40 for 1st Residential, $28 to $50 for 2nd Residential, $46 to $92 for a 3rd Residential, and $72 to $144 for 4th+ Residential, and $35 to $70 for Visitor (Max 2). Grant exemptions to applicants who complete a Hardship Waiver.
○ Utilize 25% of new revenues generated from this increase to reimburse the Housing Trust Fund for the next 4 years
○ Allocate $25k annually to the Early Childhood Taskforce Enact the following adjustments to Measure K:
● Remove proposed 5 additional sworn SMPD FTE positions ● Allocate $500k annually for 4 additional Public Services Officer FTEs to augment safety and address quality-of-life issues in the city’s downtown business district and parks ● Allocate $650k annually to Advanced Provider Unit program to improve services for persons experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. ● Fund equipment and subscription costs for proactive security monitoring solutions for Library, Miles Playhouse and Camera Obscura, as well as additional equipment funds necessary to expand Drone as a First Responder Program (DFR) Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
○ Direct Chief of Police to designate 2 of 9 vacant FTE sworn positions in SMPD to operationalize expansion of DFR program
● Fund the city-operated Ambulance Operator (AO) Program, proactive streetlight repair program, no right on red signage, Safe Neighborhood Streets Program, and Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) revenue replacement as recommended in the budget ● Replace proposed Z Gate capital improvement project with funding for Automated Bike Lane Enforcement Program to increase public safety and raise additional revenues ● Add parking meters on Neilson Way to increase public safety and raise additional revenues
● Fund revenue-positive expansion of the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system with General Fund (GF) Non-Restricted Reserve Balance in lieu of Measure K ● Allocate $1.5 million ($200k above proposed $1.3 million) to preserve overtime for Special Deployments in the Police Department
● Allocate $708k to fill 1 vacant custodian position and keep funding for custodial services impacting restroom maintenance at the Beach, Pier and City Parks and $369k to continue to fund 3 Vacant Positions - Assistant Planner, Code Enforcement Officer, and Combination Building Inspector - as recommended in the budget Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
25 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 5:20 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; [email protected]
Subject: Support AGENDA ITEM 12B, Alternative Community Gardens Cost Recovery

EXTERNAL
Hi,
The Community Gardeners support the alternative cost recovery proposal and want to commend staff for being creative and collaborative in finding a good solution to our program’s cost recovery. Santa Monica’s Community Gardens matter tremendously to the city and community for climate resilience and sustainability leadership. We are eager to be good stewards of the land and of our City’s budget.

I was recently assigned a garden plot after waiting 12 years on the waitlist. In just a few months, I’ve been able to increase my access to fresh groceries and have met new community members. The gardens are an important tool for combating food insecurity and loneliness in our community. My partner and I spend several hours per week at the garden. Attached is a photo of my plot, a before from when it was assigned and an after shot since I’ve been a garden steward, so you can see the work that I’ve put into the garden.

Thank you,
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
27 Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
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June 24, 2025
28 Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Antony Lewis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 3:37 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Garden fees
Attachments: IMG_0498.HEIC

EXTERNAL
Council Meeting Items,
Please don't vote for a 200% increase!
I work about 5 hours a week in my garden plot on Main Street.

Whilst there, I encounter many visitors, who may be families with strollers, people enjoying the tranquility, apartment dwellers who are unsure what to grow on a balcony or international travelers who are amazed at what they see. A tourist on foot could easily check out the Heritage Museum or visit the shotgun house as well as the gardens before eating at one of Santa Monica's great local restaurants. The gardens benefit the city.

A couple of revenue generating ideas.

1. Our visitors also include bees, humming birds and of course many varieties of butterflies. Why not include a means/portal to encourage donations to help the fact that the Main Street garden is a waystation for the Monarch butterfly?

2. When the city becomes involved in encouraging composting, a homeowner could well come to the gardens and see the practical ways that people do compost. I would have no problem in having compost bin manufacturers or worm salesman giving an educational talk at a weekend at a price! I use red wiggler worms for composting in my worm farm. But European night crawler worms are also an option!
Please come visit!
Best wishes,
Antony Lewis
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Laurie Yehia <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2025 12:58 PM
To: Council Mailbox
Cc: councilmtgitems

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members,
You have hard working constituents who pay enormous taxes to live in Santa Monica, vote for their leadership and have needs that must be prioritized in budget decisions. There are many reasons for the budget issues but the shortfall is not due to the people you would be punishing by almost doubling the cost of preferential parking on their streets. This would be extremely burdensome to most residents who are not as wealthy as may assume.

Before placing this burden and others on residents who support and are to be served by the city council, please consider how much the city is paying nonresident employees and consultants. Looking for quick revenue fixes, despite the negative impact on quality of life in the city (such as these huge permit increases or substituting grass with plastic turf that poisons our children and the environment) will cost the city big time over time, and will certainly lead residents to seek a change in city leadership.

You may of course think you can justify the permit increase with the desire to encourage alternative forms of transportation. While building a workable public transit system is a laudable goal, it is not in existence at this time for most residents. Many residents cannot use bicycles for their primary transport for many reasons, may it be age, disability, fear of traffic as our biking lanes are not well planned or safe, having to carry heavy or bulking items, etc.

Please do not increase the preferential parking permit fees by more than a reasonable amount such as COLA, or 2-5%.

Thank you for your consideration.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
2 Laurie Yehia
2928 Washington Avenue
Santa Monica 90403
(310) 963-4178
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Kathy Christopherson <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2025 8:57 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; [email protected]
Subject: Increasing residential parking permits?

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern, if it concerns anyone at all:

I’ve lived in Santa Monica since the 1980s. I’ve seen reps come and go. This is seriously the worst and most ineffective and useless lot, regarding the care and concern of residents. And now you want to DOUBLE visitor parking permits? We've got ONE parking spot for our apartment unit, so now you are forcing us to pay even more for additional residents in the unit but also an outrageous amount for visitors. You do not even properly enforce the area by SAMO high. The parents are sociopaths and many of the students are beyond help. I come home to mobs of students sitting in my APARTMENT parking spot, smoking pot, eating food, refusing to move unless forced. You put no money into enforcing these areas or requiring the school to tend to these residential issues.

What DO you spend our tax money on? What I’ve noticed is a disturbing obsession with flower circles and creating bike paths no one uses and creating one-way streets without our consent that cause unreasonable inconvenience and safety issues for the residents.

NOW you want to double visitor passes?
WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THESE DECISIONS? Please don’t make me take time away from my work to go to one of these meetings b/c I will not be kind. You have a responsibility to residents first. I don’t see that happening. I see a group of careless “reps” who cave to $$$ issues, more and more tourism, and frankly, an ill-advised, immature point of view regarding homelessness and crime. Most of us lean liberal, but liberals don’t need to be stupid. Cleaning up the streets of Santa Monica is necessary and imperative for all involved. This idea that you’re “doing the right thing” by catering to the problems is not liberal. It’s naive.

I’m just sick of dealing with the fall out of these bad decisions - and the parking pass thing is just the icing on the fruitcake. You have an entire community constantly complaining about all of the above and yet…it never changes. Let me share a few random highlights for your records so you can start getting a clue:

1. I’ve repeatedly been TRAPPED in the 7th Ct alley b/t 7th St and Lincoln (Pico & Michigan, Michigan & 10) because of 100 cars picking up children who evidently can’t walk a couple blocks in the best climate in the country. I’ve had a “father” get out of his SUV and threaten to hit me. I’m a 5’3” woman asking parents to pull out of the way so we, the residents, can get to work while they wait an hour for their precious children to walk 5 feet.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
4 2. I’ve been late for appointments repeatedly.

3. I’ve been stuck in the alley, waiting for chains of high school kids to slowly walk down the alley and not move out of the way until they feel like it.

4. I’ve repeatedly come down to my car in our carport to find mobs of children sitting against my (and other resident’s cars) eating lunch on urine drenched concrete, smoking pot, refusing to budge.

5. I’ve been in a big rush to get to an appointment but have to do a 20-point back out of my carport to avoid hitting a big powwow of “special” high school students who are unencumbered to be hanging out in the middle of our already crowded PRIVATE apartment parking lot.

6. I’ve caught those kids ripping down the “no trespassing” sign on the building.

7. Almost every single night is insomnia hour because drunk homeless people party down in our carports and live in the U-hauls parked behind the Shell station on Lincoln/Pico - and no one enforces or regulates any of this. There is no peaceful living in Santa Monica anymore. Junkies hang out on the east side of Lincoln every night, screaming and laughing and drinking, unencumbered.

8. When my husband comes home after working 12+ hours of manual labor, he has to drive around the block, in traffic, a few times, if he misses the one open permitted parking spot on 7th Street b/c you guys made it a one-way street WITHOUT OUR INPUT - and do not bullsh*t with me, you didn’t send out notices like you claim. We’ve all discussed it and no one knew and you did it anyway, creating a massive issue for residents, with no serious upside. WHOSE IDIOTIC IDEA WAS THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE? It couldn’t have been less thought out. Ask me how many bikes I see on that bike path you thought was so important? I can honestly say, I don’t remember ever seeing one - ever. But now residents are STUCK trying to go home, after working all day, and they have to jump through your silly, whimsical hoops.

9. The city is NOTHING like it used to be. Nothing. I don’t feel safe walking a few yards to Lincoln/Pico intersection and crossing the street to go to Walgreen’s. A. it’s takes about 15 minutes to make it there.

B. I am wholly aware I run the risk of getting shot or mugged. I’ve been in the same place for 30 years. It’s by far the worst - not even close - in the past couple years.

10. If I want to go downtown, god forbid - it takes longer to drive than to take an unsafe walk. That is a serious problem.

11. The city is ugly now. The sidewalks and streets are dirty. The tall buildings and condos everywhere ruined the town. It will never be restored. Santa Monica was one of the most delightful beach towns in the country, with its vintage feel and open skylines. It’s over. Good job losing control of the gift we had.

Hope it lined your pockets suitably, as you surely don’t take pride in the responsibility to residents you signed up for.

FYI, I don’t having any illusions that anyone in charge of anything is reading this far - or at all for that matter. But know this, if you are. I don’t generally write these letters. I don’t have time. I’m taking care of others and trying to take care of my own responsibilities. But you guys need to know, so many of us are gravely disappointed and even disgusted. WHY TAKE SUCH A JOB AND LET THINGS SLIP LIKE THIS? I don’t get it. It very much seems like you have forgotten the very thing that needs to be number one in Santa Monica, at all times - THE RESIDENTS.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
5 Now you know.

I expect to hear nothing back. That’s where we are.

Kathy Christopherson
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Enyaj <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 10:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Garden fee increase

EXTERNAL
Greetings!
As a long time resident and garden holder, I need to voice my objection to this obsorbitsnt raise proposal. Raising anything 300 percent is alarming after all the increases in rent, food , gas , cable. , phone , rent and utilities we must endure monthly!
The garden itself is a place that needs amending. I have one of the smallest plots and need to add four to do. Bags of compost plus two gallons of sea weed extract and ins or two fish emulsions and a bag of worm castings every year to keep it healthy. But that garden helps feed me and my family and provides herbs all year round to keep out simple meals heathy tasty and nutrient dense as our food is out main medicine.

The gardens are a great resource for the community just to bear witness to and the year round blooming gives a plethora of colors that both quiet and excited the senses. Like an open air sensory art therapy session every where you look! It makes this crazy world a little more sensible and easier to take in doses.

I am a low income single mom navigating the best stage of my life as my three have grown though one is still home finishing school. It’d be hard for me to keep my plot despite my great love and need to garden plus the need for its bounty to offset food prices. I hope you will reconsider the proposition to a more reasonable increase which shouldn’t exceed a50 percent raise.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely , Jayne Pitchford
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
7 David Yakobson
From: Ann Bowman
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 10:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Caroline Torosis; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; Steven Johnson; Maryanne LaGuardia; Jenny Rogers; Micah Akerson Subject: June 24, 2025 Council Meeting - Item 12B - ALTERNATIVE Community Gardens Cost Recovery

SUPPORT
Dear Mayor Negrete and Esteemed City Councilmembers -
Although we were not able to agendize this matter for discussion in time for 6/24, the Recreation and Parks Commission (RPC) learned recently of the proposed tripling of fees for our community garden plots and Commissioners were concerned because the fees in Santa Monica already are high, plus our gardens are enjoyed and worked in by many seniors and/or those on a fixed income.

Importantly, the increase had not been thoroughly vetted by the Community Gardens Advisory Committee due to a procedural oversight.

So I want to thank each of you for your attention to and support of this important program and RPC is excited to discover that our Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry and our Community Gardens Coordinator Teague Weybright have developed an ALTERNATIVE proposal, below, that does NOT increase our community garden fees but proposes to reallocate monies in the Office of Sustainability & Environment budget and to create new endeavors to ensure the program’s cost recovery.

This plan will be enthusiastically embraced by all lovers of our community gardens program, including me, and I hope the Council will unanimously support the new recommendation.

Thank you to you for your support and to Ms. Parry, Mr. Weybright, and our community gardens leadership for developing this win-win solution!
Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Recreation and Parks Commissioner
See budget update on the Council 6/24 Agenda, Item 12B
file:///Users/user/Downloads/Snapshot-52653.pdf

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Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
9 David Yakobson
From: Leslie Neale <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 11:14 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez Subject: Thank You!

EXTERNAL
Thank you for offering the alternative cost recovery plan for the Community Gardens! Your efforts and willingness to come up with a creative proposal has not gone unnoticed. We will continue to be excellent stewards of the land and ambassadors for our city! Sincerely,
Leslie Neale
On Jun 9, 2025, at 5:10 PM, Leslie Neale <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The Santa Monica Community Gardens bring immense value to our special city in all aspects of personal and community wellbeing!
As gardeners working in our small plots we are contributing to the beautification and reputation of Santa Monica as a leading city in sustainable, organic and regenerative practices. We’re not just gardeners, we are ambassadors! My family works 4 - 10 hours a week in our garden and nearly every time we are there we stop to talk to visitors in our city passing through the garden. We stop and chat and answer their questions about the city’s program and how and what we are growing - essentially encouraging by example how to connect to the earth in a meaningful and responsible way! I ask you to recognize our contribution to the betterment of our city as one of our nation’s leaders in environmental sustainability.

Please recognize the value we bring to the city by allowing us to work with the Office of Sustainability and Environment to come up with the 30K cost recovery as opposed to tripling our fees outright. In addition to our individual “rents” as gardeners, we contribute financially with soil, amendments, hardscape, seeds and plants. For most gardeners, tripling the cost will be unsustainable especially as we recently had a fee increase and our dear city will be at risk of losing such a showcase program.

Don’t let that happen!
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
10 Thank you for your time and attention,
Leslie Neale
Our garden:
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<IMG_8767.jpeg>
<IMG_2820 2.jpeg>
<IMG_8014.jpeg>
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
11 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 10:39 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems; Oscar Santiago; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Ishara Bailis; Cris Gutierrez
Subject: Re: Proposed fee increase

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
Please review and give serious consideration to the alternative proposal put forward by the Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry and the Community Gardens Coordinator Teague Weybright.

This proposal opens the door to a discussion about reasonable fee increases along with a very interesting idea on how to bridge the budget shortfall
Sincerely
Tim Bowler and Ishara Bailis
Main Street Gardeners
On Friday, June 6, 2025 at 03:21:01 PM PDT, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Council Members,
While we appreciate the need to cover a budget shortfall we do not believe that this shortfall should be borne by the community gardeners.

In the past few years we have had at least two fee increases, and to triple our existing rate would be beyond the capacity of many of our community.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
12 The Santa Monica Community Gardens serve as a model for sustainable and local food production and as such should be encouraged and not limited. If we raise fees too high we will limit participation to those who have the means and exclude many individuals and families who would benefit greatly from this wonderful city service.

Please think carefully before making your final decision Sincerely
Tim Bowler and Ishara Bailis
Main Street Gardeners
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
13 David Yakobson
From: Dana Coffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8:16 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; [email protected]
Subject: SM Community Garden - Vote Against Raising Fees

EXTERNAL
Hello Councilmembers,
Like many gardeners who cherish the community garden plot they have in the city, I truly believe in their value as a tool for fostering community, providing green space in the city, and serving as a food source/training opportunity for many residents in Santa Monica.

I understand that the city is facing budget challenges, but raising the fees on a service that serves mostly renters, seniors, and diverse people across the city feels short sighted. I hope that Public Works can work with the garden community and other programs to find savings or source philanthropic dollars to protect this vital community resource.

Sicnerely,
Dana Coffman
Main Street Community Gardener
Urban Forest Task Force Member
--
Dana Coffman
505.913.1900
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
14 David Yakobson
From: James R. <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 5:47 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Elaine Polachek; Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; councilmtgitems; Shannon Parry Cc: Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez
Subject: Value of Santa Monica Community Gardens.

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council and Staff
I am writing this letter to request that the city not increase the rates for community garden plotholders.

As a site rep and volunteer at Marine Park Community Garden, myself and a few other dedicated volunteers work approximately 80 unpaid hours per month, maintaining community garden plots and assisting resident plot-holders. We donate and distribute food to many food-insecure local families several times per month. I feel that a rate increase will likely result in many neglected and abandoned garden plots throughout the city, due to them becoming unaffordable to residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes and don’t have a yard or other area to grow their own food. I urge you to vote NO on this rate increase.

Sincerely,
James Renn
Marine Park CG
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
15 David Yakobson
From: Martha Bardach <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 1:14 PM
To: Bardach Martha
Subject: Value of Community Gardens . . . No Tripling Increase of Garden Fees

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor Pro-Tem Torosis, City Council Members Zwick, Zernitskaya, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Interim City Manager Polachek, Finance Department Director Santiago, Director of Public Works Valte, Santa Monica’s Community Gardens matter in countless ways to the city and to our community for climate resilience and sustainability leadership, and they matter tremendously to me, a Volunteer Community Gardener.

After spending more than 7 years volunteering at Ishihara Learning Garden, giving thousands ofhours of service to the garden, to the neighborhood and to local pre-school and elementary school children, I can attest to the value of Santa Monica’s Community Gardens. Along with providing fresh greens to our neighborhood, we are always fostering a sense of shared community, providing invaluable learning activities, and demonstrating the joy of outdoor spaces.

The Community Gardeners are communitarian to the core and will be very happy to help with any necessary cost recover.

However, we community gardeners feel very deeply that cost recovery needs to happen with due consultation with the Santa Monica Community Gardens Advisory Committee and the Office of Sustainability and Environment.

The need to find $30,000 in cost recovery should not become the burden of Community Gardeners, especially as we investments in habitat stewardship, climate resilience, soil-building, composting, community-building and food security, etc., in alignment with the city’s goals.

I sincerely hope the leadership of Santa Monica will respect and honor our contributions by not burdening our community with extreme fee raises.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

With respect,
Martha Bardach
martha bardach
310/454-2443/h
310/874-3929/c
[email protected]
If you want to change the system…
you have to work hard to elect the people who run it!
녙녚녛녜녝녞
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
16 David Yakobson
From: Alison Leigh Wallis <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 12:52 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oscar Santiago; Rick Valte; Shannon Parry; Teague Weybright; Cris Gutierrez; [email protected]; Alison Leigh Wallis
Subject: Value of Community Gardens . . . No Tripling Increase of Garden Fees

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
First, I want to thank you for your service and your commitment to honoring and achieving the city's five strategic priorities.

Our Community Gardens are a meaningful contribution to the city and our vibrant community. It uniquely accomplishes objectives related to the city’s strategic priorities of Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality; Justice, Equity & Diversity; and, Sustainable & Connected. Below I share some brief thoughts and stories on these three as witnessed from my own experience.

1. Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality
The gardens specifically achieve this priority area by “investing in amenities and programs for all community members.” For many of us, we are renters whose garden is the only outdoor space available to enjoy the fruits of our labor, connect with our community, and contribute to the economic vitality of our local economy. My plot is at the Main Street space, and because I frequent the garden every single day, I find myself spending more time patronizing local restaurants and stores, paying parking fees, spending more time at the beach (cleaning up trash), and purchasing my garden supplies from local businesses like Merrihew’s on Ocean Park.

2. Justice, Equity & Diversity
The current Community Garden fee is equitable and accessible to people of a wide range of economic means and racial identities creating a diversity of representation in our gardens: folks of diverse finances, races, ages, and abilities. BIPOC folks have historically been barred access to various institutions that could benefit their wellbeing due to fee-based barriers. This is also true of those with disabilities and our senior population, who are both on strict fixed incomes. A triple increase in plot fees who further harm our communities and would cater to those who have greater financial access, directly opposing the priorities of justice, equity, and diversity.

3. Sustainable & Connected
Our Gardens address this strategic priority head-on! These gardens “prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health” by allowing folks to grow their own food, reduce their carbon footprint, and eliminate poisons and toxins from entering our bodies and ecosystems through organic gardening methods. It “benefits the social and economic wellbeing of the community” by offering spaces for gardeners to connect and to contribute their knowledge and generosity to fellow gardeners and the larger community. Our gardens contribute to the biodiversity in the soil and our local populations of bees, butterflies, and myriad other beneficial insects. Our gardens build a deep sense of respect and stewardship of the lands of the indigenous Tongva and Chumash peoples.

Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
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17 I waited 10 years to receive my garden plot and when that call came through, I was overjoyed. Getting my hands into the soil and connected to our land/community has tremendously benefitted my mental health, my sense of belonging and connection, my investment (time, energy, resources) in my local economy. I am currently growing flowering and fruiting plants that have the potential to make me food self-sufficient, reducing the need to purchase fruits and vegetables grown hundreds if not thousands of miles away. I am deeply committed to our gardens remaining accessible to all people who wish to take part in our community. The potential $30k this fee hike could generate doesn’t even begin to account for the $60M city deficit, it is only an act of harm.

I look forward to the June 24th City Council meeting.

Sincerely,
Alison
Alison Leigh Wallis
e: [email protected]
c: 949.310.9772
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025
Item 12-B
June 24, 2025

Santa Monica City CouncilJune 24, 2025

Santa Monica City Council
June 24, 2025