1 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Forward <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2025 2:09 PM
To: Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Barry Snell; councilmtgitems; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya; Oliver Chi; Council Mailbox Subject: Support 12.A with Amendments for Flexibility
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and Councilmembers,
On behalf of Santa Monica Forward, we write to express our strong support for the proposed SelfCertification Pilot Program and to offer recommendations that we believe will strengthen the program’s effectiveness.
Self-Certification presents an important opportunity to streamline straightforward building permits, support new businesses and new housing, and reduce staff workload so that staff can focus on complex reviews. We encourage the Council to advance and expand self-certification as a way to make Santa Monica a better place to do business and live.
To ensure the program reaches its full potential, we recommend the following adjustments so that qualified projects and licensed professionals are not unnecessarily excluded:
1. Reduce Applicant Pre-Qualification Requirements
Santa Monica is a small city, and many qualified architects and contractors primarily practice in Los Angeles while working occasionally in Santa Monica. Requiring three previously issued Santa Monica permits may disqualify capable professionals who are fully familiar with code requirements. We recommend reducing the threshold to one prior Santa Monica permit, which will expand participation.
2. Allow Non-Structural Exterior Tenant Improvements
The draft program limits commercial tenant improvements to interior, non-structural work. While we agree that the program should be limited to non-structural changes, it should also allow non-structural exterior improvements, such as façade updates or window replacements, which are often straightforward and do not present additional safety risks.
3. Narrow the Restaurant and Bar Exclusion
While we understand the risks cited in the staff report, the exclusion for restaurants and bars could be refined. Self-certification could safely apply to limited types of reconfigurations, such as projects that do not increase the number of seats or expand the scope of food service operations.
4. Expedite the Phase 2 & 3 Timeline: Council should direct staff to take steps to minimize the delay in rolling out phases 2 and 3 of the self-certification program (ADUs and single-unit dwellings). In particular, the city should consider self-certification for ADUs and SUDs as a single phase, so long as that does not cause delay in rollout. To manage risk, the city could consider alternative thresholds such as ADUs and SUD improvements <2,000 square feet, rather than separating ADU and SUD into phases.
Santa Monica has the opportunity to be a regional leader in smart, efficient permitting. These refinements will broaden access, reduce processing times, and support our shared goals of economic vitality and housing production.
Thank you,
Item 12-A
December 16, 2025
Item 12-A
December 16, 2025
2 Brad Ewing and Carl Hansen
Co-Chairs, Santa Monica Forward
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We are working for a diverse, progressive, sustainable and equitable Santa Monica.
SantaMonicaForward.org
Item 12-A
December 16, 2025
Item 12-A
December 16, 2025