City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 9, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Architecture Services Division Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of the Regional Parks and Open Space District Planning and Design Grant for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning and Design and Execution of Necessary Associated Documents
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemptions pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and Section 15252 (Feasibility and Planning Studies) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a grant awarded to the City in the amount of $499,149, from the Regional Parks and Open Space District 2025 Planning and Design Grant for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning Project in the Public Works Department, and to accept all grant renewals;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all grant renewals; and
4. Authorize a budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Public Works Department continues to advance adopted City plans and initiatives with the grant award of $499,149, authorized by the Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD) Competitive Grant Program (Attachment C), funded by Measure A, for the Planning and Design of the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project (SMACP). This competitive grant program offers grants for projects every three years. The goal of this planning and design grant is to support feasibility and pre-design efforts aligned with RPOSD Categories 3 and 4 goals to improve and protect 2 of 6
natural lands, open space, and water resources through development and restoration, as well as support regional-scale recreation projects that improve access to nature, increase countywide connectivity, and serve broad populations.
On October 15, 2025, staff submitted the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning and Design application, requesting $500,000 to fund enhanced connectivity to the future uses at the airport and continued planning and pre-design efforts for 20 acres of the airport land’s 192 acres, positioning the City to apply for 2028 RPOSD Competitive Grant Program funding to construct a portion of the planned work. On March 17, 2026, the City of Santa Monica received an award of $499,149 to implement the planning and pre-design project (Grant Project). Per grant guidelines, the City of Santa Monica must execute an agreement with RPOSD by July 31, 2026. Grant funds would be disbursed on a reimbursement basis and in accordance with the Grant Project Budget in RPOSD’s Grants Management System (GMS). Staff is requesting authorization to accept the grant funds of $499,149 and appropriation of $130,326 from the available Park and Recreation Development Impact Fee resources to meet the local match.
Discussion
The City of Santa Monica currently receives annual allocations from the 2016 voterapproved Measure A parcel tax in Los Angeles County, which funds parks, open spaces, beaches, trails and recreation programs countywide that contribute to the expansion, acquisition, and improvements of parks across the City. The Competitive Grant Program provides opportunities to realize larger projects, outside of annual allocations, to further advance the goals of Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD). The 2025 grant cycle offers grants for Planning and Design and Development to deliver measurable impact, promote park equity, and strengthen access to parks, natural areas, and regional recreation spaces throughout Los Angeles County.
On October 15, 2025, staff submitted the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning and Design application, requesting $500,000 to fund enhanced connectivity to future uses at the airport and continued planning and pre-design efforts for 20 acres of the airport land’s 192 acres, positioning the City to apply for 2028 RPOSD Competitive 3 of 6
Grant Program funding to construct a portion of the planned work. On March 17, 2026, the City of Santa Monica received an award of $499,149, to implement the planning and pre-design project (Grant Project). This award reflects growing regional recognition of the Grant Project’s potential to deliver meaningful, lasting benefits to Santa Monica and the broader region, advancing a generational opportunity to create community-centered, equitable access to open space and respond to the park needs of an urban environment.
The Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project (SMACP) is currently in Phase 3B– Defining the Future of Place: The Preferred Scenario Framework Diagram–of a fivephase process. Understanding that the project must be self-sustaining, Public Works identified the RPOSD Competitive Grant Program - Planning and Design - as an opportunity to explore efforts to realize day-one programming and activation of the airport lands upon its closure at midnight on December 31, 2028, as authorized by the Consent Decree / Settlement Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which was entered as a Consent Decree (Attachment D) in U.S. District Court and resolved by City Council Resolution No. 11026 (Attachment B).
Grant Project
Studying regional community plans and connectivity feasibility studies alongside Santa Monica’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Action Plans, this Grant Project presents a proactive opportunity to prioritize pedestrian and mobility enhancements to the Westside’s mobility network, serving as an essential connection for people across western Los Angeles County and helping them bridge neighborhoods and access vital resources in a region that is ever-growing and increasingly interconnected. Objectives of this Grant Project include:
• Increasing local and regional access to recreational open space and environmental benefits
• Refining community outreach methods
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• Increasing urban forest, biodiversity, and habitat metrics in alignment with the Santa Monica Urban Forest Master Plan, Parks and Recreation Vision Plan, Sustainable City Plan, and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Of note, this Grant Project also positions the City to pursue additional funding with a demonstrated track record of grant success, opening doors to additional opportunities aligned with the larger project goals of climate resilience, equitable access, and sustainable park infrastructure.
To activate these grant funds, RPOSD requires the City to execute an agreement with RPOSD by July 31, 2026. Upon execution of the agreement, all funded Grant Project work must be completed within two years from the date the grant agreement is executed with RPOSD, unless otherwise approved by RPOSD.
Next Steps
If Council adopts the resolution to accept the RPOSD grant and execute the agreement (Attachment E), RPOSD would issue a notice to proceed, allowing the Grant Project design activities to begin. Staff would then release a Request for Proposals to procure a consultant to assist the City in conducting the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning and Design Project. Staff would return to Council to award the Professional Services Agreement for design services in Winter 2026-27. The Grant work would be anticipated to begin in Spring 2027.
Environmental Review
Acceptance of a grant awarded to the City is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, section 15061(b)(3), which states that “CEQA does not apply where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Acceptance of the grant award would allow for conceptual design of the project to continue so that future CEQA can begin. In addition, acceptance of the grant for the Grant Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15252 (Feasibility and Planning Studies) of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts feasibility 5 of 6
and planning studies for possible future actions which the agency, board, or commission has not approved, adopted, or funded. In compliance with Section 15004 of the CEQA Guidelines, final design and approval of the project would not begin until completion of CEQA, and a such, the City would not be bound to a specific action, nor would it prohibit the City from considering any feasible mitigation measures and alternatives as required by the CEQA process.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
02/28/17
(Attachment A)
Resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa
Monica Implementing the Consent Decree and
Authorizing All Actions Necessary to Ensure the Closure of Santa Monica Airport Effective as of Midnight on
December 31, 2028, and the Shortening of the Santa
Monica Airport Runway Pending Closure
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant and all grant renewals from the Regional Parks and Open Space District for Planning and Design for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Planning Project and recommends the following budget amendment.
FY 2025-26 Budget Amendment
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account # Amount Account # Amount
20500011.406290 $ 499,149 C2008280.689202 $ 499,149
Staff also seeks authority to appropriate available funding from the Special Revenue Source Fund - Park and Recreation Development Impact Fee to meet the local match FY 2025-26 Budget Amendment
Release Funds Appropriate Funds
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Account # Amount Account # Amount
10.370334 – Park
and Recreation
Development Impact
Fee $130,326 C2008280.689202 $130,326
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Tony Lopez, Senior Park Planner
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. February 28, 2017 Staff Report (web link)
B. Council Resolution 11026
C. RPOSD 2025 Cycle Competitive Grant Programs Guidelines D. Consent Decree
E. Grant Agmt 10271_PD_Competitive_Airport Conversion-Santa Monica Revised_5.19.26
F. Measure A Planning and Design Grant Acceptance Resolution G. Written Comments