March 28, 2026
Mr. Oliver Chi
Law Offices of Jeffrey Fleitman
424 S. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310-399-2881
City Manager, City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
CC: Mayor Caroline Torosis; Mayor Pro Tern Jesse Zwick; Councilmember Lana Negrete; Councilmember Dan Hall; Councilmember Ellis Raskin; Councilmember Barry Snell; Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya; City Planning Department; City Attorney's Office; Airport Director--- Ariport Commisioner --- Economic Develoment ----- ; Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park Re: FORMAL OBJECTION AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE- Proposed Relocation of Santa Monica Trapeze School to 2800 Airport Avenue - GROUND-BREAKING SCHEDULED MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026
Dear City Manager Chi,
My office represents Rachel and Jeffrey Vertun living at 13019 Dewey Street, Los Angeles, CA 90066, regarding the above referenced matter. We write to formally and unequivocally object to the proposed relocation of the Santa Monica Trapeze School to 2800 Airport Avenue - a site that directly abuts my client's house and their quiet residential neighborhood along the southern edge of the Santa Monica Airport property.
We are writing today because the business owner intends to begin ground-breaking on Monday, March 30, 2026. We demand that the City immediately halt all construction and permitting activity, and provide a written response within 24 hours. We are organized, we are united, and we are prepared to pursue all available legal remedies - including seeking emergency injunctive relief- to protect our neighborhood, our homes, and our rights.
I. THE CITY MADE A PROMISE TO NOTIFY US - AND BROKE IT
On September 23, 2024, the Santa Monica Airport Commission held a meeting at which the Trapeze School's permit was approved. During that meeting, a Commissioner raised the exact concern we raise today - that nearby residents would be affected. The City's own representative responded on the record:
"Yes, that's in our to-do list. And the city will reach out to the residents that are right adjacent to that location."
That outreach never happened.
It was not until construction activity began in late March 2026 - eighteen months after that promise was made - that we learned of this project at all. On March 24, 2026, lead resident Frank Mele appeared before the Santa Monica City Council during public comment brought the matter to the Mayor and Council's attention, asking for quick action. It was also only chance that we became aware of this as Frank Mele saw a handmade trapeze school sign at the site as he passed by on a walk the other day.
The City's failure to follow through on its own stated commitment is not a clerical oversight. It is a breach of the basic process residents have a right to expect when public land is committed to commercial use adjacent to their homes. Had that notification occurred as promised, we would have raised these objections immediately - before final permits were issued, before a lease was executed, and before anyone stepped foot on that parcel.
II. FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUIRED NOTICE TO AFFECTED RESIDENTS Residents of the immediately adjacent neighborhood received no notice whatsoever of the proposed trapeze school. The sole reason any resident became aware of this project was entirely incidental: a homeowner happened to pass the site and observed signage indicating a future trapeze school. Until that moment, no property owner or resident had been informed of this substantial and disruptive proposed change in land use.
At no point were neighboring residents provided advance notice, an opportunity to review the proposal, or any mechanism to submit comments or objections regarding the significant impacts this project would impose on their community. As proposed, the use would materially affect residents' privacy, property values, and their right to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
Basic principles of due process and established land-use procedures require that when a governmental entity contemplates or authorizes a material change in use affecting a residential neighborhood, affected property owners must be given timely notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard, including adequate time to seek administrative review or judicial relief as appropriate.
Those safeguards exist precisely to prevent exactly the circumstances presented here.
None of those procedural protections were afforded in this case. The City's approval or permitting of this project without providing notice to neighboring residents deprived them of any opportunity to raise objections, pursue administrative remedies, or seek timely judicial intervention.
Accordingly, we hereby demand that the City immediately halt all work and activity related to the proposed trapeze school. Residents must be afforded proper notice and a meaningful opportunity to present their concerns, including sufficient time to pursue legal remedies, should that become necessary.
Ill. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF USE - NOT A MINISTERIAL ACTION The 2800 Airport Avenue site has historically operated as a low-intensity parking and staging area.
The introduction of the Santa Monica Trapeze School represents a fundamental change in use: a commercial amusement operation with amplified music, large crowds, outdoor performance events, and a 40-foot structure, running 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week.
The school's own site plan submitted to the City confirms the full scope:
• A flying trapeze rig with a platform approximately 22 feet off the ground on an embankment already 21 feet above base level - effectively over 40 feet above the rear yards of adjacent homes on Dewey Street
• A trampoline, aerial rigs, and staff parking spanning the northeastern property line from 13019 Dewey Street north to Airport Avenue - directly behind named residential addresses • Amplified music permitted under the license agreement from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week including Sundays and holidays
• Live performance events permitted until 10:00 p.m.
• Six-foot chain-link fencing with open entries during business hours The school's own presentation materials describe this move as an opportunity to "get away from all the noise of the pier" - an acknowledgment that their Pier operation was loud and disruptive, and a preview of exactly what this residential neighborhood will face every day.
Historical City records further underscore why a full public process is required here. A 1984 Planning Commission application for the same parcel - Permit No. 84DR236 - was processed as a Development Review requiring City Council authorization, Planning Commission review, Architectural Review Board oversight, and a formal public hearing with notice to surrounding property owners. That hearing addressed only minor office and storage modifications. The current proposal is categorically more impactful, yet it has received less review - not more.
IV. DOCUMENTED PROPERTY VALUE HARM
This is not a speculative concern. We retained Richard Stearns of Stearns & Associates (Compass), 11601 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90025, to assess the financial impact on our neighborhood.
Mr. Stearns' written opinion, dated March 27, 2026 and attached hereto as Exhibit A, finds that a representative property at 13121 Dewey Street- currently valued at approximately $2,400,000 to $2,500,000 - would decline to an estimated $1,800,000 to $2,000,000 if the Trapeze School is constructed at the proposed location, and could fall even further if multiple affected properties reach the market simultaneously.
That is a loss of $400,000 to $700,000 on a single home. Across 25 or more directly impacted residences, the cumulative harm to our neighborhood's assessed value is staggering. The City has an obligation to weigh this harm. There is no evidence that it has done so.
V. SERIOUS AND UNRESOLVED PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS
We have a fundamental safety question that we believe has not been answered: Has the City coordinated with Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power regarding the overhead power line corridor that runs through and adjacent to this site? The trapeze school's own presentation confirms that the flying trapeze rig platform sits approximately 22 feet off the ground, erected on an embankment that is already approximately 21 feet above base level. This places the top of the structure - including cables, rigging, and the arc of performers in flight - at an effective height exceeding 40 feet above ground in a corridor where high-voltage power lines are managed by both SoCal Edison and LADWP. This very specific area is of the windiest in Santa Monica due to its Unique open airport topography, elevation, and proximity to the coast.
We are not aware of any evidence that either utility was consulted, that safe clearance distances were verified, or that either utility issued any approval or sign-off for this installation. This is not a technicality - it is a life-safety issue. Erecting a 40-foot metal structure with cables and a suspended net in proximity to high-voltage transmission lines, and then placing members of the public on a platform above them, creates an unacceptable risk of electrocution, arc flash, or structural failure that could injure or kill performers, students, or bystanders. The Trapeze school already may not have the cleanest safety record.
We demand to know:
• Did the City obtain written clearance from SoCal Edison and LADWP prior to approving this site?
• What is the minimum safe clearance distance from the overhead lines, and was that distance verified against the proposed structure dimensions and the arc of the trapeze swing? • Has a licensed electrical engineer reviewed the site plan in relation to the power line corridor? If the answers to any of these questions are "no" or "unknown," construction must stop immediately.
The City cannot permit a commercial operation placing members of the public 40 feet in the air adjacent to high-voltage lines without documented utility clearance.
VI. THIS USE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD The proposed site abuts the Mar Vista residential community in the City of Los Angeles. The residents most impacted have no vote in Santa Monica elections and, until now, no standing in Santa Monica's administrative process. The impacts of this commercial operation will fall almost entirely on us:
• Amplified music from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week • Public address announcements throughout the day and into the evening • Crowds, traffic, and noise from customers, spectators, and staff • A 40-foot-plus metal structure permanently dominating the view from our back yards • Bright operational lighting for evening classes
We are not a sacrifice zone for Santa Monica's airport conversion plans. We are families, in a quiet residential neighborhood, who were never asked, never notified, and never given a chance to be heard.
VII. THE CITYDISPLACED THIS BUSINESS AND OWES IT A BETTER SOLUTION We are not without sympathy for the Santa Monica Trapeze School and its owner, Kenna Stevens.
The City of Santa Monica made a deliberate choice to remove this school from its 17-year home on the Santa Monica Pier, replacing it with Santa Monica Amusements in a decision that even City Council members described as "heartbreaking." Councilmember Lana Negrete stated publicly that the school "belongs on the Pier" and not in a "parking lot in a business park." She was right. And the proposed site at 2800 Airport Avenue is precisely that - a parking lot in a business park, directly behind residential homes. The City created this displacement. The City has a responsibility to find a solution that does not simply move the burden from one community to another.
We call on the City to fully explore alternatives - beachside locations, the Lot 27 activation site, or other areas where this use can genuinely coexist with its surroundings - before proceeding further.
VIII. OUR DEMANDS
We demand the following, in writing, within 24 hours of receipt of this letter:
1. An immediate halt to all ground-breaking, construction, permitting, and further lease execution related to this project at 2800 Airport Avenue;
2. Written confirmation that the City has obtained - or will obtain prior to any construction - documented clearance from SoCal Edison and LADWP regarding the power line corridor at this site, and that a licensed electrical engineer has reviewed the site plan in relation to those lines;
3. A formal public hearing on the proposed Airport Avenue site, with advance notice to all property owners within 500 feet of the proposed site on both sides of the Santa Monica/Los Angeles municipal boundary;
4. The direct, personal neighbor outreach that was promised at the September 23, 2024 Airport Commission meeting and never delivered;
5. Inclusion of Mar Vista neighborhood representatives as formal participants in all future planning discussions regarding the SMC Airport-to-Park conversion south of Airport Boulevard; and
6. A full environmental and noise impact assessment, made available for public review, before any lease is finalized or construction authorized.
IX. LEGAL NOTICE
We are not afraid to pursue legal action. If the City of Santa Monica permits ground-breaking to proceed on Monday - or takes any further steps on this project without correcting the procedural failures described above - we will pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking emergency injunctive relief to halt construction, challenging the adequacy of environmental review, and asserting claims based on the City's documented failure to provide the neighbor notification it explicitly committed to on the public record.
This letter constitutes formal notice of our objection and our legal intent.
We are 25 households on Dewey Street and the surrounding blocks of Mar Vista. We were promised awareness in this process, that promise was broken, and Monday's ground-breaking cannot proceed while these issues remain unresolved. We are asking you to do the right thing.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
31 0-399-2881
Attachment: Exhibit A - Property Valuation Impact Letter, Richard Stearns, Stearns & Associates I Compass (March 27, 2026)
C0MPASS
03/27/2026
To Whom It May Concern:
13121 Dewey Street, Los Angeles, CA 90066 is a highly remodeled single story residence with very nice views and private back yard. It is approximately 1200 square feet and is considered a 3-bedroom/2- bath home. It is located in a desirable section of Mar Vista on a quiet residential street. It's current market value is approximately $2,400,000 - $2,500,000.
If the proposed location for the Santa Monica Trapeze School of 2800 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, 90405 is constructed behind this property, it will have a significant impact on the value and desirability of the property. Its anticipated value, afterthe Trapeze School is built, will be in the $1,800,000 - $2,000,000 range and might be lower if multiple properties come on the market at the same time.
Please feel free to consult if needed.
Thank you,
Richard Stearns
►◄
STEARNS
Santa Monjca Trapeze School at the Santa Monica Airport 2800 Airport ave, arts district
Project description:
The Project involves relocating the Trapeze Rig from it's current location on the Santa Monica Pier to the Santa Monica Airport. Work will include relocating the anchoring system to cement blocks and erecting trapeze equipment.
Plans are off original trapeze rig and new anchoring system. 8 ' I
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f.,c\• :-,~-;;~ . .... . . .... ~.-.. .. . -··· .. . !"A _.,.,.l.~::C o.'l':.r Area is the northeastern property line 13019 north to Airport Ave, following the lot southwest to the currently existing gate located at 13127.
We will have 6 foot chainlink fencing around the area, with the 2 entry ways open during business hours.
The flying trapeze rig will be placed at that middle area most north, with the trampoline under it's last upright, followed by the aerial rigs.
TRAPEZE SID£ ELEVA TTQN
The flying rig is approx. 36 feet at the highest upright with the shortest being approx. 33 feet. The 36 foot upright is the first "platform" upright.
Photo from Getagrip Trapeze
What is a trapeze school?
The platform sits 22 feet off the ground. This
platform will be located in front of the large tree on
property 13019. The embankment at this point
measures approximately 21 feet above the base
level.
Social circus has been bringing the art of circus to normal people since the 1970's. Our trapeze school (first as TSNY then as SMTS) brings circus and exercise classes to mainstream audiences in Santa Monica since 2008. We teach people who have never climbed a ladder before to become professional flyers, or at least we try. Currently, Cirque du Soleil hosts 5 of our first time flyers as performers.
Who is Trapeze School?
Kenna Stevens
Kenna, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been working and performing in circus arts for over 17 years and has a strong passion for educating the masses on how to use their bodies to create art.
Ibe Team
SMTS staff consists of 24 part time
employees, most of whom choose
to be on the team in addition to their
salaried positions elsewhere. 4 have
worked directly for Kenna for more
than 11 years. Trapeze school also
boasts to be many of the staff's first
employment, having a long history
of employing Santa Monica's teens.
The team consists of flying trapeze
rig coaches, aerial coaches,
trampoline coaches, and office/
support staff. The team values
inclusion and support of diversity,
second only to safety.
Class break down:
A typical flying class ranges from 4 to 10
people. We occasionally do party and
events that have up to 80 people but those
are very rare since covid. Traditionally fly
classes are 90 minutes, but can be as long as
4 hours. Each flying class can host up to 4
employees.
While the hope is to fly above the cranes,
90% of the flying actives happen below the
crane bars.
Aerial classes range from l to 8 students and last from 30 minutes to 2 V hours. Traditionally, the classes have been 4 students for 55 minutes. The aerial rigs are approx. 22 feet high. Students participate below the crane bar.
Trampoline classes are 55 mins and can host up to 4 people. The trampoline is an olympic trampoline that stands 4 feet off the ground.
Students participate above the trampoline.
Mon 2 Tue- 3 INc·d 4 Thu 6 ~ri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8
1.5 ho Level 3 - Ff;
AST 1/1 :i3
10:00 -11:00am (1 r
9:30 a 9,30 - 11:oc: Catch winded out ,
9:45 - 11:15am (1h ,
L"vel 3 - Flying .
11:30 - 1:00pm (1h ,.
1.5 hour Flying Trar
'11:30 - 1:00pm (lit :
Catch winded out i,
n·15 - 12:45pm (1fl: 1.s ho Specialty P
11::l0 ·Ly;a~ {13:y
12:00 -- 12:f•
1;5 hour Flying 1
·1;15 • 2:45pm (ih 3l
1.5 hour Flying 1
'1:15 2:45pm (1h 31
Jnfro iifffv, 1.5 ho 1:30 • 2:00;
1:30 . intro to Flvl 2:00 - 2:30,
Aerial Trampoline
1.5 hour Flying Tra!' 1.5 hour Flying Trai:
);30 ~.:0Qpm (1~ 3, : 1:30 t:~ AST 1/1 ~
!.:, AST 1/2 t!,. 2:00 - 3:00·
1.5 hour Flying l
3:00 - 4:30pm {1h ~
• 1.5 hour Flying TraJ·
5:00 - 7:30pm 11h 3
AST1/1a
5:15 - 6:15pm (1 ho1
2:15 - 3:45pm (1h f
1.5 hour Flying Tra•
3,15 - 4:45p.,., (1h ,
,. :· Flnal Show on 1'
• 4:30 - 6:00pm (1 h :;
This is our schedule from March 2 to March 8th. Please note we are wi/] 10 work with JoH.:s on our schedule.
Hours of operation:
6. Hours of Operation . .Licensee may operate its business within the License Area only during the hours staled below, unless permitted otheni:ise by 1-vritten approval from the Airport Director. Licensee's hours qf operation under this Agreement shall be:
a. For commercial activities or uses that do not include live performance events: Mon.day through Sun.day.from 10:00 a.m. lo 10:00 p.m., b. For any activities within the License Area that involve live peifonnance events, those activities shall promptly cease at 10:00 pm and may not begin past 1 0 :00 pm,
c. For activities irithin the License Area that involve the construction or selling up or dismantling of equipment, these activities may occur Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. No construction activity is permilled on Sundays or holidays. This Agreement shall sen·e as an aft.er-hours construction permit that authori:;,es only the spec(fic activities ident(f£ed in this Agreement,
NOISE
We are so excited to get away from aH the noise of the pier. We understand the restrictions set forth in the lease:
15. Signage, and Noise. All signage must be localed within the License Area or in c1 location approved by the Airport Director, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Licensee shall be permitted to install signage on the entrance to the License Area and in adJacent areas.
All signs are subJecz to approval by the Airport Director, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Music from acoustical cmcl 11.on-ampl(fiec/ musical instruments, or from prerecorded audio played through a speaker('i) is pennitted iii the License Area, but it must be played at a sufficiently low volume so as to not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of any Airport tenant '.s leasehold and to not exceed the noise limits set fonh in the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Licensee shall at all times conduct and operate its business in the License Area in a reasonable manner and shall not create nor maintain a nuisance.
We own 2 QFX PBX-61081 Rechargeable Portable Speaker I 8" Woofer I 400 Watts I Bluetooth, AUX, SD Card, FM Radio I Handle, Wheels, 12 Lbs I Perlect for Tailgating, Indoors, Outdoors Audio I Silver.
We are mindful that you all live in this shared space and do not vvish to ever overstep.
I don't allow explicit music in our community shows and t1y to block it when I hear it.
Traditionally the music is played for specific routines and is low. The space doesn't require a lot of volume to be heard. The team has been instructed to always point the speakers towards that airport.