The City Manager’s report in Tuesday’s Council meeting will be particularly interesting this week as it will contain both the Santa Monica Police Department’s (SMPD) 2023 annual crime report update and a summary of AB 1287’s changes to state density bonus law for housing projects.
During the City Council meeting on September 12 of last year, Police Chief Ramon Batista declared that the rate of serious crime in Santa Monica had now returned to pre-pandemic levels as he presented the Council with an analysis of recent crime statistics comparing the first eight months of 2023 to previous years.
According to Batista, 911 calls to the SMPD were down by 7.6%, from 70,101 to 64,744, a return to pre-Covid levels, with 76% community initiated and 24% officer initiated, approximately the same ratios to last year.
However, arrests were up by 32.4% compared to 2022, but remained well below the levels of 2019 (some 72% lower), with 68% of those being unhoused individuals, remaining very similar to the number last year in 2022 (which was 66%). Moreover, the crime rate was up by 5% and sadly has surpassed pre-pandemic levels just creeping past the number recorded in 2019.
The information that will be presented by the City on Tuesday will be a complete report of 2023, factoring in the final four months of last year.
“Public safety in Santa Monica touches all aspects of life in our city. Our department members are deeply committed to the well-being of our neighborhoods, businesses and tourists through thoughtful and deliberate engagement with our community,” Batista told the Daily Press.
“Each year I look forward to presenting our annual statistical report to the Council as an opportunity to provide insight into the work my department is doing in the community. I’m also excited to share more about our current and future initiatives that will benefit Santa Monica in the coming year.”
In addition, David White, City Manager, will present a report and FAQ on updates to the State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) Recent changes took effect on January 1, 2024 providing, amongst other minor revisions, an additional density bonus for increased moderate and very low income affordable housing units.
Assembly Bill 1287 expands state density bonuses if developers include moderate-income units in their projects. According to California Government Code, the SDBL “provides developers with powerful tools to encourage the development of affordable and senior housing, including up to a 50% increase in project densities for most projects, depending on the amount of affordable housing provided.”
An existing density bonus already provided up to a 50% increase if developers included low-income housing and during a recent Planning Commission meeting, Rachel Kwok of the City Planning Division said AB 1287 is a “bonus on top of a bonus,” allowing developers to get “another round at the buffet table” and potentially double the size of their projects if they hit the affordable and moderate income goals.
In order to qualify for up to 100% density bonus, projects must first provide the maximum amount of on-site affordable housing units in their project that would qualify them for a density bonus. Compliance with the City’s Affordable Housing Production Program (AHPP) would ensure that projects are eligible for the maximum 50% initial State density bonus.
The City previously conducted two Town Halls on how the AHPP and SDBL work together with an associated FAQ, which can be found at santamonica.gov/housing-element-update.
Council will meet in City Hall, 1685 Main Street on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Roll call and public input begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are available to watch online via the City’s YouTube channel.