A jam-packed agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting could make for another long night and among a number of housekeeping-esque items, there are still one or two that could create fireworks, including a couple that focus on the code and conduct of councilmembers.
Interestingly, Item 5E is regarding approval of implementation of Phase 2 of the Digital Wayfinding and Out-of-Home Advertising Kiosk Program. On Friday, a kiosk was set up at Main Street and Hill, conforming to what the City’s website calls “Rollout 4,” but since this is a Consent Calendar item, unless a member of council pulls it for discussion, we won’t get a chance to hear much about it.
Item 8A is a continuation of an attempt to adopt the resolution amending the Council rules of procedure regarding discussion items. These amendments would require that such items be reviewed by the City Attorney and City Manager before being placed on the agenda, to ensure the item requests a policy direction or action that is lawful and that the policy direction or action is feasible.
This comes originally as a result of the August 27 meeting where Councilmember Oscar de la Torre asked that the City Attorney and City Manager eliminate the distribution of all drug paraphernalia and equipment, including but not limited to opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc, in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility or Boys and Girls Clubs.
However, the City Attorney clarified during that meeting that, “Because state law specifically says that the cities cannot prohibit these types of items. They can’t prohibit the distribution of it or the use of them, so we have no authority to regulate it.”
Ultimately, it was deemed illegal, but the Council still voted on it.
Another item that’s almost guaranteed to create some scintillating discussion is a request by Councilmember Gleam Davis to direct the City Attorney to prepare and return at the next meeting with an ordinance that would prohibit gifts to Councilmembers, using definitions of gifts and exceptions in the California Political Reform Act, and adding an exception for entry and meals when attending events in an official City capacity.
This is another continuation item, this time from the September 24 meeting, when Mayor Phil Brock set an impressive new standard by creating sparks just two minutes into the evening’s proceedings by requesting that the same item be postponed “indefinitely,” naturally resulting in some entertaining discourse.
There is also a request by Councilmembers Davis and Zwick that the City Attorney and City Manager review and analyze SB 969, which recently was signed by Governor Newsom and, according to the staff report, “with due speed take all necessary steps and draft all necessary ordinances and policies that would allow the establishment of an entertainment zone” (as defined in SB 969) along Third Street. Senate Bill 969 relates to the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public streets, sidewalks, or public rights-of-way and as such this ultimately revolves around the notion that under certain circumstances, the public could potentially be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages on the Promenade, outside of the boundaries of any existing bar or restaurant.
There is also a request by Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and de la Torre that the City Council endorse Proposition 36 on the November 2024 statewide ballot.
Proposition 36 makes several key changes related to punishments for theft and drug crimes; first, it increases punishment for some of these crimes, second, it creates a new treatment-focused court process for some drug possession crimes and third, it requires courts to warn people convicted of selling or providing illegal drugs to others they can be charged with murder if they keep doing so and someone dies.
Other highlights include the potential adoption of a resolution applying to councilmember’s laws applicable to City employees and Council appointees concerning policies, investigations, and remedies for violations by appointees for Brown Act and other laws or policies applicable to City employees. This goes all the way back to the June 11 meeting and then the subject once again created theatrics as the dias descended into playground-like politics during the July 9 meeting.
Finally, there is an appeal of Landmark Commission Decision to designate the Compass Rose located north of and adjacent to runway 3 at Santa Monica Airport as a City landmark.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
