Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city's expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.
CITY HALL — City Council will consider spending $1.31 million in tonight's consent calendar with nearly half set aside for Big Blue Bus repairs.
Big Blue Bus has found another subletter. Council approved BBB's plans to rent its Transit Center space at 223 Broadway to California Love back in October. The plans fell through after it was determined that the clothing retailer would have to add a bathroom.
BBB reached an agreement with Washington Earth Spa, a beauty bar retailer, that could save City Hall $125,000 to $150,000 through June of 2017 when the lease expires. The spa would be required to add a bathroom.
If approved, BBB will offer 24-hour customer service from the Central Parking office on Fourth Street.
Bus engines
That sublet savings will come in handy as BBB officials are asking City Hall to approve a $600,000 agreement with Cummins Pacific LLC to maintain and replace bus engine parts.
Cummins engines are environmentally friendly and produce 95 percent less harmful exhaust than diesel engines, city officials said in a report.
Two one-year extensions — if approved in coming years — would bring the grand total to $1.8 million over a three year period.
Downtown Specific EIR
AMEC, the company tasked with completing the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Downtown Specific plan, needs another $170,000 to study the area around the incoming Expo Light Rail station.
The Downtown Specific Plan, which is currently in draft form, will regulate and guide how land is to be used in the area. The EIR will study the impacts of the plan.
AMEC already received $601,000 to create the report.
Mobile computers for Fire Department
Council is likely to approve $275,000 in spending for new computers in the Fire Department's vehicles. The current computers were bought in 2006 and are typically replaced every five years.
Among other things, the mobile data computers improve response times and allow the responders to talk with the dispatch centers. Lehr Automotive will likely get the contract.
Water saving program
ConserveTrack, the web company tasked with monitoring water usage in the city, will likely get a $114,635 contract extension.
City Hall has been using the software since 2009 to track and report on its water conservation projects. The current contract will run through 2019.
City officials use the program to track data for those who participate in the landscape and rainwater harvest rebates. They also use it to track warning letters to those who violate various environmental ordinances. On top of allowing City Hall to learn from the data, the software helps city officials report data required by various environmental grants.
Recycling bins
City Hall wants to spend $50,000 to buy more recycling bins. More than 4,000 of the two and three-yard metal bins are used by City Hall everyday. The cash would allow them to buy 1,200 bins over the next eight years.
Beach parking
City Hall needs another $57,121 for a real-time beach parking project. Nearly $1.5 million has previously been approved for the project, which would give drivers information on empty spaces at the lots near the beach. Much of the cash came from grants but $57,121 that Caltrans offered from toll credits cannot be applied to the project thanks to a Federal Highway Administration policy. Council will have the option to cover that shortfall.
Auditing
An auditing firm needs another $44,000 thanks to some new requirements from the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Council previously approved more than $750,000 for Macias Gini & O'Connell to handle audits for a five-year period but they will need extra cash to cover the extra work required by the GASB.
dave@www.smdp.com
