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 — The City Council will give a second shot to the prospective new owners of the Viceroy Hotel to get their labor negotiations finalized before it approves a transfer of ownership at its meeting tonight.
Although the potential sale of the Viceroy will add $500,000 to city coffers, the City Council is expected to approve approximately $157,536 in new spending on property management services for three city-owned properties and a contract change for the Big Blue Bus website.
Councilmembers pulled the item, an $82 million sale of the Viceroy Hotel building from the Roscoe Real Estate Limited Partnership to the Delaware-based Seaside Hotel Limited Partnership, from the Feb. 22 consent calendar because Seaside no longer had a valid labor agreement with its union, said Economic Development Manager Miriam Mack.
The Viceroy was built on city property, and City Hall acts as its landlord.
“The council felt it was important that the operator of the hotel on a city ground lease operate in such a way that ensured there is continued operation, and no work stoppage, so they felt it was important that an agreement be in place,” Mack said.
Property management
Three city-owned properties will come under new management if the City Council approves a $143,236 contract with the firm Overland, Pacific & Cutler, Inc.
According to the staff report, there are 27 residences in the three buildings, located at 1616 Ocean Ave., 419 Ocean Ave. and 1122 22nd St., which are rented out to people with special needs.
Sullivan Dituri Realtors, the firm that currently rents the properties, does not have the same level of experience with special-needs tenants and in temporary relocation, according to a city staff report.
Staff chose OPC from a list of three candidates.
Funding for the first three months of the 15-month contract are available in the 2011 budget. The remaining 12 months will be funded only if the council approves the 2012 budget.
BBB website
The Big Blue Bus requested an additional $14,300 to complete work on its website, expected to launch in April 2011.
According to a report by Marketing Director Linda Gamberg, the changes in programming would make it easier for riders to buy passes online, and for employees to make sure that only eligible people are buying certain discounted passes.
ashley@www.smdp.com
