https://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/en-usA weekly civic-accountability podcast covering Santa Monica City Council meetings: zoning, housing, civil rights, fiscal stewardship, and procedural integrity. Generated from real agendas, staff reports, and minutes.muni_notesA weekly civic-accountability podcast covering Santa Monica City Council meetings: zoning, housing, civil rights, fiscal stewardship, and procedural integrity. Generated from real agendas, staff reports, and minutes.falsemuni_notesnoreply@example.comhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-05-12_1484.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-05-12_1484.mp3Welcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of May twelfth, twenty twenty-six. The council held a single regular meeting this week, but the agenda was substantive. Tonight we'll cover a procedural step toward a certified Local Coastal Program, the first reading of an ordinance creating a Restorative Justice Commission, a closed-session negotiation to license public beach sand to the L.A. Kings, the formal adoption of the Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study, ratification of the city's home… This episode covers: • [5/10] Local Coastal Program briefing — special meeting requested • [5/10] Restorative Justice Commission — first reading • [5/10] LA Kings outdoor game — closed-session beach license negotiation • [5/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adopted • [5/10] Homelessness Emergency Proclamation ratified • [4/10] Housing Authority Board appointment — contested • [4/10] Local Roadway Safety Plan adoptedWelcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of May twelfth, twenty twenty-six. The council held a single regular meeting this week, but the agenda was substantive. Tonight we'll cover a procedural step toward a certified Local Coastal Program, the first reading of an ordinance creating a Restorative Justice Commission, a closed-session negotiation to license public beach sand to the L.A. Kings, the formal adoption of the Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study, ratification of the city's home… This episode covers: • [5/10] Local Coastal Program briefing — special meeting requested • [5/10] Restorative Justice Commission — first reading • [5/10] LA Kings outdoor game — closed-session beach license negotiation • [5/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adopted • [5/10] Homelessness Emergency Proclamation ratified • [4/10] Housing Authority Board appointment — contested • [4/10] Local Roadway Safety Plan adoptedTue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +000013:50falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-05-12_1511.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-05-12_1511.mp3From Santa Monica, this is Council Notes for the week of May twelfth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, and the agenda was unusually dense on governance structure. We'll cover a push to schedule a special meeting on the city's long-pursued Local Coastal Program, the first reading of an ordinance creating a new Restorative Justice Commission, a closed-session real estate negotiation with the LA Kings over public beach sand, two adopted street-safety plans, ratification of the cit… This episode covers: • [5/10] Restorative Justice Commission and the 2025 boards review • [5/10] Special meeting requested on the Local Coastal Program • [5/10] Closed-session negotiation with the LA Kings over public beach sand • [5/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adopted • [5/10] Homelessness emergency proclamation ratified • [4/10] Housing Authority Board vacancy — continued again • [4/10] Local Roadway Safety Plan adoptedFrom Santa Monica, this is Council Notes for the week of May twelfth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, and the agenda was unusually dense on governance structure. We'll cover a push to schedule a special meeting on the city's long-pursued Local Coastal Program, the first reading of an ordinance creating a new Restorative Justice Commission, a closed-session real estate negotiation with the LA Kings over public beach sand, two adopted street-safety plans, ratification of the cit… This episode covers: • [5/10] Restorative Justice Commission and the 2025 boards review • [5/10] Special meeting requested on the Local Coastal Program • [5/10] Closed-session negotiation with the LA Kings over public beach sand • [5/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adopted • [5/10] Homelessness emergency proclamation ratified • [4/10] Housing Authority Board vacancy — continued again • [4/10] Local Roadway Safety Plan adoptedTue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +000014:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-04-28_1482.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-04-28_1482.mp3From Santa Monica, this is Council Notes for the week of April twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-six. A substantial agenda at Tuesday's regular meeting: the council formally kicks off a city-wide zoning rewrite to comply with state housing law, opens closed-session negotiations with the U.S. Olympic Committee and ESPN over public beaches and the Pier, and gives final adoption to ordinances on duplexes, special events, and rental habitability. Here's what happened, why it matters, and where the contest… This episode covers: • [7/10] SB 79 implementation: resolution of intention • [7/10] Planning Commission recommendation on SB 79 • [7/10] Closed session: USOPC negotiations for the Pier and Sandbox South • [6/10] Closed session: ESPN beach license • [6/10] Second reading: duplexes and lot splits in single-unit zones • [6/10] Second reading: special-events code amendments • [6/10] Public hearing: federal CDBG and HOME allocations • [5/10] Second reading: habitability standards in local code • [4/10] Continued appointment: Building and Fire-Life Safety CommissionFrom Santa Monica, this is Council Notes for the week of April twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-six. A substantial agenda at Tuesday's regular meeting: the council formally kicks off a city-wide zoning rewrite to comply with state housing law, opens closed-session negotiations with the U.S. Olympic Committee and ESPN over public beaches and the Pier, and gives final adoption to ordinances on duplexes, special events, and rental habitability. Here's what happened, why it matters, and where the contest… This episode covers: • [7/10] SB 79 implementation: resolution of intention • [7/10] Planning Commission recommendation on SB 79 • [7/10] Closed session: USOPC negotiations for the Pier and Sandbox South • [6/10] Closed session: ESPN beach license • [6/10] Second reading: duplexes and lot splits in single-unit zones • [6/10] Second reading: special-events code amendments • [6/10] Public hearing: federal CDBG and HOME allocations • [5/10] Second reading: habitability standards in local code • [4/10] Continued appointment: Building and Fire-Life Safety CommissionTue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +000014:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-04-14_1481.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-04-14_1481.mp3Welcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of April fourteenth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, and the agenda was unusually dense on policy substance. We'll lead with a state-mandated zoning rewrite that could open thousands of single-family parcels to duplexes and lot splits. We'll also cover new tenant habitability rules, a sweeping public-space code rewrite tied to the World Cup and the twenty twenty-eight Olympics, a councilmember directive on city use of artifici… This episode covers: • [7/10] Duplexes and lot splits on single-unit parcels • [5/10] Refrigerators, stoves, and the property maintenance code • [5/10] World Cup, music festival, Olympics — and six chapters of code • [5/10] An AI policy for City Hall • [5/10] Sitting, lying, and open containers — second reading on consent • [4/10] Public Housing Authority annual plan • [4/10] A business crime response portal • [4/10] Entertainment zones — second readingWelcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of April fourteenth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, and the agenda was unusually dense on policy substance. We'll lead with a state-mandated zoning rewrite that could open thousands of single-family parcels to duplexes and lot splits. We'll also cover new tenant habitability rules, a sweeping public-space code rewrite tied to the World Cup and the twenty twenty-eight Olympics, a councilmember directive on city use of artifici… This episode covers: • [7/10] Duplexes and lot splits on single-unit parcels • [5/10] Refrigerators, stoves, and the property maintenance code • [5/10] World Cup, music festival, Olympics — and six chapters of code • [5/10] An AI policy for City Hall • [5/10] Sitting, lying, and open containers — second reading on consent • [4/10] Public Housing Authority annual plan • [4/10] A business crime response portal • [4/10] Entertainment zones — second readingTue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +000013:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-03-24_1480.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-03-24_1480.mp3This is Santa Monica Council Notes for the week ending Tuesday, March twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six. A relatively quiet meeting, but with three governance-relevant items on the consent calendar: the appointment of a new City Attorney, a contract to bring artificial intelligence into building-permit review, and the seventh amendment to the City Yards Modernization construction contract. The council also ratified two ongoing emergency proclamations and worked through a long list of commission a… This episode covers: • [4/10] Appointment of City Attorney • [4/10] AI plan-check review with Archistar • [4/10] Seventh modification to City Yards construction contract • plus 1 routine itemThis is Santa Monica Council Notes for the week ending Tuesday, March twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six. A relatively quiet meeting, but with three governance-relevant items on the consent calendar: the appointment of a new City Attorney, a contract to bring artificial intelligence into building-permit review, and the seventh amendment to the City Yards Modernization construction contract. The council also ratified two ongoing emergency proclamations and worked through a long list of commission a… This episode covers: • [4/10] Appointment of City Attorney • [4/10] AI plan-check review with Archistar • [4/10] Seventh modification to City Yards construction contract • plus 1 routine itemTue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +00009:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-03-24_1498.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-03-24_1498.mp3Welcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week ending March twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six. It was a relatively quiet week at City Hall, with one regular council meeting and no major policy adoptions on the agenda. The biggest items were administrative: the appointment of a new City Attorney, a seventh modification to the City Yards Modernization construction contract, and the city's first significant move into artificial-intelligence-assisted building permit review. We'll walk through tho… This episode covers: • [4/10] Appointment of City Attorney • [4/10] City Yards Modernization — Seventh Contract Modification • [4/10] Archistar AI Plan Check Review Services • plus 3 routine itemsWelcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week ending March twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six. It was a relatively quiet week at City Hall, with one regular council meeting and no major policy adoptions on the agenda. The biggest items were administrative: the appointment of a new City Attorney, a seventh modification to the City Yards Modernization construction contract, and the city's first significant move into artificial-intelligence-assisted building permit review. We'll walk through tho… This episode covers: • [4/10] Appointment of City Attorney • [4/10] City Yards Modernization — Seventh Contract Modification • [4/10] Archistar AI Plan Check Review Services • plus 3 routine itemsTue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +00009:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-03-10_1478.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-03-10_1478.mp3This is Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of March seventh through March tenth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, on Tuesday evening, and the headline item is a permanent rewrite of large pieces of the city's zoning code — the so-called Economic Recovery zoning package — coming up for second reading and final adoption. Everything else on the agenda was routine procurement and ceremonial business. Here's what happened. This episode covers: • [7/10] Permanent adoption of the Economic Recovery zoning ordinanceThis is Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of March seventh through March tenth, twenty twenty-six. The council met once this week, on Tuesday evening, and the headline item is a permanent rewrite of large pieces of the city's zoning code — the so-called Economic Recovery zoning package — coming up for second reading and final adoption. Everything else on the agenda was routine procurement and ceremonial business. Here's what happened. This episode covers: • [7/10] Permanent adoption of the Economic Recovery zoning ordinanceTue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +00006:30falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-03-10_1497.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-03-10_1497.mp3Welcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of March seventh, 2026. It was a light agenda, with one substantive governance item: the council took its second and final vote to make the city's pandemic-era economic recovery zoning rules permanent. Everything else on Tuesday's agenda was routine procurement, internal housekeeping, or ceremonial. Here's what happened. This episode covers: • [7/10] Economic recovery zoning made permanent • plus 1 routine itemWelcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of March seventh, 2026. It was a light agenda, with one substantive governance item: the council took its second and final vote to make the city's pandemic-era economic recovery zoning rules permanent. Everything else on Tuesday's agenda was routine procurement, internal housekeeping, or ceremonial. Here's what happened. This episode covers: • [7/10] Economic recovery zoning made permanent • plus 1 routine itemTue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +00006:00falsehttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/sm_meeting_2026-02-24_1479.htmlhttps://champqmmr.com/muni_notes/santa_monica/audio/sm_meeting_2026-02-24_1479.mp3Welcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of February twenty-first, twenty twenty-six. The council met Tuesday evening, and the agenda centered on land use and economic recovery: a permanent rewrite of the city's interim downtown zoning rules, an extension of recycling standards tied to a new self-certification permit pilot, and a councilmember request to study fee waivers for converting retail spaces into restaurants. We'll also touch on a Santa Monica Boulevard safety study and the ro… This episode covers: • [6/10] Making the Economic Recovery zoning rules permanent • [5/10] Extending recycling-room standards and a self-certification permit pilot • [5/10] Zwick and Negrete: study fee waivers for retail-to-restaurant conversions • [4/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adoptedWelcome to Santa Monica Council Notes for the week of February twenty-first, twenty twenty-six. The council met Tuesday evening, and the agenda centered on land use and economic recovery: a permanent rewrite of the city's interim downtown zoning rules, an extension of recycling standards tied to a new self-certification permit pilot, and a councilmember request to study fee waivers for converting retail spaces into restaurants. We'll also touch on a Santa Monica Boulevard safety study and the ro… This episode covers: • [6/10] Making the Economic Recovery zoning rules permanent • [5/10] Extending recycling-room standards and a self-certification permit pilot • [5/10] Zwick and Negrete: study fee waivers for retail-to-restaurant conversions • [4/10] Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study adoptedTue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +000010:00false