Volume 12 No.2
WINTER - 2004/05



A publication of the City of Santa Monica

LONG-RANGE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS

MAJOR MATTERS EXPECTED TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY:

December

  • Certification of municipal election results (Dec. 7)
  • Oath of office to newly elected SMC trustees, SM-MUSD Board members, Rent Control Board members, City Councilmembers (Dec. 7)
  • Election of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to 2-year terms (Dec. 7)
  • Contract for demolition of old Police building
  • Commission report on status of women and girls in Santa Monica
  • Appeal re wireless communications facility at 3010 Wilshire
  • Civic Center Village housing (various issues), Civic Center Specific Plan and former RAND headquarters demolition and related issues
  • Landmark appeal for 125 Pacific
  • Santa Monica College vehicle access to new Bundy Campus

January

  • Community priorities budget hearing (Jan. 11)
  • Ordinances on bootleg units and alcohol CUP
  • Annual homeless review

The long-range nature of this list means that some items may not be heard in the month originally scheduled, as new matters emerge and agendas are re-worked. But no item will come to Council before the date originally published. Also available on-line at www.smgov.net.

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City Gets Winterlit logo PMS 185 for the Holidays

As the sun sets on Friday, December 3, Downtown Santa Monica will light up the holiday season with its third annual Winterlit celebration. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. on the Third Street Promenade at Broadway, hosted by emcees Mark & Kim of KOST radio, with carolers and the Santa Monica High School Orchestra performing a free concert. They'll be joined by "Surfing Santa," who arrives with his beach-attired elves in a SoCal sleigh. Then at 5:15 p.m., the light switch will be thrown (this year by a popular child star), transforming the Downtown area into a winter wonderland.

This year's Winterlit is focused on kids and families, with entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the season:

• On Saturday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Winterlit Fun will fill the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place with free, kid-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, pony rides, bubble mania, holiday crafts, magic shows, kids' theater, musical groups, a children's dancing area, a "cool toys" demonstration, story time and more. Also, prizes and giveaways will be awarded throughout the day from the main stage (on the Promenade between Santa Monica Blvd. and Arizona. Ave.).

• From November 27 through December 24, Santa will be seated in the center of Santa Monica Place to hear children's holiday wishes. For moms and Shop SM_Vert_03-04 dads, local spas will provide rejuvenation stations for re-energized shopping.

• On two Mondays, December 6 and 13, Santa Monica Place will host the popular "Pet Night with Santa," a fundraiser for homeless pets and an opportunity for family pets to get their photos taken with Santa.

• Beginning December 7, a menorah will be incorporated in the Winterlit composition to celebrate Hanukkah, and there will be a menorah lighting in Santa Monica Place during the week of Hanukkah.

• Saturday, December 11, brings Winterlit "Fashion & Film." Models will take to the catwalk wearing casual and festive winter clothing and accessories from area merchants. Two shows, featuring styles for men, women and Winterlit-alt1 children, are scheduled on the Third Street Promenade and inside Santa Monica Place. For more holiday cheer, shoppers may grab a hot chocolate and watch a free film to be shown outdoors on a 24-foot screen (holiday favorites Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street). Shopping sprees and dinner certificates will be given away during the day, as well.

• From December 1 to 19, CHiPs for Kids will collect toys inside Santa Monica Place. And free gift wrapping will be available on the Promenade during weekends in December.

The Winterlit installation, featuring three 22-foot illuminated trees and icebergs surrounding the Promenade's famous dinosaur courtyards, will be illuminated every evening from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. through the first week of January. Indoors, the festive holiday atmosphere is enhanced at Santa Monica Place with a 30-foot tree, ice elements, snowflakes and sprite fairies.


NEW YEAR,
NEW BUDGET PRIORITIES

Along with Council adoption of the 2004-05 budget last June, a budget plan was developed for 2005-06 that reflected cautious optimism that an economic recovery would allow the city to begin restoring services and programs that had suffered under the post-9-11 downturn. As the new fiscal year approaches, Council and staff are preparing to make adjustments to the budget plan to take into account more recent economic changes and information prior to adoption of the 2005-06 budget.

Those who live and work in Santa Monica can help refine the city's new budget by submitting their suggestions for the coming year, identifying the services, programs and projects they believe are most critical and recommending those that could be eliminated or delayed. The public is invited to participate in the budget process, helping the Council weigh options, either in person at the January 11 Council meeting, beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, by mail (attn: City Council, 1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Monica 90401), by fax (310-917-6640) or on-line (click on the "Budget Suggestions" link on the Home Page at www.smgov.net).