City Council

C. Santa Monica Realignment Plan Update\nNew Item Received 3/19/2026\nRecommended Action\nStaff recommends that the City Council approve adjustments to the Santa\nMonica Realignment plan to transition towards operationalizing performance gains as new\nservice delivery standards for public safety renewal, revitalization of key public spaces, and\nachievement of organizational stability and fiscal balance, via the following direction:\n1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)\n(Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)\nGuidelines and findings of categorical exemptions pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing\nFacilities), Section 15306 (Information Collection), Section 15273 (Rates, Tolls, Fares, and\nCharges), and Section 15324 (Regulations of Working Conditions) ;\n2. Adopt a Resolution revising rates for Downtown Parking Structures 1-9 and Ken\nEdwards Center, establishing the Fitness and Wellness Business Validation Pilot\nProgram and the School Validation Pilot Program, establishing prorated Residential\nParking Permits, and revising parking access card prices (Attachment A);\n3. Adopt a Resolution waiving the City of Santa Monica portion of the wastewater capacity\nfee for restaurant and restaurant expansion projects. (Attachment B);\n4. Endorse the conceptual framework for a Retail to Restaurant Activation Program and\nprovide direction regarding eligibility criteria and geographic prioritization for (1) retail-to-\nrestaurant conversion projects and (2) the reactivation of second-generation restaurant\nspaces, with staff conducting additional outreach to architects, restaurant operators,\ncommercial brokers, and other stakeholders to further refine program design prior to\nimplementation;\n5. Authorize staff to establish an Economic Development Fund reserve of $3,000,000 from\navailable one-time General Fund resources, with expenditures subject to subsequent\nCouncil authorization;\n6. Introduce for first reading an ordinance amending Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC)\nChapter 6.44, to Establish Entertainment Zones in the Downtown core, on Portions of the\nSanta Monica Pier, and Along Portions of Main Street and Montana Avenues (Attachment\nC);\n7. Introduce for First Reading an Ordinance to Provide for Additional Regulations Related to\nSitting and Lying in the Public Right-of-Way and Possession of Open Alcoholic Beverage\nContainers to Coordinate with the Establishment of Entertainment Zones and Upcoming\nMajor Events (Attachment D);\n8. Adopt a resolution revising fees, including a permit and license fee waiver for\nunimproved sidewalk dining and a waiver of the City of Santa Monica portion of the\nwastewater capacity fee for simple tables and chairs outdoor Dining and Seating on\nSidewalks. This is part of establishing the no-cost sidewalk dining program eliminating\npermit requirements and fees for qualifying basic outdoor dining configurations\n(Attachment E);\n9. Introduce for first reading an ordinance amending SMMC Chapter 9.53, Transportation\nDemand Management, to Modify Mandatory Average Vehicle Ridership Survey\nRequirements by modernizing employer survey requirements through a self-attestation\nmodel (Attachment F);\n10. Adopt a resolution temporarily waiving the City of Santa Monica portion of film permit\napplication fees (Attachment G);\n11. Authorize the City Manager to accept two grants from Los Angeles County Metropolitan\nTransportation Authority (Metro) for Open and Slow Streets Cycle Six (FIFA World Cup)\nand Seven (Olympic Games) awarded in the amount of $250,000 and $500,000,\nrespectively, in the City Manager’s Office, and to accept all grant renewals;