Council advances SB79 exclusion and Expo/Bundy upzoning study
A unanimous vote by participating members starts a one-year SB79 exclusion plan and sends staff back with options for parcels near the Expo/Bundy station area.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — item 12b, item 7b, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Santa Monica says most local zoning already beats SB79, but five parcels near Expo/Bundy raised enough displacement concern to trigger a temporary exclusion strategy.
The map changed faster than the zoning code. Santa Monica City Council introduced a first-reading ordinance that would temporarily exclude qualifying sites from SB79 for one year after adoption of the 2029–2037 housing element. The vote was unanimous among participating members. Jesse Zwick was recused from item 12B. The action came with a second instruction: staff must return with options to upzone parcels near the Expo/Bundy station area so that zone could qualify for exclusion too.
Staff said SB79, which took effect in July 2026, sets guaranteed height and density standards for qualifying housing projects within a half mile of certain transit-oriented development stops. In Santa Monica, that includes three Expo light rail stations, three downtown bus stops, and the Expo/Bundy station in Los Angeles, whose half-mile radius crosses into the city. Staff said Santa Monica already exceeds SB79 density standards in most affected areas. The exception was Expo/Bundy, where large commercial parcels leave too few qualifying sites to meet the state test for exclusion.
To solve that, staff recommended targeted upzoning of 66 multi-unit parcels in the half-mile area, excluding overlap with the Bergamot Station Arts Center zone. Council members questioned how to avoid spot zoning and whether other parcel sets might work better, including smaller geographic areas and a previously discussed 212-parcel R1 concept. Staff will now come back with those options while the city works on a broader alternative plan.
Item 7B: Direction/Action Related to Unbundled Parking (Discussion and Approval)
Unbundled parking sounds technical, but the question is simple: should parking be priced separately from rent or a home purchase in more projects? The Commission took up that question in item 7B after it was pulled from the consent calendar and approved the item.
A commissioner pointed to AB 1317, which requires unbundled rent in new construction with 16 units, and asked whether Santa Monica should push that rule lower. The discussion focused on thresholds such as 4 units or 15 units and on whether the same idea should apply to condos as well as rentals.
Staff said enforcement is the hard part. Mobility staff explained that leases usually are not visible at the entitlement stage and may not appear until plan check, which makes review difficult across many smaller projects. One possible fix would be a ministerial process with self-attestation that leases will unbundle parking. The Commission approved item 7B and asked staff to return with options for projects below the 16-unit threshold.
Parks commissioner praises Memorial Park funding
During public comment, a longtime Parks Commissioner thanked Council and staff and praised funding to begin the Memorial Park expansion plan. The speaker said the effort had been pursued for 12 years and pointed to progress at Reed Park while arguing that strong parks strengthen the city.
memorial
Council places school tax on ballot
Council received certification that a citizen parcel tax initiative for Santa Monica-Malibu schools qualified for the November 3, 2026 ballot and voted to place it there. Public comment split between affordability concerns and warnings that losing the measure could cost 73 teachers and threaten a $12 million annual city transfer.
Voters will decide whether to raise local school funding, with tax costs and school staffing both at stake.
Council starts Civic Auditorium negotiations
In closed-session report-out, the City Attorney said Council directed Oliver Chi to negotiate with Goldenvoice/AEG over Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and return within two meetings with an exclusive negotiating agreement. The same report disclosed approval of a $160,000 personal injury settlement, while public commenters backed reviving the venue and asked for community engagement.
The Civic Auditorium decision affects a major public venue, future events, and how quickly redevelopment talks move forward.
Speaker presses district voting for Pico
A public speaker urged the city to stop fighting Pico neighborhood representation and district voting, arguing Santa Monica had spent $14.5 million on outside counsel instead. The speaker pointed to an October 26 court date and said that money could have gone to other city needs, but Council took no action during comment.
litigation
- Santa Monica City Council. Speakers both opposed and supported placing a school parcel tax initiative on the ballot. Opponents cited affordability and existing school revenues; supporters cited the City’s $12 million annual transfer risk and potential loss of 73 teachers if funding ends.
- Santa Monica City Council. Multiple speakers opposed item 11B proposals, arguing they would enable fraud, create perpetual tenancies, conflict with state law, reduce housing supply, and unfairly burden housing providers. Speakers urged revisions, stronger lease requirements, and maintaining landlords’ ability to evict for nonpayment.
- Santa Monica Planning Commission. Multiple residents and parents spoke on the proposed expansion of the childcare facility at 1029 26th Street. Opponents cited parking, traffic safety, noise, alley access, and neighborhood character impacts; supporters emphasized childcare shortages, walkability, the operator’s practices, and community benefits.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
SANTA MONICA had 81 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCECouncil approves downtown plan and gateway zoning changes. After reordering the agenda and announcing recusals, Council approved Downtown Community Plan amendments and zoning text changes affecting city-owned downtown sites and three gateway master plan sites. The action exempted certain city-owned sites from some zoning standards, upzoned gateway sites, and set policy direction on entitlement thresholds, hotel treatment, and a tiered community benefits system.
- GOVERNANCEItem 12C: Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance for Light Fleet-Based Service (Autonomous Vehicles). Council introduced and adopted an emergency interim zoning ordinance establishing standards and procedures for autonomous vehicle fleet operations. The ordinance created a new land use classification and tiered permitting framework with operating conditions, including additional restrictions near residential zones.
- GOVERNANCECouncilmember Travel/Conference Reports. Councilmembers reported on recent conference attendance, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a Mayor’s Institute on City Design, the Local Progress national convening, and the Independent Cities Association. Topics included airport reuse, AI/data centers, housing models, ambulance services, and litigation impacts.
- GOVERNANCEGeneral Public Comment (Opening Period): Litigation Transparency Request and Allegations of Theft/Scams. A resident urged the City Attorney to report regularly on lawsuits and risk notices, arguing residents deserve transparency about litigation exposure. The speaker also made allegations about theft from an apartment and political connections.
- GOVERNANCELate Telephone/Public Comment (Opening Period): Due Process Allegations and Eviction/Legal Claims. A late speaker alleged lack of due process and gross negligence related to eviction and legal proceedings, referencing notices of litigation and interactions with police and courts. The speaker stated they submitted six pages.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment on Closed Session and Other Items: Tourism Marketing, Caribbean American Heritage Month Proposal, Litigation Costs, and De-escalation. A resident discussed organizing a Caribbean American Heritage Month event concept for June 2027 and asked for tourism marketing collaboration. The speaker also criticized litigation spending and referenced support for a de-escalation grant.
- GOVERNANCECouncil advances tenant protection ballot measures. Council voted to advance a set of ballot measures on tenant protections, using separate votes for the main package and a measure on new occupants or remaining household members. Public comment on the proposals was largely critical, with landlords and housing providers arguing the measures could increase fraud, conflict with state law, and make nonpayment evictions harder; Council also assigned members to draft ballot arguments.
- GOVERNANCEGeneral Public Comment (Opening Period): Tenant Relocation/Code Enforcement and HD1536 Relocation Benefits. A displaced tenant described an unpermitted repair project, a stop work order, and relocation costs totaling $53,000, alleging the landlord stopped paying required relocation benefits. The speaker asked for enforcement and assistance, and Council suggested involving the Rent Control Board.
- GOVERNANCECommission approves childcare permit with revised conditions. The commission questioned the applicant and then deliberated on a childcare conditional use permit, focusing on outdoor play hours, staggered drop-off and pick-up, enforcement, phasing, pedestrian safety, and good neighbor agreement reporting. It approved CUP ENT260086 with modified conditions and added requirements.
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