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Monthly NOMA Meeting
Monthly Meeting:
November 2021 TBA 7:00 p.m. via Zoom |
City of Santa Monica Meetings
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Santa Monica Sustainable Water Supply Program
At the October 7 NOMA meeting, Sunny Wang, Santa Monica Water Resources Manager, presented an overview of the the city's Sustainable Water Master Plan. Click here to view the presentation >
The Annenberg Community Beach House has commissioned artist and master labyrinth builder, Lars Howlett to create two temporary site-specific walkable labyrinths in the sand and one on hardscape as part of the Beach House and Cultural Affairs' Out-of-the-Blue program. On November 13 and 14, experience the power of labyrinths to create and hold space for stress reduction, healing, reflection and community-building through art. In addition to experiencing the labyrinths, you can also sign up to participate in the creation of the labyrinths!
More Info, Artist Talk/Reception RSVP & to Participate >> Pavement Resurfacing Between October 18 & November 12The City of Santa Monica has hired Excel Paving to renew the pavement surface of some neighborhood streets beginning on Monday, October 18 through November 12, 2021.
Street pavement resurfacing segments are:
Follow-up to the discussion about the City Hall murals at NOMA's August meetingThe Santa Monica Conservancy informs us that on September 28, the City Council assigned the Landmarks Commission the responsibility of interpreting and contextualizing the City Hall murals. An ad hoc Council committee consisting of Oscar De La Torre and Christine Parra will advise the Commission and make recommendations as part of the Commission discussions. The Arts Commission will also be involved.
Both the History mural panel in City Hall and the companion mural depicting recreation in Santa Monica have been criticized. The images in the Recreation mural feature what appear to be elitist, upper class white people engaged in tennis, polo, aviation, auto races and sailing. (See a 360-degree view of the murals.) There is a transcribed oral interview with artist Stanton MacDonald-Wright at the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian. In the excerpt below, MacDonald-Wright talks about the Recreation mural and gives us insight into why he chose to depict these particular images. (Unfortunately, the History mural is not discussed in the interview.) Betty Hoag: There are some details about the Santa Monica City Hall mural I want to ask you about . . . particularly the one where the polo-players are. Do you remember the man in polo jodhpurs standing in front, and then a man on a horse behind him with a mallet? Stanton MacDonald-Wright: Yes, I remember. BH: Did those have anything to do with Will Rogers and his polo field? SM: Yes. And that airplane and the automobile are very distinctly related to Santa Monica. The biggest automobile road-races that they had in California at that time were held in Santa Monica . . . . BH: On San Vicente Boulevard? SM: I don't remember whether they were there or whether they were on Wilshire Boulevard, I forget. Also the first airplane field, Rogers Field, was built and given to Santa Monica by the son-in-law of this fellow about whom I told you, Gorham; he is depicted there. Now the plane business was important then. The Douglas building is shown in the mural. Douglas was the first great airplane-builder in the United States. And the tennis players! Remember, the best tennis players, the world champions, were all developed in Santa Monica: May Sutton and the Ryan girls and May Sutton's daughter and Tom Bundy (who was later her husband) played in the doubles, and so on. All the greatest tennis players. So all those were put in the mural for good reasons. From this interview, we learn that the artist selected recreational and spectator sports that were huge visitor attractions and which drew people to Santa Monica. The images were chosen in the spirit of boosterism, and pride in recreational activities that made the City famous. MacDonald-Wright was a Santa Monica resident who was quite knowledgeable about the City's history and attractions. Regular Street Cleaning Schedule Has ResumedAs of Monday, August 30, 2021, street sweeping returned to a once-a-week schedule. Follow your NO PARKING street signs for the weekly street sweeping schedule.
Street sweeping parking violations will be enforced. Please ensure you move your vehicle to avoid a parking ticket. For more information on Parking Enforcement, click here. For questions: call 3-1-1, or email 311@santamonica.gov. Visit the city’s interactive SaMoMap to find out the street sweeping schedule in your neighborhood. Click the Layers icon at the bottom of the page then expand the ‘City Services’ layer group and turn on the ‘Street Sweeping Days’ layer to reveal the day. Pan and zoom as needed using the tools above. New law re organics recycling will become effective Jan. 1, 2022As of January 1, 2022, all single and multi-families households and businesses will be required to recycle all food scraps in addition to green waste. This state mandate is in response to climate changes considered dangerous, caused in part from the contribution of landfill-produced methane gas (from food wastes) released into the atmosphere. By diverting organics from landfills – and recycling it into compost and mulch, which is then processed into renewable energy - we reduce contributions of landfill-methane into the atmosphere, and produce useful products from a perceived waste product.
For a green container, please email the city at recycling@smgov.net, to request one, free of charge. CLICK HERE to download a handy green container recycling guide. Update on Santa Monica Elementary and Middle School Campus Planning IssuesAnn Hoover spoke at our May meeting about the ongoing construction and changes at SMMUSD school sites. The following is a summary of her talk:
THEMES
WHAT'S COMING ** Note on timing: When SMMUSD started to build out the SAMOHI campus in 2016, they said it would take 25-30 years. By the end of this summer, they'll have razed over half of the campus, including the WPA-era History Building and a small forest of mature trees; So although District has said these campus upgrades will play out over many years, I'm not sure I'd believe that now given what's happened at SAMOHI. AT ROOSEVELT: In the the current plan, half the campus + green space at the corner of Lincoln & Montana is available for public use. At least half of what's available, if not more goes away, including the Lincoln/Montana grassy corner. New open space on campus likely will be fenced off from the public because that will become academic space. The first project here is the large L-shaped preschool building at Lincoln and Alta. AT FRANKLIN: As of now, half the campus + green space is available for public use along with the lovely grassy, shady lawn along Montana Avenue. At least half of what's available in the back, if not more, will go away, with rec functions being crowded together and the field/track getting smaller. The grassy park along Montana will be completely fenced off and half will become a Kindergarten play yard and the other half will be hardscape. As with Roosevelt, much of the new open space on campus likely will be fenced off from the public because that will become academic space. First project here is a V-shaped "maker space" right in the middle of campus. AT LINCOLN: In the likely current plan, much open space goes away. Eight basketball courts get reduced to just 3. Nearly all other hardscape goes away. Tennis courts at 16th and Washington go away, replaced by an outdoor pool. Currently, the pool at Lincoln is indoor and not available for public use. The City at present does not provide a ton of public access under the joint use agreement, and that is a problem. The first project here is likely a large new classroom building in the Southeast corner of the campus. AT MCKINLEY: Poor McKinley gets completely built out. Not much will be left beyond the existing field/track and some play equipment. McKinley currently has a huge green field, blacktop space, playgrounds, etc., plus a huge community garden that will be replaced by a parking lot on the Western edge of campus. Some of the community gardens will be relocated but not all because there will be too many new buildings. The first project at McKinley is a large new classroom building on the Eastern side of campus that will include a drop-off area for students. The main classroom building at McKinley is of historical significance and The Santa Monica Conservancy is working with the District to ensure that it will be preserved. YOUR ADVOCACY? A simple, quick and very helpful thing to do would be to send an email to the School Board, Board leadership, Carey Upton (the District's COO), and Steve Massetti (the District's Bond Manager consultant).
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT PLANS CAN BE FOUND: Here: https://www.smmusd.org/campusassessments And here: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=36030435&AID=83633&MID=4504 EMAILS / CONTACTS: The School Board -- brd@smmusd.org The Superintendent -- bdrati@smmusd.org Jon Kean, School Board President -- jkean@smmusd.org Laurie Lieberman, Vice President -- llieberman@smmusd.org Steve Massetti -- smassetti@smmusd.org (Bond Program Manager) Carey Upton -- cupton@smmusd.org (Chief Operations Officer) City Launches 311 Program to Improve Customer ServiceSanta Monica 311, available in English and Spanish, is an integrated program accessible via phone, email, and web. The City also launched a new mobile app that replaces the Santa Monica Works/Go system to make it easier to contact the City and submit requests. The new 311 program will allow residents to access information they need about City services quickly, in multiple languages, via phone, email, web, and mobile device. Read More >
Santa Monica Housing Element UpdateState law requires the City of Santa Monica to update its Housing Element every eight years. With the previous eight year cycle Housing Element (2013 - 2021) coming to an end, the City must now plan for the next eight year cycle. Santa Monica’s 6th Cycle Housing Element must be adopted and certified by October 2021. Without certification, the City could be penalized and lose important State funding.
For more information on the Housing Element, please check out the Housing Element Update website or email HousingUpdate@smgov.net if you have any questions on the Housing Element update. Crime MappingClick here for a map of local police activity in Santa Monica. Use the Santa Monica Police Department's crime mapping system to obtain crime information and register for crime alerts.
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