Monthly NOMA Meeting
June Meeting: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Meeting starts at 7:00pm
Via Zoom
See login instructions below
City of Santa Monica Meetings
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June 9, 2020
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June 3, 2020 - Canceled
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A Message from the NOMA Board

June 3, 2020

Dear Friends,

We join the Mayor and the countless others of goodwill in our city in condemning the systemic injustices and persistent prejudice in our society made shockingly clear in the murder of George Floyd, an act which once more shows the need to address the stain of racism that still persists in our country and perhaps even in our own lives. 

We also condemn the violence by those who have used this crisis as an excuse to loot and damage our community and destroy its open spirit of tolerance and caring.  We grieve for what we have suffered and lost in these past few days, both material and spiritual, and commit to restoring our city's health, its confidence and enterprise.  

We also realize there are many questions that need to be answered about the damage inflicted on our city.  Should we have been surprised by this attack?  Were we properly prepared?  Properly protected?  How well did our city agencies function in this time of crisis?  Conversely, did the lack of loss of life affirm the wisdom of judgments made and strategy followed?  What should be done within our power to make sure such havoc doesn’t happen again?

We will be holding a virtual meeting via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on June 11 to discuss these and other questions and ask you to join us.

You may log into the meeting by clicking on the following link and entering the meeting ID and assword listed below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87290205835?pwd=VVdqRmMzYmpWNnFVZnEzNS92Zkdhdz09
Meeting ID: 872 9020 5835
Password: 211431

We look forward to hearing from you and together becoming a stronger, better community.

The NOMA Board

June 3, 2020 - Santa Monica Curfew 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.

The City of Santa Monica's curfew for Wednesday, June 3 is 6 p.m. through 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 4. This aligns with Los Angeles County. 
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What you need to know about curfew:
  • Downtown parking structures closures in place after 6 p.m.
  • Rideshare and shared mobility service into Santa Monica will suspend after 6 p.m. today. 
  • Big Blue Bus is running normal weekday service.  Any changes to service online at bigbluebus.com

​Thank you to our entire community for continuing to stay home during curfew. Public safety will continue to work with regional law enforcement partners and the national guard to keep our city safe, including periodic monitoring by helicopter this afternoon and evening. 

NOMA Monthly Meeting will be held June 11, 2020 via Zoom

Topic: NOMA Members Zoom Meeting
Time: June 11, 2020, 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87290205835?pwd=VVdqRmMzYmpWNnFVZnEzNS92Zkdhdz09

Meeting ID: 872 9020 5835
Password: 211431

NOMA Comments on the Future of Santa Monica

May 5, 2020

Interim City Manager, Mayor McKeown and City Council Members,

NOMA supports the Plan for the Future.  We are especially thankful to the other neighborhood organizations and their efforts in analyzing what the Council and the staff should consider.  WILMONT and FOSP have shared similar considerations. 

I.  Current Restructure Plan as of May 4th, 2020 – Maintain the Following Budget Items
Staff proposals would cause residents to take a significant blow with respect to services and the ability to provide input into the City’s decision-making process.  We recommend the restoration of the following services.
  • Funding of a twice a year newsletter for the City-sanctioned neighborhood groups.  This newsletter is critical, one of the only ways neighborhood groups can reach our residents and, gain new members.   Neighborhood groups empower residents to focus on advocacy and involvement in local government and activities.  More than ever, we need to continue to build and maintain these groups.  Eliminating our ability to reach a broad section of our community would undermine these organizations at a critical time.
  • When schools begin again, we believe the crossing guard program across the City should be restored.  There is noting more important than public safety, especially the safety of our children. 
  • From the one minute rule of City Council to now working to eliminate the Architectural Review Board (ARB) the City continues to move toward the eradication of resident input. This ignores the history and culture of resident input and activism in our City.  The ARB is made of volunteers and provides the only point of community input left for many development projects.  Please retain the ARB and not develop another staff process that does not have resident input.
  • Do not repeal the IZO governing demotion application review.  Continue to have review of historic resources be made by Landmarks Commission
  • Return Code Enforcement staffing to original FY 2021 level to keep residents safe and healthy.  Our codes are written to protect us; how can that occur if we do not enforce them? Multiple neighborhood groups have brought code enforcement issues to the City during the last year to limited results.  We agree with moving code enforcement to the SMPD, which will enlarge that department’s ability to deal with code enforcement issues at night and during the weekends.
  • Retain Development Agreement (DAs) monitoring report.  The City negotiates DAs to obtain ongoing community and economic benefits.  Without this monitoring, sites will be even less likely to comply with DA negotiated requirements.
  • Provide parks’ and fields’ maintenance is at a level that ensures the health and safety of residents and visitors.
  • Identify monies to support the POD program and continue to support our rental seniors to stay in place.

II.  Current Restructure Plan as of May 4th, 2020 – Defund the Following Budget Items
Everyone in the City will be affected by the Restructure Plan.  We recommend defunding the following budget elements
  • Free parking for City staff and City Council. Given the focus of the City to get cars off the street, the defunding of incentives to help staff take public transportation and the need to reduce City costs, City staff should pay for their parking along with City Council. A back of the envelope calculation (1,800 staff (estimate) with 60% driving and monthly parking cost of $150 would yield about $2M/year (1,800 X .6 X $150) X 12 = $1.9 M)
  • Do not allocate fund to the $1 M Economic Recovery Fund in FY 20-21.  The City has significant business interests who have funds to address issues: Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Santa Monica, Travel and Tourism and other Business Improvement Districts.  If this fund is approved, IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO HELP EXISTING LOCAL BUSINESSES REOPEN AND THRIVE. 
  • City Council should lead by example and not fund their $100,000 discretionary fund.
  • In the CIP budget, under Alternative Resources (pg. 62)
  • CO460 – Annual Paving and Sidewalk Repair ($1,200,000) – Do not reallocate this capital project to existing budgeted resources.  Paving and sidewalk repair have been eliminated in the past years and this work needs to be done to ensure neighborhoods are safe.   
  • CO786 – Demolition of Parking Structure 3 ($3,459,000)– Do not proceed with the demolition of Parking Structure 3 into an empty lot.  There has been no discussion with any entity about money and resources required to build on the property.  While this will now be funded through the Housing Trust Fund why not keep the Parking Garage and associated revenue
  • CO786 (Demo of Parking Structure 3 - $3,495,000), CO546 (Early Childhood Lab School - $686,808) and CO715 (Vision Zero Projects - $440,000) were all to be General Funded capital projects until the COVID pandemic.  How was that specific, alternative funding found for these projects vs. from the General Fund?  We recommend that specific policies be put in place to verify that specific funding cannot be available before General funding is used.  Why were General Fund monies being used if specific revenue dollars were available?

III.  Current Restructure Plan as of May 4th, 2020 – Cost Avoidance for the Future
A crisis will always be used by some to push through projects that have nothing to do with solving the problem at hand.  We strongly oppose the following:

The push for fast approval of development agreements and entitlement of four projects (Miramar, Gehry, 4th/5th and Arizona (public land) and St. John’s.)   This is a step in the wrong direction.  The idea of getting an entitlement now and build on your own schedule have been used by developers before i.e., Trailer Park. What analysis has been done or will be done of the cost of these developments to the City’s infrastructure including police, fire, water, sewer, power and more vs. the revenue they generate?  Housing and commercial space costs the City money and the continued building of hotels exacerbates the issues of tourism and what it does to our City and the environment.

IV.  Current Restructure Plan as of May 4th, 2020 – Prioritize Reinstatement of Residents’ Essential Services
Listed below are the essential residential services that were identified and agreed upon by Friends of Sunset Park, Santa Monica Mid City Neighbors, NEN, NOMA, PNA and Wilmont.
  • Fire Department (SMFD)
  • Police Department (SMPD)
  • Sanitation Services including sewer, storm drains and public refuse receptacles
  • City Supported Before/After School Youth Programs -- Consolidate all youth serving programs (such as CREST, which serves 3,600 K-8 students) under one agency, and ensure that they continue to be geographically disbursed throughout the City.
  • Street and Alley Maintenance
  • Water -- No resident water/wastewater fees beyond scheduled rate increases for the next five years (water avg.16%/year; wastewater avg. 8.6%/year)
  • Public transportation should be maintained (Big Blue Bus and MODE).
  • Public Libraries
  • Housing Authority -- Continue to fund senior housing including Preserving Our Diversity (POD)
  • City Parks
  • Maintain commitments to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) including the Joint Facilities Use Agreement and tax revenues from voter-approved ballot measures Y & YY and GS & GSH.
  • The Reduce Homelessness Framework, including the Homeless Multidisciplinary Street Team (HMST), the C3 (City + County + Community) homeless engagement team, the Library Services Officer, the as-needed social worker, and the Homeless Court

View NOMA's May Online Meeting

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Our May meeting was held via Zoom on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. You can view the meeting by clicking on the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/1-xVJPb5-URLcrPmxhvzZfIbHd69eaa80yEX-aEPyEtFy1jkmvfz0ElaA8D1GJ1E 
Enter password: 2b&3!=Cy

New Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing Site in Santa Monica Now Open by Appointment Only

Free tests now available at Santa Monica College’s Airport Arts Campus
Effective May 7, the L.A. County Department of Health Services—in coordination with the State of California, OptumServe, and Santa Monica College—has opened a walk-up, by appointment only COVID-19 testing location at the Santa Monica College Airport Arts Campus, 2800 Airport Avenue. Testing is available to anyone for free as part of Governor Newsom’s expanded testing capacity to reopen California as well as L.A. County’s commitment to providing expanded access to testing for county residents. Read more >

City of Santa Monica COVID-19 Cancellations, Closures and Service Changes

  • Santa Monica's Safer at Home order remains in effect through June 30, in line with the State of California and the County of Los Angeles.
  • The County has launched its Roadmap to Recovery, which is a five-phase plan to reopen businesses and getting people back to work.
  • All retail, except those located inside indoor malls or shopping centers, may reopen for curbside pickup only.
  • Beginning May 13, County beaches will reopen for ocean activities and exercise restrictions.
    • The beach bike path and beach auto parking, including City-owned lots, remain closed.
  • Palisades Park is reopening May 15.
  • Enforcement of preferential parking rules in Beach Zone 3 resumes May 22.
  • Street sweeping resumes in all zones beginning June 1, once per month. Residents are encouraged to comply with posted signs for parking prohibitions for street sweeping during the days and times indicated, but only during the first full week of each month. Citations for parking violations based on street sweeping remain suspended.

Click here for FAQs, closures, and to view re-opening plans.

COVID-19 Questions & Answers - City of Santa Monica

On April 4, the City published answers to pressing COVID-19 questions from the community. Two weeks later, new questions are surfacing to the top. Since the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency, they've received 4,000 calls, over 1,400 emails, and about 14,000 social media interactions from our community Read more >

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Face Coverings

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We’ve received a lot of questions about face masks after the supplemental order requiring workers and patrons to wear face coverings at essential businesses, and wanted to clarify when, where and who should use them.
​Read more >

Santa Monica Farmer's Markets Precautions & Protocols

Click here for information about precautions and process when visiting the Farmer's Markets during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Special Senior Shopping Hours for Grocery Stores/Pharmacies

Whole Foods - 7 days a week
7am - 8am; Seniors 60+

Costco - Tuesdays & Thursdays
8am - 9am; Seniors 60+

Ralphs - 7 days a week
7am - 7:30am; Seniors 65+

Vons - Monday thru Friday
7am - 9am; Seniors 65+

Pavilions - Monday thru Friday
7am - 9am; Seniors 65+

Bob's Market - Monday thru Friday
7am - 9am; Seniors 65+

Co-op - Monday thru Friday
7am - 8am; Seniors 65+
Trader Joe's - 7 days a week
8am - 9am; Seniors 65+

Gelson's - 7 days a week
7am - 8am; Seniors 65+

Erewhon - Monday thru Sunday
6am - 7am; Seniors 65+

Bristol Farms - 7 days a week
6am - 7am; Seniors 62+

CVS Pharmacy - Monday thru Friday
7am - 9am; Seniors 65+

Rite Aid - 7 days a week
9am - 10am; Seniors 60+

Walgreens - Tuesdays
8am - 9am; Seniors 55+

Santa Monica Conronavirus Information

CITY OF SANTA MONICA HOTLINE: 310-458-8400
Hotline hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

New information about the novel coronavirus available daily at santamonica.gov/coronavirus. 
 
Sign up for daily updates in your inbox at santamonica.gov/newsletter 

Emergency alerts at www.santamonica.gov/alerts. 

​You can also follow Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 
 
Official Public Health Information: 
LA County Department of Public Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Learn More About Coronavirus

This video was forwarded to one of our NOMA Board members, Ann Greenspun, who is a nurse. The video is approximately 5 minutes in length and provides a simple, easy to understand explanation of the Coronavirus.

Click the links below for more information from the City of Santa Monica and the Los Angeles County Department of Health:
https://www.santamonicagov/coronavirus
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

Have You Filled Out Your 2020 Census Form Yet?

Everything you need to know about the Census is at: ​www.2020census.gov.  Among other things, the census will determine the number of representatives California will have and any Federal funds due Santa Monica. 
To complete the form online, go to: https://my2020census.gov

Assistance for Low Income Seniors in Santa Monica

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The Preserving Our Diversity (POD) program provides cash-based assistance to low-income, long-term Santa Monica residents. The assistance is in the form of monthly payments that can be used to cover basic needs.
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To be eligible for the POD program, you must meet the following criteria:
  • Be a senior aged 65 or older; and
  • Have occupied your current Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment since before January 1, 2000; and
  • Have an annual household income equal to or less than Very Low Income (50% Area Median Income) for Los Angeles County, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (see table):
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Help for Caregivers
The Adult Day Services Center at WISE & Healthy Aging provides free emotional support, information, and referral to community resources for those caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke. These support groups are open to the community.  Learn More >

Council Confirms Newest Historic Landmark in NOMA

By unanimous vote in March, the City Council upheld designation by the Landmarks Commission of 1531 Georgina Avenue as an historic city landmark, citing its significance under the criteria of Santa Monica's landmarks ordinance as both exemplary of the work of a noted architect and as a significant contributor to the architectural history of the City. Built in 1942 in the distinctive Monterey Colonial Revival style, the residence is one of only two in Santa Monica attributed to architect Edla Muir, the female assistant and later professional partner of acclaimed architect John Byers, who was renowned for earlier creating and popularizing the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Ms. Muir was a pioneer as a female architect at a time when architecture was a male profession. Largely self-taught, she rose to become a licensed architect in 1934 and became Byers’ full partner in his firm. During her association with Byers, Muir's architectural work reflected his influence before setting up her own independent practice in 1942 and later moving into more contemporary modern styles. The property now qualifies for favorable tax consideration under terms of the Mills Act for maintenance of a designated landmark.
​Santa Monica’s Heritage Tree Program recognizes outstanding trees throughout the city. The goal of the program is to educate citizens and raise community awareness about tree diversity and the city’s rich history by focusing on a limited number of designated Heritage Trees. Nomination Form 

MODE On-Demand Service for Older Santa Monica Adults

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Big Blue Bus has partnered with Lyft to provide on-demand services to replace the Dial-A-Ride program for older adults and people with disabilities living in Santa Monica. The new service is called MODE (Mobility On-Demand Every Day). Lyft’s flexible transportation service network will allow MODE to meet the high demand for service during peak times when members are most interested in traveling while increasing efficiency when the demand for transportation decreases. Learn more about the MODE program at bigbluebus.com/mode. 
NextBus  - Check Realtime Bus Arrival
Big Blue Bus has instituted the NextBus system for real-time bus arrival information to our customers.

What is NextBus?
The highly advanced NextBus system makes predictions about when buses will arrive at a given stop. Predictions are made using a combination of GPS tracking and computer modeling. This information is used to provide customers with the estimated number of minutes until their bus arrives.

How can I get arrival predictions using NextBus?
With NextBus, arrival information can be accessed on your computer, via text message, by phone, or on your smartphone. Learn more about using the system on our NextBus page
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With real-time arrival information, you are in control. Here on the Westside, we know traffic congestion is a fact of life, and our buses are not immune to delays. However, instead of waiting and wondering at a bus stop, NextBus allows you to know when your bus will actually arrive. That might mean knowing you have a few extra minutes to grab a cup of coffee before the bus comes, or knowing exactly when to leave home in order to meet the bus. 
Having your car fingerprinted
Police Officer Marilyn Amiache from SMPD
In Santa Monica, if your car was broken into and/or stolen and recovered you have a choice to bring your car in and have it finger printed. In fact, we encourage you to do so. One fingerprint located inside your vehicle could lead us to a suspect and be enough to have him or her arrested and prosecuted. 
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Crime Mapping

Click 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.

North of Montana Association: Working Together for a Better Santa Monica

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