The process of passing a resolution in support of a piece of state legislation is usually an easy affair. The effort spearheaded by Councilmember Jesse Zwick to get the city to support SB 79 by Senator Scott Wiener was anything but easy, despite the eventual 6-1 vote to support.
A first attempt to get the city’s support failed after several councilmembers voted to table the motion so that the city staff could prepare an analysis. The week before the hearing, staff did release its report, but it was based on language that had been amended in a hearing and was no longer relevant. A new report was released the day before the hearing but after a weekend of histrionic opposition based on the city’s initial reading.
After Zwick introduced the resolution, Mayor Lana Negrete noted her opposition rooted in concerns that SB 79 would lead to more gentrification of the city. Each of the other five Councilmembers then spoke in support of the legislation.
While Councilmember Ellis Raskin and Caroline Torosis offered a compromise proposal that would have allowed for individual Councilmembers to sign a letter in support of the legislation noting the city’s support. This allows Negrete to keep her name off the letter, despite the city’s tradition of having correspondence from the Council be signed by the Mayor. Instead, Torosis will sign the letter on behalf of the Council.
If SB 79 is signed into law, it would allow the following changes in Santa Monica:
As amended, SB 79 would:
- Allow buildings up to seven stories high within a quarter mile from the city’s four E-Line (Expo Line) stations and up to four stories high within a half-mile;
- Allow transit agencies to set their own zoning standards for properties they own near the city’s four E-Line (Expo Line) stations.
- Speed up the permitting process for projects within a half-mile from the city’s four E-Line (Expo Line) stations.
