Next is debuting a new feature this week. Following City Council meetings we’ll have a quick recap of all of the pieces of legislation that we’re not planning larger stories of.
Council Recalls and Replaces Six Members of DTSM Board
Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis and Councilmembers Dan Hall and Barry Snell brought forward a motion to replace the six members of the DTSM Inc. Board of Directors in advance of the group’s efforts to recruit a new executive director.
The final vote was 6-1 with Mayor Lana Negrete opposing. The new board members are Sean Besser, Richard Bloom, Gleam Davis, Jonathan Gregory, Hodge Patterson and Elaine Polachek.
Pico Bus Stop
There’s been debate over the placement of a bus stop at Pico Boulevard as part of the city’s plan to increase safety and comfort for waiting passengers. The Council voted to go forward with the city’s full plans for stops along the corridor by a 5-2 vote, with Councilmember Snell and Mayor Negrete in opposition.
Wider Protected Bike Lanes on Broadway
The Council voted unanimously to move forward with the East Pico and Broadway Safety Projects, including a quick build project of protected bike lanes on Broadway. The bike lanes will have nearly seven feet of rideable space, more than the six feet the city regularly uses.
SB1123 Ordinance (R1 Upzoning)
The Council voted 5-2, with Mayor Negrete and Councilmember Ellis Raskin opposing, to create standards to implement last year’s Senate Bill 1123. SB 1123 became effective July 1, 2025, and significantly expands California’s “Starter Home Revitalization Act” (SB 684) into single‑family zoning areas, with key implications for ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) zoning and development. With last night’s vote, the Council created new standards for the creation of ADUs in single-family zoned neighborhoods.
In his comments, Raskin didn’t seem necessarily opposed to the standards, but expressed concerns about the process by which the council moved using “emergency powers” instead of standard public outreach.
RAND Developer Agreement Amendment
The Council unanimously approved the amendments to the Developer Agreement with the RAND Corporation Next discussed in this article yesterday.
