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Santa Monica Eyes Major Parks Expansion in New ‘City as Habitat’ Vision Plan: The city is moving to dramatically expand its park system with a new vision plan that could more than double available parkland over the coming decades, replacing a nearly 30-year-old master plan with an ambitious ‘City as Habitat’ framework. The 2025 Parks and Recreation Vision Plan, presented to the Planning Commission this month, calls for adding 134 to 165 acres of new parkland to the current 144-acre system — a potential increase of up to 115% to better serve the city’s dense population. More details here.

California Clean Air Day (Wednesday): Enjoy FREE RIDES on Big Blue Bus in honor of the 8th annual California Clean Air Day! Help reduce harmful greenhouse gases and air pollution by taking the Clean Air Day Pledge to use sustainable alternatives to driving. Visit bigbluebus.com to plan your CLEAN RIDE.

Council tackles development heavy agenda on Tuesday: Council members will review the status of an emergency ordinance establishing a pilot program that allows market-rate housing projects more flexibility in providing affordable housing units off-site. The Off-site Affordable Housing Pilot Incentive Program, approved in August, was designed to incentivize stalled housing projects facing financial challenges. Additionally, Staff will present options for reforming the Neighborhood Organization Grant Program, which has been suspended since July following political endorsements by participating groups during recent elections. More details here.

CORRECTION: Bike it! Walk it! Bus it! Week is Oct. 6-10: K-12 students attending school in Santa Monica can ride Big Blue Bus for free during Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Week, and families are encouraged to forgo driving in favor of eco-friendly modes of transportation such as walking, biking or taking transit. More details here.

Free Meter Parking for EVs Ends This Week: For 23 years, zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) have been allowed to park at meters across Santa Monica for free. That will end on September 30. Santa Monica was the only remaining California city to offer the perk for purchasing clean air vehicles. More details here. The California Department of Motor Vehicles’ Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) program, which has allowed solo drivers in vehicles displaying CAV decals to drive in High Occupancy Vehicle, or HOV, lanes, is also set to expire Sept. 30, but will not get enforced until Dec. 1.

The Street Seen: A Landmark Cottage 2501 2nd Street (@ Mills St): In 1904, a cottage is built on the vacant lot on the southeast corner of 2nd St and Mills St. A rental property from 1963 to 2009, the Turn-of-the-Century Cottage is designated as a Santa Monica landmark in 2012. More details here.

SMPD Blue Notebook – A Weekly Update September 7-13: Here is the SMPD weekly update of activity.

City of Santa Monica Confirms Airport Closure by Dec. 31, 2028, Amid JSX Permit Review: The City of Santa Monica reiterated its commitment to permanently close Santa Monica Airport at midnight on Dec. 31, 2028, in accordance with a 2017 federal consent decree with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The reaffirmation comes as city officials weigh a proposal from JSX Air to operate at the airport under a limited-term lease. More details here.

Mishkon Welcomes you for the High Holy Days: The High Holy Days have arrived in Los Angeles and Mishkon would love to welcome you to our historic synagogue on Main Street to greet the year 5786! https://www.mishkon.org/high-holy-days.html

Things to Do This Week

Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) Tour for the Public (Tuesday 10 – 11am): Join the Office of Sustainability and the Environment and Water Utilities Manager Sunny Wang for a dynamic and fascinating tour of the city of Santa Monica’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project, or SWIP, a first of its kind project that provides a drought resilient water supply for the city. More details here. 

Pizza with the Police (Tuesday 1-3pm @ Hotchkiss Park): SMPD will have a tent setup up at the park with pizza and refreshments. No agendas, just a chance to meet some of our officers. Please help us spread the word, we hope to see you there!

Workshop – Overcome Creativity Blocks (Tuesday 6:30pm @ MUD\WTR): Join coach & consultant Olisia Juzyc and poet & therapist Lillian Farzan to open your creative flow. Expect inspiration, practical tools, and an exploratory space to reconnect with your creative spark. More details here

OPA & City Meetings

City Council Meeting  (Tuesday 5:30 pm): Meetings are hybrid and can be viewed on this YouTube channel. Click here for agenda.

OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.