In what was at times another high-stakes, high-drama year across Santa Monica, here is The Mirror’s run-down of the top headlines from June 2012.
Please note that some of the stories mentioned took place up to a week before or after the publication date, depending on whether it was a recap or preview piece.
June 1
• For the second consecutive week, the Santa Monica Planning Commission tabled voting on a proposed Development Agreement to remove Village Trailer Park and convert it into a large mixed-use project.
• Santa Monica City Council expressed its unanimous support for Assembly Bill 1446 that would open the door for Measure R’s expiration date to be eliminated.
• Council members reviewed and approved the recommendations of the Adjustment Conference Committee and authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Master Facilities Use Agreement and related supplemental agreements with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District for an initial 10-year agreement.
June 8
• Democrats Betsy Butler and Richard Bloom claimed the top two spots in the June 5 primary vote for the 50th Assembly District, setting up a face-off between the sitting Assembly member and Santa Monica Mayor at the general election on Nov. 6.
• The Planning Commission considered an altered Colorado Esplanade that was a little bit less ambitious that could save City Hall millions of dollars.
• Heal the Bay was honored with the Stewardship of the Year award at the 2012 California Travel Association Summit.
• The Seventh Annual Teen Film Festival was held at the Miles Memorial Playhouse and Main Public Library.
June 15
• Council members unanimously voted to prohibit erected structures to be on display at Palisades Park, meaning the Nativity scenes would no longer be allowed to take place each December.
• With Fiscal Year 2012-13 starting July 1, Council members formally approved the $530.5 million budget it initially set during deliberations in May 2011.
• Council members unanimously voted to scale back the services of Big Blue Bus Route 2 and Rapid 10 in the Ocean Park neighborhood.
• The meal supplier to Meals On Wheels West and other small local Meals On Wheels programs announced a 63 percent increase in the cost of the meals and that it would also no longer prepare two meals per day per client.
June 22
• The Planning Commission recommended the Development Agreement for Village Trailer Park’s to move forward to City Council, but with a raft of amendments to the project’s tenant relocation plan, design elements, and community benefits.
• It was not quite perfect, but the draft concepts for the Bergamot Area Plan were good enough for the Santa Monica City Council to unanimously recommend it moving forward.
• A 10-month probe into an international prostitution ring with brothels on Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica made headway following the arrest of two suspects.
• The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce installed Ellis O’Connor as its 87th chairman of its board in front of a full ballroom of attendees at The Chamber’s installation dinner at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows.
June 29
• Though four of the five members present at the June 26 council meeting voted in favor of creating a pay program to have SMO flight school train at other Southern California airports, a technicality prevented the 4-1 vote from taking effect.
• Council members voted to table approval of plans for NMS Properties seeking to expand its mixed-use projects at 1447 Lincoln Boulevard and 829 Broadway, adding the developer must keep working with City staff to address key issues such as affordable housing and parking.
• The U.S. Postal Service proposed the Santa Monica Post Office, located at 1248 5th Street, be relocated to the Santa Monica Carrier Annex building at 1653 7th Street.
• With the anniversary of the Santa Monica arrest of infamous Boston Irish mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Greig, KCRW 89.9 FM, the Internet Public Radio Station of Santa Monica College, took an in-depth look at Whitey’s double life.
