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 May 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.
May 4
• Six local companies were honored at the 17th annual Sustainable Quality Awards held at Santa Monica’s Sheraton Delfina, as the Environmental Media Association and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce joined forces to present a luncheon about “Green Messaging and Media.”
• It was announced one of the 18 courtrooms in the Santa Monica Courthouse would shut down in summer due to budget cuts.
• Hoping to provide visitors to the downtown with a few more parking spaces without erecting a new facility, Council members tabbed City Manager Rod Gould to acquire up to 204 stalls in Parking Structure 4.
May 11
• Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence announced a $39.5 million legal settlement from Boeing Company to Santa Monica contingent upon the Regional Water Quality Control Board issuing the appropriate cleanup and abatement order to Boeing.
• The third phase of the Airport Visioning Process for Santa Monica Airport was approved by City Council.
• Council members expressed support for a bill that hopes to allow the California Coastal Conservancy to become more proactive in addressing climate control issues and protecting California’s coastline.
• Two neighborhoods hoped to improve their parking situations after Council members unanimously approved a pair of amendments allowing for preferential parking permits near Lincoln Boulevard and to help residents and businesses co-exist.
May 18
• Planning Commissioners spent time discussing emerging themes of the Bergamot Area Plan at its meeting, discussing circulation, parking, jobs-to-housing ratio, open space, ground floor retail space, community benefits, and overall infrastructure.
• Proud and charismatic, rich and dedicated to the arts, renowned artist and painter Herb Alpert, along with his wife Lani, awarded $75,000 to five talented and exceptional mid-career artists at the 18th annual Alpert Award in the Arts ceremony.
• Known by its short title of PS1, Pluralistic School 1 celebrated its 40-year anniversary, honoring decades of non-traditional education using “a variety of teaching methods to reach a common goal.”
• The Santa Monica Convention & Visitor’s Bureau held its Third Annual Travel & Tourism Summit at the Sheraton Delfina.
May 25
• Santa Monica developer Marc Luzzatto presented his latest project plans for the Village Trailer Park site called “East Village” to the Planning Commission, but not without criticism from residents and community members who opposed the project.
• Santa Monica police officers shot and killed a 75-pound, three-year-old mountain lion in the courtyard of 1227 Second Street in downtown Santa Monica.
• Council members approved the new Pico Branch Library construction bill of about $7 million as part of its consent calendar with California-based R.C. Construction Services, Inc., to build the fifth arm of the Santa Monica Public Library system.
• Council members approved All Yellow Taxi to take over Metro Cab with a price tag of $2.8 million in a 5 to 1 vote.
