The Santa Monica City Council meets tonight at 5:45 at City Hall. Click here to watch the meeting live.

Tonight's agenda includes:

1-D: Construction of Pier central restroom facility - recommendation to activate phase two of design-build Contract No. 8821 (CCS), with T.L.D. Construction for the project; approve a guaranteed maximum price amendment of $2,891,060; and authorize $990,166 from the Pier Infrastructure Improvements Project for this project.

6-C: Appeal of Planning Commission's decision related to the construction of a new 164-room hotel at 1515-1525 Ocean Avenue and 1530 2nd Street (Travelodge Hotel) - recommendation to deny appeals and uphold the Planning Commission's certification of the Environmental Impact Report, adoption of necessary CEQA findings, adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations, approval of Development Review Permit, Conditional Use Permit, Variance, and approval of General Plan Amendment subject to recommended findings and conditions.

7-A: Introduction and first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code Sections 9.52.020, 9.52.030, 9.52.120, 9.52.140, 9.52.150, and 9.52.200 and adding Municipal Code Sections 9.52.125, and 9.52.135 updating the form of the City's Sign Code to conform to current legal requirements and to clarify certain of the Sign Code's provisions.

Includes: Clarify that temporary signs, including real estate directional signage, may not be placed on public property, including parkways and sidewalks. Such temporary signage, including real estate directional signage, could be located on private property so long as the signage is in close proximity to a property for sale or lease during the time that the property is open to the public and there are no more than four such signs on the property.

13-C: Request of Mayor pro tem Bloom and Councilmember Genser that the City Council direct city staff to investigate the possibility of locating a new branch of the Santa Monica Public Library in the Pico Neighborhood, request input from stakeholders and relevant Boards and Commissions, and explore the possibility of collaborating with the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District

To share your thoughts with Santa Monica's elected officials on any of tonight's discussion items, email council@smgov.net or attend the meeting and fill out a speakers card.

Numerous business priorities remain to be considered by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger once they pass enrollment, the phase of the legislative process when bills are proofed and prepared for delivery to the Governor, according to the California Chamber of Commerce summary of the status of top priority bills for the business community.

The CalChamber report presents the status of bills as of August 31, the end of the Legislature's regular session.

Within each subject area, the CalChamber list presents bills in order of priority, with the highest priorities at the top.

September 30 is the last day for the Governor to act on bills passed by the Legislature before September 1 and in the Governor's possession on or after that date. In October, the CalChamber will publish its final status report on priority bills, showing the ultimate fate of bills send to the Governor this year.

Each year, the CalChamber also publishes a record of legislators' votes on key bills affecting California's business climate. Generally, the bills selected for the vote record have appeared in one of the status reports. This year's vote record will be published on October 10.

View the status report.

CalChamber Positions - November Ballot
Prop 1A: Oppose
Prop 2: Oppose
Prop 3: Support
Prop 4: No Position
Prop 5: Oppose
Prop 6: No Position
Prop 7: Oppose
Prop 8: No Position
Prop 9: No Position
Prop 10: Oppose
Prop 11: Support
Prop 12: Support

Did you know you can earn $50 in ChamberBucks by referring a business to our chamber of commerce?

Just make contact with the business and then send us the lead! If they join, you will receive a $50 credit to the chamber which you can use to advertise or attend events.

Call Member Services at 310.393.9825 x 30 or click to Email Member Services

Invites you to join us on Sunday, October 5th, 4:00 p.m. at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel for our Third Annual Casino Nite.


The Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door. Admission includes $200 in play money, a raffle ticket, hor d'oeuvres, music, no host bar, friendly competition and the opportunity to win some great prizes. All this and, you will help Meals on Wheels West raise money to continue providing home-delivered meals to the disabled and elderly in our community. Dress is California Casual.


"Meals on Wheels West is dedicated to nourishing and enriching the lives of the homebound and others in need by providing nutritious food and services that promote dignity and independent living."

Let us bring them to you.

The Santa Monica Daily Press readership spends over $1 million per week in dining and entertainment. Advertising packages focus on frequency and repetition.

Email ross@smdp.com to learn how we can get you in front of our readers.

The #1 choice of Santa Monica.

(310)458-7737