City Staff Proposes to Restore Key Services in City Budget Amidst Restructuring Process

May 22, 2020 5:58 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif.  As part of the City’s restructuring process, staff has proposed restoration of certain key City services for approval at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 26. The City’s restructuring plan, approved by the City Council on May 5th, reduces the scope of City operations in response to the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including a $224 million budget deficit 

A handful of priority community services were identified by Council at their May 5 meeting for continuation through $2 million of unprogrammed funds. Through additional contributions from the Housing Trust Fund, federal block grants, and recaptured costs, a total of $6.4 million will be allocated to these important areas.   

“City staff have worked creatively and collaboratively to develop a restoration plan that serves to preserve highly valued City services in the midst of the historic crisis caused by COVID-19,” said Interim City Manager Lane Dilg. “Based on Council direction and extensive community input, this plan also leverages available federal resources and other funds to keep our public spaces vibrant and our most vulnerable residents safe in their homes as we work together to build our recovery.” 

Here’s what will be presented to Council on Tuesday for inclusion in the proposed FY 2020-21 budget: 

Food security for our most vulnerable community members: 

Keeping people in their homes through increased support for the Preserving Our Diversity senior housing subsidy program and restoring funding to the Legal Aid Foundation: 

Funding for youth-related programs, such as after-school programs and mental health support services: 

Resources for outdoor health, such as playgrounds and fields, including the Playground Partnership program with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District  (SMMUSD): 

Mobility programs with an emphasis providing safe, sustainable, affordable and accessible transportation choices : 

Sustainability with an emphasis on community resilience: 

Staff is also proposing that Council consider an updated Community Services Pricing Policy to simplify the methodology and allow for more flexibility in determining the extent to which programs and permits should be subsidized by the City’s General Fund versus being covered by user fees. Using this policy as a guide, staff will conduct a comprehensive fee study next fiscal year for CREST Club, field permit monitoring, and aquatic permits. While costs will increase, they won’t reach full program cost recovery and they will continue to be accessible to low-income households. An updated fee schedule will be included with the proposed FY 2021-23 biennial budget. 

The staff report also includes a recommendation to allocate $500,000 of Private Percent from Arts Funds from the Cultural Arts Trust Fund to artists and the creative sectors is included to support and  implement recovery projects in the spirit of the New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project. Funding will be provided to artists and nonprofits to implement projects that serve economic recovery goals and promote cross-sector partnerships. Examples include art in or on vacant storefronts, artist-designed social distancing markers, and arts activities that could be included with pick-up orders at local businesses. A call for artistic proposals would be issued in July, following adoption of the FY 2020-21 budget.   

Following consideration of this staff proposal on May 26th, the Santa Monica City Budget Study session is scheduled for the June 9th Council Meeting and budget adoption is slated for Council approval at its meeting on June 23, 2020. 

More Information 

Restructuring Plan Approved by Council May 5 > 

Interim City Manager LaneDilg community message May 19 > 

 

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Constance Farrell
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Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

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