Wilmont Annual General Membership Meeting
Saturday, November 16th, 3-5pm (Check-in begins at 2:30pm)
Reed Park Community Room
 
1. Introductions/Format/Overview                                        3:00-3:05     Liz/John
2. Wilmont: 2024 Successes and 2025 Challenges             3:05-3:10     John/Liz
3. Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista                       3:10-3:25    
4. Wilmont Award                                                                  3:25 -3:30    John
5. Council-Elects. (15 mins. each, brief statement/Q&A       3:30-4:30
a. Barry Snell
b. Dan Hall
c. Ellis Raskin
d. Natalya Zernitskaya     
6. Treasurer Report                                                                4:30-4:35     Rosemary
7. Board Business-Nominations                                             4:35-4:45     Liz
8. By-Laws                                                                             4:45-4:50     Liz
9. Raffle                                                                                 4:50-5:00     Rosemary
10. Bye          

 AGENDA
TUESDAY, DEC. 3RD, 2024, 7:00 p.m. via ZOOM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89200106747?pwd=aRUb7rDySRbWMRv80mH9J110D7g1Qx.1
Topic: Wilmont Monthly Board Meeting
When: First Tuesday every month, 07:00 PM Pacific Time
Meeting ID: 892 0010 6747
Link is also available at www.WILMONT.org

1. 7:00   Intros.
2. 7:05.  Quick Annual Meeting Recap. Congrats to Wilmont Award Winners Suzie Lockwood & Rosemary Sostarich. Four new Board members elected: Wendy Dembo, Susan Foxley, Lynette Kozdron & Rachel Powell. Wilmont now has 14 Board members. See the full list at www.WWILMONT.org
3. 7:15.  Quick Wilmont News Updates: Traffic, Reed Park, Public Safety.
4. 7:20.  The Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project and the new "Great Park Coalition.” Guests: Coalition Spokesperson and Recreation and Parks Commissioner Ann Bowman, with Coalition co-founder and Airport Commissioner Joe Pertel.
5. 7:50   A Clean Beaches Update. Guest: Mary Marlow from the Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens Oversight Committee.
6. 8:05   The Montana Avenue Holiday Walk, Guest: Kara Taub, Montana Avenue Merchants Association.
7. 8:15.  Wilmont Unplugged.
8. 8:30.  Adjournment

Wilmont Monthly Meeting Agenda - 090324
TUESDAY, SEPT 3RD, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m. via ZOOM - ELECTION SPECIAL!
7:00    Welcome
7:05    Local Wilmont News Updates! (There are several)
7:20    City Council Candidate Forum PREVIEW+Q&A
7:50    $495 Million SMMUSD Bond DISCUSSION+Q&A
8:20    RAFFLE AND TREASURER REPORT
8:30    WILMONT OVERTIME (Open-ended discussion)
​​CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING
Topic: Wilmont Monthly Board Meeting / Time: September 3rd, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting / https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86169131813 / Meeting ID: 861 6913 1813 
Join Us! Get involved! www.WILMONT.org

Wilmont Monthly Meeting Minutes
Date: July 2nd, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Location: Zoom Online Meeting 
TREASURY REPORT FOR MAY:

• Our beginning balance in the WILMONT checking account was:  
• 7,232.29    
• 32.15 expenditure/Posters for 4th of July Parade 
• 1846.95 Summer movie festival Three movies in the Park/Screen and equipment rental. 

Upcoming Summer Events Reviewed: 
 
Upcoming Second Saturday Summer Movie series at Reed Park: 
·  Saturday, July 13th: "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone"
·  Saturday, August 10th: "Wonka"
·  Saturday, September 14th: "Monsters, Inc."
 
Speaker I :
Tom Clemo, Santa Monica Fire Deputy Chief 

• Various topics discussed. 
• Fire dept going over various dept issues and future planning. 
• 180,000 calls per year. Expected to increase when the Olympics come to LA. 
• Presently SMFD is fully staffed. 
• Supply shortage issues have been addressed. Updated equipment - same. 

Open Discussion re: General topics

• Size and scale of future developments. 
• Homeless issues and recent judicial developments regarding the city's ability to enforce no sleeping in public spaces was brought up.

Speaker 2:
Laura Lee Ash, Santa Monica resident and former SMPD employee.

• Ash represents group of residents concerned about THREE new affordable housing projects being built near Wilshire Euclid and 16th.
• Many concerned residents spoke against the project.
• Public meeting about projects planned later this week

8:30 pm Meeting adjournment - continuing open discussion for those who wanted to participate was facilitated. 

 
Wilmont Monthly Meeting Minutes/Notes
Date: June 4th, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Location: Zoom Online 

Board Members in Attendance:
Rosemary S.
Stephen M.
John S. 
Elizabeth B. 
Kate B. 
Manju R. (Serves on Police Reform and Oversight Commission-Same night as our meeting)

TREASURY REPORT:

• Our beginning balance was $1,894.66 
• Deposits: $217 in checks/PayPal.
• Deposit: $7,000 city grant. 
• Balance: $9111.39. 

Wilmont Updates

• New 4-way stops added in Wilmont after recent accidents. 
• Fencing now up around Miles Playhouse in Reed Park. Renovations to begin. 
• Bible Study building directly across from Miles Playhouse: City actively working with owner to deal with this property. 

Civic Auditorium/RPG Group 

• City Council now considering giving group ENA to restore Civic.

Summer Events

• 4th of July Parade, all seven neighborhood groups marching together in the parade.
• WILMONT putting on THREE “Second Saturday’s” at Reed Park. Sat JULY 13, Sat AUGUST 10 and Sat SEPTEMBER 14. 

Election Update
         Gleam Davis not running for re-election
Speaker I :
Peter Fenolio, Dir. of Industry Engagement, CA Restaurant Association/Santa Monica Hospitality Group.

• No endorsements as of yet.
• Group working to help restaurants hurt by public safety/homelessness issues.

Speaker II: 
Daniel Mick SM Code Enforcement Manager

• Code Enforcement trying to make public vending as safe as possible for everyone. Going quite well.
• Fines are limited in terms of what can be levied against vendors.
• Top Complaints: AirBnB's and vacant buildings.

Daniel Mick, CCEO, MPA, MUP, Code Enforcement Manager (Contact info)

• City of Santa Monica
• 310-458-4984 x5367
• [email protected]
• Open Mic questions random open time: 

8:37 pm Meeting adjournment  

NOTE: Council approved ENA for Civic Plan days after this letter was sent.

To:      Mayor Brock and City Council members
From: Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont), Board of Directors
RE:    Saving the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont) urges the City Council, and supports Friends of Sunset Park’s letter, to enter into an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Revitalization Partners Group.   

Background: On January 5, 2024, the City formalized a process seeking qualified suitors to lease, restore, and operate the Civic Auditorium with an announcement calling for experienced entertainment and operating entities to submit letters of intent by January 31st.

The Revitalization Partners Group (RPG) stepped forward with a plan for a revitalized Civic Auditorium and presented it at a recent Neighborhood Council meeting.

Their plan includes the following:
1) public land should not be privatized,
2) publicly-owned performing arts and cultural facilities should be maintained,
3) this City landmark and its original purpose should be maintained, and
4) the City will not be asked for funding.

 The next step is for the City Council to decide whether to enter into an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Revitalization Partners Group. 

Again, the Board  of Directors of the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont)  urges the City Council to enter into an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Revitalization Partners Group.  

Date: May 7th, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Location: Zoom
Board Members in Attendance:

Elizabeth V.
Rosemary S.
Stephen M.
Betzi R.
John C. Smith
Jim P.

Manju R. (Serves on Police Reform and Oversight Commission-Same night as our meeting)

Not in attendance:

Kate B.
Reinhard K.
Elizabeth Brooks
Open Discussion (Various Topics) 
Expected City Council Election Candidates:   

• Erikca Lesley
• Barry Snell
• Ellis Raskin
• Dan Hall
• Natalya Zernitskaya
• Manju Raman

By August 14th we should know who all the candidates for CC should be. 

- SB 9 Unconstitutional - City attorney says it can still exist in SM.
- Petitions circulating with Pam O’Connor/Anti-GS initiative. SMRR/Dem Club and SMCLC all against it.
-Civic Auditorium Update (Top 2 Groups interested have merged and hope to obtain ENA from Council soon. (Exclusive Negotiation Agreement)
- Reed Park Update: Needles (Council Voted 4-3 on park needle distribution.) The county is going to keep doing needle distribution. Stalemate btw Santa Monica and LA County re: outdoor distribution sites. 

Guest Speaker I:  Suzie Lockwood, Crime Prevention Coordinator SMPD 

• Review of Crime stats in the Wilmont area. 
• Reed Park Red Cross and City Mobile Unit vans to handle people interested in drug treatment and must be open to rehab. This is supposed to be running 24-7. 
• Lots of useful links on the Wilmont site for non-emergency incident reporting. 
• Don’t leave valuables or anything with your personal information in your car. 
• Suzie Lockwood is available to advise on safety ideas and suggestions for your building or home followed by a Q&A. 
• John went over the WIlmont Website and its useful links for residents to use. 
  
  ((((Suzie Lockwood will be retiring on Sept 6th!))))) 

Guest Speaker II:  Michaela Fritzsche, Californians for Safer Communities
7:45-8:15p 4. THE NEW “PROP 47” ALTERNATIVE
-The biggest contributors are Walmart and Target. Michaela Presented several slides to show the point that was being made regarding why Prop 47 was started and the goals. 
8:15-8:25p 5. MINI LOCAL UPDATES-QUESTIONS

• Various Issues (What are #1 Issues?) - discussion. 
• What is on your mind?  Open Q & A. 
• Overdevelopment.  Was brought up as an important issue.
  
• Larger production of market-rate housing. 
• Sunday May 19th is kick-off meeting for planning of legacy park at SMO. 
• 8:25-8:30P 6. 

 TREASURY REPORT:

• Our current balance in the WILMONT checking account is 
• $2111.39 (includes $70 in checks $146.73 PayPal). We had no expenditures this month.​  
• 8:48 pm. ADJOURNMENT

​Dear Wilmont Members, Neighbors, Families and Friends,

We meet via ZOOM on TUESDAY, MAY 7th, from 7-8:30pm.

This month: Public Safety, crime, needles in parks, the upcoming Election and several other recent developments.

1. The Santa Monica Police Department’s Suzie Lockwood joins us to discuss recent trends and information about public safety…
2. Then a representative from “Californians For Safer Communities” discusses the new initiative to alter Prop 47, which will likely appear on the November ballot.

ALSO!
--New information about the Civic Auditorium…
--A 2024 Council Election update…
--The city vs. county battle over needle distribution in our parks
--And a CALENDAR of Spring/Summer Events…
As always, find a ZOOM LINK TO THE MEETING and more information on our frequently updated website, www.Wilmont.org
Topic: Wilmont Monthly Board Meeting / Time: May 7, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting / https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86169131813 / Meeting ID: 861 6913 1813
We need your input and your help. Wilmont is only as strong as you.
See you at the meeting.
The Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition Board of Directors