Wilshire – Montana Neighborhood Coalition
Monthly Board Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2025 (via Zoom)
  
7:00    Board member John C. Smith calls the meeting to order.
 
7:00    Local News Updates
-- Palisades Fire Update with video and pictures.
-- Council now debating Civic Auditorium future.
-- Reed Park “Miles Playhouse” to be reopened soon.
 
7:05    Santa Monica Fire Chief Matt Hallock says fires were the worst he’s ever seen.
He commended the response of all first responders and the community for coming together. He also emphasized the need for disaster preparedness. Former Mayor and Councilman Kevin McKeown asks about side yard setbacks and fire safety.  Discussion turns to best items needed in a “go-kit”. Chief says water systems in Santa Monica are state of the art. Smith recommends the “Watch Duty” app to track active fires.
 
Residents are urged to use “Community Connect”  to alert Fire and Police about elderly or infirmed family members who might need special assistance in an emergency. Link now posted to www.Wilmont.org.
 
7:35    Santa Monica Police Department Chief Ramon Batista and Officer David Wang discuss fire from PD perspective. Good discussion about need to safeguard homes of evacuees. Short discussion ensues about rental fraud and price-gouging penalties. Police thank community for support.
ake a donation.  She adds that it means a lot when Santa Monica residents
greet police and firefighters and express appreciation for what they do.
 
8:10    Santa Monica Library Director Erica Cuyugan and Library Board member Daniel Cody discuss ongoing funding issues and impact on library hours. They say funding is still not at pre-covid levels, urge support in upcoming budget. The Santa Monica Library relies on the City of Santa Monica for general funding. Brief discussion of potential hybrid meeting usage at libraries.
 
8:35    The meeting is adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

​MONTHLY BOARD MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, FEB 4, 2025, 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 Hellos, Intros.
2) 7:05. Quick Wilmont/City News Updates: Fires, Airport, Civic, Reed Park,
City Budget, etc
3) 7:15-7:45. SMFD - Palisades Fire Impact & Response.
Guest: SMFD Chief Matt Hallock
4) 7:45-8:10. SMPD – Palisades Fire Impact & City Updates
Guest: David Wang, SMPD
5) 8:10-8:30. SM Libraries: Now and in the Future
Guests: Erica Cuyugan, Library Director & Daniel Cody, SM Library Board.
6) 8:30. Adjournment
Share with friends and join us! Thank you for being a part of Wilmont.
Sincerely,
The Wilmont Board of Directors

www.WWILMONT.org

 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 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          

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.