1. LAND USE PLANNING
(Adopted Pre-1985)
Preface: No development should occur that would exceed the capacity of existing systems for power and water supply, waste water collection and treatment, solid waste disposal and resource recovery, or transportation unless such systems are planned for expansion with adequate financing and pollution controls.
Support for the following:
A. Mixed-use development in Santa Monica. (commercial, residential and recreational uses combined in a planned unit).
B. Increased low and moderate-income housing.
C. Zoning that encourages neighborhood-oriented business bordering residentially zoned areas.
D. Zoning that encourages pedestrian traffic and public transportation in the central business district.
E. Limited growth in Santa Monica by more stringent zoning regulations, without eliminating the opportunity for low and moderate-income housing.
F. City planning based on Environmental Impact Reports.
G. Planning and implementation for proper, adequate public transportation.
H. Buffer zones.
I. Increased open space for recreation, including increased land for parks and play lots.
Opposition to the following:
A. Spot zoning.
B. Building on the beach front except for limited recreational facilities.
2. SANTA MONICA AIRPORT
(Updated March 2005; Approved June 2005)
Preface: The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica urges master planning of the entire airport area. Whether or not a master plan is implemented, the LWVSM urges support for the following:
A. Environmental Measures
1). Maintain current curfew hours or their expansion after 2015.
2). Maintain current noise level limit or its reduction after 2015.
3). Continuation and expansion of staff education programs for pilot cooperation programs such as noise level reduction procedures.
4). Strict enforcement of safety and environmental rules/regulations subject to periodic review.
5). Monitor emissions and noise, increase research into their impact and support steps to mitigate those impacts as they become known.
B. Residual/Non-Aviation Land Use Measures
1). Continuation of programs aimed at public safety and education.
2). Land use proposals should take into consideration the impacts of traffic, parking, noise, and emissions.
3). If the airport is closed, we recommend primary consideration be given to the original intent, which is parkland.
C. Safety and Security Measures
1). Active pursuit of Safety Zone Implementation and the Aircraft Conformance Program.
2). Support for increased safety and appropriate security measures.
3. OIL DRILLING
(Adopted Pre-1985)
The LWVSM opposes on or offshore oil drilling in the Santa Monica Bay area.
4. LIBRARIES
(Updated 1991)
Preface: The LWVSM encourages continued financial support for the Santa Monica Library System above the minimum standard set by the American Library Association (ALA): no fewer branches than exist now; choice of books made by professional librarians; selection policy should include the first three articles of the ALA Library Bill of Rights; continued participation by the Santa Monica Public Library in the metropolitan cooperative library system.
A. Support of Santa Monica Public Library System for adequate funding and maintenance of full services and collections; and with at least the present number of Main and Branch Libraries.
5. EDUCATION
(Adopted Pre-1985)
Support for policies that promote a high standard of education in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Among these policies are programs to insure optimum levels of instruction for all students, with emphasis on basic skills, and provision of sufficient funds for operation and building needs.
6. BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
(Adopted about 1990)
Support for programs at the local level that provide for all persons' equality of opportunity for education, employment and housing.
7. HOUSING
(Adopted Pre 1985, updated by concurrence June 2011)
The League believes that all people have a right to safe, decent, and adequate housing. LWVSM supports a variety of housing types, which maintain the quality of neighborhoods and which promote economic and social diversity within the community while preserving contiguous open space, environmental resource protection, and efficient use of land.
So that visual impact is complementary to the surrounding neighborhoods, consideration should be given to the aesthetic appearance of a development, specifically: height and design characteristics, * effective buffers, screening and foundation plantings, and sufficiently deep setbacks
The League supports measures to provide affordable housing to the community which assist with meeting and maintaining all state requirements and which address local needs. LWVSM advocates affordable housing types which address the changing space and economic needs, whether through ownership or rent, for: the elderly, the handicapped and disabled, families with children, couples without children, and singles
LWVSM also supports and encourages the following:
A. Affordable housing which is distributed throughout the city.
B. Subsidized housing: bond issue use to purchase property for subsidized housing for seniors
C. Rent control: the principle that landlords and tenants share the cost of administering rent control.
D Off-street parking, minimal impact on local traffic flow and patterns, and alternative transportation, such as the provision for walking and bicycle paths.
E. Housing plans that include specific regulations for adequate waste management and water supplies.
8. HOMELESS
(Adopted Pre-1985)
The LWVSM promotes the following:
A. Efforts by the city to expand federal, state and county resources to provide facilities for the mentally ill.
B. Expanded use of city funds for outreach teams, whose members encourage homeless to seek and use existing services.
C. Efforts by the city to expand federal, state and county resources to provide transitional housing. Efforts by the city to coordinate area-wide approaches to solve the transitional housing needs.
D. The concept of city support for emergency housing.
E. City funding of social services for the homeless.
F. Expanded city funding for runaway youth, homeless families and those responsive to short-term type services.
G. Continued assistance of social service agencies which serve the homeless.
9. TRAFFIC PLANNING
(Adopted 2005)
The LWVSM supports the following:
A. Synchronization of traffic lights and plans to move traffic more smoothly.
B. Traffic calming devices which increase safety for both pedestrians and motorists.
C. Provision for alley entrances to properties wherever possible and the encouragement of enforcement of existing laws for alley exits (i.e. stopping at sidewalks and again at street entries).
D. Creating more bicycle paths, pedestrian friendly areas, island crossings, lighted crossings, etc.
E. New parking structures--either above or below ground--that are connected with or tied to mass transit systems and sustainable development. However, we would discourage the creation of more surface parking lots.
F. Increased fees for parking and other violations to more closely reflect the true public cost. We oppose subsidized public parking for private use.
G. Encouraging residents to park in their own driveways or garages.
H. A rich mix of mass transit development, including light rail, buses, and shuttles; also future consideration of subways.
10. VOTING SYSTEMS
(Adopted about 2000)
The LWVSM supports consideration of alternative voting systems for Santa Monica elections with a special emphasis on the Single Transferable Vote or Choice System. Any system adopted should produce fair and accurate community representation reflecting the diversity (racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, etc.) of the community; should increase voter participation and maximize effective votes and raise the level of political campaigns; and should increase the focus on issues, not personalities. The system should be easy for the voter to use and understand, both in terms of understanding how to vote and how their vote would be counted.
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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica, California. All rights reserved.
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