By Lookout Staff
April 14 -- On February 24, after deadlocking for seven rounds before a packed audience, the City Council elected Planning Commissioner Gleam Davis to fill the vacancy left by Herb Katz, who died in January after a long bout with cancer.
The selection of Davis – who is co-chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) – makes it the first time in a decade that two women occupy seats on the dais. The Lookout asked Davis to talk a little bit about herself and to discuss some of the key issues facing Santa Monica.
You are the first new face on the council in more than four years. What qualifications and perspectives do you bring to the council, and what do you hope to accomplish over the next two years?
In terms of qualifications, I am a former Planning Commissioner and former co-chair of SMRR. I have been very involved with our public schools. In the next two years, the City Council’s biggest challenge may be navigating the faltering economy. In the face of these economic challenges, public health and safety must be our paramount priorities.
The council also will be concluding the LUCE (Land Use and Circulation Element) process. Among other things, the LUCE should preserve our wonderful diverse neighborhoods, promote affordable housing to ease the jobs-housing imbalance, and reinvigorate our business districts. In the coming months, the City and the School District should renew their joint facilities use agreement and address the relationship between the redevelopment of the Civic Center and the redesign of Santa Monica High.
What are your views about how best to tackle the problem of homelessness?
The City Council has worked hard to address the difficult problem of homeless persons. That work has led to an 8 percent decrease in the number of homeless persons on our streets. The City is on the right track in looking for regional as well as local solutions and in funding innovative programs like the Police Department’s H.L.P. program, which trains officers so that they can assist homeless persons in connecting with social services. I will support efforts to further reduce the number of homeless persons throughout the City.
What are the roles of businesses in the community? How do you see businesses, government and residents partnering?
Local businesses play a vital role in our community. They make us sustainable by serving residents near their homes and within easy reach of transit. They provide jobs to residents and they generate income that allows the City to provide a high level of services to the community. I believe that business, government, and residents already partner on a number of issues and projects that benefit our community.
The Bayside District, the Pier Restoration Corporation, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau all bring together the talents, energies, and resources of business, residents, and city government to improve and promote Santa Monica and all that it has to offer. Residents and business have come together to support our local schools, the arts, and non-profit groups, all of which are integral parts of the fabric of our community.
The City Council is scheduled to put the finishing touches on the update to the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) later this year. What are your views on offering developers height bonuses in exchange for community benefits?
I support the idea that developers should be encouraged to provide meaningful community benefits when they build projects in Santa Monica. I am not convinced that height bonuses are the best or only method for doing so. In some neighborhoods, like Downtown, with appropriate limits on design, we may be able to tolerate a limited height bonus. In other parts of the City, additional height may have a negative effect on surrounding neighborhoods. I want to review the draft EIR and hear from the community (both residents and local businesses) before making a decision on that issue.
Downtown is undergoing its biggest management change in two decades with the creation of a new assessment district and the seating of a new Bayside Board. What is your vision for the Downtown?
Downtown is the heart of our city. I hope the LUCE, the new Santa Monica Place and the Expo Line activate the streets surrounding the Promenade to create a vibrant neighborhood stretching from Ocean Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard that excites residents and draws visitors. While I support upgrading movie theaters and other amenities, I want Downtown to continue to have a sense of organic development rather than the artificiality of the Grove and other venues.
How often and why do you visit the Downtown? What do you like and dislike? Did you shop Downtown during the holidays?
My family visits Downtown about once per week. We go to enjoy a nice dinner out, a movie, or to shop. My favorite thing about Downtown is that I frequently see someone I know. I guess my only “dislike” is that I would like to see the alleys become a little more hospitable. We did shop Downtown during the holidays. We found some great gifts at Puzzle Zoo.
