10-17-09 Santa Monica

City Seeks Innovative Design Team

The City of Santa Monica is in search of an innovative and talented design team to design a new centrally located Civic Center parks. These new parks will be just a walk from local beaches and attractions.

Plans for the expansion of the city’s park system began in 1993 and were revised again in 2005. Current plans have seven acres just off the coast that is waiting to be developed into another beautiful city Recreation center. Six of those seven acres will be for the public park while the other acre will be for a new Town Square.

The new Civic Center parks will connect tourist, residents, and weekenders to the Santa Monica State Beach, the Santa Monica Pier, Palisades Park, as well as Third Street Promenade. Connecting everyone with the city’s major Cultural and economic assets.

Qualification statements will be accepted until 5:00PM on November 20^th of this year. The selection panel includes Architect Ken Smith, Qingyun Ma, Dean of the University of Southern California Architect, and Mac Fisher, Campus Architect for UC Santa Barbara.

For further information you can go to http://vendors.planetbids.com/SantaMonica/bidsearchform.cfm?StateID=52

Local Shop Owner Charged with Five Misdemeanors

The Santa Monica City Attorney has charged local storeowner, Arman Hazarian, and three of his managers with multiple charges including grand theft, false advertising, and doing business without a City Business License.

Arman and his store, Cozi Couch have been under investigation by the Consumer Protection Unit, long before his store closed n March of 2009.

CPU has had several dozen complaints from customers. Many Customers claim to have paid thousands of dollars for custom furniture, that was never delivered.

City Hall Puts matter of Public Safety before it’s Residents

Come October 29^th, residents from the City of Santa Monica will have a say in where the newest Public Safety Storage Facility will be built.

The City Council was able to go over 30 prospective properties and dwindle the number down to seven. Those seven properties will now be introduces in front a 6-8 different panels of local residents. These panels will have to then choose a site that fits the criteria laid before them. Included in the criteria, are a need for the new facility to have an arterial access road, as well as be complementing to existing building and landscape.

The need for a new storage facility stemmed from past vandalizing and thefts at an old facility that led to the equipment and vehicles being stored inside a larger garage. The new outdoor storage facility will allow for a quicker response time in the event of an emergency.