Matrices: How They Would Have Voted

By Frank Gruber

February 23 -- A few weeks ago in a column, I said that I would send each applicant for Herb Katz’s seat on the City Council a copy of the "Matrix" that I published before the 2008 election listing how the council members had voted on the major issues that had come before them during the previous two years, and that I would ask the applicants to return the matrices marked to show how they would have voted.

Last week I emailed a copy of the Matrix to each applicant who had listed an email address on the application. I received twelve back, and I have listed the responses below in alphabetical order (in two matrices).

Unfortunately, neither of the two applicants generally considered to be the most likely choice of a majority on the council -- the co-chairs of Santa Monicans for Renters, Patricia Hoffman and Gleam Davis -- replied. Ms. Hoffman told me in a conversation last week that she thought the issues were too complicated to respond to with yes or no answers, and Ms. Davis sent me an email making the same point; in her words, "I am not sure that a simple yes or no on the matrix is very meaningful. doesn’t allow that."

Each of the council members who voted on the listed issues had the opportunity to explain his or her vote. The matrix

Ms. Davis also made another comment, which was also in substance made by applicant Terry O’Day (who nonetheless did send back a matrix), to the point that had the applicant been on the dais, the applicant would have had the opportunity to influence the motion or whatever was being voted on. This is a fair point, but nonetheless I believe it’s illuminating to see how applicants for the seats situate themselves in the context of the votes that were taken.

I want to emphasize that an applicant’s responses to the Matrix, like past results in a financial prospectus, do not predict future results. Circumstances may change. The Matrix only asks what an applicant would have done at the moment.

And thus below are two iterations of the Matrix, listing the responses of the applicants in alphabetical order. If nothing else, this is a snapshot of how 12 civic minded members of the community view the issues that were of the day for the years 2006-08.

Michael Kovac

Extend no-smoking ban to certain outdoor areas
10/10/06

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve draft goals for LUCE
11/14/06

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Exempt affordable housing from development review
1/23/07

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Approve money for downtown streetscape plan (& remove some trees)
2/6/07

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Authorize general study regarding election finance
3/13/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Emergency ordinance against SROs
4/24/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to allocate discretionary funds to school district with contractual restrictions
5/24/07

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Vote to withhold $530,000 in funding from school district until conditions are met
6/12/07

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Endorse LUCE placemaking principles
6/19/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve concept of plan for Civic Center "Village" development
8/14/07

yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Vote to oppose FAA proposal for SaMo Airport
8/28/07

yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Abstain (jurisdic-tional issues)

Yes

Yes

Michael Kovac

Approve remodel of Santa Monica Place Mall
9/11/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Enact preferential parking south of SaMoHi
9/11/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to have staff study a "fair fight fund"
10/23/07

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

Endorse LUCE principles for industrial areas
11/13/07

Yes

Yes

yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Susan Hartley

Vote to pursue development agreement for Village Trailer Park site
11/27/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approve Goudas & Vines,high-end cheese and wine store on old Boulangerie site
1/8/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to establish 50-foot protected zone for demonstrations outside of residences
1/22/07

yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approve development agreements for Lantana East and South
2/12/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Appeal of Landmarks Commission’s not designating downtown ficus trees as landmarks
2/19/08

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Uphold appeal

Deny appeal

Endorse framework elements of LUCE
2/26/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Vote to prohibit soliciting donations from seating on Promenade
2/26/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Issue

Barbara Andres

Christian Boyce

Melinda Culea

Ann Green-spun

Susan Hartley

Michael Kovac

Recommend development agreement process for Lionsgate Colorado Ave. project
4/8/08

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Move to remand Third Street Historic District project to Landmarks Commission
4/29/08

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approval of amendments to zoning for Civic Center Village projects
5/13/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Michael Kovac

Creation of preferential parking district on "college" streets
5/27/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ten-foot "bonus" under LUCE
7/22/08

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

The second matrix:

Extend no-smoking ban to certain outdoor areas
10/10/06

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve draft goals for LUCE
11/14/06

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Exempt affordable housing from development review
1/23/07

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approve money for downtown streetscape plan (& remove some trees)
2/6/07

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Authorize general study regarding election finance
3/13/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Emergency ordinance against SROs

4/24/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to allocate discretionary funds to school district with contractual restrictions
5/24/07

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Vote to withhold $530,000 in funding from school district until conditions are met
6/12/07

Yes

Yes

Yes ("if there is any concern about misuse of money")

Yes

Yes

Endorse LUCE placemaking principles
6/19/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve concept of plan for Civic Center "Village" development
8/14/07

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Vote to oppose FAA proposal for SaMo Airport
8/28/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve remodel of Santa Monica Place Mall
9/11/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Enact preferential parking south of SaMoHi
9/11/07

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Vote to have staff study a "fair fight fund"
10/23/07

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Endorse LUCE principles for industrial areas
11/13/07

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to pursue development agreement for Village Trailer Park site
11/27/07

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approve Goudas & Vines,high-end cheese and wine store on old Boulangerie site
1/8/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to establish 50-foot protected zone for demonstrations outside of residences
1/22/07

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Approve development agreements for Lantana East and South
2/12/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Appeal of Landmarks Commission’s not designating downtown ficus trees as landmarks
2/19/08

Deny appeal

Uphold appeal

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Deny appeal

Endorse framework elements of LUCE
2/26/08

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vote to prohibit soliciting donations from seating on Promenade
2/26/08

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ted Winterer

Recommend development agreement process for Lionsgate Colorado Ave. project
4/8/08

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Move to remand Third Street Historic District project to Landmarks Commission
4/29/08

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Approval of amendments to zoning for Civic Center Village projects
5/13/08

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Creation of preferential parking district on "college" streets
5/27/08

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Ten-foot "bonus" under LUCE
7/22/08

Yes

No

Yes ("for purposes of proceed-ing")

No