Much of the Tuesday night City Council meeting was devoted to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presentation of all the things it would do to make the Santa Monica Airport safer in lieu of doing the one thing the City and Sunset Park and Mar Vista residents wanted it to do: ban big jets.

The FAA’s Associate Administrator for Airports Kirk Shaffer began by describing three operations improvements: moving the runway hold line, installing a new area navigation departure system, and adding a pilot education program focusing on the configuration of Santa Monica Airport and “the friendly neighbor program.”

The balance of his presentation was devoted to the FAA’s proposal for “runway safety.”

First, it would install a 250-foot, 70-knot Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at the west end of the runway (Runway 21), “the primary departure end.”

Second, it would establish a “clear distance” on the east end of the runway (Runway 3).

Third, it would designate “Runway Protection Zones,” and the City would buy the 15 to 20 houses in the most “critical areas” assuming their owners were willing to sell.

After an extended public hearing and discussion, during which virtually everyone found the FAA proposal inadequate, and reiterated the community demand that big jets be banned.

The Council also directed staff to develop a “potential implementation timeline” with the FAA for the construction of the EMAS beds, and to continue to explore implementation of safety measures on the east end of the runway.

Finally, the Council approved and adopted on second reading an ordinance banning big jets .

The ordinance adds Section 10.04.06.220 to the Municipal Code conforming the use of Santa Monica Municipal Airport to its federally designated specification of ARC B-II, for public safety purposes, including the safety of residents living immediately adjacent to the airport runway ends and those individuals using and working at the airport.

It is anticipated that the passage of the ordinance will trigger an FAA lawsuit challenging the City’s authority to restrict use of the airport.

In other business, the Council approved and adopted a number of ordinances, including an interim ordinance extending, with modifications and clarifications, Interim Ordinance, modifying the City’s density bonus and affordable housing incentives in accordance with State Density Bonus Law, to waive certain development standards for rental units that were built or created without permits and registered with the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, an ordinance authorizing the placement of furniture, portable landscaping, and cigarette disposal receptacles within the public right-of-way and the display of merchandise in private vestibules, and an interim ordinance extending an initial interim ordinance clarifying that only one new multi-family construction project is allowed within a five hundred foot radius in the City’s multi-family residential districts.

Council also introduced for first reading of an ordinance imposing a temporary suspension of certain Municipal Code provisions and other legal requirements within stated boundaries for the purpose of conducting a one-night arts festival.

In addition, the Council also introduced, as amended, for first reading an ordinance adopting local modifications to the method of levying assessments pursuant to the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994.

The Council reviewed and accepted the recommendations of the Downtown Management Plan and authorized the City Manager and Executive Director to sign the petition on behalf of the Agency and City-owned properties within the District (this represents 10.1% of the total assessment). It then directed staff to arrange a study session outlining funding and other details of the Bayside District.

At the request of Council member Bobby Shriver, the Council adopted a resolution supporting the “Save Our State Parks” campaign and opposing proposed State Parks budget cuts.

The Council authorized the following contracts without discussion: $104,000 ro the Phipps Grup for planning services; $120,770 to Bowman Systems for software licensing and data hosting for a homeless management information system; $106,000 to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to complete design work for the Bicknell Avenue “green streets” project; an additional $450,000 to Midwest Environmental Control 00 for removal of additional asbestos containing material at the Annenberg Community Beach Club; $120,000 to the Omega Group, Inc., for the purchase of CrimeView and CrimeView Web software applications; and $131,280 to Aerotek Commercial Staffing for temporary mechanics in the Fleet Management Division;

After some discussion, it awarded an amount up to $1,884,118 to MV Transportation to provide Dial-A-Ride Paratransit services for three years with a one-year option.

Among the settlements authorized by the Council in closed session was a payment of $4.4 million for a motorcycle accident that was apparently caused by one of the City’s so-called traffic calming devices.

The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council will be a special meeting on Tuesday, April 8.