The Coalition of Santa Monicans Against Miramar Expansion,which continues to add members, met Wednesday, August 15.

It reviewed the state of the Council race. As of 5:15 pm, August 15, 12 candidates had qualified to run for City Council. Due to an extension of the filing date, two more candidates were expected to enter the race before the deadline.

Since Mayor Richard Bloom is running for the State Assembly and Council member Bobby Shriver will not seek a third term, there will be two open Council seats for the first time in some years.

Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights has nominated four candidates for Council: incumbents Gleam Davis and Terry O’Day, a former Councilman Tony Vasquez, and Planning Commissioner Ted Winterer.

The Coalition also reviewed the state of the Miramar expansion. The Planning Commission and City Planning staff are awaiting submission of new concept alternatives by Miramar developers before making specific comments.

It is now anticipated that the alternatives will be presented to the City in the fall, or the first quarter of 2013.

The City now charges fees to developers to pay for monitoring by City staff of plan implementation to ensure that benefits promised are actually delivered. After the revised plan is submitted, the City will conduct a scoping meeting for public comments on Environmental Impact Report.

The next Coalition meeting will be held on September 13 at 7 p.m.

Other meetings that pertain to development and the November election include: North of Montana (NOMA), neighborhood organization meeting meeting at the MLK Auditorium in the Main library with speaker Diana Gordon of Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (http://www.smclc.net) on September 6; Santa Monica Democratic Club, City Council candidate endorsements, location to be announced, September 12; Candidates forum on SM Airport future, location to be announced, September 13; the ballot order meeting, September 16; Hometown Forum, October 13; Ocean Park Forum, October 15.

The Coalition website is regularly updated. www.savesantamonica.com.