Santa Monica City Council to Consider Raising Civic Center Rental Rate

The Santa Monica City Council will consider raising the rental cost of the Civic Auditorium at the meeting Tuesday. The city closed the venue last summer to save money. The move saved the city $2 million in operation costs.

Staff report to the council said the rate, which were set in 1967, “no longer reflect the current circumstances.”

The city shut the venue down after losing the redevelopment funding to upgrade the auditorium. The Civic once hosted the Academy Awards.

The discussion to raise the rates was prompted by BMW approaching the city to use the venue next year to promote the company’s new hybrid vehicle. The five-week rental is estimated to bring in $300,000 in unexpected revenue to the city, not including the boon to local businesses and hotels, according to a staff report.

If approved, the new rate will go in effect until the city decides what to do with the venue.

Also on the agenda Tuesday is the consideration of a 20-year agreement with Crossroads School of the Arts & Sciences to allow the use of a bicycle and pedestrian path along the northerly edge of 1748 21st St.