SANTA MONICA—As the 2012-2013 fiscal year comes to a close, the city ofSanta Monica released a City Year-End Report over the weekend.  In the Year End Report, the city summed up what they had accomplished within the year. They announced over $750,000 in financial assistance was given to city programs for low-income youth.

The report stated, “The department closely examined youth and family [well-being] through Santa Monica’s first Youth Wellbeing Report Card, and worked with the School District, College, and nonprofit partners on a  collective impact approach to ensure all children have the support they need to thrive. By winning funding through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge, this work will expand to the community at large through the Wellbeing Project.”

The city reported that 37,000 people participated in an Employer Trip Reduction Program. These programs provide incentives to the employees to reduce their automobile trips.

They also included how “major strides were taken towards adoption of the Zero Waste Strategic Plan. Changes to commercial and residential waste collection routes saved approximately 8,000 labor hours. Over 700 tons of bulky items were collected. Recycling programs were added at 650 commercial establishments and multifamily properties.”

The year-end statistics stated that 77 percent of the waste generated in the city was recycled, 99,809 tons of waste resources were collected, and 34,290 graffiti removals were completed.

The report includes a letter from City Manager Ron Gould, which tells readers, “The City Council set policy to better our fair city and reinforceSanta Monica’s position as a world-class place to live, work, and play.”

Gould noted that Santa Monica is doing better since the hard hit the economy took in the past 10 years, remarking: “The economy showed signs of recovery. Growth in the citywide tax base and careful fiscal management upheld the City’s triple-A credit rating. Reserves remained strong, priority capital projects were funded, support for education was steadfast, and human services and cultural arts funding remained constant.”

He also wrote about the commencement of the Exposition Light Rail Project that should be completed by late 2015, early 2016.