1 January 10, 2025
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 10, 2025
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Negrete at 2:34 p.m., on Friday, January 10, 2025, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Lana Negrete
Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis
Councilmember Jesse Zwick
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
Also Present: City Manager David White
City Attorney Douglas Sloan
City Clerk Nikima S. Newsome
CONVENE/PLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 2:34 p.m., with all members present. Mayor Pro Tem Torosis led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance and recited the land acknowledgement.
PUBLIC INPUT ON
REMAINING AGENDA
ITEMS:
Members of the public Shannon Yoshikowa, Margarita Padia, Scott Martlette, Kay Ambriz, Kurt Gonska, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (time donated by Robert Oliver), Hank Koning, Adam Finkel, Bobby Shriver, Ericka Lesley, and John C. Smith commented on Item 14.A.
RESOLUTIONS:
LOCAL EMERGENCY
14.A. Confirm and Ratify Proclamation of Local Emergency Due to Palisades Fire, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff Recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt resolution ratifying Proclamation of Local Emergency Due to Palisades Fire; and
2. Adopt a finding of no possible significant effect on the environment under CEQA Guidelines.
Questions asked and answered of staff included what is the turnaround time for the waving of Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) for schools in non-school zones and what is the definition of temporary in this regard; preferential parking suspension; how is anti-price gouging being enforced and who should be contacted if someone believes they are a victim; prioritizing of the Docusign Envelope ID: 377AA57A-A60D-40AC-9025-A81C645EEB61 2 January 10, 2025
below market housing wait list; does the Council need to reconvene to adopt any amendments going forward; effective term for the emergency order; extending building permits for projects that cannot be completed at this time as a result of the fires, ability to collect data from websites of current available rentals; are there processes in place to prohibit illegal home sharing; concerns with open burning including covered firepits during this time; suspension of leasing regulations; are non-profits considered businesses for the purpose of waiving CUPs; and what constitutes a primary residence.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to creating a rental list; waiving building and permit requirements; prioritizing people who qualify for below market housing who have been displaced by any of the fires in Los Angeles County; flexibility of the Building Official to waive certain requirements to allow for schools; allowing the suspension of CUPs for displaced local businesses; and lengths of time established for the relaxation of home sharing regulations.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Snell, to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Raskin, Hall, Zwick Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m. in memory of all those who have lost family, friends, loved ones and property during the fires.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Nikima S. Newsome Lana Negrete
City Clerk Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 377AA57A-A60D-40AC-9025-A81C645EEB61