1 January 21, 2025
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Negrete at 5:32 p.m., on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Lana Negrete
Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis (Arrived at 5:41 p.m.)
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 5:32 p.m., with all members present except Mayor Pro Tem Torosis. Councilmember Snell led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
(LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With great respect, the City acknowledges the Gabrieleño/Tongva as the First People of this ancestral and unceded territory of Kuruvungna, a village that we know as Santa Monica. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Gabrieleño descendants who are part of the Gabrieleño /Tongva tribes.
We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for their land in partnership with them. The City of Santa Monica commits to work in partnership with the Gabrieleño/Tongva people to uplift their voices and visibility on their ancestral land.
The City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement) was read into the record by Councilmember Hall.
LEVINE ACT
DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including Docusign Envelope ID: 377AA57A-A60D-40AC-9025-A81C645EEB61 2 January 21, 2025
aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official.
Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well.
The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution; the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made.
No Councilmembers recused themselves from any items on the agenda pursuant to the Levine Act.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION:
Member of the public Zoe Muntaner commented on Closed Session items.
CLOSED SESSIONS On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 5:39 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 10:18 p.m., with all members present, to report the following:
4.A. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): John Doe 1, et al. v. City, et al; # 23STCV15009; John UNB Doe, et al. v. Doe 1, et al; # 23STCV12746; John Doe (A.G.) v. SM PAL, et al.; # 23SMCV06066; John JPC Doe v. Doe, City, et al., # 23STCV22020; John AD Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 23STCV26548; John CW, Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 23STCV29623; Hector Orozco v. John Doe, et al; # 23SMCV03120; John U.L.W. Doe v. City, et al; # 24STCV06768; John Doe 15, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV07647; John RR Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV09398; John Doe 18, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV08239; John GA Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV06484; John Doe 33, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV15580; John Doe 48 v. City, et al; # 24STCV15420; Joseph Garcia v. City, et al; # 24SMCV01368; John Doe 49 v. City, et al; # 24STCV19296; Jane EB Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV24146; John DD, Doe v. City, et al; # 24SMCV04421; Jane Doe 13, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV27233; John AM Doe, et al. v. City, et al; # 24STCV28433; John Doe 52 v. City, et al; # 24STCV30678; John Doe 53 v. City, et al; # 24STCV31763 The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
4.B. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): City v. ICSOP, et al; OCSC # 30-2022-01261243 The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
4.C. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): Jane Doe 1, et al. v. City, et al; LASC # 24STCV06207 Docusign Envelope ID: 377AA57A-A60D-40AC-9025-A81C645EEB61 3 January 21, 2025
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
4.D. Public Employee Appointment - Gov. Code § 54957(b): Consider public employee appointment; title: City Manager/Interim City Manager; Gov. Code § 54957.6: Conference with labor negotiator; City negotiator: Mayor/Personnel Director; unrepresented employee: City Manager/Interim City Manager
The City Attorney advised that Elaine Polachek has been appointed as Interim City Manager on a part time basis from February 3, 2025 to February 20, 2025 at a rate of $197.00/hour with no other benefits and on a full time basis beginning February 21, 2025 under the same terms on a month to month basis for approximately six months. The appointment was made unanimously with all Councilmembers present.
4.E. Conference with labor negotiator – Gov. Code §54957.6: agency designated representatives: City Manager David White, Human Resources Director Dana Brown, and Human Resources Manager Sarah Rebensdorf; bargaining units: Administrative Team Associates (ATA), AFSCME Local 4819- Management Team Association (MTA), California Teamsters Local 911 (IBT), Municipal Employees Association (MEA), Public Attorney’s Legal Support Staff Union (PALSSU), Public Attorney’s Union (PAU), Santa Monica Fire Executive Management Association (FEMA), Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 (LOCAL 1109), Police Officers Association (POA), Supervisory Team Association (STA) and SMART TD- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation WorkersTransportation Division, Local 1785 (SMART TD) The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 10:19 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Nikima S. Newsome Lana Negrete
City Clerk Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 377AA57A-A60D-40AC-9025-A81C645EEB61