1 February 11, 2025
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 11, 2025
A regular and special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Negrete at 5:31 p.m., on Tuesday, February 11, 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 5:31 p.m., with all members present. 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 Zernitskaya.
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 aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 2 February 11, 2025
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 items on the agenda pursuant to the Levine Act.
AGENDA
MANAGEMENT
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Snell, to hear the commendations prior to public input. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
GENERAL PUBLIC
INPUT:
Members of the public Jeff McMullen, Thomas Sullivan, Jerry Rubin, Goli Basamah, Denise Barton, Bea Nemlaha, Lydia Ponce, Johnathan Foster, John Alle, Harvey Eder, Zoe Muntaner, Ashley Oelsen and Gina Debaca commented on various local issues.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION,
SPECIAL AGENDA
ITEMS AND CONSENT
CALENDAR ONLY:
No members of the public commented on Closed Session items.
Member of the public Gleam Davis commented on Special Agenda items.
Member of the public Zoe Muntaner commented on consent calendar items.
PROCLAMATIONS/
COMMENDATIONS/
SPECIAL AGENDA
ITEMS
3.A. Proclamation: Library Lover's Month, was presented.
3.B. Commendation: David White, was presented.
REPORT ON MEETING
COMPENSATION
Pursuant to State law, City Clerk Nikima S. Newsome announced that Council will receive no compensation for meeting as the Redevelopment Successor Agency.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
JOINT MEETING WITH
THE REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
There being a Consent Calendar for the City Council and the Redevelopment Successor Agency, on order of the Mayor, with consensus of the Councilmembers, the Council convened to a joint meeting with the Redevelopment Successor Agency at 6:34 p.m., and the two Consent Calendars were heard concurrently, with all members present.
All items were considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion.
At the request of Agency/Councilmember Hall, Item 4.A. was removed from the Consent Calendar.
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Motion by Agency/Councilmember Raskin, seconded by
Agency/Councilmember Zernitskaya, to approve the Consent Calendar except for Items 4.A and 4.F., reading resolutions by title only and waiving further reading thereof. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Agency/Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Raskin, Hall, Zwick
Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Chair/Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
VEHICLE AND
OPERATOR
SCHEDULING
TECHNOLOGY SERVICE
4.B. Approval of Seventh Modification to Agreement with Trapeze Software Group for Vehicle and Operator Scheduling Technology Service, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant environmental effects pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a seventh modification to Agreement No. 8928 (CCS) in an amount not to exceed $251,379 with Trapeze Software Group to extend
maintenance support of the Trapeze operator and vehicle scheduling systems for the Department of Transportation for one additional year through June 30, 2026. This will result in a 14-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $3,918,370, with future year funding contingent on budget approval.
WATER METER
READING SERVICES
4.C. Approval of Second Modification to Agreement with Alexander's Contract Services, Inc. for Water Meter Reading Services, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding that the contract modification is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a second modification to Agreement No. 12215 (CCS) in an amount of $170,000 with Alexander’s Contract Services, Inc. and to extend the term an additional 11 months for meter reading services for the Public Works Department. This will result in a five-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $780,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE
RENTALS
4.D. Approval of First Modification to Agreement with Herc Rentals, Inc. for Heavy Duty Vehicle Rentals, was approved.
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Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant environmental effects pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to Agreement #4823 in an amount of $200,000 with Herc Rentals, Inc. for heavy duty construction vehicle rentals for the Public Works Department. The term of the contract will remain the same and will result in a five-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $450,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT
SOFTWARE
4.E. Approval of Second Modification to Agreement with Swiftly, Ltd. for Real Time Bus Arrival Predictions and BBB Performance Analytics, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant environmental effects pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a second modification to Agreement No. 11000 (CCS) in the amount of $311,150, with Swiftly Corporation for a cloud-hosted Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for customer-focused real-time schedule information and service performance metrics for staff for the Department of Transportation. This will result in a six-year agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $1,684,454, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
STREET SWEEPER
PURCHASE
4.F. Approve Acceptance of Environmental Protection Agency Grant and Purchase of Four Street Sweepers for the Resource Recovery and Recycling Division, was pulled by staff and not heard.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $945,000 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the
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3. Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program for the City of Santa Monica Street Sweeper Replacement Project in the Public Works Department, and to accept all grant renewals;
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant, all grant renewals, and modifications;
5. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with Municipal Maintenance Equipment (“MME”), a California-based company, for the purchase of three Ravo Electric R5-eSeries sweepers for the Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Recycling Division. This recommended award is made as an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Section
2.24.250 (c) and is for a total amount not to exceed $2,428,833;
6. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with Tymco Equipment Company for the purchase of one Tymco Model 600 sweeper for the Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Recycling Division. This recommended award is made as an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Section
2.24.250 (c) and is for a total amount not to exceed $330,000 with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval; and
7. Authorize budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
TRANSPORTATION
PROHIBITION ORDER
PROGRAM
4.G. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Monica Creating Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.36.300 to Establish a Department of Transportation Prohibition Order Program as Authorized by Public Utilities Code Sections 99171 and 99172, was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance.
CITY SEAL AND CITY
SYMBOLS
4.H. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 2.32.020 Concerning Use of the City Seal and Other City Symbol, was adopted.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance.
JOINT MEETING WITH
THE REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
ANNUAL INVESTMENT
POLICY UPDATE
4.I. Approve City's Updated Investment Policy and Extend the Delegation of Investment Authority, was approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
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2. Review and approve the City’s revised Investment Policy.
3. Extend the delegation of investment authority to the Director of Finance, as City Treasurer, from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026.
Staff also recommend the Redevelopment Successor Agency Governing Board:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exception) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Review and approve the City Investment Policy for Redevelopment Successor Agency Investments.
3. Extend investment authority to the Treasurer of the Redevelopment Successor Agency, from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026.
MINUTES 4.J. Minutes for Redevelopment Successor Agency Meeting, were approved.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Redevelopment Successor Agency approve the minutes of the December 17, 2024 meeting
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
4.A. Award Request for Proposal to Meeder Public Funds, Inc. for Non-Discretionary Investment Advisory and Portfolio Management Services, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award RFP# 431 to Meeder Public Funds, Inc. for non-discretionary Investment Advisory and Portfolio Management services for the Finance Department; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Meeder Public Funds, Inc., in an estimated amount not to exceed $510,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options in the amount of $340,000, on the same terms and conditions for a total amount not to exceed $850,000 over a five-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Motion by Councilmember Hall, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, to approve the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Mayor Negrete
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NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION TO
RECONSIDER
Motion by Agency/Councilmember Raskin, seconded by
Agency/Councilmember Hall, to reconsider Item 4.I. and to remove the item from the Consent Calendar and to hear it simultaneously with Item 4.A. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
JOINT MEETING WITH
THE REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
ANNUAL INVESTMENT
POLICY UPDATE
4.I. Approve City's Updated Investment Policy and Extend the Delegation of Investment Authority, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Review and approve the City’s revised Investment Policy.
3. Extend the delegation of investment authority to the Director of Finance, as City Treasurer, from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026.
Staff also recommends that the Redevelopment Successor Agency Governing Board:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exception) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Review and approve the City Investment Policy for Redevelopment Successor Agency Investments.
3. Extend investment authority to the Treasurer of the Redevelopment Successor Agency, from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: what will constitute as a quorum for this body; will the city be investing in crypto; how will monthly reports be delivered to Council; and does the audit subcommittee have any auditing ability.
Motion by Agency/Councilmember Hall, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, to approve the staff recommendation with direction to include a requirement that a minimum of three members constitute a quorum and for the members of the Investment Committee to be required to file a Form 700 consistent with the requirements of members of boards and commissions.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Agency/Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya
Chair/Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Chair/Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
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ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT OF
JOINT MEETING
On order of the Chair/Mayor, the joint meeting with the Redevelopment Successor Agency was adjourned at 6:50 p.m., and the regular meeting of the City Council was reconvened, with all members present.
CLOSED SESSIONS On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 6:51 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 8:45 p.m., with all members present, to report the following:
5.A. Public employee performance evaluation - Gov. Code § 54957(b):
City Attorney; conference with labor negotiator - Gov. Code § 54957.6:
City negotiator: Mayor; unrepresented employee: City Attorney.
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
5.B. Conference with labor negotiator – Gov. Code § 54957.6: agency designated representatives: City Manager David White, Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek, 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 Workers- Transportation Division, Local 1785 (SMART TD)
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
CITY MANAGER
REPORT
The City Manager Report was presented.
REPORT ON COUNCIL
TRAVEL
Councilmembers Zernitskaya and Snell reported that they traveled to Garden Grove for the New Mayors and Councilmembers Academy by CalCities.
Mayor Negrete traveled to El Salvador to sit on a panel with some ambassadors as well as the Mayor of Vancouver, Canada, in regard to the bitcoin office in Santa Monica. The Mayor advised that she did not use any city funds for travel to this event.
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PUBLIC INPUT ON
REMAINING AGENDA
ITEMS:
Members of the public Denise Barton, Angela Scott, Angie Behrns, Ericka Lesley, Sophia Pina (time donated by Catherine Walker), Lainie Zepeda, Gina DeBaca, Samantha MJ Yang, Samuel Lopez, Mike Bravo, Hajar, Bob Ramirez, Tom Ford, Kuali, Robbie Jones, Nina Fresco and Allen Kwabena Frimpong commented on Item 7.A.
Members of the public Amanda Seward and Nina Fresco commented on Item
13.A.
Members of the public Denise Barton and Ericka Lesley commented on Item
14.A.
Member of the public Denise Barton commented on Item 16.L.
Member of the public Kurt Gonska commented on Item 16.K.
STUDY SESSION:
REPARATIONS
7.A. Reparations Study Session, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Council provide direction on the key areas of focus for a City Reparations & Landback Program to study the historical harms done to Santa Monica’s marginalized communities and provide recommendations on how to address those harms.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: how will those who have been harmed have a meaningful impact on the recommendations; clarification on racial neutrality in this effort; will the outreach include communications in various languages; and can task force members be compensated.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to ensuring longevity in this effort; looking into other communities that have been harmed; focusing on how the work will be done versus what it’s called; needing a more concrete financial framework; not tailoring the remedies too narrowly; a desire to complete the work in a timely fashion; concerns about the limited number of members to the task force; incorporating members of the community who no longer live in the City; concerns about the tight timeline; partnering with other communities in Santa Monica to assist with lobbying at the state level; looking for revenue generating areas to assist with funding the project; and the ability to provide a stipend to members of the task force.
Motion by Councilmember Snell, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, to give direction to staff including researching methods to compensate members of the task force. The motion was approved by the following vote:
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AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
SAFETY ELEMENT
12.A. Adoption of Amended Safety Element of City’s General Plan; Introduction and First Reading of Ordinances to Require Environmental Site Assessments for Multiple-Unit Dwellings in Nonresidential Zoning Districts and to Designate City Hall East as an Essential Facility for Consistency with the Amended Safety Element, was heard.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15308 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Adopt Resolution to Adopt an Amended Safety Element of the City’s General Plan;
3. Introduce for First Reading an Ordinance Amending the Text of Section 9.31.195 of the Zoning Ordinance for Consistency with the Amended Safety Element; and
4. Introduce for First Reading an Ordinance Amending the Text of Section 8.12.040 of the Building Code for Consistency with the Amended Safety Element.
Members of the public Denise Barton, Zoe Muntaner, Harvey Eder, Jake Sager (time donated by Rahul Chander) and Eve Lopez (time donated by Karl Wittnebel), spoke to the recommended action.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: are any policies being considered concerning ash distribution from fires; what is the ability to add heat resilient centers particularly in the Mid City neighborhood; could homes with pools be considered as a water resource; could a resident have an assessment completed by the fire department upon request; does the City have jurisdiction to require fire resistant building design materials; have the potential financial impacts been evaluated; are changes in population considered when drafting the plan; does the City have a cybersecurity plan in place; what percentage of soft story buildings have completed their seismic retrofits; and is there any requirements for older buildings to update electrical wiring in the walls.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including but not limited to ensuring compliance with the retrofitting ordinance; ability to institute community brigades; permitting renters in rent controlled units to make Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 11 February 11, 2025
certain safety upgrades without threat of repercussions from their landlords; and including implementation of a Council communication plan.
Motion by Councilmember Raskin, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, to approve the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
SOCIAL
JUSTICE/EQUITY IN
PRESERVATIONS
13.A. Landmarks Commission Recommendations to Create a
Framework for Social Justice/Equity in Preservation, was presented.
Questions asked and answered of the commission included: what the capacity is to effectuate the commission’s recommendations; is there budgetary impacts to effectuate the recommendations; will there be any overlap between what the Landmarks Commission will be doing versus the work that the task force for reparations will be doing; and what would it cost to implicate any of these recommendations.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including but not limited to bringing forth a 16 Item to further discuss the recommendations and potential implications; and ensuring that the Landmarks Commission works with the reparations task force.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Snell, to approve staff recommendations 4, 6, and 7 in the June 10, 2024 staff report to the Landmarks Commission that are already in place and do not require any additional financial resources. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote with all members present.
RESOLUTIONS:
GIFT ACCEPTANCE
POLICY
14.A. Adoption of a Resolution Adopting a Policy Regarding Acceptance of Gifts by Councilmembers
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the Resolution adopting a policy regarding acceptance of gifts by Councilmembers.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: how does this policy differ from FPPC regulations; what constitutes a gift; what constitutes as an exemption for existing business relationships; whether items received as gifts for a Councilmember’s day job be considered gifts under this policy; how the policy would impact gifts received in a Councilmember’s professional capacity; whether conference registrations (like a $500 scholarship) would Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 12 February 11, 2025
count as a gift; how the policy would impact self-employed Councilmembers attending professional events; how the policy would handle gifts from an employer, especially for self-employed individuals; whether a company could pass through a gift to a Councilmember; and exceptions for preexisting social relationships.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including but not limited to the proposed $100 gift limit being overly restrictive; disproportionate impacts to self-employed Councilmembers; potential barriers to professional development and conference attendance; concerns about preventing Councilmembers from building professional relationships; and how the policy might affect self-employed Councilmembers' ability to participate in industry events in their respective professions.
Motion by Councilmember Hall, seconded by Councilmember Raskin, to adopt the staff recommendation with amendments to include exceptions for scholarships and free admissions to events for professional development and conferences, ticketed events where a Councilmember performs in a public role at the event, items received in a professional capacity, and pre-existing social relationships; and that all exceptions applied in the section regarding gifts also apply to the section regarding free food and beverage. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell
Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, Mayor Negrete
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Councilmember Zernitskaya
COUNCILMEMBER
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
In accordance with Council Rule 6(x), all Councilmember Discussion items were considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion.
Items 16.A., 16.B., 16.C., 16.D., 16.E., and 16.J., were removed and considered separately in accordance with Council Rule 6(x) Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Snell, to approve all Councilmember Discussion Items except Items 16.A., 16.B.,
16.C., 16.D., 16.E., and 16.J. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION
16.A. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Human Services Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2027., was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
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Councilmember Hall nominated Kevin Glover.
Councilmember Zernitskaya nominated Brett Morrow.
Councilmembers Hall and Raskin voted for Kevin Glover.
Councilmembers Zwick, Snell, Zernitskaya, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, and Mayor Negrete voted for Brett Morrow.
Councilmembers Hall and Raskin changed their votes to Brett Morrow, thereby appointing Brett Morrow by acclamation to the Human Services Commission, with all members present.
PERSONNEL BOARD 16.B. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Personnel Board for a term ending on June 30, 2026., was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Being the only qualified candidate, Noelle Lewis was unanimously appointed by acclamation to the Personnel Board.
PUBLIC SAFETY
REFORM AND
OVERSIGHT
COMMISSION
16.C. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2027, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Councilmember Hall nominated James Kennedy.
Councilmember Zernitskaya nominated Xavier Banister.
James Kennedy was unanimously appointed by acclamation to the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.
RECREATION AND
PARKS COMMISSION
16.D. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Recreation and Parks Commission for a term ending on June 30, 2026, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Councilmember Snell nominated Daniel Campbell.
Mayor Pro Tem Torosis nominated Barry Rosenbaum.
Councilmembers Zwick and Snell voted for Daniel Campbell.
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Mayor Negrete voted for Barry Rosenbaum.
Councilmembers Zwick and Snell changed their votes to Barry Rosenbaum, thereby appointing Barry Rosenbaum by acclamation to the Recreation and Park Commission, with all members present.
SANTA MONICA PIER
CORPORATION
16.E. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Santa Monica Pier Corporation for a term ending on June 30, 2026, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Councilmember Snell nominated Peter Trinh.
Councilmember Hall nominated Jeff Jarrow.
Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Zwick, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, and Mayor Negrete voted for Peter Trinh.
Councilmembers Hall and Raskin voted for Jeff Jarrow.
Councilmembers Hall and Raskin changed their votes to Peter Trinh, thereby appointing Peter Trinh by acclamation to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, with all members present.
SANTA MONICA
TRAVEL AND TOURISM,
INC.
16.F. Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, Inc. for a term ending on June 30, 2026, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, the floor was opened for nominations.
Mayor Negrete nominated Judi Barker.
Mayor Pro Tem Torosis nominated Tim Defuria.
Councilmember Snell nominated Sean Besser.
Councilmembers Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Zernitskaya, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, and Mayor Negrete voted for Tim Defuria.
Councilmember Snell voted for Sean Besser.
Councilmember Snell changed his vote to Tim Defuria, thereby appointing Tim Defuria by acclamation to Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, Inc., with all members present.
ARCHITECTURAL 16.G. Recommendation to accept Edward Scott's resignation from the Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 15 February 11, 2025
REVIEW BOARD Architectural Review Board and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancy, was accepted with regret and approved unanimously by voice vote.
HUMAN SERVICES
COMMISSION
16.H. Recommendation to accept Luis Barrera Castañón's resignation Human Services Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancy, was accepted with regret and approved unanimously by voice vote.
YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY
SIGNAGE PROGRAM
16.I. Request of Councilmembers Hall and Zernitskaya that in order to reaffirm our commitment to efficient and safe public transit, safe streets, and efforts to increase BBB ridership and reduce unnecessary delays, the Council direct the City Manager and Department of Transportation to explore implementing Yield Right-of-Way Signage for Big Blue Bus as authorized pursuant to Assembly Bill 1904 and direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution as required by Assembly Bill 1904 to implement such yield right-of-way signage program for BBB, was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
AD HOC COUNCIL
COMMITTEE
16.J. Establish and appoint a temporary ad hoc Council committee for the City Manager recruitment process, was presented.
Motion by Councilmember Snell, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to nominate Councilmembers Hall, Snell, and Mayor Pro Tem Torosis to serve on the ad hoc committee.
A substitute motion was made by Mayor Negrete to nominate Councilmember Snell, Mayor Pro Tem Torosis, and Mayor Negrete to serve on the ad hoc committee. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Councilmembers Hall, Snell, and Mayor Pro Tem Torosis were selected to serve on the ad hoc committee by unanimous roll call vote with all members present.
RENT REGISTRY 16.K. Request of Councilmembers Torosis, Hall and Raskin to Strengthen Tenant Protections: Moving Forward with a Rent Registry and Funding Its Implementation in the Upcoming Biennial Budget, was approved unanimously by voice vote with additional direction to solicit feedback from the Rent Control Board.
ISSUANCE OF BUILDING
PERMITS
16.L. Request of Councilmember Zwick, Mayor Negrete, and Mayor Pro Tem Torosis that the City Council direct the City Manager and City Attorney to expedite the issuance of Building Permits in Santa Monica without reducing building integrity and still adhering to life and safety requirements through the development of a Voluntary Self-Certification Pilot Program for non-structural commercial tenant improvements, single-family home improvements, and accessory dwelling units. The Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 16 February 11, 2025
Self-Certification Program shall allow Licensed Professionals who agree to self-certify that building plans are compliant with all California codes and local ordinances to bypass the normal plan review process and get approval for permits in one to five business days, facilitating our city’s economic recovery and reducing the workload on plan check professionals, allowing them to focus on the more complex projects that require their attention. City staff shall return to City Council with recommendations for program design and implementation within six months, was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVAL CRITERIA
16.M. Request of Councilmembers Zwick and Raskin that the City Council direct the City Manager and City Attorney to adjust the Administrative Approval criteria for housing projects within the Bergamot Area Plan (BAP) and present them for Council consideration and adoption at the April 22 meeting. Specifically, to ensure that housing projects are feasible, street and pathway requirements shall be limited to those envisioned in the BAP (p. 207) and interpreted liberally in favor of ensuring the production of new housing, their exact location shall be flexible so as to avoid bisecting parcels and limiting site feasibility, they shall be credited towards the 14% open space requirement at a ratio of
1.5:1, and subject to staff discretion for sites under 2 acres, was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
DEVELOPMENT
ORDINANCE
16.N. Request of Councilmembers Zwick and Zernitskaya that the City Council direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare an ordinance granting all development, land use, or subdivision applications as allowed by applicable State law (including any such applications granted on appeal) that were approved prior to January 6, 2025 an extension of two years beyond their current expiration dates and all complete building permit applications submitted or issued prior to January 6, 2025 an extension of one year beyond their current expiration dates (including dates to start and complete work), provided that applicant attests project will comply with current code. For approved Development Agreement projects that are not yet under construction, provide an administrative pathway for the applicants to opt in to this two-year extension to the building permit issuance date as a subsequent code change that developer can elect to consent to in writing, was approved by unanimous voice vote with all members present.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 1:22 a.m. in memory of Steve Martinez.
Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F 17 February 11, 2025
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Nikima S. Newsome Lana Negrete
City Clerk Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: C71FA048-842E-41FF-B79A-92661CA1C07F