City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 24, 2025
Agenda Item: 10.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Ramon Batista, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Introduction and Adoption of Emergency Ordinance Amending SMMC
4.08.780 to Include Additional Prohibited Items at Public Assemblies and Community Events
Recommended Action
Staff recommends 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; and
2. Introduce and adopt an emergency ordinance amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.08.780 to expand the list of prohibited items at public assemblies and community events to enhance public safety and prevent the escalation of violence.
Summary
The Police Department recommends that the City Council adopt an amendment to Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 4.08.780 to expand the list of prohibited items at public assemblies and community events in order to enhance public safety and prevent the escalation of violence. This proposed ordinance expands on prior emergency actions by adding specific items known to have been misused during public demonstrations. These additions are based on direct observation, intelligence reports, and widely circulated videos of recent events—including those in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)—where certain tools and common objects were used to disrupt lawful activity, obstruct law enforcement, or conceal dangerous materials. 2 of 3
Discussion
The City of Santa Monica remains committed to upholding free expression and peaceful assembly while ensuring the safety of protestors, law enforcement personnel, and the public. Based on recent intelligence and operational assessments, the following items are recommended for inclusion in the list of prohibited items during public assemblies and community events:
• Leaf blowers (electric and gas): Protestors have used these devices to disrupt the effectiveness of tear gas, blowing the smoke away from crowds and redirecting it toward officers. Multiple videos during the current unrest in DTLA document this tactic.
• Traffic cones and A-frame barricades: Traffic cones have been intentionally placed over tear gas canisters to trap the gas, then extinguished by pouring water into the opening at the top. Online video tutorials and protest footage confirm this practice.
• Hammers, mallets, or similar tools: These implements are used not only to damage property directly, but also to break up concrete, cinder blocks, or other hard materials to create projectiles. They pose a significant risk of injury and property destruction.
• Frozen liquid (water) bottles: Often used as improvised weapons, frozen water bottles are capable of causing serious injury when thrown, and have been documented in multiple protest-related arrests and incidents.
The inclusion of these items in the prohibited list reflects an evidence-based approach to mitigating known threats and aligns with similar actions taken by other California jurisdictions. These prohibitions focus solely on preventing items that serve no lawful purpose during a peaceful assembly and are instead known to escalate tensions and facilitate violence.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate fiscal impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action.
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Prepared By: Katie Doerr, Deputy City Attorney III
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. ORD-PD-Prohibited Items Community Events