CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Negrete at 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, and at a teleconference location in Miami, FL.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Lana Negrete
Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya (arrived remotely at 5:33 p.m.)
Present: Councilmember Jesse Zwick
Also Present: City Manager Oliver Chi
Interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln
City Clerk Nikima S. Newsome
CONVENE/PLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:35 p.m., With all members present except Councilmember Zwick. Councilmember Snell led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With
ACCOUNTABILITY
(LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for 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 Snell.
LEVINE ACT Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a DISCLOSURE permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including 1 November 18, 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 from any items on the agenda pursuant to the Levine Act.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR No members of the public commented on Closed Session items.
CLOSED SESSION ONLY:
CLOSED SESSIONS On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 10:00 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 12:21 a.m., with all members present except (Councilmember Hall was Councilmembers Zernitskaya and Zwick, to report the following:
excused from closed session
at 12:03 a.m.) Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): People of the State of California et al. v. Saeed Farzam, et (Councilmember Zernitskaya al., LASC # 24SMCV02305
was excused from closed
session at 12:20 a.m.) The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
5.B. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): Pavilions Motel Inc., et al. v. City of Santa Monica, et al., 2:25-cv-05523-FLA-JC (C.D. Cal)
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council special meeting adjourned at 12:26 a.m. in memory of Barnabe Cano and members of the transgender community who lost their lives due to transphobia and hate.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Muti answer Kamalenete
He Wikima S. Newsome Lana Negrete
City Clerk Mayor
2 November 18, 2025