1 January 6, 2026
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6, 2026
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Torosis at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Caroline Torosis
Councilmember Lana Negrete
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick
Also Present: City Manager Oliver Chi
Interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln
Assistant City Clerk Maria Dacanay-Wisner
CONVENE/PLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor Pro Tem Zwick absent. Councilmember Zernitskaya led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
(LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
The City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement) was read into the record by Councilmember Negrete.
LEVINE ACT
DISCLOSURE
No Councilmembers made disclosures regarding the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308).
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION ONLY:
No members of the public commented on the Closed Session item.
CLOSED SESSIONS On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 5:32 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 7:15 p.m., with Mayor Pro Tem Zwick absent, to report the following:
5.A. Consider appointment of unrepresented employee – Gov. Code § 54957(b); City negotiator: Mayor/City Manager; Unrepresented employee: City Clerk/Interim City Clerk; conference with labor negotiator - Gov. Code § 54957.6; City negotiator: Mayor/City Manager; Unrepresented employee: City Clerk/Interim City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: D6255081-1CE8-4C28-A35F-245CC691EFBD 2 January 6, 2026
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard, a candidate was selected and the City Manager will extend an offer.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Maria Dacanay-Wisner Caroline Torosis
Assistant City Clerk Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: D6255081-1CE8-4C28-A35F-245CC691EFBD