City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 13, 2026
Agenda Item: 16.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Oliver Chi, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Appointments of City Council Voting and Alternate Delegates to Regional Governmental and Membership Organizations
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council appoint Councilmembers to serve as the City Council’s voting and alternate delegates to the five regional governmental and membership organizations:
1. Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG): One (1) Voting Delegate and one (1) Alternate Delegate to the WSCCOG Governing Board to participate in regular meetings (2nd Thursday of every even numbered months from Noon to 1:15pm)
2. Independent Cities Association (ICA): One (1) Voting Delegate and one (1) Alternate Delegate to participate in monthly meetings and plan to attend Winter (February 20-22, 2026 in Santa Barbara) and Summer (July 9-12, 2026 in Indian Wells) Seminars.
3. League of California Cities (CalCities): One (1) Voting Delegate and one (1) Alternate Delegate to attend the 2026 CalCities Annual Conference (September 23-25, 2026 in Anaheim).
4. Los Angeles County Division of CalCities: One (1) representative to attend Los Angeles County Division monthly meetings (1st Thursday of each month from 6pm to 8pm).
5. Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): One (1) Voting Delegate and one (1) Alternate Delegate to attend the SCAG General Assembly (May 7-8, 2026 in Indian Wells).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica participates in several regional governmental and membership organizations that provide forums for intergovernmental coordination, legislative advocacy, and regional planning. Through these organizations, the City 2 of 6
advances priorities related to transportation, housing, public safety, economic development, sustainability, and effective local governance.
Reviewing all annual Council appointments concurrently allows Councilmembers to collectively assess calendars, anticipated time commitments, and availability, and to coordinate assignments in a manner that promotes a more equitable distribution of workload across the Council. This coordinated approach, coupled with the allocation of limited travel funds to offset a portion of the travel expenses associated with appointed service, supports effective representation while acknowledging the time and travel demands of regional participation.
Most organizations require formal City Council designation of voting delegates and alternates, and some appointments trigger state conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements.
Discussion
Staff recommends appointing Councilmembers to serve as the City Council’s voting and alternate delegates to the following regional governmental and membership organizations. A worksheet has been provided to outline each of the organizations and time commitment. (Attachment A)
Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) – Public Agency WSCCOG is a joint powers authority formed to facilitate regional planning and coordination of governmental services among its members, which include the County of Los Angeles and the Cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood.
Each member city appoints one voting delegate and one alternate from its City Council to serve on the WSCCOG Board. The County of LA selects one County Supervisor as the Voting member, and one senior member of the Supervisor’s staff as an Alternate.
Board meetings are in-person and typically held on the second Thursday of evennumbered months from 12:00pm to 1:15pm at alternating locations in member cities. 3 of 6
(Annual Membership Dues paid in 2025-26 = $30,000)
2025 Voting Delegate/Alternate Delegate:
Jesse Zwick/Lana Negrete
Independent Cities Association (ICA) - Membership Association The Independent Cities Association (ICA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1960, comprising nearly 40 Southern California cities and focusing on key regional issues such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and intergovernmental relations. ICA advocates for legislation that enhances local law enforcement, emergency response, and crime prevention. It also supports policies that strengthen local economies through business development, job creation, and redevelopment tools. Additionally, ICA promotes infrastructure improvements by advocating for increased funding for transportation, water projects, and public works while emphasizing local control and efficiency. ICA hosts two annual seminars: the Winter Seminar in January, which addresses public safety, and the Summer Seminar in July, which covers contemporary issues. The Voting Delegate and Alternate must be an Elected Official of the Member City. The Board of Directors meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00pm via Zoom, except months with City Reception (Dec), Winter Seminar (February 20-22, 2026 in Santa Barbara), and Summer Seminar (July 9-12, 2026, in Indian Wells) at 7:00pm via Zoom. (Annual Membership Dues paid in 2025-26 = $4,653.80) FY 2025-26 Budget Allocation: Council approved $1,500 to offset costs to attend the ICA Winter Seminar and $1,500 to offset costs to attend the ICA Summer Seminar. 2025 Voting Delegate/Alternate Delegate:
Lana Negrete/Caroline Torosis
League of California Cities (CalCities) - Membership Association The League of California Cities is a statewide advocacy organization representing municipal governments before the Legislature and state agencies. Designated 4 of 6
delegates cast the City’s official vote during the Annual Business Meeting held in conjunction with the Annual Conference September 23-25, 2026, in Anaheim. (Annual Membership Dues paid in 2025-26 = $27,959)
FY 2025-26 Budget Allocation: Council approved $1,000 to offset costs to attend the Cal Cities Annual Conference.
2025 Voting Delegate/Alternate Delegate:
Lana Negrete/Natalya Zernitskaya
Cal Cities Los Angeles County Division – Membership Association The Los Angeles County Division provides a forum for countywide coordination on legislative and policy issues affecting cities within Los Angeles County. All Councilmembers are invited to attend the LA County Division monthly dinner meetings which typically include a guest speaker and offer a space for collaboration among the representatives of the 88 cities throughout LA County. While we are not required to formally designate a representative, the practice is encouraged to ensure the City remains represented during discussions with neighboring cities on regional issues that take place at the monthly dinner meetings. Instead of formally appointing a delegate, the Council could ask that the Councilmembers serving as the Voting and Alternate Delegates to the League of CA Cities also try to attend the monthly LA County Division meetings that generally take place on the first Thursday of the month at varying locations throughout LA County. (Annual Membership Dues paid in 2025 = $1,412.25) 2025 Representative:
Lana Negrete
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) – Public Agency The Southern California Association of Government (SCAG) is a Joint Powers Authority under California state law, established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. Under federal 5 of 6
law, SCAG is designated as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and under state law as a Regional Transportation Planning Agency and a Council of Governments.
Each member city, except City of Los Angeles, appoints as its official delegate or alternate, a member of its city council who is not a Regional Council representative.
The official representative of the City of Los Angeles is always the mayor. Counties are represented by either the chair or member of the County Board of Supervisors from each member county. Each member from the county or city has one official representative and one alternate in the General Assembly, except the City of Los Angeles, which has three official representatives and three alternates due to its population size. Every City sends at least one person to the General Assembly which meets at least once a year to consider adoption of SCAG’s General Fund budget for the next fiscal year and selects SCAG’s new President, Vice President and Second Vice President for the following year.
Each member city does appoint one voting delegate and one alternate to attend the SCAG General Assembly to select SCAG President, Vice President, Second Vice President, and adopt an annual General Fund Budget. The General Assembly will take place on May 7-8, 2026 in Palm Desert. (Annual Membership Dues paid in 2025-26 = $13,091).
There is no registration fee for Councilmembers to attend the General Assembly.
SCAG covers the cost of travel and one night hotel stay for Voting Delegate to attend the General Assembly.
2025 Voting/Alternate Delegate:
Lana Negrete/Caroline Torosis
For additional context, SCAG’s policy direction is guided by the 86-member official governing board known as the Regional Council but member cities do not make direct appointments to the Regional Council. Those appointments are done through a separate process managed by SCAG. (Attachment B)
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CONFLICT OF INTEREST FILINGS (FORM 700)
Councilmembers appointed to WSCCOG and SCAG are required to file Statements of Economic Interest (Form 700) upon assuming office, annually, and upon leaving office, in addition to filings as City Councilmembers.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Designation of Council delegates does not result in new fiscal impacts. Annual membership dues for the organizations described above are included in the Adopted FY2025-26 Budget.
Prepared By: Josh Kurpies, Council Office and Legislative Affairs Liaison Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Appointments Worksheet
B. SCAG Governance Explainer