Agenda packet, second session — Santa Monica City Council, January 27, 2026

City of Santa Monica
City Council Meeting
AGENDA

CAROLINE TOROSIS
MAYOR

ELLIS RASKIN JESSE ZWICK

COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM

DAN HALL BARRY SNELL

COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER

LANA NEGRETE NATALYA ZERNITSKAYA

COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
OLIVER C. CHI

CITY MANAGER

HEIDI VON TONGELN

INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY

DENISE ANDERSON-WARREN

INTERIM CITY CLERK

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS:
• Treat everyone courteously; • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive
public process, and tools for forging sound decisions
• Hate has no place in Santa Monica. The City opposes
abusive or threatening hate speech, intolerance, or
dehumanization, and supports basic civil respect and
human decency.
• Listen to others respectfully;
• Exercise self-control;
• Give open-minded consideration
to all viewpoints;
• Focus on the issues and avoid
personalizing debate;
Regular meetings are broadcast live on CityTV cable channel 16 and on the internet at santamonica.gov. Cable television re-broadcasts air on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM. The agenda will air on CityTV on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and on Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 1/27/2026 1:21 PM Page 2

RULES OF ORDER FOR THE CONDUCT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (Resolution No.11663(CCS))

WAYS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT
If you are interested in providing public comment at a City Council meeting, there are several ways to participate:
(1) Written public comment. In lieu of oral public comment, the public is strongly encouraged to submit written public comment on agenda items via email to [email protected]. For written public comment submitted by 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting, best efforts shall be made to have them available online for viewing. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments.
(2) Oral public comment.
- In-person: Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding items on the agenda must be present and submit their name and address (optional) to the City Clerk before the public comment section is opened for that item or before the public hearing is opened where one is required by law. Register to speak at the Speaker Kiosk prior to the meeting. - Telephone: Persons wishing to address the Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting. Showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.

Oral public comment from any one individual is limited to a total of 6 minutes per City Council meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes per agenda item if speaking on multiple items. A member of the public may allocate time between items in one-minute increments up to 2 minutes and those requesting to speak on only one agendized item for the meeting may speak for up to 4 minutes on that one item. Except for noticed public hearings or quasi-judicial items, if more than 25 speakers are registered to speak during a public input section, the amount of time shall be reduced to 1 minute per speaker during that section.

Except for the author of the request, public comment on 15-items are limited to 1 minute.

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 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. Information regarding the Levine Act can be found here or you can contact the FPPC.

ORDER OF BUSINESS (may not be changed except by majority vote of the City Council.)

1. General Public Input
(Members of the public may address the City Council
only on items not on the agenda, but within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the City and on Special
Agenda Items.)

2. Special Agenda Items (Commendations and
Proclamations presented).

3. Public Comment for Consent Calendar and Closed
Sessions Only.

4. Consent Calendar (All items considered in one
motion unless removed by a City Councilmember for
discussion. No public comment is permitted on
second readings.)

5. Closed Sessions.

6. Public Comment on remaining Agenda Items

7. Study Session.

8. Continued Items.

9. Administrative Proceedings.

10. Ordinances:
• 1
st Reading
• 2
nd Reading (No public comment is
permitted on second readings.)

11. Staff Administrative Item.

12. Public Hearings.

13. Reports of Boards and Commissions.

14. Resolutions.

15. Written Communications (Other than
Reports of Commission and Officers.)

16. Councilmember Discussion Items.

Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].

Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 1/27/2026 1:21 PM Page 3

AGENDAS

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SPECIAL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250,
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026
MEETING BEGINS AT 5:35 PM (PST) AND
AT TELECONFERENCE SITE AT 6:30 PM (MST)
The Santa Monica City Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. (Pacific Standard Time) in the City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401, and at 6:30 P.M. (Mountain Standard Time) at a teleconference site located at 151 S. Main Street, Ketchum, Idaho, 83340, where a Councilmember will be present and participating via teleconference.

HOW TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT BY TELEPHONE
Persons wishing to address the City Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting.

Donation of time and showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ROLL CALL
(This is a special City Council meeting. Public comment is restricted to only items listed on the agenda.)
City of Santa Monica 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.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 1/27/2026 1:21 PM Page 4

LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCEDURAL

MOTIONS
(Please note that Agenda Items may be reordered during the Council meeting at the discretion of the City Council.)

1. GENERAL PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMENT ON SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS (For regular meetings, public comment is permitted on Special Agenda Items and items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City. State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item. For special meetings, public input is limited to scheduled Special Agenda Items only.)
. Public input under this item will not be heard at this meeting. This is a special meeting and public input is limited to agenda items only.

2. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS
No items

3. PUBLIC INPUT (ITEMS UNDER CONSENT CALENDAR AND CLOSED SESSION ONLY)

4. CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption.)
No items

5. CLOSED SESSIONS

5.A. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1):

City, et al. v. Waymo LLC et al., LASC # 25SMCV06581

5.B. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1):

Santa Monica EV Holdings, LLC, et al. v. City, LASC # 25SMCV06681

5.C. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1):

Waymo LLC v. City, LASC # 25SMCV06541

ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in City of Santa Monica Generated: 1/27/2026 1:21 PM Page 5 alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].

Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to [email protected]. Written comments received from the public by 12 PM on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online. Members of the public who submit written public comment on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.

City Hall and the Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible. If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917- 6626 or via email at [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline. In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon the day of the special Council meeting.

Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall.

Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).

City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 27, 2026
Agenda Item: 5.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Heidi Von Tongeln, Interim City Attorney, City Attorney's Office Subject: Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): City, et al. v. Waymo LLC et al., LASC # 25SMCV06581 Prepared By: Andrew Cabello, Legal Assistant
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. Written Comments

5.A
Packet Pg. 6
1 David Yakobson
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:26 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Waymo suggestion for SM?
From: Jeanne Dodson <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 5:30 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>
Subject: Waymo suggestion for SM?

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Council Members:

As a decades-long resident of Santa Monica, I am concerned about the problems that Waymo has been causing in our city. It's absolutely nuts that our neighbors are subjected to constant noises throughout the night, keeping everyone awake. Even more concerning are the long lines of Waymos that block the alleys and make it impossible for residents to get in and out of their homes and parking garages. That's an untenable situation and a giant safety concern.

I don't pretend to have detailed information about the ins and outs of the situation, but I had a suggestion you might want to consider. It's my understanding that the city owns the parking lots adjacent to Santa Monica Place. There are 2,000 parking places in those lots that sit primarily empty all night long. They are also located away from residentially zoned areas. Why don't we move the overnight Waymo facilities to those empty parking lots, instead of next to homes and apartments? Workers could loudly clean and repair to their hearts' contents and cars could beep and toot all night long without disturbing anyone. And since the lots are owned by the city, this adjustment could be an additional income-maker for our diminished coffers.

Waymo provides an exciting new innovation for Santa Monica, but our residents deserve safe streets and a good night's sleep. I hope you will look into this alternative that could possibly benefit both neighbors' and corporate interests.

Regards,
Jeanne Dodson
(310) 310-4660
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.A.a
Packet Pg. 7
Attachment: Written Comments (7531 : 5.A. Closed Session: Waymo) 2 David Yakobson
From: Judy Kruger <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 2:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Chamber Letter - Waymo
Attachments: Letter re Waymo.pdf

EXTERNAL
For submission please.

Thank you,
Judy
Judy Kruger
CEO & President
213-703-1340
[email protected]
smchamber.com
From: Judy Kruger <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 1:22 PM
To: Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Oliver Chi <[email protected]>
Cc: Judy Kruger <[email protected]>; Jing Yeo <[email protected]>; Anuj Gupta <[email protected]>
Subject: Chamber Letter - Waymo
Good Afternoon Mayor Torosis and Councilmembers:

Please see attached advocacy letter regarding chamber member, Waymo.

Thank you in advance,
Judy
Judy Kruger
CEO & President
213-703-1340
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.A.a
Packet Pg. 8
Attachment: Written Comments (7531 : 5.A. Closed Session: Waymo) 3 [email protected]
smchamber.com
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.A.a
Packet Pg. 9
Attachment: Written Comments (7531 : 5.A. Closed Session: Waymo) January 21, 2026
City Council
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: Support for speedy resolution
Dear Mayor Torosis and City Councilmembers:

On behalf of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, we are writing to request a timely resolution to issues around business with Waymo and its operations in Santa Monica.

The Chamber and its member businesses support innovative technology and mobility companies like Waymo that provide clean reliable transportation for our community. Offering this type of unique and autonomous transportation sets the City of Santa Monica apart from other cities while supporting tourism and business attraction.

Furthermore, Waymo's innovative service perfectly aligns with the City’s planned objective to “activate economic opportunity” by providing Santa Monicans and visitors with an exciting and safe transportation mode to frequent our local restaurants, hotels, and entertainment.

As one of the first neighborhoods that Waymo launched in Los Angeles, Santa Monica has greatly benefited from the foot traffic Waymo has helped increase in our once-lively corridors. In 2025, alone, Waymo has served nearly 1 million fully autonomous trips to customers specifically in the Santa Monica service area.

For these reasons, the Chamber requests that City Council find an expedient path forward to resolve its dispute with Waymo.

Respectfully Submitted,

Judy Kruger
President & CEO
Board Executives
Chair
Paula Larmore
Harding, Larmore,
Kutcher & Kozal LLP
Past Chair
Charlie LopezQuintana
ETC Hotels
Treasurer
Addie VanGessel
Tavern on Main
Vice-Chair
Dustin Peterson
Fairmont Miramar
Hotel & Bungalows
Vice-Chair
Jeremy Rawitch
RAND
Vice-Chair
Vee Gomez
Beach Yoga SoCal
Vice-Chair
Melissa Cohen
Boston Properties
Vice-Chair
Elias Garcia
Kaiser Permanente
Directors
Eddie Guerboian
Jeweler
Neil Carrey
Attorney
Elnie Vannatim
Cedars-Sinai
Gina Gribow
EKA Public Affairs
Directors
Jessica Rincon
Sanbourne
Lilit Avagyan
US Bank
Jenn Verma
Lionsgate
Ben Marcus
UP Partners
Yvette Sims
Hair by Yvette
Cheree
Michael Altchule
UCLA Health
Shanna Johnson
Regent
Shari Davis
Santa Monica
College
Wesly Hernandez
SNAP Inc.

Berta Negari
XYZ Rent
Garrett Childers
SM Fire 1109
Doreen Lahav
Prism Places
Kara Block
DHF Architects
Carlos Madrid

SMPD POA
Jared Amerson
Providence Saint
John’s
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-A (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.A.a
Packet Pg. 10
Attachment: Written Comments (7531 : 5.A. Closed Session: Waymo) City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 27, 2026
Agenda Item: 5.C
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Heidi Von Tongeln, Interim City Attorney, City Attorney's Office Subject: Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1): Waymo LLC v. City, LASC # 25SMCV06541
Prepared By: Andrew Cabello, Legal Assistant
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. Written Comments

5.C
Packet Pg. 11
1 David Yakobson
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:26 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Waymo suggestion for SM?
From: Jeanne Dodson <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 5:30 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>
Subject: Waymo suggestion for SM?

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Council Members:

Regards,
Jeanne Dodson
(310) 310-4660
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.C.a
Packet Pg. 12
Attachment: Written Comments (7532 : 5.C. Closed Session: Waymo) 2 David Yakobson
From: Judy Kruger <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 2:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Chamber Letter - Waymo
Attachments: Letter re Waymo.pdf

EXTERNAL
For submission please.

Please see attached advocacy letter regarding chamber member, Waymo.

Thank you in advance,
Judy
Judy Kruger
CEO & President
213-703-1340
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.C.a
Packet Pg. 13
Attachment: Written Comments (7532 : 5.C. Closed Session: Waymo) 3 [email protected]
smchamber.com
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.C.a
Packet Pg. 14
Attachment: Written Comments (7532 : 5.C. Closed Session: Waymo) January 21, 2026
City Council
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: Support for speedy resolution
Dear Mayor Torosis and City Councilmembers:

On behalf of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, we are writing to request a timely resolution to issues around business with Waymo and its operations in Santa Monica.

For these reasons, the Chamber requests that City Council find an expedient path forward to resolve its dispute with Waymo.

Respectfully Submitted,

Berta Negari
XYZ Rent
Garrett Childers
SM Fire 1109
Doreen Lahav
Prism Places
Kara Block
DHF Architects
Carlos Madrid

SMPD POA
Jared Amerson
Providence Saint
John’s
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026
Item 5-C (Special)
January 27, 2026

5.C.a
Packet Pg. 15
Attachment: Written Comments (7532 : 5.C. Closed Session: Waymo)

Santa Monica City CouncilJanuary 27, 2026

Santa Monica City Council
January 27, 2026