CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 2026
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Torosis at 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present:
Also Present:
CONVENE/PLEDGE
STATEMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
(LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
LEVINE ACT
DISCLOSURE (GC 84308)
AGENDA
MANAGEMENT
Mayor Caroline Torosis
Mayor Pro Tern Jesse Zwick (arrived at 5:42 p.m.)
Councilmember Lana Negrete
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
City Manager Oliver Chi
Interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln
Assistant City Clerk Maria Dacanay-Wisner
On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:35 p.m. to hear the 5:30 p.m. regular meeting and the 5:35 p.m. concurrently, with Mayor Pro Tern Zwick absent. Councilmember Snell led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement) was read into the record by Councilmember Zernitskaya.
No Councilmembers made disclosures regarding the Levine Act.
Motion by Mavor Torosis. seconded by Councilmember Hall to: approve staff's request to pull items 4.C. and 11.B.; hear comments on item 16.1. (ONESAMO People's Academy) along with item I (General Public Input); present the Mayor's Highlight after item I; combine the City Manager's Report with item 16.I. and hear both items after Item 2 (Special Agenda Items); hear item 12.A. after the Consent Calendar and give priority to hear students speaking on items 11.C. and 11.D. upon arrival. The motion passed with the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Raskin, Hall, Negrete, Mayor Torosis
None
January 27, 2026
(Councilmember Zwick
arrived at 5:42 p.m.)
PUBLIC INPUT FOR
CLOSED SESSION ONLY:
CLOSED SESSIONS
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tern Zwick
Motion by Councilmember Negrete. seconded bv Councilmember Zernitskaya to recess from Closed Session at 8:30 p.m. and continue with Closed Session after the public session. The motion passed with the following roll call vote:
A YES: Councilmembers Negrete, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya, Mayor Pro Tern Zwick, Mayor Torosis
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Members of the public Denise Barton and Tom Casparian commented on Closed Session items.
On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 7:22 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 8:30 p.m., with all members present to report the following:
5.A. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(l): City, et al. v. Waymo LLC et al., LASC # 25SMCV06581 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)(l): Santa Monica EV Holdings, LLC, et al. v. City, LASC # 25SMCV06681
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
5.C. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(l): Waymo LLC v. City, LASC # 25SMCV06541
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
2 January 27, 2026
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the special City Council meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. and the regular City Council continued.
ATTEST:
:i-D��a-?
Assistant City Clerk
3 APPROVED:
Caroline Torosis
Mayor
January 27, 2026