City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 27, 2026
Agenda Item: 16.A
1 of 4
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Oliver Chi, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Selection of Councilmembers to Participate in SCAG Regional Council District 41 Special Election
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Select five of its seven Councilmembers available to attend the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) Board Meeting to participate in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Council District 41 Special Election by each casting one of the City’s five authorized votes;
2. Designate a sixth Councilmember as an alternate, authorized to cast a vote in the event that one of the initially selected five Councilmembers is unable to cast a vote;
3. Authorize the seventh Councilmember to cast a vote only if fewer than five votes have been cast on behalf of the City after all other authorized Councilmembers present have cast their votes; and
4. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Executive Summary
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the region’s metropolitan planning organization and plays a central role in shaping transportation funding, housing planning, and other regional policy decisions. Santa Monica participates in SCAG governance through Regional Council District 41, a shared district with Beverly Hills, Culver City, and West Hollywood.
A vacancy has been created on the SCAG Regional Council following the recent 2 of 4
resignation of Councilmember Jesse Zwick. As a result, SCAG will conduct a special election on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 12:00 noon, to fill the District 41 seat. The election will take place during the WSCCOG Board Meeting at Santa Monica’s Main Branch Library, Multipurpose Room.
Under SCAG election procedures, each member city may cast up to five votes, with one vote per councilmember. Because Santa Monica has seven councilmembers, the City must designate which members are authorized to cast votes on its behalf. This item is before Council now to establish a clear and orderly voting authorization process in advance of the election.
Staff recommends that Council designate five councilmembers to cast votes, identify a sixth as an alternate, and authorize the seventh to vote only if necessary to ensure all five votes are cast. This structure ensures full City participation while preventing uncertainty or procedural disputes at the election site.
Background
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is a council of governments that brings together cities, counties, and tribal governments to address regional issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. SCAG’s primary governing body is the Regional Council, which sets policy direction, adopts regional plans, and appoints members to standing committees.
The Regional Council meets monthly, and members commonly serve on one or more committees addressing transportation, housing, sustainability, and governance matters.
Participation generally includes attendance at the Regional Council meeting and committee meetings, with the combined time commitment typically occupying approximately half a day each month.
Santa Monica is represented on the Regional Council through District 41, which includes Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood. When a vacancy occurs, SCAG conducts a special election among the member cities within the 3 of 4
district.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
March 11, 2025 City Council selected five Councilmembers to cast votes in the election to fill the seat of Regional Council District 41 Director.
Discussion
The resignation of Councilmember Jesse Zwick has created a vacancy on the SCAG Regional Council, requiring a Regional Council District 41 Special Election. SCAG is expected to issue a formal Call for Candidates, with the election scheduled for February 12, 2026, at 12:00 noon, during the WSCCOG Board Meeting.
Under SCAG rules for multi-city districts, each member city may cast up to five votes, with one vote per councilmember. While Santa Monica has seven councilmembers, only five votes may be cast on the City’s behalf. Accordingly, Council action is required to designate voting authority.
In prior elections, last-minute schedule changes have occasionally resulted in uncertainty regarding which councilmembers are authorized to vote, creating avoidable confusion leading up to and at the election site. The recommended approach establishes a vote-based authorization framework, rather than a rigid attendance-based hierarchy.
By authorizing the seventh councilmember to cast a vote only if fewer than five votes have been cast after all other authorized members present have voted, the City ensures it can exercise its full voting allotment while maintaining a clear, orderly, and transparent process.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There are no direct fiscal impacts associated with the recommended action.
Participation in the SCAG Regional Council District 41 Special Election does not require 4 of 4
additional budget appropriations.
Prepared By: Josh Kurpies, Council Office and Legislative Affairs Liaison Approved Forwarded to Council