Memo
To: Oliver Chi, City Manager
From: Lana Negrete, Councilmember
Date: January 19, 2026
Re: A request of Councilmember Negrete that the City Council Consider Directing the City Manager to Agendize the ONESAMO People’s Academy and provide an update on the timeline and launch of the program.
On September 30, 2025, the City Council approved directing the City Manager to assess the viability of creating an annual citywide academy. The purpose of this request is to agendize the ONESAMO People’s Academy program to and highlight the objectives, implementation status and provide an opportunity for public awareness and acknowledgement of the program’s role in advancing civic engagement in Santa Monica.
Agendizing this item would allow the Council to formally recognize the program, reinforce its policy intent, and ensure transparency regarding next steps and outcomes associated with the Council’s prior action.
Please place this item on January 27, 2026, agenda for full City Council consideration.
For background, September 30, 2025, 16-Item is included below.
A request of Mayor Negrete that the City Council consider directing the City Manager to assess the viability of establishing a Santa Monica Citizen’s Academy, inclusive of a Youth-inGovernment program component and return to the City Council with options before the end of the year with an overview of how we might implement such a program locally.
During the past year, I had the opportunity to work with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District on a youth-in-government program, which served to provide our local students with an opportunity to learn about how the city actually works.
That particular effort inspired me to think about how a broader and more formalized Santa Monica Citizen’s Academy program could help to strengthen civic literacy, build trust, and create a deeper bench of informed community leaders. Including a youth track as part of such a program would also serve to help cultivate the next generation of civic participants while broadening access to local government.
I have seen other cities throughout our region who have successfully implemented multi-week academies that serve to accomplish the following objectives:
• Demystifying how municipal budgeting, planning, public safety, mobility, libraries, housing/homelessness response, and public works functions. • Better connecting residents directly with staff and facilities.
Memo
• Producing graduates who serve on boards / commissions, volunteer, and constructively engage in public processes.
Accordingly, I would like the City Council to consider my request that the City Manager assess the viability of establishing a Santa Monica Citizen’s Academy, inclusive of a Youth-in-Government component, and return to the City Council with options before the end of the year with an overview of how we might implement such a program locally.