CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 10, 2026
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Torosis at 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Caroline Torosis
Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick (arrived at 5:39 p.m.)
Councilmember Lana Negrete
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
Also Present: City Manager Oliver Chi
Interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongel
Interim City Clerk Denise Anderson- Warre
CONVENE/PLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:35 p.m., with all members present except Mayor Pro Tem Zwick. Councilmember Snell led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY was read
(LAND Zernitskaya.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
LEVINE ACT No Councilmembers made disclosures regarding the Levine Act (Govt Code DISCLOSURE Section 84308).
PUBLIC INPUT FOR There were no members of the public present to comment on Closed Session CLOSED SESSION ONLY: items.
Mayor Pro Tem Zwick
arrived at 5:39 p.m.
CLOSED SESSIONS On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 7:30 p.m., to consider Mayor Pro Tem Zwick Closed Sessions and returned at 10:52 p.m., with all members, except excused at 9:40 p.m. Councilmember Zernitskaya and Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, to report the following:
Councilmember Zernitskaya 5.A. Conference with legal counsel - potential initiation of litigation - excused at 10:16 p.m. Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(4) - 1 case 1 February 10, 2026
The City Attorney reported that Council direction was given by a vote of 7- 0, to initiate litigation challenging terms of a fiscal year 2025 safer outcomes enhancing deescalation and crisis response training for law enforcement support for law enforcement agencies grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community oriented policing services to the Sant Monica Police Department in October 2025 in the amount equal to $487,60( to implement and expand deescalation training programs.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council special meeting adjourned at 10:54 ATTEST: APPROVED:
denise Anders ta Calibi
Denise Anderson-Warren Caroline Torosis
Interim City Clerk Mayor
2 February 10, 2026