CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MARCH 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, March 10, 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
Mayor Caroline Torosis
Mayor Pro Tern Jesse Zwick (arrived at 6:42 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 all members present except Mayor Pro Tern Zwick. Councilmember Zernitskaya 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 Raskin.
No Councilmembers made disclosures regarding the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308).
PUBLIC INPUT FOR No members of the public commented on Closed Session items for the CLOSED SESSION ONLY: special meeting.
CLOSED SESSIONS
(Mayor Pro Tern Zwick
arrived at 6:42 p.m.)
On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed at 6:40 p.m., to consider Closed Sessions and returned at 8:24 p.m., with all members present, to report the following:
5.A. Conference with legal counsel - potential initiation of litigation - Gov. Code§ 54956.9(d)(4)-1 case
The City Attorney advised this matter was heard and direction was given by a vote of 7 to O to initiate litigation.
1 March 10, 2026
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ADJOURNMENT
5.B. Conference with real estate negotiator - Gov. Code § 54956.8; property: 2640 Main Street, Santa Monica, California; City negotiator:
Oliver Chi, City Manager; owner of record: City of Santa Monica; persons to be negotiated with Adir Tai and Garner Gelson, The Santamonican Club, LLC, a California corporation d.b.a.
Santamonican; under negotiation: price and terms of payment for lease The City Attorney advised this matter was heard with no reportable action taken.
5.C. Public employee appointment - Gov. Code§ 54957(b): consider public employee appointment; title: City Attorney; Gov. Code § 54957.6: conference with labor negotiator; City negotiator: Mayor/City Manager; unrepresented employee: City Attorney
The Mayor advised this matter was heard and Interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln accepted the Council's offer. The City Attorney's contract will be agendized for the March 24, 2026 Council meeting with an effective date of March 25.
On order of the Mayor, the City Council special meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
ATTEST:
Maria Dacanay-Wisner
Assistant City Clerk
2 APPROVED:
Ir DocuSigned by:
L�41�
Caroline Torosis
Mayor
March 10, 2026
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