City of Santa Monica
City Council Meeting
AGENDA
CAROLINE TOROSIS
MAYOR
ELLIS RASKIN JESSE ZWICK
COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM
DAN HALL BARRY SNELL
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
LANA NEGRETE NATALYA ZERNITSKAYA
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
OLIVER C. CHI
CITY MANAGER
HEIDI VON TONGELN
INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY
DENISE ANDERSON-WARREN
INTERIM CITY CLERK
STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS:
• Treat everyone courteously; • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive
public process, and tools for forging sound decisions
• Hate has no place in Santa Monica. The City opposes
abusive or threatening hate speech, intolerance, or
dehumanization, and supports basic civil respect and
human decency.
• Listen to others respectfully;
• Exercise self-control;
• Give open-minded consideration
to all viewpoints;
• Focus on the issues and avoid
personalizing debate;
Regular meetings are broadcast live on CityTV cable channel 16 and on the internet at santamonica.gov. Cable television re-broadcasts air on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM. The agenda will air on CityTV on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and on Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 3/24/2026 12:38 PM Page 2
RULES OF ORDER FOR THE CONDUCT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (Resolution No.11663(CCS))
WAYS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT
If you are interested in providing public comment at a City Council meeting, there are several ways to participate:
(1) Written public comment. In lieu of oral public comment, the public is strongly encouraged to submit written public comment on agenda items via email to [email protected]. For written public comment submitted by 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting, best efforts shall be made to have them available online for viewing. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments.
(2) Oral public comment.
- In-person: Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding items on the agenda must be present and submit their name and address (optional) to the City Clerk before the public comment section is opened for that item or before the public hearing is opened where one is required by law. Register to speak at the Speaker Kiosk prior to the meeting. - Telephone: Persons wishing to address the Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting. Showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.
Oral public comment from any one individual is limited to a total of 6 minutes per City Council meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes per agenda item if speaking on multiple items. A member of the public may allocate time between items in one-minute increments up to 2 minutes and those requesting to speak on only one agendized item for the meeting may speak for up to 4 minutes on that one item. Except for noticed public hearings or quasi-judicial items, if more than 25 speakers are registered to speak during a public input section, the amount of time shall be reduced to 1 minute per speaker during that section.
Except for the author of the request, public comment on 15-items are limited to 1 minute.
Levine Act Disclosure. Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official. Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution; the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made. Information regarding the Levine Act can be found here or you can contact the FPPC.
ORDER OF BUSINESS (may not be changed except by majority vote of the City Council.)
1. General Public Input
(Members of the public may address the City Council
only on items not on the agenda, but within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the City and on Special
Agenda Items.)
2. Special Agenda Items (Commendations and
Proclamations presented).
3. Public Comment for Consent Calendar and Closed
Sessions Only.
4. Consent Calendar (All items considered in one
motion unless removed by a City Councilmember for
discussion. No public comment is permitted on
second readings.)
5. Closed Sessions.
6. Public Comment on remaining Agenda Items
7. Study Session.
8. Continued Items.
9. Administrative Proceedings.
10. Ordinances:
• 1
st Reading
• 2
nd Reading (No public comment is
permitted on second readings.)
11. Staff Administrative Item.
12. Public Hearings.
13. Reports of Boards and Commissions.
14. Resolutions.
15. Written Communications (Other than
Reports of Commission and Officers.)
16. Councilmember Discussion Items.
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].
Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 3/24/2026 12:38 PM Page 3
AGENDAS
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250,
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026
MEETING BEGINS AT 5:35 PM
HOW TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT BY TELEPHONE
Persons wishing to address the City Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting.
Donation of time and showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ROLL CALL
(This is a special City Council meeting. Public comment is restricted to only items listed on the agenda.)
City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Land Acknowledgement) The City of Santa Monica is located on the land of Tovangaar. With great respect, the City acknowledges the Gabrieleño/Tongva as the First People of this ancestral and unceded territory of Kuruvungna, a village that we know as Santa Monica. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Gabrieleño descendants who are part of the Gabrieleño /Tongva tribes.
We recognize that these peoples are still here, and as settlers and kuyam (guests), we recognize our responsibility and obligation to care for their land in partnership with them.
The City of Santa Monica commits to work in partnership with the Gabrieleño/Tongva people to uplift their voices and visibility on their ancestral land.
LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS / PROCEDURAL
MOTIONS
(Please note that Agenda Items may be reordered during the Council meeting at the discretion of the City Council.)
City of Santa Monica Generated: 3/24/2026 12:38 PM Page 4
1. GENERAL PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMENT ON SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS (For regular meetings, public comment is permitted on Special Agenda Items and items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City. State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item. For special meetings, public input is limited to scheduled Special Agenda Items only.)
. Public input under this item will not be heard at this meeting. This is a special meeting and public input is limited to agenda items only.
2. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS
No items
3. PUBLIC INPUT (ITEMS UNDER CONSENT CALENDAR AND CLOSED SESSION ONLY)
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption.)
No items
5. CLOSED SESSIONS
No items
CITY MANAGER REPORT
TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYOR'S HIGHLIGHT
6. PUBLIC INPUT ON REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS
. Public Input for 12-Items will be heard at the time when the Public Hearing is called.
7. STUDY SESSION
No items
8. CONTINUED ITEMS
City of Santa Monica Generated: 3/24/2026 12:38 PM Page 5 No items
9. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
No items
10. ORDINANCES
(Public comment is permitted on ordinances for introduction and first reading. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents.)
No items
11. STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
No items
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items
13. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
No items
14. RESOLUTIONS
No items
15. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
No items
16. COUNCILMEMBER DISCUSSION ITEMS
16.A. Request of Mayor Torosis, Councilmember Hall and Councilmember Raskin to Direct Staff to Review and Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance
ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].
Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to [email protected]. Written comments received from the public by 12 PM City of Santa Monica Generated: 3/24/2026 12:38 PM Page 6 on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online. Members of the public who submit written public comment on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.
City Hall and the Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible. If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917- 6626 or via email at [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline. In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon the day of the special Council meeting.
Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.
Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall.
Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 24, 2026
Agenda Item: 16.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Oliver Chi, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Request of Mayor Torosis, Councilmember Hall and Councilmember Raskin to Direct Staff to Review and Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance
Prepared By: Sergio Ramirez, Chief of Staff
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Special Meeting Request - Mayor Torosis - Neighborhood Association Motion (March 24, 2026)
B. Written Comments
16.A
Packet Pg. 7
16 Item
Request of Mayor Torosis, Councilmember Hall and Councilmember Raskin to Direct Staff to Review and Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance
We, therefore, move that the City Council direct staff to:
1. Review the unanimous Council direction from September 30, 2025 regarding the Neighborhood Organization Grant Program, confirming that public funds not be used to take positions on political candidates;
2. Ensure that the program application, guidelines, and related materials are fully consistent with Council direction;
3. Refine and clarify program guidance, including through updated application materials and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), to explicitly state that:
a. Neighborhood organizations may conduct education and outreach related to ballot measures, provided such activities are informational in nature; b. The use of funds for communications, including mailers, to inform members about meetings, events, and programming is permissible; c. Organizations are required to submit a proposed annual budget at the beginning of the grant period, consistent with prior practice, and are not required to obtain pre-approval for each individual expenditure; d. Neighborhood organizations may host meetings between their members and individuals running for office, provided such activities are conducted in a neutral and information-sharing manner;
e. Any requests for demographic information from participating organizations or their members are strictly voluntary;
4. Confirm that Neighborhood Organizations may form or operate separate affiliated entities to perform political activities;
5. Clarify the City Council's intent that if a Neighborhood Association forms or operates an affiliated entity to exercise their First Amendment right to endorse political candidates, that entity cannot receive taxpayer resources or participate in the City’s Neighborhood Organization Grant Program;
6. Reaffirm that Neighborhood Organizations participating in the City’s grant program should be entities that are engaged in the performance of civic community building functions;
16.A.a
Packet Pg. 8
Attachment: Special Meeting Request - Mayor Torosis - Neighborhood Association Motion (March 24, 2026) (7630 : Clarify Neighborhood 16 Item
7. Confirm that only those groups that qualify, apply, and are identified as an official Neighborhood Organization will be listed by the City as an official participant of the City’s Neighborhood Association Grant Program;
8. Further, confirm that elected officials and staff are not barred from meeting with groups who choose to endorse political candidates in their official capacity as representatives of the City to give briefings or answer questions;
9. Return with any additional recommendations necessary to ensure clarity, accessibility, and consistency in program implementation; and
10.Following the release of updated application materials and FAQs, re-open the application period for the 2025–26 Neighborhood Organization Grant Program to allow interested organizations to apply in light of the clarified guidance.
16.A.a
Packet Pg. 9
Attachment: Special Meeting Request - Mayor Torosis - Neighborhood Association Motion (March 24, 2026) (7630 : Clarify Neighborhood 1 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 9:49 AM
To: Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oliver Chi; Sergio Ramirez
Subject: City Council Mtg. 3/24/26 - Special Meeting to Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance (sorry, I couldn't find an item number.)
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and City Councilmembers,
Thank-you for bringing this issue back for discussion. The process has been difficult from the initial resolution to eliminate city grants, to the support by Chief Batista to provide us budget, then to the study session on September 30, 2025, the initial application which did not reflect, in my opinion, what was said in the study session or a subsequent meeting with Mr. Chi and Mr. Ramirez, updated applications which did not change any significant wording to a 24 hour notice meeting for further clarification. The process has been opaque at best.
I, as Wilmont chair, I am only a steward of a more than 35-year-old organization that was initiated by the city to activate and support resident input. Our board decided to submit the application, which I delivered last Thursday to City Hall in person, because the continuation of the organization is important based on past and future history of resident input to government regarding the impact of their actions or non-actions on our neighborhood. We encourage having a more reliable dialogue with management and the council. That is what some would call integrity.
I would like clarification in the meeting tonight of:
Does 3b. "The use of funds for communications, including mailers, to inform members about meetings, events and programming is permissible". I appreciate the overturn of the "postcard" ban since this is one of the ways we notify members of our annual meeting. Our question is does that also allow us to reach out to residents to solicit membership in Wilmont to ensure we get as many voices involved with our organization as we can?
Does 3e. mean that we can decided as an organization, not to collect demographic information from our members, or do you still look to require individual demographic information.
We would appreciate clarification on these items.
Many thanks,
Elizabeth VanDenburgh
Wilmont Chair
Item 16-A
March 24, 2026 (Special Meeting)
Item 16-A
March 24, 2026 (Special Meeting)
16.A.b
Packet Pg. 10
Attachment: Written Comments (7630 : Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance)