1 City Council Meeting: May 26, 2026 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA ADOPTING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL CODE WAIVERS DURING THE 2028 SUMMER OLYMPICS AND THE PARALYMPIC GAMES FOR THE SWISS FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS’ (“FDFA”, COLLECTIVELY WITH SWITZERLAND, OR “LICENSEE”) USE OF THE CAMERA OBSCURA BUILDING WHEREAS, over the next several years, the Los Angeles region will become a global stage for some of the world’s most watched sporting and cultural events, drawing millions of visitors, international media attention, and significant economic activity across the region; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica’s coastline, public spaces, and established reputation as a world-class destination create a rare opportunity for the City to participate and help shape this regional movement on the global stage; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica is preparing to host several high-profile sporting and cultural events that are expected to draw significant regional, national, and international attention; and
WHEREAS, event activations include hosting international delegations, brands, and production agencies expressing interest in temporary installations, hospitality houses, and broadcast centers; and
WHEREAS, these events will bring global audiences, international exposure, cultural festivals, and hospitality activations throughout the region; and 2 WHEREAS, these events will result in increased foot traffic and visitor activity for the Camera Obscura building, Annenberg Beach House, Santa Monica State Beach, Pier, Promenade, and other retail and public spaces, and in economic benefits for nearby hotels, restaurants, and small business; and
WHEREAS, with its iconic beachfront, strong transit connectivity, and established global reputation, Santa Monica is well positioned to engage in regional coordination and pursue strategic partnerships that maximize the benefits of this heightened period of visibility; and
WHEREAS, the upcoming major event cycle will include the 2028 Summer Olympics and the Paralympic Games; and
WHEREAS, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (“FDFA”, collectively with Switzerland, or “Licensee”) is entering a license agreement (“License Agreement”) with the City of Santa Monica for Licensee’s use of certain designated areas at the Camera Obscura building, including an optional expansion area if exercised by the Licensee, (collectively, the “License Area”), located at 1450 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90401 during the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games for operation of Switzerland’s hospitality, media, and event venue in line with the Olympic-related programming (collectively, the “Event”); WHEREAS the Event will include outdoor activation consistent with Santa Monica’s coastal setting and urban environment, with regional draw, coordinated site planning, and temporary infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Event will build on Santa Monica’s cultural identity and create an event that attracts local, regional, national and international visitors, generates media 3 interest and awareness, and contributes to the local economy; and WHEREAS, Licensee is in coordination with City staff to ensure that public safety, mobility, sound mitigation, accessibility, sustainability, and coastal compliance are addressed at the Event; and
WHEREAS, the Event is anticipated to support Santa Monica’s identity as a cultural, recreational and entertainment destination and to generate economic activity for hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses; and WHEREAS, in addition to the Event itself, Licensee has identified a range of community benefits that are expressly incorporated into the License Agreement, including free or low cost community events, support for City events such as Promenade activations and open street events, and a Santa-Monica table/film/information booth within the License Area during the Event; and WHEREAS, the Event is anticipated to draw visitors to patronize Santa Monica hotels, restaurants, retailers, service providers, artists, and other businesses; and WHEREAS, the License Agreement includes provisions addressing community engagement, public safety, mobility, sound mitigation, sustainability, accessibility, local business coordination, and post-event restoration; and
WHEREAS, the media attention and broadcasts of the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games from or relating to the Event will result in international coverage of Santa Monica, at no cost to the City, that will help generate visitors and tourism to the City; and
WHEREAS, with this Event, the City’s objective is to secure a well-managed activation that supports local economic development while protecting public assets and 4 minimizing impacts; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager’s Office Major Events Division and a cross-departmental working group have been planning for the operational, logistical, and community impacts associated with these large-scale activations in the City over the next several years; and
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2026, City Council introduced for first reading, and adopted on second reading on April 28, 2026, an ordinance (”Major Special Events Ordinance”) to, among other things, amend Santa Monica Municipal Code Section
4.68.210, which allows Council, by resolution, to exempt certain special events from discrete Municipal Code requirements, or to authorize the City Manager to make exemptions, if the following findings are met:
(1) Strict application of the Municipal Code would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, which would frustrate the purposes of the event; (2) The requested exemption is limited to the event period and is otherwise temporary in nature; (3) The premises at which the event will be held will be restored to the original conditions in place prior to the requested exemption; (4) The proposed event is of extraordinary scope and will provide a significant benefit to the community, including, but not limited to, events that (a) generate significant indirect economic and community benefits; (b) attract both residents and visitors; and (c) promote Santa Monica on a regional, national, and global stage; and (5) The permittee or licensee has agreed to implement best practices and provide adequate procedures to minimize and respond to event impacts; and WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Event, targeted exemptions to the Santa Monica Municipal Code are required to better accommodate this major special event; 5 and
WHEREAS, the exemptions are intended to provide operational flexibility and allow the City to support the Event; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has identified this impactful upcoming event as extraordinary or unique in scope, scale, or benefit, and the Council deems the below ordinance exemptions necessary to facilitate these major events.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby exempts the Event from provisions of the Santa Monica Municipal Code as set forth below in this Section 1 based upon the following findings:
(A) Strict application of the Santa Monica Municipal Code would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, which would frustrate the purposes of the Event.
i. Provisions In Santa Monica Municipal Section 4.08.340 (Closing Hours For Amusement and Entertainment Places)
The Event may include broadcasts, interviews, celebrations, ceremonies, events, meals and entertainment in the License Area 24-hours per day due to the international interest in the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games and the staggered times zones throughout the world and most specifically the 9 hour time difference between Santa Monica and Switzerland, and would simply not be feasible to successfully host without a temporary waiver of the City’s standard operating hours limitations for entertainment.
6 ii. Provisions In Santa Monica Municipal Section 4.12.110 (Restrictions on demolition, excavation, grading, spray painting, construction, maintenance or repair of buildings)
The Event is expected to include construction of temporary structures.
Timeline/schedule for load in, load out and assembly activities will require working outside of normal construction hours established in SMMC Section 4.12.110. Confining this work to occur only within standard construction hours would significantly extend the overall schedule for load in, load out and assembly.
iii. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Chapter 4.12, Noise, including, but not limited to, Sections 4.12.025, 4.12.030, 4.12.040, 4.12.050,
4.12.060, 4.12.080,4.12.100, 4.12.105, 4.12.110
The Event will include live music, other live events, and video broadcasts of 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and Olympic-related events to outdoor fans, along with operations and events in the License Area 24-hours per day due to the international interest in the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games and the various times zones throughout the world and the 9 hour time difference between Santa Monica and Switzerland, and it would simply not be feasible to successfully host the Event without a temporary waiver of the City’s existing noise provisions.
Licensee will be required to implement audio practices to limit the impacts of noise outside the License Area, including: directing speakers inward towards Event attendees.
iv. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapters 6.32, Solicitation and Peddling, 6.36, Vending, and 6.112 Street Performers 7 The Event is expected to include ticket sales for various events and admittance into the License Area as well as sales of merchandise in the License Area, including on the beach, and thus a temporary waiver of the City’s provisions restricting merchandise sales, solicitation and peddling, and ticket sales in beach areas and parks is needed.
v. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapters 4.68, Community Event, and Chapter 9.61, Signs, including but not limited to Sections
4.68.130, 9.61.140, and 9.61.230
In order to generate and ensure key sponsor support, Licensee will need to install temporary branding, advertising and other signage at the Event venue and possibly elsewhere, including wayfinding, in excess of signage otherwise allowed under the City Sign Code.
(B) The premises at which the Event will be held will be restored to the original conditions in place prior to the requested exemption.
Pursuant to the License Agreement between Licensee and the City, Licensee shall restore the premises and return them to the City in the same condition in which they were prior to Licensee’s use of the premises, including full clean-up, removal of all litter, equipment and personal property, etc.
(C) The requested exemptions are limited to the event period and are otherwise temporary in nature.
The Event is a short-term event scheduled to take place between June 14, 2028, to September 21, 2028 (or subject to modified dates centered around the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games) as a Switzerland Hospitality House. 8 (D) The proposed event is of extraordinary scope and will provide a significant benefit to the community.
The Event will attract local and regional residents, national visitors and international visitors alike, will generate significant direct and indirect economic and community benefits, and will promote the City of Santa Monica on a national and global stage.
Event Background
Licensee will utilize the Camera Obscura building during the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games for the Event.
Proposed Impact Metrics
The City of Santa Monica will experience the following types of economic benefits from the Event:
1. General Economic Benefits
Licensee will pay the City a license fee of $300,000 for use of the License Area and, if Licensee exercises its option to activate the Optional Expansion Area, Licensee will pay the City an additional $200,000.
Direct jobs, labor income, and economic output within the City associated with event setup and takedown, including various jobs and labor income that may accrue to Santa Monica residents.
Indirect economic impacts resulting from Event setup and takedown that may involve supply chain purchases of goods and services from Santa Monica businesses.
Induced economic impacts associated with household spending by directly and indirectly impacted Santa Monica workers associated with the event. Similar direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts associated with event 9 operations and economic activity generated by out-of-town visitor spending at the event and elsewhere in the City, some of which may accrue to Santa Monica residents and businesses. This includes promotion of Santa Monica as a tourism destination via the event sponsor’s advertising.
2. Tax Revenue Benefits
Business License Tax revenue from all business activity occurring within the License Area related to setup, takedown, and operation of the event. Additional sales of food, beverages, and merchandise within the License Area resulting in additional sales tax revenue.
Incidental spending by employees associated with event setup, takedown, and operations resulting in additional sales tax revenue and Business License Tax revenue for businesses where spending occurs.
Incidental spending by out-of-town visitors within the Downtown area and elsewhere in the City for food, beverage, and retail shopping resulting in additional sales tax revenue and Business License Tax revenue for businesses where spending occurs. Using the City’s typical visitor shares of daytrip and overnight visitors, as well as average spending of $47 per person per day, indicates millions of dollars in total sales in the City across the two-month time period the Event will occur. Incremental Transient Occupancy Tax revenue generated from overnight stays by Licensee officials, representatives and employees involved in the Event, as well as its setup and takedown.
Incremental Transient Occupancy Tax revenue associated with out-of-town overnight guests attending the event. Since 2023, the average hotel room rate in the month of June in Santa Monica has been $363.
10 Parking Tax revenues associated with net additional paid parking within the City. Incremental traffic fine revenue associated with event personnel and out-of-town event visitors.
(E) Licensee will work with the City to implement best practices and adequate procedures to minimize noise levels and other impacts from the Event.
Pursuant to the License Agreement Licensee has agreed to work and cooperate with the City to develop a parking and traffic management plan, security plan, and zero waste sustainability plan for the Event and cooperate in good faith with the City to ensure minimal impacts of the Event as to neighbors and shall be responsible for mitigating impacts at no cost to the City.
SECTION 2. This Resolution shall become effective subject to and upon the effectiveness of the Major Special Events Ordinance.
SECTION 3. City Manager is hereby authorized to approve additional exemptions from the Municipal Code to meet operational needs of the event where the City Manager has made the findings set forth in Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.68.210(E).
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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HEIDI VON TONGELN
City Attorney