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
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: 7/15/2026 8:59 AM 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: 7/15/2026 8:59 AM Page 3
AGENDAS
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250,
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026
MEETING BEGINS AT 5:35 PM
HOW TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT BY TELEPHONE
Participants may join a meeting by phone via Zoom. Dial, the phone number to access Zoom’s audio system, and enter the Zoom Meeting ID to join the meeting.
Zoom Dial-In Information: Phone Number (669) 900-6833 (US), Meeting ID:978 8290 3006# Persons wishing to address the Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the business 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.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/15/2026 8:59 AM Page 4
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.)
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.
City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/15/2026 8:59 AM Page 5
7. STUDY SESSION
No items
8. CONTINUED ITEMS
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
11.A. Council Direction Regarding Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Ordinance Update To Address TOT Assessments For Corporate Room Block Bookings That Extend Beyond 30 Days
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare ballot measure language to update the City’s TOT regulations in order to ensure that corporate block hotel bookings which extend beyond 30 days are still required to pay the City’s established TOT rate; and
2. Direct that the City Manager and City Attorney bring the proposed measure back for formal review and consideration at the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting, to allow the City Council the option of placing the item on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
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 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 City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/15/2026 8:59 AM Page 6 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: July 14, 2026
Agenda Item: 11.A
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Oliver Chi, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Council Direction Regarding Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Ordinance Update To Address TOT Assessments For Corporate Room Block Bookings That Extend Beyond 30 Days
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare ballot measure language to update the City’s TOT regulations in order to ensure that corporate block hotel bookings which extend beyond 30 days are still required to pay the City’s established TOT rate; and
2. Direct that the City Manager and City Attorney bring the proposed measure back for formal review and consideration at the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting, to allow the City Council the option of placing the item on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
Discussion
The City’s current regulations related to collecting Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for local hotel stays is contained in Chapter 6.68 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code.
Pursuant to that regulation, any “person” who books hotel rooms for more than 30 consecutive days is exempt from the City’s 15% TOT rate for the entire duration of their stay.
However, through the City’s ongoing work with Olympic-affiliated organizations exploring hospitality locations in Santa Monica, we have identified that a significant gap exists in our TOT regulations, which could result in a significant adverse financial impact for the City if left unaddressed.
11.A
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Our current municipal code definition of “person” for the purposes of TOT collection includes “[a]ny individual, corporation, company, association, firm, copartnership, or any group of individuals acting as a unit.” That definition, coupled with the other TOT related regulations contained in Chapter 6.68, effectively means that corporate block bookings of hotel rooms in Santa Monica that extend for beyond 30 consecutive days would pay no transient occupancy tax for the entire stay.
While our current TOT regulations ensure that individuals who reside in hotels long-term are not taxed as tourists, those same regulations also apply to corporate block hotel bookings. Accordingly, our current TOT protocols create a circumstance whereby any sponsor, national delegation, media company, or hospitality operator that books a block of rooms in Santa Monica for more than 30 days would pay no transient occupancy tax at all.
If this issue is to be addressed, the City will have to update our municipal code definitions so that corporate and business entity hotel bookings of more than 30 days remain subject to the TOT assessment for the full stay, while preserving the transient occupancy tax exemption for long-term individual residents. However, because this change would extend the tax to a currently exempt class of payers, and because the relevant code provisions were adopted by voters through Measure CS in 2022, such a change requires voter approval.
To that end, staff recommends that the City Council direct and authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to develop and bring back at the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting, proposed ballot language that would address the current loophole whereby corporate hotel room blocks that extend beyond 30 days pay no transient occupancy tax amount.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
11.A
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Prepared By: Oliver Chi, City Manager
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. PowerPoint Presentation
11.A
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Transient Occupancy Tax
Considerations
Santa Monica City Council
July 14, 2026
Item 11-A
July 14, 2026
Item 11-A
July 14, 2026
11.A.a
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Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (7814 : TOT Discussion) Background
• The City’s current Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) regulations were last adjusted in 2022 when voters approved Measure CS
• That action established the current 15% TOT rate for any “person” who books a hotel room stay for up to 30 days • Our municipal code defines “person” for the purposes of TOT collection to include “[a]ny individual, corporation, company, association, firm, copartnership, or any group of individuals acting as a unit.” • Based on our current TOT protocols, any stay of more than 30 days would be exempt from paying any TOT, for the entire duration of the that stay
• Through our ongoing work with Olympic-affiliated organizations, staff has identified that there could be a significant number of corporate room block bookings that extend beyond 30 days during the 2028 Games
• Our current TOT scheme means that if no change is made, the City could face an adverse fiscal circumstance during the 2028 games, from a TOT collections perspective Item 11-A
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Item 11-A
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11.A.a
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Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (7814 : TOT Discussion) Potential Scale of the Impact
• To give a sense of the financial scale of this potential TOT issue, consider the following scenario:
• A corporate block of 100 rooms gets booked
• The rate is $500 / room per night, for 45 days
• Because the duration of that corporate block of rooms extends beyond 30 days, the TOT charge that would be exempted would be $337,500 Item 11-A
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Item 11-A
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Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (7814 : TOT Discussion) Options Available to the City
• This TOT issue related to corporate room bookings of more than 30 days can be addressed by updating our municipal code definitions • However, to make that adjustment to our TOT regulations, voter approval of a ballot measure would be required
• If the City Council is interested in pursuing that ballot measure, staff would have to bring the proposed measure forward for consideration at our July 28 meeting, in order to qualify for the November 2026 ballot • Staff would engage with our hotel operators as part of our development of the ballot measure language, if we are directed to move ahead Item 11-A
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Item 11-A
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11.A.a
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Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (7814 : TOT Discussion) Staff Recommendation
• Staff recommends that City Council take the following action:
• Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare ballot measure language to update the City’s TOT regulations in order to ensure that corporate block hotel bookings which extend beyond 30 days are still required to pay the City’s established TOT rate; and
• Direct that the City Manager and City Attorney bring the proposed measure back for formal review and consideration at the July 28, 2026, City Council meeting, to allow the City Council the option of placing the item on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
Item 11-A
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Item 11-A
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11.A.a
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Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (7814 : TOT Discussion)