CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JULY 14, 2026
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Torosis at 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Caroline Torosis
Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick (arrived at 5:38 p.m.)
Councilmember Lana Negrete
Councilmember Dan Hall
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Barry Snell
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
Also Present: City Manager Oliver Chi
City Attorney Heidi von Tongel
nterim City Clerk Denise Anderson- Warrel
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 Raskin led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
STATEMENT OF he City of Santa Monica Statement of Accountability (Lar ACCOUNTABILITY knowledgement) was read into the record by Councilmember Ha (LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
Mayor Pro Tem Zwick
arrived at 5:38 p.m.
LEVINE ACT No Councilmembers made disclosures regarding the Levine Act (Govt Code DISCLOSURE Section 84308).
STAFE 11.A. Council Direction Regarding Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) ADMINISTRATIVE Ordinance Update to Address TOT Assessments for Corporate Room ITEMS: Block Bookings That Extend Beyond 30 Days, was presented.
TRANSIENT
OCCUPANCY TAX Recommended Action
1. Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
2. Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare ballot measure language to update the City's TOT regulations in order to ensure tha corporate block hotel bookings which extend beyond 30 days are stil required to pay the City's established TOT rate: anc
July 14, 2026
3. 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.
Motion by Mayor Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Snell, to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Raskin, Hall, Negrete, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, Mayor Torosis
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council special meeting adjourned at 10:08 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
denise enderstan Clashi
Denise Anderson-Warren Caroline Torosis
Interim City Clerk Mayor
2 July 14, 2026