1 July 28, 2026
(NOT APPROVED)
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JULY 28, 2026
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Torosis at 12:28 a.m., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Caroline Torosis
Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick
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 Tongeln
Interim City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren
CONVENE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 12:28 a.m., with all members present.
PUBLIC INPUT ON
REMAINING AGENDA
ITEMS:
Members of the public Zoe Muntaner and Harvey Eder commented on item
11.B.
STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE
ITEMS:
BALLOT MEASURE
11.A. Adoption of Resolution Placing Proposed Ballot Measure Amending Chapter 6.68 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code on the November 3, 2026 Ballot to Maintain Existing Tax Rates; Authorize the City Council to Establish Major Event Periods When the Tax Will Apply to Corporate Bookings of More than 30 Days and to Adjust the Tax Rate During those Major Event Periods; Clarify When Returns Are Available; and Authorize the Adoption of Administrative Guidelines, was presented.
Motion by Mayor Torosis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Negrete, Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, Mayor Torosis
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
2 July 28, 2026
Motion by Mayor Torosis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, to nominate Councilmember Zernitskaya and Mayor Pro Tem Zwick to write the Argument in Favor of the ballot measure. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote, with all members present.
BALLOT MEASURE
RESOLUTION
RECENSION
Mayor Pro Tem Zwick was
excused at 12:36 a.m.
11.B. Rescind Resolution Number 11785 (CCS) that was Adopted at the July 14, 2026 City Council Meeting, to Place a Proposed Ballot Measure Amending Articles XVIII and XXIII of the City Charter to Revise Requirements for Owners to Evict Tenants for Breach of a Rental Agreement Based on the Addition of New Occupants, Revise Protections for Certain Occupants Remaining in a Rental Unit After the Original Tenant Vacates, Expand Just Cause Eviction Protections to Single-Unit Dwellings, and Modify Requirements for Good Faith Owner Move-In Evictions from Non-Rent Controlled Rental Units; and Adopt a Resolution to Place a Proposed Ballot Measure Amending Only Article XXIII, Housing Policies, of the City Charter on the November 3, 2026 Ballot to Expand Just Cause Eviction Protections to Single-Unit Dwellings, and Modify Requirements for Good Faith Owner Move-In Evictions For Non-Rent Controlled Rental Units, was presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Zwick recused himself from this item due to his employment as Southern California Director of the Housing Action Coalition, which has previously advocated on the issue of rent control and tenant protections.
Question asked and answered of staff included the changes that are now being proposed to Article 23 are an exact word-for-word match to what is already in Article 18.
Motion by Mayor Torosis, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zernitskaya, Snell, Hall, Negrete, Mayor Torosis
NOES: Councilmember Raskin
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Zwick
Councilmember Raskin stated his No vote was because this process has been in the works for a very long time. He is concerned that there are members in our community that need further protections and is concerned about the impacts over the next two years. This is an unprecedented action to remove a measure that has already been placed on the ballot. This was a matter that was vetted with a great deal of community input, a great deal of work into it, and he is hopeful that the city can continue to work collaboratively to find other avenues for protecting those vulnerable tenants over the next two years and hopefully get it right in 2028.
3 July 28, 2026
Motion by Councilmember Raskin, seconded by Mayor Torosis, to have Councilmembers Raskin and Snell write the Argument in Favor of the ballot measure. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, absent.
ADJOURNMENT On order of the Mayor, the City Council special meeting adjourned at 12:45a.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Denise Anderson-Warren Caroline Torosis
Interim City Clerk Mayor