1 City Council Meeting: October 27, 2026 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2.16 OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE
PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO THE
ANTICIPATED EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS TO BE CAUSED BY THE FORECASTED 2026-2027 EL NIÑO EVENT
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 empowers the Santa Monica City Council to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when there is extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Santa Monica; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 2.16 authorizes the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services (“Director”), to request that the City Council proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency if the City Council is in session; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2.16 defines an “emergency” to mean “the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this City caused by such conditions as … fire, flood, storm … or other conditions … likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of this City…”; and
WHEREAS, a threatened emergency of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exists for the City of Santa Monica due to the forecasted 2026-2027 El Niño winter weather season which has created the likelihood for extreme weather related impacts to the City, including possible high winds, substantial precipitation, elevated coastal baseline water levels, high tides, large waves, high surf, coastal flooding, beach 2 erosion, closure and damage to highways and roads, evacuation orders and warnings in areas impacted by burn scars, debris flows, river and urban flooding, land movement incidents, and widespread power outages; and
WHEREAS, on October 15, 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center issued an advisory that this year’s El Niño event is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the fall and winter of 2026-2027 for the northern hemisphere; and WHEREAS, the advisory projects an 83% chance that the event will reach historic strength during the October through December 2026 season, defined as a three-month Relative Oceanic Niño Index, and exceeding the strength of all prior El Niño events in the historical record beginning in 1950; and
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency related to the anticipated impacts of the 2026-2027 El Niño season and directed State agencies to take early actions to protect vulnerable communities, critical infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is a community that is particularly vulnerable to coastal and storm-related hazards due to its extensive 3-mile coastline and beach, low-lying areas, and its proximity to other flood-prone areas; and WHEREAS, Santa Monica has recently experienced impacts from the current El Niño season when, in early September 2026, swell and rainfall from Hurricane Marie eroded the beach south of the Santa Monica Pier, and runoff from the Pico-Kenter storm drain outfall cut a channel through the beach and undermined a beach access ramp, which resulted in the City’s cancelation of the Ocean Way Festival; and WHEREAS, Santa Monica’s past experience with strong El Niño events include 3 several storms during the 1982-83 winter season when a 400ft section of the westernmost end of the Pier was destroyed, and in 1997-98 when the City’s beach was temporarily closed due to sewage outflows and approximately 25 tons of material from the Palisades Park bluffs fell onto the California Incline and Pacific Coast Highway; and WHEREAS, based upon the forecasted severity of this year’s El Niño event, and by reason of the magnitude of its potential impacts, and the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents and property of the City of Santa Monica, there exists the possibility that these extreme impacts may exceed the City's normal day-to-day operational capabilities and may require extraordinary preparedness measures, expedited procurement, additional personnel and contractual resources, and enhanced coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, regional agencies, Los Angeles County, the State of California, federal agencies, utility providers, transportation agencies, and other public and private partners; and
WHEREAS, the ability to rapidly procure equipment, supplies, materials, services, and other resources; enter into agreements and contracts; mobilize personnel; and coordinate with other governmental and private entities is necessary to ensure the City is adequately prepared to respond to the potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2026, the Long Beach City Council proclaimed the existence of a local emergency due to the impacts from Hurricane Marie and the developing 2026-27 El Niño event; and
WHEREAS, on September 23, 2026, the Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the existence of a local emergency for the anticipated 2026- 2027 El Niño event; and
4 WHEREAS, on September 26, 2026, the Malibu City Council declared the existence of a local emergency due to the threat of extreme weather conditions caused by the forecasted 2026-27 El Niño event.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. It is hereby proclaimed that a local emergency now exists throughout the City. It is further proclaimed and ordered that during the existence of this local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the Director of Emergency Services and the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by State law and by the ordinances and resolutions of this City.
SECTION 2. The City Council authorizes the City Manager, the Emergency Services Manager, the Purchasing Agent, or designees delegated in accordance with the City’s Procurement Policy and Santa Monica Municipal Code section 2.24.090, to:
a. Shorten or waive all required notice periods and competitive solicitation procedures set forth in Chapter 2.24 and the City’s Procurement Policy; b. Secure in the open market at the best reasonable price, contracts for public works projects, goods and services;
c. Negotiate or execute such contracts, agreements, applications or other documents with such other federal, state or local agencies or other groups and organizations as are necessary to provide or obtain emergency aid, assistance or services to the City of Santa Monica; and
d. Contract for the immediate expenditure of public funds to safeguard life, health or property.
5 SECTION 3. The City Council further authorizes the City Manager, in capacity as the Director of Emergency Services, to take all additional actions related to the protection of life and property that are reasonably necessary to respond to the local emergency.
SECTION 4. In accordance with Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 2.16.090, any expenditures made in connection with the emergency activities under this Proclamation, including mutual aid activities, shall be conclusively deemed for the direct protection and benefit of the persons and property of the City of Santa Monica.
SECTION 5. In accordance with California Government Code section 8630, the City Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency proclaimed herein every sixty (60) days until this resolution is terminated by the City Council.
SECTION 6. 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:
HEIDI VON TONGELN
City Attorney