Santa Monica City Council fills Personnel Board vacancy
One resignation and one appointment in the same stretch of business kept the Personnel Board staffed, while Santa Monica City Council ordered the open seat posted.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — personnel board resignation and vacancy appointment, superintendent’s report, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Santa Monica City Council accepted a resignation, published a vacancy, and then filled another opening so the Personnel Board could keep operating without losing members.
A small board stayed whole.
Santa Monica City Council accepted a resignation from the Personnel Board, directed staff to publish the vacancy, and later appointed an applicant to a separate unscheduled opening on the same board. The moves were procedural, but the effect was clear: the board kept enough members in place to continue its work.
The council handled the matter in two parts. First came the resignation and the order to post the newly open seat. Later, councilmembers appointed an applicant to fill an unscheduled vacancy. The source materials do not identify the departing member or the appointee by name, but they show the council acting to avoid a gap in the board’s membership.
That matters because boards can slow down when seats sit empty. By accepting the resignation and moving ahead with an appointment, Santa Monica City Council kept the Personnel Board staffed and functioning. The next step is straightforward: staff will publish the vacancy created by the resignation, and the council will eventually need to make another appointment to fill that seat.
Superintendent’s Report: HVAC Issues and Extreme Heat Response
Heat exposed weak spots in school cooling systems.
Superintendent Dr. Shelton told the board that extreme temperatures brought HVAC problems into focus, with particular concerns at Santa Monica High School. Some spaces, Dr. Shelton said, were not functioning as desired during the hot weather, prompting complaints from community members and more detailed review by the district.
The district has started a comprehensive audit of HVAC systems across schools to find where problems exist and what fixes make sense. In the short term, staff installed temporary cooling units in affected spaces. Dr. Shelton said smaller room-level repairs at elementary and middle schools can be simpler, while larger systems are harder to diagnose and repair.
At Santa Monica High School, Dr. Shelton said Principal Marie Cruz walked classrooms in two buildings with Siemens. The district is working with Siemens and another HVAC vendor on immediate and longer-term recommendations. Dr. Shelton said the district plans to share written answers to questions soon and continue updates as more information comes in.
Council extends autonomous vehicle fleet rules
Santa Monica City Council extended its emergency interim zoning ordinance for autonomous vehicle fleet operations for two years after a public hearing. Staff said interest from operators continues, one project remains under review, and the extra time will help the city test the rules before writing a permanent ordinance.
Extended for two years autonomous-vehicle fleet zoning rules creating land-use classifications and operating conditions.
Board pauses policy update for rewrite
Dr. Ashley Benjamin brought the final batch of curriculum and instruction policy updates, but board members stopped short of approving one administrative regulation on observances. They said the language mixed staff celebrations with classroom requirements, and staff agreed to revise it and return next meeting.
Board reviewed 59 curriculum policies, including graduation regalia and service animals, and requested revisions.
Closed session reviews lawsuits and housing
The City Attorney announced closed-session talks on litigation and real estate negotiations, including affordable housing proposals at Bergamot Station Arts Center. Afterward, the city reported a previously approved Garcia settlement and said one councilmember had recused from a housing-related item.
Closed-session actions can shape legal costs and the future of a major affordable housing site.
City launches micro grants for businesses
Staff outlined a $100,000 relief program that would give $5,000 grants to 20 Santa Monica businesses. Santa Monica City Council pressed on workshop access, economic impact criteria, ADA lawsuits, and multilingual applications as staff set an October 1 deadline and late-October awards timeline.
litigation
- Santa Monica City Council. Council held a public hearing to extend an emergency interim zoning ordinance related to fleet operations of autonomous vehicles for two years. Staff said the ordinance created a new land use classification and operational conditions, and that interest from operators continues. Council adopted the extension.
- Santa Monica City Council. A smaller number of speakers supported closing the SB79 window for the Expo/Bundy TOD zone and encouraged Council to proceed with staff’s approach, citing legal risk and the need for certainty. Some speakers urged analytical decision-making and trusting staff and the City Attorney given potential litigation exposure.
- Santa Monica City Council. Many speakers opposed the proposed upzoning of 89 R1 parcels to close the SB79 window, citing displacement history in Pico/Gandara Park, lack of HCD guidance on cross-jurisdiction TOD zones, and concerns about investor-driven redevelopment. Speakers urged adopting an alternative approach (often called “option three”), using a two-pronged/contingent ordinance, and strengthening anti-displacement protections.
- Santa Monica Disabilities Commission. Multiple written public comments were read into the record requesting preservation/restoration of weekday pool times for Swimscape adaptive swim instruction at the Santa Monica Swim Center. Commenters described impacts on children and adults with disabilities and asked the Commission to intervene with City staff and place the issue on a future agenda.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
SANTA MONICA had 41 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCE2025–26 Unaudited Actual Financial Report (Year Ended June 30). Assistant Superintendent Gerardo Cruz presented the district’s 2025–26 unaudited actuals, comparing estimated actuals to final closed books and highlighting a $0.5 million revenue change and $3.6 million lower expenditures, resulting in a shift from a projected $3.7 million deficit to a $1 million surplus. The board accepted the report unanimously (4-0 among those voting).
- GOVERNANCECouncil advances Vision Zero and red light cameras. Council approved a Vision Zero update that shifts the city toward a Safe Systems approach and sets priorities including a high-risk network, traffic calming tools, greenways, curb management, parking flexibility, delivery devices, and red light camera development. Council also introduced on first reading an ordinance establishing an automated traffic enforcement system under the state’s civil administrative framework.
- GOVERNANCEItem 4B: Design contract for protected bikeway along 14th Street; direction to engage SMMUSD and school communities. Council discussed item 4B after it was pulled and directed staff to explicitly solicit feedback from SMMUSD officials and parents at specific schools. Staff stated the design process would include extensive outreach. Council approved moving forward with the item and direction.
- GOVERNANCEWestside Cities Affordable Housing Trust (joint powers authority) update and revisions. Staff and the Westside Cities COG presented revisions to the proposed Westside Cities Affordable Housing Trust joint powers agreement. Revisions emphasized local control and clarified that Santa Monica would not contribute general fund dollars and that administrative costs would be covered through LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency funding. Council approved participation and appointed a director and alternate.
- GOVERNANCEDirection to begin negotiations with SMMUSD for successor Master Facilities Use Agreement (MFUA). Council directed the City Manager to begin good-faith negotiations with SMMUSD for a successor MFUA. Council members referenced concerns about access, scheduling, fees, and enforcement, and discussed how Measure ES funds could affect leverage and budgeting. The motion passed without noted opposition.
- GOVERNANCELate public comment (post-12B): boards/commissions, red light cameras, housing trust concerns, school joint-use agreement, and labor community workforce agreement. In a late public comment period, speakers addressed multiple remaining agenda items, including support for ranked-choice voting for appointments, opposition to the Westside Affordable Housing Trust, concerns about red light cameras, requests to renegotiate the school district joint-use agreement, and support for a community workforce agreement. Speakers also promoted specific commission applicants and reappointments.
- GOVERNANCEDirection to negotiate a community workforce agreement. Council directed the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate a community workforce agreement. Labor representatives and public commenters supported the agreement as a pathway to local hire, apprenticeships, and high-road jobs. The motion passed without noted opposition.
- GOVERNANCECity Manager report: community events, Ocean Wave Festival logistics, 9/11 ceremony, and animal shelter promotion. The City Manager reported on upcoming city events, including Tongva Twilight, Blockfest, the Santa Monica Classic, and Americana in the Park. He previewed Hispanic Heritage Month activities and the Ocean Wave Festival, including a hotline and bike path detour. He also promoted adoptable pets and a reduced-fee adoption event.
- GOVERNANCEDisabilities Commission takes up adaptive swim concerns. Public commenters urged the Commission to preserve or restore weekday Swimscape adaptive swim instruction times at the Santa Monica Swim Center, describing impacts on people with disabilities. Commissioners discussed possible responses, including contacting the Swim Center manager, involving the ADA Coordinator, and placing the issue on a future agenda; future agenda planning also referenced the matter.
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