The Santa Monica City Council is the legislative body of Santa Monica, California. The council consists of seven members elected at large to staggered four-year terms. It establishes municipal policies and priorities, adopts the city budget, enacts ordinances and appoints the city manager, city attorney and city clerk.

Santa Monica operates under a council–manager form of government. The mayor is not elected separately by the voters and does not serve as an independent municipal executive. Instead, the council selects a mayor and mayor pro tempore from among its seven members. The council normally meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

Organization and powers

Under the city charter, the council's seven members are elected at large for four-year terms. Terms begin on the first Tuesday following the election. A charter amendment approved by voters in 2018 limits a person to three council terms, whether consecutive or nonconsecutive; a partial term of more than two years counts as a term. The limitation applies prospectively to terms beginning on or after the 2018 election.

All municipal powers are vested in the council, subject to the city charter and the Constitution of California. Four members constitute a quorum, and most ordinances, resolutions and orders authorizing payments require at least four affirmative votes. The council sets city policy, establishes priorities, adopts and oversees the municipal budget and appoints the city manager, city attorney and city clerk.

Mayor

Following a municipal election in which councilmembers are elected, the council chooses one of its members to serve as its presiding officer with the title of Mayor of Santa Monica. The mayor has the same right to speak and vote as every other councilmember and is designated by the charter as the official head of the city for ceremonial purposes. The mayor may also perform duties assigned by the charter or by the council and serves in the position at the pleasure of the council.

As the council's presiding officer, the mayor chairs meetings, maintains order, presents questions for consideration, announces the results of votes and rules on procedural questions, subject to appeal to the full council. The mayor is also responsible for promoting compliance with the city's civility policy. The mayor may participate in debate and make or second motions while presiding. As one of the seven councilmembers, the mayor retains a vote on matters before the council and ordinarily votes last."

The office carries no independent veto or administrative authority. Municipal administration is conducted through the city manager, and the charter prohibits individual councilmembers—including the mayor—from directing city employees.

Section 602 of the city charter establishes base monthly compensation of $900 for the mayor and $750 for other councilmembers. These amounts are adjusted annually according to changes in the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area. The mayor and councilmembers may also receive employment benefits and reimbursement for authorized expenses incurred in performing their official duties.

Because Santa Monica uses a council manager system, the mayor is not a separately elected chief executive. Administrative responsibility is assigned to the city manager, while the mayor continues to serve as one of the seven voting councilmembers.

The charter does not prescribe a fixed one- or two-year mayoral term. Council selection practices have varied. In 2020, the council selected the mayor and mayor pro tempore for two-year terms. In 2022, it divided the two-year period between two mayors serving one year each while selecting a mayor pro tempore for two years.

Mayor pro tempore

The council also designates one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore, commonly abbreviated as Mayor Pro Tem. Under the charter, the mayor pro tempore performs the mayor's duties during the mayor's absence or disability. The position does not carry separate executive authority, and its holder remains a voting member of the council.

Caroline Torosis is mayor and Jesse Zwick is mayor pro tempore. They were installed on December 9, 2025.

Current council DistrictCouncilmemberParty (officially nonpartisan)At largeCaroline Torosis (Mayor)DemocraticAt largeJesse Zwick (Mayor Pro Tempore)DemocraticAt largeDan HallDemocraticAt largeEllis RaskinDemocraticAt largeBarry SnellDemocraticAt largeNatalya ZernitskayaDemocraticAt largeLana NegreteDemocratic

Former councils Charter

Council-Manager form of government, with seven Council members elected at-large. The new Charter was adopted in 1946.

YearCouncil Members2024Dan HallEllis RaskinCaroline TorosisJesse ZwickLana NegreteBarry SnellNatalya Zernitskaya2022Phil BrockOscar de la TorreCaroline TorosisJesse ZwickLana NegreteChristine ParraGleam Davis2020Phil BrockOscar de la ToreSue HimmelrichKristin McGowanKevin McKeownChristine ParraGleam Davis2018Ted WintererTerry O'DaySue HimmelrichGreg MorenaKevin McKeownAna Maria JaraGleam Davis2016Ted WintererTerry O'DaySue HimmelrichPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownAntonio VasquezGleam Davis2014Ted WintererTerry O'DaySue HimmelrichPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownAntonio VasquezGleam Davis2012Ted WintererTerry O'DayRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownAntonio VasquezGleam Davis2010Richard BloomTerry O'DayRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownBobby ShriverGleam Davis2008Richard BloomKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownBobby ShriverGleam Davis2006Richard BloomKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownBobby ShriverHerb Katz2004Richard BloomKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O’ConnorKevin McKeownBobby ShriverHerb Katz2002Richard BloomKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownMichael FeinsteinHerb Katz 2000Richard BloomKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownMichael FeinsteinHerb Katz1998Asha GreenbergKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorKevin McKeownMichael FeinsteinPaul Rosenstein1996Asha GreenbergKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'Connor Ruth EbnerMichael FeinsteinPaul Rosenstein1994Judy AbdoKen GenserRobert HolbrookPam O'ConnorRuth EbnerAsha GreenbergPaul Rosenstein1992Judy AbdoKen GenserRobert HolbrookKelly OlsenAntonio VasquezAsha Greenberg Paul Rosenstein1990Judy AbdoKen GenserRobert HolbrookDennis ZaneAntonio VasquezKelly OlsenHerb Katz 1988Judy AbdoChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDennis ZaneKen GenserDavid FinkelHerb Katz1986James P. ConnChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDennis ZaneAlan S. KatzDavid FinkelHerb Katz1984James P. ConnChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDennis Zane Ken EdwardsDavid EpsteinHerb Katz1983James P. ConnChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDennis ZaneKen EdwardsDavid G. EpsteinDelores M. Press1981James P. ConnChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDennis Zane Ken Edwards Ruth Yannatta GoldwayDelores M. Press1979Perry ScottChristine ReedWilliam H. JenningsDonna O. SwinkJohn J. BambrickRuth Yannatta GoldwayPeter van den Steenhoven1977Nathaniel TrivesChristine ReedDonna O. SwinkSeymour A. CohenJohn J. BambrickPerry ScottPieter van den Steenhoven 1975Nathaniel TrivesChristine ReedDonna O. SwinkSeymour A. CohenFred M. JudsonJohn W. McCloskeyPieter van den Steenhoven 1973Nathaniel TrivesAnthony L. DituryDonna O. SwinkClo HooverFred M. JudsonJohn W. McCloskeyPieter van den Steenhoven1971Nathaniel TrivesAnthony L. DituryVirgil KingsleyClo HooverJames B. Reidy, Jr.John W. McCloskeyRobert Gabriel1969Herbert A. SpurginAnthony L. DituryVirgil KingsleyClo HooverJames B. Reidy, Jr.John W. McCloskeyKenneth B. Wamsley1967Herbert A. SpurginAnthony L. DituryWendell Corey Clo HooverJames G. Reidy, Jr.Royal M. SorensenKenneth B. Wamsley1965Herbert A. SpurginRex H. MinterWendell CoreyClo HooverJames B. Reidy, Jr.Royal M. SorensenKenneth B. Wamsley 1963Samuel C. BrownRex H. MinterMartin GoodfriendClo HooverJohn M. BohnHoward B. HamiltonHerbert A. Spurgin1961Samuel C. BrownRex H. MinterMartin GoodfriendClo HooverWilliam G. ThornsburyHoward B. HamiltonThomas M. McCarthy1959Alys M. DrobnickRex H. MinterBen A. BarnardRalph S. FrantzWilliam G. ThornsburyWellman B. MillsThomas M. McCarthy1957Alys M. DrobnickRex H. MinterRalph S. FrantzRussell K. HartFred M. JudsonWellman B. MillsWilliam G. Thornbury1955Jack J. GuercioRex H. Minter Ben A. BarnardRussell K. HartFred M. JudsonWellman B. MillsThomas M. McCarthy1953Jack J. GuercioThomas J. McDermottBen A. BarnardJames L. GrubbsLouis E. MahoneyWellman B. MillsThomas M. McCarthy1951Jack J. GuercioThomas J. McDermottBen A. BarnardJames L. GrubbsLouis E. MahoneyRussell K. HartThomas M. McCarthy1949Jack J. GuercioMark T. GatesBen A. BarnardCecil S. DickinsonGeorge A. NeilsonRussell K. HartThomas M McCarthy1947 Jack J. GuercioMark T. GatesBen A. BarnardH. George MarkworthGeorge A. NeilsonJ. Lee Schimmer, Jr.Edwin Talmadge

Second charter (1915–1946)

Commission form of government. Under the new charter, the City government now consisted of 3 departments: Public Safety, Public Works and Finance with one elected Commissioner responsible for each department. The City Council consisted of the three elected Commissioners. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety was the ex officio Mayor; and the elections process included the use of a preferential ballot form.

YearCommissionersPublic WorksPublic SafetyFinance1945 William W. Milliken Ray Schafer Dwight C. Freeman1943 William W. Milliken Leonard J. Murray Dwight C. Freeman1941William W. MillikenClaude C. Crawford Dwight C. Freeman1939William W. MillikenClaude C. Crawford Dwight C. Freeman1937William W. Milliken Edmond S. Gillette Theodore D. Plumer1935 Hal Clark Sanborn William H. Carter Theodore D. Plumer1933 Hal Clark Sanborn William H. Carter Theodore D. Plumer1931 John A. Morton William H. Carter Frank A. Helton1929 John A. Morton Herman Michel Frank A. Helton1927 John A. Morton Herman Michel Frank A. Helton1925 John A. Morton John C. Steele Frank A. Helton1923 John A. Morton John C. Steele Frank A. Helton1921 William H. Carter Samuel L. Berkley Frank A. Helton1919 William H. Carter Samuel L. Berkley Frank J. Townsend1917 William H. Carter Samuel L. Berkley Frank J. Townsend1915 William H. Carter Samuel L. Berkley Maxwell K. Barretto

First charter (1906–1915)

Mayor - Council form of government. Under the new charter, the City Council was composed of one Mayor with veto power, and one Council member from each of its seven wards.

YearMayorCouncil MemberWard 1Ward 2Ward 3Ward 4Ward 5Ward 6Ward 71915 - - - - - - - -1913 - - - - - - - -1909 - - - - - - - -1906T. H. DudleyG. D. SnyderW. A. Armstrong; Abe S. ReelAlf MorrisH. L. CoffmanJ. Euclid MilesRoscoe H. Dow

Board of trustees (1886–1906)

The residents of the town of Santa Monica voted to incorporate November 30, 1886, and chose a board of five trustees.

YearTrustees1903J. C. SteeleT. H. DudleyA. F. JohnstonH. X. GoetzW. S. Vawter 1902J. C. SteeleT. H. DudleyC. H. SammisJ. C. MorganW. S. Vawter1900Robert F. JonesT. H. DudleyC. H. SammisJ. C. MorganN. R. Folsom1898 Robert F. JonesN. A. RothJ. J. CarrilloMoses HostetterR. C. Gillis1896Robert F. JonesN. A. RothJ. J. CarrilloMoses HostetterR. C. Gillis1894Robert F. JonesN. A. RothJ. J. CarrilloT. A. LewisE. J. Vawter1892R. R. HarrisH. C. BevilleJ. J. CarrilloT. A. LewisE. J. Vawter1890J. L. AllenJohn SteereJ. J. CarrilloT. A. LewisE. J. Vawter1888E. C. FolsomThomas RhodesJ. J. CarrilloT. A. LewisW. S. Vawter1886 E. C. FolsomJohn SteereA. E. LaddJ. W. Scott W. S. Vawter

References

Commissions and Councils, 1915 - present A Brief History of Santa Monica and its Charters

External links Santa Monica City Council Homepage City Council History