Santa Monica Council to Vote on Emergency Declaration Renewal

Santa Monica City Council is scheduled Tuesday night to consider re-ratifying the city’s local emergency declaration on homelessness at its regular meeting. The proposal would renew a 2025 proclamation first adopted in March 2025 and keep the emergency framework in place through Dec. 31.

The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 1685 Main St. Heidi Von Tongeln, the city attorney, prepared the staff report for the resolution. California Government Code requires local governments to renew emergency declarations every 60 days until they are terminated.

Santa Monica emergency powers

The declaration allows the city to accelerate homelessness-related programs and services aimed at preventing residents from becoming unhoused. It also lets Santa Monica pursue additional county, state and federal funding, streamline certain municipal processes, prevent rental price gouging and authorize emergency actions by the city manager.

Santa Monica first declared a local emergency on homelessness in February 2023. The city adopted a subsequent proclamation in May 2024, then approved a 2025 proclamation in March 2025. Officials said the conditions that prompted those earlier declarations still persist.

Repeated renewals in 2025

The council has already approved multiple renewals over the past year, including votes in April, June, July, September, October and December 2025, as well as February and March 2026. The pattern has kept the emergency designation active while the city uses it to support programs and seek outside funding.

Tuesday’s vote asks council members to extend that same authority again. If they approve the resolution, the emergency declaration will remain in force through Dec. 31, preserving the city’s ability to use the special measures tied to the emergency status.