By Jorge Casuso

December 13, 2024 -- The newly seated City Council is proposing rule changes that range from limiting the time Councilmembers can speak to allowing the Council majority to formally censure one of its members.

The proposed changes are listed in a discussion item placed on Tuesday's agenda by three Councilmembers who are part of a 6 to 1 majority backed by Santa Monica's liberal establishment.

The changes include using ranked choice voting to make appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees and prohibiting resolutions weighing in on foreign affairs.

In addition, the proposed changes, which can be made to the existing rules or by ordinance or resolution, would bar the use of the City seal and other City symbols on paid political advertising.

The rule changes and additions are meant to "show the public this new Council’s immediate commitment to efficient, equitable, and ethical government, allowing the Council to focus on addressing the city’s most pressing issues with greatest impact," the item reads.

Several of the changes proposed by newly elected Councilmembers Dan Hall and Elis Raskin, and Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis are intended to shorten Council meeting that run "often past 1 a.m., and at least once until past 4 a.m."

They include limiting Councilmembers to one minute to make a personal point of privilege, to two minutes to make a proclamation or commendation and to five minutes to make an opposing statement.

In addition, the Mayor Pro Tem would be addressed during meetings with the title Councilmember.

"These reforms would encourage greater participation by minimizing delays, offering more predictability in meeting structure, and reducing barriers for residents who want to contribute but face time constraints," the agenda item reads.

Over the past two decades, the City Council has taken numerous stabs at shortening City Council meetings without success (“Councilmember Floats Proposal to Shorten Meetings,” October 18, 2023).

One addition to the Council rules that would require a resolution or ordinance would allow a majority of the Council to formally censure a member "for violation of the law, local ordinance, common law conflicts of interest, or Council rules or resolutions."

Another proposed rule would prohibit the Council from considering resolutions regarding international affairs "except for items of support or condolences for natural disasters or other similar tragedies involving Santa Monica sister cities."

In the past, the Council has weighed in on foreign policy, including the 1980s Civil War in El Salvador, the 1997 Civil Rights abuses in Burma and the war between Russia and Ukraine in 2022. The Council has not taken a position in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Another proposed change would bar the acceptance of gifts greater than $100 in one event or a cumulative $590 per year, except for gifts "from family members or long-standing friends with whom gifts are regularly exchanged" or as invited guests to a public event.

It also would prohibit Councilmembers from accepting "meals, beverages, snacks or refreshments greater than the approximate price of a cup of coffee or bottle of water, except when they are provided to the pubic or all participants of an event."

This exemption, for example, would allow Councilmembers to partake in "hors d'oeuvres served at a conference networking cocktail hour," according to the proposed rules.