City Council Preview: Civic Auditorium’s Future as Live Venue

This week kicks off a new series looking ahead at the evening’s city council meeting. The summary at the bottom was helped by AI. To read the full agenda for the Council’s meeting tonight, click here.

The Santa Monica City Council is expected Tuesday to consider an agreement that could restart efforts to bring live entertainment back to the long-shuttered Civic Auditorium.

The proposed Exclusive Negotiation Agreement would give AEG Presents six months to study whether the historic venue can be redeveloped and operated as a financially sustainable live entertainment space. AEG, one of the world’s largest live entertainment companies and the parent company of Goldenvoice, is already working with the city on the Ocean Way Festival planned for September.

Under the agreement, AEG would bring in technical experts to evaluate the Civic Auditorium’s existing condition, structural and building requirements, potential redevelopment concepts, operating costs and market demand. The company would also examine possible financing strategies and determine whether the project could ultimately be financially viable.

The agreement does not approve a redevelopment project or give AEG development rights. Instead, it would provide the city with an opportunity to determine whether bringing the Civic back as an entertainment venue makes economic and practical sense.

The move comes less than a month after Revitalization Partners Group abandoned its proposal to restore and operate the 65-year-old building. The Civic has been closed since 2013, and city staff have previously estimated that addressing its seismic and other building deficiencies could cost as much as $360 million.

The Rest of the Agenda

Public Hearing

• 12.A — Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution Approving the California Municipal Finance Authority to Issue Revenue Bonds for the Benefit of 1318 4th Street, L.P.
  • Staff recommendation: No staff report is available, but the standard recommendation in such items is for the City Council to adopt a resolution approving the CMFA’s issuance of revenue bonds for the benefit of 1318 4th Street, L.P., satisfying the TEFRA public hearing requirement.
  • Fiscal impact: No staff report is available to confirm bond amounts. The city typically incurs no direct fiscal liability in conduit bond financing — the bonds are obligations of the borrower, not the city. A bond amount will likely be disclosed at the hearing.
  • The Santa Monica City Council is holding a public hearing to consider approving a resolution allowing the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) to issue tax-exempt revenue bonds on behalf of 1318 4th Street, L.P., likely to finance affordable housing development. This is a standard conduit bond financing action that requires host city approval under federal tax law.

Action Item

• 11.A — Approval of Funding Guidelines and Authorization to Release Request for Proposals for Human Services Grants Program FY 2027-31
  • Staff recommendation: Staff is asking the City Council to approve the funding guidelines for the FY 2027-31 Human Services Grants Program cycle and authorize the release of a Request for Proposals to solicit applications from service providers.
  • The City Council is being asked to approve the funding guidelines for the Human Services Grants Program covering fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and authorize staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) so nonprofit organizations can apply for grants. This program funds community-based human services in Santa Monica.
• 11.C — Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Goldenvoice|AEG Presents, LLC
  • Staff recommendation: Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Goldenvoice|AEG Presents, LLC.
  • The City Council is being asked to authorize the City Manager to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with Goldenvoice|AEG Presents, LLC, a major live entertainment company. An ENA would give Goldenvoice|AEG an exclusive window to negotiate a potential deal with the City, likely related to a venue, event programming, or public space activation.
• 16.A — Recommendation to accept Bradley Ewing’s resignation from the Recreation & Parks Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancy
  • Staff recommendation: Staff is asking the Council to accept Bradley Ewing’s resignation from the Recreation & Parks Commission and authorize the City Clerk to publish notice of the vacancy.
  • The City Council is asked to formally accept the resignation of Bradley Ewing from the Recreation & Parks Commission. The item also authorizes the City Clerk to publicly advertise the resulting vacancy so a replacement can be appointed.
• 16.B — Recommendation to accept Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire’s resignation from the Housing Authority Board and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancy
  • Staff recommendation: Accept the resignation of Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire from the Housing Authority Board and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancy announcement.
  • This item asks the City Council to formally accept the resignation of Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire from the Santa Monica Housing Authority Board. It also directs the City Clerk to publicly advertise the resulting vacancy so it can be filled.
• 16.C — Request of Mayor Pro Tem Zwick and Councilmembers Hall and Zernitskaya that the City Council consider approving the allocation of $9,000 from Council Discretionary Funds to support the Santa Monica College Women’s Soccer program
  • Fiscal impact: $9,000 to be drawn from existing Council Discretionary Funds. No additional budget appropriation appears required; funds are already allocated to council members for discretionary use.
  • Three Santa Monica City Council members are requesting that $9,000 in Council Discretionary Funds be allocated to support the Santa Monica College Women’s Soccer program. This is a councilmember-initiated action item with no accompanying staff report.

Closed Session

• 5.A — Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation
  • The Santa Monica City Council will meet in closed session to discuss an existing lawsuit involving the city. Closed sessions are private meetings exempt from public access under California law when legal matters are involved.
• 5.B — Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation
  • The Santa Monica City Council will meet in closed session to discuss an existing lawsuit involving the city. No public staff report is available because closed sessions are confidential under California law.
• 5.C — Conference with legal counsel – potential initiation of litigation
  • The Santa Monica City Council will meet in closed session to discuss whether to file a lawsuit on behalf of the city. No details about the specific legal matter are publicly available.
• 5.D — Conference with real estate negotiator – 2900 & 3000 Airport Avenue, 3011 Airport Avenue, and 3021 Airport Avenue
  • The Santa Monica City Council will meet in closed session to discuss real estate negotiations involving four properties on Airport Avenue. No public staff report is available, as closed sessions are confidential under California law.
• 5.E — Conference with real estate negotiator – 2800 Airport Avenue and 2801 25th Street (Clover Park)
  • The Santa Monica City Council is meeting in closed session to discuss real estate negotiations involving two properties: 2800 Airport Avenue and 2801 25th Street, which is located adjacent to Clover Park. Closed sessions on real estate negotiations are legally permitted to protect the city’s bargaining position.
• 5.F — Conference with legal counsel – significant exposure to litigation (Santa Monica Trapeze School)
  • The Santa Monica City Council is meeting in closed session to discuss potential litigation involving the Santa Monica Trapeze School. This type of item is held privately because it involves legal strategy and exposure to lawsuits.

Consent Calendar

• 4.A — City Council – Special Meeting – Jul 25, 2026 8:30 AM
• 4.B — Authorization to enter into a Third Modification to Agreement #11364 with Gillig to Purchase Battery Electric Buses for the Department of Transportation
  • The City Council will consider authorizing a third modification to an existing agreement with Gillig for the purchase of battery electric buses for the Department of Transportation. This is a consent item, meaning staff recommends approval without debate.
• 4.C — Award Bid #SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. for Construction Services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2, and Authorization to Enter Into a Third Modification to Agreement #9337 with Willdan Engineering for Design and Construction Support Services
  • Staff recommendation: Award Bid #SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. for construction services on Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2, and authorize a third modification to Agreement #9337 with Willdan Engineering for design and construction support services.
  • The council is being asked to award a construction bid to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. for street lighting modernization work and approve a contract modification with Willdan Engineering for related design and construction support.
• 4.D — Authorization to Issue a Purchase Order to Wastequip Manufacturing Company LLC for Metal Bins for Recycling, Organics, and Landfill Trash Materials
  • Staff recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council authorize the issuance of a purchase order to Wastequip Manufacturing Company LLC for metal bins for these three waste streams.
  • The City Council is being asked to approve a purchase order with Wastequip Manufacturing Company LLC to buy metal bins for recycling, organics, and landfill waste. This is a routine procurement item on the consent calendar.
• 4.E — Award Bid #SP2756 to Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc., for Construction Services for the Pier Below Deck Fire Sprinkler Replacement Project – Phase 3
  • Staff recommendation: Award Bid #SP2756 to Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. to perform construction services for Phase 3 of the Pier Below Deck Fire Sprinkler Replacement Project.
  • The City Council is being asked to award a construction bid to Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. for Phase 3 of the Pier Below Deck Fire Sprinkler Replacement Project. This is a routine consent item requiring council approval to proceed with the contracted work.
• 4.F — Adoption of a Resolution Approving Final Parcel Map for the Subdivision of 2423 18th Street to Create Two Residential Parcels
  • Staff recommendation: Adopt the resolution approving the final parcel map for the subdivision of 2423 18th Street.
  • The City Council is being asked to approve a final parcel map that would divide the property at 2423 18th Street into two separate residential parcels. This is a consent item, meaning it is expected to pass without discussion.
• 4.G — Approval to Increase Contract Authority for the Agreement with the County of Los Angeles for Lifeguard Services on Santa Monica State Beach
  • The City Council will consider increasing the contract amount for lifeguard services provided by the County of Los Angeles at Santa Monica State Beach. This is a consent item requesting approval to expand the existing agreement’s financial authority.
• 4.H — Adoption of Resolution Ratifying Homelessness Emergency Proclamation
  • The City Council will vote to ratify a homelessness emergency proclamation. This is a consent item requiring formal council adoption of an existing proclamation.

Information

• 11.B — Report Back Regarding Oversight for the Virginia Avenue Apartment Project
  • The City Council will receive a report back regarding oversight mechanisms for the Virginia Avenue Apartment Project. This is an informational item with no staff report available.

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

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