> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Santa Monica joins regional housing trust, extends autonomous-vehicle zoning rules - URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-joins-regional-housing-trust-extends-autonomous-vehicle-zoning-rules/ - Published: 2026-09-11T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-11T16:00:00.000Z - Author: Maaz Alin - Tags: Government & Politics, City Hall In a meeting that stretched into the early morning hours, the [Santa Monica City Council voted](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-approves-red-light-cameras-new-road-safety-framework-in-unanimous-vote/) to join a four-city regional affordable housing trust and to extend emergency zoning rules governing autonomous-vehicle fleet operations for two more years. Both items passed unanimously at the council's Sept. 8 meeting, though the housing resolution drew written opposition from residents who questioned the council's transparency and warned against ceding local control. ## **Council joins Westside Cities Affordable Housing Trust** The council adopted a resolution approving the city's membership in the Westside Cities Affordable Housing Trust, a regional Joint Powers Authority formed alongside West Hollywood, Culver City and Beverly Hills to expand affordable housing financing across the Westside. The trust would provide a dedicated structure to receive, manage and deploy affordable housing funding — chiefly Measure A dollars distributed through the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, known as LACAHSA. The four cities do not receive direct county allocations and instead draw funding through the Westside Cities Council of Governments, which cannot issue loans under its current structure. "The only way there would be any city contribution to this affordable housing trust is if we came back here," Riley O'Brien, program director for the [Westside Cities Council of Governments](https://westsidecities.org/?ref=smdp.com), told the council, adding that each city council would have to approve any such fee. O'Brien said the council of governments has already committed the capital and administrative funding needed to operate the trust for its first year, meaning no money would be drawn from the city's general fund. He said the trust could officially form once at least three cities join, with a target of Sept. 22 and a first board meeting in late October or early November. The item returned to the council after members raised concerns at a July 28 meeting. Staff said the joint powers agreement was revised to make clear no city contribution would occur without each council's approval, and to reduce the number of board seats to the minimum required by state law. Under the revised structure, the board would consist of one elected official and one alternate appointed by each member city, plus one housing and homelessness policy expert appointed by the trust board, all with voting authority. Councilmember Dan Hall, who had previously voiced concerns, said they had been satisfied and moved to approve the staff recommendation. He sought to reassure colleagues that Santa Monica funds would remain walled off from projects elsewhere. "There is no situation where Measure GS or any general fund dollars from Santa Monica goes to programmatic or affordable housing production in other cities without the explicit blessing of this council," Hall said. Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick recused himself from the item, citing his employment as Southern California director of the Housing Action Coalition, a pro-housing advocacy group. The council appointed Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya as the city's director on the trust board and Hall as the alternate. The resolution passed 6-0\. Several residents had urged rejection in written comments, arguing the agreement would hand financing and land-use decisions to an unelected board and pointing to transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns. Staff and council members countered that membership does not obligate the city to approve any development, contribute local funds or waive land-use authority. ## **Council extends emergency rules for autonomous-vehicle fleets** Following a public hearing, the council also voted to extend for two years an emergency interim zoning ordinance regulating fleet operations for autonomous vehicles, keeping in place standards first adopted July 14 that were set to expire Sept. 12. The ordinance created a new land-use classification for light fleet-based autonomous-vehicle services — fleets of three or more vehicles under 10,000 pounds — and allows them as a permitted use in the industrial conservation, general commercial and transit-adjacent zoning districts, with tougher conditions for sites within 100 feet of residential property. Community Development Director Jing Yeo said the circumstances that prompted the ordinance persist. The city has one pending application under review and has continued to field inquiries from operators. "It's very clear operators are interested in opening these kinds of facilities in the city," Yeo said, describing the extension as time to monitor how the rules work and to develop a permanent ordinance. City staff has cited operational concerns including vehicle queuing, staging in the public right-of-way, and noise and lighting from around-the-clock operations. At existing facilities, staff reported queues reaching roughly 15 vehicles, potentially occupying 330 to 375 feet of street. The lone public speaker, resident and planning commissioner Jacob Wasserman — calling in from New York at 1:25 a.m. and speaking for himself — objected to the extension. He argued it was unfair to single out autonomous vehicles when gas stations operate around the clock within 100 feet of homes, said a two-year term was too long, and contended the matter should go to the Planning Commission rather than be handled as an emergency. Mayor Caroline Torosis said the council had explained why the situation qualified as an emergency. Zwick asked whether staff could develop a permanent ordinance simultaneously; Yeo said that was the ultimate goal. The ordinance passed 7-0.