Council appoints Jay Baldwin as poet laureate and removes future council approval for the post

The Santa Monica City Council approved the appointment of Jay Baldwin as the city's 20262028 poet laureate and voted to amend the resolution establishing the program to remove future council approval for appointments.

During the consent calendar, the council moved the appointment of Jay Baldwin. Council members offered brief remarks thanking the inaugural laureate, Anne, and welcoming Jay. Council then discussed a proposed amendment to the program resolution that would delegate appointment authority to library staff rather than requiring future council approval; the motion to amend and approve the appointment carried on a voice/roll call vote with Mayor Pro Tem Zwick absent at the time.

Council members emphasized they would still have opportunities to recognize laureates at future meetings, and city staff said a recognition is planned for the April 11 council meeting. The amendment was described during the motion as intended to streamline the administrative process for future appointments.

The council's action transfers the administrative appointment function to library staff; the council retained the ability to recognize laureates at future meetings.