SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica City Council has taken-up a resolution against oil drilling in Santa Monica Bay.

Since city officials have no power over oil drilling propositions, the resolution was symbolic in nature, making it an official response to the potential return of oil drilling in Hermosa Beach.

In March 2015, the citizens of Hermosa Beach will consider revoking a two-decade ban on oil-drilling.

E&B Natural Resources, a Bakersfield-based oil and gas company, is pursuing permission to place an 87-foot oil rig on the Hermosa Beach shoreline, sinking 34 wells into the bay using a technique known as slant drilling.

Oil drilling has been banned in Hermosa Beach since 1995, ending their lease with the Macpherson Oil Company, who then sold its oil-drilling rights to E&B.

The city of Hermosa Beach is trying to balance environmental concerns with the potential for profit from the oil industry. The city would also have to figure out how to pay back a $17.5 million loan that it accepted from E&B.