Sustainable City Plan - Glossary
active recreation: recreational opportunities including sports
and other activities that typically require playing fields, facilities
or equipment.
affordable housing: any housing that is
deed restricted for, and occupied by, households earning less than 120%
of the Los Angeles County median family income.
alternative fuel vehicles:
vehicles that operate on fuels other than gasoline or traditional
diesel. Alternative fuel vehicles include those that operate using
compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG), propane,
electricity, hybrid of gasoline and electricity, biodiesel and hydrogen.
alternative (and/or sustainable) modes of transportation:
for the purpose of this document alternative (and/or sustainable) modes
of transportation include transportation by public transit (bus or
rail), bicycle, walking, or alternative fuel vehicles.
average vehicle ridership (AVR):
a measurement of vehicle occupancy indicating the average number of
persons traveling in a measured number of vehicles. AVR is an indicator
of the effectiveness of and participation in ridesharing programs.
bike lane/path/route:
As defined in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan, a bike lane is a signed
and striped lane along a roadway for use by bicycles. Other types of
bicycle ways in the city are bike paths and bike routes. A bike path is
a dedicated bicycle way that completely separates bicycles from motor
vehicles. Bike routes are signed routes which bicyclists share with
motor vehicles. Bike routes differ from bike lanes in that routes do
not include any striping on the roadway - they are only designated by
signage.
community: for the purpose of this document,
whenever the term community is used it is meant to include the
following groups: individuals of all ages, races and abilities;
organizations; government agencies; businesses; employers; employees;
residents; property owners; renters; visitors; schools; students;
public and private service agencies; faith communities; and local media.
companion animals: animals kept by residents in their homes, yards, or other properties, for purposes of providing mutual companionship.
clean distributed generation:
distributed generation refers to generation of electricity at or near
the location where that electricity will be used. This differs from
traditional electricity generation, which occurs at centralized power
plants and is distributed over hundreds of miles to millions of
customers through the electricity “grid”. For the purpose of this
document, clean distributed generation (in order of preferred
technology type) refers to 1) renewable distributed generation,
including electricity generated by solar photovoltaic systems, fuel
cells (powered by hydrogen generated from solar, wind, or other
non-fossil fuel, renewable energy technologies), and small wind
generators; 2) electricity generated by high efficiency (i.e., meeting
or exceeding efficiency of large natural gas power plants) natural gas
generators and fuel cells using hydrogen generated through a natural
gas catalyst; and 3) medium scale, high-efficiency co-generation
systems (powered by natural gas) serving many properties located within
close proximity of each other. Clean distributed generation does not
include electricity generated by gasoline or diesel powered generators.
diversion:
in reference to solid waste, diversion refers to all waste that is kept
out of a landfill through recycling, beneficial reuse, composting, or
other means.
ecological footprint: The ecological
footprint is a tool to help measure human impacts on local and global
ecosystems. The ecological footprint of a given population (household,
community, country) is the total area of ecologically productive land
and water used exclusively to produce all the resources (including
food, fuel, and fiber) consumed and to assimilate all the wastes
generated by that population. Since we use resources from all over the
world and affect far away places with our wastes, the footprint is a
sum of these ecological areas — wherever that land and water may be on
the planet. Thus the ecological footprint of Santa Monica is that area
of productive land inside and outside its borders that is appropriated
for its resource consumption or waste assimilation. There is a finite
area of ecologically productive land and water on the Earth, which must
be shared among 6 billion people as well as all of the planet’s other
species. The amount of ecologically productive land available globally
at today’s current population is approximately 5 acres per person. The
ecological footprint of the average American is approximately 25 acres,
far exceeding the “fair earthshare”. The ecological footprint is an
excellent tool for illustrating the magnitude of the change necessary
for our world to become sustainable. It is also useful for evaluating
and comparing the total environmental impact of specific activities and
in this way, helpful for decision-making.
environmentally preferable:
a product, service, activity or process that has a lesser or reduced
effect on human health and the environment when compared to other
products, services, activities or processes that serve the same purpose.
extended producer responsibility:
responsibility of producers or manufacturers across the entire life
cycle of their products, particularly to the post-consumer stage (after
products are discarded and become waste). Typically once a product is
sold to a consumer the responsibility of disposing of that product
becomes the responsibility of the consumer. Extended producer
responsibility requires that the producer of the product maintain
responsibility for recycling or proper disposal of the product once it
has surpassed its useful life.
green: for the purpose of
this document, green is used as shorthand to refer to any
environmentally preferable product, activity, service or process.
green housing: housing that meets or exceeds the requirements of the City's Green Building Design and Construction Guidelines.
greenhouse gas (GHG):
greenhouse gases are natural and manmade gases in the earth’s
atmosphere that allow incoming solar radiation to pass through the
atmosphere and warm the earth but trap radiant heat given off by the
earth. The radiant heat absorbed by these gases heats the atmosphere.
This is a natural process known as the “greenhouse effect” that keeps
the earth habitable. The four primary greenhouse gases are carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Since the onset of the industrial period,
human activities have lead to sharp increases in the levels of GHGs in
the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and contributing to
rising global temperatures.
hazardous material: a
material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or
chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential
hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released
into the workplace or the environment.
hazardous waste: a
waste or combination of wastes which, because of its quantity,
concentration, or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may
cause or significantly contribute to an increase in serious,
irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness or pose a
substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety,
welfare or to the environment when improperly treated, stored,
transported, used or disposed of, or otherwise managed.
household hazardous waste (HHW):
hazardous waste that is generated by residents through the use of
hazardous or potentially hazardous products in the home. Typical
household hazardous wastes include spent batteries, cleaning products,
pesticides, paints and solvents.
HHW collection facility:
a permanent facility maintained by the City for the collection and
proper recycling or disposal of hazardous waste generated by Santa
Monica residents and small quantities of hazardous waste generated by
Santa Monica businesses. This is provided as a free service to Santa
Monica residents. The facility is located at 2500 Michigan Avenue. Call
(310) 458-8255 for more information.
Income levels: With
respect to the indicators of housing affordability the following are
definitions of the income levels mentioned in this document:
Very low income: annual earnings between 0 and 50% of the Los Angeles County Median Family income (MFI)
Low income: annual earnings between 51 and 80% MFI
Moderate income: annual earnings between 81 and 120% MFI
Upper income: annual earnings above 120% MFI
LEED TM certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design):
A rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council
(USGBC) that sets definitive standards for what constitutes a green or
environmentally preferable building. The certification system is
self-assessing and is designed for rating new and existing commercial,
institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. It evaluates
environmental performance of the entire building over the building's
life cycle. LEED certifications are awarded at various levels
(certified, silver, gold, and platinum) according to a point-based
scoring system.
level of service (LOS): a concept used to
describe street intersection operating conditions. It is based on
average vehicle delay measurements and/or the volume/capacity ratio of
the intersection in question. LOS grades range from A to F with A
representing excellent (free-flow) conditions and F representing
extreme traffic congestion. For the purpose of this document, LOS grade
D represents marginally acceptable levels of traffic and grades E and F
represent unacceptable levels. A definition of level of service for
sustainable modes of transportation will be developed as part of the
update of the Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan scheduled
for adoption in 2003.
livable housing: housing that is
within close proximity to neighborhood serving commercial areas,
transit stops and community resources such as parks and open space.
local:
the term local has different definitions depending upon the context in
which it is used in this document. These are described below:
1. Where local is used in reference to the economy (“local economy” or
“local businesses”) it refers to Santa Monica’s economy or businesses
located within Santa Monica.
2. Local government agencies refer to any agencies or departments of the Santa Monica city government.
3. Where local refers to food production (“locally produced”) it refers
to food grown in the southern half of the state of California
4. Where local refers to resources, it refers to resources obtained or impacted within a 500-mile radius of Santa Monica.
mixed-use projects: developments which incorporate both residential and commercial uses.
modal split:
the split in use of various transportation modes including: single
passenger vehicles; carpools of more than one passenger; bus; rail;
bicycle; and pedestrian modes.
multi-modal transportation system:
a transportation system that includes affordable, alternative modes of
transportation such as public transit, and infrastructure and access
for alternative fueled vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, in addition
to standard vehicular transportation.
native species: plant or animal species native to the southern California bioregion.
natural function/wildlife habitat:
geographic areas that provide life-supportive functions associated with
atmospheric, biological, biochemical and hydrological processes that
keep our air and water clean, process waste and support survival and
reproduction of plant and animal life.
non-renewable resources: natural resources that have a finite availability worldwide. Examples include coal, oil and other petroleum products.
open space:
for the purpose of this document open space refers to all land uses
defined as open space in the Open Space Element of the City of Santa
Monica’s General Plan. These include beaches, parks, public gathering
places, usable green open space in street medians, scenic highway
corridors, gardens, and other publicly accessible land.
passive recreation:
recreational opportunities that occur in a natural setting which
require minimal development or facilities, and the importance of the
environment or setting for the activities is greater than in developed
or active recreation settings.
PBTs (persistent bioaccumulative toxics):
chemicals that are toxic, persist in the environment and bioaccumulate
in food chains and, thus, pose risks to human health and the
environment. The term PBT is used primarily by the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its preparation of a list of such
chemicals that will receive special regulatory emphasis in the United
States.
POPs (persistent organic pollutants): Organic
chemical substances that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate
in food chains and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human
health and the environment. The term POPs is commonly used in the
context of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and are
subject to international negotiations aiming toward their global
elimination.
Note: The primary difference between the PBTs
and POPs is that the list of PBTs includes non-organic toxins that are
not included on the list of POPs.
potable: suitable for drinking
qualified low emission / alternative fuel vehicles:
Vehicles recognized by the State of California as being low emission
and/or alternative fuel vehicles. These vehicles exceed the basic
standards all new vehicles must meet to be sold in California and
include low emission vehicles (LEVs), ultra low emission vehicles
(ULEVs), super ultra low emission vehicles (SULEVs) and zero emission
vehicles (ZEVs). Additional information about these vehicle
designations can be found on the internet at California Air Resources
Board - Cleaner Car Buyers' Guide
rainy day: for the purpose of this document, a rainy day is any day with recorded precipitation greater than .1” in 24 hours.
recognized neighborhood organization: Tax-exempt, non-profit organization representing a commonly recognized neighborhood in Santa Monica.
regionally appropriate vegetation:
plant and tree species that are environmentally appropriate for the
Southern California region and that do not negatively impact native
plants or animals. A specific list of regionally appropriate vegetation
for Santa Monica will be developed in 2003.
rehabilitated housing:
rehabilitation that increases by 25% or more the after-rehab value of
the property; or a rehabilitation in which at least fifty percent of
exterior walls have been removed or relocated for any duration of time.
renewable limits:
harvesting resources within renewable limits refers to harvesting a
renewable resource at a rate that is lower than the rate the resource
can replace itself (e.g. catching fish at a rate that will allow the
fish population to be maintained over time. If too many fish are
caught, exceeding renewable limits, the fish population will decline).
The terms renewable limits and sustainable limits are synonymous.
renewable resources:
natural resources that have an unlimited supply (such as solar
radiation) or that can be renewed indefinitely if ecosystem health is
maintained (e.g. fisheries or forests).
routine: for the
purpose of this document, routine, when describing generation of
hazardous waste by City government operations, refers to regular and
consistent operational practices such as vehicle maintenance, regular
cleaning procedures, etc. Non-routine refers to hazardous waste
generated during unanticipated events such as chemical spills or leaks.
Santa Monica cost of living index (SMCOLI):
Los Angeles County cost of living for a two-person household adjusted
for the cost of housing in Santa Monica. SMCOLI for 2000 is $21,800 (LA
County cost of living) x 1.46 = $31,828. The 1.46 multiplication factor
refers to the relative cost of housing in Santa Monica as compared to
the average for Los Angeles County, based on the Housing Authority
Survey of Rents.
significant emissions source: sources of
toxic air contaminants and other air emissions that pose a threat to
human health and the environment. A specific list of significant
emission sources within Santa Monica will be developed in the course of
tracking this indicator.
SMMUSD: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
special needs groups:
with respect to affordable housing, special needs groups refers to the
elderly, disabled persons, large families, female-headed families, and
the homeless.
sustainable: sustainable can mean slightly
different things depending on the context in which it is used. For the
purpose of this document, the following definitions are used:
sustainable (in reference to resource use): a method of harvesting or using a resource so that resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.
sustainable business:
for the purpose of this document, sustainable business refers to a
business that provides goods and services, and/or has incorporated into
its daily operations practices that result in cleaner air and water,
less waste and pollution, conservation of energy and natural resources,
less traffic, improved quality of life for residents and workers, and
contribute to a strong and viable local economy.
sustainable community/city:
a community or city that meets its present needs without sacrificing
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. More
specifically, a sustainable community is one that improves and enhances
its natural, social and economic resources in ways that allow current
and future members of the community to lead healthy, productive and
satisfying lives.
sustainable modes of transportation/travel: same as alternative modes of transportation above
sustainable procurement:
procurement of environmentally preferable goods and services in a way
that also takes into consideration social responsibility and
sustainable economic development issues in the manufacture,
transportation, sale and use of those goods and services.
toxic material: a substance that causes illness, injury or death by chemical means. A poison.
toxic air contaminants (TACs):
air pollutants which may cause or contribute to an increase in
mortality or serious illness, or which may pose a present or potential
hazard to human health.
transit node: a station for
public transportation along a regional transit corridor (usually rail
or rapid bus) with access routes for buses, taxis, automobiles,
bicycles and pedestrians.
urban villages: mixed-use
developments in walkable, livable and transit-oriented districts that
balance the need for sufficient density to support convenient,
high-frequency transit service within the scale of the adjacent
community.
vehicle miles traveled (VMT): one vehicle
traveling one mile constitutes a vehicle mile. VMT is primarily an
indicator of automobile use. Increasing VMT typically corresponds with
increases in traffic and vehicle-related pollution.
zero emissions vehicle (ZEV): motor vehicle that produces neither tailpipe nor evaporative pollutant emissions.
zero waste:
recycling or reuse of all natural and man made materials back into
nature or the marketplace rather than sending those materials landfills
or similar disposal options. |
Last updated: Wednesday, 01/19/2011
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