CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUSTAINABLE CITY TASK FORCE

The meeting was convened at 7:15 p.m. SCTF members in attendance: Sandy Grant, Jennifer Wolch, Christina Erickson, Roe Johnston, Dennis Woods, Mark Olson, Jim Ries, Terry O’Day, and Genevieve Bertone (SCTF members Euripides De Oliveira and Leonard Mitchell were absent). Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Susan McCarthy, Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Paul Scott, John Zinner, Barbara Filet, and Ken Koslow.

Introductions and Welcome

Following self-introductions, City Manager Susan McCarthy and Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown welcomed the SCTF members and thanked them for volunteering their time to participate on the SCTF and for their commitment to promoting sustainability in the community.

Discussion Regarding the Role of the Sustainable City Task Force

Staff presented the motion adopted by City Council in October 2003 that created the SCTF and outlined the role of the group. The primary roles of the SCTF, as defined by Council, are to 1) advise Council and staff during development and adoption of an implementation strategy for the Sustainable City Plan, 2) assist Council and staff with a public information campaign about the SCP following adoption of the implementation strategy, and 3) interact with City Boards and Commissions and with other organizations and institutions in the City to inform and involve them in SCP-related matters.

Presentation on Sustainable City Plan History, Development, Structure, Governance and Implementation

Dean Kubani presented information on the history and development of the Sustainable City Plan, outlined the community process undertaken in 2001-02 to update and expand the SCP, and described the City’s accomplishments to date, the current organizational structure for implementing the plan, the reporting format, and current efforts by the City to promote sustainability in the community.

Discussion Regarding Sustainable City Plan Implementation and Timeline

Dean Kubani presented information on the staff Sustainability Advisory Team, which is preparing an implementation strategy, focusing primarily on City operations, to help the City as an organization achieve the SCP goals. The SAT is in the process of compiling data on current and planned programs, policies and activities by the City that support the goals of the SCP. Future work will entail identifying and addressing areas where gaps or conflicts exist and ways to improve organizational efficiency to better meet the SCP goals. The SAT plans to complete a first draft of this internal implementation strategy by spring 2005 and has set a target of completion of a final draft for presentation to Council by June 2005. Staff will periodically update the SCTF on the SAT’s progress and present draft materials for review. The SCTF’s role in the development of the implementation plan will focus primarily on ways to involve community stakeholders (residents, businesses, institutions and organizations) in achieving the SCP goals. The SCTF and SAT strategies will be consolidated and presented to Council in June 2005.

Discussion Regarding SCTF Logistics

Dennis Woods made the following motion: Until a more permanent meeting schedule for the SCTF is adopted, the SCTF will meet on the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7pm. This motion was unanimously adopted. The next meeting will take place on July 14, 2004 with agenda items to include a discussion of bylaws and election of chair and vice chair for the group. SCTF members agreed that they should hold a retreat in August to begin development of the SCP implementation strategy. Dennis Woods, Genevieve Bertone and Sandy Grant volunteered to sit on a Retreat Sub-Committee to work with staff to plan the retreat.

Public Input

There was no public input

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 pm