MINUTES

AUGUST 9, 2004 SPECIAL MEETING (RETREAT) OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUSTAINABLE CITY TASK FORCE

 

The meeting was convened at 12:05 p.m.  SCTF members in attendance: Genevieve Bertone, Jim Ries, Jennifer Wolch, Christina Erickson, Euripedes DeOliveira, Dennis Woods, Sandy Grant, Leonard Mitchell, Mark Olson and Terry O’Day (SCTF member Roe Johnston was unable to attend).  Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Brian Johnson and Dean Kubani.  Others: Doug Kruschke, Louisa Fish and Council member Mike Feinstein.

 

Public Input on Agenda Items

Louisa Fish discussed the need for improved transportation options in Santa Monica and feels that Big Blue Bus service can be improved; discussed her concerns about the availability and affordability of senior housing in the city; and expressed concern about the conditions of some sidewalks in the city which limits walkability, especially for seniors.

 

Introduction and Welcome / Teambuilding Exercise / Communication Guidelines

SCTF chair Sandy Grant opened the meeting and discussed the goals of the retreat and the agenda for the day.  Facilitator Doug Kruschke then led the group in a teambuilding exercise, followed by a process to establish communication guidelines for the meeting. 

 

Input and Discussion Regarding Sustainability, the Sustainable City Plan and the Role of the SCTF

SCTF members presented their individual perspectives on sustainability in general and on the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan.  This was followed by general discussion among the group.  SCTF member agreed that their role with respect to the SCP is to 1) develop an implementation strategy necessary to achieve the SCP goals; 2) document the benefits to the community of achieving the goals; and 3) communicate those benefits to the community in a compelling way.

Discussion of Framework for Implementing the Sustainable City Plan

Doug Kruschke led this discussion.  SCTF members agreed that the implementation strategy will:

·         Target date for completion is July 1, 2005 (this is felt to be an aggressive target)

·         include a set of tools to address specific SCP goals (including process tools and meetings with stakeholders)

·         identify accountability for action steps

·         identify target audiences

·         identify interim goals for indicators

·         identify priority actions

·         clarify who will operationalize the implementation strategy on a day-to-day basis

·         be a published plan with action items that lead to quantified results/outcomes

·         have a critical mass of buy-in from community stakeholders

·         address any large scale system changes that need to be achieved in order to meet the SCP goals

·         integrate with other long range City planning efforts such as updates of the Land Use and Circulation Elements of the General Plan

SCTF members also agreed that a “gap analysis” that assesses current progress toward SCP goals and identifies gaps and opportunities be completed to help guide development and prioritization of the implementation strategy.

 

Following this the group identified the following local stakeholder groups who should be invited to participate in development of the implementation strategy:  RAND, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, hospitals and medical facilities, property owners, local political organizations, including Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, the hospitality industry, unions, faith communities, and neighborhood organizations.  Groups from outside of Santa Monica to involve include: the LA County Supervisors, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, California EPA, and Southern California Association of Governments.  At this point the discussion was tabled and scheduled to be continued at the August 11, 2004 SCTF meeting.

 

Public Input on Non-Agendized Matters

Louisa Fish commented that conducting a gap analysis would be helpful in the development of the implementation strategy.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm