MINUTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2007 MEETING OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SANTA
MONICA
SUSTAINABLE CITY TASK FORCE
Task Force members in attendance: Jim Reis, Laura
Berland Shane, Leonard Mitchell, Mark Olson, Al Rosen, Jen Wolch, Sandy Grant,
Dennis Woods, Christina Erickson, Carol Rosskam
Staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Dean Kubani,
Shannon Parry
Public in attendance: Samantha West and Ken Koslow
The meeting was convened at 7:20pm.
Public
Input on Agenda Items
Mark Olson announced Edison’s
Summer Discount Plan for residents and businesses. The programs allow customers to save money
while helping California
to avoid a power emergency.
Approval of
Minutes from the January 8th, 2006 meeting
Al Rosen moved to approve the minutes. Laura Berland
Shane seconded and the minutes were approved unanimously. Jennifer Wolch abstained.
Update on
the Sustainability Advisory Team
Shannon Parry gave the update.
The Sustainability Advisory Team met on Monday, February 12, 2007 to
move forward with their plans to develop strategies to express sustainability
throughout the city of Santa Monica,
coordinate city activities to ensure consistency with the Sustainable City
Plan, and provide guidance for future sustainability efforts.
Update on the
Community Sustainability Liaison
Shannon Parry gave the update.
In January 2007, staff released an RFP for the Community Sustainability
Liaison and received five proposals. In
February 2007, members of the Sustainable City Task Force and staff from EPD
reviewed proposals. Interviews with four finalists are scheduled for mid
February. Based on the proposals and
interviews the review panel will recommend the Community Sustainability
Liaison.
Discussion
and Recommendations Regarding Solid Waste
Craig Perkins introduced the item.
The City has recently released two RFPs relevant to solid waste. The
first addresses solid waste transfer and disposal and the second addresses
commercial solid waste collection. The proposals for both RFPs are due in early
April. Proposals will be reviewed by the Solid Waste Evaluation Team. The Solid Waste
Evaluation Team will include 3 city staff
persons, 1 representative from the Task Force on the Environment, and 1
industry consultant.
Craig Perkins discussed the issues of solid waste transfer and disposal
and commercial solid waste collection in relationship to the goals, indicators
and targets defined in the Sustainable City Plan (SCP). He noted that changes
will be needed in both solid waste transfer and disposal and commercial solid
waste collection in order to meet the waste reduction and diversion targets set
forth in the SCP.
During discussion, Al Rosen asked that the SCTF be
included in the discussion of major issues such as solid waste earlier on in
the process. Craig
Perkins responded that this is the appropriate time for the
Task Force be involved and express the community needs and the SCP objectives.
Laura Berland Shane enquired about discrepancies in
the consultant report and the Sustainable City Progress Report. Craig Perkins
acknowledged that the answer is complex, but said that generally the report reflects
only CSM services while the Sustainable City Progress Report reflects total
community-wide waste diversion.
Leonard Mitchell suggested the city consider moving
towards a zero waste and 100% return/reuse scenario. He suggested that this would allow the city
to return some economic benefit to its rate payers.
Subcommittee Meetings
The
subcommittees met.
Subcommittee Reports
The
Resource Conservation, Environmental and Public Health and Economic Development
subcommittees continue to develop their work plans and define implementation
measures.
Liaison
Updates (20 min)
Sandy Grant provided an update on the PTSA energy
fair. Shannon
Parry provided a copy of the LUCE update to Task Force
members. Al Rosen gave an update on
Solar Santa Monica which included information about the preferred vendor
selection process.
Discussion
and Recommendations Regarding Future Sustainability Presentations and Agenda
Items
The Task Force requested that future agenda items
include a follow-up on the solid waste report and a presentation by staff
summarizing the findings from the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Sustainability
Director’s Conference.
Mark Olson requested a Discussion and Recommendations
Regarding Council Liaison’s be added to the March 12, 2007 agenda.
Public
Input on Non-Agendized Items
There was no public input on non-agendized items.
Comments
and Announcements
Shannon Parry made the following announcements:
- The Santa
Monica Public Library is presenting the Sustainable Cinema series.
- The Main
Branch of the Santa Monica Public Library received LEED Gold
certification.
- The 2007
Sustainable Quality awards will be on May 15th at the Fairmont
Miramar Hotel.
Laura Berland Shane commented on the importance of
the council liaison to the Sustainable City Task Force’s work.
Christina Erickson announced the Harvard Business
School’s Cleantech in LA :A
New Balance in Power on Tuesday, February 27th from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Luxe Hotel.
The Community Forum on Smoke-free apartments will be
held on Wednesday, February 28th from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Santa Monica Public
Library.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40pm.
