MINUTES

AUGUST 13, 2007 MEETING OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUSTAINABLE CITY TASK FORCE

 

 

The meeting was convened at 7:15pm.

 

Sustainable City Task Force members in attendance:  Mark Olson, Al Rosen, Jim Ries, Jennifer Wolch, Sandy Grant, Dennis Woods, Carol Rosskam, and Leonard Mitchell. City staff in attendance: Shannon Parry. Members of the public in attendance:  Community Sustainability Liaison Traci Reitz, Council Member Pam O’Connor, and Louisa Fish.

 

Public Input on Agenda Items

Louisa Fish requested that she be able to formally comment on each agenda item as it is discussed.  She feels that it is difficult to provide relevant public input on an agenda item prior to the Task Force’s discussion.  The Task Force acknowledged her comments and the impacts of having the opportunity for public comment on agenda items consolidated at the beginning of the meeting, but chose not to make a formal motion to change the opportunities for public comment at this time.

 

Approval of Minutes from the June 11, 2007 meeting

Mark Olson made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 11, 2007 meeting. This motion was seconded by Sandy Grant.  Sandy Grant requested the minutes be amended to reflect that Shannon Parry gave the SMMUSD liaison update. Jim Ries requested the minutes be amended to reflect that he provided the Task Force on the Environment update relating to the transition from a polluting garment industry to a sustainable garment care industry.  Dennis Woods requested the minutes be amended to include the addition of the clean, green and healthy add campaign being utilized by municipal governments nationally to communicate sustainability to their constituents. He also requested the minutes reflect his request that the Community Sustainability Liaison develop a database and tracking system to organize her endeavors.

 

The amended minutes were approved unanimously. Carol Rosskam, Al Rosen, Laura Berland-Shane, and Jennifer Wolch abstained

 

Update on the Sustainability Advisory Team

Shannon Parry introduced the item.  The Sustainability Advisory Team is scheduled to meet on Monday, August 27, 2007 to review the preliminary findings for the 2007 Sustainable City Report Card and Sustainable City Progress Report.  They will also be reviewing the outreach materials for the Polystyrene and Non-Recyclable Food Packaging outreach materials and identifying ways to increase compliance with the ordinance for city sponsored events, city permitted events and city managed concessions.

 

Update from the Community Sustainability Liaison

Traci Reitz introduced the item.  She requested the Task Force members fill out the contact sheet included as an attachment in this month’s packet as well as sign up for the e-newsletter by visiting www.sustainablesantamonica.org.  Traci Reitz reported on the development of a tracking system for her community contacts as well as the community resources she id identifying.  The tracking system is very basic at this point, but will be developed into a more sophisticated database system over time.  Traci Reitz reviewed her progress in developing community outreach tools, including the sustainable city postcards and brochure.  She also highlighted the development of partner relation and the importance of bringing partners together. She has hosted a number of meetings with community groups and is working to tie existing programs in the sustainable city plan.

 

After discussion, Laura Berland Shane recommended that Traci Reitz contact the Sustainable Business Council as part of her community engagement and outreach strategy.   

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Sustainable City Plan Report Card

The Task Force reviewed and discussed the preliminary findings for the 2007 Sustainable City Report Card and Sustainable City Progress Report.  After discussion, the Task Force highlighted the importance of consistent and transparent reporting as a mechanism to increase community support, engage stakeholders and identify obstacles to meeting our aggressive sustainability goals in Santa Monica.

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Sustainable City Plan Implementation

The Task Force reviewed three proposed motions included in the Task Force packet. 

 

The first motion was in support of the Venice Family Clinic /Edison Language Academy Sustainable Walkway Project. Sandy Grant felt the proposed motion suggested the project promoted walkability and safe routes to schools. She did not feel the project proposal detailed this specifically and requested the proposed motion be amended to reflect the Task Force’s recommendation that the project be designed to enhance walkability and provide safe routes to school.  After discussion, the Task Force approved the following motion unanimously:

 

Motion 1:

The Sustainable City Task Force supports the Venice Family Clinic /Edison Language Academy Sustainable Walkway Project in concept.  This project is consistent with a number of the goals established by the community and expressed in the Sustainable City Plan. This project offers opportunities to incorporate Santa Monica friendly landscaping, urban runoff mitigations and other sustainability features.   In addition, the Task Force recommends this project promote pedestrian friendliness, enhances walkability, provides safe routes to school, and contribute to a reduction in vehicle miles traveled.

 

Laura Berland Shane abstained from the vote.

 

The second and third motions were proposed by the Resource Conservation subcommittee and addressed zero waste initiatives and water conservation measures.

 

Mark Olson commented on the importance of having a community wide commitment to zero waste, but encouraged the Task Force to consider the impacts of a plastic bag ban on the business community. He requested the proposed motion be amended to reflect a request for additional study of the impacts of a plastic bag ban as opposed to the original language which reflected a desire to ban plastic bags. The Task Force agreed that a study of the impacts of a plastic bag ban was important.   After discussion, the Task Force approved the following motion unanimously:

 

Motion 2:

The SCTF recommends the Sustainable City Plan waste diversion target be enhanced to continue to aggressively address waste issues.  The SCTF recommends the city achieve 75% waste diversion by 2010, 85% waste diversion by 2015 and 90% waste diversion by 2020.  90% waste diversion is recognized as being zero waste.   In order to attain these goals the SCTF suggests the city consider the following measures among others:

¨       Require zero waste at all city events and city sponsored events

¨       Provide recycling in public spaces

¨       Provide  recycling in parks and open space as well as the beach

¨       Ban the municipal purchase of plastic water bottles

¨       Provide comprehensive food waste collection

¨       Study a ban on the use of plastic bags for retail and grocery stores

 

After a brief discussion, the Task Force approved the following motion unanimously:

Motion 3:

Santa Monica Ordinance SMCC 7.16.02 d provides that:  "All eating and drinking establishments of any kind whatsoever including, but not limited to, any restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar or club, whether public or private, shall only provide drinking water to any person upon receipt of an express request." 

 

Santa Monica’s no waste water ordinance is an important tool for protecting natural resources during this time of regional drought. The SCTF believes that this ordinance could be made more effective by raising the awareness of the requirement to patrons and business owners.  We therefore strongly urge the City Council to amend the ordinance to reflect the following additional requirement as follows:

 

"All eating and drinking establishments shall prominently post a sign with letters at least 2 inches high, which says substantially 'In accordance with the requirements of Santa Monica Ordinance SMCC 7.16.02 d, drinking water will be served only upon request."

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Task Force Resignation

Sandy Grant announced her resignation from the Sustainable City Task Force. The Task Force thanked her for her consistent commitment to sustainability and encouraged her to stay engaged as a community member.  Sandy Grant highlighted the importance of the Task Force’s work and encouraged the Task Force members to stay involved in engaging the community around the Sustainable City Plan and to find tangible ways for individuals and institutions to participate in reaching the goals established in the Sustainable City Plan.  Sandy Grant requested the Task Force members look at developing tools to market sustainability in the community and elicit support in the form of behavior change. She also stated the importance of further integrating the Sustainable City Pan into the Land Use and Circulation Elements. Finally, Sandy encouraged the Task Force to be actively engaged in the update of the Housing Element and to ensure its consistency with the Sustainable City Pan goals.

 

After discussion, Shannon Parry reviewed the September 12, 2005 Task Force attendance motion. The motion states that:

 

All members of the Sustainable City Task Force are required to attend at least nine Task Force meetings per year. Except for special circumstances, as defined by a majority of Task Force members, failure to attend requisite number of meetings will result in forfeiture of Task Force membership.

 

Shannon Parry asked Task Force members to review their attendance record and make a commitment to attending all regularly scheduled Task Force meetings.

 

Due to Sandy Grant’s resignation, Shannon Parry will be posting an opening on the Sustainable City Task Force, reviewing applications and interviewing potential candidates. In an effort to streamline this process, she requested that any other Task Force member consider resigning contact her and let her know prior to the October 2007 meeting.  The Task Force agreed.

 

Dennis Woods reiterated the importance of active engagement in the Task Force and encouraged Task Force members to communicate with staff about their role and the direction of the Task Force.

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Task Force Liaisons

After a brief discussion, the Task Force decided to postpone the appointment of new liaisons until the October 2007 Task Force meeting.

 

Liaison Updates

Al Rosen provided the Solar Santa Monica update.  Solar Santa Monica is moving forward.  A number of solar installations have been completed or are in process.  Al Rosen commented on some of the obstacles Solar Santa Monica is facing. These include changes in solar rebates that provide minimal financial incentives for solar installation.  He also announced the Solar Santa Monica Seminar Series at the Santa Monica Main Library.  The series is held on, Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m.

 

Dennis Woods and Shannon Parry provided the Land Use and Circulation Elements update. The Planning and Community Development Department held a half-day workshop to explore the future of the City’s Industrial areas on Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Santa Monica College. This workshop was one in a series of community workshops to develop the Land Use and Circulation Elements. Nearly 100 residents, property owners and members of the business community participated, receiving information and engaging in a dialogue about their vision for this area, which contains critical components of the City’s economic and social diversity.  As part of the LUCE process, the workshop sought to identify issues relevant to the area’s built environment and transportation network in order to frame the City’s land use, urban design, and transportation vision for the next 20 years.

 

Mark Olson provided the Chamber of Commerce update.   The Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental Affairs Committee is hosting a speaker’s series and workshops to engage businesses in green practices. The Environmental Affairs Committee has also developed a Green team to reach out to the business community, the business improvement districts and other local entitles to provide information on sustainable programs and policies as well as provide green resources.

 

Shannon Parry provided the Convention and Visitors Bureau update.  The Convention and Visitors Bureau Education Committee continues to work on the “I Know Santa Monica” professional development program.

 

Public Input on Non-Agendized Items

Louisa Fish commented on the 20 Gallon Challenge.  She was pleased to see the ad in the Santa Monica daily Press and was encouraged to call the hotline to find out more information. Her call was directed to voicemail and she requested that the voicemail message provide more educational information. She also commented that the educational materials she received were single sided copies and sent from out of state. She requested the 20 Gallon Challenge outreach efforts be consistent with our sustainability goals.

 

Council Member Pam O’Connor announced that she has been appointed Chair of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.  She has convened a sustainability task force and will be looking for opportunities to integrate sustainable practices throughout the organization and its operations.

 

Comments and Announcements

Shannon Parry informed the Task Force of a presentation she gave on sustainable city planning to the City of Redondo Beach Green Task Force. The presentation was successful and highlighted the importance of sharing Santa Monica’s sustainability successes with communities throughout the southern California region.

Congress woman Jane Harman’s office will be organizing a workshop for Mayors and council members, city staff, and Green Task Force members from cities who are members of the South Bay Council of Governments on Monday, September 17th, 2007.  The workshop will answer general to technical questions about ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection program as well as a case study presentation on the City of Santa Monica’s Sustainable City Plan.

Shannon Parry commented on AB32 and the city’s efforts to reduce green house gas emissions.  The Environmental Programs Division has received funds to perform a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and to have the emissions certified and registered with the California Climate Action Registry.

Louisa Fish requested that the city pay particular attention to the Jewish Holidays while planning September Sustainability Month events.

 

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45pm.