MINUTES

NOVEMBER 12, 2007 MEETING OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUSTAINABLE CITY TASK FORCE

 

 

The meeting was convened at 7:30pm.

 

Sustainable City Task Force members in attendance:  Jim Ries, Dennis Woods, Al Rosen, Christina Erikson, Carol Rosskam and Laura Berland Shane. City staff in attendance: Dean Kubani, Stuart Cooley and Shannon Parry. Members of the public in attendance:  Community Sustainability Liaison Traci Reitz and Greg Reitz.

 

 

Public Input on Agenda Items

There was no public input on agenda items.

 

Approval of Minutes from the September 10, 2007 meeting

Dennis Woods made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 10, 2007 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Approval of Minutes from the October 8, 2007 meeting

Dennis Woods made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 8, 2007 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Update from the Community Sustainability Liaison

Traci Reitz introduced the item.  She presented the tiered levels of commitment for the Sustainable City Plan.  After discussion, Dennis Woods made a motion to approve the tiered levels of commitment as presented by Traci Reitz and detailed in Attachment 1 of the Sustainable City Task Force packet. The motion was passed unanimously.

 

 Traci Reitz also asked each of the Task Force members to identify community organizations, neighborhood groups, schools and other stakeholder groups with which they are affiliated so that the Task Force and the Community Sustainability Liaison can work together to utilize the tiered levels of commitment as an effective outreach and community engagement tool.

 

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings

Greg Reitz, Founder and Principal at REthink Development, introduced the item. He complimented the city on its progressive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design- New Construction (LEED-NC) policies.  He then encouraged the city to look beyond the limited supply of new construction and look at the possibility of high performance standards for existing buildings. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design- Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) is the international standard for operating and maintaining high performing buildings.  Greg Reitz presented his experience working on the pilot LEED-EB project at Santa Monica City Hall as well as his experience working on LEED-EB projects for the private sector.

 

Greg Reitz highlighted the barriers to implementing LEED-EB and the major costs associated with the certification. The primary barrier to implementing LEED-EB is the cost associated with building commissioning. In some circumstances, the cost of building commissioning can be more than 50% of the total project costs.  The Task Force discussed a number of options to minimize the cost associated with the building commissioning.

 

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding the Use of Energy Efficiency, Assessments and Benchmarking in Santa Monica

Stuart Cooley, Energy Efficiency Engineer for the City of Santa Monica, introduced the item.  He provided the Task Force with an overview of the city’s energy efficiency programs and policies. He provided information on citywide energy assessments and introduced the opportunities and challenges associated with energy benchmarking.  He also provided information on Solar Santa Monica.

 

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding the 2008-09 Budget Priorities

After discussion, the Task Force unanimously approved the following:

 

The Santa Monica Sustainable City Task Force recommends the following 2008-09 budget priorities:

1. Continued support for Sustainable City Plan implementation
2. Continued support for the development of a sustainable local economy
3. Continued emphasis on the timely completion of the LUCE update process
4. Enhanced funding for revised  traffic study methodologies that reflect sustainable modes of travel
5. Enhanced support for Sustainable Works
6. Enhanced support for Solar Santa Monica
7. Appropriate allocation of resources for a Sustainable City Program staff person
8. Appropriate allocation of resources for the completion of a greenhouse gas emissions study and climate action plan
9. Appropriate allocation of resources for a city staff person to facilitate the permitting, installation and inspection of sustainability projects
10. Appropriate allocation of resources for a city commissioning agent
11. Appropriate allocation of additional resources for the provision of affordable and work force housing

 

 

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Sustainable City Task Force Participation

Shannon Parry introduced the item.  She presented the Task Force with the newly developed attendance and preparedness requirements.  After a brief discussion, the Task Force unanimously approved the attendance and preparedness requirements with minor modifications.

 

The Task Force requested the attendance and preparedness requirements be included in the December 2007 Sustainable City Task Force packet.

 

 

Liaison Updates

• Solar Santa Monica: Al Rosen provided the Solar Santa Monica update. The Solar Santa Monica Advisory Board had their quarterly meeting. They are looking to enhance solar rebates.  They are also looking to address challenges to the permit and inspection process for solar in Santa Monica.  After discussion, the Task Force made the following motion:

 

The Santa Monica Sustainable City Task Force recommends the city retain sufficient and appropriate staffing to do special permit plan check for solar installations as well as create a clear and consistent plan check requirement with input from applicable city divisions and departments. 

 

The motion passed 4 to 1.  Dennis Woods opposed the motion.

 

• LUCE: The Shape the Future 2025 newsletter was included in the Task Force packet.

 

• Chamber of Commerce:  Shannon Parry provided the Chamber of Commerce update. The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce has appointed Laurel Rosen as the new President and CEO. 

 

• Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District: Dean Kubani provided the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) update. The school district is moving forward with the Facilities Master Plan which includes progressive greenbuilding and sustainable city elements.

 

• Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau: Shannon Parry provided the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) update.  The CVB is developing a pilot Green Hotels Certification program that will address the specific needs of the hospitality industry.  This certification is internationally recognized and consistent with the requirements of local programs.  In order to complete the Green Hotels Certification local hotels will be required to participate in the Santa Monica Green Businesses Certification program.

 

 

Public Input on Non-Agendized Items

There was no public input on non-agendized items.

 

Comments and Announcements

There were no additional comments or announcements.

 

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00pm.