CITY OF SANTA MONICA

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The meeting was convened at 7:15 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Sandy Grant, Tim Carmichael, Bill Selby, Mark Gold, and Susan Mearns. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Brian Johnson and Dean Kubani. Others: Council member Pam O’Connor, MWD Board member Judy Abdo, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Heather Trim, Rudy Almeida, Walt Kotecki, Bruce Rankin, Shirley Vernale, and Louisa Fish.

Minutes

Sandy Grant requested that the minutes from the meeting of March 19, 2001 be modified to include a note that Susan Mearns replaced Tom Nelson as a Task Force liaison to the Civic Center Working Group. The minutes were unanimously approved with the modification.

Sustainable City Program Indicators Update – Consultant Selection Process

Dean Kubani provided the update. On April 18 a group of City staff and Task Force members met to review proposals to facilitate a process to review and update the Sustainable City Program goals, indicators and targets. The group selected the firm Sustainable Measures to complete the work. The project scope, timeline and budget will be finalized following discussions with Sustainable Measures in mid-May. The update process is currently scheduled for completion by December 2001.

Sustainable Schools Program Update

On April 20 Mark Gold, Tim Carmichael and Dean Kubani met with SMMUSD School Board members Pam Brady, Julia Brownley and Tom Pratt to discuss ways to facilitate implementation of a Sustainable Schools Program in the district. The board members indicated that they are eager to proceed with the program. As a next step they will present the idea to other board members and the new superintendent. Following this (likely in the summer) they will arrange for a meeting between Task Force members, City staff, board members and the new superintendent to discuss in more detail.

Sustainable Quality Awards

Dean Kubani announced the winners of the 2001 Santa Monica Sustainable Quality Awards. They are as follows:

! The Real Earth Environmental Company for Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment

! Community Corporation of Santa Monica for Excellence in Social Responsibility

! Co-opportunity for Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment and Social Responsibility

! Edward Thomas Companies for Excellence in Sustainable Economic Development and Social Responsibility

! Trader Joe’s for Excellence in Sustainable Economic Development and Social Responsibility

· Sanford Papermate for Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment

The award ceremony is scheduled for May 10, 2001 at 6pm at the Victorian, 2640 Main Street.

Discussion of Sustainable Landscaping Practices for Airport Park

Sandy Grant led the discussion. She indicated that she had attended a workshop in April organized by the City to obtain public input on three design alternatives for Airport Park. Airport Park is a proposed six-acre open space with playing fields, an off leash dog area, and general recreational area and facilities. Sandy indicated that the project is in the early design phase and that the Task Force has the opportunity to provide input regarding sustainable landscaping. Task Force members also discussed the potential health impacts of locating parks and playing fields down wind of the airport. Brian Johnson indicated that a consultant is currently completing an air monitoring study of the airport for the City and will produce a report in the coming months. The Task Force asked to see a copy of that report and a copy of the EIR for the Airport Park project when they are available.

Discussion Regarding Filling Task Force Vacancy

Following discussion, Task Force members agreed that the vacancy should be filled with someone with green building and/or green business expertise with ties to the Chamber of Commerce. Several possible candidates were suggested. Dean Kubani indicated that he would follow up with the suggested candidates, work to identify additional ones, and initiate an application process to fill the vacancy.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. MWD’s Water Planning Committee voted to proceed with the Cadiz water-banking project. The full board addresses the issue the following day and several environmental concerns were raised, including potential impacts to bighorn sheep, and potential negative impacts to the aquifer and landscape due to large fluctuations in the water table. Nevertheless the board voted to authorize testing and agreed to a framework to proceed with the project. Judy asked for Task Force input and advice regarding potential environmental impacts of the project.

Update on Polystyrene Ban Research

SMC students Walt Kotecki and Rudy Almeida presented the results of their research into alternatives to polystyrene foam (PSF) food service containers. While they found that PSF products are almost always cheaper, they did identify numerous practical alternatives made from paper, foil and polystyrene plastic that would not represent large incremental cost increases to businesses if they switched. Task Force members agreed that the next step in this process is to work with the Chamber of Commerce to arrange a meeting where Task Force members, and potentially Walt and Rudy, can present and discuss this proposed ban on PSF packaging.

Civic Center Working Group Update

Sandy Grant described the working group process. The Civic Center Working Group is holding four meetings between April 23 and May 21 to discuss topics related to the update of the Civic Center Specific Plan, including open space and recreation, housing, civic, cultural and child care uses, and infrastructure, circulation and parking. Susan Mearns attended the April 23 meeting and her minutes are attached.

Presentation by “Friends 4 Expo” Regarding Transit Options on the Exposition Corridor

Representatives from Friends 4 Expo never showed up at the meeting. In their absence the Task Force discussed the issue of transit options on the Exposition corridor. Following the discussion the Task Force passed (4 to 0 with one abstention) the following motion: “The Task Force on the Environment recommends that the Santa Monica City Council take a position supporting light rail as the preferred transit option for the Exposition corridor.”

Public Input

Bruce Rankin, Director of the Westside Food Bank, a Santa Monica based organization that provides food assistance programs in the city, mentioned that his organization is interested in promoting community gardens for food self-sufficiency. Task Force members recommended that he become involved in the discussions about open space uses at the Airport Park and the Civic Center. The Task Force recommended that a discussion about this be agendized for the June TF meeting.

Bill Selby showed off the latest Santa Monica College catalog which has a prominent sustainability focus.

Sandy Grant distributed an interesting article on architect Bill McDonough describing some of the work he has done in sustainable design.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm