CITY OF SANTA MONICA

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The meeting was convened at 7:10 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Tim Carmichael, Bill Selby, Susan Mearns, Sandy Grant, and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson, and Dean Kubani. Others: Councilmember Kevin McKeown, MWD Board member Judy Abdo, Jerry Rubin, Louisa Fish, and Laurel Roennau.

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of June 18, 2001 were unanimously approved with a modification noting public input given at that meeting that the Task Force should consider filling future vacancies with a person with transportation expertise.

Report on Sustainable City Program Update Process

Dean Kubani provided an update on the first work session of the SCP update process with City staff on July 10. Staff at the work session provided useful feedback on the SCP, suggestions for updating program goals and indicators, and proposed modifications to the future workplan and make-up of the stakeholder group to simplify the update process. Craig Perkins noted that some staff at the work session expressed concern about including social and economic development indicators in the program because they may confuse the public about other existing City programs and initiatives in these areas. Task Force members expressed concern that no representatives from the Planning Department were present at the July 10 meeting.

One of the staff recommendations from the work session was to have a large stakeholder group, the Sustainable City Working Group (SCWG) focus on providing input on program goals, and have a smaller Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) work on developing actual indicators and targets based on SCWG input. The Task Force agreed with this recommendation and suggested that the TAC be kept small (between 7 and 12 people) and be comprised of representatives from City Council, the Planning Commission, the Task Force and City staff. The Task Force also approved of staff recommendations for revising the workplan. The Task Force discussed the importance of including transportation and traffic indicators into the updated program and agendized a discussion on this for the August meeting.

Update on Sustainable Landscape Guidelines

Sandy Grant provided the update. She presented a working proposal summarizing existing City guidelines and ordinances pertaining to sustainable landscaping and outlining what proposed Sustainable Landscape Guidelines might include. Task Force members approved of the proposed outline but commented that it should also stress the use of native species, focus on reducing “potable” water usage, and call for maximizing the use of gray water where possible. Sandy noted that the next step in the process to develop guidelines was to meet with key City staff to get input and identify someone to take over as advocate for the development of the guidelines following Heather Trim’s departure. This could possibly be Heather’s replacement on the Recreation and Parks Commission.

Update on Business Outreach Process

Dean Kubani provided the update. At the June 18 Task Force meeting Dean noted that Environmental Programs staff do not have sufficient time available to organize and outreach effort among the business community regarding the Task Force’s proposed polystyrene ban. He asked for Task Force input on how they wish to proceed. At that meeting Bill Selby and Tim Carmichael agreed to arrange a meeting with Dean and representatives of the Green Team and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss how the Task Force should proceed. To date, that meeting has not occurred and no further progress has been made on this issue.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. Regarding the Cadiz proposal to store Colorado River water in a groundwater aquifer beneath the Mojave Desert, Judy noted that Senator Diane Feinstein may propose federal limits on how much indigenous water from the aquifer can be removed for use elsewhere. The MWD Board agreed to purchase 110,000 acre feet of water per year for the next 35 years from the Palo Verde Irrigation District. Under this agreement Palo Verde farmers will be paid to fallow up to 29% of their cropland annually on a rotating basis. MWD has not taken a position on Sheila Kuehl’s bill SB 221 that would require developers to ensure that they have sufficient water resources available to supply their project prior to construction. San Diego is currently suing MWD, along with all member cities, over preferential water rights.

Task Force Announcements

Tim Carmichael noted that he has spoken to the Westdale Neighborhood homeowners group that lives east of the Santa Monica airport regarding air emissions from jets using the airport. He indicated that the group is suing the City alleging that the City has the authority to limit emissions of aircraft using the airport. Tim plans to discuss this issue with City Council members and requested that a discussion regarding this topic be agendized at the August Task Force meeting. Craig Perkins indicated that City staff might not be able to provide much in the way of details to the Task Force due to the current lawsuit. He indicated he would contact the City Attorney’s office to determine the extent to which airport and/or legal staff will be able to participate in the meeting.

Public Input

Laurel Roennau noted that the Neighborhood Council (chairs of each of the City’s neighborhood organizations) met in early July and passed a motion to request that City Council ask the Task Force to review the City’s Community Forest Plan. The motion was made due to concerns of the Neighborhood Council that mature trees are being removed during City development projects (e.g. Downtown transit mall) in violation of the policies outlined in the Community Forest Plan. Task Force members recommended that the motion be revised to request that the Task Force conduct a review of the City’s implementation of the Community Forest Plan. They agreed to agendize this for discussion at the September Task Force meeting. Laurel also asked if there is currently a Planning Commission liaison to the Task Force. Council member McKeown indicated that there isn’t but that he will ask Arlene Hopkins, a newly appointed Planning Commissioner, to assume that role.

Louisa Fish noted that the City’s toilet retrofit-upon-sale ordinance appears to be working, based on her experience at her condominium complex and her discussions with a real estate agent.

Jerry Rubin noted that Physicians for Social Responsibility had an event earlier in the day commemorating the anniversary of the world’s first nuclear weapons explosion. He also provided an update on the proposal for a City Disabilities Commission and asked for continued support for this from the Task Force.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.