CITY OF SANTA MONICA

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The meeting was convened at 7:15 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Bill Selby, Susan Mearns, Matt Petersen, Bobby Rees, and Sandy Grant. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson, and Dean Kubani. Others: MWD Board member Judy Abdo, Louisa Fish, Barbara Filet, Laurel Roennau, and Jerry Rubin

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of October 15, 2001 were unanimously approved.

Civic Center Master Plan Discussion

Craig Perkins provided an update on the CCMP process to date and noted that staff from the City’s Planning and Community Development department will make a presentation at the December 17 meeting of the Task Force on the Environment regarding the CCMP implementation plan and the future process. Craig noted that this will provide an opportunity for the Task Force to weigh in on performance criteria for development in the Civic Center area. Craig also noted that the Task Force recommendation that office space for non-profit organizations be developed as part of the Civic Center was forwarded to the Civic Center Working Group but it was not specifically addressed in their final plan. He did mention that the uses of proposed commercial spaces have not yet been specified and that the Task Force would have the opportunity at the December 17^th meeting to propose this idea again.

Report on Sustainable City Program Update Process

Dean Kubani provided the update. To date three meetings to obtain input for the update of the Sustainable City Program goals, indicators and targets have been completed – one in July with key City staff, one in October with the Sustainable City Working Group (SCWG – a stakeholder group including representatives from neighborhood organizations, the business community, elected and appointed officials, and City staff), and one in November with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), a sub-group of the SCWG. System level goals have been proposed for seven goals areas: Resource Conservation, Transportation, Environmental and Public Health, Economic Development, Open Space/Land Use, Housing, and Community Education and Civic Partnerships. Indicators have been proposed to measure progress towards each of the goals in these areas. At the next meeting on December 13 the SCWG will review and comment on the proposed goals and indicators and begin proposing targets for the indicators. Indicator targets will be finalized at a January meeting of the TAC. Following the January meeting the City’s consultants, Sustainable Measures, will complete a final report with recommendations for updated goals, indicators and targets to the Task Force. Brian Johnson recommended that the Task Force should begin to discuss now the steps it should take following completion of the SCWG input process.

Santa Monica College “Project Engagement” Update

Bill Selby provided the update. As part of “Project Engagement” two new courses will be offered at SMC this spring: Introduction to Environmental Studies and Introduction to Urban Studies. The Environmental Studies class will be held on Thursday nights beginning in February and will run for 16 weeks. The classes will be open to the public. Bill invited Task Force members to participate as speakers. He asked interested people to contact him within the next two weeks with a desired date and topic. Bill also mentioned that there will be a ribbon cutting for SMC’s new vermiculture composting system at noon on December 10 behind the cafeteria at SMC.

A discussion followed regarding a bond measure for proposed reconstruction and expansion at SMC and ways to ensure that any new development at the college is as ‘green’ as possible. Matt Petersen noted that Global Green USA has been lobbying the Los Angeles Community College District to green their projects but he has been finding that this is a challenge. He recommended that, if possible, language about sustainable design/construction should be included in the bond initiative. Matt indicated that GGUSA, the Coalition for Clean Air and the Sierra Club have developed a white paper to influence the LACC. He said he would forward this to Bill Selby, who said that the SMC Environmental Affairs Committee is planning to send a resolution to the SMC Administration and Board of Trustees recommending that any new construction be as green as possible.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. She noted that the board will be voting on November 20 on a boating policy for the new Diamond Valley reservoir. The proposed policy, that will likely pass, would allow gasoline powered boats on the lake. Regarding SB221 which was recently signed into law and requires housing developers to certify water availability prior to construction of developments of more than 500 homes, Judy indicated that there is a move among developers in Orange County to modify the law. They want to shift the responsibility for certification from individual water districts to MWD and they are attempting to get MWD to write the bill and work to introduce it.

Public Input

Laurel Roennau distributed copies of the following recommended language drafted by the Task Force on the Environment in 1996 for inclusion in the Bayside District Specific Plan:

“New development within the Bayside District shall in no way hinder the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program. New development within the Bayside District shall also comply with the City’s Sustainable Development Guidelines currently being formulated.”

She recommended that this or similar language be included in all future specific plans, including the Civic Center plan.

Bill Selby discussed a recent state senate hearing sponsored by Sheila Kuehl that he attended regarding a potential review of the “fully protected” species law. He noted that it was an interesting discussion and that MWD, other water districts, and some environmental groups feel that the current law is outdated because in some cases it interferes with the achievement of environmentally beneficial projects.

Jerry Rubin thanked everyone present for volunteering their time to help improve the environment and he wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm