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, Mark Gold, Tim Carmichael, Susan Mearns, Bobby Rees, Matt Petersen and Sandy Grant. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson, and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Barbara Filet, Kent Strumpel, Alan Freeman, Laurel Roennau, Carmen Joseph, and Esther Zabin.

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of January 28, 2002 were unanimously approved.

Presentation by Barbara Filet regarding Proposed Sustainable City Goals

Barbara Filet and Kent Strumpel requested that the Task Force revisit the proposed SCP goal for Environmental and Public Health and consider including language in the goal about the promotion of bicycling and walking. Following a presentation by Barbara and Kent and discussion by the Task Force, Task Force members agreed that language about the promotion of bicycling and walking should be included in the proposed SCP goals. However, they felt that it would be more appropriate to include it in the Open Space and Land Use goal area. The Task Force unanimously agreed to modify Open Space/Land Use goal #2 as follows: “~~Encourage the development of~~ Transform land use / transportation planning and policies to create compact, mixed-use projects, ~~pedestrian-oriented~~ forming urban villages designed to maximize affordable housing and encourage walking, bicycling, and the use of existing and future public transit systems.”

Sustainable City Program Update Process

Dean Kubani presented a proposal for the future governance/oversight structure for the Sustainable City Program. The proposal was developed following a meeting of City staff, the City’s consultant Sustainable Measures, and TF members Mark Gold and Sandy Grant. Sandy Grant noted that with the update of the SCP and expansion of scope into new goal areas, additional expertise beyond the scope of the current TF was needed to guide the program in the future. It was proposed that a Sustainable City Steering Committee be created that includes representatives from the Planning, Housing, Recreation and Parks, and Social Services commissions and the Task Force on the Environment. Each group will appoint one representative and one alternate to the SCSC. The SCSC will serve as the primary advisory body to the City Council and the community on policies, actions and implementation strategies needed to achieve the goals of the SCP. SCSC members will ensure that SCP goals serve as the basis for decision-making by their respective commissions, and the City departments and sectors of the community with which they interact. Once this group is assembled, they will select four additional members (plus four alternates) representing the Education, Labor, Health and Business sectors of the community. At the City staff level an interdepartmental Sustainable City Implementation Group, chaired by a representative from the City Manager’s office, will be created to ensure that all City activities are consistent with the goals of the SCP and facilitate the implementation of innovative programs and policies to achieve the goals. Staff support for the SCSC will be drawn from this interdepartmental group. Task Force members unanimously approved this proposal, as well as a proposed work plan and time line for completion of the SCP update process. The timeline calls for Council adoption of the updated SCP goals, indicators and targets by December 2002.

Budget Discussion

Task Force members finalized their recommendations to City Council for the FY 2002-03 City budget. The recommendations are listed below and will be forwarded to Council by City staff.

1. New Sustainable City Program Goals, Indicators and Targets

Begin implementation of the revised and new goals and track progress towards the goals. The revised program will be submitted to you for approval in November/December 2002.

2. Sustainable Schools Goal Set in 1994 Still Not Met

Work with the SMMUSD to develop and implement a sustainable schools program for all Santa Monica public schools. We now have interest and support from a representative on the School Board.

The proposed program includes a curriculum component and an operations (greening) component. In the operations component, work with District to use green design and construction standards based on the City’s green building guidelines.

3. Develop a Green Business Strategy for the City

Businesses can be “green” in either the products and services they produce, such as Patagonia, Cleaner By Nature, and Commonwealth Energy, or in their operations, such as Gillette, and Sony Music.

4. Conduct a Sustainable Business Forum

As recommended by the ETF and the Chamber of Commerce in 2001, convene a forum of SM business representatives, residents, staff and the Task Force to develop local economic development and sustainability. One of the goals would be to green significant sectors of the local business community such as the service industry.

5. Enhance Enforcement Capability

Complete an assessment of the city's environmental compliance assurance program, from water conservation to HAZMAT storage. For example, storm water/water conservation has only one inspector. The assessment should include recommendations on how to improve the existing program.

6. Leadership on Sustainable Purchasing, Energy and Building Policies

Continue and expand the City's commitment to and leadership in green building (i.e. LEED certification), energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable products policies and purchasing.

Master Environmental Assessment Update

Planning Commissioner Arlene Hopkins asked that this be agendized as an information item. The City’s Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) was originally developed in 1992 to provide a baseline for environmental impact reports prepared for development projects in Santa Monica. Since 1992 the MEA has been updated twice and the edition currently in use was approved by Council in 1996. The Planning Commission recently reviewed a draft MEA update completed in January 2002. The commissioners identified a variety of faults with the draft, including outdated traffic data, and directed staff to complete a rewrite. Following discussion the Task Force unanimously adopted the following motion: “ The Task Force on the Environment recommends that City Council act to ensure that the updated MEA for the City contains accurate information.” The Task Force agreed to agendize this item for further discussion at the March TF meeting.

Santa Monica College “Project Engagement” Update

Bill Selby provided the update. He noted that the Thursday night lecture series class is full. He thanked TF members who agreed to participate as presenters in the lecture series and urged them to contact other panelists that they will be presenting with to coordinate their presentations.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo was absent – item was deferred until March

Public Input

Matt Petersen invited everyone present to attend Global Green USA’s sustainability symposium and annual Millennium Awards on Friday March 15 at the Marina Beach Marriott in Marina Del Rey. Mikhail Gorbachev will be speaking at both events.

Laurel Roennau suggested that the new goal language approved by the TF for the Open Space/Land Use goal also be somehow linked to the Transportation area, because they are so closely related. She also reiterated her concern that congestion be addressed in the Transportation goals.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25pm