CITY OF SANTA MONICA

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The meeting was convened at 7:10 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Bill Selby, Mark Gold, Tim Carmichael, Bobby Rees, Matt Petersen and Sandy Grant. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson, Jay Trevino, Kim Christensen and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Michael Feinstein, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Council member Pam O’Connor, Planning Commissioner Arlene Hopkins, Recreation and Parks Commissioner Lori Nafshun, MWD Board member Judy Abdo, Chantel Zimmerman, Genevieve Bertone, Louisa Fish, Barbara Filet, Marty Rubin, Mike Brodsky, Carl Beierle, Joan Winters, Stacy Brown, Cathy Larson, Julia Quinn, Bruce Dickenson, Todd Jaquith, Lisa Lehman, Alan Freeman, Paul Sangster, and Andy Henderson.

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of February 11, 2002 were unanimously approved.

Request by Marty Rubin to Address the Task Force Regarding Santa Monica Airport

Los Angeles resident Marty Rubin who lives adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) expressed his concerns to the Task Force regarding air pollution associated with an increase in the number of jets using SMO. He mentioned that the City’s Airport Commission hasn’t taken steps to address this issue and requested that the Task Force form a group to look into what can be done to address the problem of air pollution associated with the airport. Following discussion the Task Force agreed to agendize at their April 15, 2002 meeting further discussion of possible recommendations to City Council on environmental issues related to SMO. Possible suggestions for future Task Force action included creating an airport air quality indicator for inclusion in the updated Sustainable City Program, and / or addressing this issue in joint meeting of the Task Force and Airport Commission.

Discussion about the Update of the City’s Master Environmental Assessment

Planning Manager Jay Trevino, Senior Planner Kim Christensen, and Planning Commissioner Arlene Hopkins provided background on the Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) and the recent update process. The first MEA was published in 1992 under the direction of City Council to provide a baseline document to be used for the preparation of planning documents for developments in Santa Monica. Since 1992 the MEA has been updated twice with the most recent one having been completed in 1996. In January 2002 a draft update was presented to the Planning Commission for review and input. Commissioner Hopkins noted that the Commission found the draft to be inaccurate and out of date. She asked the Task Force to appoint a sub-committee to review the draft and provide input to the Planning Department. She also requested that Task Force members become involved in the selection process for the consultants hired by the city to collect data and assemble the MEA. Jay Trevino indicated that the Planning Department is currently collecting input on the draft from staff and other interested parties and has compiled a list of information that needs to be updated or corrected. Once corrections and updates have been completed the draft will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for another review. Discussion ended with no recommendation or action on this item from the Task Force.

Review of Environmental Programs Division Budget Proposal

Craig Perkins and Brian Johnson presented a summary of the proposed EPD budget and draft departmental budget objectives. New items include a request for the addition of three staff positions in the division to work on green building programs, water conservation programs, and public outreach. Other major budget items remain fairly constant with the 2001-02 budget. There followed discussion regarding specific items in the proposed budget including outreach strategies, urban runoff and energy efficiency programs. Council will begin study sessions on the budget in May 2002 prior to formal adoption in June.

Report on Sustainable City Program Update Process

Dean Kubani provided the update. On March 5 a subcommittee of Task Force members and staff met to finalize indicators and propose targets for the Resource Conservation and Environmental and Public Health goals areas of the SCP update. Targets were proposed for city-wide solid waste generation and diversion, water usage, green house gas emission reductions, renewable energy use, LEED certification of municipal and private buildings, beach closures, and participation rates at the City’s HHW collection facility. Additional targets for availability of recycling service, and hazardous materials use and waste generation were discussed and will be proposed following generation of baseline data. Mark Gold asked Task Force members to review the proposed indicators and targets and make suggestions on ways to improve those for toxics and air quality, which he feels could be improved. Dean reported that the next round of meetings to finalize indicators and targets will be on April 8 and 9 to address the Human Dignity, Economic Development and Community Education and Civic Partnership goal areas.

Discussion Regarding Sustainable Business Initiatives

Discussion on this item was deferred until the April 15 meeting due to time constraints.

Sustainable Schools Discussion

Discussion on this item was deferred until the April 15^th meeting due to time constraints. Task Force members recommended inviting SMMUSD Superintendent John Deasy to attend and participate in the discussion.

Santa Monica College “Project Engagement” Update

Bill Selby provided the update and noted that the Thursday night lecture series is going well and invited all to attend.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. MWD is planning a workshop to discuss the Cadiz water-banking proposal. She indicated that it is possible that the proposal will be voted down due to opposition from Orange County and San Diego County representatives as well as opposition from others with environmental concerns about the proposal. Fran Pavley’s bill to regulate greenhouse gas emissions recently won support from the MWD board by a narrow margin. Mark Gold requested that Judy encourage MWD to begin providing incentives to local agencies for ground water recharge for local water supply. She agreed to work on it.

Public Input

Sandy Grant and Bobby Rees noted that they will attend the upcoming Boards and Commissions dinner as representatives of the Task Force.

Louisa Fish noted that she has experience developing public surveys and volunteered to review any future outreach surveys conducted for the Sustainable City Program.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 pm