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, Tim Carmichael, Bobby Rees, Sandy Grant, and Matt Petersen. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson, Carmen Joseph, and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Mike Feinstein, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Recreation and Parks Commissioner Lori Nafshun, MWD Board Member Judy Abdo, Barbara Filet, Kent Strumpell, Marty Rubin, Jerry Rubin, Stacy Brown, Andrea Gullo, and four additional members of the public.

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of June 17, 2002 were unanimously approved.

Follow-up Discussion of Downtown Parking Plan

Barbara Filet from Livable Santa Monica presented recommendations to the Task Force regarding the Downtown Parking Plan. She feels that the plan relies too heavily on the construction of new parking spaces and does not do enough to incentivise alternative modes of transportation. Her recommendations include creating an unlimited transit pass system (Eco-pass) for employees, students and residents; creating disincentives for solo drivers by removing parking subsidies; and developing a transit first policy to lower the demand for new parking through the promotion of existing alternatives to automobile travel. Following discussion the Task Force recommended to continue discussion of this item at the September meeting and invite presentations from City Transportation Management staff on their current and planned efforts to promote alternative transportation, and from a UCLA professor who is studying the effectiveness of eco-pass programs in other cities. Tim Carmichael indicated that he will draft a list of recommendations to Council on downtown parking on behalf of the Task Force and will forward it to other Task Force members for review and approval. Task Force members asked to be notified of the dates of the scoping meetings for the Downtown Parking Environmental Impact process so that they can participate in the process. Sandy Grant noted that the Downtown Parking Plan is scheduled for discussion on July 24 by the Chamber of Commerce Land Use Committee and on July 25 by the Bayside District Board of Directors.

Report from Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Issues at the Santa Monica Airport

Discussion on this item was postponed until the September Task Force meeting because the Ad Hoc Committee has not yet met.

Report on Sustainable City Program Update Process

Dean Kubani reviewed the timeline of the update process and progress made to date. The Task Force approved the wording of the draft SCP goals and indicators and authorized distribution for public comment. The public comment period will continue through September 21, culminating with a public input meeting on September 21 at the Ken Edwards Center from 10am to 2pm. Following that meeting, the Sustainable City Working Group will reconvene on September 23 to work on integrating the public input into the draft document. A revised draft will be forwarded to Task Force members in late September / early October for review and discussion at the October 21 Task Force meeting.

Sandy Grant proposed revisiting and possibly updating the SCP Guiding Principles and discussed her ideas for changes. Task Force members agreed that the Guiding Principles need to be updated. Sandy will email her proposed edits to other members of the Task Force and the item will be agendized for discussion at the September 23 Task Force meeting.

Discussion regarding Greening Tourism and City Funding of the Convention and Visitors Bureau

Discussion on this item was postponed until the September 23 Task Force meeting.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. She summarized her previous reports about perchlorate contamination entering Lake Mead and she noted that the State Department of Health Services is considering setting a health advisory standard of 6 ppb for perchlorate in drinking water. An internal working group of MWD staff is working to develop recommendations for high-risk persons who may live in areas with high levels of perchlorate in their water. Judy noted that Santa Monica’s water occasionally has perchlorate levels up to 5 ppb so this is an issue locally as well. The Cadiz water storage proposal in the Mojave Desert has not yet come to the MWD Board for a vote but Judy feels at this point the MWD Board will probably vote not to approve the project.

Public Input

Jerry Rubin spoke about a party for Promenade Maintenance Crew Leader Eddie Greenberg that was held on July 1 celebrating his 25 years of service to the City, and thanked all present who attended for their support.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55pm