MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 2003 MEETING OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The meeting was convened at 7:10 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Susan
Mearns, Sandy Grant, David Hertz, Matt Petersen, and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City
staff in attendance: Brian Johnson, Lucy Dyke, Greg Reitz and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro tem Kevin McKeown,
Council member Mike Feinstein, Recreation and Parks Commissioner Jennifer Wolch,
Planning Commissioner Darrell Clarke, MWD Board Member Judy Abdo, Laurel
Roennau, Louisa Fish, Gene Burke, Frieda Dubin, Stacy Brown, Jonathan Aurthur,
Barbara Filet, Marty Rubin, Kent Strumpel, Christina Erickson, and three other
members of the public.
Minutes
The minutes from the November 17,
2003 meeting were unanimously approved.
Bicycle Master Plan Update and
Transportation Commission Discussion
Transportation Planning Manager
Lucy Dyke provided background on the City’s Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) and
implementation efforts since its adoption in 1995. She noted that no general fund money was
allocated to complete the facility improvements proposed in the BMP. All funds for BMP implementation must
come from regional, state and federal grants. Main facility improvements proposed in
the BMP that have been completed include restriping some north-south streets,
adding bike route signage, and installing bike racks. Proposed improvements in the BMP that
have not been completed due to lack of grant funding include widening Lincoln
Blvd., resurfacing alleys, installing wheel gutters on stairways, and widening
the 4th St. bridge over Ocean Park Blvd. Lucy indicated that while there isn’t a
plan to update the BMP, the update of the Circulation Element of the City’s
General Plan will address cycling issues.
Discussion focused on the need for
the Task Force to make promotion of policies that improve the mobility and
safety of cyclists one of its priorities for the coming year. Regarding funding for cycling facilities,
suggestions were made to combine funding requests for cycling and stormwater
mitigation for the creation of permeable bicycle paths. Another funding suggestion was to pursue
funds to create a Safe Routes To School program. Task Force members suggested that Cycle
Santa Monica provide a list of recommended changes/updates to the BMP to the
Sustainable City Task Force and City staff.
Laurel Roennau addressed the Task
Force and recommended that the City should create a Transportation Commission,
similar to those in Torrance, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and West Hollywood, to
address transportation and mobility issues in Santa Monica. The Task Force suggested that she draft a
proposal for the creation of a Transportation Commission outlining its duties
and responsibilities, and circulate it to obtain endorsements from the Task
Force, City commissions, and other groups in the community.
Discussion of Task Force
Mission and Priorities
Dean Kubani presented a summary of
data gaps in the Resource Conservation and Environmental and Public Health goal
areas of the Sustainable City Plan.
Task Force members provided suggestions for sources of data to address
some of the gaps identified. Task
Force members agreed that their priorities for the future should focus on
strategies to meet the SCP goals.
The Task Force requested that Environmental Programs staff generate a
list of upcoming environmental plans, policies and projects being considered by
staff for discussion at the January 26 Task Force meeting.
Sustainable City Task Force
Discussion
Dean Kubani provided an update on
the application process for the Sustainable City Task Force. Applications will be distributed in
January, the deadline for submittals will be February 4, and Council
appointments will likely take place in late March or early April.
Discussion on Sustainable City
Presentation to Westside Council of Governments
Kevin McKeown indicated that the
presentation is tentatively scheduled for January 16 (Note: this date has since
changed – the presentation now will likely take place in February). The presentation will be made by Kevin
and Sandy Grant. Task Force members
and staff suggested that the presentation be focused on convincing other cities
to develop sustainability plans and adopt sustainable practices similar to Santa
Monica’s.
Discussion of Request for the
UCLA Environmental Legal Clinic to Investigate Legal Options to Cap Emissions at
the SM Airport
Mark Gold noted that the UCLA
Environmental Legal Clinic expressed interest in evaluating the City’s ability
to cap air emissions at Santa Monica airport. Brian Johnson suggested that the clinic
offer this service to the SCAQMD, who will soon begin the MATES III regional
emission study, which will include general aviation airports. Task Force members agreed that this was a
good idea and Mark agreed to pass on this suggestion to the UCLA ELC.
Subcommittee Updates
Regarding the Airport Ad Hoc
Committee, Susan Mearns reported that no meetings have taken place since late
summer. Regarding water fluoridation, Brian Johnson reported that the contract
for the design of the fluoridation system is scheduled for Council approval on
January 13. He also noted that the
City’s consultants, Black and Veatch, have obtained more accurate weather data
for use in setting the fluoridation levels for Santa Monica, and this will
likely result in a lower fluoridation dosage.
Metropolitan Water District
Update
MWD Board member Judy Abdo
provided the update. She noted that
December marks the 75th anniversary of MWD. Her term as board member is also up this
month. Council is scheduled to make
a decision regarding reappointment on December 16. Mark Gold spoke about the need to get MWD
to provide economic incentives for groundwater recharge programs in the future.
Public Input
Gene Burke spoke about recent
newspaper articles concerning corruption in the National Institutes of Health.
He also asked if Task Force members had inquired about the possibility of
contaminants (such as arsenic, mercury and lead) in the fluoridation substance
that is being proposed for use in Santa Monica’s water. Mark Gold indicated that
he and Susan Mearns posed this question to Black and Veatch and City staff. They were told that the City must abide
by federal minimum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking water and were assured
that these levels will not be exceeded by the addition of fluoride.
Frieda Dubin spoke about the level
of concern among Santa Monica residents regarding water fluoridation.
Mark Gold suggested that Santa Monicans for Safe Drinking Water should bring
their concerns about fluoridation directly to City Council.
Laurel Roennau provided an update
of City Council action regarding the Playa Vista Phase 2 Draft EIR. She also noted that a discussion
regarding the adoption of new traffic count methodologies in Santa Monica would
likely be on the January 13 Council agenda.
The meeting was adjourned at
10:10pm
