CITY OF SANTA MONICA

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The meeting was convened at 7:07 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Susan Mearns, Sandy Grant, Bill Selby, Tim Carmichael, and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins and Dean Kubani. Others: Council member Mike Feinstein, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lori Nafshun, Paul Rosenstein, Louisa Fish, Laurel Roennau, Jerry Rubin, Gene Burke, Barbara Filet, Kent Strumpel, Tony Shale, Shannon Johnson, Genevieve Allen, Joyce Martino, Alan Frankel, Peter Benjamin, Doug Crago, Deborah Bellini, Bruce Campbell, Wendy Wirt, Dr. Marsha Epstein, Jenny Lens, Erica Johnson, Clifford Stern and eleven additional members of the public.

Discussion of Recommendation to City Council Regarding Water Fluoridation

Craig Perkins provided a status report on the process to begin fluoridation of Santa Monica’s drinking water. The process for the design of the fluoridation system is currently underway. Staff will solicit bids for construction of the system and make a recommendation to City Council by June 30, 2003. Construction of the system is expected to be completed by the end of 2003.

Following extensive discussion, Task Force members adopted the following motion: The Task Force on the Environment will draft a letter to City Council and attend a future Council meeting to agendize a discussion of the letter. The letter will address the following concerns of the Task Force: 1) The Task Force is disappointed that City Council never referred this issue to City staff or the Task Force for a review prior to voting on it; 2) the Task Force is concerned about the safety of hydrofluosilicic acid (HFA) as a fluoridation agent. They feel that the Council’s decision to use this was based on least cost rather than on safety or efficacy of the substance and don’t feel that Council reviewed any information regarding the safety of HFA; 3) the Task Force is concerned about potential environmental and public health hazards related to the transportation and storage of HFA; and 4) the Task Force doesn’t feel that City Council has adequately addressed the issue of determining the proper dosage of fluoride to put in Santa Monica’s water. In addition, the Task Force agreed that Susan Mearns would represent the Task Force as a member of the City’s review committee to hire the consultant to construct the fluoridation system. This motion was unanimously adopted.

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of December 16, 2002 were unanimously approved.

Task Force Endorsement of OPCA Resolution Regarding the City’s Master Environmental Assessment

Following discussion, the Task Force unanimously endorsed the following resolution of the Ocean Park Community Organization (OPCO):

“In rejecting the draft 2002 Master Environmental Assessment, the Planning Commission found that the 1993 Traffic Analysis Guidelines are outdated and inadequate for in-depth analysis of several projects currently being processed by the City.

“The Neighborhood Council urges that the Planning Commission establish a proposed date for completion of new draft Traffic Analysis Guidelines before any new contracts for preparation of Environmental Impact Reports are approved.”

Review and Discussion of Draft Recommendations for Scoping of the Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Parking Plan

Task Force members discussed draft comments on the Downtown parking EIR prepared by Tim Carmichael. Following discussion, the Task Force unanimously adopted the following motion: Tim Carmichael will draft a letter including all Task Force recommendations discussed at this meeting and will circulate to Task Force members for their final approval prior to forwarding the comments to the City’s Planning Department staff by January 31.

Follow-up Discussion of Airport Park

Dean Kubani provided background on the timing of the Airport Park EIR review process. Task Force members were notified of the release of the Airport Park EIR in July 2002. The comment period for the EIR ended on September 4, 2002. Task Force members to date have not provided input on the EIR. The next opportunity for Task Force members to comment on the EIR is when it is presented to City Council for final approval sometime in spring 2003. Task Force members expressed concern about playing fields being located adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport due to negative air quality issues. Tim Carmichael and Susan Mearns agreed to review the EIR and report back at the February 24 Task Force meeting with their comments. At the request of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lori Nafshun, Task Force members agreed to attend a future Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to express their concerns regarding Airport Park.

Follow-up Discussion of Proposed Phase-out of Polystyrene Foam packaging in Santa Monica

Dean Kubani provided background on this topic. On January 22, 2001 the Task Force adopted a motion recommending that City Council adopt an ordinance prohibiting the use of food-related polystyrene foam (PSF) packaging in Santa Monica. The motion recommends that the ordinance provide for the phase out of PSF products over a one-year period. The Task Force had recommended that the proposed ordinance be discussed with the Chamber of Commerce and potentially affected businesses prior to implementation. Between March and June 2001 two of Bill Selby’s students conducted some research on PSF alternatives and presented their findings to the Task Force and the Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs Committee. Task Force members met with Chamber of Commerce staff for preliminary discussions about the best way to notify businesses about the proposed ban. No further action was taken following these meetings in 2001.

The Task Force asked City staff to work with Sustainable Works or others to research alternatives to PSF food containers and report back regarding cost per unit and availability of these alternatives at a future meeting.

Update on Proposed Sustainable Schools Program

Dean Kubani provided the update. The City Manager has recommended that in light of the current budget shortfalls at the school district and City that and funding of a proposed Sustainable Schools Program be incorporated into the FY 2003-04 City budget process. The Task Force agreed to revisit this topic in the summer.

Metropolitan Water District Update

This item was postponed until the February 24 meeting because MWD board member Judy Abdo was not present.

Public Input

Louisa Fish commented on the fluoridation of the drinking water in New York City, agreed with Task Force concerns about locating a park adjacent to the airport, and noted problems with the City’s recent phone surveys, indicating that she has been called three times as part of City surveys in the past month.

Peter Benjamin expressed his appreciation of the proposed Task Force action on fluoridation, expressed his support of the proposed Sustainable City Plan, and noted that the City’s water quality data is now posted on its website.

Bruce Campbell expressed his concern about the impending fluoridation of Santa Monica’s water.

Gene Burke spoke on behalf of Santa Monicans for Safe Drinking Water. He noted that fluoridation of water supplies poses security risks due to potential for contamination of municipal water supplies. He also expressed concern regarding the safety of introducing HFA into the water supply and noted that HFA has an affinity for lead (Pb) and could potentially lead to increased levels of Pb in the City’s water.

Clifford Stern provided information on a recent article in the Los Angeles Times regarding fluoridation.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50pm