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, Bill Selby, Tim Carmichael, Matt Petersen, Bobby Rees and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Brian Johnson, Karen Ginsberg and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Council member Mike Feinstein, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lori Nafshun, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jennifer Wolch, Planning Commissioner Arlene Hopkins, MWD Board Member Judy Abdo, Katherine Perez, Laurel Roennau, Marty Rubin, Genevieve Bertone, Ferris Kawar, Peter Benjamin, Stacy Brown, John Zinner, Oliver Lukacs, and one other member of the public.

Minutes

The minutes from the February 24, 2003 meeting were unanimously approved.

Farewell to Task Force Member Bobby Rees

Mayor Pro Tem McKeown presented Bobby Rees with a Mayor’s Commendation for his service to the community through his participation on the Task Force. Task Force members and staff said nice things about Bobby and Bobby said nice things about them.

Presentation by Katherine Perez – SCAG Regional Growth Visioning Process

Katherine Perez, Director of the Southern California Land Use and Transportation Coalition described the growth-visioning program that SCTLC is implementing for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). This is a two-year project that began in January 2003 with goals to involve a broad cross section of the public in the development of a region-wide growth management framework for southern California. The project involves holding a series of public visioning workshops throughout the region to obtain public input and develop growth scenarios to address issues such as regional population growth and traffic congestion. Katherine urged everyone present to attend and participate in upcoming workshops, including one at UCLA on April 22, 2003.

Airport Park EIR Discussion

Task Force member Susan Mearns presented her comments based on her review of the Airport Park Environmental Impact Report (EIR). She noted that no risk assessment of potential health risks to users of the park was completed as part of the EIR. Two pages of the EIR address potential air emissions impacts to people living and working adjacent to airports. Conclusions were based on data from a study undertaken at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Susan noted that no air sampling was conducted at Santa Monica airport (SMO) as part of the EIR. The EIR concluded that the primary health threat from air pollutants is from cumulative exposure (as opposed to acute exposure) and that air emissions for a general aviation airport like SMO would likely be lower than for a large airport like O’Hare. Susan felt both these conclusions were erroneous. She felt the EIR mischaracterized data from the Chicago study and that some relevant data from that study was omitted from the EIR.

Susan and Task Force member Tim Carmichael expressed concern that the EIR is inadequate and specifically that it doesn’t address public concerns stated at the outset of the EIR regarding air quality impacts to park users. Task Force members also expressed their concern that Environmental Programs Division staff were not asked to develop language or findings for the air section and were not asked to comment on the adequacy of the existing studies and their ability to characterize conditions at the site. Recreation and Parks Commissioner Lori Nafshun requested that representatives of the Task Force on the Environment attend the next meeting of the Parks And Recreation Commission to express their concerns about the park. Task Force members agreed to communicate their concerns to the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to taking them to City Council.

The Task Force on the Environment unanimously passed the following motion regarding the Airport Park EIR:

“The Task Force on the Environment is extremely concerned about the adequacy of the Airport Park EIR specifically concerning the air quality analysis and the potential for air pollutants to present health hazards to future park users. The Task Force on the Environment wishes to communicate its concerns regarding the adequacy of the Airport Park EIR and potential health hazards to future park users to the Parks and Recreation Commission.”

Task Force Consideration of Recommendation to City Council Regarding the City Joining a Global Climate Change Lawsuit

Task Force members discussed a current lawsuit, filed by several environmental organizations and supported by the cities of Oakland and Boulder, against the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EIB) that claims OPIC and EIB aren’t conducting proper environmental studies of financing and insurance activities for overseas energy projects that contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Following discussion, Task Force members unanimously adopted the following motion:

“The Task Force on the Environment urges the City Council to join the litigation against the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.”

Council member Feinstein and Mayor Pro Tem McKeown indicated that they will place this item on a future Council agenda and recommended that Task Force members attend the Council meeting to speak in support of the proposal.

Follow-up Discussion on Sustainable City Plan Implementation Strategy

This item was a follow up to a discussion at the February 24 meeting regarding water budgeting as well as ways to ensure that all City departments are working together to meet Sustainable City Plan goals. It was noted that City Council will likely direct City staff to develop departmental strategies to implement the SCP prior to adoption of the FY 2003-04 budget (Note: Council took this action at their April 8, 2003 meeting). Brian Johnson reported that staff is in the process of researching water budgets in place at other cities and will report back on this at a future meeting. Kevin McKeown noted that a pending bill in the California legislature, AB 1015, will if passed require all cities to include a water element in their general plans by 2006.

Polystyrene Update

A planned showing of a video documenting the impact of plastics in the ocean was postponed due to time considerations. It will be agendized for a future meeting.

Continued Discussion of Potential Candidates to Fill Task Force Vacancies

Tim Carmichael indicated that he planned to contact Julie Masters from NRDC to determine her interest in serving on the Task Force. Matt Petersen indicated that he would consult with his staff to identify candidates with experience in sustainable design and green building and report back at the April meeting.

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD Board member Judy Abdo provided the update. She discussed a recent vote by the MWD Board to fluoridate MWD’s water beginning in 2006. She noted that the vote was close, but that there was very little opposition prior to the vote by anti-fluoridation groups. Judy indicated she would provide a list of MWD board members who voted for and against the measure at the April meeting. She mentioned that she voted “for” fluoridation, as did all of the pro-environmental members of the board. Judy also discussed ongoing negotiations to complete a water transfer between the Imperial Irrigation District and San Diego and noted that the transfer is far from finalized.

Public Input

Tim Carmichael reported that the Airport Commission will receive a briefing on airport/air quality issues at their meeting on March 31. He also reported that the Coalition for Clean Air is sponsoring Alan Lowenthal’s bill that would generate funds to support alternatives to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning. He noted that he will contact the City Manager’s office to agendize a request for Santa Monica’s support of the bill at a future Council meeting.

Mark Gold reported that Heal the Bay has sponsored AB907 that would require the addition of environmental education standards to the State’s K-12 standards. He indicated that Heal the Bay is seeking letters of support from the city and SMMUSD. He was directed to contact the City Manager’s office to agendize this for Council.

Marty Rubin noted that he agrees with the Task Force concerns about air quality impacts to users of the proposed Airport Park. He expressed his frustration that although the Task Force is raising these concerns the City recently fought similar concerns about airport related air pollutants raised by residents east of the airport.

Stacy Brown noted that she raised concerns about potential negative health effects to users of the Airport Park during the EIR scoping process.

Peter Benjamin presented information on recent studies about water fluoridation.

Laurel Roennau reported that the Planning Commission still has not addressed the Ocean Park Community Organization’s resolution asking for the Commission to establish a proposed date for completion of new draft Traffic Analysis Guidelines before any new contracts for preparation of Environmental Impact Reports are approved. She also noted that Commission members still have not received notification that the Task Force has endorsed this resolution. Dean Kubani indicated that he would forward it again. Laurel also urged Santa Monica to become more involved in all committees of SCAG, and she suggested that Task Force members become involved in the selection of EIR consultants.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10pm