MINUTES

MAY 19, 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, Matt Petersen, Bill Selby, Tim Carmichael, and Mark Gold.  Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Brian Johnson and Dean Kubani.  Others: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, Council member Mike Feinstein, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lori Nafshun, Planning Commissioner Arlene Hopkins, MWD Board member Judy Abdo, Laurel Roennau, Louisa Fish, Marty Rubin, Stacy Brown, Gene Burke, Frieda Dubin, Julie Masters, Hillary Kaplan and one other member of the public.

 

Minutes

The minutes from the April 21, 2003 meeting were unanimously approved.

 

 

EPWM Budget Discussion

Brian Johnson provided an overview of the proposed budget for the Environmental Programs Division and portions of the Environmental and Public Works Management Department budget for FY 2003-05.  Due to delays in printing the draft budget, Task Force members were unable to review the budget documents prior to the meeting.  In order to provide timely input to Council on the draft budget, it was agreed that Mark Gold would meet with City staff to review the budget within the next week and communicate with other Task Force members prior to the June 16 Task Force meeting.  At that meeting the Task Force will finalize a recommendation to Council regarding the draft budget.

 

Farewell to Task Force Member Tim Carmichael

Mayor Pro Tem McKeown presented Tim Carmichael with a Mayor’s Commendation for his service to the community through his participation on the Task Force.  Craig Perkins and Mark Gold then presented Tim with a styrofoam gift box filled with mementos of his years on the Task Force.  Tim remarked that he “enjoyed almost every single meeting since he started” and thanked staff, Council members and Task Force members for putting up with him over the years.

Sustainable City Plan – Discussion of Next Steps

Dean Kubani summarized recent and planned work by staff related to the Sustainable City Plan.  City Council will be asked to approve the creation of a sustainable city advisory body on June 10 (Note: this has subsequently been moved to the June 24 Council agenda).  Parallel to creation of the advisory body, a staff working group with representatives from throughout the City is being assembled to assist with achievement of the SCP goals as they relate to City operations and the City’s interaction with the community.  Staff is also evaluating potential strategies for program implementation and will report back on these at future meetings.

 

Continuation of Polystyrene Discussion

Task Force members viewed and discussed a video by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation entitled “Synthetic Sea” that documents the impacts of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean.   Following the video Task Force members discussed the possibility of expanding the proposed ban on polystyrene foam to include all “single-use” plastics. Staff was asked to assist in researching single-use plastics bans in other jurisdictions and report back at the June meeting.  Discussion at the June meeting will focus on the scope of the proposed ban and the best way to obtain input from the business community on the proposal.

 

Discussion Regarding Environmental Impacts of Two-Stroke Motor Scooters

Following a discussion regarding the safety, noise and environmental impacts of motor scooters with two-stroke engines, as well as the impacts of two-stroke internal combustion engines of all types, the Task Force unanimously adopted the following motion:  “The Task Force on the Environment recommends that City Council ask the City Manager to explore options the City of Santa Monica can take to introduce legislation at the State level to regulate or ban all two-stroke internal combustion engines in California.”

 

Discussion Regarding Enforcement of Leaf-Blower Ordinance

Discussion on this item focused on ways to improve enforcement of this ordinance.  Task Force members feel that the ordinance is currently not being enforced effectively and recommended that the City’s Environmental Program Division (EPD) should take over the enforcement role from the Police Department.  Brian Johnson indicated that he didn’t feel that EPD could effectively enforce the ordinance with its current level of staffing.  He will obtain information from the Police Department regarding the number of complaints and citations issued for this ordinance and provide it to the Task Force prior to the June meeting.  Task Force members reiterated that they feel that EPD should assume the enforcement role for this ordinance however they understand the budgetary limitations that currently prevent it from occurring.

 

Discussion of Potential “Trip Tax” for New Developments

The Task Force discussed the desirability of instituting a transportation impact assessment (TIA) fee on developments in Santa Monica, similar to the one enacted by the City of Los Angeles for the Coastal Transportation Corridor (CTC).  The TIA fee is paid by developers in the CTC based on the amount of additional traffic is generated by their development.  Following the discussion Bill Selby indicated that he would draft a recommendation to Council on this issue for Task Force discussion and adoption at the June Task Force meeting.

 

Subcommittee Updates

Dean Kubani provided an update on the Santa Monica Airport Ad Hoc Committee.  A meeting is being planned for early to mid June between the committee and representatives of the South Coast Air Quality Management District to discuss options to address air quality impacts associated with general aviation airports.

 

Brian Johnson provided an update on the status of the Airport Park Environmental Impact Report and provided copies of an air monitoring study conducted at the Santa Monica Airport to Susan Mearns and Matt Petersen for review.  Susan indicated that she would review the document prior to drafting a letter to Council expressing Task Force recommendations regarding the proposed park.  The draft letter will be completed in time for discussion and adoption at the June Task Force meeting.  Brian also noted that City legal staff has advised that the Task Force communicate its concerns regarding the siting of the park directly to City Council.

 

Brian Johnson provided an update on the process to construct a fluoridation system for the City’s drinking water.  He reported that questions asked by Task Force members about various aspects of the system and process have been forwarded to the City’s consultant for the project, Black and Veatch.  Mark Gold indicated that he would forward the letter expressing Task Force concerns about water fluoridation to City Council members within the week.

 

Task Force Vacancies Update

Dean Kubani reported that the deadline for applications for the vacant seats on the Task Force has been set for June 9, 2003 at 5pm.  All applications will be included in the packet for review and discussion at the June Task Force meeting.

 

Metropolitan Water District Update

MWD board member Judy Abdo provided the update.  She noted that recipients of MWD water conservation grants would be announced within the next week.  She also provided an update on negotiations between Imperial Water District, the State, and San Diego, over sale of Colorado River water and indicated that she thinks an agreement will be reached.  Mark Gold requested that Judy arrange for a future presentation to the Task Force on MWD incentives for water recharge projects.

 

Public Input

Stacy Brown advised the Task Force to research additional air quality studies completed on the Santa Monica Airport and she indicated that she would forward copies to Susan Mearns for review.  Frieda Dubin distributed information to Task Force members regarding water fluoridation impacts to the environment.  Bill Selby provided information on the Arroyo Fest scheduled for June 15 in Pasadena. Sandy Grant distributed reports on sustainability and urban sprawl prepared by USC. Mark Gold noted that the Heal the Bay Beach report card would be released on Wednesday May 21. Gene Burke indicated that water fluoridation agents often are contaminated with arsenic and noted that low levels of arsenic can increase cancer risk.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00pm