MINUTES

NOVEMBER 21, 2005 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: Bill Selby, Mark Gold, Eric Neandross, Rob Lempert, Susan Mearns, and Matt Petersen.  Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Susan Munves, Greg Reitz, Karl Bruskotter and Dean Kubani.  Others: Council member Kevin McKeown, MWD Board member Judy Abdo, SCTF Liaison Sandy Grant, Madeline Brodie, Louisa Fish, Jerry Rubin, Shari Miller, Esther Schiller, Marlene Gomez, Wesley Nagin, Samantha Martinez, Anne Mularoni, Tom Knox, and Ruth Reiser.

 

Public Input on Agenda Items

There was no public input

 

Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of September 19, 2005 and October 17, 2005 were unanimously approved.

 

Update on Proposed Polystyrene Ordinance

Dean Kubani provided background on City Council’s request to staff to investigate a ban on polystyrene foam food packaging in Santa Monica.  He noted that a draft recommendation will be completed in early December and presented to Mark Gold and Bill Selby for review prior to the December 19, 2005 Task Force meeting.  Mark Gold provided background on the Task Force’s interest in this issue and reiterated that the Task Force is recommending a ban on all non-recyclable plastic because of the impacts of plastic on the beach and marine environment.  Anne Mularoni from Dart Container Corporation spoke against the institution of a ban in Santa Monica and urged the Task Force and the city to consider focusing instead on ways to reduce littering.  Wesley Nagin from the Surfrider Foundation spoke in support of a ban.

 

Update on Green Business Certification Program

Dean Kubani provided the update.  The certification process is currently being piloted with eight businesses.  It is anticipated that the certification checklists, scoring criteria and application process will be finalized by February 2006.  Following that the program will be formally launched. The Task Force asked that the certification checklists be included in the packet for discussion at the December 19 meeting.

 

Follow-up Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Draft Green Building Ordinance

 

Susan Munves and Greg Reitz provided background on the proposed changes to the Green Building Ordinance (note: these are detailed in the minutes of the September 19, 2005 and October 17, 2005 Task Force meetings).  Susan noted that the draft ordinance will be presented to City Council for adoption at their January 10, 2006 meeting.  The Task Force requested that the draft staff report be included in the packet for discussion at the December 19, 2005 meeting.

 

Discussion Regarding Freeway Corridor Greenbelt

Matt Petersen introduced the discussion.  He discussed air pollution and noise impacts generated by traffic on I-10 in Santa Monica and proposed that a greenbelt be planted along and adjacent to the freeway to help mitigate the impacts.  Craig Perkins noted that CalTrans owns the land immediately adjacent to the freeway and that very little of the property next to the freeway is owned by the city.  The Task Force agreed that the best way to proceed is to send a letter to CalTrans advocating for installation of a greenbelt.  Matt agreed to draft the letter and send it to Craig Perkins to finalize and include in the packet for the December Task Force meeting.

 

Discussion Regarding Calendar of Upcoming Environmental Activities

Dean Kubani and Craig Perkins presented the calendar.  Task Force members requested an update on the construction timeline for Airport Park at the December meeting.

 

Update on SCAQMD Air Quality Study at Van Nuys and Santa Monica Airports

 Susan Mearns provided the update.  The last meeting of the study planning group was held November 3 in Van Nuys.  Air sampling has been delayed for two months due to contracting issues.  Sampling will now take place from December to March and Aug to November 2006 at Van Nuys and from April to July 2006 and December 2006 to March 2007 at Santa Monica Airport.  Sampling locations still have not been finalized in Santa Monica.  Susan also reported on a recent town hall meeting that she attended on November 10 regarding noise and emissions related to Santa Monica Airport, and she discussed other airport emission studies currently taking place in California.

 

Update on Sustainable City Task Force

Sandy Grant presented a draft of recommendations that the Sustainable City Task Force has been working on as part of the Sustainable City Plan Implementation Plan that they are preparing for City Council. Task Force members expressed general support for the recommendations.  Sandy requested that the Task Force on the Environment select a liaison to the Sustainable City Task Force at its December meeting.

 

Metropolitan Water District Update

Judy Abdo provided the update.  She reported that MWD’s general manager Dennis Underwood passed away in early November and that a permanent replacement has not yet been named.

 

SMC Environmental and Urban Issues Speakers Series

Bill Selby announced that the series for Spring 2006 is being developed now and he invited Task Force members interested in participating to contact him.

 

Public Input on Non-Agendized Items

Esther Schiller, Marlene Gomez and Shari Miller all spoke about the impacts of second hand smoke to residents of apartments and other multi-unit housing developments and asked the Task Force to consider a proposal to address this at a future meeting.  The Task Force agreed to agendize a discussion on this topic at their January meeting.

 

Louisa Fish spoke about the need for better lighting on the newer buses purchased by the Big Blue Bus and about the need for additional stops on BBB line #1 in the downtown area.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45pm