MINUTES
DECEMBER 18, 2006
MEETING OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
TASK FORCE ON THE
ENVIRONMENT
Task Force members in
attendance: Bill Selby, Susan Mearns, Matt Petersen, Rob Lempert, and Mark Gold
Staff in attendance: Craig Perkins,
Dean Kubani, Susan Munves, and Shannon
Parry
Public in attendance:
Ted Flanigan, Peter Sinsheimer, Louisa Fish, Metropolitan Water District
representative Judy Abdo, Council Member Kevin McKeown, and another member of
the public
The meeting was convened at
8:15pm.
Public Input on Agenda Items
There was no public
input on agenda items.
Approval of Minutes from the November 20, 2006 meeting
The minutes were
unanimously approved.
Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Solar Santa Monica
Susan
Munves introduced this
item and Ted Flanigan provided a presentation detailing the Solar Santa Monica
program. This two-year demonstration project was approved by Council in
September 2006 and the pilot phase is set to launch in January 2007.
The goal of Solar Santa
Monica is to transform the way Santa
Monica gets and uses energy. The Solar Santa Monica
pilot phase will bundle efficiency measures with solar systems on 50 buildings-
residential, commercial and institutional- and make it easy for participants by
creating standardized “packages” of measures, pre-screening installers, and
streamlining permitting.
Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Environmental
Garment Care in Santa Monica
Peter Sinsheimer
introduced the item and provided a presentation detailing the impacts of traditional
garment care and highlighted the options for alternatives that reduce
environmental and human health impacts.
The Task Force tabled
discussion on this issue until the January meeting.
Discussion and Recommendations Regarding the
2007-08 Budget Priorities
After discussion, the
Task Force suggested adequate resources be allocated to support the Santa
Monica Airport Sustainability Plan, the ban on Polystyrene and non-recyclable
plastics in food service packaging, and the implementation of Measure V. They also indicated the need for additional
resources for implementation of the Sustainable City Plan, the Watershed
Management Plan and Solar Santa Monica.
Finally, the Task Force
commented on the importance of integrating environmentally preferable
purchasing into the proposed asset management department.
Continued discussion on
this issue was tabled until the January meeting.
Update on SCAQMD Air Quality Study at Van Nuys
and Santa Monica Airports
The update was tabled until
the January meeting.
Metropolitan Water District Update
Judy Abdo gave the
update. She is the new Secretary of the Metropolitan Water District.
Dean Kubani visited the Metropolitan
Water District and gave a presentation on the Santa Monica Sustainable City
Plan and the use of sustainability indicators to drive performance. This has
been well accepted at the Metropolitan Water District.
Setting of Agenda for January 2007 Meeting
I.
Discussion
and Recommendations Regarding Santa
Monica College
Environmental Audit
II.
Discussion
and Recommendations Regarding the 2007-08 Budget Priorities
III.
Discussion
and Recommendations Regarding Environmental Garment Care in Santa Monica
IV.
Discussion
and Selection of Task Force Representative to the Solid Waste Evaluation Team
(20 min)
V.
Update on
SCAQMD Air Quality Study at Van Nuys and Santa Monica Airports
VI.
Metropolitan
Water District Update
VII.
Setting of Agenda for February 2007 Meeting
VIII.
Public Input
on Non-Agendized Matters Within the Task Force’s Jurisdiction
IX.
Comments and
Announcements
X.
Adjourn
Public Input on Non-Agendized Matters Within the Task Force’s Jurisdiction
There was no public
input on non-agendized matters within the Task Force’s jurisdiction.
Comments and Announcements
Louisa Fish commented on
the need for a low income exemption to the Measure V parcel tax. She also
commented that the budget discussion meetings being held by the City Manager
are not all accessible by Big Blue Bus service. She requested that Dial A Ride be made available during evening hours when necessary
for public participation.
Council Member Kevin
McKeown asked if Santa Monica
was a Plug-In-Partner. Craig Perkins responded that the City is in the
process of confirming participation.
Council Member Kevin McKeown also enquired about agendizing a discussion
of idling construction vehicles at the February Task Force meeting. The Task Force agreed to agendize the
discussion.
Shannon Parry indicated
that the January and February Task Force meetings fall on holidays and asked if
the Task Force would like to reschedule those meetings. The January meeting was
rescheduled for January 8, 2007 and the February meeting was rescheduled for
February 26, 2007.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00pm.
