Mar Vista Community Forum

SANTA MONICA TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT 2-23-04 MINUTES

Proposed Smoking Ban on Santa Monica Beaches

MINUTES
FEBRUARY 23, 2004 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, Bill Selby, David Hertz, Sandy Grant, Erik Neandross, Matt Petersen, and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Greg Reitz, and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, MWD Board Member Judy Abdo, Louisa Fish, Laurel Roennau, Robert Berger, Alan Reed, Gene Burke, Jerry Rubin, Adam Holt, and three other members of the public.

Minutes
The minutes from the January 26, 2004 meeting were unanimously approved.

Proposed Smoking Ban on Santa Monica Beaches
Robert Berger of Communities Organized Against Smoking and its Trash (C.O.A.S.T.) and Alan Reed, Chair of the Malibu Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, addressed the Task Force and asked them to endorse a proposed ban on smoking on Santa Monica beaches and on the Santa Monica Pier to safeguard public health and the environment. Following discussion, the Task Force unanimously adopted the following motion:

“The Task Force on the Environment endorses the creation and implementation of a smoking ban on Santa Monica beaches and the Santa Monica Pier.”

Discussion of Task Force Mission and Priorities
Dean Kubani presented a draft calendar of upcoming environmental program and policy issues in 2004 for discussion by the Task Force. Task Force members provided input on ways to improve the calendar and asked staff to return with an updated calendar for further discussion at the March 15, 2004 Task Force meeting.

Green Building Program Update
The City’s Green Building Advisor Greg Reitz presented a general overview of upcoming issues and actions being considered by the Green Building Program for Task Force review and input. Following initial discussion the Task Force thanked Greg and asked him to return in March with more specific information on the most pressing items on his list.

Sustainable City Outreach Update
Dean Kubani presented a summary of planned outreach efforts intended to increase community awareness within Santa Monica about sustainability and the Sustainable City Plan in 2004. Outreach and activities will focus on the theme of 2004 being the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable City Plan. Planned events will include a community sustainability awards program, sustainability lecture series and green building tour. Task Force members offered support in helping to promote the SCP to a regional audience.

Subcommittee Updates

Subcommittee Updates
Susan Mearns reported that no further actions have been taken with respect to water fluoridation on the part of the Task Force since her presentation to City Council in January. She also noted that no additional action has taken place with respect to the Airport Ad-hoc committee. She indicated that it has been a year since the committee’s initial meeting with the Air Quality Management District to discuss options for addressing air quality concerns at the Santa Monica Airport. Task Force members expressed frustration at the lack of progress in addressing this issue. Craig Perkins said that he would contact Airport staff and would provide an update on the status of a planned AQMD air monitoring study at the March 15 Task Force meeting.

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Budget Priorities
Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown presented a summary of City Council’s recent budget priorities discussion and noted that the City is facing a $20 million budget deficit for 2004-05. Task Force recommendations on the budget will be made once staff presents the Environmental and Public Works Management Department and Environmental Programs Division draft budgets at the April 19th Task Force meeting.

Metropolitan Water District Update
MWD Board Member Judy Abdo provided the update. She discussed possible impacts of state and federal budget cuts to the Cal Fed water project and other water issues such as perchlorate remediation. She indicated that the upcoming Local Government Commission conference this March in Yosemite would focus on water issues.

Public Input

Jerry Rubin thanked the Task Force for their previous endorsement of the creation of a Santa Monica Youth Commission and asked Task Force members to contact City Council members to reiterate their support. He noted that Council would be addressing this issue at their February 24 meeting.

Louisa Fish expressed her concern about the accuracy and consistency of the City’s solid waste and recycling outreach materials, particularly with respect to the types of materials that can be recycled.

Laurel Roennau noted that the Planning Department is scheduled to finalize updates to the Circulation and Conservation Elements of the General Plan during Spring/Summer 2004 and suggested that the Task Force review and comment on the draft documents during the public comment period. She also indicated that Council was set to consider an update to the City’s traffic analysis methodology on February 24, 2004 and asked staff to re-forward to Council the motion the Task Force passed in January 2003 endorsing the creation of new traffic analysis guidelines.

Gene Burke discussed several issues related to water fluoridation. He asked if the Task Force is still working with staff and the City’s consultants on the design of the fluoridation treatment system, and if the Task Force is planning to conduct a risk assessment study on water fluoridation. He noted that the City of Redding recently completed a feasibility study on fluoridation chemicals and recommended that the Task Force review it. He said it contradicts some of the assertions made by the City’s consultant about the safety of handling sodium fluoride. He also noted that the material safety data sheet for sodium fluoride contains errors and requested that the Task Force review it.


The meeting was adjourned at 9:35pm