Mar Vista Community Forum

SANTA MONICA TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT 1-26-04 MINUTES

Attendance

The meeting was convened at 7:05 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Susan Mearns, Bill Selby, David Hertz, Erik Neandross, Matt Petersen, and Mark Gold. Santa Monica City staff in attendance: Craig Perkins, Susan Munves, Stuart Cooley, Greg Reitz, Karen Ginsberg, Brett Horner and Dean Kubani. Others: Mayor Pro tem Kevin McKeown, Council member Mike Feinstein, Recreation and Parks Commissioner Jennifer Wolch, MWD Board Member Judy Abdo, Louisa Fish, Gene Burke, Marty Rubin, Tom Gage, Paul Scott, Adam Holt, Bob Seldon, Barry Pataky, Mike Kane, Greg Hanssen, Denny Zane, James Provenzano, and three other members of the public.

Minutes
The minutes from the December 15, 2003 meeting were unanimously approved.

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Airport Park Synthetic Turf
Brett Horner and Karen Ginsberg from the City’s Community and Cultural Services Department provided background on the synthetic turf proposal. They indicated that the City has applied for grant funds from the State Department of Parks and Recreation to cover the costs to install synthetic turf on a 2.9-acre section of Airport Park designated for sports fields. The City expects to hear if it will receive the grant funds by May 2004. City Council recently approved a request by staff to apply for the grant funds, and they asked that staff solicit input from the community on the desirability of using synthetic turf for the fields. Brett noted that grass sports fields in Santa Monica are so heavily used that they quickly degrade and become unusable. Synthetic turf will provide much better durability, reduce the need for maintenance, eliminated the need for watering, and will allow for play during all weather conditions. The proposed design for the synthetic turf fields will include a subsurface water catchment system and drywells to minimize urban runoff from the fields. Following discussion, the Task Force asked that staff provide answers to the following questions:

1. Will any of the drywells used to collect runoff from the fields interfere with any of the soil or groundwater remediation efforts currently going on at the airport?

2. Have any studies been done regarding the potential for contaminants within the crumb rubber material used in the synthetic turf, or within any other components of the synthetic turf, to leach out when exposed to water?

3. Are any material safety data sheets (MSDS) available for the synthetic turf product? The primary concern is the potential health impacts to children using the fields if there is any chemical off-gassing from any component of the turf.

Once the Task Force receives the additional information they will continue their discussion of this issue and make a recommendation.

Presentation and Discussion of Proposed Solar Energy Resource, C

Environmental Programs Division staff Susan Munves and Stuart Cooley presented results of a recently completed study on Santa Monica’s solar energy, energy efficiency and co-generation potential, and discussed plans for the City’s future energy program. Based on results of the study they feel that there is significant potential for reduction in energy consumption citywide and that the potential for distributed generation and solar can help the city become a Net-Zero Energy City - one that produces as much energy as it consumes. Details of the program to achieve this goal will be forthcoming. The Task Force enthusiastically supported this vision and offered to assist staff in any way it could to begin implementation.

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Proposal

Craig Perkins presented an overview of the proposal. On January 13, 2004, City staff submitted a recommendation to City Council to execute an agreement with Toyota and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to lease a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for 30 months. This is part of a larger proposed program to construct a hydrogen fueling station at the City Yards in conjunction with AQMD. At the time of the proposal to City Council, the cost for the lease and all fuel and maintenance of the vehicle was $200,000 for the 30-month term of the lease. Since that time, staff was able to renegotiate the cost down to $85,000. City Council asked for input from the Task Force on the Environment prior to making a decision on the proposal. Following input from several members of the public and discussion by the Task Force, the Task Force unanimously adopted the following motion:
“The Task Force on the Environment recommends that City Council authorize the lease of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from Toyota, provided that during the lease period the City completes a scientific comparison of the efficiency, emissions and operation of the vehicle with other alternative fueled vehicles within its fleet. Within 90 days of the passage of this motion, EPWM staff should return to the Task Force with a plan to maximize the number of zero emission vehicles within the City fleet. The Task Force also recommends that the lease agreement with Toyota should specify that all hydrogen fuel used for the vehicle should be transported to Santa Monica in alternative fueled vehicles.”

The Task Force also recommended that staff return to Council with a proposal for a comparison study of hydrogen fuel cell and battery/electric vehicles. Erik Neandross agreed to work with staff on the preparation of this proposal.

Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Budget Priorities
Discussion of this item was deferred to future Task Force meetings. At the February 23, 2004 meeting of the Task Force, staff will present a summary of the City Council budget priority discussion at the January 27 Council meeting. At the April 19 Task Force meeting, staff will present drafts of the Environmental and Public Works Management Department and Environmental Programs Division budgets for Task Force review and comment.

Discussion of Task Force Mission and Priorities
Discussion of this item was deferred until the February 23, 2004 Task Force meeting when staff will present a calendar of upcoming environmental programs and policies for discussion.

Presentation of New Environmental Grant Programs
Dean Kubani presented information on three new environmental grant programs approved by Council at their January 13, 2004 meeting to promote green building, water efficiency, energy efficiency, and urban runoff reduction. The programs provide financial incentives to builders and developers to construct “green” buildings and to incorporate innovative energy efficiency, on-site energy generation, and urban runoff technologies into projects. The programs also provide financial incentives to owners of residential and commercial properties for the installation of high-efficiency irrigation systems and drought tolerant landscapes.

Subcommittee Updates

Dean Kubani presented an update on planning for the AQMD MATES III regional air monitoring study. He indicated that AQMD is scheduled to complete their proposal detailing the scope of the study by May 2004. Susan Mearns requested information on the process for providing public input once the proposal is released.

Susan Mearns noted that she presented Task Force recommendations regarding fluoridation at the January 13, 2004 City Council meeting. She requested that Council postpone awarding a contract for the design of a fluoridation system until a risk assessment could be completed, however Council voted to award the contract without conducting the risk assessment.

Metropolitan Water District Update
MWD board member Judy Abdo provided the update. She noted that the board committees were recently reorganized. She is still on the legislative committee but is no longer the vice chair. She also mentioned that she has a copy of the MWD Integrated Resources Plan, if anyone is interested in reviewing it. Mark Gold asked Judy to find out if MWD plans any response to a recent court decision requiring the government to reimburse farmers for water used to protect endangered species. She said she would look into it and report back.

Public Input
Gene Burke thanked the Task Force for addressing the Council on the fluoridation issue and urged them to proceed with a risk assessment on their own. Louisa Fish expressed concern about the accuracy of public outreach information presented by the City about recycling. Marty Rubin expressed his concern about the slow pace of action to address air quality concerns at the Santa Monica Airport. He feels the public should be included in any meetings between City staff and AQMD regarding air quality at the airport and feels that the City should conduct its own study in addition to the AQMD MATES III study.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm