INTRODUCTION

This report requests that City Council establish a Sustainable City Task Force (SCTF) with the appointment of eleven members from the Santa Monica community.

BACKGROUND

On February 11, 2003 City Council unanimously adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan (SCP), which is a comprehensive update and expansion of the Sustainable City Program adopted by Council in 1994. With the adoption of the updated SCP the focus of the city’s sustainability efforts expanded beyond the four original Sustainable City Program goal areas of Resource Conservation, Environmental and Public Health, Transportation and Community and Economic Development to include Housing, Economic Development, Open Space and Land Use, Community Education and Civic Participation, and Human Dignity.

Since the inception of the Sustainable City Program in 1994, the Task Force on the Environment has served as the principle advisory body to City Council on sustainability issues. In recognition of the expansion of the SCP beyond the original four goal areas, the formation of an advisory group with broad representation in the community and expertise in the new goal areas was recommended to provide leadership and guidance for implementation of the SCP.

On October 28, 2003, City Council adopted a motion to create a Sustainable City Task Force to fulfill this role. The motion specifies that the SCTF should be comprised of 11 Council-appointed members to be chosen for their expertise in various areas of sustainable policy, including the following: planning, housing, recreation and parks, social services, environmental policy, education and health care. In addition, composition of the group should ensure fair representation of the following community stakeholder groups: business, labor, and neighborhoods.

Council directed that the term of the SCTF will be for five years and that the group should present annual progress reports to Council, with City staff taking the primary role in the preparation of those reports.

Council defined the role of the SCTF as follows:

To advise Council and staff during development and adoption of an implementation plan for the SCP. The target date for adoption is March 2005.
Based on the adopted implementation plan, to assist Council and staff with an initial informational campaign. Presentations to City Boards and Commissions, other public institutions in the community, and business and resident organizations should occur from April 2005 through December 2005.
With the assistance of City staff, to interact with other City boards and commissions and with organizations and institutions in the community to bring SCP-related matters to their attention in a timely manner.

DISCUSSION

During January 2004, staff conducted solicited applications from community members to sit on the SCTF. Thirty-three applications were submitted. Copies of all application materials received from the thirty-three applicants are attached to this staff report. Following review of all application materials, staff recommends that Council consider appointing the following eleven applicants to the SCTF (Note: all of these applicants either reside or work in Santa Monica).

Genevieve Bertone – Account Executive for the Sustainable Works Business Greening Program. Active member of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs Committee. Expertise in Environmental Policy and Business.

Euripedes De Oliveira – Professor at California State University Northridge Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Expertise in Planning, Housing and Business.

Christina Erickson – Green building consultant, business consultant and licensed attorney. Expertise in Planning, Environmental Policy and Business.

Sandy Grant – Project manager and facilitator. Member of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment. Community Representative to the Santa Monica College Environmental Affairs Committee. Member of the Ocean Park Community Organization. Expertise in Planning, Environmental Policy, Education, Business and Neighborhood Issues.

Roe Johnston – Science teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica. Expertise in Environmental Policy and Education.

Leonard Mitchell – Executive Director of the USC Center for Economic Development and the National Center for Eco-Industrial Development, and licensed attorney. Expertise in Planning, Housing, Environmental Policy, Education, and Business.

Terry O’Day – Chief Operating Officer of Environment Now (environmental foundation) and small business owner. Member of the Santa Monica Planning Commission. Expertise in Planning, Housing, Environmental Policy, Education, and Business.

Mark Olson – Regional Manager for Southern California Edison. Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Board Member and Co-Chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee. Expertise in Environmental Policy and Business.

Jim Ries – Land Use Consultant. Pico Neighborhood Association Board Member. Expertise in Planning and Neighborhood Issues.

Jennifer Wolch – Professor of Geography and Urban Planning. Founding Director of the USC Center for Sustainable Cities. Member of the Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission. Expertise in Planning, Recreation and Parks, Social Services, and Environmental Policy.

Dennis Woods – Transportation Planner for the City of West Hollywood. Executive Board Member of Local 3339 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Active member of the Borderline Neighborhood Group. Expertise in Planning, Environmental Policy, Labor, and Neighborhood Issues.

Based on review of the applications received, there were many more qualified applicants than available positions on the SCTF. Staff feels that the eleven applicants listed above will best serve to advance sustainability within the community, based on their stated individual and cumulative expertise in all areas of sustainable policy, their connections with various community stakeholder groups, their familiarity with City government and policy, and their leadership ability. It must be noted that no qualified applicants with significant expertise in the area of Health Care submitted applications.

Once appointed, it is anticipated that the SCTF will have their first meeting within four to six weeks. At that time the SCTF will decide on the regular time, location and frequency of their meetings. The City Manager will designate an official staff liaison with the SCTF who will attend all meetings. Other City staff from various departments will participate in SCTF proceedings as is appropriate.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

Existing staff from various departments will provide staff support for the SCTF. Funds to cover staff expenses are included in current department budgets. Supplies and expenses for the SCTF are estimated to be approximately $1000 per year. Funds to cover these expenses are included in the Environmental Programs Division budget for FY 2003-04. Funds to cover costs for the SCTF for future years will be included in future budget requests.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that City Council establish a Sustainable City Task Force with the appointment of eleven members from the Santa Monica community.

Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental and Public Works Management

Brian Johnson, Environmental Programs Manager

Dean Kubani, Senior Environmental Analyst

Attachments: SCTF Applications