SR-510-002 (14)
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EPWM:CP:BJ:DK
Council Meeting: February 11, 2003
FEB I I 2003
Santa Monica, California
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Adoption of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan and Consideration
of Governance Structure
INTRODUCTION
This report requests that City Council adopt the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
which is an update and significant expansion of the Santa Monica Sustainable City
Program adopted by Council in 1994, and consider a governance structure.
BACKGROUND
In September 1994 City Council adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program
(SCP). This program was initiated two years earlier by the City's Task Force on the
Environment "as a way to create the basis for a more sustainable way of life - one that
safeguards and enhances our resources, prevents harm to the natural environment and
human health, and sustains and benefits the community and local economy - for the
sake of current and future generations."
The SCP includes internal and citywide goals in four main areas: (1) Resource
Conservation, (2) Transportation, (3) Pollution Prevention and Public Health Protection,
and (4) Community and Economic Development. Numerical sustainability indicators
1
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FEB -1 1 2003
were developed as a means to measure progress toward meeting these goals. A 1990
baseline was developed for each indicator and a target for the year 2000 was set.
As documented in the attached Sustainable City Program 2002 Status Report, the City
has made significant progress toward reaching the adopted Sustainable City goals and
targets. In recognition of these achievements Santa Monica is now viewed as an
international leader and role model for municipal sustainability.
DISCUSSION
In reviewing the progress made since the 1994 adoption of the program, the Task Force
on the Environment recognized the need to update and expand the Sustainable City
goals and indicators to provide a more complete picture of community sustainability,
and to develop new indicator targets for 2010. The Task Force felt that a
comprehensive update would allow Santa Monica to build on its initial success and
better address the challenges to sustainability that remain.
The update process began in July 2001 with the formation of the Sustainable City
Working Group - a group of community stakeholders that included elected and
appointed officials, City staff, and representatives of neighborhood organizations,
schools, the business community and other community groups. The working group
participated in a facilitated review of the Sustainable City goals, indicators and targets
over a 15-month period, which culminated in a public meeting on September 21,2002.
The working group proposed significant changes and additions to the initial Sustainable
2
City goals and indicators, and assisted with the creation of new indicator targets. Early
drafts of the proposed update were revised to reflect the community input received
during the summer of 2002. The attached Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan that
resulted from this update process was approved by the Task Force on the Environment
on November 18, 2002 and is being forwarded for City Council adoption as part of this
staff report.
The Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan represents a comprehensive update of the
1994 Santa Monica Sustainable City Program that builds upon the success of the
original program. The name was changed from "Program" to "Plan" to better reflect the
long-term comprehensive nature of the community's vision and Santa Monica's efforts
to become a sustainable city.
Plan Structure
The Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan is founded on nine Guiding Principles that
provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. These
Guiding Principles have been revised and updated from the versions initially adopted in
1994. The Plan has also been expanded to include eight Goal Areas:
. Resource Conservation
. Environmental and Public Health
. Transportation
. Economic Development
. Open Space and Land Use,
. Housing
. Community Education and Civic Participation
. Human Dignity
3
Within each Goal Area are specific goals, which comprise the core of the community
vision and represent what Santa Monica must achieve to further its efforts to become a
sustainable city.
For each goal, specific indicators have been developed to measure progress toward
meeting the goals. Indicators are tools that help to determine the condition of a system,
or the impact of a program, policy or action. When tracked over time, indicators provide
useful information to assist with decision-making. Two types of indicators are tracked
as part of the Sustainable City Plan. System level indicators measure the state,
condition or pressures on a community-wide basis for each respective goal area.
Program level indicators measure the performance or effectiveness of specific
programs, policies or actions taken by the City government or other stakeholders in the
community to address the goals.
Specific targets have been created for many of the indicators. The targets represent
aggressive yet achievable milestones for the community. Unless otherwise noted, the
targets are for the year 2010 using the year 2000 as a baseline.
Leadership, Guidance and Implementation
In recognition of the expansion of the Sustainable City Plan beyond the original four
goal areas, the Task Force on the Environment and community stakeholders have
recommended the formation of an advisory group with broad representation in the
community to provide leadership and guidance for implementation of the Sustainable
4
City Plan, and an interdepartmental staff working group to effect its programs. A
Sustainable City Steering Committee (SCSC) would be created to serve as the primary
advisory body to the City Council and the community on policies, actions and
implementation strategies.
It is proposed that the core of the SCSC be comprised of representatives from each of
the following:
· Planning Commission
· Housing Commission
· Recreation and Parks Commission
Social Services Commission
· Task Force on the Environment
Once assembled this core group would identify representatives from other stakeholder
groups in Santa Monica who they feel should also be represented on the SCSC. The
SCSC would also include a liaison from the City Council. SCSC members would help to
ensure that Sustainable City goals serve as the basis for decision-making by their
respective commissions, and the City departments and sectors of the community with
which they interact.
At the City staff level, it is recommended that an interdepartmental Sustainable City
Implementation Group, chaired by a representative from the City Manager's office, be
created to coordinate existing City activities so they are consistent with the Sustainable
City goals and facilitate the implementation of innovative programs and policies to
achieve the goals. Members of this group would serve as Sustainable City liaisons to
5
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interdepartmental group.
The SCSC and the staff Implementation Group would develop an implementation
strategy for meeting Sustainable City goals and targets, and coordinate implementation,
both interdepartmentally and between the City and community stakeholder groups.
Reporting
Within one year following City Council adoption of the Sustainable City Plan, a baseline
indicators report and a Sustainable City Implementation Strategy will be developed and
presented to Council. The implementation strategy would outline specific actions by the
City and all sectors of the community that should be undertaken to meet the goals and
targets presented in the Plan. The indicators report will be updated and presented to
Council every two years following completion of the baseline report. Updates will
include an explanation of the progress achieved toward meeting the program goals and
targets as well as a review of the continued community relevance and feasibility of the
indicators and targets. The indicators report will provide useful information to City
Council, City staff and community members on the progress being made toward
meeting the goals and targets of the Plan, and provide a basis for decision-making
about policies and actions that influence the City's ability to meet the goals and targets.
6
Other Considerations
The proposed Sustainable City Plan represents a considerable effort of many months
duration by City staff, Task Force and Board and commission members and interested
public participants. It entails a significant expansion of the scope of sustainability efforts
for a community already recognized for its environmental programs and awareness. It
will engage City staff time and monetary resources and will also likely affect Santa
Monica residents, businesses and visitors for the next eight years and beyond. For
these reasons the City Council should give careful scrutiny to all aspects of the plan.
The plan includes several new Goal Areas that extend well beyond the prior program's
primary focus on the natural environment, each with associated goals, indicators and
targets. These are: Economic Development, Open Space and Land Use, Housing,
Community Education and Civic Participation, and Human Dignity. Economic
Development was a goal area in the original program although there were few
associated goals and indicators. In the proposed plan sustainable Economic
Development is more specifically envisioned. Council should consider whether
extending plan focus into each of these areas is appropriate at this time.
The goals and indicators of the proposed plan are ambitious. There is no way to
determine potential City budget impacts of pursuing them absent a specific
implementation plan for each of the goals. Moreover, implementation will likely involve
new behavioral expectations and, potentially, could lead to the proposal of new
regulatory restrictions on residents and businesses. Similarly, associated economic
7
impacts cannot be determined absent implementation specifics. While progress toward
meeting the original goals has been measured, and philosophical satisfaction can
certainly be taken with program results to date, it is not possible to measure the specific
costs and benefits associated with the attainment of many of the programs goals.
The proposed plan, as noted above, extends the definition of sustainability well beyond
the environmental expertise provided by the Task Force on the Environment. (The Task
Force has provided advice, impetus and visibility in support of the original program and
would presumably continue in a similar role in relation to many of the goals of the
proposed plan). The concept of a steering committee for the proposed plan stems from
the perceived need for broader advisory expertise, and a sense that, absent oversight
and involvement by community stakeholders, opportunities for achievement of targets
may be lost.
The proposed advisory body is envisioned to have input to Council on a wide range of
policies, programs and projects. This input would be additive to that provided by
existing Boards, Commissions and the Task Force, as appropriate to the subject matter.
Council must determine whether indeed such an additional advisory body is desirable or
whether the existing structure of boards and commissions (and the Task Force) can
provide appropriate and timely input for Council decision-making. One consideration
must be whether the additional level of review and input will delay Council policy
formulation and project approvals.
8
IIDtin
SANTA MONICA SUSTAINABLE CITY PLAN
Adopted September 20 1994
Update Adopted February 11,2003 (pending)
Col'\se ...ve Today.
P..esente "to,,\Ot'I"O\V.
Sa..a H..I..a
A SUitainable Community
Introduction
We live in a time in which increased population growth, high levels of consumption and
the desire to feed growing economies have created escalating demands on our resources -
natural, human and social - on a local, regional, and global scale. These demands
negatively impact the natural environment, our communities and the quality of our lives.
In the face of these challenges, people worldwide have developed a growing concern for
the environment and a desire to live sustainably.
In 1994 the Santa Monica City Council took steps to address these pressures locally by
adopting the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program. The Sustainable City Program was
initially proposed in 1992 by the City's Task Force on the Environment to ensure that
Santa Monica can continue to meet its current needs - environmental, economic and
social - without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. It is
designed to help us as a community begin to think, plan and act more sustainably - to
help us address the root causes of problems rather than the symptoms of those problems,
and to provide criteria for evaluating the long-term rather than the short-term impacts of
our decisions - in short, to help us think about the future when we are making decisions
about the present.
The program includes goals and strategies, for the City government and all sectors of the
community, to conserve and enhance our local resources, safeguard human health and the
environment, maintain a healthy and diverse economy, and improve the livability and
quality of life for all community members in Santa Monica. To check our progress
toward meeting these goals, numerical indicators were developed and specific targets
were set for the city to achieve by the year 2000 in four goal areas - 1) Resource
Conservation, 2) Transportation, 3) Pollution Prevention and Public Health Protection,
and 4) Community and Economic Development.
Following eight years of implementation the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program has
achieved much success. Many of the initial targets have been met or exceeded and Santa
Monica is now recognized as worldwide role model for sustainability. However, we are
not "there" yet. While we have made progress in the right direction, Santa Monica's
economy and the activities of its residents, businesses, institutions and visitors continue
to negatively impact human health and the environment. And our community does not
yet provide for the basic needs of all its members. Many challenges remain before Santa
Monica can truly call itself a Sustainable City.
Sustainable City Update Process
In reviewing the progress made since the 1994 adoption of the program, the Task Force
on the Environment recognized the need to update and expand the Sustainable City goals
and indicators to provide a more complete picture of community sustainability, and to
develop new indicator targets for 2010. The Task Force felt that a comprehensive update
would allow Santa Monica to build on its initial success and to better address the
challenges to sustainability that remain.
The update process began in July 2001 with the formation of the Sustainable City
Working Group - a large group of community stakeholders that included elected and
appointed officials, City staff, and representatives of neighborhood organizations,
schools, the business community and other community groups. The Working Group met
numerous times over the course of 15 months to discuss the myriad issues related to the
sustainability of the community. They evaluated the long-term sustainability of Santa
Monica using a framework comprised of three forms of community capital that need to
be managed with care in order to ensure that the community does not deteriorate. These
include natural capital- the natural environment and natural resources of the community;
human and social capital- the connectedness among people in the community and the
education, skills and health of the population; and financial and built capital-
manufactured goods, buildings, infrastructure, information resources, credit and debt.
The group proposed significant changes to the initial Sustainable City goals and
indicators, and assisted with the creation of new indicator targets. Early drafts of the
proposed update were revised based on a large amount of public input received during the
summer of 2002.
The result of this process is this updated Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan, which
represents the community's vision of Santa Monica as a sustainable city. The change in
name from Sustainable City Program to Sustainable City Plan was made to better reflect
the long-term comprehensive nature of Santa Monica's vision and the community's
efforts to become a sustainable city.
Sustainable City Plan Structure
The Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan is founded on nine Guiding Principles that
provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. These
Guiding Principles have been revised and updated from the versions initially adopted in
1994.
The Plan has also been expanded to include eight Goal Areas:
. Resource Conservation
2
. Environmental and Public Health
. Transportation
. Economic Development
. Open Space and Land Use
. Housing
. Community Education and Civic Participation
. Human Dignity
Within each Goal Area are specific Goals which comprise the core of the community
vision and represent what Santa Monica must achieve in order become a sustainable city.
For each goal specific Indicators have been developed to measure progress toward
meeting the goals. Indicators are tools that help to determine the condition of a system,
or the impact of a program, policy or action. When tracked over time indicators tell us if
we are moving toward sustainability and provide us with useful information to assist with
decision-making. Two types of indicators are tracked as part of the Sustainable City
Plan. System level indicators measure the state, condition or pressures on a community-
wide basis for each respective goal area. Program level indicators measure the
performance or effectiveness of specific programs, policies or actions taken by the City
government or other stakeholders in the community.
Many of the goals and indicators measure more than one area of sustainability. A Goal /
Indicator Matrix has been included to demonstrate the linkages between these areas.
The amount of overlap shown by the matrix demonstrates the interconnectedness of our
community and the far ranging impact of our decisions across environmental, economic
and social boundaries.
Specific Targets have been created for many of the indicators. The targets represent
aggressive yet achievable milestones for the community. Unless otherwise noted, the
targets are for the year 2010 using 2000 as a baseline. For some indicators no specific
numerical targets have been assigned. This was done where development of a numerical
target was determined to be not feasible or where limits on data type and availability
made it difficult to set a numerical target. In many of these cases a trend direction was
substituted for a numerical target.
Terms throughout this document that may be unfamiliar to the general reader are defmed
in a Glossary. Words or phrases defined in the glossary are shown in italics the first time
they appear in the document.
Leadership, Guidance and Implementation of the Sustainable City Plan
A Sustainable City Steering Committee (SCSe) will be created to serve as the primary
advisory body to the City Council and the community on policies, actions and
implementation strategies needed to achieve the goals of the Sustainable City Plan. The
Committee will be responsible for tracking and reporting progress of the Plan to City
Council. SCSC members will help to ensure that Sustainable City goals serve as the
basis for decision-making by their respective commissions, and the City departments and
sectors of the community with which they interact.
3
The core of the SCSC will be comprised of representatives from each of the following
City Council-appointed groups:
. Planning Commission
. Housing Commission
. Recreation and Parks Commission
. Social Services Commission
. Task Force on the Environment
Once assembled this core group will identify representatives from other stakeholder
groups in Santa Monica who they feel should also be represented on the SCSC. The
SCSC will also include a liaison from the City Council.
At the City staff level, an interdepartmental Sustainable City Implementation Group,
chaired by a representative from the City Manager's office, will be created to coordinate
existing City activities so they are consistent with the Sustainable City goals and facilitate
the implementation of innovative programs and policies to achieve the goals. Members
of this group will serve as Sustainable City liaisons to their respective departments. Staff
support for the SCSC will be drawn from this interdepartmental group.
Between them, the SCSC and the staff Implementation Group will be responsible for
developing an implementation plan for meeting Sustainable City goals and targets, and
for coordinating implementation, both interdepartmentally and between the City and
community stakeholder groups.
Reporting
Within one year following City Council adoption of the Sustainable City Plan, the SCSC
and the staff Implementation Group will present Council with a baseline indicators report
and a Sustainable City Implementation Strategy. The indicators report will be updated
and presented to Council every two years thereafter. The report is intended to provide
useful information to City Council, City staff and community members on progress being
made toward meeting goals and targets of the Plan, and will provide a basis for decision-
making about policies and actions that influence the City's ability to meet the goals and
targets.
4
Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Concept of Sustainability Guides City Policy
Santa Monica is committed to meeting its existing needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The long-term impacts of policy
choices will be considered to ensure a sustainable legacy.
2. Protection, Preservation, and Restoration of the Natural Environment is a High
Priority of the City
Santa Monica is committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the natural
environment. City decision-making will be guided by a mandate to maximize
environmental benefits and reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts. The
City will lead by example and encourage other community stakeholders to make a
similar commitment to the environment.
3. Environmental Quality, Economic Health and Social Equity are Mutually
Dependent
Sustainability requires that our collective decisions as a city allow our economy and
community members to continue to thrive without destroying the natural environment
upon which we all depend. A healthy environment is integral to the city's long-term
economic and societal interests. In achieving a healthy environment, we must ensure
that inequitable burdens are not placed on anyone geographic or socioeconomic
sector of the population and that the benefits of a sustainable community are
accessible to all members of the community.
4. All Decisions Have Implications to the Long-term Sustainability of Santa
Monica
The City will ensure that each of its policy decisions and programs are interconnected
through the common bond of sustainability as expressed in these guiding principles.
The policy and decision-making processes of the City will reflect our sustainability
objectives. The City wi11lead by example and encourage other community
stakeholders to use sustainability principles to guide their decisions and actions.
5. Community Awareness, Responsibility, Participation and Education are Key
Elements of a Sustainable Community
All community members, including individual citizens, community-based groups,
businesses, schools and other institutions must be aware of their impacts on the
environmental, economic and social health of Santa Monica, must take responsibility
for reducing or eliminating those impacts, and must take an active part in community
efforts to address sustainability concerns. The City will therefore be a leader in the
creation and sponsorship of education opportunities to support community awareness,
responsibility and participation in cooperation with schools, colleges and other
organizations in the community.
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6. Santa Monica Recognizes Its Linkage with the Regional, National, and Global
Community
Local environmental, economic and social issues cannot be separated from their
broader context. This relationship between local issues and regional, national and
global issues will be recognized and acted upon in the City's programs and policies.
The City's programs and policies should therefore be developed as models that can be
emulated by other communities. The City will also act as a strong advocate for the
development and implementation of model programs and innovative approaches by
regional, state and federal government that embody the goals of sustainability.
7. Those Sustainability Issues Most Important to the Community Will be
Addressed First, and the Most Cost-Effective Programs and Policies Will be
Selected
The fmancial and human resources which are available to the City are limited. The
City and the community will reevaluate its priorities and its programs and policies
annually to ensure that the best possible investments in the future are being made.
The evaluation of a program's cost-effectiveness will be based on a complete analysis
of the associated costs and benefits, including environmental and social costs and
benefits.
8. The City is Committed to Procurement Decisions which Minimize Negative
Environmental and Social Impacts
The procurement of products and services by the City and Santa Monica residents,
businesses and institutions results in environmental, social and economic impacts
both in this country and in other areas of the world. The City will develop and abide
by an environmentally and socially responsible procurement policy that emphasizes
long-term values and will become a model for other public as well as private
organizations. The City will advocate for and assist other local agencies, businesses
and residents in adopting sustainable purchasing practices.
9. Cross-sector Partnerships Are Necessary to Achieve Sustainable Goals
Threats to the long-term sustainability of Santa Monica are multi-sector in their
causes and require multi-sector solutions. Partnerships among the City government,
businesses, residents and all community stakeholders are necessary to achieve a
sustainable community.
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Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
GOALS, INDICATORS AND TARGETS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Goals
Across all segments of the community:
Significantly decrease overall community consumption, specifically the
consumption of non-local, non-renewable, non-recyclable and non-recycled
materials, water, and energy and fuels. The City should take a leadership role in
encouraging sustainable procurement. extended producer responsibility and
should explore innovative strategies to become a zero waste city.
2 Within renewable limits, encourage the use of local, non-polluting, renewable and
recycled resources (water, energy - wind, solar and geothermal- and material
resources)
Indicators - System Level
T ar2ets
Solid waste generation Generation: Do not exceed year 2000
· Total citywide generation (also report levels by 2010
per capita and by sector)
· Amount landfilled Diversion: Increase amount diverted to
· Amount diverted (recycled, composted, 70% oftotal by 2010
etc) from landfill
,
Water use
· Total citywide use (also report per capita Reduce overall water use by 20% by 2010
and by sector) (baseline 2000). Of the total water used,
· Percent local vs. imported non-potable water use should be
· Potable vs. non-potable maximized
Increase percentage of locally-obtained
potable water to 70% of total by 2010
Energy use
· Total citywide use (also report per capita (Target pending completion of
and by sector) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
Strategy in 2003)
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Renewable Energy use
Percent of citywide energy use from By 2010 25% of all electricity use in Santa
renewable and more efficient sources Monica should come from renewable
· Total renewable energy use (also report sources
by sector)
By 2010 1 % of all electricity use should
· Total energy use from clean distributed come from clean distributed generation
generation sources in SM (also report by sources in Santa Monica
sector)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
· Total citywide emissions (also report per (Target pending completion of Greenhouse
capita, by source and by sector) Gas Emission Reduction Strategy in 2003)
Ecological Footprint for Santa Monica (no target)
Indicator of Sustainable Procurement Indicator and target to be developed by
2003
Indicators - Pro2ram Level
Tar2ets
"Green" Construction
Total number of LEEDTM certified
buildings in Santa Monica as a percent of
new construction
100% of all buildings * greater than 10,000
square feet eligible for LEEO™
certification constructed in Santa Monica
in the year 2010 shall achieve LEEO™
certification or its equivalent. Of these,
20010 should attain LEEO™ Silver, 10%
LEEO™ Gold and 2% LEEO™ Platinum
certification or equivalent. In addition,
50% of all new, eligible buildings* less
than 10,000 square feet constructed in
2010 shall achieve LEEO™ certification
or its equivalent.
*including all municipal construction
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Goals
Protect and enhance environmental health and public health by minimizing and where
possible eliminating:
· The use of hazardous or toxic materials, in particular POPs (persistent organic
pollutants) and POTs (persistent bioaccumulative & toxic chemicals), by
residents, businesses and City operations;
. The levels of pollutants entering the air, soil and water; and
. The risks that environmental problems pose to human and ecological health.
2. Ensure that no one geographic or socioeconomic group in the City is being unfairly
impacted by environmental pollution.
3 Increase consumption of fresh, locally produced, organic produce to promote public
health and to minimize resource consumption and negative environmental impacts.
Indicators - System Level
Santa Monica Bay
Number of days Santa Monica beaches are
posted with health warnings or closed.
Measure for both:
· Dry weather months (April-October)
· Wet weather months (November-March)
Wastewater (sewage) generation
· Total citywide generation (also report per
capita, and by sector)
Vehicle miles traveled
· Total
· Local vs. drive-throu h
Air Quality
Percent and demographic profile of Santa
Monica residents who live within a Y2 mile
radius of si ni lcant emissions sources
Tan~ets
o warnings and closures at any Santa
Monica beach location during dry weather
months
No more than 3 days with warnings or
closures at any Santa Monica beach
location on non-rainy days during wet
weather months (a target for rainy days
during these months will be determined in
2003)
Reduce wastewater flows 15% below 2000
levels by 2010
Downward trend
no tar et for local vs. drive throu
By 2005 all significant emissions sources
in Santa Monica should be identified
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Indicators - Pro2ram Level
Residential household hazardous waste
· Total volume of household hazardous
waste (HHW) collected from Santa
Monica residents
· Number and Percent of Santa Monica
households using the City's HHW
collection facility
· Cumulative number and percent of
Santa Monica households using the
City's HHW collection facility since
2000
City purchases of hazardous materials
Volume and toxicity of hazardous material
(including POP & PBT containing
materials) urchased b the Ci
Toxic air contaminant (TAC) releases
· Number of facilities in SM permitted to
release T ACs
· Total volume ofTACs emitted in SM
annuall
Urban Runoff Reduction
Percent of ermeable land area in the Ci
Fresh, Local, Organic Produce
Percent of fresh, locally-produced, organic
produce that is served at City facilities and
other Santa Monica institutions (including
hospitals, schools, Santa Monica College,
and Ci -s nsored food ro rams
Organic Produce - Farmers Markets
Total annual produce sales at Santa Monica
farmers' markets
· Percent organically grown
· Percent grown using low-chemical
methods
· Percent conventionall rown
Restaurant produce purchases
Percent of Santa Monica restaurants that
purchase ingredients at Santa Monica
farmers' markets
Food choices
Percent of Santa Monica residents who
report that vegetable-based protein is the
primary protein source for at least half of
their meals
Tar2ets
50% cumulative participation rate at the
City's HHW collection facility by S.M.
households by 2010 (i.e. by 2010 50% of
all households in the city will have
delivered HHW to the facility since 2000)
(Target to be developed by City staffby
2004)
Complete feasibility study for data
availability and collection by 2003
Annual increase over baseline
Annual increase in percent of organically
grown and low-chemical produce sales
over baseline
Annual increase over baseline
Annual increase over baseline
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TRANSPORTATION
Goals
1. Create a multi-modal transportation system that minimizes 8.Jld, where possible,
eliminates pollution and motor vehicle congestion while ensuring safe mobility and
access for all without compromising our ability to protect public health and safety.
2. Facilitate a reduction in automobile dependency in favor of affordable alternative,
sustainable modes of travel.
Indicators - System Level
Tar2ets
Modal split An upward trend in the use of sustainable
· Number of trips by type, citywide (bus, bike, pedestrian, rail) modes of
· Average vehicle ridership (AVR) of transportation
Santa Monica businesses with more
than 50 employees A VR of 1.5 by 2010 for Santa Monica
businesses with more than 50 employees
Residential use of sustainable
transportation options (Target to be developed after initial survey
Percent of residents who have intentionally is completed in 2003)
not used their car but have instead used a
sustainable mode of transportation in the
past month
Sufficiency of transportation options
Percent of residen~s who perceive that the (Target to be developed after initial survey
available sustainable modes of is completed in 2003)
transportation in Santa Monica meet their
needs
Bicycle lanes and paths
. Percent of total miles of city arterial 35% by 2010
streets with bike lanes
. Total miles of bike paths in Santa (Target to be developed by 2003)
Monica
Vehicle ownership
Average number of vehicles per person of 10% reduction in the average number of
driving age in Santa Monica vehicles per person by 2010
. total number of vehicles per person
. percent of total that are qualified low Upward trend in % of qualified low
emission / alternative fuel vehicles emission / alternative fuel vehicles
11
Indicators - Pro2ram Level
Tar2ets
Bus ridership
. Annual ridership on Santa Monica Upward trend
Big Blue Bus (BBB)
. Percent of residents who have ridden Upward trend
the BBB in the past year
. Percent of residents who have ridden Upward trend
the Tide shuttle in the past year
. Annual ridership on MT A routes Upward trend
originating in Santa Monica
Alternative fueled vehicles
Percent of the City's non-emergency fleet (City statIto develop target by 2003)
vehicles using alternative fuels
. Public works vehicles
. BBB vehicles
. Non emergency police and fire
vehicles
Traffic congestion
. Number of signalized intersections with Downward trend
unacceptable motor vehicle congestion
(LOS D, E or F) during peak hours
. Level of service (LOS) for sustainable Upward trend
modes of transportation at impacted
intersections
. Locally classified streets that exceed Downward trend
City thresholds for traffic levels
Pedestrian and bicycle safety
Number of bicycle and pedestrian Downward trend
collisions involving motor vehicles
Traffic impacts to emergency response
Average emergency response times for No upward trend
public safety vehicles
. Police
. Fire
12
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Goals
1. Nurture a diverse, stable, local economy that supports basic needs of all segments of
the community.
2. Businesses, organizations and local government agencies within Santa Monica
continue to increase the efficiency of their use of resources through the adoption of
sustainable business practices. The City takes a leadership role by developing a plan
by 2005 to increase the adoption of sustainable practices by Santa Monica businesses
and encouraging sustainable businesses to locate in Santa Monica.
Indicators - Svstem Level
Tare:ets
Economic Diversity
Percent of total economic activity/output No single sector shall be greater than 25%
by business sector (expressed as a percent oftotal economic activity/output; and the
of total wages) top three sectors shall not be greater than
50% of total economic activity/output.
Business reinvestment in the community Annual increase in reinvestment by
(indicator to be developed by 2003) businesses
Jobs I Housing Balance
· Ratio of the number of jobs in Santa Ratio should approach 1
Monica to the amount of housing
· Percent of Santa Monica residents Increasing trend
employed in Santa Monica
Cost of Living
Santa Monica household incomes in (no target)
relation to Santa Monica cost of living
index (SMeOLI)
Quality Job Creation
Number of net new jobs created in Santa Increasing trend
Monica that pay greater than or equal to
the SMCOL! as a percent of total new jobs
created
i
13
Income Disparity
· Percent of Santa Monica households (no target)
earning less than $25,OOO/year
· Percent of households earning more
than $lOO,OOO/year
Resource efficiency of local businesses
· Ratio of energy use to total economic Downward trend
activity by business sector
· Ratio of total water use to total Downward trend
economic activity by business sector
Indicators - Proeram Level Tareets
Local employment of City staff
· Percent of City employees who live in (no targets)
SM
· Distance Ci em 10 ees travel to work:
14
Goals
OPEN SPACE AND LAND USE
Develop and maintain a sufficient open space system so that it is diverse in uses and
opportunities and includes natural function/wildlife habitat as well as passive and
active recreation with an equitable distribution of parks, trees and pathways
throughout the community.
2. Implement land use and transportation planning and policies to create compact,
mixed-use projects, forming urban villages designed to maximize affordable housing
and encourage walking, bicycling and the use of existing and future public transit
systems.
3, Residents recognize that they share the local ecosystem with other living things that
warrant respect and responsible stew~dship.
Indicators - System Level
Open Space
· Number of acres of public open space
by type (including beaches, parks,
public gathering places, gardens, and
other public lands utilized as open
space)
· Percent of open space that is
ermeable
Trees
· Percent of tree canopy coverage by
neighborhood
· Percent of newly planted and total
trees that meet defined sustainability
criteria*
*to be develo ed b 2003
Parks - Accessibility
Percent of households and population
within Y4 and Y2 mile of a park by
nei borhood
Land Use and Development
Percent of residential, mixed-use projects
that are within Y4 mile of transit nodes and
are otherwise consistent with Sustainable
Ci Pro oals
Regionally Appropriate Vegetation
Percent of new or replaced, non-turf,
public landscaped area and non-
recreational turf area planted with
regionally appropriate plants
Tar2ets
Upward trend
Upward trend
Upward trend
Target to be developed by 2003
Upward trend in park accessibility for
Santa Monica residents
Upward trend
Target to be developed in 2003
15
HOUSING
Goals
. Achieve and maintain a mix of affordable, livable and green housing types throughout
the city for people of all socio-economic / cultural/household groups (including
seniors, families, singles, and disabled).
Indicators - System Level Tar2ets
-
Availability of Affordable Housing
Percent of all existing and new housing in (Target to be developed by City staff in
Santa Monica affordable to very low, low, 2005 with the next update of the City's
moderate, and upper income households Housing Element)
Distribution of Affordable Housing
Distribution of low income housing by (no target)
nei~hborhood
Indicators - Pro2ram Level Tar2ets
Affordable Housing for Special Needs
Groups
Number of new or rehabilitated affordable (no target)
housing units for families, seniors, the
disabled and other special needs groups as
a percentage of all new or rehabilitated
affordable housing development
Production of "Livable" Housing
· Number of new housing units in non- Upward trend
residential zone districts as a percentage
of the total new housing
· Percent of new units within 1,4 mile of: Upward trend
. transit stop
. open space
· grocery store
Production of "Green" Housing
Percent of new and substantially- Upward trend
rehabilitated housing that complies with
Green Building Ordinance #1995 as a
percentage of the total new and
rehabilitated housin~
16
COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Goals
Community members of all ages participate actively and effectively in civic affairs
and community improvement efforts.
2, Community members of all ages understand the basic principles of sustainability and
use them to guide their decisions and actions - both personal and collective.
Indicators - System Level
Tareets
Voter Participation
Percent of registered Santa Monica voters Increase SM voter participation to 50% in
who vote in scheduled elections. Compare off year elections by 2010
to voter participation rates at the regional
and national levels.
Participation in Civic Affairs
Percent of Santa Monica residents who Upward trend
have attended a city-sponsored meeting of
any kind in the past year, including City
Council meetings, City Commission
meetings, or special-topic workshops
Empowerment
Percent of Santa Monica residents who feel Upward trend
that they have the opportunity to voice
their concerns in the city on major
community decisions that affect their lives
Community Involvement
Percent of Santa Monica residents who Upward trend
attend community events such as the Santa
Monica Festival, a summer concert at the
Pier, an event at Virginia Avenue Park, a
neighborhood block party, a weekly
farmers' market
Volunteering
Percent of Santa Monica residents Upward trend
volunteering and total hours volunteered in
selected City funded public benefit
programs
17
Participation in Neighborhood
Organizations Upward trend
Percent of Santa Monica residents that are
active members in recognized
neighborhood organizations (by
neighborhood)
Sustainable Community Involvement
Percent of Santa Monica residents who are 25% by 2010
aware of the Ecological Footprint for Santa
Monica and understand their contribution
to it
Sustainable Community Involvement
Percent of Santa Monica residents who Upward trend
have an understanding of how each
Sustainable City goal area is a component
of a sustainable community and the extent
to which this affects their decisions
18
HUMAN DIGNITY
Goals
Santa Monica will be a community in which:
All its members are able to meet their basic needs and are empowered to enhance the
quality of their lives; and
2. There is access among community members to housing, health services, education,
economic opportunity, and cultural and recreational resources; and
3. There is respect for and appreciation of the value added to the community by
differences among its members in race, religion, gender, age, economic status, sexual
orientation, disabilities, immigration status and other special needs.
Indicators - System Level
Tareets
Basic Needs - Shelter
· Number of homeless living in Santa (no target)
Monica
· Percent of Santa Monica homeless Upward trend
population served by the city shelter
that transition to permanent housing
Basic Needs - Health Care
· Percent of residents with health (no target)
insurance
· Capacity of local health service (no target)
providers to meet the basic health care
needs of Santa Monica residents
. I
Basic Needs - Economic Opportunity I
Percent of Santa Monica residents who Downward trend
work more than 40 hours per week in order
to meet their basic needs
llasic Needs - Public Safety
Crime rate per capita - report by Downward trend - Compare to national
neighborhood/reporting district, and by and regional data and to other similar
type (property, violent, hate) communities
19
Residents' perception of safety
Percent of residents who feel that Santa
Monica is a safe place to live and work
Incidents of Abuse
· Number of reported incidents of abuse
(domestic, child, and elder abuse)
· Percent of cases prosecuted
Incidents of Discrimination
· Number of reports regarding
Employment and housing
discrimination
· Number of cases prosecuted
EducationlY outh
· SMMUSD student drop-out rates
· SMMUSD student suspension rates
· SMMUSD student substance abuse
rates
· Percent of SMMUSD students who
feel safe at school
· Percent of SMMUSD students that
enroll in college or university
· SMMUSD students enrolled in
advanced placement courses and
percent that receive passing grades
Empowerment
Women, minorities and people with
disabilities in leadership positions
· business
· local government
· non-profit organizations
Ability to Meet Basic Needs
Percent of residents who perceive that
needs are not being met for:
· Individual and family .counseling
· Emergency food, clothing, shelter
· Employment services and job training
· Recreation and services for youth
· Health care
· Substance abuse treatment / prevention
· Affordable housing
· Seniors and people with disabilities
· Transportation and mobility
Upward trend
Downward trend
Upward trend
Downward trend
Upward trend
Downward trend
Downward trend
Downward trend
Upward trend
Upward trend
Upward trend
Upward trend
(Note: data is not currently available for
this indicator)
Downward trend in all areas
20
Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
GOAL I INDICATOR MATRIX
The matrix below lists all of the Sustainable City indicators down the left side and the eight
Sustainable City goal areas across the top. For each indicator dots are shown for every goal area
that the indicator provides information about. While each indicator was developed to measure
progress toward meeting goals in one goal area, this matrix shows that many of the indicators
measure the conditions, impacts or effectiveness of our actions in several goal areas. This
demonstrates the linkages between each of the goal areas and the impact of our decisions across
environmental. economic and social boundaries.
-
f~ ~m ..., om f;~ '"; om ::r:
c:r~ .... (1) n ::; -" 0. ~
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n 0 .....0 c::~
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I Resource Conservation Indicators
Solid waste generation . .
Water use . . . .
Energy use . . . . .
Renewable energy use . . . .
Greenhouse gas emissions . . . . . .
Ecological Footprint for Santa Monica . . . . . .
Indicator of sustainable procurement . . .
"Green" construction . . . .
I Environmental and Public Health Indicators
Santa Monica Bay - beach closures . .
Wastewater (sewage) generation . . .
Vehicle miles traveled . . . . .
Air quality . . . .
Residential household hazardous waste .
City purchases of hazardous materials .
Toxic air contaminant releases .
Urban runoff reduction, . . . .
Fresh, local, organic produce . . .
Organic produce Farmer's markets . . .
Restaurant produce purchases . . .
Food choices . . . .
I TransDortation Indicators
Modal split . . . .
Residential use of sustainable trans. options . . . . .
Sufficiency of transportation options .
Bicycle lanes and paths . .
Vehicle ownership . . . .
21
(J~ ~tT1 ... m r-o ::c: IOtrl(J ::c:
g (p O"~ n ~'O 0 Q..o ~
l;I1 !II'-; ? (';} ~ I~' g ~
l;I1 0 - _. ,; 0.. ;3 lZl e
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n 0 ~ .r;: _. ~
~ ~a t:l I- g. g
~ 0Cl
(ll ~ t:l
- f'~ t:l _.
O' Il:l (p ~-< _.
::;:'t:l ~
t:l :rE ~
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;:; -<
~ CL
Q..
Bus ridership . . .
Alternative fueled vehicles - City fleet . . .
Traffic congestion . . .
Pedestrian and bicycle safety .
Traffic impacts to emergency response . . .
Economic Development Indicators
Ec()Domic diversity .
Business reinvestment in the community . .
Jobs I Housing balance . . . .
Cost of living . . .
Quality Job Creation . . .
Income disparity . .
Resource efficiency of local businesses . . .
Local employment of City staff . . .
ODen Space and Land Use Indicators
Open Space . .
Trees . . .
Parks - Accessibility . . . .
Land Use and Development . . .
Regionally appropriate vegetation . .
I Housinf! Indicators
Availability of affordable housing . . .
Distribution of affordable housing . . . .
Affordable housing for special needs groups . .
Production of "livable" housing . . . . .
Production of "green" housing . . .
Community Education and Civic Participation Indicators
Voter participation .
Participation in civic affairs .
Empowerment . .
Community involvement .
Volunteering .
Participation in neighborhood organizations .
Sustainable community involvement 1 . . . .
Sustainable community involvement 2 . . . . . . . .
i Human Dif!nitv Indicators
Basic Needs - Shelter . .
22
("):;:tI m ~ om 1:'""'0 :I: (")m(") :I:
g G ~ G n 1l'l"O 0 ..... Q. 0 ~
CIl < 0 = G ~ :S.g S S
CIl 0 G ::s Q.= CIl
~ ~ CIl -0 n Il'l S ~
"0 s;:~ Jg'
:J: 0 .g S >og ::t. ~
G (l> ~ S o' G Il'l ~ 0 = 0
...... = .....
..... "" n ..... ~ .....
0 a G ~
= "'"" cS- ~ g.~
=.. = "gQ. q'
Q. ::t.
g
Basic Needs - Health Care .
Basic Needs - Economic Opportunity . .
Basic Needs - Public Safety .
Residents' perception of safety .
Incidents of abuse .
Incidents of discrimination . . .
Education / Youth .
Empowerment . .
Ability to meet basic needs . . . .
23
Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
GLOSSARY
active recreation: recreational opportunities including sports and other activities that
typically require playing fields, facilities or equipment.
affordable housing: any housing that is deed restricted for, and occupied by, households
earning less than 120% of the Los Angeles County median family income.
alternative fuel vehicles: vehicles that operate on fuels other than gasoline or diesel.
Alternative fuel vehicles include those that operate using compressed natural gas (CNG),
liquid natural gas (LNG), propane, electricity, hybrid of gasoline and electricity, and
hydrogen.
alternative (and/or sustainable) modes oftransportation: for the purpose of this
document alternative (and/or sustainable) modes of transportation include transportation
by public transit (bus or rail), bicycle, walking, or alternative fuel vehicles.
average vehicle ridership (A VR): a measurement of vehicle occupancy indicating the
average number of persons traveling in a measured number of vehicles. A VR is an
indicator of the effectiveness of and participation in ridesharing programs
bike lane/path/route: As defmed in the City's Bicycle Master Plan, a bike lane is a
signed and striped lane along a roadway for use by bicycles. Other types of bicycle ways
in the city are bike paths and bike routes. A bike path is a dedicated bicycle way that
completely separates bicycles from motor vehicles. Bike routes are signed routes which
bicyclists share with motor vehicles. Bike routes differ from bike lanes in that routes do
not include any striping on the roadway - they are only designated by signage.
community: for the purpose of this document, whenever the term community is used it
is meant to include the following groups: individuals of all ages, races and abilities;
organizations; government agencies; businesses; employers; employees; residents;
property owners; renters; visitors; schools; students; public and private service agencies;
faith communities; and local media.
companion animals: animals kept by residents in their homes, yards, or other properties,
for purposes of providing mutual companionship.
clean distributed generation: distributed generation refers to generation of electricity at
or near the location where that electricity will be used. This differs from traditional
electricity generation, which occurs at centralized power plants and is distributed over
hundreds of miles to millions of customers through the electricity "grid". For the purpose
of this document, clean distributed generation (in order of preferred technology type)
refers to I) renewable distributed generation, including electricity generated by solar
photovoltaic systems, fuel cells (powered by hydrogen generated from solar, wind, or
24
other ~~n-fossil fuel, renewable energy technologies), and small wind generators; 2)
electricIty generated by high efficiency (i.e., meeting or exceeding efficiency of large
natural gas power plants) natural gas generators and fuel cells using hydrogen generated
through a natural gas catalyst; and 3) medium scale, high-efficiency co-generation
systems (powered by natural gas) serving many properties located within close proximity
of each other. Clean distributed generation does not include electricity generated by
gasoline or diesel powered generators.
diversion: in reference to solid waste, diversion refers to all waste that is kept out of a
landfill through recycling, beneficial reuse, composting, or other means.
ecological footprint: The ecological footprint is a tool to help measure human impacts
on local and global ecosystems. The ecological footprint of a given population
(household, community, country) is the total area of ecologically productive land and
water used exclusively to produce all the resources (including food, fuel, and fiber)
consumed and to assimilate all the wastes generated by that population. Since we use
resources from all over the world and affect far away places with our wastes, the footprint
is a sum of these ecological areas - wherever that land and water may be on the planet.
Thus the ecological footprint of Santa Monica is that area of productive land inside and
outside its borders that is appropriated for its resource consumption or waste assimilation.
There is a finite area of ecologically productive land and water on the Earth, which must
be shared among 6 billion people as well as all of the planet's other species. The amount
of ecologically productive land available globally at today's current population is
approximately 5 acres per person. The ecological footprint of the average American is
approximately 25 acres, far exceeding the "fair earthshare". The ecological footprint is an
excellent tool for illustrating the magnitude of the change necessary for our world to
become sustainable. It is also useful for evaluating and comparing the total environmental
impact of specific activities and in this way, helpful for decision-making.
environmentally preferable: a product, service, activity or process that has a lesser or
reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products,
services, activities or processes that serve the same purpose.
extended producer responsibility: responsibility of producers or manufacturers across
the entire life cycle of their products, particularly to the post-consumer stage (after
products are discarded and become waste). Typically once a product is sold to a
consumer the responsibility of disposing of that product becomes the responsibility of the
consumer. Extended producer responsibility requires that the producer of the product
maintain responsibility for recycling or proper disposal of the product once it has
surpassed its useful life.
green: for the purpose of this document, green is used as shorthand to refer to any
environmentally preferable product, activity, service or process.
25
green housing: housing that meets or exceeds the requirements of the City's Green
Building Design and Construction Guidelines.
greenhouse gas (GHG): greenhouse gases are natural and manmade gases in the earth's
atmosphere that allow incoming solar radiation to pass through the atmosphere and
warm the earth but trap radiant heat given off by the earth. The radiant heat absorbed by
these gases heats the atmosphere. This is a natural process known as the "greenhouse
effect" that keeps the earth habitable. The four primary greenhouse gases are carbon
dioxide (C02), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Since the onset of the industrial period, human activities have lead to sharp increases in
the levels ofGHGs in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and contributing
to rising global temperatures.
hazardous material: a material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical
or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human
health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment.
hazardous waste: a waste or combination of wastes which, because of its quantity,
concentration, or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may cause or
significantly contribute to an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating reversible
illness or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, welfare or
to the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, used or disposed of, or
otherwise managed.
household hazardous waste (HHW): hazardous waste that is generated by residents
through the use of hazardous or potentially hazardous products in the home. Typical
household hazardous wastes include spent batteries, cleaning products, pesticides, paints
and solvents.
HHW collection facility: a permanent facility maintained by the City for the collection
and proper recycling or disposal of hazardous waste generated by Santa Monica residents
and small quantities of hazardous waste generated by Santa Monica businesses. This is
provided as a free service to Santa Monica residents. The facility is located at 2500
Michigan Avenue. Call (310) 458-8255 for more information.
Income levels: With respect to the indicators of housing affordability the following are
definitions of the income levels mentioned in this document:
Very low income: annual earnings between 0 and 50% of the Los Angeles County
Median Family income (MFI)
Low income: annual earnings between 51 and 80% MFI
Moderate income: annual earnings between 81 and 120% MFI
Upper income: annual earnings above 120% MFI
26
LEEDTM certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design): A rating
system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) that sets
defmitive standards for what constitutes a green or environmentally preferable building.
The certification system is self-assessing and is designed for rating new and existing
commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. It evaluates environmental
perfonnance of the entire building over the building's life cycle. LEED certifications are
awarded at various levels (certified, silver, gold, and platinum) according to a point-based
scoring system.
level of service (LOS): a concept used to describe street intersection operating
conditions. It is based on average vehicle delay measurements and/or the
volume/capacity ratio of the intersection in question. LOS grades range from A to F with
A representing excellent (free-flow) conditions and F representing extreme traffic
congestion. For the purpose of this document, LOS grade D represents marginally
acceptable levels of traffic and grades E and F represent unacceptable levels. A
defmition of level of service for sustainable modes of transportation will be developed as
part of the update of the Circulation Element of the City's General Plan scheduled for
adoption in 2003.
livable housing: housing that is within close proximity to neighborhood serving
commercial areas, transit stops and community resources such as parks and open space.
local: the term local has different defmitions depending upon the context in which it is
used in this document. These are described below:
I) Where local is used in reference to the economy ("local economy" or "local
businesses") it refers to Santa Monica's economy or businesses located within
Santa Monica.
2) Local government agencies refer to any agencies or departments of the Santa
Monica city government.
3) Where local refers to food production ("locally produced") it refers to food grown
in the southern half of the state of California
4) Where local refers to resources, it refers to resources obtained or impacted within
a 500-mile radius of Santa Monica.
mixed-use projects: developments which incorporate both residential and commercial
uses.
modal split: the split in use of various transportation modes including: single passenger
vehicles; carpools of more than one passenger; bus; rail; bicycle; and pedestrian modes.
multi-modal transportation system: a transportation system that includes affordable,
alternative modes of transportation such as public transit, and infrastructure and ac~ess
for alternative fueled vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, in addition to standard vehicular
transportation.
27
native species: plant or animal species native to the southern California bioregion.
natural function/wildlife habitat: geographic areas that provide life-supportive
functions associated with atmospheric, biological, biochemical and hydrological
processes that keep our air and water clean, process waste and support survival and
reproduction of plant and animal life.
non-renewable resources: natural resources that have a fInite availability worldwide.
Examples include coal, oil and other petroleum products.
open space: for the purpose of this document open space refers to all land uses defIned as
open space in the Open Space Element of the City of Santa Monica's General Plan.
These include beaches, parks, public gathering places, usable green open space in street
medians, scenic highway corridors, gardens, and other publicly accessible land.
passive recreation: recreational opportunities that occur in a natural setting which
require minimal development or facilities, and the importance of the environment or
setting for the activities is greater than in developed or active recreation settings.
PUTs (persistent bioaccumulative toxics): chemicals that are toxic, persist in the
environment and bioaccumulate in food chains and, thus, pose risks to human health and
the environment. The term PBT is used primarily by the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EP A), as part of its preparation of a list of such chemicals that will receive
special regulatory emphasis in the United States.
POPs (persistent organic pollutants): Organic chemical substances that persist in the
environment and bioaccumulate in food chains and pose a risk of causing adverse effects
to human health and the environment. The term POPs is commonly used in the context
of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and are subject to international
negotiations aiming toward their global elimination.
Note: The primary difference between the PBTs and POPs is that the /ist of PBTs
includes non-organic toxins that are not included on the list of POPs.
potable: suitable for drinking
qualified low emission I alternative fuel vehicles: Vehicles recognized by the State of
California as being low emission and/or alternative fuel vehicles. These vehicles exceed
the basic standards all new vehicles must meet to be. sold in California and include low
emission vehicles (LEVs), ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), super ultra low
emission vehicles (SULEVs) and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). Additional information
about these vehicle designations can be found on the internet at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccbg/ccbg.htm
rainy day: for the purpose of this document, a rainy day is any day with recorded
precipitation greater than .1" in 24 hours.
28
recognized neighborhood organization: Tax-exempt, non-profit organization
representing a commonly recognized neighborhood in Santa Monica.
regionally appropriate vegetation: plant and tree species that are environmentally
appropriate for the Southern California region and that do not negatively impact native
plants or animals. A specific list of regionally appropriate vegetation for Santa Monica
will be developed in 2003.
rehabilitated housing: rehabilitation that increases by 25% or more the after-rehab value
of the property; or a rehabilitation in which at least fifty percent of exterior walls have
been removed or relocated for any duration of time.
renewable limits: harvesting resources within renewable limits refers to harvesting a
renewable resource at a rate that is lower than the rate the resource can replace itself(e.g.
catching fish at a rate that will allow the fish population to be maintained over time. If
too many fish are caught, exceeding renewable limits, the fish population will decline).
The terms renewable limits and sustainable limits are synonymous.
renewable resources: natural resources that have an unlimited supply (such as solar
radiation) or that can be renewed indefmitely if ecosystem health is maintained (e.g.
fisheries or forests).
routine: for the purpose of this document, routine, when describing generation of
hazardous waste by City government operations, refers to regular and consistent
operational practices such as vehicle maintenance, regular cleaning procedures, etc. Non-
routine refers to hazardous waste generated during unanticipated events such as chemical
spills or leaks.
Santa Monica cost of living index (SMCOLI): Los Angeles County cost of living for a
two-person household adjusted for the cost of housing in Santa Monica. SMCOL! for
2000 is $21,800 (LA County cost ofliving) x 1.46 = $31,828. The 1.46 multiplication
factor refers to the relative cost of housing in Santa Monica as compared to the average
for Los Angeles County, based on the Housing Authority Survey of Rents.
significant emissions source: sources of toxic air contaminants and other air emissions
that pose a threat to human health and the environment. A specific list of significant
emission sources within Santa Monica will be developed in the course of tracking this
indicator.
SMMUSD: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
special needs groups: with respect to affordable housing, special needs groups refers to
the elderly, disabled persons, large families, female-headed families, and the homeless.
29