SR-106-030
EPWM:CP:BJ:DK/SustainableCityTaskForce.doc
Council Meeting: March 23, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Appointments to the Sustainable City Task
Force
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
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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:
1. To advise Council and staff during development and adoption of an
implementation plan for the SCP. The target date for adoption is March
2005.
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2. 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental and Public Works Management
Brian Johnson, Environmental Programs Manager
Dean Kubani, Senior Environmental Analyst
Attachments: SCTF Applications (available for view in City Clerk’s office)
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