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CouncIl MeetIng February 25, 1997
Santa MOnica, CalIfornIa
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM Task Force on the EnVironment
SUBJECT Transmittal Letter from the Task Force on the EnVironment to City Council
Regarding the Sustamable City Progress Reporl Detailing Progress Made
on the Sustainable City Program
Five years ago. City Council formed a task force of local environmental profeSSionals to
proVide needed public Input and technical expertise to the City's mynad environmental
programs The Task Force on the EnVironment was formed With the understanding that
deCISions made by the City and all members of our community can contnbute to
environmental consequences felt far beyond city boundaries The pnmary goal of the
Task Force IS to create an environmental VISion for the City and to help coordinate Its
Wide array of programs With the goal of minimizing negatlve Impacts on local
neighborhoods, the region, the state, the nation and the globe Out of thiS effort, the
Task Force and the Department of EnVironmental and Public Works Management
began working on the sustainable city concept as a way to achieve the shared VISion of
a more livable community
"Sustalnablllty" has become a popular environmental buzz word and IS a concept that
means different things to different people What do we think "sustalnablllty" means to
reSidents and workers In Santa MOnica? In Simple terms It means cleaner air, cleaner
water, a healthier ocean, responsible development, environmental education for our
children, a healthy communIty, and economic opportunities that enhance, not degrade,
the quality of our environment
ThiS Sustamable City Progress Report presents the first detailed look at the City's
environmental programs and our progress toward reaching goals for solid waste, water,
energy, City purchaSing, construction and development, transportation, hazardous
matenals, stormwater. wastewater, education, hOUSing, and community and economiC
development WIthin these areas, we have developed eighteen Indicators for
measuring progress towards targets whIch we hope to reach by the year 2000
Achievement of these targets Will not result In the achievement of a sustainable city
Far from It But reaching these targets Will result In a Significantly Improved quality of
life for members of our community
Based on 1995 data, the City has made slgmflcant progress toward meeting many of
the Indicator targets However, for some of the Indicators much additional progress Will
need to be made In order to meet the year 2000
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One unforeseen setback IS the contamination of the city's groundwater supply as a
result of underground tanks leakmg MTBE, a UbiqUitous gasoline additive and probable
human carcinogen ThiS contamination has resulted In a 25 percent Increase In water
rates and the loss of a stable local water supply for the cIty RestOring thIS precIOus
resource and recovering damages for local water losses will continue to be one of the
dominant environmental Issues faCing the City
One of the most Important steps toward creating sustalnablllty IS public Involvement
The bUSiness community, schools, and residents must actively partiCipate If the City IS
to have any reahstlc chance of reachmg indicator targets and the longer term goal of
sustalnablllty The vIsion of a sustainable future cannot be achieved Without the
partiCipation of the multitude of residents, workers and VISitors who make Santa MOnica
such a unique and special community
The Task force on the EnVironment recommends that City Council direct staff to review
the Sustamable CIty Progress Report and return to Council With necessary
recommendations for modifications or actions related to the Sustainable City Program
and ItS Implementation