SR 07-27-2021 7A
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: July 27, 2021
Agenda Item: 7.A
1 of 2
To: Mayor and City Council
From: George Cardona, Interim City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Municipal Law
Subject: Second Reading And Adoption Of An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The
City Of Santa Monica Creating The Commission On Sustainability,
Environmental Justice, And The Environment; Appointing All Current
Members Of The Santa Monica Task Force On The Environment To The
Commission On Sustainability, Environmental Justice, And The Environment;
And Sunsetting The Task Force On The Environment Upon This Ordinance
Taking Effect
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council waive reading in full and adopt the attached
Ordinance.
Summary
At its meeting on July 13, 2021, the City Council introduced for first reading an
ordinance adding Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 2.67 to convert the Task
Force on the Environment to the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental
Justice, and the Environment, and appoint the current members of the Task Force
as the initial members of the Commission. The ordinance is now presented to City
Council for adoption.
Prepared By: Bradley Michaud, Legal Operations Coordinator
Approved
Forwarded to Council
7.A
Packet Pg. 298
2 of 2
Attachments:
A. Res-Ord-Chapter2-67CommissionOnSustainability-2d-20210727
7.A
Packet Pg. 299
City Council Meeting: July 27, 2021 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA CREATING THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABILITY,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT; APPOINTING ALL
CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE SANTA MONICA TASK FORCE ON THE
ENVIRONMENT TO THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT; AND SUNSETTING THE TASK FORCE ON
THE ENVIRONMENT UPON THIS ORDINANCE TAKING EFFECT
WHEREAS, in 1991, the Santa Monica City Council created the Task Force on the
Environment to advise the City Council on environmental program and policy issues.; and
WHEREAS, the Task Force on the Environment was the driving force behind the
development of Santa Monica’s Sustainable City Plan in the early 1990s and continues
to closely monitor the plan and advise Council on plan implementation; and
WHEREAS, at the December 17, 2019 City Council meeting, the City Clerk
brought forth a recommendation to convert the Task Force on the Environment to a
permanent commission called the Commission on Sustainability and the Environment;
and
WHEREAS, at the April 27, 2021 City Council meeting, the City Council directed
staff to return with an ordinance codifying the conversion of the Task Force on the
Environment to a permanent commission.
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 300 Attachment: Res-Ord-Chapter2-67CommissionOnSustainability-2d-20210727 (4678 : 2nd Reading - Environment Task Force)
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2.67 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, titled ‘Commission
on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment,’ is hereby created as
follows:
2.67.010 Creation of Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and
the Environment
(a) Pursuant to Section 1000 of the Santa Monica City Charter, a Commission on
Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment is hereby established.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the City Council.
All Commissioners shall reside or work in the City.
(b) All Commission members must have expertise in one or more of the following
areas: (1) Energy: Efficiency, Conservation, Alternatives; (2) Water: Efficiency,
Conservation, Quality; (3) Transportation, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions; (4) Stormwater, Wastewater and Coastal Issues; (5) Waste Reduction
and Public Health: Solid Waste, Recycling, Hazardous Materials, Procurement
Issues; (6) Land Use and Sustainable Development; and (7) Public Education and
Community Outreach.
(c) The Commission and Commissioners shall be subject to all of the terms of
Article X of the City Charter setting forth procedures for appointment of
Commissioners, terms, and meetings.
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 301 Attachment: Res-Ord-Chapter2-67CommissionOnSustainability-2d-20210727 (4678 : 2nd Reading - Environment Task Force)
(d) The current seven members of City’s Task Force on the Environment are
hereby appointed as the first seven members of the Commission. The seven
commissioners shall classify themselves by lot such that two shall serve terms
expiring on the next succeeding July 1st, two shall serve terms expiring on the
second succeeding July 1st, two shall serve terms expiring on the third succeeding
July 1st, and one shall serve a term expiring on the fourth succeeding July 1st.
2.67.020 Powers and duties of the Commission
The Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment
shall have the power and be required to:
(a) Identify areas of City operations or policy that could/need to be adjusted to
move the city toward becoming a Sustainable Community.
(b) Review programs and policies related to environmental issues as they are
brought to the Task Force by staff, elected City officials, or concerned members
of the public.
(c) Make recommendations in the form of formal motions directed to the City
Manager and/or City Council or Planning Commission members and provide
quarterly reports to City Council.
(d) Pursue a limited advocacy role through resolutions, formal statements, and
presentations at City Council and other public meetings. Task Force advocacy
will not extend into lobbying, writing editorial articles, or similar activities.
(e) Address only those development projects in Santa Monica that have a
significant potential to impact the Sustainable City Program goals.
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 302 Attachment: Res-Ord-Chapter2-67CommissionOnSustainability-2d-20210727 (4678 : 2nd Reading - Environment Task Force)
SECTION 2. The Task Force on the Environment shall sunset on the effective
date of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
GEORGE S. CARDONA
Interim City Attorney
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 303 Attachment: Res-Ord-Chapter2-67CommissionOnSustainability-2d-20210727 (4678 : 2nd Reading - Environment Task Force)