1 OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CULVER CITY SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE April 4, 2024 CULVER CITY SUSTAINABILITY 6:00 p.m. SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA Call to Order & Roll Call Mayor McMorrin called the special meeting of the Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Dan Patacchia Meeting Room at City Hall and via Webex. Present: Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Mayor Freddy Puza, Council Member Staff Present: Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager Javier De La Cruz, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Engineer Joe Susca, Senior Management Analyst Wallis Nash, Senior Management Analyst Alicia Ide, Management Analyst o0o Pledge of Allegiance Mayor McMorrin led the Pledge of Allegiance. o0o Community Announcement by Members None.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 2 o0o Information Items from Staff Joe Susca, Senior Management Analyst, addressed questions asked at the previous meeting about the City’s efforts for water conversation; discussed the amount of water saved by replacement of water fixtures at City facilities; ongoing efforts; continued monitoring of drought conditions in California; the current situation; and, responding to inquiry, he indicated that information was available at culvercity.org/waterconservation. Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager, introduced and provided background on the new Environmental Quality Coordinator, Shetauna Smith; announced the second annual EnviroFest on May 4; discussed competition for events around Earth Day; and outreach. Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the date for the next meeting. o0o Public Comment - Items NOT On the Agenda Mayor McMorrin invited public comment. The following members of the public addressed the Subcommittee: David Coles expressed appreciation for water conservation efforts; discussed the importance of focusing conservation of outdoor water usage on public and residential properties; places that are prohibiting decorative turf; heavily irrigated turf outside the building; agenda items for regular meetings; the polystyrene ban by the city of Los Angeles; outreach to the public; leaf blower violations; agendizing a report from Code Enforcement; consideration of expanding solar energy in the City; the shortage of clean energy generated; the need to be a leader; consuming vs. generating solar energy; adding solar panels on all city buildings; the failed effort to get Veterans Memorial solar installation; grant money available for cities; and his efforts to get items on the agenda.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 3 Amit Runchal, Humble, provided background on the company; discussed impacts of the leaf blower ban on small businesses; gas generators; use of generators in the summer vs. in the winter; and he asked for help in making clean power accessible to everyone. Elyria Harris was called to speak but was not present. o0o Receipt of Correspondence Alicia Ide, Management Analyst, indicated that no correspondence had been received. o0o Consent Calendar Item C-1 Approval of Minutes for the Sustainability Subcommittee Special Meeting on January 11, 2024 MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON JANUARY 11, 2024. o0o Action Items Item A-1 Receive and Discuss a Presentation Regarding the Citywide Stormwater Capture Project Javier De La Cruz, Senior Civil Engineer, provided a presentation on Phase 1 of the City-wide Stormwater Capture Project; discussed the 2021 Stormwater Quality Master Plan (SWQMP); project goals; project prioritization methodology; drywells; pervious pavement; bioretention; subsurface infiltration; project locations; project schedule; funding; and outreach.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 4 Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding preliminary costs for the sites chosen; the ability to scale the project up or down; ideal conditions for the project; effects of climate change; conservation elements of the project; diversion projects; cost effectiveness of dry wells; appropriate zones; soil variations; the four different storm water BMPs included in the project; grant requirements; compliance; data sharing; support for the project; maintenance costs; property owner partnerships; information gathering; public outreach; drywalls; education; funding sources; grants; Prop 84 and Prop 50; Measure W; increased costs; operations and maintenance costs not covered by grants; and local storm water funding. Mayor McMorrin invited public comment. The following members of the public addressed the Subcommittee: Elyria Harris was called to speak but was not present. David Coles expressed appreciation for the presentation; encouraged Council Members to scrutinize the process; expressed favor for natural approaches and skepticism regarding gray infrastructure; discussed the proliferation of pavement; concern with placing concrete underground; support for an organization that previously made a presentation to the Subcommittee on low-tech solutions for storm water using nature as the answer; the cost breakdown of projects; appreciation for comments about soil conditions; absorption of rainwater when there is vegetation on the surface; and a suggestion that Culver City make a larger impact by diverting money to the public to replace concrete driveways with permeable surfaces. Michelle Weiner echoed comments made David Coles; expressed support for bioswales; discussed curb cuts; cheap, cost effective solutions; support for the Baldwin approach; she asked that Culver City be mindful that the section of Wesley being addressed is not disruptive of the bicycle traffic there; discussed access to the Expo; and the Pickford location identified. Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the larger capture area; the Westwood storm drain; and appreciation to staff for the report.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 5 o0o Item A-2 Update on SB 1383 Implementation at Multi-Family Properties Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager, provided an update on SB 1383; discussed implementation of recycling at multi-family properties; defined organics; property management and owner requirements; organics diversion; education and monitoring; resident requirements; property material sorting; organics; route review; contamination monitoring; education; required enforcement; violations; waivers; the ambassador program; and Community Compost Hubs. Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the voluntary ambassador program; the individualized approach; space limitations with commercial and multi-family programs; the survey; amount of contamination; the database; route audits; educational materials distributed; attendance at the multi-family meeting; information available on the website; availability and openness to making additional presentations; implementation of fines; partnering with Code Enforcement; appreciation for the presentation; support for Community Compost Hubs; lack of recycling bins in Fox Hills Park; information on bins in Palm Springs; the importance of signage and consistent education; necessary outreach for the significant culture shift; partnerships; and co-hosting events. Mayor McMorrin invited public comment. The following member of the public addressed the subcommittee: Elyria Harris was called to speak but was not present. David Coles discussed the costs of hauling away green bins; incentive to ensure that things are done hyper-locally; support for compost bins and ambassadors; the need to be proactive to get people to sign up to be an ambassador; identifying areas for compost bins; buy-in for backyard composting; lack of compost bins at the Farmers Market; support for placing descriptions on bins so people know what they can put in; and plastics recycling.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 6 Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding state recycling program requirements; free composters available; education for the organics bins; the Recycle Coach app and a request for another update before the end of the year. o0o Public Comment for Items NOT on the Agenda Mayor McMorrin invited public participation. The following members of the public addressed the Subcommittee: Imani Harris questioned how the City was working to promote and implement sustainability in the schools noting that sustainability is a cultural shift. Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the inability of the Subcommittee to engage in a discussion in response to public comment for items not on the agenda; the CCUSD/City Council Liaison Committee meeting on April 25; and availability of the CCUSD Green New Deal Team presentation and materials on the Culver City website. Michelle Weiner thanked Public Works for partnering on the zero waste Repair Café event on May 4 in the Garden Room at Veterans Memorial Complex; discussed keeping things out of the waste stream; encouraging people to repair things instead of getting new ones; other partnerships; statistics shared at the end of the event for items repaired; the potluck and give away table; and she encouraged everyone to come. David Coles asked that the Subcommittee agendize the following items: a discussion of prohibiting decorative turf on commercial and municipal properties, an update on compliance with the leaf blower ordinance, and consideration of the City generating clean energy rather than just consuming it. o0o Members Requests to Agendize Future Items Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council April 4, 2024 7 Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding confusion expressed at a recent City Council meeting about the ban on single use water containers vs. plastic bottles; an upcoming presentation for the proposal from Ballona Creek Renaissance to ban single use plastic beverage bottles, bags, balloons, and smoking; the current ban for plastic bottles on City property or for City events; and the Zero Waste Plan. Council Member Puza discussed sustainable community networks; solar power; storage solutions; batteries; a company called EleQtric Power that works with municipalities and homeowners; and he proposed a presentation to the Subcommittee on solar power and storage solutions. Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding agreement to share information with staff; a consortium of local governments; facilitating conversations; the General Plan; ongoing projects; regular check-ins on ordinances; honoring ongoing timelines; staff workload; keeping to the regular schedule of Sustainability Subcommittee meetings every other month; water conservation; solar; clean energy; the existing ban of decorative turf on commercial properties; and extensive information about enforcement of the leaf blower ordinance on the Culver City website. David Coles noted that he had also mentioned municipal properties as a place to look at prohibiting decorative turf and he discussed his interest in a report back from staff as to what they see in the field and their ability to enforce. Alicia Ide, Management Analyst, proposed that the item could be a discussion with staff as opposed to an agenda item. Mayor McMorrin discussed sustainability goals; the General Plan process; and agenda items for the May 30, 2024 meeting. Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding PRCS staff plans regarding plantings; the budget item to be considered by the City Council; advancing compliance of open spaces in the City’s right of way; planning and implementation; solar rooftop; City priorities; agreement to bring back a clean energy presentation; the Clean Power Alliance report; follow up on the City Council discussion on bans proposed by Ballona Creek Renaissance; and providing an update on current waste reduction regulations.