1 OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CULVER CITY
SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE August 22, 2024
CULVER CITY SUSTAINABILITY 6:30 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 6:32 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
Wallis Nash, Senior Management Analyst
Shetauna Smith, Environmental Programs and
Operations (EPO) Inspector
Alicia Ide, Management Analyst
o0o
Pledge of Allegiance
Meeting attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
o0o
Community Announcement by Members
None.
o0o
Information Items from Staff
None.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
August 22, 2024
2 o0o
Public Comment - Items NOT On the Agenda
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the
Subcommittee:
David Coles discussed the idea of different tiers of garbage bins to incentivize the public to produce less waste;
outreach; allowing participation for the average resident; appreciation for the regular Subcommittee meetings; taking sustainability seriously; rooftop solar on City -owned
buildings; City goals; feasibility; challenges; placing solar on City Hall or the Police Department roof; visibility; symbolic value; free site assessments available; the climate crisis; the importance of taking action as soon as possible; leaf blowers; compliance; progress; and he indicated that enforcement staff had been helpful.
Sophia Kennedy was called to speak but was not present online or in person.
o0o
Receipt of Correspondence
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
o0o
Consent Calendar
Item C-1
Approval of Minutes for the Sustainability Subcommittee Special Meeting on July 22, 2024
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON JULY 22, 2024.
o0o
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
August 22, 2024
3 Action Items
Item A-1
Receive and Discuss an Update Regarding the Outreach Plan for the Proposal to Ban Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottles, Balloons, Butts (Smoking), Astro-Turf, and Single-Use Bags Not Pre-Exempted by California Public Resources Code
Staff provided a summary of the material of record; discussed survey tactics; social media; email outreach; and materials to be handed out.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding distribution of materials at the Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) booth at Fiesta La Ballona; policy that restricts or seems to take away autonomy;
considering the way issues are framed into account; looking for ways to keep plastic out of the waterways; education about sustainability and climate goals; taking a neutral approach; data collection; consumer behavior; feedback in favor of the bans; opposing parties; ensuring there would be no favoritism toward either side; comments from the community about wanting to help formulate the questions; avoidance of words referring to banning and restrictions; placing the focus more on
environmental impacts; in-person vs. online feedback;
developing qualitative feedback; the Senior Center
Newsletter; determining how things relate to SB54; concerns with exemptions to beverage bottles; and reuse requirements.
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the
Subcommittee:
Maria Stockham, Coalition for Responsible Celebration,
provided background on the organization; acknowledged
environmental impacts of balloons; discussed proper disposal; unintended consequences of a complete ban; taking a more focused approach; banning the intentional release of
balloons; proper disposal; recycling; education; community engagement; reducing environmental impacts; and she expressed willingness to share resources they have developed and to collaborate with Culver City to promote practices that
balance protections with the ability to celebrate.
Melody Pianga was called to speak but did not respond.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
August 22, 2024
4 Adrian Waite, Party City, noted that the previous speaker had covered most of their talking points; discussed banning the intentional release of balloons; educating customers on recycling balloons; ensuring that every balloon has weights; and educational information provided to customers.
Lisa Brubaker was called to speak but did not respond.
Nadzeya Baturevich was called on to speak but did not respond.
David Coles received clarification that the survey was
available at culverctyrecycles.com and that retroactive enactment of a turf ban would be a policy decision; he felt that the only way a turf ban would be effective was if it would be retroactive; he questioned whether the Coalition for Responsible Celebration was a front as he believed there was no coordination of responsible celebrators; discussed his experience at kids’ birthday parties; stated that he had never seen weights on balloons; asserted there would be no wide- spread compliance; proposed that a more effective approach would be to ban helium as those are the balloons that become a problem; discussed proper disposal; being realistic; he noted that a ban would not kill being able to be festive; and he encouraged skepticism about whether commercial interests or public interests were weighing in.
Sophia Kennedy was called to speak but did not respond.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the presentation; regular
presentations at upcoming meetings; and encouragement to the public to fill out the survey.
o0o
Item A-2
Receive and Discuss a Presentation Regarding Proposed
Application for United States Department of Agriculture Grant Application for Composting Programs
Wallis Nash, Senior Management Analyst , provided a
presentation on the proposed application for the United States Department of Agriculture grant application for
composting programs.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
August 22, 2024
5 Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding origin of the idea; participation by multi-family units; prioritizing any areas with organics receptacles; start date; leveraging the grant with another grant; rolling out the service in May; providing community compost hubs; servicing; staffing; volunteers; matching funds; the end goal to have organics service at every property; compliance with AB1383; avoiding trucking; keeping things local; number of bins; the ability to adaptively manage the program and scale up; the trial program; other communities with robust
participation; organizing a volunteer system; community driven usage of City resources; and helping get the program started.
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the
subcommittee:
David Coles expressed support for the program; discussed popular programs in other cities; the percentage of the population who would voluntarily participate; incentivizing waste reduction; and he asked for help with engaging the Farmers Market to participate noting a lack of progress so far.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE
PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GRANT APPLICATION FOR COMPOSTING PROGRAMS.
o0o
Public Comment for Items NOT on the Agenda
Mayor McMorrin invited public participation.
The following member of the public addressed the
Subcommittee.
Nick Burrows sent a message indicating that he did not want to speak.
Sophia Kennedy was called to speak but did not respond.
Lisa Brubaker indicated not being able to join the meeting Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
August 22, 2024
6 earlier; noted that she was a balloon designer; reported emailing her comments; expressed concern with getting lumped in with single-use plastic; discussed helium balloons;
clarification that many decorators do not use helium as it is cost prohibitive; balloons filled with air; opposition to a full ban as there are different ways to use balloons;
different types of balloons; support for banning balloon releases; proper disposal of balloons used at the Democratic Convention; and she asked for partnership to solve issues rather than just enacting a ban.
Alicia Ide, Management Analyst, reported that Sophia Kennedy was still not available online to speak; she indicated that the video would be posted online in a week; and she encouraged anyone who wanted to email a comment for submission to
Subcommittee Members.
o0o
Members Requests to Agendize Future Items
Council Member Puza asked that the Police Station be
considered for solar panels.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding coordination of Clean Air Day by the City Manager’s Office; recognition planned for the September 23, 2024 City Council meeting; past social media and email blasts about City efforts; staff agreement to investigate and gather further information; a suggestion to hold an event next year; the Walk and Rollers event; Walk to School Day; becoming a Climate Crisis City; sustainability elements of the General Plan; creating a Climate Action Plan; preparation for 2030; and becoming a climate-ready community.
Mayor McMorrin asked that due diligence be done by
investigating the feasibility of all City spaces for
potential solar; discussed understanding what is available; identified programs; and she asked that the City amplify Climate Action Polluza at West Los Angeles College.