1 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE
CULVER CITY SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE November 18, 2024
CULVER CITY SUSTAINABILITY 6:00 p.m.
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Council Member Puza called t he special meeting of the Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council to order at 6:45 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
Alicia Ide, Management Analyst
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Pledge of Allegiance
Council Member Puza led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Community Announcement from Members
None.
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Information Items from Staff
Alicia Ide, Management Analyst, indicated that the date for the next meeting would be discussed at the end of the agenda.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
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Public Comment - Items NOT On the Agenda
Council Member Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
Jakob Shaw, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, encouraged Culver City to ban the use and sale of glue traps; described their use; noted that 180 species of animals including federally protected animals have been caught in glue traps; discussed the inhumane method used to capture rodents that indiscriminately captures other animals; limiting human/wildlife conflict; single use plastic traps; the need to address root causes of the animals being in places where they are not wanted; other cities that have banned the use of glue traps; Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff as co - sponsors of the Glue Trap Prohibition Act; multiple organizations in California and throughout the United States in support of a ban on the use and sale of glue traps; and the small but tangible step to remove some suffering in the world.
Corey Moore was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
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Receipt of Correspondence
MOVED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
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Consent Calendar
Item C-1
Approval of Minutes for the Sustainability Subcommittee Special Meeting on October 10, 2024
MOVED BY MAYOR MCMORRIN , SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON OCTOBER 10, 2024.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
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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
Ly Nguyen, SGA Consulting, provided a presentation on 2024 4B ban research results; discussed residential sentiment; commercial and business impacts; market research goals; economic impact; length of outreach and survey methods; engagement; proposed restrictions and bans; current consumption patterns; likelihood of support for the ban s; common themes expressed; alternatives to single -use plastic bottles; profit margins; lack of support for a single-use plastic bottle ban by retailers; concern with financial impacts; accessibility; feedback that Culver City should be focusing on other issues; less feedback received regarding balloons, but more people in favor of a balloon ban; demographics; perception of a non-issue with balloons; priority; insufficient alternatives to balloons; lack of support for a balloon ban from retailers; concerns expressed; likelihood of support for an outdoor smoking ban; alternative products; anticipated loss in income; financial impacts vs. perceived benefits; freedom of choice; the limited market for Astroturf; possible consumer purchasing changes; differences in support for issues between the English and Spanish communities; Astroturf and water conservation; durability and function; cost and effort; people who felt they were not well enough informed to make decisions about issues surrounding Astroturf; feedback regarding single -use plastic bags; reusable bags; changed behaviors; use of plastic bags at home; revenue associated with the sale or use of single -use plastic bags; alternative products; overarching themes expressed by residents vs. expressed by businesses; preferences; gradual implementation; and agreement to share the presentation with the Subcommittee.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Nguyen, staff, and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the work done; the dollar amount difference in revenue from alternatives to plastic bottles; estimates; the effect of anticipated positive impacts on support; environmental benefits; general overall support by the Latinex community; trends; clarification that information was not broken out by gender or age; the Spanish language survey provided; lack of feedback about language barriers; revenue; implementation; Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
4 education and coalition building; the FAQ and link provided with the in -person surveys; identified benefit of additional information provided to businesses as to reasons for changes; concerns with negative impacts voiced by businesses; the difficulty of having proactive discussions with businesses; agreement to provide information on surveys that were started and not finished and t o provide a refined presentation to the Subcommittee; and next steps.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding taking a gradual approach; support for phased implementation rather than making changes all at once; the importance of the educational piece; resources; grants; alignment with the Climate Action Plan; higher support from residents vs. businesses; messaging and materials that appeal to businesses; different motivations to change; and development of materials and outreach to address financial concerns of businesses.
Council Member Puza invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
Adrian Waight, Party City, expressed opposition to the balloon ban; proposed a ban on intentional release; discussed ballo ons bought daily; number of people employed; the balloon recycling program; care tips; and consumer responsibility.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding displaying the timer for public comment.
Jennifer Sil berman, Dollar Tree, discussed service to the community; contributions to the local economy; sales taxes; appreciation for the commitment of environmental stewardship; unintended consequences; community reliance on affordable products to celebrate important life events; education; balloon usage; and support for implementing a targeted approach to ban intentional balloon release.
Maria Stockham, Coalition for Responsible Celebration, provided background on the organization; offered solution s to address environmental concerns while supporting Culver City businesses; discussed small women-owned businesses; reliance on balloon sales; businesses without a physical storefront; limiting affordable décor choices for families and event planners; people who would go outside of Culver City to get balloons for celebrations; support for measures to address environmental concerns; the fact that most balloons are used indoors; banning the intentional release of Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
5 balloons; impacts to Culver City retailers; job and tax revenue loss; placing the focus on responsible use; promotion of better disposal practices; protecting the environment while maintaining the benefits of balloons; eagerness to collaborate on education; raising awareness about responsible practices while supporting local businesses; seasonal content; and she supported
collaboration to find a balanced solution that benefit ted everyone.
David Coles was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Edwin Lombard, Californians for Smarter Sustainability, provided background on the organization; commended the intent to address environmental concerns; discussed unintended consequences; impacts to local small businesses and low income families; SB54; the focused approach to dealing with complicated and important issues; working with the state vs. taking independent action; residents experiencing drinking water contamination; providing reliable sources of drinking water for those without access to safe tap water; low income households and unhoused neighbors; increased operating costs to small businesses; ensuring that costs are not increased for businesses and consumers; loss of an important revenue stream; personal use containers; placing the focus on providing safe affordable water solutions and City-wide recycling education programs; and he encouraged Culver City to follow the lead of the state with their comprehensive programs.
Craig Cadwallader, Surfrider South Bay , South Santa Monica Bay Watershed Area Steering Committee, and Ballona Creek Renaissance, discussed components of the presentation; appreciation for the detailed information presented; concern that people were answering the survey with minimal information; lack of ordinance details; speculation on impacts; the ban on all beverages in plastic bottles at San Francisco International Airport; microplastics; harms to human health; the experience of the City of Irvine; busin esses misleading consumers; the percentage of balloon sales vs. the overall business; alternatives; opposition to regulation; counseling around shifting focus; scare tactics that are not based on fact; the outdoor smoking ban; and cigarette butts and plastic bottles as the largest pe rcentage of waste collected on International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Corey Moore was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
6 Deborah Gregory, Ballona Creek Renaissance, provided background on the organization; discussed the recent clean up where 300 lbs of trash was gathered in 2 ½ hours; the increase in aquatic animal carcasses found; plastics inhaled by humans; leaving the planet better than we found it; the introduction of plastics; time spent trying to get rid of them; resident interest in alternatives; the recall of carrots as one person died of e -coli; animals that are dying; and cost of cleaning up plastics.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding next steps; information collected; clarification on what implementation would look like before going to the City Council ; leveraging outreach mechanisms; sharing the presentation with the City Council; providing counseling and incentives for businesses; resources and grants to support the transition; allowing for additional community feedback; data from cities that currently have the bans in place; grandfathered businesses; those businesses whose main focus would be negatively impacted; full vs. partial bans; a request for information from other cities that implemented bans; examination of taking a phased approach with collaboration; creation of proposed guidelines; City, state and federal grants; understanding what is needed; partnership in sustainability goals; data points to inform what a grant program would look like; potential county resources; paths to compliance; incentivizing shifts in behavior; determining a feasible path forward; bringing back options; existing models from other agencies; the challenge of the single-use plastic bottle ban; looking at how the industry is planning to shift; the plan for the Olympics to be plastic - free; bans on single-use plastic bottles by size; alignment with SB54; and alternatives.
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Public Comment for Items NOT on the Agenda
Council Member Puza invited public participation.
Alicia Ide, Management Analyst, reported that Corey Moore had requested to speak but was not present.
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Members Requests to Agendize Future Items
Council Member Puza reported that other cities had made a plant - based treaty as a way of addressing the climate crisis; discussed active long -term transition from animal -based food systems to Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
November 18, 2024
7 plant-based food systems; consideration of signing on to the plant- based treaty; receipt of a presentation; he discussed the Clean Power Alliance; and the Energized Communities Innovation Fund.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding grants that are already in process; the Clean Power Alliance Power Ready Program; staff that keeps track of grants that the City can apply for; applications in process; power share programs; electric vehicle charger incentives; resiliency; incentives for solar panels; and the Public Works Department contact for the Clean Power Alliance.
Mayor McMorrin requested a presentation and discussion on a glue trap ban; discussed looking at what other cities have done and feasibility; and research into potential impacts.
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Items from Subcommittee Members/Staff
None.
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Adjournment
There being no further business, at 8:26 p.m., the Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council adjourned to January 30, 2025.
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___________________________________________________________ Alicia Ide
SECRETARY of the Culver City Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council Culver City, California
APPROVED
___________________________________________________________ Freddy Puza
COUNCIL MEMBER, Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council Culver City, California