City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 14, 2023
Agenda Item: 12.A
1 of 15
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Office of Sustainability & the Environment
Subject: Sustainable City Plan Update
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Hold a public hearing, receive public comment and accept the proposed 2022 Sustainability Rights Report pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 12.02 Sustainability Rights.
2. Adopt an updated Sustainable City Plan with indicators and targets for 2030 and add an Equity and Inclusion Guiding Principle (Attachment A).
3. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and Section 15308 (Actions for Protection of the Environment) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Summary
For nearly thirty years, the City of Santa Monica has been committed to sustainability and developing strategies to protect the natural environment, address social equity, and advance economic vitality. The City demonstrated its leadership with the creation of the Sustainable City Plan (SCP) in 1994. The City’s SCP became one of the first in the nation to establish a commitment to enhancing community resources, preventing harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefiting the social and economic well-being of the community for the sake of current and future generations. The SCP was created as a guiding framework for the City’s decision-making and integrated into City policies, programs, operations, and projects across the organization and throughout the community. The SCP is founded on eleven Guiding Principles that provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. Over time, the SCP has 2 of 15
been revised and updated from the version initially adopted in 1994 as conditions changed or new information became available. Updates to the SCP were adopted in 2003, 2006, and most recently in 2014.
The SCP includes indicators organized into nine Goal Areas that the City measures for sustainability performance and progress. The Goal Areas include:
1. Resource Conservation – Reduce consumption and increase renewable and recycled resources to protect and preserve our natural resources,
2. Environmental and Public Health - Minimize and eliminate hazardous or toxic materials, pollutants entering the air, soil and water, and risks to human and ecological health,
3. Sustainable Local Economy - Nurture a diverse, stable, local economy that supports basic needs of all segments of the community,
4. Transportation - Create a multi-modal transportation system that minimizes and eliminates pollution and motor vehicle congestion while ensuring safe mobility and access for all,
5. Open Space and Land Use - Develop and maintain a sufficient open space for diverse uses and opportunities as well as an equitable distribution of parks and trees,
6. Housing - Achieve and maintain a mix of affordable, livable, and green housing types throughout the city for people of all socioeconomic groups,
7. Civic Participation and Community Education - Community members of all ages participate actively and effectively in civic affairs and community improvement efforts,
8. Human Dignity - Community members can meet their basic needs and are empowered to enhance the quality of their lives, and
9. Arts and Culture - Retain and nurture Santa Monica’s arts community and resources.
Representative of that commitment is the City’s Sustainability Rights ordinance, which recognizes the rights of both humans and the natural environment to exist and flourish, asserts the rights of residents on behalf of the environment, and codifies the 3 of 15
commitments made in the Sustainable City Plan. The Sustainability Rights ordinance requires that a public hearing be held, and that staff provide a report on the health of the local environment. The following report analyzes 12 metrics to evaluate the health of our local environment and our progress protecting the rights recognized in the Sustainability Rights ordinance.
As the Sustainable City Plan progresses, the established targets need to be updated regularly. This 2023 SCP update incorporates the goals and targets outlined in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (2019), as well as the global sustainability standards identified in the US Green Building Council LEED for Cities v4.1(2021) certification. In line with these proposed changes, this report also provides recommendations on updates to indicators and targets that measure the City’s performance that have been identified by city staff and the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment. In total, staff is proposing to remove 42 indicators, add 45 indicators, and rename 16 indicators.
Background
On September 20, 1994, Council adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program, which set long-term internal and Citywide goals to enhance resources, prevent harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations (Attachment B).
On February 11, 2003, Council adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan which provided a comprehensive update and expansion of the Sustainable City Program (Attachment C). On October 24, 2006, Council updated the Sustainable City Plan guiding principles, goals, indicators, and targets (Attachment D). On April 9, 2013, Council adopted the Sustainable Rights Ordinance, in an effort to protect residents’ rights to clean and healthy natural environment and codified the Sustainable City Plan progress reporting (Attachment E). On January 14, 2014, Council adopted updates to the Sustainable City Plan which included an Arts and Culture goal area and a Sustainable Rights Guiding Principle (Attachment F). This update included targets set for 2020. On June 11, 2019, Council adopted the ordinance to create Article 12 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code titled “Sustainability” (Attachment G). In 2015, the City 4 of 15
developed an online performance dashboard for the Sustainable City Plan reporting. On February 14, 2023, the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer provided a presentation to Council on the history and background of the Sustainable City Plan and the City’s sustainability policies and programs (Attachment H).
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
09/20/94 (attachment B) Adoption of the Sustainable City Plan 02/11/03 (attachment C) Adoption of the Sustainable City Plan 10/24/06 (attachment D) Sustainable City Plan Update (2006) 00/00/13 (attachment E) Adoption of the Sustainable Rights Ordinance 01/14/14 (attachment F) Sustainable City Plan Update (2014) 06/11/19 (attachment G) Creation of Article 12 Sustainability in the Santa Monica Municipal Code
2/14/23 (attachment H) Sustainable City Plan, Policies, and Programs Discussion
This report provides information on the Sustainability Rights Ordinance and Sustainable City Plan, two separate, but related Sustainability programs.
1. Sustainability Rights Ordinance Report
In compliance with the Sustainable Rights Ordinance (SMMC section 12.02.040), staff is required to prepare a written report to the community on the state of the local environment, the realization of the rights recognized in the chapter, and the City’s progress in effectuating and enforcing the Sustainable City Plan and the policies and provisions at least once during every twenty-four-month period. Staff worked with the Task Force on the Environment to identify specific indicators derived from the Sustainable City Plan that measure the health of the local environment and the progress on protecting the rights recognized in the Sustainability Rights ordinance, which was adopted in 2013. The City Council’s biennial review of the Sustainability Rights Report through a public hearing allows Council to provide direction to staff to ensure 5 of 15
compliance with the Plan’s provisions and with the inherent rights of the people and natural communities of the City of Santa Monica described herein.
For the purpose of this biennial Sustainability Rights report, reporting is focused on environmental and public health indicators. Table 1 provides a summary of the rights and associated metrics that are analyzed in the attached report.
Table 1: List of Sustainability Rights Indicators
THE RIGHT TO INDICATOR
Accessible Water • Percent of water sourced locally
Renewable Energy • Amount of installed solar citywide
• Percent of residents and businesses receiving
renewable energy
Natural Climate • Percent of carbon emissions reduced below 1990 levels.
Waste Disposal System • Percent of materials diverted from landfill • Pounds of waste generated daily per person
Clean Air • Number of exceedance days for Federal air quality standards
Clean Water and Soil • Number of beach water quality exceedance days • Amount of trash collected on the beach annually
Healthy Food • Total gross annual sales from Santa Monica farmers markets
• Percent of residents living within a quarter mile of a grocery store or farmers market
Urban Forest • Percent of tree canopy coverage
These indicators were presented to Council at the June 11, 2019, Council Meeting in conjunction with the creation of Article 12 in the Santa Monica Municipal Code titled Sustainability. Since June 11, 2019, staff has collected and compiled data from different City departments, as well as external organizations. Using the 2020 targets established 6 of 15
in the 2014 edition of the Sustainable City Plan as a reference, staff has analyzed the progression of the 12 indicators (Attachment C). The results and analysis of the data will help guide future City decision-making processes.
The following table is a summary of the state of the local environment.
Table 2: Summary of Sustainability Rights Report
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Percent of water sourced
locally
100% of water
sourced locally
51.3% of water
sourced locally
(2022)
Target Not Met
Accessible Water – In Fiscal Year 2021/22, the City obtained 51.3 percent of water from local sources. While this percent has decreased slightly from the previous year, the temporary dip is attributed to well maintenance and treatment plant construction.
Additional projects and efforts have been identified to increase water supply from local sources and achieve water self-sufficiency. In November 2022, the City completed 95% of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project and anticipates it to be completed in early 2023.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Amount of installed solar
citywide)
7.5 MW 8.8 MW (2021) Target Met
Percent of residents and
businesses receiving
renewable energy
100% receiving
renewable
energy
94% receiving
renewable
energy (CPA)
Target Not Met
Renewable Energy – In 2021, Santa Monica collectively generated 8.8 MW from installed solar. While the City met and exceeded the 2020 target of 7.5 MW, this amount continues to grow as a result of new construction building codes and state and federal funding and incentives. Additional measures were taken to provide access to renewable energy for all residents and businesses and the City joined the Clean Power Alliance. In 2022, 94 percent of residents and businesses receive renewable energy through Clean Power Alliance. While Santa Monica is closer to providing renewable energy to all residents and business, the 2020 target was not met. Currently, not all Santa Monica 7 of 15
residents and businesses are a Clean Power Alliance customer. Some businesses and residents remain Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers, Southern California Edison customers, or have direct access provider who may or may not have renewable energy options. The City plans to maintain this indicator above 90 percent.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Percent of carbon emissions
reduced below 1990 levels
20% reduction 60% reduction Target Met
Natural Climate – In the latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2020), Santa Monica reduced carbon emissions by 60 percent below 1990 levels. This exceeds the original Sustainable City Plan target of 20 percent reduction by 2020. City Council adopted the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in May 2019 to further the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and set the target of 80 percent reduction by 2030. While further measures will need to be adopted to meet that target, the City has made significant progress towards that target.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Percent of materials diverted
from landfill
85% diversion 81% diversion
(2018)
Target Not Met
Pounds of waste generated
daily per person
2.7 pounds 3.5 pounds
(2021)
Target Not Met
Waste Disposal System – As of 2018, Santa Monica diverted 81 percent of materials from landfill, while generating 3.5 pounds of materials daily per person in 2021. This diversion rate continues to decline from previous years and per capita waste continues to decrease. The City is working to address the changes in the market and encourage behavior change as adopted in the Zero Waste Strategic Plan in 2019. In 2020, the City adopted the Mandatory Recycling Ordinance to require organics collections for all waste utility customers. The implementation of this policy will further divert materials from the landfill. While the City is working to reduce waste generation and increase diversion from the landfill, the 2020 targets were not met.
8 of 15
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Number of exceedance days
for Federal air quality
standards
0 days 8 days (2020) Target Not Met
Clean Air – In 2020, Santa Monica experienced eight days exceeding Federal air quality standards (ozone). This is a significance increase from prior years, but still low for the region. Staff recognize that achieving zero exceedance days is an ambitious target.
Beginning in 2019, Purple Air Sensors were distributed to residential and commercial volunteers throughout Santa Monica. The sensor collects real-time data on air quality index levels and publishes online.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Number of beach water
quality exceedance days
17 days 292 exceedance
days
Target not met
Amount of trash collected on
the beach
Annual decrease 18% increase
from 2018 data
(2022)
Target not met
Clean Water and Soil – From November 2021 to October 2022, Santa Monica experienced a cumulative 292 beach water quality exceedance days as reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The total is the sum of five different testing sites along Santa Monica beaches including Montana, Wilshire, the Pier, Pico/Kenter, and Ashland. The Pier testing site accounts for 72 percent of the exceedance days in 2022. In 2022, the City removed 706.62 tons of trash from beach receptacles, which is an 18 percent increase from the previous Sustainability Rights Report (2018 data). In 2019, the Santa Monica Pier was removed from the Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List, which grades local beaches on performance of bacterial pollution testing. Even though the Santa Monica Pier site has returned to the Beach Bummer List, the City is working to reduce pollution on the Santa Monica beaches. The 2020 targets were not met.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
9 of 15
Total annual sale for Santa
Monica Farmers Markets
$15 million $22.1 million Target Met
Percent of residents living ¼
mile of a grocery store
100% of
residents live ¼
mile of a grocery
store
68% of residents
live ¼ mile of
grocery store
Target Not Met
Healthy Food System – In fiscal year 2021/22, the Santa Monica Farmers Markets generated $22.1 million in annual gross sales. This is a 38 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. While the City did experience a slight decrease in sales in fiscal year 2020/2021, the City still met the 2020 target to generate above $15 million in sales.
In addition to this indicator, the City is measuring the amount of sales made from the CALFresh program at the Santa Monica Farmers Market to increase access of healthy local produce to residents. The City also monitors resident’s proximity to grocery stores to suggest access to healthy food. In 2021, 68 percent of residents live within a quarter mile of a grocery store or farmers market. The City also measures the amount of community garden produce that is donated to local organizations.
Metrics 2020
Sustainable
City Plan Target
Most Current
Data
Performance
Percent of tree canopy
coverage
Annual increase 12.2% (2020) Target Not Met
Urban Forest – In 2020, the City conducted a tree canopy coverage study and measured at 12.2 percent. The previous canopy coverage study was conducted in 2014 and measured at 20.5 percent. This is a 40 percent decrease in canopy coverage in six years. The number of public trees has only fluctuated slightly over the past decade and the City had a net tree gain of 199 public trees in 2022. The significant loss in canopy coverage can be attributed to loss of trees on private properties.
The purpose of the Sustainability Rights report and continued reporting on the Sustainable City Plan is to inform decision and policy makers and help guide future policies and projects to achieve these targets.
10 of 15
2. Sustainable City Plan (SCP)
Since the inception of the Sustainable City Plan, the City has continued to report on the progress of the plan and identifying metrics to measure performance and progress. In 2015, the City developed a web-based tool for Sustainable City Plan reporting that provides current and detailed analysis for each indicator and provide a basis for decision-making about policies and actions that influence the City’s ability to meet the goals and targets. The Sustainable City Plan reporting is available to the public at data.sustainablesm.org. The Sustainable City Plan reporting has recently been updated and the most current data available has been inputted for each indicator. The City remains committed to effectuating the goals of the Sustainable City Plan. By adopting strategic plans, developing policies, implementing programs, and installing projects, the City is progressing towards becoming a more sustainable and resilient city. The impacts of pandemic restructuring and budget cuts have created setbacks for implementation in different areas across the organization, including data collection. In the Resource Conservation goal area, the City has made significant progress towards and exceeded targets from the previous SCP. In the Environmental and Public Health goal area, the City’s programs like Community Gardens and Farmers Markets continue to grow and excel, while indicators impacted by environmental factors like air quality and bay health regressed. In the Transportation goal area, the City is making significant strides to electrify transportation (fleet, Big Blue Bus, personal vehicles, and delivery vehicles), while behavioral indicators may need improvement like transit ridership and taking carfree modes of transportation. The Sustainable Local Economy goal area was impacted heavily by the pandemic even with early data and the City will see how our economic recovery efforts have benefited these indicators in the coming years. Despite the economic hardship, the City’s green business programs continue to flourish. In the Open Space and Land Use goal area, the City has been increasing both trees and park space over the years, but the tree canopy coverage has decreased in private spaces. In the Housing goal area, the City continues to increase the amount of affordable housing and strategic planning for more affordable housing with the next Housing Element adoption. In the Civic Participation and Community Education goals, residents are demonstrating a commitment to civic duty. The year 2020 was one of the highest voter turnouts in recent years and saw participants continuing to attend community 11 of 15
sustainability events even virtually. Students continue to demonstrate their commitment to their education. In the Quality-of-Life goal area, the City continues to identify and expand indicators to identify disparities of social equity. In the Arts and Culture goal area, the Creative Sector economic indicators were also impacted by the pandemic.
The last version of the SCP was adopted in 2014 and includes targets to be met by 2020. Staff is recommending several modifications to the SCP to: 1) update the timeline for indicators and establish targets beyond 2020; 2) revise language to capture changes in the current discussion of municipal sustainability; and 3) revise or replace indicators and targets for which data is not currently available or to reflect new data and community priorities.
SCP Indicators
The process to update the indicators and targets for which data is not currently available or to reflect new data and community priorities was multifaceted and included:
• a review of peer city sustainability plans, such as City of Los Angeles and City of San Diego
• input from the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment
• review of the LEED for Cities standards, and
• input from City of Santa Monica staff from relevant departments.
City staff from various departments evaluated the indicators in the most recent revised SCP (2014) for data integrity and congruence with best practices in performance measurement. Based on this evaluation, staff is proposing to remove 42 indicators, add 45 indicators, and rename 16 indicators. Staff is also proposing to modify the goal area titled Human Dignity to Quality of Life. This term is more commonly used in sustainability performance management. The 2022 version of the SCP will have a total of 147 indicators (Attachment A).
12 of 15
Staff proposes 42 indicators to be removed in the updated version of the Sustainable City Plan (Attachment I). The majority of the 42 indicators are proposed for removal due to a lack of available data or poor data quality that compromised the associated reporting. The remaining indicators proposed to be removed are either due to discontinued programs, or are redefined in one the added indicators. Staff proposes 45 indicators to be added in the updated version of the Sustainable City Plan (Attachment J). The added indicators reflect new available data, new programs, and indicators that were identified from LEED for Cities standards.
Staff proposes 16 indicators to be renamed and redefined in the updated version of the Sustainable City Plan (Attachment K). These indicators were modified to best represents what data is available and best reflects the goals and targets of the Sustainable City Plan.
Specific targets have been created for many of the indicators. The targets represent aggressive yet achievable milestones for the community. Unless otherwise noted, the targets are for the year 2030. For some indicators no specific numerical targets have been assigned. This was done where development of a numerical target was determined to be not feasible or where limits on data type and availability made it difficult to set a numerical target. In many of these cases a trend direction was substituted for a numerical target.
SCP Guiding Principles
The Sustainable City Plan was founded on eleven Guiding Principles that provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. These Guiding Principles have been revised and updated from the versions initially adopted in 1994.
The Guiding Principles reflect the City’s values and goals for a sustainable community.
As mentioned in the third Guiding Principle, “Environmental quality, economic health, and social equity are mutually dependent. In achieving a healthy environment, we must ensure that inequitable burdens are not placed on any one geographic or socioeconomic sector of the population and the benefits of a sustainable community are accessible to all members of the community.” A 2021 US Environmental Protection 13 of 15
Agency report shows the effects of climate change, such as air quality, extreme heat, and flooding, can disproportionately impact more vulnerable and underserved populations. It is important to identify Santa Monica’s most vulnerable populations and identify indicators to measure risks, health impacts, and access to resources.
The Sustainable City Plan should emphasize the importance of equity and inclusion in planning a sustainable community for current and future generations. Staff recommends the addition of a twelfth guiding principle that emphasizes the City’s commitment to equity and inclusion:
“The City is committed to advancing equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, play, and do business in our City, by:
• identifying and rectifying the policies, practices, and behaviors that perpetuate racism, discrimination, and other negative racial-based outcomes. • cultivating an inclusive and fair environment where all people in Santa Monica, in particular disenfranchised communities of color, thrive in the areas of health, economic vitality, and connectedness.”
The twelfth guiding principle is derived from the adopted Racial Equity Statement made by Council on September 8, 2020, to advance racial justice in Santa Monica. To include additional vulnerable populations, such as individuals with a disability, seniors, and lowincome households, the twelfth guiding principle expands on the adopted statement.
The 2022 SCP update includes additional indicators to measure racial equity, diversity, public health, climate risks, access to resources, and communication barriers.
As Santa Monica works to create a more sustainable and resilient city, performance reporting is vital to measuring our progress. The Sustainability Rights biennial report and the Sustainable City Plan performance dashboard provide a channel to communicate progress. The outcomes of these reports can help guide and shape future decision making on the policies, programs, and projects the City implements. Staff recommends Council accept the 2023 Sustainability Rights Report and adopt the 14 of 15
updated Sustainable City Plan with indicators and targets for 2030, as well as adding an Equity and Inclusion Guiding Principle.
Environmental Impact
CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. A project is not subject to CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The updates to the City’s Sustainable City Plan would not result in adverse physical effects on the environment, and therefore is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3).
Furthermore, CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 also provides exemption for Class 8 projects, which include actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The updated Sustainable City Plan would establish new sustainability indicators and targets for 2030 for the protection of the environment, including people.
Therefore, the Sustainable City Plan does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment and is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There are no financial impacts and budget actions at this time.
Prepared By: Amanda Grossman, Sustainability Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
15 of 15
Attachments:
A. DRAFT - Sustainable City Plan 2022
B. September 20, 1994 - Sustainable City Plan
C. February 11, 2003 - Sustainable City Plan Update (Web Link) D. October 24, 2006 - Sustainable City Plan Update (Web Link) E. April 9, 2013 - Sustainable Rights Ordinance
F. January 14, 2014 - Sustainable City Plan Update
G. January 25, 2019 - Creation of Article 12, Sustainability H. February 14, 2023 - Sustainable City Plan, Policies, and Programs (Web Link) I. Attachment I - Removed Indicators
J. Attachment J - Added Indicators
K. Attachment K - Renamed Indicators
L. Written Comment
M. Councilmember Zwick Presentation
N. PowerPoint Presentation