Commissioner proposes plastic bag ban
Planning Commissioner John Sibert came to Monday’s City Council meeting and asked the council members to examine the idea of creating a citywide ban on plastic grocery bags. Sibert said a ban would greatly reduce the number of bags littering the beaches and streets.
“They’re in the water,” Sibert said. “They’re in the sand. They’re hanging on the bushes. Drive by PCH in the summer and you’ll see a number of them.”
Several council members expressed an interest in such a ban, and the issue will be brought up at a future meeting.
Rain swamps seas with pollution
Heal the Bay on Friday issued a health advisory to avoid water contact at Los Angeles County beaches for 72 hours, following the area’s first significant rainfall after a record drought period.
The county’s 5,000-mile storm drain system is designed to channel rainwater to the ocean to prevent local flooding. But it also has the unintended function of moving pollution directly into the Santa Monica and San Pedro bays. After heavy rains, more than 70 major outfalls spew man-made debris, animal waste, pesticides, automotive fluids and human-gastrointestinal viruses into the marine ecosystem.
Heal the Bay officials say this pollution poses human health risks, kills marine life and dampens the tourist economy. The so-called first flush is especially worrisome this year, which is the driest in 130 years. Debris and toxins have been accumulating for months on sidewalks, roadways and riverbeds and are now being washed into the storm drains. Exposure to this runoff can cause a variety of illnesses, most frequently stomach flu.
During dry months, Heal the Bay officials say, swimmers need to stay 100 yards from flowing storm drains, which have been shown to have elevated levels of known carcinogens and pathogens. Experts say after a major rainfall that local beachgoers should stay out of the water entirely for at least 72 hours.
“The first heavy rain of the season is a real eye opener about the extent of marine-bound debris in our storm drains,” said Karin Hall, executive director of Heal the Bay. “That’s why we’re working so hard to address the root causes of this kind of pollution.”
County storm drains typically handle 100 million gallons of contaminated water and debris each day, but one rainstorm in Los Angeles County can generate nearly 10 billion gallons of water, according to Heal the Bay. Sewage treatment plants, which process storm-drain runoff from major pipes in dry months, can’t handle the excess load during major storms.
School board to meet with Measure BB Committee
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education will hold a joint meeting with the district’s Measure “BB” Advisory Committee on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the District Office.
The purpose of the meeting, according to an SMMUSD press release, is to discuss possible recommendations regarding the Facilities Master Plan Phase I Measure BB projects and for the board to consider taking action at its regularly scheduled meeting on Oct 4, or a future board meeting. Reports and information will be presented at the joint meeting regarding budget scenarios, site visits, next steps and desired outcomes.
The agenda for the meeting will be available at www.smmusd.org beginning Thursday this week.
School district selects new financial head
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has announced that Janece L. Maez has been selected as the district’s new chief financial officer. Her appointment must be confirmed by the Board of Education at its next meeting on Oct. 4.
Maez is the permanent replacement for Winston Braham, who resigned from the district last November after refusing to support a raise for the teachers endorsed by Superintendent Diane Talarico.
Maez comes to the district with more than 20 years of school district finance experience, including 17 years as an assistant superintendent in charge of Fiscal and Administrative Services with the Pleasant Valley School District. Prior to that, Maez was employed with the Ventura Unified School District in its fiscal department.
“Ms. Maez’s leadership skills and ability to solve problems creatively and analytically will be a valuable asset to SMMUSD,” Talarico said in a press release issued by the district. “Her focus on cooperative decision-making and honest, open, and reliable communication will be a complement to the district’s focus on teamwork and accountability.”
Maez is a member of the California Association of School Business Officials, and has been a member of Soroptimist International, the American Association of University Women, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Camarillo Arts Council. She attended the University of Washington and the California Lutheran University.
Road closures
One westbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway between Winding Way and Ramirez Mesa is being closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. this Wednesday and Thursday, and Oct. 1-4, for utility work.
School on Wheels selects new leaders
School on Wheels recently announced the election of Catherine Meek as president of the Executive Board and the addition of two new members, William G. Tierney and Mark Burman, to the board.
School on Wheels is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens that provides tutoring and other assistance for homeless students. For more information about the organization, go to www.schoolonwheels.org.
– Jonathan Friedman