La Mesa Environmental Sustainability Commission

Minutes of a Regular Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:
-
Location:
City Manager's Conference Room, 8130 Allison Avenue
La Mesa, California
Present:
  • Chair Richard Williams
  • Vice Chair Amanda-Dawn Natalia
  • Commissioner Michael Bourton
  • Commissioner Dasmine McFarlin
  • Commissioner Mary Nooristani
  • Commissioner Jack Sellinger
  • Commissioner Barbara Shustek
Staff:
  • Commissioner Joe Britton
  • Commissioner Brianna Coston
  • Commissioner Jen Lebron
  • Commissioner Christina Potter
  • Commissioner Fabian Rodriguez
  • Environmental Program Manager Hilary Ego
  • Environmental Analyst Serena Lee

1.
CALL TO ORDER

  

Chair Ricky Williams called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM. 

1.1
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  

2.
ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

  

3.
PRESENTATION

  

3.1
CITY OF LA MESA WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAMS PRESENTATION

  

City of La Mesa Solid Waste Reduction Programs Presentation presented by Serena Lee.  The presentation included information about Senate Bill (SB) 1383, organics recycling, edible food recovery program, sustainable procurement, waste reduction at schools, environmentally preferable purchasing guide, and other programs including household hazardous waste, battery recycling, Litter Free La Mesa community cleanups, and Compost Awareness Week.  

Amanda-Dawn Natalia asked about additional locations for battery recycling.  Serena Lee responded the State has introduced new legislation that would require battery sellers to have battery recycling on site.  

Mark Gracyk asked if EDCO charges for mulch and if there are waivers available for the sustainable procurement requirements.  Serena Lee responded that EDCO does not charge and provides this service to the community and that the State has done a phased in approach for sustainable procurement limits.  

Mary Nooristani stated that BMP's (best management practices) for stormwater and if there are any locations in the City that could utilize the mulch as a BMP to prevent runoff and soil erosion, and that fire departments will also use mulch and compost to prevent fire spread and create buffers.

Michael Bourton stated that the calculations for the sustainable procurement requirements of SB 1383 seem too high for the cities to meet.  

Brianna Coston stated that the La Mesa Spring Valley School District has challenges with food recovery due to the universal food requirements for kids, so they started a free food table for students to place the items they don't eat so it does not get thrown away.  Additionally, some schools do not have a full service kitchen, making it difficult to meet food safety requirements.  Serena stated that I Love A Clean San Diego has been working with the school nutritionist and staff to identify opportunities for food recovery.  Amanda-Dawn Natalia stated that from the parent perspective, it has been great to see the recycling roll out.  

Michael Bourton stated that methane from landfills is 10x more potent in the landfill than spread out as mulch or compost.  Serena responded that that is the intent of SB 1383 to address short lived climate pollutants, also known as methane.

4.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)

  

NOTE: In accordance with state law, an item not scheduled on the agenda may be brought forward by the general public for comment; however, the Environmental Sustainability Commission will not be able to discuss or take any action on the item at this meeting. If appropriate, the item will be referred to Staff or placed on a future agenda.

No public comment.

5.
CONFLICT DISCLOSURES

  

6.
CURRENT BUSINESS

  

6.1
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 24, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING

This item has attachments.  

No edits for the February 24, 2025 Special Meeting

  • Moved byChair Williams
    Seconded byCommissioner Bourton

    Recommended Motion: To vote on approving the minutes from the April 21, 2025 Regular Meeting

    Motion Approved

6.2
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 17, 2025 REGULAR MEETING

This item has attachments.  

No edits for the March 17, 2025 Regular Meeting

  • Moved byChair Williams
    Seconded byCommissioner McFarlin
    Motion Approved

6.3
DISCUSSION OF THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE

  

Alternative Transportation Infrastructure ad hoc subcommittee expires in March 2025

Mary Nooristani stated that the subcommittee met and discussed creating a flow chart instead of a checklist for internal staff to utilize to keep the Climate Action Plan measures and actions in mind when developing and implementing transportation projects.  

Ricky Williams asked if the ESC can work with other commissions and inform each other's projects.  

Ricky Williams made a motion to extend the commission for 3 months with the goal to produce a recommendation of a flow chart.  

  • Moved byChair Williams
    Seconded byVice Chair Natalia

    Recommended Motion: To extend the Alternative Transportation Infrastructure Ad Hoc Subcommittee with Commissioners Natalia, Nooristani, Williams for three months and expire in July 2025 with the purpose of recommending a CAP flow chart for internal projects

    Motion Approved

6.4
DISCUSSION OF THE EQUITY FRAMEWORK AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE

  

Equity Framework ad hoc subcommittee expires in April 2025

Dasmine McFarlin stated the ad hoc subcommittee met and discussed ideas on getting community feedback and finding out what is important to community members, and to keep in mind things like language barriers and visual aids.  Also discussed was identifying funding for appliances, like solar powered fans.  

Hilary Ego stated that the ad hoc subcommittee also discussed creating some kind of internal checklist for staff to utilize when developing and implementing projects.  

Dasmine McFarlin made a motion to extend the Equity Framework ad hoc subcommittee for three months with the continued goal of gathering feedback and creating a framework for internal use.  

Commissioners also discussed how to engage with community members through consistent branding.  

  • Moved byCommissioner McFarlin
    Seconded byCommissioner Nooristani

    Recommended Motion: To extend the Equity Framework ad hoc subcommittee for three months until July 2025 comprised of Commissioners McFarlin and Shustek with the goal of gathering community feedback and creating a framework for internal use.  

    Motion Approved

6.5
DISCUSSION OF THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EDUCATION AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE

  

Alternative Transportation Safety Education ad hoc subcommittee expires in May 2025

Ricky Williams stated the ad hoc subcommittee met and discussed ideas on how to get information to drivers and improve awareness.  Shared an idea of organizing community group rides that can be called "La Mesa Loops." 

Michael Bourton asked for an update on the La Mesa E-Bike Incentive Program.  Hilary Ego responded that the program response was successful, with 650 applications when it closed on April 14.  Applications were scored and applications with a score of 5-20 were given entries into a random drawing.  43 applicants were selected and are currently processing verification documents and preparing for the mandatory training.  

Amanda-Dawn Natalia stated that the ad hoc subcommittee discussed ideas for education on a variable message sign. 

6.6
DISCUSSION OF THE CAP IMPLEMENTATION WORK PLAN AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE

  

Climate Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Work Plan ad hoc subcommittee expires in May 2025

Hilary Ego stated that the subcommittee did not meet due to a planning oversite.  

6.7
DISCUSSION OF THE MAY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

  

Hilary Ego stated that City staff are not available on the May 19 Regular Meeting and recommended canceling the meeting and scheduling a special meeting.  

Commissioners recommended May 12 since May 26 is a holiday.  Dasmine McFarlin stated she has college final exams that week so she may not attend.  

Ricky Williams made a motion to cancel the May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting and schedule a special meeting on May 12, 2025

  • Moved byChair Williams
    Seconded byVice Chair Natalia

    Recommended Motion: To vote on cancelling the May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting and schedule a Special Meeting on May 12, 2025

    Motion Approved

7.
STAFF AND COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS

  

Hilary Ego and Serena Lee stated updates about City projects including La Mesa Earth Day on April 19 was a success and thanked the commissioners who attended, progress on the EV Charging Station Master Plan and the 2024 Annual Report, Bike Anywhere Day on May 15, CivicSpark and College Corps Fellow updates, reminder of the April 24 Special Meeting to meet at the EDCO Transfer Station in Lemon Grove for a facility tour, CAP Team members attended the Citizens Water Academy, and the EDCO Rate Review is beginning with new rates proposed for FY26-27.  

Michael Bourton stated there is a new incentive for a bi-directional EV charger and he sent the information to Hilary to send to the commission.  

Ricky Williams stated that he enjoyed the presentation at the beginning of the meeting about the City's solid waste and recycling programs and recommended future presentations about staff projects and programs.  

8.
ADJOURNMENT

  

Chair Ricky Williams adjourned the meeting at 7:41 PM. 

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