HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 330-07City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CiD~ Manager’s Office
AUGUST 6, 2007 CMR: 330:07
SUSTAINABILITY TEAM WORK PLAN AND UPDATE
This is an informational report, and no Council action is required.
BACKGROLLND
In the 2007-08 Budget, the Council directed staff to add a position to the Manager’s
Office to coordinate the interdepartmental and con~nunity efforts on sustainability and
climate action. It was determined that filling the position for the first year with existing
staff through one or more internal internships would be preferable for several reasons,
including the following:
® Allows work to begin immediately with current employee(s) who understands
City departments, policies and procedures and is aware of sustainabili~’
efforts already underway
® Gi-~’es the City time to develop a sho~-terrn and long-term work plan for the
new position
®Allows time to clarify job responsibilities prior to formal recruitment for the
new position, such as:
v/ Potential overlap with current staff expertise
-/ Amount of staff person’s time to be spent working cooperatively with
external groups
,/ Community educatio~a!motivation focus
¯/ Role in regional efforts such as the newl? formed JVSV Climate Action
Task Force
,/Specific opportunities for pursuing GRTF public/private model for
leveraging staff resources
In late June, interviews were held for the Special Assigm-nent of Sustainability
Coordinator, with seven candidates inter~:iewed. Given the varied skills required for the
job, including project management, community outreach, education and leadership, it was
decided that a team of four people, each working half time, would constitute the most
CMR 330:074 1
advantageous approach to the assigrmaent. On July 16, this team of four people,
henceforward referred to as the Sustainability Team, began work.
The Team is comprised of: Wendy Hediger, Recycling Coordinator in the Public Works’
Refuse Fm~d; Nancy Nagel, Senior Financial Analyst in the Administrative Services
Department; Karl Van Orsdol, the City’s Utilities Risk Manager; and Julie Weiss,
Environmental Specialist, RWQCP, Environmental Compliance Division. Nancy Nagel
will serve as Team leader.
In the 2007-08 fiscal year, the Team will:
Oversee completion of the City’s Climate Protection Plan
Develop an Environmental Purchasing Policy and Plan
Serve as the point of contact for the cormrmnity and City staff regarding
sustainability projects and programs
Catalog and coordinate internal sustainability efforts, with an eye towards
strean~lining and!or eliminating any redundant efforts
Survey programs and initiatives of external sustainability groups (e.g. nonprofits,
govermnental, and businesses) to identi~~ potential pm’tnership opportunities that
align with City efforts
Lead the Environmental Stewardship Steering Conm~ittee (ESSC)
Complete the job description for the permanent Sustainability Coordinator
position
Implement the formation and organization of an Enviromnental Conmfission,
pending Council’s direction on this decision
The Team’s work to date and plan for the next twelve months are discussed below.
DISCUSSION
In the three weeks since the Team’s formation, it has focused on developing its work plan
for the coming year, embarking upon a series of briefings by City staff for the Team
regarding the City’s many sustainabili~; programs, and enlisting the help of the ESSC in
both identifying external groups working on sustainability issues, and on supplementing
the Team’s -knm~ledge base about internal City programs. The ESSC will continue to
serve as a resource and coordinating body for new and existing City enviromaaental and
sustainability programs.
The Team’s Work Plan is sunmaarized below:
SustainabiliD" Team Work Plan Ovel~,iew
Task ~i Due Date
Complete CiO, Climate Protection Plan (CPP)
~ Present CPP Policy to Council ~. November 2007
o Present final CPP Implementation Plan and monitoring ~
CMR 330:074 2
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The actions described in this report are consistent with existing City policy.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The actions described in this report do not constitute a project for the purposes of the
California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY:
NANCY NA(
Sustainability Team Leader
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:1~;
~M__JLY HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR 330:074 4