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<br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Sustainability Commission Work Plan <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: August 9, 2010 Agenda Item Number: C <br />Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The Sustainability Commission reports annually to the council on its progress, accomplishments and <br />challenges – and obtains direction for its pending work plan. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />In January 2007, the council adopted the Sustainability Initiative goal to develop the Office of <br />Sustainability and the Sustainability Commission. The council adopted Ordinance No. 20379 <br />establishing the Sustainability Commission as a policy advisory body to the council and City Manager to <br />assist in the development of programs to create or enhance sustainable practices within the community. <br />The Sustainability Commission is charged with advising on policy matters related to sustainable <br />practices, businesses that produce sustainable products and services, City building design and <br />infrastructure, and related issues that directly affect sustainability efforts considered by the City Council. <br /> <br />The commission first met in November 2007. Its 13 members include eight appointed by each individual <br />councilor, a council liaison, and four at-large members. Monthly meetings typically include public <br />comment, reports from commissioners, and discussion of a wide range of topics – with emphasis this <br />last year on climate change, and land use and transportation policies. <br /> <br /> <br />Challenges in developing an achievable work plan are to: <br /> <br /> <br />ensure integration of social, economic and environmental considerations into any action <br />proposed; <br /> <br /> <br />establish priorities, given the enormous scope of potential work; <br /> <br /> <br />link effectively with related efforts of other advisory groups, other agencies, City staff, <br />community groups and elected officials; and, <br /> <br /> <br />respond strategically to time-sensitive items and longer-term issues. <br /> <br />In addition, commission members continue to stress that more resources are needed to support the <br />Sustainability Commission and the City’s sustainability work. The commission recognizes the work of <br />many staff throughout the City organization in supporting sustainability goals and indirectly supporting <br />the commission’s work plan. While all City departments contribute significantly to sustainable policies <br />and practices, there are not sufficient staff resources for in-depth research of specific issues that the <br />commission may wish to take action on or dedicated staffing for multiple commission subcommittees. <br /> <br />During the last year, the commission received direct staff support from an interim Sustainability <br />Manager and other City Manager’s Office staff. A new Sustainability Liaison (Babe O’Sullivan, <br />Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100809\S100809C.doc <br />