Item B: Sustainability Initiative Update

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: City Council Goal – Sustainability Initiative Update Meeting Date: February 25, 2008 Agenda Item Number: B Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Felicity Fahy www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682 5017 ISSUE STATEMENT An update of progress made on the Sustainability Initiative Council Goal adopted in January 2007, and the work plan approved by the council in July 2007, will be provided. Sustainability Commission Chair Will Shaver and Vice-Chair Tim Laue will outline commission progress and scope out work plan discussions. BACKGROUND Introduction In January 2007, the Eugene City Council adopted the Sustainability Initiative Goal with the following focus: Develop an Office of Sustainability and Sustainability Commission which support a broad variety of sustainable practices, and create a tool chest of things needed to support businesses which produce sustainable products or provide or utilize sustainable practices. Office of Sustainability An interdepartmental team was convened to develop the goal action plan approved by the council in July 2007 (Attachment A). It was acknowledged in the action plan that the intermediate and final outcome measures would be progressively developed and refined as the scope of the Office of Sustainability and the priorities of the Sustainability Commission were established. The council asked that the final outcome measures be redeveloped. This process is underway; the measures have not yet been amended. The new Sustainability Manager position was filled in June 2007 and Felicity Fahy began orientation to the organization and community. A scan of City operations, activities and policy documents, revealed a strong commitment to sustainability and a good foundation on which to build a more comprehensive and strategic approach to integrating the triple bottom line into City programs, decision-making and operations. The role of social equity in sustainability was identified as the least understood and integrated portion of the triple bottom line. Since June, a lot of time and attention has been focused on relationship-building within the City organization, community, and with educational and business entities, and government agencies. This foundation is enabling the discussion on how to strategically and collaboratively help Eugene become more sustainable. Staff recently participated in a climate summit organized by the University of Oregon to focus attention on climate change initiatives in Lane County and provide a starting place for more collaboration on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further meetings are scheduled to strategize for a coordinated approach to reducing emissions. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080225\S080225B.doc