Durham, NC Creating a Sustainability Coordinator Position

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 3/27/07

Source File: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/departments/planning/eab/pdf/ghg_support_res.pdf

Text:

Environmental Affairs Board
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Durham Environmental Affairs Board serves to advise and assist the City and County governments on matters related to the environment by providing a mechanism for communication between the local governments on environmental issues in Durham; and

WHEREAS, the City of Durham’s mission statement, “Durham will be North Carolina's leading City in providing an excellent and sustainable quality of life”, signifies a continued commitment to the environment and sustainability; and

WHEREAS, the City of Durham is a member of the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and pledged “to take a leadership role by increasing energy efficiency of, and reducing the greenhouse gas emission from municipal operations”, as well as, “to develop a local action plan to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community”; and

WHEREAS, the City of Durham is a signatory of United Nations Urban Environmental Accords; and

WHEREAS, Durham City and the County governments adopted the priority outcomes through the community-wide Results Based Accountability Initiative that “Durham citizens enjoy a healthy environment”, “Durham citizens are healthy”, “Durham citizens enjoy sustainable thriving neighborhoods with efficient and well-maintained infrastructure”, and “Durham strives toward achieving a greater and more sustainable quality of life for its citizens”; and

WHEREAS, the Durham Comprehensive Plan Policy 7.1.4a., Greenhouse Gas Emissions Local Action Plan, states that “The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, in conjunction with other City and County Departments and the Environmental Affairs Board, shall update and present to elected boards for adoption and implementation the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Local Action Plan initially prepared for the City in October 1999”; and

WHEREAS, Durham has recognized the urgent need to address air quality and climate change by funding the drafting of the Durham Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory and Local Action Plan For Emissions Reduction; and

WHEREAS, Durham has taken initial steps toward implementing strategies listed in GETTING to GREEN - Policy and Practice for Green Building; and

WHEREAS, the Durham Joint City-County Planning Committee and the Durham Joint City- County Committee endorsed the creation of a Community and Environment Office and directed City and County Managers to incorporate it for review in the budgetary process in 2006;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Environmental Affairs Board hereby recommends and endorses the creation of a sustainability coordinator position or environmental affairs officer, which reports directly to the City and County Manager offices, in order to effectively direct and coordinate the implementation of the Durham Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Local Action Plan For Emissions Reduction, funding for outreach activities, funding for a high-profile City and/or County initiative from the GHG Local Action Plan in the first year of its adoption, and integrating GHG Emissions Inventory and Local Action Plan items into all City and County department work plans.

In August 2007, funding was committed to create a new joint City-County Sustainability Coordinator position. In September, the City and County voted unanimously to approve the Greenhouse Gas plan.