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.
Category:City-County Governments
Category:North Carolina
Category:Resolutions
Category:Sustainability Policies