Residents who want to participate in the implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan, as the City and community reduce greenhouse gas emissions, are encouraged to apply for membership on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission.

Tacoma City Council is looking for two commission members who provide a balanced representation of various stakeholders, including the environmental community, small business, labor, housing, industry and port, transportation, education, the building industry and residents. One appointment will fill a vacated position. This appointment expires on April 30, 2014. A second appointment is for a three-year term. This appointment expires on April 30, 2016. All Commissioners are eligible to re-apply for an additional three-year term.

The commission is intended to bring citizen accountability, transparency and vigilance to the long-term implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan. The commission is also charged with overseeing, coordinating, communicating and encouraging public involvement regarding broader sustainability initiatives.

The commission will work with the City’s Office of Environmental Policy & Sustainability, which will be responsible for implementing the strategies in the Climate Action Plan and measuring the City’s progress toward meeting its sustainability goals. Both the Office and the commission were created by a city council resolution in October 2008.

Duties of the Sustainable Tacoma Commission include overseeing implementation of climate action plan strategies; coordinating with the Office of Environmental Policy & Sustainability to obtain greenhouse gas emissions reduction reports; obtaining updates from the Office of Environmental Policy & Sustainability on climate action plan strategy implementation efforts and periodic result reports; providing annual progress reports to the public; communicating barriers to and incentives for implementation to the City Council; and creating a forum for regular public comment and community involvement.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by May 31, 2013. To apply, please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact April Larsen at (253) 591-5167, City Clerk’s Office, Room 220, Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.