Citizens who want to oversee 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 by April 12.
The Tacoma City Council is looking for three 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.
Commission members will serve three-year terms.
The commission is intended to bring citizen accountability, transparency and vigilance to the long-term implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan, as developed by the Green Ribbon Climate Action Task Force. The 25-member task force was appointed by the city council to develop recommendations for actions city government and the community should take to reduce greenhouse gases and help curb global warming.
The Commission works with the city’s Office of Sustainability, which is responsible for implementing the strategies in the Climate Action Plan and measuring the city’s progress as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 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 Sustainability to obtain greenhouse gas emissions reduction reports; obtaining updates from the Office of 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 Mayor’s Office by April 12. To apply, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/sustainabletacoma or contact Cindy DeGrosse (253) 594-7848, Mayor’s Office, Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, Room 1200, Tacoma, WA 98402.
