ATTACHMENT 3

Sustainability Committees in Other Municipalities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Formed by the City Council in 1994, the goal of the Citizen Environmental Advisory Committee is to work closely with the Environmental Coordinating Team (ECT), made up of city staff, and the Health, Energy & Environment (HEE) Committee, made up of elected officials.  All three groups address the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability or coordinate with appropriate staff and community resources to do so when appropriate. 

The Committee prioritizes and provides advice and comments on projects, programs and policies referred to them by the ECT and the HEE in accordance with principals of sustainable development. 

Portland, Oregon

The City of Portland formed the Sustainable Development Commission in 2002. Charge: to develop and advocate for programs, policies, and actions by government, citizens, and businesses leading to sustainable communities in the Portland metropolitan area, including those that:

1. Support a diverse and vibrant economy;
2. Promote an equitable distribution of resources;
3. Protect and restore the integrity of the natural systems that support life, including air, water, and land;
4. Preserve the diversity of plant and animal life; and
5. Reduce human impacts on local and worldwide ecosystems.

Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington’s Commission on Sustainability was formed in 2005 to fulfill the duties listed below.

• To coordinate ongoing and propose new sustainability initiatives among all sectors of the community.
• To advise and make recommendations to the City Council and City Boards and Commissions on policies and programs that infuse the work of City government with an operating philosophy based on sustainability.
• To determine the current and future sustainability status by developing and monitoring a set of sustainability indicators, and to present an annual sustainability assessment based on said indicators.

Boulder, Colorado

 The City Council formed the Environmental Advisory Board in 2002.  Charge: to advise City Council and staff on issues including solid waste disposal, recycling, pollution prevention, energy, green building, integrated pest management and air quality. The Board provides advice to other city boards and City Council concerning the effects on the physical environment of any proposed master plan or revision.

The City of Boulder also organized an Economic Vitality Advisory Board. Composed of 50 community members, it acts as a think tank on economic development issues.  It has  prioritized advancement of its “Naturally Boulder” campaign to promote local products, thereby promoting sustainable economic development.

Asheville, North Carolina

The City of Asheville formed a Sustainable Economic Development Advisory Committee, made up of citizens and community leaders, in 1999.  The Committee’s Strategic Action Plan prioritizes sustainable development which balances economic objectives, social goals, and natural resources to the benefit of present and future generations.  The City Council has directed Asheville to develop a sustainable energy committee composed of citizens.