Sought: Sustainable Tacoma Commissioners

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 new Sustainable Tacoma Commission.

The Tacoma City Council is looking for 11 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 staggered three-year terms. For the initial appointees, three members will receive one-year appointments, four will be appointed for two-year terms, and four will be appointed for 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 the City and community should take to reduce greenhouse gases and help curb global warming.

The Commission will work with the city’s new Office of Sustainability, which will be 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:
Oversee implementation of climate action plan strategies.
Coordinate with the Office of Sustainability to obtain greenhouse gas emissions reduction reports.
Obtain updates from the Office of Sustainability on climate action plan strategy implementation efforts and periodic result reports.
Provide annual progress reports to the public.
Communicate barriers to and incentives for implementation to the City Council.
Create a forum for regular public comment and community involvement.

Applications must be submitted to the Mayor’s Office by March 6, 2009. To apply, visit here or contact Cynthia Leingang at (253) 594-7848, Mayor's Office, Room 1200, Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.