Sustainable Tacoma Commission Seeks Members

You can apply for the Sustainable Tacoma Commission by March 31.

The Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability is currently seeking applications for five vacancies on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, the citizen group that oversees the City of Tacoma’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

Membership is open to different stakeholders, such as the environmental, business, labor, housing, industrial, port, transportation, education, building and residential communities. Commission members serve terms of three years.

The purpose of this Commission is to bring citizen accountability, transparency and awareness to the long-term implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan, and also manage, coordinate, communicate and encourage public involvement regarding sustainability issues. The Commission oversees the Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability and makes recommendations about sustainability initiatives to City Council.

The Commission currently holds its public meetings on the second Tuesday of every month from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Tacoma Municipal Building; however, this schedule may be adjusted to accommodate new members.

For more information on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, please visit their website or contact Kristin Lynett at kristin.lynett@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5571.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by March 31, 2015. To apply, please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact Nicole Emery at servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5178, or the City Clerk’s Office, Room 11, Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.

City of Tacoma Approves (some) Local Purchasing

A couple of weeks ago the Chamber gladly supported the City of Tacoma's Ordinance No. 28140, "to ensure, in appropriate situations, the inclusion of and consideration of locality and sustainability factors in the evaluation and award of City contracts."

The key words for the Chamber were "consideration of locality."  This means that in (some) contracts the City will be able to give some nominal preference to local vendors.  The Chamber has been supportive of this issue for some time, including the last time it came to a Council Committee about a year ago.

The intervening time has been used by attorneys to rework the language and approach to make it consistent with state law.  The result of the legal work has been a policy that still allows for local consideration, but with plenty of caveats.  With so many qualifers, it's clear that the City may not be using the local preference option much - but getting it in the municipal code is a start.

Seeking Business Environmental Awardee

Earth Day is near and appropriately, the Chamber recognizes that there are many outstanding businesses in our community working hard to protect the environment and preserve our quality of life.

Do you know of a business that deserves recognition for surface water protection or restoration achievements? How about a deserving business that has achieved exemplary results in reducing waste dumped into area streams?  Who has the best air quality results?

The Chamber is accepting nominations of businesses that deserve recognition for their exemplary environmental protection or restoration efforts. The selected nominee will receive a business environmental award to be presented.

Nominations will be accepted no later than March 25. Please submit your nomination(s).

For more information about nomination criteria or to participate in the Chamber’s Earth Day event sponsored by Taylor-Thomason Insurance, contact Gary Brackett or at 253.682.1720.  

Award Recipients

Tahoma Business Environmental Award

 1       2003  Kay Parks/Dan Meyer Auto Rebuild

 2       2004  Simpson

 3       2005  McFarland Cascade

 4       2006  Port of Tacoma

 5       2007  Totem Ocean Trailer Express

 6       2008  PLU

 7       2009  Carlile Transportation Systems

 8       2010  Walsh Construction

 9       2011  Waste Connections, Inc.

10      2012  Richlite Company

Seeking Business Community Representatives for SWAC Advisory Committee

The Pierce County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) has two openings for representatives from the business community. The SWAC meets at least quarterly and helps shape local recycling and waste reduction programs. In 2012 the Pierce County Solid Waste Division is focusing on improving single- and multi-family recycling programs, increasing business recycling opportunities, and completing a food waste Best Management Practices project. The advisory committee is an integral component in the success of these projects.

Toward the end of the year the SWAC will help create the framework for future programs when work begins on updating the comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. Membership would begin in April, 2012.

To learn more about the SWAC and how to apply for membership, visit their website (click here) or call (253) 798-2179.

Walsh Construction Gets Tahoma Business Environmental Award

Walsh Construction Company's (r) Ron Ward, Senior Project Manager-Salishan and (c) Derek Johnson, Superintendent-Salishan Project happily receive the 2010 Tahoma Business Environmental Award from sponsor (l) Tom Taylor, Taylor-Thomason Insurance.

The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Business Environmental Award.

This morning the 8th annual award was presented by award sponsor Tom Taylor, Taylor-Thomason Insurance, to Don Ward, Senior Project Manager, Walsh Construction Company in the Chamber’s Simpson Community Room.

Through Walsh Construction’s leadership and initiative, the Tacoma Housing Authority’s (THA) Salishan redevelopment in Tacoma is the first federal Hope IV project to achieve a LEED Platinum rating in the country.

When Washington State issued a mandate that entities receiving funding awards from its Housing Trust Fund build projects more sustainably, Walsh Construction saw the potential in Salishan 7 and looked beyond what was required by the state. Walsh Construction informed the THA of the opportunities and how to achieve the highest standard – platinum.

Walsh conducted exploratory work in the design phase with help from the Berger Partnership PS, McGranahan Architects and the project’s sustainability consultant O’Brien & Company. From this, Walsh Construction determined the project as designed did not meet the lowest LEED rating of Certified.

From Walsh Construction’s research and analysis, THA chose to pursue the most challenging goal: LEED for Homes Platinum.

Walsh Construction has deservedly been acknowledged with the Tahoma Business Environmental Award by having invested money and thought into ways that would improve the environmental performance of their overall operations and thus, impacting our community’s quality of life.

Visit our website for more information on Walsh Construction’s environmental achievements.

TacomaACTS Updates Their Website and Moves Their Blog!

The TacomaACTS blog page has moved to the updated TacomaACTS website!

Visit the updated website and join the Alliance to receive a monthly update on the program and make connections with other businesses pursuing sustainable business practices.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the September 29th workshop on cost saving practices and incentives to save energy in your business!