Discussion with City Council about a City restructure moving Sustainability from a Program within Public Works to a Section with the City Manager's Office.

The City Manager's Office began evaluating where the Sustainability work group best fit within the organization to serve the needs of the City organization and the community again in August 2019.  As a result of conversations with the Sustainability Program Manager, Sustainability Commission members, community members, and City leadership a recommendation was formed to move Sustainability from a Program within Public Works to a Section within the City Manager's Office.  This move would support direct communication with the City Manager which has been a key component in communities who have successfully met their sustainability goals and objectives.  Elevating Sustainability to a Section demonstrates the importance of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), would streamline actions identified in the CAAP, and promote even more integration across additional focus areas such as transportation, economic development and planning.  

The community, Sustainability Commission and City staff have been discussing where Sustainability best fits within the City municipal organization for a few years now.  When the previous City Manager, Barbara Goodrich, was leaving the organization she was approached by the Sustainability Commission with an invitation for the new City Manager to come and meet with them about Sustainability's reporting structure.  Given this request Ms. Goodrich, Andy Bertelsen and Shannon Anderson agreed that Mr. Bertelsen and Ms. Anderson would go to the Sustainability Commission meeting to hear what a new organizational structure would accomplish.  This meeting took place on August 22, 2019.  Mr. Bertelsen and Ms. Anderson shared this information with the new City Manager, Greg Clifton, on September 5, 2019.  This was the first of several internal discussions about where Sustainability best served the organization and the community before sharing feedback with the Sustainability Commission on October 24, 2019. 

While this process was underway a petition was submitted by Joseph Shannon on September 24, 2019 requesting the Flagstaff City Council to perform two things: (1) declare a Climate Emergency Resolution, and (2) elevate Sustainability to a department status. During the October 15, 2019 Council meeting, Council agreed to add this item to the January 28, 2020 Council meeting.

There are consequently two scenarios whereby the Sustainability Program can be elevated within the organization.  The first scenario would be administratively accomplished, resulting in a new Sustainability Section that reports directly to the City Manager.  This would have a marginal budgetary impact.  The second option would be to pursue a new division pursuant to the petition.  This would involve Council action in the form of an ordinance, and quite possibly a recruitment of a new Division Director position.  The budgetary impact would be more significant, accordingly.

City leadership is bringing this item forward for discussion since there was a petition submitted in the middle of the restructuring process.