Title
Environmental Commission Resolution in Support of Environmentally Preferred Procurement
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor recognizes its responsibility to minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment while supporting a vibrant community and economy. The City further recognizes that the products and services the City buys have inherent environmental and economic impacts and that the City should make procurement decisions that embody, promote and encourage the City’s commitment to the environment and support Sustainability Framework Goals adopted by City Council (R-13-045). This policy is intended to:
• Encourage the purchase and use of materials, products and services that best align with the City’s fiscal, environmental, climate change, community and performance goals;
• Reduce the spectrum of environmental impacts from City use of products, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, reduction of landfill waste, health and safety risks, and resource consumption;
• Empower City staff to be innovative and demonstrate leadership by incorporating progressive and best-practice environmental specifications, strategies and practices in procurement decisions;
• Encourage vendors and contractors to promote products and services which are most suited to the City’s environmental principles;
• Complement existing City ordinances and policies;
• Encourage and promote companies to bring forward emerging and progressive sustainable products and services, by being a consumer of such products and companies; and
• Communicate the City’s commitment to ”green” procurement, by modeling the best product and services choices to citizens, other public agencies and private companies.
Nothing in this policy shall be construed as requiring a unit, service area, vendor or contractor to procure goods or services that do not perform adequately for their intended use, exclude adequate competition, or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
Staff
Prepared by Matthew Naud, Environmental Coordinator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes its responsibility to minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment while supporting a vibrant community and economy;
Whereas, The City further recognizes that the products and services the City buys have inherent environmental and economic impacts and that the City should make procurement decisions that embody, promote and encourage the City’s commitment to the environment and support Sustainability Framework Goals adopted by City Council (R-13-045)
Whereas, This policy is intended to encourage the purchase and use of materials, products and services that best align with the City’s fiscal, environmental, climate change, community and performance goals;
Whereas, This policy is intended to reduce the spectrum of environmental impacts from City use of products, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, reduction of landfill waste, health and safety risks, and resource consumption;
Whereas, This policy is intended to empower City staff to be innovative and demonstrate leadership by incorporating progressive and best-practice environmental specifications, strategies and practices in procurement decisions;
Whereas, This policy is intended to encourage vendors and contractors to promote products and services which are most suited to the City’s environmental principles;
Resolved, The Environmental Commission supports the Environmentally Preferred Procurement Policy developed by staff for City Administrator Lazarus.