Title
Resolution to Amend the Office of Sustainability and Innovations FY 2019 Budget and Appropriate Funds for New and the Scaling-Up of Existing Climate and Sustainability Programs in the City of Ann Arbor (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The following resolution requests that the Ann Arbor City Council approve and appropriate funding to the Office of Sustainability and Innovations to immediately begin designing, creating, and implementing new climate and sustainability programs while also supporting the scaling-up of existing, effective programs. The total amount requested is $313,000 to be allocated from the General Fund Balance and repaid once the County Health Millage Fund (0100) rebate is received.
This budget adjustment is being requested to support the implementation of the Office of Sustainability and Innovations Work Plan (attached) that outlines core programs and activities to be undertaken by staff within the Office over the next 3 years, with support from the City's Energy and Environmental Commissions. The identified programs were chosen because of their potential to significantly impact municipal and community-wide greenhouse gas emissions as well as the broad community-support for these initiatives. These programs were also chosen due to their timeliness, with, for example, the Net Zero Affordable Housing Program having the opportunity to immediately support renovations at the Broadway site that will: a) reduce greenhouse gas emissions; b) improve local air quality; c) reduce operating expenditures which could be reallocated for more affordable housing units; and d) support our community's values around equity and "One Community". Moreover, the lack of federal leadership on climate and sustainability activities, combined with the increasing intensity, and frequency of natural disasters, makes local climate action an imperative.
In light of these realities, this budget amendment calls for funding to support a work plan that reduces greenhouse g...
Click here for full text