Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sustainability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sustainability board urges Topeka to hire full-time sustainability coordinator, revive interdepartmental 'green team'
Summary
The Sustainability Advisory Board told the council April 15 it remains ready to help the city meet energy, waste and transportation goals but recommended hiring a full-time sustainability coordinator and reconstituting an interdepartmental green team.
The Sustainability Advisory Board on April 15 recommended the City of Topeka hire a full-time sustainability coordinator and reinvigorate an interdepartmental “green team” to coordinate policies across utilities, public works, forestry and waste management.
Board co-chair Mikala Saunders told the governing body the volunteer board has researched areas including water, energy, waste management and transportation and concluded that a paid coordinator would be more effective at unifying city departments and community partners. “Priority one is hiring a sustainability coordinator,” Saunders said, noting that volunteer members meet one hour a month and often lack staff capacity to follow up on complex work.
Why it matters: Saunders and board members argued that without better coordination the city risks missing funding opportunities and losing progress toward goals identified in Topeka’s 2010 energy efficiency and conservation strategy. Saunders said the board met with sustainability coordinators from Lawrence, Salina and Kansas City and found paid coordinators materially helped those cities pursue grants and projects.
The board also recommended reestablishing departmental representation that had lapsed after a staff member left before the COVID-19 pandemic. Saunders urged council members to consider a green-team approach that assigns a staff designee from utilities, public works and communications to maintain momentum even if a coordinator position is not immediately funded.
Council members asked about current staff support; Saunders said utilities provides minute-taking and Sylvan Coles serves as city staff support. Councilman Duncan and others encouraged practical, near-term steps such as using the city’s energy dashboard and pulling forward parts of the 2010 plan that remain relevant. No formal action was taken; the board asked the council to consider the coordinator position during upcoming budget discussions.
