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Corte Madera staff finalize "environmentally preferable purchasing" policy; no council action required
Summary
Staff presented a new environmentally preferable purchasing policy (EPPP) intended as internal guidance to reduce town purchases’ environmental impact, support Climate Action Plan goals and increase grant eligibility. Council did not take formal action; staff will follow up on technical questions raised by a public commenter.
Corte Madera staff presented a finalized environmentally preferable purchasing policy (EPPP) at the Oct. 7 Town Council meeting and described it as an administrative, staff-level implementation document; no formal council action was required or taken.
Phoebe Baguerre, who led the policy’s development, told the council the document compiles state legal requirements and best practices into internal purchasing guidance across major categories — energy, office supplies and equipment, cleaning and kitchen supplies, town vehicles and public-works products and practices. Baguerre said the policy aligns with the town’s Climate Action Plan goals on energy efficiency, low‑emission vehicles, water conservation and zero waste, and that it will increase eligibility for some CalRecycle grant programs.
Baguerre said staff developed the draft by reviewing nearby jurisdictions’ policies and state law, then circulated the draft to department heads and purchasing staff for practical feedback; the Climate Action Committee also reviewed the draft and the final version was completed Sept. 19. Implementation steps already underway include switching to more environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and specifying low‑carbon concrete for public‑works projects. Staff said the policy is primarily guidance for procurement staff and will be referenced in an upcoming purchasing ordinance update.
During public comment, resident Roy Wolford asked two technical questions: how much renewable electricity purchased through Marin Clean Energy (MCE) is actually delivered to the town versus procured via contracts or renewable attributes, and how the town will verify that “low carbon” concrete meets specified mix and curing requirements. Baguerre and other staff said they would follow up with Wolford and coordinate answers with the public‑works team.
Mayor and council members thanked staff for the work and highlighted the value of the new intranet page that consolidates town policies for staff use. Because the EPPP is an administrative policy, the council did not vote on its adoption. Staff said they expect annual implementation reviews and department check‑ins to identify new procurement options and to track progress.
Key points for residents: the EPPP is intended to change internal purchasing decisions (not immediate direct regulations on residents), it supports grant eligibility for items such as park waste stations, and staff will return implementation updates as the policy is applied across departments.
