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Environment Department unveils five‑year delivery plan and $10M/year prioritized budget request
Summary
Staff presented a five‑year strategic delivery plan tied to the 2021 Climate Action Plan, described an initial $96M set of internal budget requests, and reported a prioritization that distilled top items to roughly $50M (≈$10M/year) focused on electrification, small‑business support, outreach and community investments.
Deputy Director Leo Chee and Climate Program Manager Cindy Comerford briefed the commission on the department’s five‑year strategic delivery plan intended to operationalize the 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP) and align internal priorities with available funding.
Staff said program managers compiled 85 budget line‑item requests totaling about $96 million over five years and applied prioritization criteria (economic security, quality of life, public health, greenhouse‑gas reduction potential) to identify the highest‑scoring requests. That prioritization yielded a top package of roughly $50 million over five years—about $10 million per year—focused on building and transportation electrification, small‑business and workforce support, public awareness campaigns, and investments in communities most impacted by climate change.
Comerford reviewed the prioritization process: managers developed five‑year program plans and line‑item budgets, the department scored items on multiple criteria, and the top 20% of scores informed an initial prioritized list. Staff noted modeling limitations for some items and said the prioritization was iterated with program managers to align objectives and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Chee explained next steps in the budget calendar: the mayor’s office was scheduled to issue budget instructions the day after the meeting; the department must hold required hearings and submit its budget per charter timelines. Staff said they will continue applying for external grants and will sequence departmental requests based on mayoral guidance and the city’s fiscal instructions.
Commissioners asked about the incoming mayor and whether priority choices would change; staff said budget instructions and broader fiscal constraints will shape final proposals but that the prioritization provides a clear internal starting point.
Next steps: staff will present more detailed budget materials at the January and February commission meetings and refine proposals based on mayoral and controller guidance.
