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Department of the Environment accepts cuts but flags new "in-kind" positions and public-housing recycling gaps
Summary
The Department of the Environment agreed to recommended reductions (~$95,213) but described in-kind positions (half-funded sustainability post at the school district), an $818,000 environmental-justice release from reserve to be handled next week, and a pilot to expand recycling infrastructure in public housing.
Committee members reviewed the Department of the Environment's proposed budget and reductions.
Department staff concurred with the budget analyst's recommendation for roughly $95,213 in targeted reductions, representing a 22.9% decrease in the budget line reflected in the report. The department said the cut can be absorbed and noted a planned release from reserve of approximately $818,000 tied to an environmental-justice settlement administered through the California Public Utilities Commission; staff said the release will be presented next week.
Supervisors asked about three new "in-kind" positions billed through the department: a Director of Sustainability at the Unified School District (half-funded by the department and half by the Public Utilities Commission), an Office of Contract Administration position to handle a precautionary purchasing ordinance, and a half-time 'green librarian' for citywide library outreach. The committee requested the budget analyst to list all new positions (including off-budget ones) in forthcoming reports so the board can assess ongoing obligations.
On recycling and enforcement, staff described a Double Rock pilot to provide composting/recycling infrastructure in public housing and said outreach has included volunteer visits to roughly 2,000 restaurants; enforcement will be a mix of education, staff follow-up and citations by public-health or public-works authorities where needed.
Next steps: staff will supply the committee with clearer FTE accounting and detailed reporting on proposed in-kind positions and the planned reserve release for environmental-justice funding.
