Sammamish commission renews Sustainability Ambassadors contract for 2026–27 school year

The Sammamish Sustainability Commission voted to renew the city’s contract with Sustainability Ambassadors for the 2026–27 school year, citing the program’s role in school-based outreach, curriculum support and data collection that supports the city’s Climate Action Plan.

Commissioners described the program’s recent deliverables — including a town hall, curriculum design lab, a bus-bingo outreach activity and promotion of green-power enrollment — and discussed how the Ambassadors’ data could feed municipal CAP metrics. Staff said the prior contract ended in April and the proposed renewal would begin in August for the 2026–27 school year; the city intends to evaluate the contract annually.

Commissioner rbianchi, who participated remotely, praised the program and urged commissioners to support youth involvement in local policy: “the City Council absolutely loves it when young people are involved in city policy,” she said.

Staff told the Commission the contract is modest in dollar scale and that, if the city did not renew, the Ambassadors would continue work with other municipalities and nonprofits but the city would lose the targeted, city-specific outreach and coordination with local school districts. The Commission moved, seconded and approved the renewal by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Next steps: staff will draft and return with a proposed scope of work and timing for the August 2026 start and will include the Commission’s recommendation in the materials forwarded to City Council.