Kansas City, MO

An annual report is provided to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and Department Directors each year that summarizes our performance regarding our municipal Environmental Management System and implementation of the Green Solutions Policy adopted by our Mayor and City Council. This report includes information regarding sustainability initiatives underway by city departments. In 2011, we will also update our GHG inventory based upon calendar year 2010 data to benchmark our progress in implementing our climate protection plan.

The Office of Environmental Quality resides in the City Manager's Office.  Within the Office of Environmental Quality, the Chief Environmental Officer and the Sustainability Coordinator are the primary resource positions for sustainability initiatives.

The Office of Environmental Quality is funded by the City's General Fund, but sustainability activities are decentralized into many City departments and significant grant funding (e.g. EECBG formula grant & other federal stimulus funding) supports many sustainability projects and initiatives.

The City's budget includes performance measures and federal grants that are directly tied to achieving specific goals specified in the approved work plans.

1. Support city executive and senior management team in the design of overall strategy and process for the project
2. Develop Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
3. Maintain updated Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
4. Oversee and maintain sustainability budget
5. Coordinate and lead City's Green Team
6. Develop criteria, policies and procedures for sustainable programs
7. Track, monitor, and report utility usage and greenhouse gas emissions of city operations
8. Track, monitor, and report greenhouse gas emissions at the community level
9. Foster, develop, and launch projects in partnership with city departments and external stakeholders
10. Identify and secure funding resources from outside sources (ex. Federal grants) for projects
11. Represent the City at key meetings

With a City Manager form of government, the City Staff continues when the Mayor and City Council positions change (both have limits of two 4-year terms).  The Mayor recommends and the City Council approves the hiring and firing of the City Manager.  Department Directors and the Chief Environmental Officer are hired by and serve at the pleasure of the City Manager. This structure provides a greater degree of continuity in City operations, including climate protection and sustainability implementation, than in organizations where Mayoral changes result in extensive changes in department directors and senior staff positions.