San Jose, CA

At a glance

Population: 750,000 - 2 million

City Leader: Mayor Chuck Reed

Sustainability Officer:
MaryEllen Dick

Office Contact Information:
City of San Jose Environmental Service Dept.
200 East Santa Clara St.
10th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113

Three Greatest Accomplishments to Date:
1. Adopting Green Building Ordinance for private sector and municipal
2. Robust Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy
3. Zero Waste Policy

City Sustainability Board: NO

City Sustainability Plan: YES

Climate Action Plan: YES
Our Climate Action Plan is part of the General Plan which is currently being updated. It will be adopted on the same timeline - Draft in Fall 2010 and Final in Fall 2011.

Green Building Ordinance: YES
Included for city funded buildings, commercial space and residential buildings. The Green Buidlings Ordinance is triggered by a square footage of 10,000 square feet or 10 dwelling units.

City Tracking & Results

Annual report and presentation to Council on our progress on the Green Vision goals; Quarterly short info memos on status to Councill and monthly verbal updates to City senior staff, Council Transportation and Environment Committee, and Mayor.

Division of Sustainability Facts

The City of San Jose Website

Program Funding

Sustainability Officer Duties

Foster, develop, and launch projects in partnership with city departments and external stakeholders
Develop Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
Maintain updated Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
Oversee and maintain sustainability budget
Track, monitor, and report utility usage and greenhouse gas emissions of city operations
Track, monitor, and report greenhouse gas emissions at the community level
Support city executive and senior management team in the design of overall strategy and process for the project
Track and report about sustainability programs underway on a regular basis through the City's performance management program
Develop criteria, policies and procedures for sustainable programs
Identify and secure funding resources from outside sources (ex. Federal grants) for projects
Represent the City at key meetings
Perform financial analysis on ongoing and new projects