City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of the Creation of Office of Climate Action and the Release of $1.85 Million in FY 2023 Contingent Reserve Funding.
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ISSUE: Consideration of the release of $1.85 million in FY 2023 Contingent Reserve funding set aside for climate change initiatives for the creation of an Office of Climate Action ("Office") to empower the community in reducing GHG emissions.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council release $1.85 million in FY 2023 Contingent Reserve funding set aside for climate change initiatives for the creation of an "Office of Climate Action" within the City Manager's Office.
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria has a long history of taking steps to ensure we do our part to fight the climate crisis. In 2011, the Alexandria City Council passed the City's original Energy and Climate Change Action Plan ("ECCAP") to promote actions towards reducing the Alexandria community's operational greenhouse gas emissions, including the 96% of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the Alexandria community's residents, businesses, and visitors. Since that time, significant advancements in climate change science and solutions, identification and understanding of climate-induced vulnerabilities, the emergency of climate adaptation and resiliency practices, and climate action planning approaches has provided the City opportunity to meaningfully advance the Alexandria community's efforts towards climate change action.
In July 2019, the City Council adopted the City's Environmental Action Plan 2040 ("EAP2040"). The EAP2040 establishes a target of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by FY 2030 and 80 to 100 percent by FY 2050 (base year 2005) supported by significant cont...
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