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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> record. The Office of Sustainability was established in 2014 and I'll give you a quick overview of <br /> its sustainability projects. One (1) conceptual slide I want to hit is just because this is kind of the <br /> guiding framework for the Sustainability Office and the work that we do is the theory of the triple <br /> bottom line. The triple bottom line is an approach to planning which really requires a balance of <br /> planet, society and economy, and a balance of timeframes. We are thinking of what we are doing <br /> today in terms of projects that we might be implementing,but also what the future generations are <br /> going to need here in South Bend to make sure they can have the same quality of life as we enjoy. <br /> It really is a balance. You can't have a successful sustainability initiative if you are only focused <br /> on environmental concerns and you're not keeping an eye on equity or economic impact. <br /> She continued,The first(1St) goal I have is focused on municipal operations and creating a culture <br /> across all of our municipal operations that sustainability is just business as usual, not something <br /> special that we do or something that only happens in one (1) office, but something that everyone <br /> is responsible for. Then, incorporating that same awareness of sustainability into the culture and <br /> practice of South Bend businesses and residents. My third (3rd) goal is to prepare our community <br /> for the impacts of climate change and the fourth (4th) is to reduce the community's greenhouse <br /> gas emissions. <br /> She went on, The history of the Sustainability Office started in 2009 with the Recovery Act,but I <br /> want to focus on what has happened since I joined in 2014 and even after that. We originally had <br /> a very operational focus which was mostly internal project level work, but in the last two (2) to <br /> three (3) years, the facilities function of the Sustainability Office has been split from the <br /> Sustainability Office and transferred to Central Services, and the work that the Sustainability <br /> Office has done has become increasingly policy level, focused on reducing emissions and <br /> preparing for change. Just recently we've adopted the Global Covenant as a guiding framework of <br /> the Sustainability Office. We really have increased the scale and the facility and energy <br /> management work is still being done,but it is being provided in Central Services which is actually <br /> a pretty logical place for it. <br /> Co-Committee Chair Broden stated, For the youth in the crowd, Central Services, can you give <br /> just a quick definition of who that encompasses? <br /> Ms.Dorau replied,Central Services is just a division of our City Government that supplies services <br /> that other people in the City Government need like vehicles, facilities,supplies,and print services. <br /> Ms. Dorau continued, Specifically, some of these projects are initiatives of the Sustainability <br /> Office,but many of the initiatives belong to other departments where the Sustainability Office has <br /> had a chance to partner and provide additional support. I'm not remotely taking credit for the many <br /> great things going on this City,but I am just grateful for the opportunity to bring the triple bottom <br /> line perspective into the implementation of these projects. I mentioned the initial focus on <br /> operational sustainability, and that was geared around all the ways that sustainability can save <br /> money for local governments and, in turn, save money for taxpayers. A lot of our internal <br /> operational projects focused on facility and fleet energy use: ways to reduce paper, providing <br /> avenues for recycling, seeking out funding in terms of grants, energy rebates for partnerships, <br /> educating employees on how their behaviors impact the City's expenses. A few more specific <br /> examples include waste reducing and recycling, where the Sustainability Office provides a lot of <br /> leadership.We're engaged with the Solid Waste Management District both in the Citizen Advisory <br /> Committee and as an observer of the board meetings. We brought recycling to City facilities and <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 3 <br />