Travis County Commissioners Court
October 28, 2008
Item 45
45. Consider and take appropriate action on the following: a, adoption of a resolution establishing a Travis County green initiative to review county policies and procedures and make recommendation to the Commissioners court for policy changes to promote sustainability and increased efficiency; and b, appointment of nine members to a Travis County green committee to oversee and implement the goals of the green initiative.
>> this is an effort basically to codify much of what we are already doing. There's a lot of effort going on inside departments of Travis County to reduce our carbon footprint basically to use a catch phrase that's become popular and this is an effort to -- to most of the esd chiefs and Commissioners just so ably illustrated to create a collaboration among and between the departments with a committee to -- to research best practices to research what we're doing internally and what we could do better. We have already contacted many of the departments and went ahead and asked who they would like to be involved with this. If they were to be represented on this committee. And have already gotten a very, very positive response to the -- to the proposal of -- of formalizing this effort. There's also an opportunity as we go forward and do basically an audit of our own practices and compare it against best practices to also create a greater alliance with the city of Austin, the other municipalities and other counties so that we can have coordinated effort across the region as well on some of these issues.
>> I think it formalizes the synergy that we already have present but just trying to gear it a little more formally for sharing of ideas and coming up with some new ideas of how to get some of these things more into the county organization than it is already.
>> I think that -- that the long term goal is to -- to see this kind of -- this committee working closely with the efficiency committee as well so that -- so that the first plan of attack would be to identify the low hanging fruit that's going to increase efficiencies, productivity and probably cost savings as well for us in the near term. But also to be able to inform on processes with facilities management and p.b.o., for instance, in terms of sustainability and the -- in the lung Ron was well.
>> make -- long run as well. Makes sense to me. I do have two questions, though. One is when I look at the recommended committee members, who is supposed to be the representative of the utilization of the emerging technologies.
>> someone from its I guess.
>> we have representation from -- we envision representation from its. How do you mean emerging technologies in regard to --
>> I am looking at i. Under sample elements of an action plan. I see utilization of emerging technologies. I'm sort of looking at recommended committee members. Who is supposed to be that? Who is supposed to make sure that we utilize emerging technologies? That's my way of saying I think we need a --
>> good point.
>> that kind of stood point.
>> real good point. The other thing is the last part of the resolution, be it further resolved the green committee shall implement and execute the goals. I'm not sure we want the committee executing the goals without coming back to the court. Promote the goals, help facilitate implementation of the goals. See what I'm saying? Execute means really go out and do it. We don't really mean that, right?
>> no.
>> we mean come back to the court with recommendations of specific projects, we will basically evaluate them, decide whether to move on them. Otherwise it looks fine to me.
>> okay.
>> so it's really that the green committee shall report to the Commissioners court no more than one year with an action plan for implementation, that's how that last sentence should read.
>> or make recommendations to facilitate the implementation of county's goals. Execute was the verb that gave me trouble. Almost all of the others are fine.
>> I think it's fine if we make it the green committee shall.
>> promote goals and make recommendations to the Commissioners court for implementation.
>> second part of that sentence says -- says produce an action plan for implementation. Which is good.
>> okay.
>> okay.
>> that's not a biggy, but -- if -- we don't want this committee to think it has a whole lot more power than we want it to have.
>> the words implement to the words -- strike the words implement and execute the goals laid out by the court and -- so then it just says that the green committee shall report to the Commissioners court no more than one year with an action plan for implementation. Sounds good to me.
>> that's fine. We will add representation for its on the committee.
>> any other recommendations, word smithing, comments?
>> looks like that on the designation of a green committee, b through h, there's a their h, b through h is already -- already on the -- it's almost like the efficiency committee with just a little bit of tweaking could beat this.
>> I think that is not a bad thing. I think that what we are seeing in these ad hoc committees that are jumping up is, you know, what they would call in public policy school a cross matrixing, which I think actually is a good sign, that this would function essentially as -- I wouldn't call it a subcommittee of the efficiency committee because the goal of this while I think efficiencies will be achieved, the goal of this is to -- to promote a green and sustainable intergovernmental practice. That goal will not always mean a cost savings. In some cases it will mean an up front cost. So this isn't so much a subcommittee of the efficiency committee as an additional effort by the managers of county government.
>> what about -- you know, because we talk about in the charge with the committee consider utilization of outside expertise. I mean, I doubt that there's anybody, a through h, that really knows all about this stuff. I mean, I don't know. I mean, you would think that there's somebody out there that -- without question, there are some folks out there that really know what this stuff is, I mean, wouldn't we want one of those people on this committee? Would we try to find somebody outside that could kind of help direct and guide?
>> I think much like the -- the -- the committee that was formed to take a look at -- at nationwide for instance. And our programs there. I think it's -- I think that the first step is to create a committee of county individuals and then have them consider the benefits of hiring out expertise. It's important for buy-in for one, but also nobody can understand how county works quite like those who actually work in the county.
>> the only reason that I say that, sarah, if you ask, if you could identify all a through h and say give me in 25 word or less what carbon footprinting means, you would probably have 10, eight of them that would turn in a blank page. I'm not real sure but I know that there's a term out there.
>> it means something different for different agencies. Some you would have a different definition of what carbon footprinting is.
>> that's why it's important to have this kind of reputation. For instance purchasing might say it's going paperless because they have such a paper heavy operation whereas facilities management might say it means leed construction criteria and the purchasing of sustainably furniture.
>> but an expert may say that doesn't have any application so you are chasing a rabbit that --
>> but you wouldn't necessarily want the expert on the committee. You want to have access to experts.
>> if you need them.
>> some of them may be consultant who's don't do this free.
>> I agree. I.
>> I think at the appropriate time you want to consult with them. The other thing if you really collaborate with the other governmental entities there can be great cost savings to one if you partner and get it that way. The city has been working on this, I don't know how much they have been getting done. We ought to partner up periodically see where we are.
>> get a bigger bang for the buck, too. With this committee I think that we'll be able to identify what rabbit trails have already been done by other governmental entities similarly situated, as well as figure out where our weaknesses are, where we could really profit by having outside consultancy. We don't want to say let's go out and hire somebody because we're likely to find some of this information is already readily available and other governments have skinned this cat before. It's just a matter of applying.
>> so we are expecting something back within the year's time frame.
>> give them a chance to meet and share. Give them a chance to meet and share ideas and experiences.
>> again, I think it's very important that the subcommittee that's we already have established there's going to be? Intersecting somewhere in this movement through this resolution.
>> I anticipate the committee will come back before the year with certain discrete projects that are no brainer. We have already --
>> [multiple voices]
>> right.
>> in advance of the reports to come out next October.
>> right. I agree.
>> any more discussion? Cyd, you are still on the committee?
>> hello, ms. Grimes.
>> my only comment would be
>> [inaudible - no mic] if you all want to appoint a chair so someone can start the process? Y'all's offices are going to do?
>> I need your reaction to allow the committee itself to decide on leadership.
>> who are you going to say okay start having meetings, who is going to coordinate the first meeting.
>> I think right now as soon as this is approved by the court it kind of goes out this is an idea that's been approved let's get started.
>> alphabetical order.
>> charles --
>> nominate charles multi-multiple.
>> I think that's a great idea. Charles would probably do it. In the event that charles is not available to do it, peter in my office can run the -- can run the traps for the first meeting and get that set up.
>> I'll call charles and tell him that.
>> thank y'all.
>> thank you, cyd.
>> any more discussion?
>> I will second the motion.
>> I make the motion.
>> seconded by Commissioner Gomez. Discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
and I'm sorry, just for clarification, we approved 45 a and b.
>> right.
>> yes.
>> all of 45 was that last motion. 8 we said would be on next week. And see if we get comments to the posting of this on the Travis County website. Which we kind of delayed in getting it up. So we'll have it back either for consent or postpone it again to the 18th if there's need for a full discussion. Okay?
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 1:38 PM