City of Buffalo Office of Sustainability: Goal & Activities

Goal

Improve the quality of life in the City of Buffalo by providing a framework for decision-making that integrates sustainability principles into our culture.

Activities

1. Establish a Sustainability Network to initiate a dialogue on sustainability within city government. Representatives from city departments, boards, authorities and commissions that participate would either be in an authority position or have good relations with those in authority. The Network will foster a new way of thinking and influence decision-making through the following activities:
   • Develop Guiding Sustainability Principles for the administration and the Common Council to adopt.
   • Educate city administration about sustainability and its practical applications.
   • Organize educational events to raise awareness and enthusiasm of city staff and the community for sustainability.
   • Assist city project leaders in the implementation of the Guiding Principles through active involvement with a project from its inception to promote a holistic and coordinated approach.
   • Coordinate attendance at city board, community group and business meetings to introduce sustainability and the Guiding Principles.
   • Develop a "Community Education Action Plan for Sustainability".
2. Audit current policies that may be barriers to sustainability. Help form new policy to streamline decision-making based on the Guiding Principles.
3. Conduct a survey/inventory of community organizations, projects and activities that address unsustainable issues.
4. Develop promotional materials (printed media and public service announcements).
5. Incorporate the Guiding Principles into job descriptions within city government.
6. Empower and assist community organizations and business with new sustainability initiatives.
7. Utilize the indicator information, action steps and data needs from UB’s State of the Region report issued by the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth, to assist and guide implementation of the Guiding Principles.