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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for the creation of a separate County department within Allegheny County Government effective as of January 1, 2023 to be known as the Department of Sustainability, setting forth the duties, functions and responsibilities of the Department of Sustainability within Allegheny County Government, and amending Chapter OC of the County Code of Ordinances entitled “Organizational Chart” to reflect the creation of the Department of Sustainability.
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WHEREAS, in 2008, in compliance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. §10101 et seq., Allegheny County Council enacted legislation known as Resolution No. 45-08-RE providing for the adoption of a comprehensive plan for Allegheny County known as “Allegheny Places,” with recommendations, guidelines and standards demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices by including sections on economic development, open spaces, transportation, environmental resources, and energy conservation with the comprehensive plan; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Allegheny County undertook a new initiative to promote and integrate sustainable and environmental initiatives within County Government by hiring of a sustainability manager to coordinate environmentally and sustainable actions within the County workforce and on County projects; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County has implemented sustainability policies and projects aligning with the objectives set forth in Allegheny Place <http://www.alleghenyplaces.com/comprehensive_plan/comprehensive_plan.aspx>s to reduce the County’s ecological footprint through a number of new internal sustainability practices, including but not limited to:
• An original member of the Green Building Alliance Pittsburgh 2030 District
• Transitioning the County’s fleet vehicles to more alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), dual fuel propane, and both hybrid-electric and all-electric plug-in vehicles; and
• Undertaking more environmentally sensitive operation and management practices of the County’s land and buildings such as 1) the Cascades Restoration within South Park, 2) the construction of a permeable paver parking lot in Deer Lakes Park that allows precipitation to naturally drain through to the subsurface thereby capturing about 95% of all stormwater runoff, 3) the construction of environmentally friendly Naturally Engineered Waste Treatment (NEWT) systems in Round Hill and Deer Lakes parks that use the wetlands’ natural filtration properties and ultraviolet light disinfection to treat the facilities’ wastewater; and 4) the installation of a green roof on the County Office Building that prevent stormwater runoff and provide natural insulation to the building ; and 5) a signed agreement for the use of electricity generated by hydro power to meet the County’s electric needs for its Downtown Pittsburgh buildings.
WHEREAS, other environmentally sensitive and sustainable actions more recently initiated by Allegheny County within its workplace include:
• implementation of an electronic contracting and bidding process; and
• institution of a recycling program for County facilities; and
• commencement of a comprehensive green cleaning program for in-house janitorial services for County-owned facilities; and
• elimination of approximately 225,000 plastic straws previously in use in concessions at the County parks by using compostable corn replacement straws; and
• A participant of the Demand Response program which works with the grid to lesson the impact on the electrical grid; and
• Incorporation of green infrastructure to manage stormwater in our parks projects
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 6 of the County’s Home Rule Charter provides, “County Council shall adopt an ordinance, and amend as needed, an Administrative Code that shall provide a complete plan of organization, departmental structure and operation for the County government;” and
WHEREAS, County Council is of the considered opinion that the County’s efforts to integrate and invest in environmentally sensitive and sustainable measures would be improved and strengthened by the creation of a separate department within the structure of County Government dedicated solely and exclusively to planning, promoting and implementing a County “Green Sustainability Plan” and more widespread sustainability practices with County Government.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Creation of a County Department of Sustainability.
As of the effective Date set forth in Section 5 below, a separate department within the structure of Allegheny County Government is hereby created to be known as the Allegheny County Department of Sustainability.
SECTION 2. The Duties, Functions and Responsibilities of the County Department of Sustainability.
The newly created Department of Sustainability shall have the following duties, functions and responsibilities:
A. Develop Countywide policies and programs promoting environmentally sound practices and sustainable solutions subject to final approval of the County Manager as set forth in a County Green Sustainability Plan; and
B. Establish a comprehensive approach to integrate and promote environmentally sound practices and sustainable solutions within County Government under the supervision of the County Manager that are consistent the County Green Sustainability Plan by, among other things: 1) establishing reasonable benchmarks for each County department to determine what environmentally sustainable efforts and actions are taking place with the respective departments; and 2) determining what success has been achieved in meeting these benchmarks; and
C. Ensure that each County department designates an individual from that department to serve as a member of an informal, ad hoc internal body to be known as the County Green Team. The County Green team shall meet with the director of the Department of Sustainability to develop practical, actionable goals that reflect the goals of the County’s sustainability initiatives undertaken as part of the County’s Green Sustainability Plan; and
D. Develop policies and procedures in conjunction with the County’s Purchasing Office for sustainable procurement practices across departments within County government that shall include but not be limited to office supplies, facilities and construction materials including lighting, water fixtures, wood products, heating and cooling equipment, and office cleaning supplies, office equipment, and office electronics; and
E. Issue an annual Allegheny County Report on Sustainability. Such report shall be made publicly available and posted on the Department of Sustainability website. A copy of this report shall be provided to the County Executive and County Council; and
F. Undertake efforts in cooperation with other County departments to engage in partnerships with organizations and corporations to further the County’s sustainability initiatives as set forth in the County’s annual Guide to Sustainability; and
G. Undertake such other actions as may be requested from time to time at the direction of the County Manager.
SECTION 3. Amendment of Chapter OC of the County Code of Ordinances.
Chapter OC of the County Code of Ordinances is hereby amended in part to provide that organizational chart of County Government shall include the Department of Sustainability as a separate County department.
SECTION 4. Other Actions.
The County Manager is hereby authorized and directed to take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall enter effect as of 12:01 A.M. on January 1, 2023.
SECTION 6. Severability.
If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance, which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 7. Repealer.
Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.