Chicago shutting Environment Department, adding eco-friendly measures to new budget

(Crain’s) — Chicago will disband its Environment Department by yearend and integrate its programs into other departments, aiming to reorganize environmental and sustainability services to help meet the fiscal challenges of a city deep in the red. Karen Weigert, the city’s chief sustainability officer, confirmed the shutdown but said new eco-friendly measures contained in the budget Mayor Rahm Emanuel debuted Wednesday will contribute toward sustainability efforts.

The reorganization is expected to save the city $3.6 million, in part from layoffs. Of the current staff of about 60, 48 will move to different departments and 13 will be laid off, according to a spokesman in the mayor’s office.

(See related story: “Rahm plugs river cleanup but may ax city’s environmental unit.”)

This week, Environment Commissioner Rich Rodriguez revealed that he’s leaving his post to take a job in the private sector at Res Publica, a media strategy firm.

Ms. Weigert said the departments that will absorb Environment programs include General Services, Public Health, and Transportation. No current programs will be cut, she adds.

“We are moving things around, but this is a strategic move to elevate and embed sustainability into everything we do in the city of Chicago,” Ms. Weigert said. One sign of that elevation: Ms. Weigert will move her desk to the mayor’s office during the transition.

The 2012 budget unveiled this week calls for new environment-related measures within city services that help raise revenue and cut expenses, as well as demonstrate Mr. Emanuel’s commitment to green priorities, Ms. Weigert said.

Among those measures: a $2 to $5 “congestion fee” added to downtown parking garages and lots that aims to raise $28 million to reinvest in public transportation infrastructure; a proposed water and sewer tax increase that will be invested in replacing 900 miles of the city’s water and sewer systems and will create 18,000 jobs in the next decade, and installation of energy-saving lighting throughout the city that could cut energy use by 90% .

The reorganization also calls for:

• Energy and Sustainable Business Section functions to shift to the Department of General Services.

• The Permitting and Enforcement Section to transfer to the Department of Public Health.

• The Urban Management Brownfield Development Section to move to General Services, to integrate environmental risk mitigation with the city’s asset management efforts.

• The clean vehicles initiatives to shift to the Transportation Department.

• Utility bill assistance to move to Department of Family and Support Services.

• Water policy issues to merge with the Department of Water Management.

Peter Nicholson, executive director of the Foresight Sustainable Business Alliance and Foresight Design Initiative, a firm focusing on economic development, green business and related policy issues, wasn’t surprised by the city’s move.

“In many ways, it makes sense,” he said. “One of (former) Mayor (Richard M.) Daley’s accomplishments was seeding a diversity of city sectors with sustainability-minded administrators. Integrating these functions, if properly managed, can be seen as a sign of progress.”

He added, “But as someone dedicated to sustainable transformation, my primary concern regarding this transition is for the department’s innovation function. I don’t see that important role sitting easily in another part of government.”

Ms. Weigert isn’t worried. “Every department will be looking for innovative ways and new opportunities to make sustainability a major part of the way they do things,” she said.

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