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Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden (MCC) Title 2, Chapter 16, Section 060 COMMISSION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY is hereby amended by striking and replacing in its entirety with the following title and text:
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2.16.060 COMMISSION ON CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
A. The Commission on Climate Action and Sustainability shall be comprised of no fewer than seven members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The term of members shall be two years, and members may serve a maximum of ten years. Members shall be residents or otherwise members of the Malden community, shall bring expertise and broad community representation to the role, and shall be committed to the mission and approach of the Commission in addressing the climate crisis and protecting the Malden community.
Additionally, the Commission shall include two youth members appointed by the Superintendent of Schools for a term of one year. Youth members shall be current high school students residing in Malden, and can serve a maximum of three years. Once a former youth member is no longer in high school, they may serve up to three additional regular two-year terms.
The members shall choose from among their membership a Chair, and other officers, subcommittees or working groups as they determine are needed. Working groups may include additional members.
The Mayor shall appoint one or more staff liaisons to the Commission. A City Councillor designated by the Council President shall serve as a liaison to the City Council.
B. The Commission on Climate Action and Sustainability’s mission is to create and maintain a safe, healthy, sustainable and equitable community by addressing the threat posed by the changing climate to the Malden community. This includes working to reducing Malden’s greenhouse gases and other climate and environmental impacts, and planning for community resilience and wellbeing to address the impacts of the climate crisis such as rising temperatures, worsening storms, increased flooding and poor air quality.
The Commission shall be committed to an environmental justice approach as defined by the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Policy issued by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, focusing on the needs and participation of those who are most vulnerable and impacted by the negative effects of climate change. This includes residents who are immigrants, for whom English is a second language, who are lower income, who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
To achieve this mission, the Commission shall lead an ongoing climate action planning process per Section C. Additionally, the Commission may propose measurable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of municipal facilities and operations by recommending energy efficient modifications and improvements to proposed and existing facilities, encourage the preservation of green spaces and clean air and promote public awareness of sustainability options. The Commission may encourage the growth of businesses that produce sustainable products and services.
C. The Commission shall adopt, monitor and support implementation of a city-wide Climate Action Plan, subject to endorsement by the Mayor and City Council. This plan shall be oriented around commitments which the city government can make or lead with other residents and businesses, in the areas of climate mitigation, climate resilience, and environmental justice. The plan shall also include a community greenhouse gas inventory and assessment of major climate risks for Malden. The plan shall act as the City of Malden’s core policy commitment to climate action across areas of city government.
The Commission shall communicate and coordinate with the departments most involved in implementation of the Climate Action Plan. This shall include the Departments of Public Facilities, Strategic Planning & Community Development, Engineering, Public Works, Inspectional Services, as well as the Tree Warden, and any other staff or departments designated by the Mayor. The Commission shall also communicate and coordinate with city Boards and Commissions whose work is addressed through the Plan, including the Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Commission, and any other appropriate bodies.
The Commission shall approve periodic updates to the Climate Action Plan, including updates to the greenhouse gas inventory and climate risk assessments, and make recommendations for priorities and implementation in the coming years. The Commission shall communicate with other departments, boards and commissions who are involved in Climate Action Plan implementation, and may establish sustainability policies for all city departments, boards and commissions.
The Commission shall ensure that the Malden community of residents and businesses has opportunities to understand and participate in the climate action plan, prioritizing participation from impacted communities including youth, elders, disabled community members, and those who need language access support. The Commission shall annually publish a report on implementation of the Climate Action Plan with a dashboard of key indicators of how the city is achieving its goals, as well as any additional recommendations or policies the Commission may adopt.