Fiscal Note
Common Council staff time staffing the workgroup will be absorbed with existing resources. No appropriation required.
Title
Establishing the President’s Workgroup on Environmental Justice.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is committed to environmental sustainability and values equity and stewardship of our “natural, economic, fiscal, and social resources”; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 and 2020, the Madison Common Council declared its opposition to the installation of the F-35A military jets at Truax Air Force Base; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is committed to addressing PFAS contamination at Truax and throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, on April 19, 2021, the City of Madison provided a plan for remediation of PFAS contamination to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including plans for addressing contamination in Starkweather Creek and pollution at Dane County International Airport;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Madison establish a President’s Workgroup on Environmental Justice to provide the Council with policy recommendations on how to mitigate the impacts of PFAS and F-35s on existing and future developments and to create a PFAS outreach strategy and a plan for the City’s role in addressing these environmental issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Workgroup will be staffed by Common Council staff and will seek expert opinions from a variety of departments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Workgroup will use a racial equity and social justice lens throughout its work.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Workgroup will be constituted of the following six (6) alders:
• Alder Tag Evers
• Alder Grant Foster
• Alder Brian Benford
• Alder Gary Halverson
• Alder Charles Myadze
• Alder Lindsay Lemmer
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Workgroup will begin work upon adoption of this resolution with a goal of completing its Final Report and Recommendations by December 31, 2021.