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MEMORANDUM
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December 13, 2006
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Green Communities Internship Opportunity
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) offers the award winning Pollution
Prevention Intern Program (P2) to partner with local government and businesses to
improve sustainable facility technology and practices. The non-regulatory, 12-week
summer program focuses on the reduction of wasted resources causing pollution and
the improvement of energy efficiency.
IDNR oversees the program and provides training and technical support. The IDNR
Solid Waste Alternatives Program pays the full wages of the intern. The responsibilities
of the City would be to: 1.) provide a computer and work area, 2.) send a City
representative to the "Company Day Activities" during the week of intern training, 3.)
provide safety equipment, and, 4.) be responsible for transportation or reimbursement of
intern expenses if the intern is required to travel from the designated work site.
Solid Waste Coordinator Paul Schultz is recommending the City apply to host a P2
Intern to perform environmental assessments at City buildings and facilities. These
assessments would focus primarily on energy efficiency, waste minimization, recycling,
and hazardous waste management. Applications are Due December 31,2006 for the
2007 summer Program.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen ~
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MEMORANDUM
December 13, 2006
TO:
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
FROM:
Paul Schultz, Solid Waste Management Supervisor
SUBJECT: Green Communities Initiative - Pollution Prevention (P2) Intern
Introduction
The purpose of this memo is to respond to the City Council's request to prioritize Green
Communities Best Practices in the process of establishing Dubuque as a Green City by
proposing consideration of hosting an IDNR Pollution Prevention Intern during the
summer of 2007.
Backaround
In September 2006, the Dubuque City Council identified Green City Designation as one
of its top priorities. In response to this a committee of city staff have been meeting to
discuss the concept of a Green City and how best to approach implementation of this
priority.
Discussion
At a recent City Council meeting there was much discussion what the city of Dubuque is
doing to implement "green initiatives", to address, among other things, climate
disruption, greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The Kyoto Protocol was
recently endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors and included the signature of Mayor
Buol. The city of Dubuque has already implemented a number of projects and policies
that support the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) offers the award winning Pollution
Prevention Intern Program (P2) to partner with local government and businesses to
improve sustainable facility technology and practices. The non-regulatory, 12-week
summer program focuses on the reduction of wasted resources causing pollution and
the improvement of energy efficiency.
IDNR oversees the program and provides training and technical support. Iowa
universities and colleges supply the talent and enthusiasm of the students. Businesses
and government entities identify issues and cooperate in their resolution. Each year,
about 20 graduate and undergraduate college students participate in the program.
Students and companies are chosen through a competitive process each January for an
internship that lasts from May to August of the same year.
The IDNR Solid Waste Alternatives Program pays the full wages of the intern. The
responsibilities of the City would be to: 1.) provide a computer and work area, 2.) send a
City representative to the "Company Day Activities" during the week of intern training,
3.) provide safety equipment, and, 4.) be responsible for transportation or
reimbursement of intern expenses if the intern is required to travel from the designated
work site.
I propose that the City apply to host a P2 Intern to perform environmental assessments
at City buildings and facilities. These assessments would focus primarily on energy
efficiency, waste minimization, recycling, and hazardous waste management. The
objectives would be measurable and designed to promote a process of continual
improvement. Deliverables would address economic benefits and pollution, waste and
risk reduction. Recommendations would address both proposed technology
improvements as well as procedures to foster more sustainable behaviors by city
employees and facility users. Applications are Due December 31, 2006 for the 2007
summer Program.
Reauest
The requested action is for you to review the above recommendation and provide
direction.