Boulder has one. So does Berkeley.

Now a city advisory board is laying the foundation for a “sustainability office” that would be responsible for the environmental greening of City Hall and the rest of Lawrence.

“It’s kind of a way to incorporate all things environmental in the city,” said Heather Muth, a member of the city’s Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board, which is proposing the department.

Goals of the office, Muth said, would include:

• Reducing the environmental footprint of other city departments.
• Encourage “smart growth” development and planning.
• Encourage resource conservation.
• Recognition of businesses and individuals who use “sustainable” practices.
• Expand recycling options across the city.
• Promote public transportation to improve the city’s air quality.

“There’s things on here that we’re doing now to meet these goals, without a city sustainability office,” Assistant City Manager Debbie Van Saun said.

Muth agreed.

“But the different departments are fractured,” she said. “This would give more of a cohesive feel to the various city departments.”

She said Boulder, Colo., and Berkeley, Calif. — prominent university towns — had similar city departments.

In Berkeley, the “Sustainable Development Initiative” is overseen by the city’s Office of Economic Development. Catherine Squire, the city’s economic development project coordinator, said Berkeley’s efforts included efforts to conserve water and to reduce pollution in stormwater runoff.

City infrastructure projects are reviewed for their “greenness,” Squire said, as are private sector building developments. Environmentally friendly businesses are recognized for their efforts.

“There are many measures local government can implement to green itself and to green the community,” Squire said. “Basically, we’re talking about a whole new way of living, working and playing. It touches every part of life.”

Officials with Boulder’s Office of Environmental Affairs did not return calls this week. The office’s Web site indicates the department oversees efforts on air quality, environmentally friendly building and recycling.

Muth suggested the Lawrence recycling board’s aims were more modest than in California.

“Having information, referral and resources — stuff that’s already here, where to pick up compost, where to do recycling, that kind of stuff,” she said. “For the most part it would be pulling everything together. With the budgets doing the things they are, we can’t do much new.”

City officials are willing to listen. The Lawrence City Commission’s goals include “integrating the environment into our decisions as we work toward a sustainable city.”

“Sustainability is something that’s of great interest to me in my professional work,” said Mayor David Dunfield, an architect. “I would like to see us as a city encourage things to encourage green building.”

Muth said board members were visiting with city department heads to gather information. A formal proposal is unlikely until 2005 budget talks begin in June.