Host: City of Albany
Region: Bay Area
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Energy Efficiency, Transportation / Mobility, Urban Planning, Waste Management
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Project Management, Community Outreach, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

The City of Albany 2023-2024 CivicSpark projects will target both the waste reduction/recycling sector and the climate action sector. Through both SB 1383 implementation and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) implementation, including development of and community engagement related to the City’s Street Tree Management Plan, the Fellow will provide essential support to meet the City’s goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, community resilience, community engagement, and equity.

Project Description

The City of Albany’s project is an exciting opportunity for a fellow to gain hands-on experience with community engagement, planning, and policy implementation in a variety of sustainability-related topics. The fellow will split their time between Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Implementation, with a primary focus on development of and community engagement related to the City’s Street Tree Management Plan, and support with implementation of SB 1383 and other waste and recycling programs.

To implement one of the CAAP’s most significant policy directives, the Fellow will support development of a Street Tree Management Plan, working extensively on the community engagement and advisory body engagement component of Plan development. The Fellow will coordinate with the City’s Community Development Department and Public Works Department, as well as consultants to the City, to see the Plan through Council adoption. The Fellow will lead community engagement for the STMP, including direct engagement with the community at events and through virtual engagement (social media, webinars, email, etc.). The Fellow will be the point-person for presenting the Plan to and soliciting feedback from City advisory bodies, which will include writing staff reports/memos and delivering presentations at public meetings. The Street Tree Management Plan will aim to address existing disparities in tree canopy coverage and health between wealthier Albany neighborhoods and those neighborhoods that have received less attention and resources related to tree canopy coverage. Of note, the communities closer to San Pablo Avenue, which contain much of the City’s multifamily housing stock, have far less canopy cover. The STMP aims to rectify these disparities. The Fellow will also play a critical role in supporting other areas of CAAP implementation, including sustainable building and transportation policies and programming for both residential and commercial sectors.

For SB 1383 implementation, the Fellow will support vital public education and outreach support to help the City comply with SB 1383 regulations. The Fellow will have the opportunity to implement creative solutions to increase waste diversion in the City, which may include, but is not limited to, organizing and running virtual and/or in-person events, creating and disseminating social media and print outreach materials, and directly engaging community groups. The Fellow may also partner with the City’s waste hauler to update quarterly outreach materials, such as bill inserts, as well as the consultants supporting the City with implementation. SB 1383 implementation support may also include research on and implementation of best practices and programs for compliance with the state mandate. The Fellow will develop vital outreach and educational tools that can be adapted annually to help the City reach its SB 1383 waste diversion goals.

Desired Skills

The Fellow should be organized, self-motivated, have a positive attitude, an eagerness to engage with the Albany community, and a desire to develop and exercise public speaking skills.

Organization & Community Highlights

Albany, California is a small city of about 20,000 residents, located within the greater San Francisco Bay area. Albany today combines a small-town ambience with its central location in a major metropolitan region. Albany prides itself on being a safe, community-oriented city, with strong services and programs for youth, families and the elderly. It is a city made up largely of single-family homes and small businesses. Our city is beautifully located on the eastern shoreline of the San Francisco Bay, directly east of the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by the San Francisco Bay to the west, the Berkeley Hills to the East, and the communities of Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, and Richmond, Albany’s 1.7 square miles offer a fascinating diversity within a small-town community. Community events, the arts, and a vibrant commercial district cater to the needs of the community. Albany is a walkable and bikeable City that is also served by AC Transit, and located between the El Cerrito Plaza and North Berkeley BART stations. City of Albany elected and appointed leadership, as well as City staff, are committed to enhancing social equity and social justice in all areas of policy and programming.

The City of Albany staff are all welcoming and willing to help. The City has hosted CivicSpark Fellows in the past, and City staff are familiar with and appreciative of the CivicSpark Fellows’ work. Previous CivicSpark Fellows have been able to work with nearly all City Departments, including Community Development, Public Works, Fire, Finance and Administration. There are ample opportunities for CivicSpark Fellows to work with other City Departments as well as Albany’s active community groups. Further, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carrade, the Site Supervisor for the incoming Fellow, was a 2018-2019 CivicSpark Fellow herself, so she understands the CivicSpark program and requirements and expectations of both the Fellow and the host site, and is eager to support the work of a future CivicSpark Fellow.

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid