Commission on Sustainability

The Baltimore Commission on Sustainability, a 21-member body with 20 appointed by the Mayor and one city council representative appointed by the City Council President. The Commission oversees the implementation of the Baltimore Sustainability Plan, monitoring and reporting progress annually. The Commission is made up of members representing environmental groups, community organizations, labor unions, public health and environmental justice interests, and private industry.

The Commission welcomes the community to public meetings every 3rd Wednesday from 4-6pm at the Baltimore City Planning Office, 417 E. Fayette St., 8th Floor (virtually for now). You can also watch our meetings live or after the fact online. Please note that we occasionally meet off-site, check our calendar to make sure you know where we’ll be when you plan to attend.

Background

In 2007, legislation was enacted to create the Baltimore Office of Sustainability and the Commission on Sustainability. The Commission, together with the Office, is tasked with engaging the public to develop and implement a Sustainability Plan for the broader Baltimore community.

In April 2019, the 2nd Sustainability Plan was signed by the Mayor. The plan is framed using an equity lens, has 5 categories: Community, Human-Made Systems, Climate and Resiliency, Nature in the City and Economy and 23 topic areas ranging from Neighbors, to Community Preparedness to Workforce Development. In the plan, we make three main commitments: commit to transparency, collaboration and accountability.

  • Transparency – We commit to being honest about our past, recognizing our inter-connectedness and sharing power.
  • Collaboration – We commit to thinking and working differently, working together, solving multiple problems at once and supporting change at the local level.
  • Accountability – We commit to actively seeking feedback and engagement, asking, “how are we doing,” humanizing our data, speaking in terms that are understandable to all and caring for the natural world.

Meeting Agendas, Minutes, & Presentations

Members

  • Mia Blom, Chair, Director of Government & Community Affairs, Visit Baltimore
  • The Honorable Regina Boyce, Maryland State Delegate. District 43
  • Donzell Brown, Executive Director of the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative
  • Phil Costa, Deputy Director of the Baltimore Convention Center
  • Gary Crum, Community Engagement Office, Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services
  • Lisa Ferretto, Senior Director, Sustainable Practice & Knowledge, The American Institute of Architects
  • Morgan Grove, Team Leader, US Forest Service & Lecturer, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
  • William Joyner, Director, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of MD, Baltimore
  • Nicolette Louissaint, Senior Vice President, Policy and Strategic Planning, Healthcare Distribution Alliance
  • Jared Lyles, Energy Efficiency Projects Manager, MD Energy Advisors
  • Phylicia Porter, Baltimore City Council, District 10
  • Inez Robb, Community leader
  • Bryant Smith, Executive Director, Baltimore Tree Trust
  • Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Department of Planning, City of Baltimore
  • Ben Zaitchik, Climate Scientist and Hydrologist, Johns Hopkins University, School of Arts & Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences

Commission Member Bios