HomeMy WebLinkAboutAshley Monroe
What does sustainability mean to you, and why do you
believe it’s important?
I view the concept of sustainability as all-encompassing. It’s a purposeful conservation of resources – material and fi-
nancial and a preservation or improvement of the natural and built environment.
How is sustainability incorporated into your position?
As part of the City Manager’s Office, my job is tasked with implementing the goals of City Council. This group of elected
officials is very committed to sustainability and has included it within their Strategic Plan as a major objective. I’ve also
been working a bit with Brenda Nations on a few sustainability initiatives, including getting the new Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan planning process off the ground.
What actions have you taken to improve sustainability within your position?
Outside of fulfilling the Council’s Strategic Plan objectives, I see my role as a facilitator for our departments to be able
to do their work. If departments find ways to create less material waste, make a process more efficient, or identify
ways to reduce cost, I will do what I can to support them.
In your opinion, what efforts can be made to improve sustainability within our community?
While the City has been moving ahead with additional community garden plots and changes to recycling programs,
there are a few areas identified in the STAR rating program that leave room for improvement. From my past experi-
ence, cost-effective staff policies or procedures and light facility improvements can be quickly enacted and may likely
save money and carbon emissions. Before any major changes, we will see what guidance we receive from the assess-
ment component in the upcoming Climate Action Plan. From the analysis, we should be able to see potential areas of
improvement for the community and hopefully gain public buy-in to help Iowa City remain sustainable for years to
come.
For more information about the City of Iowa City’s sustainability efforts, visit
www.icgov.org/sustainability, subscribe to our Sustainable Iowa City newsletter at
www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions, or follow #SustainableIC on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Sustainability Spotlight:
Ashley Monroe
Assistant City Manager