Climate Action office to be renamed 'Sustainability and Innovation Division'; staff spotlights outreach events

Staff announced an internal renaming of their unit to the Sustainability and Innovation Division, saying the change is largely internal, intended to align with nomenclature used by peer cities and to make it easier for emerging professionals to find comparable roles elsewhere. "We are going to be moving to calling it the, Sustainability and Innovation Division," Staff member said, adding that the Climate Action Commission and the Climate Action Plan will remain unchanged.

Staff described several near‑term outreach opportunities and asked commissioners to help amplify them: a Bike to Work breakfast next Monday from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Chauncey Swan Ramp area (with Iowa City Free Lunch preparing breakfast burritos), a Grow Solar kickoff for Iowa City at Big Grove on May 26 at 5:30 p.m. (free and open to the public), and a Bike and Beats fundraiser on June 13 from the local bike library. Staff said the Midwest Renewable Energy Association provided promotional flyers to distribute.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about eligibility for raffles, scheduling conflicts with finals, and which counties are included in the Grow Solar group buy (staff listed Johnson, Linn, Washington, Iowa, Benton and Cedar counties). Staff said they will follow up by email on raffle eligibility and will provide links and an unlocked copy of a New York Times article being referenced. The commission agreed to receive event materials and outreach flyers and to consider representing the commission at community events.

The announcement concluded with staff noting the renaming is intended to broaden the office’s ability to pursue nature‑based programming alongside technological work, and that the commission name will remain the Climate Action Commission.