Operating Budget 2025-2026

SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE

NARRATIVE

The Sustainability Office works with employees and the community at large to promote awareness of the environment, affect change, enhance the quality of life and community resiliency, and act as an information resource on environmental and sustainability issues.

FY 2024-2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Continued to serve as Chair of the VML/VACo APCo Steering Committee.

• Continued to serve on the Network Advisory Committee of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network; continued to serve on both the Steering Committee and the Policy Committee for the Virginia Energy & Sustainability Professionals Network. • Invited to serve as a community advisor to the VT Center for Communicating Science. • Provided leadership to the Virginia Renewable Energy Aggregation Cohort, comprised of 14+ Virginia localities interested in pursuing a collective power purchase agreement. • Completed a Strategic Restoration and Preservation Plan for the St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. • Continued to offer monthly “lunch and learn” community presentations in collaboration with Sustainable Blacksburg and the Blacksburg library. • Established standing service opportunities for volunteers to support ecological stewardship practices in TOB parklands (twice monthly). • Developed and hosted a community input meeting and online survey to gather feedback on the Brush Mountain Park & Trails System. • Planned and executed a Community Invasive Species and Restoration Day at Heritage Park with several external partners to demonstrate the Town’s recent restoration projects and future plans. • Completed the Tom’s Creek Basin Connectivity Study which outlines how and where to expand bike, pedestrian, and other non-vehicular transportation infrastructure in the Toms Creek Basin. • In collaboration with Public Works, developed an actionable EV fleet conversion plan for the Town starting with light-duty vehicles to include appropriate build-out of charging infrastructure. • Began design process for TOB fleet EV charging stations. • Completed design and began construction on Bennett House restoration project. • Completed energy efficiency upgrades and minor restoration of Thomas Conner House. • Designed and installed a community pollinator garden in collaboration with Parks and Recreation and developed a plan to expand the project to future gardens on other municipal properties. FY 2025-2026 OBJECTIVES • Continue working on ecological restoration project in Heritage Park using VEE grant funding. • Develop Phase 2 of Draper Road Community Coloring Book with the Public Arts Committee. • Perform formal wetland delineation for Heritage Park. • Continue construction on Bennett House restoration project. • Continue construction of TOB fleet EV charging stations. • Complete new bike lane improvement project. • Continue to collaborate with Public Works on comprehensive building assessments to integrate durability, occupant health/safety, and sustainability objectives into upcoming projects. • Continue to support community-based sustainability programs and initiatives. • Advance town climate goals by pursuing a revenue-neutral large-scale renewable energy project

in partnership with the Virginia Renewable Energy Aggregation Cohort. • Coordinate the Prices Fork Road – Huckleberry Trail Crossing Study. 50