The document summarizes the work of Boston's Climate Preparedness Task Force. It established a cabinet-level task force to review climate change preparedness policies and provide guidance. The task force included department heads and conducted staff meetings and vulnerability assessments. It identified 5 key findings: 1) Climate preparedness must be a criterion in capital planning, particularly for critical infrastructure. 2) Rising temperatures are a high priority. 3) Emergency plans need review given expanded climate risks. 4) Coordination is needed across jurisdictions on infrastructure. 5) Education and engagement are essential for preparedness.

1. Leah Bamberger, Mayor’s Office, City of Boston
email Leah.Bamberger@boston.gov web www.cityofboston.gov/environmentalandenergy/ &
www.greenovateboston.org

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3. 3
Planning
• Municipal Climate Preparedness Task
Force
• Green Ribbon Commission Climate
Preparedness Working Group
Existing Buildings
• Assess vulnerabilities of buildings and
infrastructure through BRA survey
• Better enforcement of flood proofing
building standards
New Buildings
• Incorporate climate preparedness
guidelines into Article 80
Emergency Response
• Review emergency operation planning

4. Reports online at: bit.ly/ClimateReadyBos
Climate Preparedness Task Force –
Climate Ready Boston: Municipal
Vulnerability to Climate Change
GRC climate preparedness
working group - Building Resilience
in Boston

5. Timeline Overview
5
Mayoral
Announ-
cement
Cabinet
Kick-off
Two Staff
Meetings
Cabinet
Draft
Review
Cabinet
Final
Review
Final
Report
Release
Feb.
March
April-May
August
Oct. 16
Oct. 31
“…Convene a Cabinet level Climate
Preparedness Task Force to review
climate change preparedness activities
and policies and provide guidance for
their further development.”
- Mayor Menino

6. Cabinet Kick-Off
Agenda + Supporting
Materials
• Climate projections for
Boston
• Actions taken to-date
• Overview of
announcement
• Task Force charge and
process

7. The Task Force Members
Brian Swett, Chief of Environment and Energy, Task Force Chair
Peter Meade, Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority
Mitchell Weiss, Mayor’s Chief of Staff
Rene Fielding, Director, Office of Emergency Management
Meredith Weenick, Chief Financial Officer
Michael Galvin, Chief of Public Property
William Oates, Chief Information Officer
Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development
Daphne Griffin, Executive Director, Boston Centers for Youth & Families
Barbara Ferrer, Executive Director, Boston Public Health Commission
Thomas Tinlin, Transportation Commissioner
Joanne Massaro, Commissioner of Public Works
Edward Davis, Police Commissioner
Roderick Fraser, Fire Commissioner
Bill McGonagle, Boston Housing Authority Administrator
Bryan Glaskcock, Inspectional Services Commissioner
Antonia Pollack, Parks & Recreation Commissioner
Nancy Girard, Environment Commissioner
John Sullivan, Chief Engineer, Boston Water and Sewer Commission
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8. Staff Meetings
• Two group meetings
• Handful of individual meetings
• Deliverables
– 5-10 page report on vulnerabilities
– 1-2 page statement of top priority
vulnerabilities
• Resources
– Staff support
– Online Mapping Tool
– Reporting template
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9. Online Mapping Tool
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10. Reporting Template
Facility/
Program, service/
Policy
Vulnerability/Time
frame
Priority (H,M,L) Ongoing steps/Next
steps/Comments
Examples
Sewer and
stormwater system
(BWSC)
Capacity, flooding.
10-50 years.
H 25-year capital plan
underway, includes
climate change.
Due 2015.
City Hall (facility,
Property
Management)
Greater risk of
flooding due to SLR
and greater storm
intensity. 10-20 years
to be in 100-year
flood plain?
H Review in more
detail all
infrastructure on first
floor. Coordinate
with DoIT and other
departments with
first floor facilities.
Relocations?
Enhanced
waterproofing?
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11. The Task Force: Contributing
Departments
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Boston Centers for Youth &
Families
Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Public Library
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston Water and Sewer
Commission
Department of Innovation and
Technology
Emergency Management
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Shelter
Emergency Storm Center
Environment Department
Inspectional Services Department
Neighborhood Development
Neighborhood Services
Office of Arts, Tourism & Special
Events
Office of Budget Management
Office of Business Development
Office of Food Initiatives
Parks & Recreation Department
Police Department
Property & Construction
Management Department
Public Works Department
School Department
Transportation Department
Treasury Department

12. • Present draft
assessments to
Cabinet
Aug 2
• Final
assessments &
summaries due
Aug 30 • Draft Report to
Task Force
Sept 27
• Present Draft
Report to Task
Force
Oct 16 • Release Report
• 1-year
anniversary of
Hurricane Sandy
Oct. 31
Cabinet Review

13. Municipal Vulnerability to
Climate Change
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Facilities and Capital
Planning
Transportation and
Water Infrastructure
Neighborhoods
Public Health and Heat
State and Federal
Coordination

14. Finding 1: Climate preparedness must be an
important and explicit criterion in the City’s capital
planning. The City’s critical IT, communications and
transportation centers need particular attention
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16. Finding 3: Municipal
emergency plans should
be reviewed and
practiced in light of the
expanded risks posed by
climate change.
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Finding 2: The effects of
rising temperatures
should be a high priority.
Image Credit: John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

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Finding 4: Close coordination with regional,
Commonwealth, and federal partners is necessary
to address cross-jurisdictional infrastructure
vulnerability

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Finding 5: Education, engagement, and
communications—within City government and with
the community—are essential for preparing for both
the short-term and long-term effects of climate
change.

20. 20Greenovate Boston @GreenovateBos
Leah Bamberger
Leah.Bamberger@boston.gov