Autumn Salamack was selected as the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) first climate mitigation/adaptation Officer. She started work in mid-October. She is responsible for implementing the over 180 actions identified in the Island’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare our community for the impacts of climate change.
The CAP was approved by the City Council in November 2020. The Council identified implementation of the CAP as its highest priority item for 2021-2022 and provided $500,000 to support CAP implementation.
The Climate Officer position will work closely with staff to implement the CAP actions related to code review, green building, utilities, nonmotorized transportation, shoreline management and more. The position will also focus on developing education and outreach materials and programs to promote implementation of the CAP and related programs.
Salamack will also provide technical assistance on climate-related topics to City staff, advisory groups and the community. She will serve as the staff liaison to the Climate Change Advisory Committee, a group of community volunteers who provide recommendations to the City Council on how to implement the City’s climate-related goals.
Salamack has served as Environmental Services Coordinator for the City of Shoreline since 2019. Her prior positions include Assistant Director of Sustainability for the City of Bloomington, Indiana, Sustainability Coordinator for King County Metro and Sustainability/Resource Conservation Manager for Kitsap County.
She volunteered with the Peace Corps for two years in rural Mexico, implementing a range of community-based natural resource conservation projects. Salamack has a Bachelor of Arts in biology and economics from Reed College and a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
