Resolution Commending David Assmann, Acting Director and Deputy Director, Department of the Environment

 [Commending David Assmann, Acting Director and Deputy Director, Department of the Environment]

Resolution commending David Assmann, Department of the Environment Acting Director and Deputy Director, for his service to the Department of the Environment, the Commission on the Environment, and to the City and County of San Francisco.

WHEREAS, David Assmann started working with the City and County of San Francisco in the Solid Waste Unit of Administrative Services on July 1, 1993 and then with the Department of the Environment as Deputy Director from August 2000 to June 30, 2014; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann served as Acting Director of the Department of the Environment from April 22, 2001 to September 3, 2001, August 16, 2008 to August 9, 2009, from December 17, 2009 to August 22, 2010, and from February 3, 2014 to May 31, 2014; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann created and sustained the Environment Now Program - SF Environment’s Green Jobs Program; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann oversaw the growth of a Department from 8 employees to 111; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann was responsible for all personnel issues in a growing department; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann, directed a budget that grew from $777,000 to $20 million; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann eliminated the Department’s dependence on General Fund support while securing other sources of funding for all departmental programs; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann oversaw the implementation of a comprehensive Environmental Justice Program, the largest in the country with a multi-year grant budget of $13 million; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann was responsible for upgrading departmental offices – from a single floor at 11 Grove Street to a LEED Platinum showcase at 1455 Market Street; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann coordinated the Department of the Environment’s role in a Gender Analysis under the implementation of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women); and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann played a leading role in establishing and maintaining the California Product Stewardship Council; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann Played a leading role managing Green Cities California, a statewide coalition; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann was instrumental in helping San Francisco achieve groundbreaking programs, such as the Zero Waste program, Energy and Climate programs, the Urban Forest program, the Toxics Reduction program, the Outreach program and the Clean Transportation program; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann served as Acting Director of the Department of the Environment on four separate occasions; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann established the City’s first biodiversity program; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann provided crucial support to staff throughout departmental transitions over the years; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann has continued to direct the Department and provide San Francisco’s environmental leadership under Mayor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Edwin M. Lee; and,

WHEREAS, David Assmann will be retiring from the City and County of San Francisco on June 30, 2014; now, therefore be it,

RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Commission on the Environment commends David Assmann for his contributions to the Department of the Environment, Commission on the Environment and to the City and County of San Francisco; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Commission on the Environment wishes David Assmann well on his future endeavors.

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted at the Commission on the Environment’s Meeting on May 27, 2014.

Monica Fish, Commission Secretary

VOTE:      5-0 Approved; 2 Absent

AYES:      Commissioners Arce, Josefowitz, Stephenson, Wald and Wan

NOES:      None

ABSENT:  Commissioners Gravanis and King