Commission asks city manager to invite state Rep. Tara to brief sustainability panel; advances student climate competition planning

The Lowell City Sustainability Commission voted to ask the city manager's office to invite State Representative Tara to a future commission meeting to debrief members on sustainability actions at the State House.

Commissioners discussed prior contact with the representative and concluded the formal invitation should come from the city manager's office rather than the commission itself. The motion as recorded directed staff to ask the city manager's office to schedule the representative at a future meeting; the motion was seconded and carried with an affirmative voice vote.

Separately, commission members discussed planning for a student climate‑change competition in partnership with Lowell Public Schools. Members said the commission previously voted to move forward with the project and that the next procedural step is to draft a letter describing the competition, how it would operate, and proposed funding flows so the sustainability division and city council can review and, if appropriate, include funding in the city's process. Jay and other staff agreed to draft a letter explaining the competition and how funding would be handled; commissioners determined no separate vote was required to proceed with drafting the document.

Commissioners also discussed planning timelines for the 2026 sustainability summit (and potential timing of the next summit) and suggested placing summit planning and possible invitations to the LRTA and the city's transportation director (Liz Oltman was referenced) on future agendas.

Ending: The city manager's office will be asked to invite State Rep. Tara; staff will draft the competition/funding description for routing through the sustainability division and city manager as needed, and the commission will place summit and agency invitations on upcoming agendas.