The city of West University Place has created a new Sustainability Task Force.

The West University council voted 5-0 during its June 28 meeting to approve the creation of the citizen-run group, which will be responsible for identifying financially responsible environmental stewardship strategies, initiatives, and programs to eventually be considered by the City Council during the city’s annual budget process.

The move comes days after the newly elected City Council brainstormed its shared goals over three workshops June 16-18 as part of a strategic vision to move the city forward.

“We had so many sustainability goals that it was hard for us to digest it all,” West University Mayor Susan Sample said during the meeting.

The Sustainability Task Force will serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council; seven members will be appointed by the council for a four-month term spanning Sept. 1-Dec. 31, culminating in a sustainability report that will be delivered to the council in January 2022, according to a June 29 West University Place news release.


To fill positions on the task force, the City Council is accepting applications to serve with the group, either by completing an application through the city’s website and faxing it to the city secretary at 713-662-5305, or by contacting the city secretary directly at 713-662-5813.

Meanwhile, the city of West University Place is accepting applications for volunteers to serve in other boards and commissions, including the zoning and planning commission, the zoning board of adjustments, the building and standards commission, the parks board, the senior services board, and the recycling and solid waste reduction board. The term for members of these groups is Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2023.

The deadline to submit an application for all groups, including the Sustainability Task Force, is July 14. Applicants will be contacted for an interview with the City Council.