It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Tedra Fox, Pima County's first Sustainability Manager. We mourn the loss of one of the brilliant lights dedicated to improving our community.
Tedra received her Bachelor degree from the University of Arizona, her Masters in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. A member of the California Bar Association and the American Planning Association, Tedra had worked as a law clerk for the Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior, where she was heavily involved with researching legal issues affecting the operation and management of national parks. Prior to attending law school, Tedra served as Chief of the Land Use Planning Division for the National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, where she directed a multi-million dollar parkland acquisition and planning program. As a National Park Service nominee to the Federal Women's Executive Leadership Program, she served a special legislative detail in California's 24th Congressional District Office in Washington, D.C. Tedra also served as a Senior Planner for the City of Ojai, California.
Tedra made great strides as the first to lead Pima County's Sustainability Program, created through a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2007.
Tedra established a long-term plan allowing for Pima County Departments to work together to implement over 100 action items that make for a more sustainable workplace. Using suggestions and input from the Departments, Tedra created concrete, realistic, workable guidelines to assist the county in achieving its goals. Tedra produced the 2009-2010 Annual Report Card, using raw data from the Departments, which measured the effectiveness of each Department in meeting its objectives, both of which were mammoth undertakings. She was meticulous through every step of the process from assembling, writing and producing the final documents.
The Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations, as it is known, recommends specific actions for enhancing county performance in the areas of Water Conservation and Management, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Green Building, Green Purchasing, Waste Reduction, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and Land Conservation and Management. These performance measures are monitored, and progress is tracked and documented. The Sustainable Action Plan is meant to be amended as needed to account for new ideas, technologies, partnerships and resource availability.
Tedra, and the Sustainable Action Teams she assembled, have enabled Pima County to demonstrate measurable improvements including:
- Reducing waste streams by almost 30 % since FY2008 through the "Recycle While You Work" Campaign.
- Over one fourth of Pima County's Fleet Vehicles now use alternative fuels - 291 out of 1141 vehicles.
- $1.2 Million in county savings during the past fiscal year by engaging in energy-saving activities such as encouraging videoconferencing rather than travel to off-site meetings; turning off heating and cooling systems after hours; and eliminating unnecessary appliances at work stations.
Examples of other projects Tedra initiated include the Green Pueblo Map and the concept of the "Solar One Stop" center and website (in partnership with the City of Tucson).
- Solar One Stop Website and Center
The Sustainability Office successfully partnered with the City of Tucson to secure grant funding from Solar American Cities to fund a Regional Solar Coordinator position, and the development of the region's first "Solar One Stop" center and website. - Green Pueblo Map
The Green Pueblo Map (www.greenpueblomap.org) is designed to foster greater community awareness and enjoyment of the many sustainable assets Pima County has to offer. This community-based mapping project was initiated by the Pima County Sustainability Program. Partners include the City of Tucson, The Inner Connection, and Tucson Electric Power.
Pima County has received a national award for the Sustainable Action Plan from the National Association for Operations Management, "Innovation in Sustainability Award of Excellence". Though Tedra would say that it was a Pima County team effort, we know that none of these accomplishments would have been possible without her leadership. Tedra was gracious and unassuming. Even though many people recognize her achievements in part, we may never fully appreciate the extent of her impact on Pima County. Prior to her passing, Pima County created the Office of Sustainability, to be led by Tedra. She was posthumously awarded the Legacy Award from the Pima County-Tucson Women's Commission for her outstanding service in local government.
We will miss her greatly.
Thanks to Lilian von Rago, Dan Signor and Chris McVie