RESOLUTION NO. 211052
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Honoring and recognizing Gerald “Jerry” Shechter on his retirement from the Office of Environmental Quality after a total of 26 years of dedicated service to the City.
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gerald Shechter began his career with the City with Model Cities in 1974, as the manager for the department’s housing programs, which included working with state and local housing agencies, banks, neighborhoods, and elected officials to support low income families with housing needs; and
WHEREAS, after working for Westside Housing and the Metropolitan Energy Center from 1985 to 2006, Jerry returned to the City to assist in the creation of the City’s first Climate Protection Plan where he arranged workgroups, facilitated meetings, and wrote Phases 1 and 2 of the plan with assistance from stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Jerry managed 24 million dollars of grant contracts to assist with energy efficiency upgrades to city facilities and throughout the community focusing on low-income housing and creating a revolving loan fund to assist homeowners with financing the upgrades; and
WHEREAS, Jerry still made time to teach a yearly class on sustainability at UMKC, manage an email list that keeps our community informed about the latest climate and energy policy, and serve as the lead to the City’s internal Regulations & Policy Green Team; and
WHEREAS, Jerry has written numerous resolutions and proclamations over the years and participated as a subject matter expert in climate and energy related stakeholder groups including participation in the Regional Climate Planning process that resulted in the Climate Action KC Playbook and ultimately the Regional Climate Action Plan.
WHEREAS, Jerry is devoted to his three children, seven grandchildren and soon to be six great grandchildren, and wife Jennifer of 43 years; and
WHEREAS, now, just months before his retirement, Jerry brought his years of knowledge and his passion for environmental justice to the creation of the City’s Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan with the goal of climate neutrality by 2040; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council hereby extend their most sincere appreciation to Gerald Shechter for his 26 years of distinguished and exceptional service to Kansas City, together with their heartiest best wishes for the future; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof, and that a copy hereof be presented to him in token of the grateful appreciation of the Mayor and Council for the excellent services and leadership provided by him to the City, its officers and employees, for so many years.
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