Department of Environment Implementation Planning
Client: Chicago Office of The Mayor, Chicago Department of Public Health
Opportunity
In 2012, the City of Chicago disbanded the Department of Environment (DOE) as a cost-cutting measure and parceled out its regulatory responsibilities across multiple departments, including shifting responsibility for environmental permitting and enforcement to the Department of Public Health. In 2019, the Better Government Association found that environmental enforcement plummeted after the department’s elimination.
The resulting decrease in enforcement of clean air and water standards disproportionately affects communities with the highest vulnerability to pollution, including low-income communities of color on the South and West Sides of Chicago. The neighborhoods already face higher exposure to environmental hazards, which contributes to increased rates of respiratory diseases, heart disease, and some types of cancer.
The decision to dissolve the Department of Environment proved unpopular and sparked a longstanding advocacy effort to restore a dedicated environmental agency in Chicago. As an outcome of the 2023 budget negotiations, the Mayor ’s Office commissioned a study to provide recommendations on whether or not to re-establish a Department. In early 2023, Civic Consulting Alliance supported the study on whether to reconstitute the DOE, including potential staffing models, scope, and mission, which led to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration including $1.8M in its 2024 budget for a new DOE to help coordinate the City’s environmental and climate resiliency efforts.
In his 2025 budget address, Mayor Johnson said the City would build a “transition plan laying out the steps to shift more regulatory authority” to the newly reconstituted DOE. This included moving specific teams from the Department of Public Health and Fleet and Facility Management to the DOE. Civic Consulting Alliance was asked to assess the operational and regulatory aspects of the plan to move staff, coordinate discussions throughout City leadership, and help plan the structure and organization of the DOE.
Action
Civic Consulting Alliance supported the City from mid-January through May 2025, with three integrated workstreams designed to inform decision-making, manage risk, and support a smooth transition to the new Department of Environment (DOE).
Assessed accreditation and regulatory considerations where City leadership would need to make key decisions.
Identified operational requirements for transition, such as operational, labor, and budget considerations that needed to be addressed prior to transition.
Developed and refined organizational models, governance structures, and change management approaches to ensure effective integration and continuity of services.
Our team contributed to a final transition report that is structured to allow DOE to focus resources and attention on each stage, ensuring that operational, personnel, and logistical considerations— such as workspace allocation, technology systems, and administrative processes—are effectively managed.
“The invaluable support we received from Civic Consulting Alliance was critical to making this work possible. The process of moving teams across departments, aligning regulatory requirements, and planning a new organizational structure is incredibly complex. Having Civic Consulting Alliance at the table enabled the City to make key decisions about where to shift staff to maximize impact and ensure it can deliver its environmental and climate priorities effectively.”
Impact
The reconstituted Chicago Department of Environment will be fully operational in spring 2026, and be better positioned to protect environmental health, enforce regulations more efficiently, and deliver on its commitment to environmental justice and sustainability.
Consolidating environmental functions within a single Department of Environment reduces confusion for residents and advocates, clarifies accountability, and signals that environmental and climate issues are priorities for Chicago.
The phased approach our team helped develop minimizes disruption, supports continuity of services, and facilitates a smooth and efficient transition for all affected departments. By advancing in measured stages, DOE also reduces the risk of operational gaps, service delays, or unforeseen challenges that could arise from a single, large-scale transition.