FROM THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG

CONTACT: Michael Connors, Internal Services Administrator, 727-893-7294

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


ST. PETERSBURG BECOMES FIRST -- AND ONLY -- CITY
IN FLORIDA DESIGNATED AS A ‘GREEN CITY’

St. Petersburg, Fla. (May 10, 2007) – Today at the St. Petersburg City Council Meeting, St. Petersburg was designated as the first – and only – city in the state to become a “Green City” by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).

The FGBC developed a standard of criteria to evaluate local governments’ performance in implementing green programs that benefit the environment in the areas of energy, water, air, land and waste. St. Petersburg submitted a several-hundred-page application to the FGBC in November, 2006. It was evaluated using a point system, upon which the designation was made.

St. Petersburg has many environmental initiatives, some of which include: use of biodiesel fuel and hybrid vehicles in its fleet; one of the country’s largest reclaimed water systems; recycling program and a successful yard waste – to – mulch program; preservation of environmentally sensitive land and habitat restorations; an extensive parks system; more than 50 miles of bicycle trails; water conservation education; programs to protect surface waters, such as the recent restoration of Lake Maggiore; tree planting programs; environmental education at such places as the Green Thumb Festival, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, Sunken Gardens and Weedon Island; and more.

Ken Shapiro, a St. Petersburg resident and board member of the Florida Green Building Coalition, presented the award to Mayor Rick Baker and City Council. He said, “St. Petersburg has emerged as a leader in the state in developing sound programs to ensure the sustainability of its community in the near and long-term future. Especially considering St. Petersburg’s location in the state’s most densely populated county, the strides the city continues to make in enhancing the environment are admirable and a great example for other cities in the state to follow.”

In accepting the award, Mayor Rick Baker thanked the FGBC for its leadership in raising the awareness of local governments to environmental concerns. The mayor was asked by former Governor Jeb Bush to chair the state’s Century Commission, which submitted a report that outlines measures to be taken by the state to create a sustainable Florida for the next 50 years.

“I am extremely proud of the measures that the city of St. Petersburg has put in place, but our job will never be done to protect our environment for the future,” said Mayor Rick Baker. “In addition to the work of local government, our citizens, business community and visitors must all do their part to safeguard our green city, today and into tomorrow.”

An early proponent of environmental programs, Council Member James Bennett said, “In 2005, we launched the Green City initiative to build on the environmental initiatives already in place in the city. Receiving the Green City designation is a proud moment for St. Petersburg as it shows that we are consistently on the forefront of providing an outstanding quality of life for our citizens and visitors."


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