Plans & Policies
climate action, sustainability & resilience
The City of St. Petersburg recognizes that integrating sustainability into decision-making will enhance its equity, livability, and resilience, and it will promote future growth that addresses environmental, economic, and social equity challenges.
Integrated Sustainability Action Plan
The City's Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP) contains ambitious climate action goals, including a transition to 100% Clean Energy, environmental stewardship, resiliency, and racial justice, while growing smart to sustain a thriving economy and quality of life for the residents of St. Pete. Community and business outreach will be an ongoing part of developing the detailed steps and work needed to accomplish these goals.
Purpose & USE
The purpose of the ISAP is to serve as a blueprint of current and future sustainability & resiliency initiatives. Like other approved plans and city planning efforts, approval of the ISAP is just the beginning of the work to engage the community, businesses, and City staff to implement actions to meet the City’s ambitious targets. Implementation will be an ongoing effort for years to come emphasizing key priorities, budget and other efficiencies, and continued input from the community.
Navigating the ISAP
This comprehensive document used a baseline of more than 500 metrics and cuts across many related disciplines from the built and natural environments to economic development, workforce readiness, arts and culture, and much more. The following list describes the key ISAP documents to assist interested parties in navigating this comprehensive work.
Executive Summary
More consumable documents for public audiences are under development and will be no more than a four-page high level overview. An Executive Summary Draft was developed as supplemental material to City Council use for review and approval.
Highlights Report
The ISAP Highlights Report is an illustrative summary of the comprehensive work completed and results compiled as part of development of the full plan. Mainly, the highlights report summarizes the measurable targets and supporting actions for eight goal areas, and it summarizes early action implementation steps. Suggested use of the ISAP Highlights Report is a quick reference of each topic in the ISAP framework without having to carry around the 500 pages of supplemental technical description and information.
Technical Report
The ISAP Technical Report with appendices (415 pages) includes more context and description around topic areas as well as detailed descriptions for the sustainability actions listed within the tables.
Technical Report—Appendices
There are many technical and reference appendices including the greenhouse gas inventory methodology, and two stand-alone pieces as needed: Clean Energy Roadmap and Vulnerability Assessment. Main appendix sections include:
- Realizing Resilience: Social Equity + Economic Opportunity
- Clean Energy Roadmap
- Appendices A-B
- Appendix A: Community and Business Engagement Details
- Appendix B: STAR Communities Report—Baseline data, December 2016
- Appendices C-D
- Appendix C: Climate Action and Clean Energy
Climate action refers generally to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the main cause of global warming and climate change effects. GHG emissions are generally caused by energy and fuel use from fossil fuels. The documents in Appendix C relate to community-wide GHG emissions inventory data and strategies for reduction of emissions. - Appendix C.1: 2016 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory Methodology
- Appendix C.2: 2016 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory Results
- Appendix C.3: Clean Energy Roadmap
- Appendix C.4: Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC) Information
- Appendix D: Vulnerability Assessment
- Appendix D.2: Vulnerability Assessment Workshop (June 22, 2018)
- Appendix D.3: Vulnerability Assessment Summary Report
Departmental Sustainability
Each of the City’s many departments has the opportunity to update their policies and practices to be more sustainable, equitable, and planet- and people-forward. An internal team with representatives from all departments shares best practices, efficiencies, and innovation for sustainability, resilience, and fiscal responsibility. Below are some of the actions that have been taken across departments to make the City more sustainable.
Fleet ManagEment
Green Fleet
Fleet Management established an internal Green Fleet Advisory Group, in which representative from each department meet quarterly to contribute to the Green Fleet Implementation Plan. This plan includes metrics that will help the City stay on target to hit 100% Clean Energy, Healthy St. Pete, and other goals outlined in ISAP and other plans.
The Green Fleet Policy defines actions and measures for City fleet assets as it pertains to greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other sustainability and resilience goals.
The City has acquired and deployed vehicles and equipment that lower fuel consumption demand or provides an alternative fossil fuel:
- 18% of the City fleet is considered “Green”
- 39 Compressed Natural Gas assets
- 133 Flex fuel/E85 fuel assets
- 55 all-electric assets
- 61 hybrid assets (cross between unleaded and electric)
Parks & Recreation
Natural Parkland Maintenance
The City has implemented integrated vegetation management (IVM) protocols to reduce chemical use and restore the native and natural flora and fauna within parklands. IVM also reduces the use of mechanical maintenance, lessening the carbon footprint that is often a result of landscape equipment.
Recycling
Recycling receptacles have been placed within parklands, athletic fields, recreation facilities and pools to encourage the reduction of waste.
Single-Use Plastics
The annual Summer Food Program has eliminated straws and Styrofoam and has decreased the volume of cardboard products in their service menus.
building & permitting
Green Building
Green buildings set the standard for sustainable design and construction, prioritizing a triple bottom line of planet, people, and profit. Visit the Green Building page.
Sanitation
Energy-Efficient Vehicles
The Sanitation Department is replacing diesel-powered collection vehicles with vehicles powered by clean natural gas. The switch to clean natural gas-powered vehicles reduces fuel costs and harmful emissions.
TRANSPORTATION & PARKING MANAGEMENT
Complete Streets
Complete Streets makes strategic transportation network connections and improvements within St. Pete’s grid of streets, taking into account the surrounding land uses they’re intended to serve. The resulting transportation design provides a flexible network of routes and facilities, and a variety of modes of transportation that allows for people of all ages and physical and economic abilities to safely and comfortably reach all parts of the city. Visit the Complete Streets page.