2009 Government Category
Village of Islamorada
Islamorada's biggest contribution has been through adopting sustainable policies and initiating programs that establish a strong leadership position for Green Living. The most notable examples of Islamorada's contributions are: 1) extensive recycling efforts and expanded program; 2)Environmental Education Program and annual planting events and clean-up events that include student participation and youth education; 3) the land acquisition program fostering habitat conservation and the protection and propagation of threatened and endangered species; 4) reduction of vehicle fleet and efforts to replace vehicles with hybrids; 5) waiver of Building Department fees for solar and photovoltaic system installation to provide an incentive for residents to install such systems; 6) development of a comprehensive Environmental Sustainability Policy, updated regularly, for Village Employees - addressing all areas of Green Living in the workplace with the intent that it will affect overall lifestyle and encourage our employees to be part of the public education process.
City of Layton
The residents of the City of Layton has a long history of doing what is right while living in the paradise we love and enjoy. The first mayor and city developer, Del Layton, set the example with proper planning to avoid over populating the area and enforcement of laws that supported good stewardship of the natural environment that attracted just about all of us to the Florida Keys. Today one of our greatest assets is our City's Comprehensive Plan that supports and requires compliance with many of the same concepts endorsed by GLEE which makes it a pleasure for our community to be affiliated with GLEE and continue to endorse Green Living every day..
City of Marathon
The City of Marathon as well as all of Monroe County is required by State Law 99-395 to have all properties under Advance Water Treatment standards by July of 2010. The City has undertaken this project to make it more cost efficient for our residents. We are concurrently constructing stormwater facilities which will treat all the stormwater in City rights-of-way at project end. Additionally the City of Marathon is installing water re-use components at 3 of our 5 regional treatment plants which will reduce the potable water usage in excess of 750,000 gallons per day. The fire department will also fill the fire trucks at these plants further reducing potable water usage. All of these projects have tremendous water quality benefits.
Monroe County
Monroe County has made progress in the last year, despite budget and personnel cuts. Individual staff members have stepped up to promote suggestions for making the County "greener" and have taken ownership of seeing these ideas through to fruition. With a better focus in the last several months on Climate Change and Recycling, we expect to see even more improvements in the year to come.
Monroe County is aware of the urgent need to reduce energy consumption and our contribution to greenhouse gases. The County is researching and developing ways to save energy within its own government, as well as developing potential incentives and regulations to make future building and development in the Keys more energy efficient. The Board of County Commissioners is committed to Green efforts and coordinating and collaborating with other local governments, utility boards, and non-profit groups..