The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) South Florida Chapter has recognized the City of Miramar as the 2016 recipient of its Outstanding Green Local Government category.
Nominees were evaluated on the ability to show a commitment to integrate a culture of sustainability and growth into their municipal operations and community lifestyle. This included exhibiting a documented ability to lead, advocate and advance the mission of the U.S. Green Building Council. The qualifying region spans the geographical boundaries within Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties; finalist cities included the City of Coconut Creek, the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miramar.
The City of Miramar submitted more than 10 ½ years of responsible green efforts that showcased an ability to redesign and recalibrate its policies to reduce its ecological footprint, pursue sustainable opportunities and most importantly seek out an understanding of how a municipality can affect its surrounding environment and the immediate community.
“The City is well aware of the importance of the ‘built environment’ -- it is for this reason why City representatives have been advocates of the US Green Building Council and the USGBC South Florida Chapter for almost a decade,” stated City Manager, Kathleen Woods-Richardson.
Notable City Sustainable Initiatives Include:
• Achieving LEED Gold certification for both the City’s Miramar Police Station and Vizcaya Park Community Center
• Encouraging energy-efficient buildings by offering fast-track permit review to private builders seeking green certifications
• Integrating sustainable Smart Growth policies into the City’s Land Development Code and the Comprehensive Plan
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• Joining the Compact of Mayors to conduct a Communitywide Greenhouse Inventory
• Approving Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation to incentivize energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Conserving natural resources with infrastructure such as the reclaimed wastewater “Purple Pipe” system with a capacity to produce 6.6 million gallons per day
• Promoting green jobs and a vibrant local food system
This award comes off the heels of the City’s participation in the USGBC’s sixth annual celebration of these awards on September 19, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where City of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam received the award for Most Outstanding Green Elected Official. This award represented the only Broward County municipal official nomination in this Category. Miramar has now received consecutive awards in the categories of Elected Official and Outstanding Green Government.
U.S. Green Building Council South Florida Chapter (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council South Florida Chapter, a nonprofit (501[c][3]) organization, embraces the adoption of innovative building practices that conserve land, energy, water, resources and materials. Its Mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling a sustainable and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment for people to live, work, learn and play. Headquartered on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, the volunteer-governed Chapter has more than 5,000 members and friends providing educational programs and services to the South Florida community from its Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami and Keys Branches. To learn more: Lee Cooke, Executive Director, 561-373-7367, lcooke@usgbcsf.org, www.usgbcsf.org.
