LTC 087-2011 CMB Earth Celebration Events MIAMI -BEACH
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
11 APR 4, 4 A 10- 9
NO. LTC# b87-2011 SETTER TO CC
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members'of the -city Commission
FROM: Jorge. M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: April 12, .2011
SUBJECT:: -City of Miami Beach Earth Celebration Events
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform you Hof our 2011 Earth Day events.
Throw Throughout the spring, the Cit will be hosting multiple events to' celebrate the Janet and
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educate residents and businesses on the importance of protecting our natural environment.
The events kicked off on Saturday March 26 with the City's participated in Earth Hour. Earth
Hour is organized World Wildlife fund- (WWF) to raise. awareness about energy consumption'
and conservation. The City observed Earth Hour on from 8:30 PM to : 9:30 PM by switching off
all non - essential lighting in City Hall and other city owned facilities. This event encouraged
participants to go beyond the hour and- think about what you can change in your daily life that -
Will benefit the :planet.
On April 8, 2011, through the Miami Beach Business Academy the City hosted Growing- a Green
Restaurant Workshop. The C.ity,' in cooperation with Miami -Dade * County Department of
Environmental Resources Management (DERM) held a free workshop for the restaurant
industry. The program was designed to help restaurants green their operations by .providing
information - about: managing - and properly ... disposing of solid waste,, oil -and _ grease;
understanding' applicable state and local codes; increasing resource- efficiency with energy use,
water use, raw materials and waste production; and, becoming involved in the Miami -Dade
County's new Green Business Certification program.
For City employees, throughout the week of April 1.1 an educational program -will provide tips on'
greening the workplace and sustainable living.-.. Each day, trivia questions will be -sent with
prizes for the first correct response. The employee program will conclude with a Farmer's
Market . on Friday, April. 15 from 10:00 AM until 2 :00 PM outside the 'Commission Chambers.
Local Vendors will be selling fresh produce, honey, plants, flowers,. orchids, fruit smoothies, and
prepared foods. The Farmer's Market is the perfect venue to buy a healthy, delicious snack or a
plant for your desk and. to take a minute away from the computer to connect with. co] leagues in
other departments.
This year marks the 29 anniversary of Baynanza. Baynanza is a fun - filled, six- -week -long
celebration for one of our most precious natural resources, Biscayne Bay, and its surroundings.
While Baynanza includes approximately 35 great events throughout March and April, the event
that has become nearly synonymous with this celebration is the Biscayne Bay. Cleanup Day
where thousands of community volunteers pitch in. to clean the Bay's shorelines, and islands.
For this event, ECOMB in partnership with the City will be hosting a volunteer cleanup- site at
Maurice Gibbs Park and Flagler. Memorial Island (Monument Island).. Volunteers will be meeting
at Purdy Avenue °.and 18th Street . on Saturday, April 16, 8:30 AM.
On Sunday, April- 17, 2011, -the Parks and Recreation Department's Greenspace Management
Division; in conjunction with the Miami Dade County's Community Image Advisory Board will
conduct the first sponsor funded Million Trees Miami Campaign tree planting project The
planting will take place within North Shore Open Space Park (7900 Collins Avenue) from 9 :00
AM 12:00 PM. Southeastern Recycling and BioPlanet USA, are sponsoring the event with over'.
100 small native trees to be. planted within the Park. For further information regarding the
Million Trees Miami Campaign, please visit the following site,
http:// milliontrees .miamidade.gov /home.asp
The City's Arbor Day Celebration will again be incorporated as part of the Parks and Recreation
Department's. Spring - Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at North Shore Park (501
72 Street) from 10:00 AM 12:30 PM. There will be .a tree planting ceremony along with a
reading of the City's Arbor. Day proclamation, informational pamphlets, coloring books and
certified arborists will be on hand to answer your tree questions.
Closing out the 2011 Earth month celebrations, the. City in partnership with Miami -Dade
County and Dream in. Green will be hosting a Home Energy Savings Workshop. The workshop
will be held on Thursday,. April 28, 2011, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (registration begins at 6:00
PM) at the Miami Beach Regional Library 22nd Street, Miami Beach, Florida. The purpose
of the workshop is to educate residents on energy efficiency, and conservation and provide
homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants
will receive a free. energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household
energy consumption /reduction. More importantly, residents :will -save money. by .learning how to
reduce energy use in their 'homes by 20 =30- percent.
To. register for this workshop and for. additional information please call 3 -1 -1 or visit
http:/ /green.miamidade.gov The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50
registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, Limit one per
household.
If you have any suggestions or need additional information; please, feel free to contact Lisa
Botero, environmental manager, at lisabotero(@- miamibeachfl.goy.
DRB /FHB /HDC /LEB /ESW
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