LTC 125-2013 City of Miami Beach Earth Celebration Events ® MIAM(BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
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NO. ETC# 125 -20 LETTER TO COMMISSION C
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and M ( on bers of t City Commission
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FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 12, 2013
SUBJECT: City of Miami Beach Earth Celebra Events
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform you of our 2013 Earth Day & Arbor
Day events. Throughout the month of April, the City will be hosting multiple events to celebrate
the City's natural resources and educate residents on the importance 'of protecting our
environment.
On Wednesday, April 17, the City of Miami Beach will be celebrating Water Conservation Month
at City Hall outside the Commission Chambers from 9:30 AM — 12:30 PM. Miami -Dade County
Water and Sewer Department (WASD) and, the City of Miami Beach Public Works,
Environmental Resources Division will be available to answer questions and provide residents,
businesses and City employees with information about how to save and protect our water
resources. Miami -Dade County residents will be able to exchange up to two (2) water - wasting
showerheads for water - efficient models and will be able to exchange three (3) old light bulbs for
energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs,
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The next event is Baynanza,,which 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, the City,
in partnership with ECOMB and Miami -Dade County, will be hosting volunteer cleanups at
Maurice Gibbs Park and Flagler Memorial Island (Monument Island). Volunteers will be meeting
at Purdy Avenue and 17 Street on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 AM.
On Saturday, April 27 the City will be celebrating both Earth Day and Arbor Day at 9 Street
and Ocean Drive (Lummus Park) from 12:00 PM — 4:00 PM. The City has invited individuals and
organizations to participate in a Native Flags Eco -Art Project, initiated by the Greenspace Tree
Advocacy Group (GTAG) and designed by Xavier Cortada, Artist -in- Residence FIU College of
Architecture + The Arts, Miami Beach Urban Studios. This project gives participants an
opportunity to create a flag that depicts an eco- action they pledge to engage in to support the
environment. Additionally, there will be a tree planting ceremony to commemorate Arbor Day.
At this time, the City's green partners for the April 27 event include the Coca -Cola Company,
GTAG, Florida International University, the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Office,
the Environmental Collation of Miami Beach ( ECOMB), the Surfrider Foundation and the
Sunflower Society will have informational booths and give brief presentations where residents
can learn more about these sustainable programs and other environmental issues.
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City staff will also be present to answer questions and provide residents with information
regarding City sustainable' initiatives. Additional event specific information and an invitation will
be sent to you under separate cover.
Finally, on Saturday, May 4 the Miami Beach Botanical Garden will be holding a lecture
entitled Birds, Butterflies and Wildlife with Gil Pettigrew. The City is also partnering with the
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Miami -Dade County
Cooperative Extension Service, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program to host a Rain Barrel
Workshop at the Miami Beach Botanical. Garden from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Residents can learn
about water conservation issues and the numerous ways they can save water inside and
outside their homes. They can also learn how to construct and install their very own rain barrel.
The workshop is free, however to purchase a rain barrel is $40.
If you have any suggestions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Kevin
Smith, Director Parks and Recreation Department, at 305 - 673 -7730.
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