Sustainability Action Plan

The City Commission adopted the Sustainability Action Plan in 2018. Implementation of the Plan began in September 2018. The Plan itself includes 28 projects which focus on the following areas: 

• Resource Conservation and Efficiency
• Materials Minimization and Recycling
• Land Use and Transportation
• Natural Resources and Resiliency
• Education and Outreach
• Funding and Evaluation 

Annual Reports

After the second year of implementation, we’re happy to announce that 47% of the projects are complete and 46% are in progress! As of September 2020, City Operations have reduced water consumption by 13% and electricity by 15%. We've met some of our 2022 goals already, and most others are on track. Unfortunately, recycling and fuel consumption metrics decreased this fiscal year. In addition to SAP metrics, the Green Initiatives program has other accomplishments for the Fiscal Year 2020:

• The City transitioned to an Expanded Service Hours (4-day) workweek. Between Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020, we saved over $60,000 in utility costs for city operations.
• We passed an internal policy that guides purchasing/procurement to be sustainable, for all new vehicles (where applicable) purchased for our fleet to be either electric or hybrids, and for city infrastructure to be built to sea level rise standards. 
• We installed fishing line recycling containers at South City Beach Park.
• We held two in-person workshops (before Coronavirus closings) and 5 webinar-workshops for the public spanning topics like pollinator gardening, US environmental history, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• We completed the City's first Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory which established a baseline and created a schedule for future inventories. The next inventory will be for the Fiscal Year 2021 and will be released in 2022.
• We held a full-day training for over 30 staff members regarding climate change.
• We assisted the City Commission in divesting the City's investment funds from fossil fuels.
• We held two special "climate change 101" virtual workshops for residents and students.
• We passed an Anti-Idle Policy internally for fleet vehicles.
• We revised the City's Green Building Code to include an in-house certification track for limited budgetdevelopments & also formally established a standard for future City Facilities to be LEED Gold or equivalent.
• We launched our first Climate Action Planning effort.
• We completed & City Commission adopted a Vulnerability Assessment & Adaptation Plan & a Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan.
• We created and adopted a Dune Management & Protection Plan internally.
• We restored more than 100 linear feet of beach dunes.

 Read the full Annual Report for FY 2020.  

Want to compare with last year? Read the full Annual Report for FY 2019.