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League and member news

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Miramar and St. Petersburg Receive Smart City Award

The City of Miramar and the City of St. Petersburg were named winners in the fifth annual Smart Cities North America Awards presented by IDC Government Insights. The awards recognize the cities’ foresight and effectiveness in using technology to provide new services and economic opportunities.

Miramar won the Next-Gen Emergency Services category for the Miramar Records Management System. St. Petersburg won the Urban Planning and Land Use category with its Smart Intersection – Vision Zero initiative.

Five Cities Awarded For Workplace Mental Health

Five Florida municipalities were recognized as 2021-22 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health recipients from Mental Health America (MHA).

The award, a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification, recognizes employers who strive to improve employee mental health and create a psychologically safe workplace for all. The municipalities and their seal level were:

▸ City of Hollywood – Platinum

▸ City of Lake Worth Beach – Gold

▸ City of North Port – Gold

▸ City of Port St. Lucie – Platinum

▸ Village of Wellington – Platinum.

For more information, visit mhanational.org/bestemployers.

NLC Targets Climate Change

The National League of Cities (NLC), in partnership with Buy- In Community Planning, released a report that explores what climate migration means for the future of cities and what local leaders can do to plan for these changes proactively.

The report, “The Next American Migration: What Cities Should Know About Climate Change and Populations on the Move,” is available at bit.ly/3HjbQja.

Gainesville Residents Create Murals

City of Gainesville residents celebrated the weeklong Festival of Creativity by painting a mural in downtown Gainesville.

The GNV Art Jam program, supported by the City, is free and open to the public. Pam Valcante, muralist and former Gainesville high school art teacher, offered guidance to participants and was assisted by local creative artists.

The event was presented by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department’s 352walls in collaboration with 352Creates, a satellite of the UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine program.

Photo Courtesy of City of Gainesville

DID YOU KNOW … Adult Alligators Are a Tale of Survival

Alligators overcome many challenges to live to adulthood.

In late June or early July, alligators lay nests of 32 to 46 eggs. Floods or predators destroy about one-third of the nests. About 24 hatchlings are born per nest from mid-August through early September.

Adult alligators often eat younger alligators. Only 10 will live until their first birthday. About five will live to maturity.

Alligators also are hunted by humans. In fact, beginning in August, alligators can be hunted 24 hours a day in Florida during hunting season, which runs from August 15 to November 1. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission expanded the hours and agreed to allow hunters to use pre-charged pneumatic airbows with tethered lines.

There is a two-alligator limit. The state issues about 7,600 permits, and close to half of those hunters reach the limit. About 7,500 more alligators are labeled a “nuisance” annually and killed.

There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in the state. The Chairman of the Commission says they are a “huge success story” but conservation efforts are ongoing. Here are a few interesting facts about alligators: The heaviest one recorded in Florida weighed 1,043 pounds and was at Orange Lake near Gainesville. The state record for length is 14 feet 3½ inches and was at Lake Washington near

Hawthorne. While those animals seem huge, the ancestor of alligators, the Deinosuchus, was up to 33 feet long and ate dinosaurs.

Alligators are most active when the temperature is between 82 and 92 degrees. They stop eating when the temperature drops below about 70 degrees. During the winter, they’re mostly dormant.

An alligator’s mouth allows it to bite with almost 3,000 pounds of force.

They can dive for extended periods because they transition to a lower metabolic state. Alligators also can climb fences, and one was videotaped climbing a fence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. They also can enter houses through doggy doors.

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Geographic, News Service of Florida, onlyinyourstate.com, The New York Times and usgs.gov.

MEETING CALENDAR

JULY 25-28 | Florida Local Government Information Systems Association Annual Conference | Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood | Contact Becky Brennan

JULY 28-30 | Florida Municipal Attorneys Association Annual Seminar | Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs | Contact Becky Emerson

AUGUST 10 | Center for Municipal Research Symposium: Digital Infrastructure – Broadband and Cybersecurity | Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood | Contact Wade Burkley

AUGUST 11-13 | Florida League of Cities Annual Conference | Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood | Contact Melanie Howe

SEPTEMBER 16-17 | Institute for Elected Municipal Officials II | Embassy Suites Fort Myers, Estero | Contact Angela Delune

OCTOBER 9-13 | Florida Association of City Clerks Fall Academy | Orlando Marriott Lake Mary | Contact Rachel Embleton

OCTOBER 12-14 | Florida Redevelopment Association Annual Conference | Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort | Contact Heidi Hogarth

OCTOBER 14-15 | Institute for Elected Municipal Officials | Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore | Contact Angela Delune

OCTOBER 15-21 | Florida Government Finance Officers Association School | Luminary Hotel & Co., Fort Myers | Contact Jill Walker

NOVEMBER 16-19 | National League of Cities City Summit | Kansas City, MO | Contact Allison Payne

NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 2 | FLC Legislative Conference | Embassy Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista South | Contact Mary Edenfield

Go to flcities.com/education-and-events/calendar-of-events or call 850.222.9684 for more information.

Tarpon Springs, Suncoast Region Are All-America Finalists

The City of Tarpon Springs and the Suncoast, FL, region were announced 2022 All-America City Award finalists by the National Civic League (NCL) and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

This year’s theme is “housing as a platform for equitable learning recovery.” The finalists are being recognized for promoting early school success and equitable learning recovery. The 20 finalists will compete in July 2022 to be recognized as one of 10 All-America Cities.

Street Art Boosts Safety In Port St. Lucie

Colorful, creative street art helps slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety near the Jessica Clinton Memorial Community Park in the City of Port St. Lucie. A raised intersection encourages traffic to slow. Two rows of red hearts provide a visual reminder to drive safely in the area of the adjacent pedestrian-friendly park.

For more information about the City’s other traffic-calming measures, visit bit.ly/3jZdStG.

Port St. Lucie’s raised intersection and street art.

Photo Courtesy of City of Port St. Lucie

Hurricane Happy Hour Connects and Educates

The Village of Palmetto Bay found a creative way to inform and prepare residents for hurricane season and create a social gathering.

The Hurricane Happy Hour featured a one-hour workshop along with drinks and appetizers. Resource vendors were on hand to provide additional information, and a raffle gave residents a chance to win a silent generator.

Palmetto Bay’s hurricane preparedness workshop and happy hour at Village Hall.

Photo Courtesy of Village of Palmetto Bay

Delray Beach Tops List Of Green Local Governments

The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), the state’s leading certifier of green residential and commercial construction and local governments, recently announced the 2021 Annual Green Achievement Award winners. The City of Delray Beach achieved the highest score and a bronze level for FGBC Certified Green Local Governments – City.

Numerical points are given for selecting and integrating individual environmentally friendly green products, best practices and sustainable techniques from a menu of available green options.

For more information on the City’s sustainability program and green checklist, go to bit.ly/3GNknKY.

Florida City Leaders Appointed to NLC Committees

The National League of Cities (NLC) named several Florida municipal officials to serve on the NLC’s federal advocacy committees and play a central role in developing the organization’s federal policy positions.

The officials who were appointed to a committee in 2022 are:

▸ City of Doral Vice Mayor Digna Cabral, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee

▸ City of Doral Legislative Analyst Christian Contreras, Community and Economic Development Committee

▸ City of Midway Councilwoman NanDrycka King Albert, Human Development Committee

▸ City of Miramar Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison Debon Campbell II, Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee

▸ City of Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee

▸ City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee.

Sarasota and Tallahassee Honored for Projects

The American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter recognized two Florida cities with their Public Works Project of the Year award.

The City of Sarasota won the water and wastewater category, and the City of Tallahassee, in partnership with Blueprint 1A, won the transportation category. APWA’s Awards Program recognizes outstanding individuals, groups and chapters representing the best in public works.

St. Petersburg Celebrates Native with Watch Party

City of St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch brought over 100 residents together for an Academy Awards watch party at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida to honor and celebrate a former resident. Will Packer, who was born in the City, has had a successful career as a television and movie producer. He was also part of the first all-Black production team for the award show in 2022.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch with his wife and daughter at the City’s Academy Awards watch party.

Photo Courtesy of City of St. Petersburg

Obituaries

Former Cape Coral Council Member Rick Williams

Williams died April 15 at age 77. Williams served on the City Council from 2013-2021, where he created and founded the Cape Coral Youth Council. His passion was to give the City’s youth a place to have their voices heard. Before his time on the Council, Williams served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years. “The City of Cape Coral has lost a great leader with the passing of former Council Member Rick Williams,” said Mayor John Gunter. “During his eight years on the Council, Rick will be remembered for his contagious personality and passionate involvement with the youth and the entire community.”

Rick Williams

Former Dania Beach Commissioner John M. Bertino

Former Dania Beach Commissioner John M. Bertino died March 10 at age 78. Bertino was elected to the City Commission in 1974 and served for 35 years until 2009, including five terms as Mayor, three terms as Vice-Mayor and 10 terms as Commissioner. He also served as a Trustee and Chairman of the Florida League of Cities insurance trusts (now the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust). Bertino spent 34 years in education and taught history and civics at a Dania Beach middle school. “John M. Bertino has been an important part of the Dania Beach community,” the City said in a released statement. “His three decades of service and great contribution to the City of Dania Beach left a legacy for all future generations.”

John M. Bertino

Lighthouse Point Mayor Glenn Troast

Lighthouse Point Mayor Glenn Troast died March 23 at age 64. Troast was first elected to the City Commission in 2011 and had served as Mayor since 2014. He was a Florida licensed certified public accountant and a certified valuation analyst. As Mayor, Troast was committed to the City’s financial stability and worked to keep taxes and fees low for residents. “Glenn was the most dedicated of public servants and did not take the office of Mayor lightly,” said Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk. “His passion for our City, the leadership he portrayed and his visions for our future helped shape our little City into one of the best places to live in Broward County, the state of Florida and even our wonderful country. His shoes are hard to fill. He was a mentor to me; I continue on as Mayor in his honor. He will be missed by so many in Lighthouse Point.”

Glenn Troast