Budget & Finance

The Village’s budget is formatted in Adobe Acrobat which enables it to be easily referenced from the Villages intra- and internet sites. This has enabled us to print less “hard” copies of the budget document, thus saving boxes of paper each year. 

Share documents and files within the division on the K:  Drive and Laser Fish so paper copies are not created in multiple. 

Scan and disseminate materials through e-mail whenever possible in order to save paper. 

Shut off lights in private offices when not in use. Convert annual accounting and finance documents to optical images to reduce storage costs, disseminate copies electronically and speed access for audit and research needs. 

Encourage payroll direct deposit. 

Sign up for electronic delivery of monthly statements from financial institutions. 

Disseminate electronic copy of Village’s monthly financial statements. 

Post electronic copy of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on the Village’s website. 

Continue to implement state of the art vendor direct payment options. 

Receive electronic copies of cancelled checks. 

Expand programs providing Internet payment option.

Consolidate billing processes when applicable (e.g. collect annual alarm fee)

Building Department

Provided two voluntary informational green building handouts available to the public in the handout bins (2009) 

Presented a green building ordinance for discussion at a cow for the Village Council. Will provide two sustainable building presentations to the Community (2010). 

Instituting “internet permits” which will eliminate trips to Village Hall for construction permits. Building Department routinely enforces the current State of Florida Energy Codes 

Reusing paper products

Finalize the Green ordinance for Village Council Review

Work on continuing to make all Village projects LEED certified.

Village Hall

Reduction of paper consumption through use of optimizing printing & copying, distribution of information  via the Village's website and through email, and electronic storage of files.

Village Clerk

Reduced production and distribution of agenda packets from 20 to 12 copes (for Village Council members and core administration only)

Encourage residents to view an abridged version of agenda online – rather than print out entire file with all supporting documents 

Fire

Construction of a green fire station at Old Cutler Road LEED certified 

Human Resources

Going paperless (Personnel Actions (PA), Performance Evaluations, Job Applications). 

Providing various documents electronically 

Recycling and using recycled paper products 

Information Technology

The IT Department has replaced most of the Village’s CRT monitors with energy efficient flat panels. We have also committed to restricting our computer purchases to products that are highly rated by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. 

Planning & Zoning

Worked with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to incorporate Green Building elements into the new fire rescue station on Old Cutler Road. 

Working on creating a Green and Solar ordinance

Encourage use of permeable driveway and parking lot surfacing. 

Encourage reuse and recycling of construction and demolition debris 

Require the use of native and drought tolerant plant materials 

Utilize recycled paper and folders. Digitizing files in conjunction with IT and working electronically where  possible.

Distributing the Village green/sustainability materials at every event produced by the Village

Working on developing, “Discover Palmetto Bay I-Bus” Wrap – “Walk in, Bike in, Ride in - Be in – Palmetto Bay.” (2010)

Garage Sale applications and permits maybe transmitted electronically 

On-going outreach at Community events on the Villages recycling, composting, and sustainability programs. 

Scan and email documents

Public Works

The Old Cutler Bike Path Project is intended to transform this segment of the bike path by enhancing the beauty of the path and providing amenities for recreational users, students, library patrons, and nearby residents. The Project is designed to encourage alternate modes of travel and reduce emission pollutants into the environment. 

Elementary school recycling program – A formal recycling program and “curriculum” are under development at two (2) Palmetto Bay’s schools (Perrine Elementary and Howard Drive). 

The Village received recognition as a Tree City USA community in 2009 and continues its efforts to implement it Street Tree Master Plan.

The Village expends approximately $50,000 annually in tree planting to reduce the amount of water runoff. By retaining water, trees also help slowing water runoff which reduces the intensity of downstream flooding 

Expanding the Village’s recycling program by establishing a drop-off locations for recycling batteries and cell phone devices. 

The Villages website provides public education and awareness on water quality issues that may impact out natural environment.

For ease of use, the Department in conjunction with Parks and Recreation developed a single stream recycling program for all recyclable goods to go into one cart for collection at all park and Village owned facilities.

Purchase, when applicable, cleaner technology fleet vehicles

Encourage staff participation in efforts to support green initiatives at work and at home 

Plant with native vegetation within the public right of way and provide information to residents about native plants that are suited for the climate in South Florida. Recommend native plants that have deep roots that help to use up rainwater Pursue the use of environmentally preferable products

Reduce the amount of storm water runoff and seek ways to use water more efficiently 

Require County-supported construction projects to meet LEED standards 

Educating residents about the use of rain barrels for water reuse for gardening instead of potable water and to help reduce flooding and pollution into the stormwater system. 

Temperature Control at facilities - raising and lowering  thermostat controls to conserve energy cost 

Paperless Operation- encouraging the department to become paperless as possible; re-engineering  reporting of complaints, work orders, purchasing and payment request processed using computer software that will allow employees to access information in the field. 

Replacing majority of incandescent lamps with fluorescent lamps, and advising staff to turn off lights in unoccupied offices and areas within all Village facilities.

Install solar panel crosswalks at non-signalized intersections and solar lighting in the development of future landscape projects.

Stand alone LED monument sign lighting system installed at each entryway monument sign.

Employees save on fuel by not allowing vehicles to run while not in use.

IBUS transit service helps to reduce the number of vehicles releasing pollutants into the environment by transporting multiple residents, students and workers to their destinations. 

Staff carpool to meetings at offsite facilities to save on the cost of fuel.

Purchasing

Buy “Energy Star” computers and electrical equipment (village-wide). 

Buy multifunction equipment to save energy (village-wide). 

Save junk mail from fax machine and recycle bins to make scratch pads. 

Make two sided copies. 

Scan and e-mail documents. 

No Styrofoam 

Recycle toner cartridges (village-wide). 

Recycle automotive & small equipment batteries (village-wide). . 

Recycle automotive tires (village-wide).

Recycle and reuse old furniture and equipment (village-wide).

Buy 30% or greater post consumer content copier paper (village-wide).

Buy recycled paper legal and note pads. (village wide)

Buy recycled content plastic bag or compost able bags. 

Consolidate orders to save on gas and time (do not need 10 people driving to the same store). 

Attend “Green Purchasing” workshops. 

Maintain a “Green Vendor” catalog file. 

Keep informed of new Green products/vendors. 

Turn off the lights when you leave a room. 

Turn off the water while soaping up your hands and turn it back on when ready to rinse. 

Wear appropriate clothing if you’re hot. 

Wear extra layers of cloths if you’re cold.

E-mails documents to save on paper and postage. 

Parks 

Installed recycled/rubberized playground surface at Palmetto Bay Park.

Recipients of a recycling grant used to implement park wide recycling program at Village Parks. This grant also awarded an opportunity to include the Village elementary schools with an educational component.

Replaced old overhead lighting system at Coral Reef Park recreation room with new energy efficient lighting.

Continue a wood chipping (mulching) effort to reduce soil erosion.

Continue planting initiatives throughout all Village parks.

Identify possible educational opportunities for staff and public and incorporate a “green” educational component to our summer camps.

Use electronic instead of printed materials.

Remove existing paper towel dispensers and replace with electronic blowers, eliminating paper towel waste and cost.

Purchased recycled benches/picnic tables.

Recycling and/or providing the public with opportunities to recycle a wide range of materials including: bottles, cans, plastics and paper.

Conserving electricity by monitoring usage at all facilities and turning off unnecessary lights; field lights are on only during permitted/approved activities.

Reducing the use of envelopes, printed receipts and postage by implementing online registration for recreation programs and activities.

Adjusting and repairing the Village’s irrigation controllers as needed to optimize the system’s performance and reduce water usage.

Maintaining planters by using mulch to preserve moisture, provide nutrients, and reduce weeds; eliminating the raking of leaf litter in planters to provide natural mulch.

Replacing inappropriate plants and ground covers with native plants whenever possible.

Trimming and pruning plants and shrubs only as frequently as needed to produce the desired aesthetic effect. This practice preserves fuel and labor and helps reduce methane emissions from green waste in landfills.

Using hand tools over power tools wherever possible to perform pruning and trimming of plant material.

Increasing public awareness of and continually striving to meet the “Net Goal” of grounds maintenance; that is, achieving a net landscape benefit by producing more oxygen than carbon dioxide through the use of environmentally responsible maintenance practices.

Police

Communicate via e-mail whenever possible to save paper

Shut off lights when office is unoccupied

Going paperless where feasible by printing & copying only when necessary

Buy and recycle office products where appropriate, i.e., paper, ink toners, etc.

As electronic equipment is replaced, ensure that the new products are environmentally friendly and green  rated 

Public Information

Paperless/electronic newsletter production/distribution

Paperless/electronic press releases/distribution

Use blank side of old agenda pages when printing from desktop Office jet