Mayor Manny Diaz makes presentation to City of Miami Commissioners during Commission meeting. Photo: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

(MIAMI) – Mayor Manny Diaz obtained unanimous approval today from the Miami City Commission for eleven measures as part of his green agenda aimed at creating a more sustainable future for the city.  Co-sponsored by Commissioners Marc Sarnoff and Joe Sanchez, the measures represent an unprecedented and broad approach to the issues of climate change and environmental preservation.

“The issue of global climate change is real and we must take real steps to correct it,” said Mayor Diaz.  “It is up to us to act locally and do our part to not only reverse the effects of climate change, but to move toward the creation of a more sustainable future for our city and its people.”  

The following items passed today as part of Mayor Diaz’s green initiatives:

•  Office of Sustainable Initiatives: (FR3) An ordinance of the City of Miami authorizing the City Manager to create Miami’s first-ever department dedicated to coordinating environmental programs. 

•  Miami Climate Protection Agreement: (RE16) A resolution establishing a method by which the city will comply with the goals of the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.  Mayor Diaz was one of the first United States mayors to sign on to this agreement. 

•  Green Fleet Program: (RE13 )(CA13) A resolution directing the City Manager to establish a Green Fleet Program to assure that the city is purchasing, leasing, or obtaining the most energy efficient vehicles and vessels possible  and accepting bids from various vendors for the green fleet. 

•  Green Building Expedited Permitting: (RE14) A resolution directing the City Manager to create a program for expedited review and approval of building permit and applications for green buildings. 

•  Green Purchasing: (RE17) A resolution directing the City Manager to develop an ordinance establishing the city’s first-ever green procurement program. 

•  Miami Water Conservation Program: (RE 20) A resolution directing the City Manager to develop a water conservation program to protect the water resources of the city. 

•  Greenspace Utility Program: (RE 19) A resolution directing the City Manager to establish a green space utility program. This would create a dedicated fund that will be used for the maintenance and protection of Miami’s urban forests and green space. 

•  Weatherization Advocacy: (RE21) A resolution urging the President and United States Congress to support increased investments in weatherization to benefit the Nation’s communities. 

•  Federal Advocacy: A resolution urging the President and the United States Congress to support Local Energy Efficiency Programs, energy conservation, renewable energy and Green Building Programs. 

•  State Advocacy: (RE18) A resolution urging the Governor and members of the Florida Legislature to support the City’s efforts to establish environmental policies and procedures. 

In  addition, this past February, the Mayor launched the first ever Citywide Tree Master Plan to create minimum standards for enhancing, restoring and stabilizing the City’s tree canopy cover by a minimum of 30 percent by 2020. 

Mayor Diaz also created the City of Miami Green Commission, chaired by Commissioner Joe Sanchez, to bring together a cross section of local experts and community representatives that will help mold the City’s environmental policy in the areas of Green Buildings and Urban Forestry.

These steps are the latest in a long line of ambitious environmental programs Mayor Diaz has already put into action to clean streets, waterways, brown fields, storm drains, as well as improve air and water quality of our city.