Delray could have permanent green advisory board

By Palm Beach Business.com Staff

DELRAY BEACH — The city has adopted or is moving to adopt the vast majority of recommendations made by Delray Beach’s green task force, according to report given to city commissioners Tuesday evening.

Another could become reality within the next few weeks: Creation of a permanent green advisory board. A resolution or ordinance could be drafted and presented to commissioners next month.

Commissioners established the green task force in January 2008 with a six-month mandate to find ways the city could become more environmentally friendly both in terms of policy and in its operations. It later extended the life of the task force so it could complete its work. Several commissioners spoke in favor of a permanent board.

Commissioner Adam Frankel called the report "a great first step."

"I think what they have done is amazing," Frankel said of the green task force.

City Manager David Harden said an advisory board could help the city implement the report’s recommendations.

Some of the proposals city staff has agreed to implement, alternatives to task force ideas, or recommends that city commissioners implement:

• Create a green team of city employees, with each department represented. The team would review recommendations and implement them.
• Establish green office practices within all city offices.
  
• Adopt a green building ordinance.
  
• Promote green economic development.
  
• Go paperless for public information requests.
  
• Install motion sensitive light switches and use energy efficient lighting in all city offices. Install programmable thermostats.
  
• Streamline permitting to encourage installation of solar water heaters and power panels.
  
• Expand the downtown shuttle service; switch to alternative fuels to run the shuttle and use open trolleys.
  
• Use GPS routing.
  
• Provide city employees with reusable coffee mugs and water bottles.
  
• “Green” audit city land use regulations.

Some of the proposals staff rejected:

• Adopt an anti-idling ordinance that would make it illegal to run a car's engine while stopped for more than three consecutive minutes, except under certain circumstances. Staff said such a law would be impractical because the city lacks the resources to enforce it.
  
• Limit the number vehicles on emergency calls.

Some of the maybes:

• Hire a city green or “sustainability” officer.  Staff said such a move would not be cost effective, but there might be alternatives.
  
• Reduce the work-week to four days. The city will investigate how it works at cities that have adopted the shorter  week.
  
• Create a green awards program; recognize green businesses.