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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMORANDUM Date: January 30, 2014 To: Joseph A. Baird, County Administrator From: Vincent Burke, P.E., Director of Utility Services Prepared By: Himanshu H. Mehta, P.E., Managing Director, Solid Waste Disposal District Subject: Request to Apply to the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) for Green Local Government Recertification DESCRIPTIONS AND CONDITIONS: On Tuesday March 5, 2009 the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc.(FGBC) awarded Indian River County the gold level certification as a Florida Green Local Government, thereby recognizing Indian River County as a Government that incorporates multiple environmental, ecological and renewable features throughout the various functions it performs to achieve environmental stewardship. The designation is approaching the 5 -year expiration of the FGBC certification on March 4, 2014. Staff is requesting Board approval to apply for recertification to the FGBC to maintain the Florida Green Local Government designation. Currently there are 46 cities and counties that have achieved the Florida Green Local Government certification. We are proud to say that Indian River County was the second County in the State of Florida to obtain the Gold level designation. The recertification process does allow for a 90 day extension for submittal, has a more streamline expedited process, and is now good for 10 years. The cost of the recertification is $5,000.00. ANALYSIS: In 2009, there was considerable effort by County staff, volunteers and a private donor that led to the Green County certification. The process not only highlighted what Indian River County was doing but also led to some policies and practices that would eventually enhance our efforts. Example projects that show our continued efforts to enhance and protect our local environment include: 1) placing recycling containers at all County parks which previously had no recycling services; 2) creating a partnership with INEOS to create electricity and ethanol from vegetative waste; 3) using innovation and simplicity we worked on the Spoonbill Marsh Project to mix brine water with lagoon water which results in better water quality on the discharge; and 4) furthermore, our upcoming Osprey Marsh project will process brine water and canal water through an Algal Turf Scrubber to improve the discharge water quality. Additionally our procurement procedures were enhanced to ensure that we purchased environmentally preferred products. We also adopted an administration policy which required SWDD Agenda - Request to Apply for FGBC Green Govt Recertification -a° Page 1 of 2 104