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News: Top Stories
Oakland considers going green
- If the resolution is passed, the town will strive for green local government designation.
By Amy Quesinberry
The Oakland Town Commission is considering pursuing measures to become a green local government. The elected officials discussed at their Feb. 12 commission meeting a resolution that would spell out criteria and standards to obtain that designation.
The town of Oakland received the request from the state of Florida. The voluntary program allows municipalities to "take positive steps toward improving and advancing environmental quality and energy security," according to the resolution. It is tailored to the specific environmental goals of each municipality.
To be considered a green local government, says the state, a city or county must "incorporate multiple environmental, ecological and sustainability features throughout the functions they perform that improve the environmental performance considerably."
The Florida Green Building Coalition Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, has developed criteria and standards for municipalities to follow. Those that comply receive the green local government certification.
The commission will bring the resolution back to the table for a vote at its Feb. 26 meeting.
In other business, the elected officials:
approved the public hearing and second reading of a large-scale future land-use map amendment and zoning map amendment for two parcels of land (one approximately 38 acres, the other 1 acre) on Hull Island Drive from Orange County Rural/Agricultural to Oakland Low Density Residential.
heard from Police Chief Tim Driscoll, who reported that two reserve officers were interested in the open police officer position vacated by Officer Don Melville. Driscoll recommended Cpl. Steve Valente, who has been with the department since 2002. The commission granted Driscoll permission to fill the position.
selected the consulting firm Shaw Environmental for the cleanup project involving a petroleum leak from 1993 in the right-of-way of Gulley Avenue and Walker Street. The vote was 3-2 with commissioners Mona Phipps and Joseph McMullen voting for Terracon Consultants Inc., another firm that bid for the job.
voted to approve the transfer of $41,532.12 from Oakland Avenue Charter School's lunch account to repay money the town loaned the school from its water impact fee account.
On another school-related matter, the commission pledged to participate in a fitness trail project on campus. The PTO has raised money for such a trail and any accompanying equipment, and the town agreed to use impact fees to make the fitness stations on the trail handicap accessible.
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