First of two parts
City Hall has scored a splendid civic victory, with national implications.
It has taken a month for word to dribble into public view, but that is not unusual for an ambitious, innovative and broadly praised program that probably is little known in its own hometown.
For context’s sake, these environmental awards undoubtedly place Culver City more prominently in a national show window than any other achievement by the community.
Thirteen years of sensitive and concentrated environmental development of city transportation and equipment were recognized in Chicago a month ago tomorrow.
At the national Green Fleet conference, the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, presented a premier award to Culver City, voted the No. 1 Green Fleet in North America by the Best Green Fleets National Fleet Certification Program and the U.S. Clean Cities Coalition.
This is not insignificant.
Neither is it a typical politically drenched popularity contest.
It is driven by certifiable merit.
The whole country is dropped into a barrel. Each entrant’s qualifications and claims are judged, on the scene, by inspectors.
Since 1996, Culver City has not only taken a sharp turn toward enlightened environmental sensitivity with its machinery, it has became a nationwide leader and a recognized personality in the process.
“Culver City strives to be a model environmental steward,” says Mayor Andy Weissman. That is not smoke emanating from the mayor. Evidence abounds.
City Hall was not exaggerating this week when it announced that “Culver City has been a progressive leader in its commitment to using natural gas as its fuel of choice for its entire fleet, including refuse and public works trucks, standard autos and buses displacing nearly 800,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel and saving taxpayers more than $1.2 million per year.”
Along with the Green Fleet Award award, the Equipment Maintenance & Fleet Services Division was named as the 5th Best Overall Fleet in North America for 2009.
While City Hall has been finishing progressively higher by the year, this is its best placement.
Like the first prize, Culver City was up against the country.
In the process, it beat out state governments, such as Illinois and Florida, in addition to smaller governments.
In this category, Culver City was competing with more than 5,000 municipal fleets. The city also was presented with the NGV America Leadership award.
The man at the top pointed toward members of his 38-person staff that maintains a spotless facility at the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Duquesne.
But others insist that it is Paul Condran, who packs the unglamourous title of Equipment Maintenance Manager, should take the deepest bow.
(To be continued)
