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Three new recognitions were given to the City of Asbury Park for its safety and environmental initiatives this past month.

Most recently, the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund [NJIIF] presented the Mayor and City Council with a Safety Incentive Program Award and $1,500 incentive for creating and maintaining a safe environment for its employees, volunteers, residents, and visitors.

“We’re proud of the work the entire team at City Hall has done to make safety a priority,” Mayor John Moor said. “Not only does it create a safe environment for our employees, volunteers and visitors, it helps keep our costs down—which keeps us moving in the right direction.”

Officials said, the City’s training, auto safety programs, and staff education initiatives led to a decrease in overall claims and insurance payouts; outlined below:

       From 2015-2017 there was a 39 percent reduction in Commercial Auto claims [23 in 2015 down to 14 in 2017] resulting in an insurance payout decrease of 78 percent from $30,836 in 2015 to $6,918 in 2017.

       From 2015-2017 there was a 24 percent reduction in liability claims [45 in 2015 down to 34 in 2017] resulting in an insurance payout decrease of 85 percent from $328,222 in 2015 to $49,322 in 2017.

       From 2015-2017 overall worker’s compensation claims remained the same but resulted in an insurance payout decrease of 67 percent from $799,171 in 2015 to $258,674 in 2017.

The City was also named a NJ Safe Routes to School [SRTS] Gold Level Award winner for its Walk and Bike to School Safety program, administered in conjunction with EZ Ride, the Asbury Park School District, Police Department, and at times, the Complete Streets Coalition.

“As a community, it’s important we provide a safe environment for our children to get to school,” Councilman Jesse Kendle said. “The City is committed to ensuring it’s a priority. Participating in the Walk to School days has been a pleasure and keeps our focus on the children.”

The New Jersey Department of Transportation [NJDOT] accolade recognizes the City’s efforts, which also work toward improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution near schools, officials said. The City supported programs have included multiple Walk to School days with local leaders; Bike Rodeo seminars to teach students how to ride; adoption of a Complete Streets Policy that provides facilities on the street for all users; adoption of a School Travel Plan that sets guidelines for safety; and crossing guard observation and training.

“We’re thankful to Deputy Police Chief David Kelso and his team for being instrumental in the City winning Gold Level in the 2018 Safe Routes to School program,” Mayor John Moor said. “It emphasizes the work we’ve been doing to keep our school routes safe and continue to be a pedestrian friendly community.”

The 3 year recognition opens the door for SRTS infrastructure grant eligibility.

Lastly, the Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] awarded the City a 31,802.19 Clean Communities grant, recognizing its litter cleanup efforts.

“Litter is not only unsightly, it poses a significant threat to our environment because much of it – including plastics that do not degrade readily – is carried by stormwater runoff into our ecologically sensitive waterways and wetlands,” Acting Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said in a written statement. “Appropriately, some of the areas receiving the largest grants are our cities, where it is particularly important that we focus litter removal efforts.”

Asbury Park spokeswoman Sonia Spina said in past years the award has been used to purchase combo garbage and recycling cans.

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