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Sustainable Jersey Award

Asbury Park has become the first Monmouth County community to achieve Sustainable Jersey’s silver level certification, city officials have announced. The certification helps align and create community efforts to increase awareness, reduces waste and greenhouse emissions, saves money and resources, and makes the City eligible to apply for “green grants” in the future.

The accolade will be given during a Sustainable Jersey Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 in Atlantic City at annual League of Municipalities conference.

“It’s an incredible achievement to receive silver level certification from Sustainable Jersey,” Councilwoman Eileen Chapman said in a written statement. “The City showed a 200% increase in application points this year, highlighting our continual efforts to going green. New programs such as the first annual Green Expo, adopting a municipal green purchasing policy, enacting a smoking ban on the beaches, and launching a reusable bag education program, show how Asbury Park is leading the way in sustainability, both in Monmouth County, and in New Jersey.”

The City has twice received the bronze level certification but the new advancement required a push from 190 applicable points to 390 points.

To do so, the City completed 36 sustainability actions in 16 categories, including past initiatives like energy tracking and commercial energy efficiency outreach partnership with NJNG, the Safe Routes to School designation, bike share program, and the Mayor’s Wellness Program.

Only 25 percent of the 445 participating municipalities have received the Sustainable Jersey Silver designation. The nonprofit not only provides tools and training but financial incentives to communities. Currently, 79 percent of the State’s 565 municipalities participate in the sustainability program, with less than half achieving certifications.

For more about Sustainable Jersey, visit sustainablenewjersey.com.

American Littoral Society Accolade

The City also received the American Littoral Society Champion of the Coast award.

Asbury Park is the sixth municipality to receive the recognition, an accolade that recognizes communities that work to ensure a clean and healthy ocean and coastline. The other communities are Berkeley, Bradley Beach, Lavallette, Point Pleasant Beach, and Long Beach.

“As a shore community we have a significant responsibility to provide leadership that will protect our coastal economy and a healthy ocean,” Mayor John Moor said in a written statement. “These collective Champion of the Coast actions help us fulfill that responsibility.”

Municipalities must complete three specific actions, including adopting resolutions to oppose new offshore oil and gas drilling, support of regional ocean planning, and passing an ordinance to ban the intentional release of helium balloons, which the City Council did during its Sept 26 meeting.

“For over a year, we have been reaching out to coastal communities, engaging our New Jersey leaders about coastal conservation actions, and encouraging them to raise their voices on pressing issues of regional importance,” said Helen Henderson, Ocean Program Manager for the Society. “This initiative shows that real people, towns, and communities have the power to leave a positive, lasting legacy on the health of our coast and ocean. We are recognizing their leadership and contributions.”

The local ordinance is aimed at protecting the environment; particularly the wildlife, and the health, safety and well-being of persons and property by prohibiting the release of helium balloons, including latex and mylar.

The balloons release ban will be effective starting next Tuesday, with offenders subject to fines. Exceptions include balloons on behalf of a government agency for scientific purposes, hot air balloons that are recovered after launching, and balloons released indoors.

For more about the Champions of the Coast, visit littoralsociety.org/champions-of-the-coast.html.

LGBTQ Equality

The City has made strides in its Equality Index Scorecard, according to a national survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures LGBTQ inclusivity in City laws and policies.

“The year over year improvement in our score speaks to the City’s ongoing commitment to supporting Asbury Park’s LGBTQ community,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said in a written statement. “We’re proud the HRC has recognized our efforts, and we thank all of our community partners, including Garden State Equality, whose efforts help ensure nondiscrimination for the LGBTQ community.”

The Human Rights Campaign 2018 Municipal Equality Index [MEI] rated 506 municipalities of varying sizes from every state in the nation. Asbury Park achieved a 95 out of 100, up 4 points from the City’s 2017 score. Out of the thirteen cities in New Jersey included in the Index, Asbury Park came in fourth behind Jersey City, Hoboken and Woodbury, each with a score of 100.

Asbury Park’s full scorecard is available at hrc.org/mei. For more information on the Municipal Equality Index visit hrc.org/mei.

Planning Award

The New Jersey Planning Officials [NJPO] organization awarded Asbury Park its 2018 Achievement in Planning award for its Springwood Avenue Park development.

Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso and Springwood Park Project Manager Kirk Danielson of Suburban Consulting Engineers [at right] accepted the award during a Sept. 28 ceremony in Edison.

“We thank the New Jersey Planning Officials for recognizing the hard work it took to create Springwood Park,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said in a written statement. “From acquiring the land to the environmental clean-up and financing, the park was many years in the making and had to be built out in multiple phases. We are incredibly proud to be able to provide the residents of Asbury Park with the first major park on the West Side in over a century.”

Founded in 1938, NJPO is a 9,000 member non-profit that provides education, support and information to municipal planning and zoning boards, as well as elected officials.

The Springwood Avenue Park features an Active Play Lawn Panel, Arts Zone and a Passive Recreation Zone. The facility is used for various recreation activities throughout the year including the collaborative Asbury Park Music Foundation Music Mondays summer concert series, APPD’s National Night Out and the City’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

APPD Receives $175K Secure The Shore Grant

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness [NJOHSP] awarded the Asbury Park Police Department a $175,000 Secure the Shore grant, city officials have announced.

The funding will be used to purchase mobile vehicle barriers, concrete security planters, and Jersey portable water-filled and concrete barriers, to be used during parades and events and large gatherings across the city.

“We are incredibly appreciative of this grant from the NJOHSP which will help us protect our residents and visitors during large scale events,” Deputy Police Chief David Kelso said in a written statement. “With the growing number of events taking place in Asbury Park, the added security is an essential precaution, and it’s more important than ever for people to remain vigilant while enjoying themselves.”

The Secure the Shore initiative, a part of the State’s ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign, launched this summer with a focus in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May communities. Held in coordination with local, county, state, and federal law enforcement, NJOHSP deployed security strategies, particularly in shore communities with limited security and free movement.

For more information on the Asbury Park Police Department, visit cityofasburypark.com/police.

In other news, the City has announced the following programs and initiatives:

Fall Leaf Collection

In other City news, the fall Leaf Collection program will run from Monday through to Dec. 31, city officials have announced.  Residents should place leaves in biodegradable leaf bags or in loose leaf piles at the curb. Leaf piles should not be placed in the street but 6 inches from the curb to allow for stormwater flow and 10 feet from storm inlets.

Leaves will be picked up weekly during the 11 week period but those including branches, grass clippings, dirt or brush will not be picked up.

For more information, visit cityofasburypark.com/dpw or call 732-775-0900.

City Calendar

City Officials have announced a search is on for Asbury Park images.

“Send us your best Asbury Park photos from all around the City – we’re looking for shots of beautiful parks, the boardwalk and beach, great architecture, local businesses, fun events and more,” the announcement read.

Winning photo submissions from residents will be used in the annual calendar or may appear in the City newsletter, on the website or social media pages. Photo credit will be given.

Hi-res photos with full name and contact information can be submitted through Oct 19 via photos@cityofasburypark.com.

Shredding

And lastly, the Monmouth County Paper Shredding campaign will be held from 9 am to 1 pm in the Asbury Park Municipal Parking Lot.

For more information on the City of Asbury Park, visit cityofasburypark.com.

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