One of the city’s top initiatives is sustainability, which for the city means more than just being “green” — it is a way to ensure that current and future generations will enjoy the quality of life we have all worked so hard to achieve. It includes every aspect of our lives and it takes the whole community to make it work. Through a number of programs and activities, the city works hard to ensure that its operations are sustainability. Below is some information on just a few of the city’s latest activities.

City Committee Recognized For Sustainable Activities
The CELEBRATE (City Employees Lowering Energy Cost By Recycling And Tracking Efficiency) committee is an employee-based effort to increase the sustainability and efficiency of city’s day-to-day operations. The committee was one of three finalists statewide for a Cashman Good Government Award, which is given annually by the Nevada Taxpayers Association. Other finalists included P.Christine Wood, health program specialist with the state of Nevada Health Division and the UNLV Facilities Management Business and Finance Unit.

Applicants were evaluated on:
• The strong, continuing and consistent effort to spend taxpayers’ dollars wisely and efficiently;
• Acts which are above and beyond normal job duties;
• The effective, open and accountable practice of creating a “user-friendly” government; and
• The degree to which the achievement has provided tangible results.

Tree Survey Is First Step Of City’s Urban Forestry Initiative
As one of the first steps in developing the city’s Urban Forest Management Plan, the city is completing a survey of trees. The goal of the plan, which is part of the Urban Forestry Initiative adopted May 7, 2008 by the Las Vegas City Council, is to double the average tree canopy coverage to 20 percent by 2035.

Arbor Pro was awarded the contract to count and assess the age and health of the city’s trees. Their contract is being paid with funds from grants received from the Nevada Division of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service and the Southern Nevada Water Authority earlier this year.

The city’s urban forest is an important building block in the city’s Sustainability Initiative and helps reduce the urban heat index, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, absorb stormwater run-off and improve air quality.

Darling Tennis Center Goes Green
The city’s Darling Tennis Center is working with a group that finds ways to re-use tennis balls. Lifeless tennis balls that are in good condition are recharged and sold at a discount to teaching pros, instructors and coaches. Other balls that are too worn are distributed to adult care facilities, hospitals and school to place on the bottom of furniture and walkers to provide stability and reduce damage to floors.