City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 44

ACCOUNTABILITY Code Compliance Specialists Combat Community Imperfections BEFORE AFTER The Neighborhood Services Department code compliance rate for 2018 was 95.63 percent. This statistic and a standard measurement of local government performance in the state is slightly up from last year’s 95.62 percent compliance rate. Code Compliance Specialists play a crucial role in daily community operations and quality of life, as well as have a direct impact on property values and community image. By enforcing property standards and working to keep up with aging, deteriorating properties, the Code Compliance Specialists are able to combat community imperfections and loss of value. Vacant buildings, garbage and clutter, unkempt lawns and property destruction are just some of the challenges Code Compliance officials face. Living Well in PSL Continues to Grow! The goal of the Living Well in PSL Wellness Program is to create a culture of health and wellness within the City by providing wellness initiative programs and activities throughout the year. Employees are given resources and incentives to maximize their overall health and well-being. This program, now in its sixth year, is made possible through wellness monies given by Florida Blue. Of 938 eligible employees, 482 (51.38 percent) participated in the program in 2018, which is a 4.89 percent increase from 2017. Staff participated in wellness activities such as completion of a Health Risk Assessment and Biometric Screening, achieving a target number for a health biometric (BMI, blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and nicotine use) or completing an alternate standard of completion, exercise participation twelve days per month and attending two educational seminars/webinars throughout the year. One of the many benefits an employee wellness program includes lower health plan utilization. This in turn lowers health benefit costs, saving taxpayer dollars as well as overall employee health which reduces sick leave and absenteeism, therefore increasing productivity. City Expands Utility Box Cover Art Program The City’s Utility Box Cover Art program grew in 2018 with the help of area artists! We asked artists to apply to be a part of the program, which beautifies the City by wrapping traffic control and other utility boxes with artwork. More than 200 artists submitted their work! Twenty were selected in 2018 and are now displayed on utility boxes throughout the City. Seven others were wrapped in 2018 on boxes around schools with images submitted by students. Utility box cover art is paid for with the City’s recycling revenue. Proposed for 2019: to be selected from the 40 wraps artist submittals. themed images for the 5 baseball St. Lucie West area. 44 4 3 Tradition themed images for Tradition area on Village Pkwy. Crosstown bridge themed images for Crosstown Pkwy. CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT