City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 57

Runner-Up Best Tasting Drinking Water Utility Systems was honored to be voted as the Runner- Up in the 2018 Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest in association with the Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) Region VIII. Competing against 9 other utilities in the tri-county area, it came down to a tie-breaking decision for First Place and Runner-Up. The contest was held at the Port St. Lucie Community Center in March 2018. The entries were judged on taste, color, clarity, and smell. PRSA Public Relations Society of America Sunshine District, Award of Commendation; Hurricane Irma, Utilizing Social Media to Communicate in a Crisis. Award of Commendation; City Website. Videographer Awards The Videographer Awards is one of the oldest and most respected awards programs in the industry and is judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. Port St. Lucie’s Communications Department was honored as a Distinction Winner for its television show, “The Agenda,” and an Honorable Mention for “Port St. Lucie’s Future Starts With You,” an event promotion video for the Citizen Summit. APEX Awards for Publication Excellence This award is presented by Communications Concepts, Inc., which advises publishing, PR and marketing professionals on best practices to improve their publications and communications programs. The City of Port St. Lucie won a Grand Apex award for the NICE Program marketing campaign and an Award of Excellence for the City’s Strategic Plan, Quarterly Progress Report. NACo, NACIO The National Association of Counties honored the City’s communications work in several categories: Photography: Excellence – “City Photography” – Woodstork Trail; Graphics Brochures/Publications: Superior – “Budget- in-Brief;” External Publications: Meritorious – “Bi-Weekly Report,” Annual Reports: Superior – “A Year in Review: The City Manager’s Annual Report” Hermes Awards The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals presented the Communications Department with a Gold award for the City Manager’s Annual Report and NICE program marketing campaign; Platinum award for Crisis Communication Plan for Hurricane Irma and Honorable Mention for the City’s website. Financial Reporting Excellence The City’s Finance Department received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate for Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for producing high-quality financial reports. Communicator Awards The Communications Department was honored by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts for: Social Media for Marketing Effectiveness; Social Media Crisis Communications Campaign for Hurricane Irma; the City Manager’s Annual Report; the City Manager’s Bi-Weekly Report; Content & Marketing - Promotions & Contests for Social: “Where is Waldo in PSL?;” the NICE Program Integrated Marketing Campaign; the City website News Center; and the overall website. Best Neighborhood Program The City of Port St. Lucie’s Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement (NICE) program was named the nation’s best neighborhood program by Neighborhoods, USA, a highly respected non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. The City accepted the first- place award for physical revitalization and beautification on May 26 at the NUSA national conference in Birmingham, Ala. The NICE program is run by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department, with support from other City departments, and is funded entirely through recycling revenue. AVA Digital Awards The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals awarded the City’s Communications Department with several honors including: Platinum Awards for the NICE Program Integrated Marketing Campaign and the City Manager’s Bi-Weekly Report; Gold Award for Crisis Communication, Hurricane Irma; and an Honorable Mention for the City’s website. FPRA Treasure Coast Chapter Image Awards The City’s Communications Manager Sarah Prohaska was honored by the Florida Public Relations Association as the region’s Government Communicator of the Year. The City’s Communications Department also was honored with a Judge’s Award for the City Manager’s Annual Report. The City’s Utility Systems Department was recognized with a Judges’ Award for a video news release that covered the story of a City employee who retrieved World War II Veteran Robert Coleman’s ring that slipped off his finger and disappeared in the sewer. CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 57