FPUA spotlights Keep Fort Pierce Beautiful partnership and volunteer push

The Fort Pierce Utilities Authority highlighted its partnership with Keep Fort Pierce Beautiful on Tuesday, presenting a rebranded anti-litter campaign and a series of volunteer events aimed at reducing litter and improving public health.

"Our City, Our Responsibility," the campaign slogan unveiled by Marsha Kaman, special projects coordinator with the City of Fort Pierce Public Works department, seeks to change behavior through education and coordinated cleanups, Kaman said. She told the board the program has run quarterly community cleanups and its Great American Cleanup in March drew roughly 500 volunteers and yielded 1.46 tons of trash collected in a four-hour window.

Veronica Combs, FPUA employee engagement coordinator, described FPUA’s role in encouraging staff volunteering. "We've had nearly 60 FPUA employees volunteer," Combs said, adding that the utility has provided breakfast for more than 1,200 volunteers and that staff-reported pickups totaled more than 600 pounds of garbage in recent activities. Combs announced a community cleanup set for Dec. 13 focused on the Peacock Arts District and said 14 volunteers had already signed up.

Board members praised the collaboration and linked litter reduction to protecting local waterways. A board member asked whether residents could secure clean-up supplies; Kaman confirmed a public works web page includes an "adopt-a-road" sign-up and contact information to request gloves, grabbers and other supplies.

The presenters said outreach has included bilingual mailers in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole and partnerships with local groups such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Manatee Center. The presentation was informational; no board action was required and none was taken during the item.

The board moved on to its next agenda item after congratulating staff for the outreach and volunteer coordination.