Tampa, FL, October 21-22, 1999 – To focus public attention on the negative impacts that litter and other forms of environmental blight have on the quality of life of urban residents, the Urban Litter Partnership is sponsoring a two-day summit in Tampa, Florida on October 21 and 22. The summit will spotlight innovative and effective partnerships, public education, and enforcement programs that produce cleaner, safer, and more economically viable cities.

"The National Summit features the latest and most cost-effective ways to preserve the integrity of our cities and make them cleaner and safer for our citizens," Tampa Host Mayor Dick A. Greco said in announcing the event.

The summit will occur at Tampa's Hyatt Regency Westshore on October 21, 1999 (from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.) and October 22, 1999 (from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.). The Hyatt Regency Westshore is located at 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, Florida (phone 813. 874.1234). A press conference is scheduled for October 21 at Noon.

The Urban Litter Partnership is a strategic alliance between the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB). USCM represents more than 1,000 member mayors and the members of the affiliated Municipal Waste Management Association. KAB represents 485 community-based, statewide and international affiliate programs, including many that serve large cities.

An estimated 150 participants representing more than 60 cities are expected to attend the Urban Litter Partnership’s "Building Clean, Livable Cities" summit. Attendees include Mayors, city managers, environmental commissioners, solid waste and public works directors, executive directors of KAB city and statewide affiliate programs, and other urban leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Mayor Greco will convene the "Building Clean, Livable Cities" Summit. Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido will make the opening remarks and will introduce guest speakers and panelists including:

• John Hall, Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis;
• Amy Kuhn, Special Assistant, Mayor’s Office, City of Columbus, Ohio;
• Alexandra Holt, Deputy Commissioner, City of Chicago;
• Clarena Tolson, Deputy Commissioner, City of Philadelphia;
• Everett Bass, Director of Solid Waste, City of Houston;
• George Kelling, criminologist and co-author of "Fixing Broken Windows";

• Rob Curnow, Research Associate, Community Change Consultants, Victoria, Australia.

The Urban Litter Partnership will also distribute its Best Practices Guide, Urban Partnerships to Prevent Litter and Illegal Dumping. The guide spotlights effective and innovative urban programs that can be adapted for use in cities nationwide. This 60-page "best practices" guide provides a summary of programs underway in 12 American cities, including:

• Chicago’s comprehensive program to eradicate illegal dumping;
• Cincinnati’s "Learn To Lid It" and "Don’t Trash the ‘Nati, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful" education/awareness campaigns;
• Columbus’ Neighborhood Quality Interaction Team;
• Denver’s Downtown Business Improvement District;
• Houston’s partnership between the City of Houston and Keep Houston Beautiful;
• Indianapolis’ Project 180° /IPL Revive A Neighborhood;
• Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival and other beautification programs of the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission;
• Memphis-Shelby County’s Environmental Court;
• Nashville’s "Cut, Clean and Lien" Vacant Lot program;
• New York City’s "Project Scorecard" litter-measurement tool;
• Norfolk’s Environmental Crimes Task Force and other community-based enforcement programs;
• Philadelphia’s "Clean Block Program."

Participants will also be presented with the first-year results of Houston’s "Clean Neighborhoods" program, which was selected to be the Partnership’s major case study. The Houston Clean Neighborhoods Pilot Program report documents the City’s and Keep Houston Beautiful initiatives to develop a neighborhood-based, self-sustaining approach to cleanliness of the city and to prevent litter, illegal dumping and graffiti. The 49-page report was prepared for the Urban Litter Partnership by J. Winston Porter, a former U.S. EPA assistant administrator with national responsibility for solid and hazardous waste programs.

Further Background Information on the "The National Summit on Building Clean, Livable Cities"

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