By Jocelyn Bogen
March 3, 2003

The United States Conference of Mayors'Waste Management 2003 City Livability Awards Program opened in early February with the mailing of the application and guidelines to mayors of cities of 30,000 or more.

"As a previous City Livability Award recipient, I know firsthand the impact such an award can have on the pride and confidence of a community. The program highlights the best and brightest that cities have to offer, and showcases the talent and commitment of mayors and city residents to the continuing health and vitality of our cities," said Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

In the words of A. Maurice Myers, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management, "Waste Management is proud to sponsor the 2003 City Livability Awards Program. This Awards Program showcases the leadership role that mayors take as they strive to improve the quality of life for the residents of their cities. This is the 14th year that Waste Management has supported this program and we continue to be impressed with the innovative and creative approaches that are used to address some of our nation's toughest issues."

City Livability Awards honor mayors and their cities for outstanding programs that contribute to the quality of life of their citizens. Participating cities will submit an initial application of 500 words, due on Monday, March 10, which briefly describes their program, and indicates when and why it was created, how it has improved the quality of life of the community, and why it is outstanding or innovative.

From these initial applications, about 20 finalist cities in each of two population categories will be selected. These finalist cities will then submit a more detailed application, due on April 30. An independent panel of judges will select the winners in late May. Award winners will be announced in June at the 71st Annual Conference of Mayors in Denver.

The 20 City Livability Awards are presented in two population categories: ten Awards to cities of less than 100,000 people, ten for cities of 100,000 or more.

Every municipality in the United States is eligible to nominate one or more city government programs in any policy area, regardless of whether the municipality has applied for or received a City Livability Award in previous years. All programs initiated by the city government are eligible, including those developed and implemented in cooperation with private sector and/or community group participation.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, last year's recipient of the First-Place City Livability Award for cities over 100,000, said, "The Chihuly in the Park exhibit demonstrated the power of great art to revitalize a neighborhood and inspire our residents. In addition, awareness and appreciation of the surrounding community had grown immensely, presenting many new opportunities for economic development."

Sugarland (TX) Mayor David Wallace, who received the First-Place Award in 2000 for cities under 100,000 stated, "Achieving the 2002 City Livability Award, Sugarland's Juvenile Community Garden Program validated the principles that form the foundation of our community. Our municipal court staff worked diligently to make this community service option available for youth committing Class C misdemeanors. A garden whose produce benefits the needy rather than just paying a fine demonstrates and reinforces with our youth the concepts of accountability, responsibility and integrity."