Over the past six years, St. Petersburg City Councilmember Steve Kornell has proved to be a strong advocate for environmental protection.
He’s championed land conservation projects, supported curbside recycling, and pushed for better sewage infrastructure. He also played a big role in brokering a deal that led to St. Pete purchasing 35 acres of land at the southern edge of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve — land that will now be preserved rather than developed.
To show its gratitude, the Florida Suncoast Sierra Club is honoring Kornell with its annual Black Bear award for environmental protection.
“Steve has been a good friend to the Suncoast Sierra Club and we are happy to have endorsed him for both his city council campaigns,” said the organization via press-release.
An awards ceremony will be held tonight, at Clearwater’s Moccasin Lake Nature Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Black Bear award from the Sierra Club,” Kornell said to the organization. “I feel a deep commitment to protecting our environment for the next generation and the Sierra Club is a wonderful partner in this work.”
For the duration of his six years on Council, Kornell has served as the city’s representative on the policy board of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, including two years as its chair.
And things have been pretty good.
The TBEP was recently notified that it will receive $2 million dollars of Restore Act funds from fines related to the BP oil spill. The money will likely go toward further restoration of Tampa Bay’s water quality and overall health.
“The award of Restore Act funds demonstrates that we have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars and good stewards of the Tampa Bay watershed,” commented Kornell.
Recent collaboration with the Charlotte Harbor and Sarasota Bay Estuary programs has also led to the establishment of a regional list of priority projects. The hope is that this collaborative priority list will result in additional money — either state, federal, or local — for additional protection and restoration projects throughout Tampa Bay.
“During my six years on its policy board,” contends Kornell, “the Tampa Bay Estuary Program has made tremendous progress in protecting Tampa Bay.”
