I got it after a few days of being mayor (4 days?), thanks to the Beautiful Town ordinance, and I didn't sell the fruits on the first few days, instead I planted all. As for the flowers, I stole them from the Island Tours XD
Never lost my perfect town status to this day.
I got the game at release, and I've only managed to achieve perfect town status yesterday. Can't wait to get the gold watering can; it's kind of a pain to water all my flowers as it is right now, haha.
Currently, my town has perfect town status but, I have no idea for how long it has been that way because I don't check with Isabelle about citizen satisfaction levels every day. I only realized I had perfect town status because I noticed a Jacob's ladder growing. (Clueless ought to be my middle name! ) It'll be great to get the golden watering can but I'm already satisfied because I've unlocked and built the flower clock.