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Minutes 03-06-17MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY MARCH 6, 2017, AT 6:30 P.M. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Steven B. Grant, Mayor Mack McCray, Vice Mayor Justin Katz, Commissioner Christina Romelus, Commissioner Joe Casello, Commissioner 1. OPENINGS A. Call to Order - Mayor Steven B. Grant Mayor Grant called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Invocation by Vice Mayor McCray Lori LaVerriere, City Manager James Cherof, City Attorney Judith A. Pyle, City Clerk Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Commissioner Christina Romelus Mayor Grant led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Roll Call City Clerk Pyle called the roll. A quorum was present. Agenda Approval: 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections Mayor Grant added 13. C., Letter to the State of Florida Auditor General regarding the Quantum Park Overlay District. 2. Adoption Motion Vice Mayor McCray moved to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. Vote The motion unanimously passed. Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 2. OTHER A. Informational items by Members of the City Commission Commissioner Katz disclosed he spoke with Bonnie Miskel regarding a potential Wawa store in Boynton Beach and spoke with Andre Park, a legal representative regarding the Olen Group associated with activities in the Quantum Park Overlay Dependent District and representatives from Isram Realty regarding the Riverwalk development. Vice Mayor McCray congratulated Chief Katz on his marriage. He attended the 6th awards celebration for the Boynton Beach Wildcats event.. It was well attended and he thanked Mr. Byrd for his dedication. Mayor Grant announced he attended the City Age Conference on February 22nd and 23rd It was a good conference and attendees from around the country spoke about issues affecting cities such as population growth, climate change, economics and he met the Orlando Sustainable Coordinator who had great things to discuss which could be heard at the next budget meeting. He spoke at the Lantana Rotary and the Junior League Legislative Breakfast, attended the General Employees Public Pension which did well earning a 12.6% return for 2016. He met with e -Development, and attended Crosspointe Elementary School to read on Dr. Suess Day. He attended the CRA Movies in the Park featuring Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and had a surprise party, in honor of his birthday, for all that attended . He attended the Community Caring Center 5K event, receiving a participation medal and he volunteered to be in the dunk tank, raising over $100. He noted Human Resources has some good throwers, but not so much the Fire Department. Earlier in the day he attended the Spanish Bar Association Luncheon and met with a special agent and the State Attorney on human trafficking. He clarified human trafficking is not only human smuggling, it is exploitation which could encompass prostitution, labor or services that people are not getting paid. He urged anyone with information of this nature to report it to the police. Earlier today he had his Town Hall meeting which went very well. The next Town Hall meeting will be April 3rd. Commissioner Romelus attended the E. Boynton Wildcats 6th Annual Awards ceremonies and thought it was great to see youth awarded for their efforts. She attended the opening of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and was part of the festivities for the Investiture of the 5th President of Palm Beach State College, Dr. Ava EI Parker who has been officially inaugurated. She noted she had obtained a $1 million grant which was given to the school and she is the first woman President there. She wished Mayor Grant a happy birthday and announced she and Chair Grant will be traveling to Tallahassee for Palm Beach County days. Session will be a little scary, and she urged diligence and perseverance on important issues. Commissioner Casello recognized a sign language interpreter present at the meeting for the first time and he commended staff for providing the service and commended 2 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 deaf and hearing impaired attendees for attending He thanked Debby Majors. He is the City's representative to the League of Cities, serving on the Board of Directors, and he attended the Directors meeting on the 22nd, and he attended the E. Boynton Wildcats 6th award ceremony. He noted the organization is more than just football, it is about mentoring youth. There is also a girls cheerleading squad. He commented before youth can apply to the program, they must bring their report cards and thought it was a great thing. He commended Mike Byrd and his staff. He was unable to attend the 4th annual Community Caring Center Hunger Walk and Run. He participates each year, but had a foot injury. He announced his wife is on the Board of Directors for the Community Caring Center and she advised the event was a success. He congratulated Chief Katz on his nuptials. 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNITY & SPECIAL EVENTS & PRESENTATIONS A. Announce the following: Mayor Grant read the following: o Municipal Election for District II Seat - Tuesday, March 14, 20171 7:OOAM - 7:OOPM. o The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosting Candidates Forum for City Commission District II - Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 6:30PM - 8:OOPM, Boynton Beach Library Program Room. o Boynton Beach Coalition of Clergy & Black Votes Matter hosting Candidates Forum for City Commission District II - Thursday, March 9, 2017, 6:30PM - 8:OOPM, New Disciples Worship Center, 239 NE 12th Avenue, Boynton Beach. Flyers available in back of Commission Chambers. B. Announce Boynton Beach CRA's Blarney Bash will be Friday, March 17, 2017 from 6:OOPM - 10:OOPM, 129 E. Ocean Avenue. Live Music, Kid's Activities, Food & Cocktails, Craft Beer, Family -Fun and More. Mayor Grant announced this is the third year of the event and the first time it is on St. Patrick's Day. He requested all to spread the word Boynton Beach is the place to be for St. Patrick's Day. C. Announce Career Expo at Carolyn Sims Center, Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 8:30a.m. - 12:OOp.m. sponsored by the CRA, City of Boynton Beach and CareerSource. 3 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 D. Announce Let's Move BOYNTON, part of the Palm Healthcare Foundation's fourth annual Let's Move! Commit to Change Challenge. The challenge began March 1st and ends at midnight on March 31st. Cici Messon, Human Resource Administrator, announced the 5t" Annual Let's Move Commit to Change event and advised last year, Boynton Beach was one of four cities in Palm Beach County to receive a gold medal as Let's Move participants logged more than one million minutes. She urged all to participate in the campaign and beat last year's record. Staff put together a calendar of activities for the program which runs from March 1St through to March 31St and the public can walk to the beach each Wednesday. Those interested should meet by the Police Department at noon toll p.m., or 2 p.m. to participate in the walk. They can log 30 minutes of sustained minutes on the Team Boynton/Healthier Boynton Beach website. There are other activities planned such as partnering with P2P and other organizations and are reaching out to the community. She commented they are giving out tee-shirts. Mayor Grant noted he did not see anyone on the Commission at the 5K Community Caring Center event and he issued a challenge to the Commission he will get more minutes than the other four combined. If he loses, he will provide lunch at the Sailfish Cafe, and if he wins, they can chip in for a meal at Sailfish. Vice Mayor McCray announced he participated in the event last year and it took him three days to recoup. Commissioner Romelus accepted the challenge. E. Proclaim March 11, 2017 as Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Youth Day Octavia Sherrod will be present to accept the proclamation. Mayor Grant read the Proclamation. Present to accept the award was Octavia Sherrod, Manager, Community Improvement. F. Proclaim, March 22, 2017 as All People's Day. Mayor Grant read the proclamation. No one was present to accept the award. G. Presentation by Library staff about departmental operations. Craig Clark, Library Director and Jeanne Taylor, Division Head in charge of Customer Services, were present. Mr. Clark reviewed his presentation noting the Library enhances life-long learning. He thanked the staff and announced in 2015/2016 the Library had over 274K visitors, over 176K online visitor, 285K items were borrowed, 515 programs for adult children and teens and over 10K people attending the program. Total volunteer hours by the Friends of the Library, including the teen volunteer program during the summer.(not a sentence) There are about 25 to 30 friend volunteers working in the bookstore and during the summer have about 8 to 10 teens working in the bookstore. Their signature programs include the Brown Bag series, What's on Wednesday, Writer's Corner, movies and documentaries, family fall festival and winter ►1 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 holiday open houses and literacy based programs, offering many reading clubs and participating in Read for the Record, which the City has been a champion for the last three years. The Library offers various technology to -patrons and has various computers for adults, teens and young children, a virtual teen lab to make music and a video which is well used. There are Nooks and iPads for checkout and librarians with research expertise. There were handout promoting the Library's free data bases and the Library's quiet study rooms are always full, and they will be looking for more space for that. The Library has local history and archives and is digitizing historical newspapers from 1920 and currently up to 1975. Oral histories were digitized dating back into the 1970s originally recorded on real to real tapes and some cassette tapes. The Library curates special collections including the Boynton Women's Club, assists with historical research and is working on projects to digitize Boynton Beach and Atlantic High School yearbooks and have been sending them to the Oklahoma detention system who digitizes them for free. Vice Mayor McCray asked if they were digitizing Seacrest High School yearbooks and learned they have not as they do not have any, but would. He provided a list of the Library's digital collections noting they have many free and valuable information available, ebooks, streaming music and downloads, foreign language, career and job resources and a lot of small business resources. The Library launched a new online data base called Florida Legal forms and has many STEM related kids and teen programs in addition to how to be a responsible baby sitter, there are maker labs, 3D printings and all kinds of different science and craft programs. An career online high school is available in addition to the summer reading club and other summer youth programs. They are applying for a state grant to digitize the Lake Worth Herald in partnership with the Lake Worth Public Library and the Lake Worth Herald as the newspaper goes back to 1912 and contains a lot of Boynton's news was part of the Lake Worth Herald and a lot of valuable information. The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County Americorp program provides afterschool homework help for the last six years. The Library offers free college prep for high school students and they have a teen group discussing stresses in a peer-to-peer atmosphere and English as a second language classes. The Boynton Beach Public Library reciprocates with other public and academic libraries, under a program formerly known as Southeast Florida Library Information Network as (SEFLIN) Sunshine Library Card, now known as the SEFLIN One Card Program of which the Library is a member and Mr. Clark serves on the Board. Anyone with a Boynton Beach City library card can sign up for the SEFLIN One Card, thereby providing City citizens with access to other libraries and learning institutions such as Palm Beach State College, Nova Southeastern University, Broward State College. St. Thomas University and others. Residents can visit their libraries and sign up for a card and borrow from them. 5 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Jeanne Taylor, explained the Career Online High School is a program for adults to obtain an accredited high school diploma and not a GED program and a career certificate. The program is free and funded through the Florida State Library and they request students be dedicated to their educational pursuits. It requires a two-week prerequisite class that provides a preview of what the classes will be like and if they can keep pace with the program. There are currently seven students and they have their first graduate who has already enrolled in college classes. More scholarships are available and they are urging other libraries to continue funding the program in future years. Ms. Taylor announced Select Reads making it easier to find books one likes and their new book alerts, author spotlights and new letters to spotlight new books received. If a reader prefers mystery thrillers, they can subscribe for what new mystery thrillers are received and the reader receives an email alert that is connected to the library catalogue where the reader can put the book on hold. The Edge Assessment tool is an amenity libraries used to evaluate technology services and measure public access. It identifies benchmarks and indicators to help plan technology services that meet public need. In the first year of identifying the tool, staff identified 20 action technology items that would add value to the community. Of the 20 items, 16 are in progress or completed and staff intends to use the tool for strategic planning of ongoing technology services and future offerings of anything else to help those in the community. Project outcome is a new tool libraries are adopting to understand and analyze the impact and services of the programs they offer. The Library just began using this tool and provides surveys that are simple and easy to use which is being used with computer classes offered in the Library, which they started offering in February and will offer again in March. The Library has a lot of value in the community, and from a taxpayer return on investment study in Florida, they have learned for every dollar invested in public libraries, $10.18 is provided in economic return and for the City Library, the $2.2 million budget returns nearly $23 million in an economic return for the community. Mr. Clark noted future programs include a workshop how to start a small business in Boynton Beach by partnering with the City Development Department, the CRA and SCORE and offer a first time homebuyer workshop partnering with the Urban League of Palm Beach County. Staff was looking to create a new maker's space in the Library in a few years, where citizens can make protoypes, robots and others. He, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Watts were researching the options for a maker's space and will then assemble a citizen group to determine what would be best for the program. The Boynton Beach City Library Friends give donated books to the Veterans Medical Center and the Palm Beach County jail for inmates to read, and also offer the opportunity for the public to write notes to forgotten soldiers. They hold a Food for Fines Drive in November and for each can of food of non-perishable food donated, the late fine is reduced by $1 which is donated to the Community Caring Center. The Library also holds a toy drive for the R Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Community Caring Center. He invited all to visit the new Sailfish Cafe, run by the Community Caring Center and the food is really good. The Library values its volunteers, Library Advisory Board, Friends of the Boynton Beach City Library and Library Quilters. He is also proud of four young people who grew up using the Library and proud to hire them which he recognized, noting three of the four hired have moved up to higher paying positions and are all in college. Vice Mayor McCray asked if the Library partnered with the Palm Beach County Library on book returns and learned the City has a delivery service. If someone drops a City Book off at a County Library, they will send it to the City and vice (check spelling)versa. Commissioner Casello asked about the quilters and learned they meet every Thursday morning and the quilts are for sale. The quilters have been here a long -long time, they do wonderful work, make the quilts and all money is donated back to the Library. Mayor Grant noted he will be speaking at the Library on Monday at noon for the brown bag series about his trip to Taiwan. What's on Wednesday is offered as well as health programs, authors and other great programing. He invited all to take a monthly calendar on the back table containing information on free data bases and several flyers. H. Video of the International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium Event of February 3-5, 2017. Ms. Coles-Dobay, Public Art Manager, presented a video on the International Kinetic Art and Symposium event held February 3rd to the 5tn(be cconsistent) explaining art and technology collided to create kinetic art powered by solar, wind, light, robotics, sound, water, gravity and other elements. The City Commission viewed a video and learned the, event included more than 75 kinetic artworks, interactive installations and community projects. Thirty-eight local, national and international artists participated and tours were conducted for special interest groups including hearing and visually impaired. Presentations and lectures regarding kinetic art were held and attendance was estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 thousand people over the weekend. The event was funded by the City, CRA, Avenue of the Arts and developers. She gave special thanks to the City Commission, CRA, Arts _Commission and CRA and City staff for their help and all the volunteers. She noted the video is on the www.intlkineticart event.org website. Commissioner Casello asked if there was an increase in artists that participated and learned there had been. Ms. Coles-Dobay noted in addition to the weekend attendees, there are tours given all year long for the art that is displayed on the Avenue of the Arts. Vice Mayor McCray met an artist from Europe who never heard of Boynton Beach until this event and was informed Ms. Coles-Dobay was the bomb. 4. PUBLIC AUDIENCE 7 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 3 MINUTE PRESENTATIONS (at the discretion of the Chair, this 3 minute allowance may need to be adjusted depending on the level of business coming before the City Commission) Valerie McKinley, 1402 S. Seacrest Boulevard, commented they just had a deadly car accident on Seacrest and she requested dropping the speed from 30 to 35 mph as speed played a role in the man crossing the street not making it to the other side. She wanted to know how can she go further with making this happen. She was aware it is a county road Jeff Livergood, Director Public Works and Engineering, explained Seacrest Boulevard is a County highway and the County engineering staff develops and establishes the speed zones. City staff can make the request the County change the speed limit. Typically accidents are not a driver in changing the speed limits, but they will look at the accident history to determine if speed was a contributing factor to any of them and to determine if the best solution is to use additional police enforcement to obtain motorist compliance with the speed zones, or if a reduction in speed is required. It is a Palm Beach County engineering staff decision, not the City, but he agreed to speak with the County traffic engineering staff. Ms. McKinley thought the City should start with police policing the speed with the posted signs. She advised the accident occurred at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday. Commissioner Romelus was unsure of the details, but noted Seacrest and the intersections on Seacrest have been a concern to her. She had worked with Mr. Livergood to obtain crosswalk signs and markings placed at Ocean and Seacrest. They petitioned the County for them and it was approved and installed. It is a heavily used intersection and pedestrians cross there, so motorists should be mindful. The City plans to continue working to improve the safety for the citizens of the area. Commissioner Casello asked if electronic signs monitoring speed could be used and commented they would ask for a greater police presence during certain hours to ensure the speed limit is observed. Ms. McKinley advised the community will keep an eye out. Tina Sherman, 139 SE 9t" Avenue, announced she lost her friend Timothy Baxter on Seacrest. He was an icon and artificial mayor of Boynton Beach. Mr. Baxter was mentally challenged, but he lived on his own and he would always wait for 10 minutes for cars to pass and tell them to go. Social media reached out to her as his friend and neighbor and commented they always see him waving cars to go. He made it three quarters of the way across the road. The skid marks on the road are over 100 feet long. She thought speed was a factor. Living where the accident happened, they are aware of the speeding occurring all day long and she was thankful it was not a school afternoon. She advised a lot of the children do not use the crosswalks and in the morning, the children are throwing footballs and running onto Seacrest, when cars are flying down the road. Anything else the City could do would be appreciated and all the police knew him. They lost a great member of the community. Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Jill Clemons, 113 SE 8th Avenue, explained Timmy Baxter is not the first person to be hit and killed in that area of Seacrest. She agreed with the prior comments made about the school children and many people do not slow to the 20 mph school requirement. This is an ongoing issue and she was rear ended turning onto her street by someone who was travelling above the speed limit. She requested if there is something they can do, they do it as it would be appreciated. LaBeau Kpadenou, 2695 Eden Drive, Lake Worth, was asked to speak to the Commission regarding the proposed Ordinance regarding a moratorium on dispensing medical cannibus. Mr. Kpadenou was advised he could speak to the item when it was heard. Susan Oyer, 140 SE 27th Way, thanked the City Commission and advised she was teaching a chapter on local government in school, and two people from Delray Beach and Boca Raton spoke to her class. She noted 11 people from Boynton Beach showed up. She thanked the CRA, Ms. LaVerriere and several staff including the Police and Fire Chiefs for attending as her students were thrilled. She distributed an article on millennials and a report in Florida Trend Magazine, and an article on a parking garage in Miami encased in greenery, which she supported. She noted a story in the Sunday papers about smartphone zombies and putting LED strips on the ground to alert pedestrians they are at the end of the sidewalk as they are not paying attention to where they are going that will indicate if they are approaching a green or red intersection as they are looking down. She thought this was of interest as the City redevelops Town Square and Boynton Beach Boulevard and in light of the prior speakers' comments. There is information about trees and the importance of green space. She reminded all Earth Day was approaching and the City should plant more trees as the City is part of the Tree City USA program and the City should green itself up. No one else coming forward, public comments was closed. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE A. Appoint eligible members of the community to serve in vacant positions on City advisory boards. The following Regular (Reg) and Alternate (Alt) Student (Stu) and Nonvoting Stu (NN Stu) openings exist: Arts Commission: 1 Alt Building Board of Adjustments & Appeals: 1 Reg and 2 Alts Library Bd: 1 Reg and 2 Alts Motion N Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Commissioner Katz nominated John Walter as a regular on the Library Board. Vice Mayor McCray seconded the nomination. Vote The motion unanimously passed. Recreation & Parks Bd: 2 Alts Senior Advisory Bd: 1 Reg and 2 Alts 6. CONSENT AGENDA Matters in this section of the Agenda are proposed and recommended by the City Manager for "Consent Agenda" approval of the action indicated in each item, with all of the accompanying material to become a part of the Public Record and subject to staff comments A. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R17-024 - Authorize the City Manager to sign an interlocal agreement between Palm Beach County and the City of Boynton Beach for the reimbursement of emergency medical services grant equipment. The purchase will be reporting tablets and protective cases from Strictly -Tech of Fort Lauderdale, FL as per the recently awarded Palm Beach County Emergency Management (PBCEM) Emergency Medical Services grant for 2017 for anexpenditure of $9,454.08 and not to exceed $10,000. (Change margins of items to be the same) B. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R17-025 - Authorize City Manager to sign any required documents related to applying for a planning grant with the South Florida Transit Oriented Development (SFTOD) Grant Program and authorize the Mayor to provide a letter of support for the grant application. C. Approve the purchase of a new Blue Bird 77 Type C bus for the Recreation & Parks Department at a cost of $96,887 from the Florida Transportation Systems, Inc. of Tampa, FL. utilizing the Florida Department of Education School Bus Bid #2016-01. The Florida Department of Education's bid satisfies the City's competitive bid requirements. Vice Chair McCray pulled this item and commented he was glad the City was buying a new bus. The City lost many of the E. Boynton Wildcats players to Delray Beach because they do not have transportation. The E. Boynton Wildcats can use the bus for some of their trips provided they hold a fundraiser once a year. He favored the purchase. Motion 10 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Vice Mayor McCray moved to approve. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. Vote The motion unanimously passed. D. The Recreation & Parks Advisory Board reviewed the proposal and recommend renaming Boynton Village Dog Park in honor of Boynton Beach Police Officer Joe Crowder. E. Approve utilizing Palm Beach County Term Contract #12039 with Southeast Truck Specialist, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL for truck repairs and painting of large trucks for an estimated amount of $35,000. Palm Beach County's procurement process satisfies the City's competitive bid requirements. F. Approve the attach list of Vehicles/Equipment submitted by Public Works/Fleet Maintenance as surplus and approve the City utilizing govedeals.com as the auction process. G. Approve the minutes from the Regular City Commission meeting held on February 21, 2017. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. Vote The motion unanimously passed. 7. BIDS AND PURCHASES OVER $100,000 - None 8. CODE COMPLIANCE and LEGAL SETTLEMENTS - None 9. PUBLIC HEARING 7 P.M. OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE AGENDA PERMITS The City Commission will conduct these public hearings in its dual capacity as Local Planning Agency and City Commission. 10. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT -None 11 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 12. NEW BUSINESS A. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R17-026 - Supporting the combined efforts of the United Sates Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Justice in reducing the number of Opioid prescriptions and ensuring safe drug disposal. Sharon Burns Carter, Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates, thanked the City Commission for their efforts and accomplishments regarding substance use disorder and for the lives affected by the opioid epidemic. The proclamation last summer recognizing National Overdose Awareness Day was appreciated. The Police and Fire Department first responders continue to interrupt the deaths of many people and bring them home to their family for recovery. Many accidental overdoses from opioids are the result of overprescribing. Many medications do not need to be abused in order for an addiction to form. The prescriptions wind up on the streets and are sold illicitly. This resolution is another area they are trying to address, and the Department of Justice supports it and requested they implement the prescription drug monitoring program or PDMP. The Center for Disease Control outlined guidelines and she asked the City Commission support the resolution so they can show the City's support in Tallahassee. The Surgeon General has sent a letter to every physician in the country advising them of the guidelines and the potential lethal nature of prescribing opiates when not indicated. Ft. Lauderdale, Coconut Creek, Delray Beach, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Margate and Dania Beach have supported the resolution. West Palm Beach was anticipated to endorse it at their next meeting. County Commissioner Melissa McKinley will be heard by the League of Cities and County and expects it will move forward. All agree they must do all they can to help those who are struggling. Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates thanked the City Commission for its support. Mayor Grant noted the Police Department has a prescription drop off, as one should not throw prescriptions away or flush them. Commissioner Casello inquired if the program was on the City's website and still in effect. Ms. LaVerriere agreed to check. Vice Mayor McCray asked if the drop off is used often and learned it was. Last week two recycling bins were full with an array of prescriptions ranging from opioids to Gas-X. The medications are disposed of properly and are in the custody of the evidence custodians and it is overseen by the Vice supervisor. People can just come in to the lobby and drop off the medication and leave. No questions are asked. Motion Vice Mayor McCray moved to approve. Commissioner Casello seconded the motion. 12 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Vote The motion unanimously passed. 13. LEGAL A. Pursuant to Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, the City Attorney is requesting a private attorney/client session of the City Commission to discuss pending litigation in the following case: SECURED HOLDINGS INC, Plaintiff, vs. QUANTUM OVERLAY DEPENDENT DISTRICT, EUGENE GERLICA and CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, Defendants — Palm Beach County Circuit Court Case No. 502016CA005668XXXXM B Attorney Cherof announced this item is a request to conduct a closed -door session at the next meeting. This is one of several cases involving the Quantum Park Development Area. The case involves litigation with a number of talking points to explain all the elements being litigated. The matter is complicated, there is cross litigation and he will need about an hour. There was consensus to meet at 5:00 p.m. on March 21St, before the next City Commission meeting B. PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 17-007 - FIRST READING - Consideration and adoption of moratorium on dispensing medical cannabis. Attorney Cherof read Proposed Ordinance by title only on first reading. Mayor Grant opened public comment LaBeau Kpadenou, 2695 Hayden Drive, and co-chair of the Palm Beach County Green Party, explained this was brought to his attention by many members who are constituents of the City Commission. He commented many find medical marijuana helps them cope with issues they dealt with when using harder drugs such as opioids. He thought the City Commission should allow the dispensaries to exist because currently seniors are forced to order online from Tampa, Florida if authorized by their physicians. He also noted City residents have to rely on. City government to do the right thing. He understood concerns about zoning and other similar issues, but pointed out the electorate voted by super majority to approve the use and some months later it appears the issue is being delayed. He thought by allowing the moratorium and continuing it, some may be suffering and/or forced to the black market. He noted a resolution was passed on opioid addiction and the City Commission recognizes opioids are a dangerous alternative to medical marijuana prescribed by a doctor. He emphasized this is not recreational use. It was a medical use and he requested the City 13 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Commission deny the moratorium and to allow citizens to follow the instructions of their physicians in a convenient manner. Mayor Grant agreed dispensaries will be in the City and the moratorium is not to hinder that, rather it will allow City staff an additional six or four months after the legislation is enacted to review. The City initiated the six month moratorium, unlike the County, which initiated a one-year moratorium. He understood the only dispensaries will be the growers themselves. Florida legislation requires a seed to sale policy and there are only seven growers in the State, but the City does not know what the Legislature will do, such as allowing more growers or just seven. He thought rather than allowing dispensaries near schools and on arterial roads, they be hidden away. It takes more time for staff to draft regulations and they have done a lot this year, and this would allow an extra three or four months after the date the legislature decides what to do. Mr. Kpadenou understood and hoped the matter would be actively pursued.. He commented he would advise his constituents. Commissioner Casello thought waiting to see what the Legislature does is a poor choice, noting 75% of the voters voted in favor of the measure and the matter was being delayed. It is important to have regulations now, but commented if they have to be amended in the future, they could. He thought being proactive was vital and noted this is medicine people need. If regulations are in place, they can be amended and commented they did not have to expedite the issue, but staff could work on it right away and move it forward. It was important to have something in place and HB 17 would limit local governments' ability to regulate local businesses, which he did not favor. Some communities could be grandfathered in if there are regulations in place. He asked what communities already have guidelines in place, and learned Parkland, Wilton Manors, Royal Palm Beach, Altamonte Springs, Winter Park and several others. Commissioner Casello asked once an ordinance or regulation is in place, if it could be amended contingent on what the State does and learned it could. Commissioner Katz was presented an Ordinance timeline by the Building Department that syncs up with approval by the Planning and Development Board and City Commission and it appears it would coincide with the deadline for the Department of Health to establish the rules for amendment. If so, the Planning Department can put an ordinance together to regulate these types of dispensaries. They have a timeline that coincides with the law and its eventual implementation. He did not see the need for a delay, which will deprioritize the Ordinance and add additional time to it. He commented, in reference to the Legislature's policy making regarding the amendment, he opined they would be conservative about it as they had previously indicated they are clear they do not favor medicinal marijuana in the conventional sense and thought there would be restrictive rules in place. They may relax some rules they have, but he did not have the concern it could turn into a dispensary on each corner. He did not support the moratorium and favored an ordinance to coincide with the implementation of whatever the Legislature enacts and the Department of Health agrees with. 14 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Mayor Grant pointed out part of the current ordinance is they have to wait 90 days before ordering medical marijuana and he did not think there was any reason to enact anything as soon as the legislation hits. The moratorium will allow the City to see the unknowns before the City Commission has to decide. He would want a conversation to see what is in place. He did not want dispensaries near schools or arterial road and asked if the City Commission would agree to that now. Commissioner Casello thought it should be discussed before passing an ordinance. Commissioner Katz thought the item should be put on as a future agenda item for the next meeting or two for discussion. He has thought about what kind of restrictions he would like to see in reference to the quantity of dispensaries and where they are located in the City, but has not reviewed the technical aspects as the Planning Department can present what they want and the City Commission could consider it. Commissioner Casello wanted to see ordinances and resolutions passed by other cities and take some of their ideas so they do not reinvent the wheel. Mayor Grant commented his vote would be to have a moratorium for six months. He understood people approved medical marijuana for medical purposes, but he wanted to ensure it is not a free for all once the Legislature decides what to do. Commissioner Casello thought if regulations are in place they will be protected. He favored putting it under future agenda and make rules and regulations that can be fine-tuned when the Legislature makes a decision. Commissioner Romelus had discussed the timeline for an Ordinance or regulations with Andrew Mack. She understood the timeline presented, but inquired about the Departments workload.. Andrew Mack, Director of Development, agreed the Department is busy, but he presented a timeline staff can meet. If the City Commission imposes a moratorium, staff could work under that timeframe. As far as a study period, there is a lot of good data and ordinances available the City could use. Staff was already working on the matter when the referendum was approved in November. He was comfortable with the timeline. Commissioner Romelus asked if the moratorium would be from when legislation is passed or from current day. Mayor Grant explained in the time between July 1, 2017, which is the deadline for the moratorium to establish rules, they may receive applications for dispensaries and the City would not have any Iregulations regarding it, the City Commission would have to move forward on that before enacting something. He commented if they do not have the moratorium, he preferred they have the second hearing of an Ordinance before July 1 St Vice Mayor McCray requested Attorney Cherof bring something back from other cities, the City Commission can review to ensure all are on the same page. Motion 15 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Vice Mayor McCray moved to approve putting this item on a future agenda item for the next meeting. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion for discussion about rules and regulations. Commissioner Casello asked if Mr. Mack was comfortable with his timeline and learned he was and he would review the matter with the City Attorney. Commissioner Casello noted since this passed, Attorney Cherof has kept him in the loop since January. Staff has seen some regulations and they can craft an ordinance in April and then put it before Planning and Development in May and have the first reading of the Ordinance in June and second reading in July. Commissioner Romelus noted if they move the July 4t" meeting it would push the timeline back. Mayor Grant commented he would not be present the first week in Jul X and that was why he wanted to wait until after the election. If they cancelled the July 4t meeting, it would push the Ordinance back two weeks after the second meeting in July. Attorney Cherof would review the issue could be considered zoning in progress. Mr. Mack did not anticipate an application would be submitted in that two week time frame. Vice Mayor McCray pointed out just because the City Commission was going to discuss it at the next City Commission, staff can still work with it. Vote There was consensus to do so. Attorney Cherof commented the item was considered to have died on first reading with no motion. C. Letter to the State of Florida Auditor General regarding the Quantum Park Overlay District. Mayor Grant explained he spoke with the Attorney. He requested to have the State of Florida Auditor General look into the finances and dealings of the Quantum Park Overlay Development District and Board of Directors for however long a time period they could review. He noted he spoke to the City Attorney and they had a property owners association meeting on Friday and it was not well attended, nor was there a quorum to hold the meeting. He favored the authorities look into the district. It would not cost the City as the Office of the Auditor General without charge the City. Commissioner Katz noted he had requested consensus from the City Commission a few months back, to charge the City Attorney with seeing which entity would investigate this and he has come back with the State being in charge of it. The Board had unanimously agreed to review the matter and he hoped the Board would support the City's request to the State to look into their finances as well. Mayor Grant requested a motion to do so. Motion 16 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 Commissioner Katz moved to approve. Vice Mayor McCray seconded the motion. Vote The motion unanimously passed. 14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A. Joint City Commission/CRA Workshop for six month update on 2016 strategic plan at the Intracoastal Park Clubhouse (IPC) at 3:30p.m. - March 28, 2017. B. Monthly Departmental Presentations: Communications/Marketing - April 2017 C. Consider adopting a Chronic Nuisance Ordinance. - March/April 2017 D. Discuss cancelling the July 4th City Commission meeting - April 4, 2017 E. Ocean One (REZN 16-001) — Approve Ocean One rezoning from Central Business District (CBD) to Mixed Use High Intensity (MU -H) District with a proposed two-phase master plan for a total of 358 multi -family rental units, 12,075 square feet of commercial retail space and a 120 -room hotel. Applicant: Davis Camalier / Ocean One Boynton, LLC. - March 21, 2017. F. Ocean One (ABAN 17-001) — Approve request for abandonment of a portion of right-of-way of Boynton Beach Boulevard east of Federal Highway, and NE 6th Court between Boynton Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, in conjunction with request for new site plan approval of Ocean One mixed use project. Applicant: Davis Camalier / Ocean One Boynton, LLC. - March 21, 2017 G. Ocean One (CDPA 17-001 & 17-002) — Approve requests for a Community Design Appeal of 1) Chapter 3, Article III, Section 5.C., "Build - to -line", which requires buildings to be constructed with a build -to -line of 0 to 15 feet, to allow a setback of approximately 19 feet; and 2) Chapter 4, Article III, Section 6.F., "Off -Street Parking Area Standards", which requires facades of parking garages that front on an arterial or collector roadway to be wrapped with habitable space. Applicant: Davis Camalier / Ocean One Boynton, LLC. - March 21, 2017. H. Ocean One (NWSP 16-002) — Approve request for a New Site Plan for multi -family residential (rental apartments) consisting of 231 dwelling units within an eight (8) -story building, retail space, and associated recreational 17 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2017 amenities and parking on 1.93 acres. Applicant: Davis Camalier / Ocean One Boynton, LLC. - March 21, 2017. I. Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Coalition of Boynton West Residents Association (COBWRA). - April 4, 2017 J. Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Countywide Intergovernmental Coordination Program. - April 4, 2017 K. Appoint a . City Commission representative and alternate to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. - April 4, 2017 L. Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. - April 4, 2017 15. ADJOURNMENT Motion There being no further business to discuss, Vice Mayor McCray moved to adjourn. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. Vote The motion unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. (Continued on next page) IN Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida ATTEST Jud-i£�i A. Pyle, CMC Ci�y'Clerk 0 p , C� Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 19 C L ria ioner - CommissicRe - March 6, 2017 tl McCray ina Romelus Commissioner - Joe Casello WOWNITO-TAKMAIMUZ101'I \ For many, college-educated evokes ivy-covered walls, Saturday football, frats and sororities. For south Flori- da native Stefan Dacosta, after twice being evicted along with his family from apartments, it meant getting on the Tri -Rail from his uncle's house in Boynton Beach in time to get to work and school at 8 a.m. and then riding home at 11 p.m. In other ways, the four years he spent earning a bachelor's of applied science in supervision and manage- ment bears a resemblance to a typical college experience. Dacosta is a joiner. Though he attended Broward College, a commuter school, he dove into cam- pus activities. after he arrived in 2012. He got involved in clubs, organiza- tions, student government and College Leadership Florida. A music video of a song he wrote and composed with other students is on the College's You - Tube page. Most significant, he volunteered in the central campus student life office — "all the fun stuff you see at any col- lege campus." That led to a job there part time. He then worked in admis- Stefan Dacosta works at his alma mater, Broward College, and is pursuing a master's degree in higher education administration. sions and then full time as student life coordinator at the Fort Lauderdale campus. "I enjoy my job every day," he says. He lives with his father in a rent- ed apartment in Sunrise. After gradu- ating cum laude, the 23 -year-old now is pursuing a master's in higher educa- tion administration at Florida Interna- tional University. His immediate career goal is al- ready in hand, and his ultimate goal is to be a dean or even a college presi- dent. He's without student debt. Two years ago, he had no apartment and no car. Now he's envisioning owning a home. "I'm at a stage now where I don't have to stress each month, `Can I pay this bill?"' LE 58 sFE.:i,':,Q� Y';'_ ;' FLO 1DAT DJ:GN1 photo: Eileen Escarda s FLORIDA MILLENNIALS The following industries employ three-fourths of all Millennials in Florida: Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics Florida is home to four companies rated in Fortune's list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials: Ultimate Software, Weston, (No. 5); Arthrex, Naples, (No. 28); JM Family Enterprises, Deerfield Beach, (No. 45); Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, (No. 74). JM is also on the list for best for Boomers, and Ultimate is on the GenX list. Each list is based on employee surveys nationally. 52 Fr tUr",R',:?yt? FLORID T.r+.EM.COM James Roesner came to Florida from his native Michigan to attend Embry - Riddle. He got an internship, found him- self in front of a computer all day and realized he wanted something else. He moved to Miami and joined an electrical power technology two-year degree pro- gram at Miami Dade College. Today, he's a lead substation electri-, cian, foreman of a crew for FPL that keeps the utility's Volusia County sub- stations running. "We're where all the high-voltage lines meet the low -voltage lines," says Roesner, 27. "We work a ton of hours. The job definitely keeps you busy. When the hurricane came through, it was non-stop. Got to keep the lights on." Roesner is in an unusual — and among Millennials — enviable spot. While he and FPL declined to discuss his pay, util- ity industry employees are among the best -paid Millennials in Florida, with av- erage annual earnings of nearly $66,000. That's more than double the Millennial average and well above the total for all Florida workers. Those utility workers, however, make up just a fifth of 1% of the Millennial workforce, just 5,629 workers in Flori- da. (Utilities overall employ just 30,182 of all ages.) Millennials, meanwhile, are overrep- resented in fields typically associated with youth and low pay: Retail, cleri- cal posts and restaurants. The average Millennial in those fields is in an $8- to $10 -an -hour job. The money for Millen- nials, and workers in general, is in utili- ties, mining and quarrying, wholesale trade, real estate, finance and insurance, management and tech work. But those sectors employ only 16% of the Millen- nial workforce. More than double that James Roesner, 27, chose to become an electrician rather than complete a four-year degree and sit at a computer all day. Miliennial Migration Immigrant Traits County Millennials Miami -Dade County has the largest Orange 7,038 number of Millennialswhomoved — there from another country — 14,776. Broward 6,395 Other counties with large numbers of Hillsborough 5,108 immigrant Millennials: Palm Beach3,939 Eager to put Hamilton Leon Union 25.7% 37.2% 252% Escambia 7 Duval 26.0% 25.5% Liberty -- 26.8% Lafayette 4 - ----Alachua 28.7% 38.0% Hendry - 24.9% Generations in a Nutsheill —Orange 28.2% , M�� Influences Traits M, Vietnam R. Question authority Hernando 0, Prosperity im Competitive AIDS a) The Beatles but optimistic Highlands �-q Moon landing Eager to put Sarasota — Martin their stamp or, 15.2% Charlotte� instttubons Sumter iFlagler Citrus 103% 15.3% 12.8% -3 Divcrce Hernando Lake 16.6% 15.7% AIDS Resourceful Indian Highlands River 15.2% 15.7% Sarasota — Martin 14.2% 15.2% Charlotte� 12.6% Communications Tips Boomers need formal communication and etiquette. D Boomers have a different sense of work -life balance than Millennials. Boomers may guard their work knowledge and need to look for opportunities to share and connect.. T Influences Traits " o Te,rcs ri s rn a n d I Diverse violence lmlle ,) Tech -savvy .:)Technology/ Environmental'y social media conscious Climate change Collaborative Economic uncertainty Realistic Communications Tips 0 Millennials want to know how their work makes a difference. i Millennials need to know what specific results are expected and need constant feedback, with plans to improve. Millennials like input but don't like to be handed predetermined decisions. Millennials, need to show that they're doing the work. Fa,ted Y Influences Traits Communications Tips -3 Divcrce Skeptical You may have to prove your ideas to GenXers, AIDS Resourceful GenXers need straight, unfiltered communication. Shuttle disaster Independent Respect GenXers independence. MITV and CNN Self-reliant GenXers need to ask themselves when being Latch -key kids collaborative can help. T Influences Traits " o Te,rcs ri s rn a n d I Diverse violence lmlle ,) Tech -savvy .:)Technology/ Environmental'y social media conscious Climate change Collaborative Economic uncertainty Realistic Communications Tips 0 Millennials want to know how their work makes a difference. i Millennials need to know what specific results are expected and need constant feedback, with plans to improve. Millennials like input but don't like to be handed predetermined decisions. Millennials, need to show that they're doing the work. Fa,ted Y hcqlcl­,, vhn,,,,awl�t O'At .Ifv.rs traring, wo6r "Idols -d he qrouos FLORIDATIREND '71 --- :, - 51 FLORIDA MILLENN1AL5 In 1980, the youngest members of the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) were 18, and the oldest were 34. The Millennial gerrefation is at a similar juncture today: The youngest Millennials are 18, and the oldest are 34. A comparison of the two generations: 0 gra 0 4 a,%) 0 a 0 EE�lEilJ h a J du Both in Florida and nationally, today's Millennials outnumber the Boomer generation in 1980, but they're a smaller proportion of the overall population — i.e., the Boomer generation was a bigger "pig in the python" demographically. % of Florida Number Population 1980 Fla. Boomers 2.55 million 26.2% Fla. i^ lenniv s 4.12 21.6 % of U.S. Number Population 1980 U.S. Boomers 67.1 million 29.2% U.S. Millennials 72.8 23.4 Bachelor's Degree or Higher Florida's Millennials are more likely to have a college education than their Boomer counterparts were in 1980 but less likely than Millennials across the U.S. 1980 Fla. 3oomers 13.8% 18.5 U.S. Millennials 22.3 SO ;=+m3FUA..: 2Su7 FLORIDAT^R.Fii0.Mvi /'790 Median Wages S (full-time workers, inflation-adjusted) Florida's Millennials earn less than their Boomer counterparts did in 1980. 1980 .1a. Boomers 1 $31,955 ed -t gas $30,524 Living at Horne Florida's Millennials are more likely to live at home than their Boomer counterparts were in 1980. More than 1.4 million Millennials in Florida report living with their parents. 1980 Fla. Boomers 22.4% 34.9 In the Workforce 10 Florida's Millennials are® less likely to be working than were Boomers. 1980 ria. Boomers 172.3% Living in Poverty (less than $11,880 per year) Florida's Millennials are more likely to be poor. 1980 Fla Boomers 16.1 % a 20.3 1► , i n V Florida's Millennials are more likely to be single than were Boomers. Nearly seven out of 10 Millennials in Florida have never married. 1980 Fla. Boomers 40.5% Fla. '',dllenniais 68.7 Diversity Florida's Millennials are more diverse than Florida's Boomer generation, and they're more diverse than Millennials across the country. Percent of 18-34 population that reported race and ethnicity as other than non -Hispanic white: 1980 Fla. Boomers 25.7% 51.7 U.S. Millennials 42.8 (men more than women) live in actual downtowns — nearly the same per- centage as those living with three gen- erations of family under the same roof. (The popular media image of urban hipster Millennials, the authors be- lieve, is driven by Millennials in New York, San Francisco and just eight oth- er cities.) The ULI study also found that Mil- lennials identified themselves in nearly identical numbers as suburbanites and city people. Four of 10 renters live in single-family homes, reflecting a post recession marketplace in which inves- tors bought up masses of foreclosed homes for use as rental property. (Some 39% of the nation's rental stock now is single-family compared to the histori- cally true one-quarter.) Interestingly, the ULI study found that while Millennials like walkabil- ity in a community, they think that the cost of housing, safe neighborhoods, good schools and proximity to work are much more important. Millenni- als — said to be a socially conscious generation — ranked eco -friendly fea- tures last in a survey of top attributes in choosing a dwelling. Six of 10 renters said they wouldn't pay more for green features and sustainability. Mass transit didn't score high ei- ther, a notable finding for a generation known for getting driver licenses late and viewing cars as utilitarian rather than a mode of self-expression. Diana Galavis, a northeast Florida Realtor, says lifestyle is important to Millennials she's dealt with, "but it doesn't necessarily have to be an urban lifestyle." They want to be near work, friends and entertainment, she says. They also educate themselves online about what's available, are financially cautious and borrow less than they could. "They're always looking at it as an investment" and anticipate renting it out when they move up, Galavis says. "The Millennials definitely are in the market," she says. With the Millennial housing pic- ture more muddled than initial reports made it appear, the institute study of- fered an important caveat: In a genera- tion so large, even small percentages equate to large numbers of consumers. In Florida, a 10% slice of the Millennial pie soon will be a market of 539,000. In July, 29 -year-old Millennial Nathan Zike bought a three-bedroom, two -bath house, his first, for $160,000. The house, with a two -car garage, is in suburban Port St. Lucie, a quintessential suburban municipality in St. Lucie County. Zike, who runs the online arm of a shoe stocking and retailing company in Stuart, sounds like generations of home buyers before him. "I was tired of just throwing my money away," Zike says. He had been paying $1,250 a month in rent, with more money paid out for the standard last month's rent and security deposit. Now, his monthly payment to his lender, including escrow for taxes and insurance, is $1,000. "1 wanted something that was a little better investment and for my money to mean something. I wanted something I could call my own." Peru -born Oscar Maldonado, 25, is a New York Life agent. Much of his client base comes from his own generation and those 50 to 65. Maldonado lives with his parents in a Port St. Lucie home that they all bought together. photos: Thomas Winter FLORI A1R °sVG .;. 49 FLORIDA MILLENNIALS Homeownership illustrates the dangers of overgeneralizing about Millennials. Conventional wisdom has it that economic insecurity — fear of foreclo- sure, student debt — have combined with broader societal trends such as marrying later to lead Millennials to re- main renters and delay buying a home. Indeed, developers across Florida are pouring copious amounts of con- crete to build rental apartments, often tiny, especially in downtowns, to cater to Millennials. In Miami, for example, developer Moishe Mana wants to build a 49 -story apartment building with units under 500 square feet Demand from Millennials for rentals has continued even as apartment rents have risen beyond what a substan- tial monthly mortgage would cost. In Tampa Bay, a 700 -sq. -ft. apartment can fetch $1,300. Matt Allen, COO of Related Group, the Miami developer now wrapping up its condo projects in Florida in favor 48 FEBRUARY 2017 FLORIOATREMD.COM of apartments, says Millennials "like the ease of renting. They like to move quickly. We have some young develop- ers in our office, and they don't even have a car. They're Uber-ing it. They could pack up and move to China if they wanted to. They like that flexibil- ity. We're seeing that in all our markets, especially Tampa." Without doubt, homeownership among Millennials lags. By 2013, the number of Florida homes owned by those up to 34 years old fell by more than 200,000 from 538,738 just seven years earlier. The economic rebound was weak for Millennial homeowner- ship: As of 2015, Millennials owned 327,971 houses in Florida while renter - occupied housing in their age group numbered 834,967. More good news for landlords: Some 1.4 million Millennials in Florida live with their parents. The first step out for most people living with their parents will be into rental housing, says the Ur- ban Land Institute. But don't write the obituary for homeownership. Fannie Mae last year reported seeing older Millennials accel- erating home purchasing. And research by University of Southern California's Dowell Myers, a Florida native and pro- fessor of policy, planning and demogra- phy, indicates that the three trends that led Millennials to concentrate in cities — the size of the generation, scarce jobs, housing tied up by older people unable to move — will run in the opposite direc- tion by 2020. By then, job creation and less competition for jobs from the next, smaller generation will give Millennials a big economic boost. Adding nuance to the Millennial housing picture is an Urban Land Institute 2015 study. The findings? Millennials look forward to owning their own homes. And while many live in city neighborhoods, only 13% Projectioet, Between now and 2045, the number of Millennials in Florida is expected to grow from 4.12 million to 6.46 million. 6.6 - (in millions of people) 6.4 - - 6.2 - 4 6.0 - 5.8 r 5.6 5.4 - 5.2 2020 '25 '30 '35 '40 '45 Source: Bureau of Economic and Business Research 3/6/2017 Community Economics:: GreenUbes: Good Health That said, nonmarket valuations are important contributions to local decision making. Yet those who use and report,such studies must understand that the valuation process is fraught with assumptions and uncertainty. The point of using any valuation analysts is trot so much to think exclusively in money or market terms but to frame choices and make clear the trade-offs between alternative outcomes 4 How do the costs and benefits of investments in natural capital compare to investments in other urban services such as law enforcement or education? Is the trade-off justifyable? These are the types of questions for which even prelirninary valuation can provide useful information. Quantifying the value that society assigns to trees and greenspaces provides an economic analysis that can inform public discussions about urban forest investment and stewardship. Project support was provided by the national Urban and Community Forestry program of the USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry. 1. Wolf, K.L. 2009. More in Store: Research on City Trees and Retail. Arborist News 18, 2:22-27. 2. Wolf, K.L. 2007 (August). City Trees and Property Values. Arborist News 16, 4:34-36. 3. Boyd, J.W. 2006. The Nonmarket Benefits of Nature: What Should be Counted in Green GDP? Resources for the Future, Discussion Paper No. 06-24. Resources for the Future, Washington DC, 20 pp. 4. Boyer, T., and S. Polasky. 2004. Valuing Urban Wetlands: A Review of Non -Market Valuation Studies. Wetlands 24, 4:744-755. S. Kaplan, R., and S. Kaplan. 1989. The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 340 pp. 6. Florida, R. 2005. Cities and the Creative Class. Routledge, New York, 198 pp. 7. de Groot, R.S., M.A. Wilson, and R.M.J. Boumans. 2002. A Typology For the Classification, Description and Valuation of Ecosystem Functions, Goods and Services. Ecological Economics 41:393-408 8. Dombrow, J., M. Rodriguez, and C.F. Sirmans. 2000. The Market Value of Mature Trees in Single -Family Housing Markets. Appraisal Journal 68, 1:39-43. 9. Donovan, G.H., and D.T. Butry. 2010. Trees in the City: Valuing Street Trees in Portland, Oregon. Landscape and Urban Planning 94, 1:77-83. 10. Anderson, L.M., and H.K. Cordell. 1988. Influence of Trees on Residential Property Values. Landscape and Urban Planning 15:153-164. 11. Morales, D.J., B.N. Boyce, and R.J. Favretti. 1976. The Contribution of Trees to Residential Property Value: Manchester, Connecticut. Valuation 23, 2:26-43. 12. Theriault, M., Y. Kestens, and F. Des Rosiers. 2002. The Impact of Mature Trees on House Values and on Residential Location Choices in Quebec City. In Rizzoli, A.E. and A.J. Jakeman (eds.), Integrated Assessment and Decision Support, Proceedings of the First Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modeling and Software Society, Volume 2.478-483, 13. Wachter, S.M., and K.C. Gillen. 2006. Public Investment Strategies: How They Matter for Neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Working Paper, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 12 pp. 14. Laverne, R.J., and K. Winson-Geideman. 2003. The Influence of Trees and Landscaping on Rental Rates at Office Buildings. lournal of Arboriculture 29, 5:281-290. 15. Nelson, N., J. Dorfman, and L. Fowler. 2002. The Potential For Community Forests to Be Self -Financing: An Hedonic Analysis of The Enhancement Value of Georgia's Trees. University of Georgia, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Athens GA, 26 pp. 16. Morales, D.J., F.R. Micha, and R.L. Weber. 1983. Two Methods of Valuating Trees on Residential Sites. Journal of Arboriculture 9:21-24. 17. Payne, B.R., and S. Strom. 1975. The Contribution of Trees to the Appraised Value of Unimproved Residential Land. Valuation 22, 2:36-45. r https://depts.washington.oduftwb/Prirvt Economics hLml 617 vvi. iii..n n.� i_...n fniiia.J .. vi GGfl VIYGJ. uVlni 1 IGl9llf pedestrianized retail areas show an increase in foot traffic by 20% to 40%, and an increase in retail rents by 22%. An additional study found that promoting pedestrian activity will have small but significant positive effects on workers and businesses, and a small but positive impact on retail activity and rents. 39 r Land ownership and improvements can be expensive in urban areas. If the values of intangibles are not represented, hard costs become powerful disincentives to invest in natural capital. Without some indicator of economic value, there may be little financial incentive to consider urban nature in land -use decisions, market transactions, and capital investment budgets. In the public sector, local leaders often make decisions about natural resources based on cast—benefit analysis. Any public investment or policy proposal that incurs public costs or affects private development brings forward advocates with evidence on how much market value will be gained or lost. Those who favor conserving or creating "nonproductive" nature are often at a disadvantage, as they cannot readily express the monetary gains or losses arising from environmental changes. The challenge to strict monetary valuation is that city trees and open space are public goods.3,38 Consumption of a public good by one individual does not reduce the amount of the good available for consumption by others. Another key property of public goods is that they are nonexcludable: any number of people who walk under a splendid street -side tree can enjoy its shade and beauty immediately or over the course of several decades, irrespective of who pays for the planting and maintenance of the tree. It is nearly impossible to exclude any nonpaying individuals from consuming the good. Government authorities have often invested in public goods that members of society accept as providing value, such as education or emergency response systems. Having some way to estimate the value of nature's services helps local governments to weigh costs against returns from development or prioritize payments for green versus gray infrastructure. Nonmarket valuation is helpful in the private sector as well. The pursuit of profit is based on estimates of costs and revenues. Nonmarket valuations offer the developer and land manager information to estimate return on investment for land development projects. For instance, there may be extra costs associated with taking greater care to protect trees during site preparation, but those costs may be offset by higher purchase prices for the building lots. Studies across time and place generally find that property values are higher with the presence of trees, particularly in residential settings. There are a few studies that show modest or no results, but even fewer show any negative price effect from city trees. In studies measuring proximity effects on property values, properties closest to naturalistic parks and greenspace gain the greatest value. Other studies show a probable positive affect on shoppers in a variety of naturalistic retail settings. Economic valuation is one way to communicate the importance of urban nature. Is it really possible to calculate a price that communicates all the services and benefits that trees provide? There are some very practical limitations to non market valuation. First, urban ecosystems provide many environmental and social benefits, and no single valuation approach will capture all potential value. Yet local decision makers may not understand the nuances of resource economics and may assume that property value or contingent pricing may represent the sole economic contribution of trees. The true and full value of city trees and forests will usually be greater than the value estimated by one method alone. For instance, urban forest analysis tools (such as i -Tree Street and cityGreen) are comprehensive multi -method economic analysis tools, but focus on environmental services (such as stormwater management and energy use) and generally do not include valuations of socio -cultural aspects. Finally, in communicating the values of trees in terms of prices, there is the risk of reducing the meaning of trees to purely economic terms. Economic calculations may be awkward and incomplete ways to describe the range of values that people place on having quality trees and forests in their communities.36 For most people, there are matters of meaning and principle that are beyond indirect valuations of nature.37 Keen observers of human -nature interactions have noted the beauty and restorative qualities of trees for centuries. Recent studies of the human dimensions of urban forests are just starting to reveal the breadth and depth of benefits from urban experiences of nature. Talking about trees in terms of a narrow estimation of value may limit public debate about the greater importance of trees in communities. 5/7 https://depts.washington.eduwb/Print m Econoics.htrnI lhfi Si afzul wmrnunjv Ccurvurmcs :. Breen l.nles: tow rleaul Valuation studies using contingent valuation irwicate the potentia! returns from tree investment on nonresidential settings. The contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to estimate economic values for all types of ecosystem and environmental services. ft can be used to estimate both use and non-use values. CVM involves directly asking people, in a survey, how much they would be willing to pay for specific environmental services. The method is called "contingent" valuation because people are asked to state their willingness to pay more, contingent on a specific hypothetical scenario and description of the environmental condition or service. Retail Pricing A series of studies has used CVM to explore how shoppers respond to the urban forest across different business settings. Scenarios are presented to study participants in images and drawings, generally comparing a place with a high duality urban forest canopy to a similar place that is kept up well but contains no trees. Survey participants are then asked what they would be willing to pay for a set of goods and services in each, and their responses are statistically compared. Generally, shoppers are willing to spend more when shopping in pleasing natural settings. 9% goods and services in forested business districts in small cities30 11-12% goods and services in forested business districts in large cities31 9% goods and services in landscaped strip malls32 0 7-11 /o goods and services in retail districts adjacent to vegetated freeway rights-of-way33 23% homes within 1,4 mile of "excellent" commercial corridors13 The studies tested for other responses, and these measures suggest why shoppers may be willing to pay more for goods and services in business settings that contai- high quality trees and landscapes. Visual ii Visual quality describes settings that people find pleasing and desirable. Through a series of surveys, people have been asked to rate how much they like each scene in of a collection of images. Ratings were summarized and compared. Across all studies, consumer ratings increased steadily in proportion to the presence of trees. Visual preference scores were lower for scenes without trees and much higher for places with trees. Business districts with tidy sidewalks and well-designed buildings, but no trees were rued at the low end of the scores. arnages contai .ing well -tended, large trees received the highest ratings, particularly when large trees formed an orderly canopy over the sidewalk and street. People form mental impressions of and associatiions with places, new or familiar. In one set of studies, people were. asked to rate their level of agreement with a series of statements about a variety of retail places. Again, trees were associated with higher ratings of amenity and visual quality across the studies. Moving beyond the obvious visual content, the respondents made inferences about the se—ttings_ Positive scores for maintenance were given to districts with trees, despite cues indicating the same level of building care and street tidiness in areas without trees. Judgments of products and merchants were more positive in forested places, as were inferences regarding product value, product quality, and merchant responsiveness. A consumer's expectations regarding shopping experiences begin at the curb, long before entering a store. Features such as storefronts and sidewalk character can create favorable or negative impressions that subconsciously affect shopper behaviors. It appears that a quality urban forest in a district can affect such impressions. Patronage Behavior Shopper patronage measures are commonly used in retail and marketing studies. Study participants projected their probable patronage behavior while viewing street and sidewalk scenarios. More positive responses were found for places having trees, compared to no -tree settings, across cities of different sizes. Potential shoppers claim they are willing to travel more often, for longer amounts of time, and over greater distances to shop in a retail district containing trees, and once arriving will spend more time there. Why is such patronage behavior important? Shoppers traveling farther to visit a business district having trees could translate to an expanded trade area radius, adding thousands of people within urban population centers. Once there, shoppers report that they would stay longer, which could mean greater sales revenue.34 Shoppers do not purchase goods and services just to meet needs; many shoppers pursue a positive shopping experience in addition to making purchases. The streetscape is an important part of creating a welcoming, interesting shopping place. Trees can be part of street improvements program that provides business benefits. Earlier research found that https://depts.washirgton.eduftwb/Print Economics htrnl 417 180/0 building lots with substantial mature tree cover16 22% tree -covered undeveloped acreage17 19-35% lots bordering suburban wooded preserves18 37% open land that is two-thirds wooded19 Generally, trees and forest cover in development growth areas add value to parcels. One study found that development costs were 5.5% greater for lots where trees were conserved.20 Given increased lot and home valuations, builders have reported that they were able to recover the extra costs of preserving trees through a higher sales price for a house, and that homes on wooded lots sell sooner than homes on unwooded lots.21 More than 30 studies have shown that people are willing to pay more for a property located close to an urban open space than for a house that does not offer this amenity, a finding known as the "proximate principle." 22 The studies evaluate the effects of parks and open spaces that usually contain trees and forests. Price Increase 10% inner city home located within 1/4 mile of a park13 100/0 house 2 to 3 blocks from a heavily used, active recreation park -22 17% home near cleaned -up vacant lot13 20% home adjacent to or fronting a passive park areaZ2 320/0 residential development adjacent to cireenbelts23 With few exception s,74,-)5 studies find that homes adjacent to naturalistic parks and open spaces are typically valued at about 8% to 20% higher than comparable prope,~ties.26 Values show a linear decline with distance from the edge of an open space, with a positive price effect declining to near zero at about 1/2 mile away.27,28,29 Other factors affecting property values include usage rate (more park users = lower property values), user activity (athletic fields and games = lower property values up to 500 feet away), and care and upkeep (lower maintenance = lower property values). For instance, the values of properties close to heavily used or unkept parks are typically lower than similar properties farther away. Another method of valuing forests has been to analyze improvements in visual quality provided by trees or forest cover. Forest proximity may indicate recreational value, while tree cover on a residential lot can incorporate benefits such as noise reduction and lower energy use. Views are largely tied to aesthetic qualities and have been studied to a limited degree. 4.9% multifamily unit with view of forested open space28 80/0 house with a park view24 Hedonic values can be captured by local governments as increased property tax assessments or as excise taxes paid on property sales.22 The calculated value across all properties influenced by a natural feature can be aggregated. For instance, a study in Portland, Oregon, found that street trees add $8,870 to the sales price of a home, and applying the average tree effect to all houses in Portland yields a total value increase of $1.35 billion, potentially yielding increased annual property tax revenues of $15.3 million across the city.9 The case can be made that these revenues can be applied to the annual debt and to management costs of an urban forest or parks program, further supporting home values. Retail and commercial business owners are often influential people in communities; public expressions of their attitudes can affect political support for urban forestry. For example, merchants may overlook the indirect and long-term benefits of a quality urban forest and instead focus on near-term direct costs (such as pruning and debris clean up). Such attitudes can set the tone for program and budget decisions in local government. https.,//depts.washirigton.eduthhwb/Print Ecmornics.htrni 317 316/2017 Community Economics:: Green Cines: Good Health responses do have economic consequences; for instance, rirrns and talented workers they hire are attracted to places that have high numbers of amenities and high quality natural environments.6 In addition to these perceptual findings studies have calculated specific economic values for trees and nature in the city. While the value of nature to property owners and communities is rarely expressed in precise dollars, it can be determined indirectly. Methods for nonmarket valuation include travel cost method, deferred and replacement cost analysis, and contingent valuation assessment. Below are some of the results. '- r - Most valuation studies have focused on factors that contribute to residential property valuation. Hedonic pricing, a revealed willingness -to -pay assessment, is the most commonly used economic valuation method for this purpose. It is used to capture the proportion of property prices that are derived from the non-use value of trees and other natural elements. Hedonic pricing represents a partial measure of value, obtained from indirect inferences about spending and prices. Hedonic pricing studies have been done since the 1960s. Most use regression analysis as the statistical tool. Property prices or assessments are regressed against sets of control variables: environmental attributes of the house or property, other neighborhood variables (such as the quality of local schools), and structural characteristics of the house (such as number of bedrooms). With these objective factors identified, one can then estimate how a change in a natural feature, such as yard trees or proximity to a nearby park, relates to a change in property value, holding other characteristics of the property constant. The advantage of this method over others is its use of actual market transactions versus hypothetical questionnaires or indirect assessments, Urban areas are ideal for application of hedonic pricing because t acre is usually a wealth of data available on house and property sales. Geographic databases also enable analysis of value increments based on proximity to natural features such as parks. There have also been polls of appraisers' judgments of property valuations and surveys of homebuyers' opinions yielding data for calculating economic value. The remainder of this section emphasizes studies using statistical analysis of market sales or appraisals. Studies relating the presence of trees to residential property values have evaluated a range of urban forest and landscape conditions on single-family homes. Although there have been a few exceptions, properties with trees are generally preferred to comparable properties without trees, with the trend across studies being a price increase of about 71/6. Street trees appear to add vaa,ue evEr. to adj cent Prorertie-S, up to rt (3i feet away in one 5tudy.9 here are results from a selection of studies: Price Increase Carrdifiarr 2% mature yard trees (greater than 9 -inch dbh)8 3% larger street trees9 3-5% trees in front yard landscapinglo 0 -9 /� good tree cover in a neighborhood 10-15% mature trees in high-income neighborhoods12 Price effect is variable and depends on how tree presence is defined. In addition, the socioeconomic condition of a residential area also has an effect on pricing. For instance, greater increments of value are seen for tree planting and landscape improvements in lower -quality neigh born oods.11,13 Most hedonic valuation studies have focused on residential properties. But the approach can be used to assess other land uses as well. For instance, a study in Ohio found that rental rates for commercial offices having a high quality landscape were 7% higher that other, similar properties without such landscaping.14 Many communities have codes or ordinances that regulate tree preservation on residential development sites. Site developers may argue that tree protection costs are prohibitive. Understanding potential market values in different forest conditions is an important step in understanding the economics of urban forest protection.15 Market price studies of treed versus untreed lots show a range of value enhancements: 'rice Increase Conditior https://depts.washington.eldhhwb]Print Econornics.htrnl 2/7 3,1612017 Community Ecoanomics :: Green Cities: Good Heath r42_ IP Print Pace r, University ofWashington/USDA Forest Service Content is made available for personal, noncommercial use. By: Kathleen L. Wolf, Ph.D. June 25, 2010 cite: Wolf, K.L. 2010. Community Economics - A Literature Review. In: Green Cities: Good Health (www. green health. wash ington.edu). College of the Environment, University of Washington. RIM Return to Trees in cities are not grown and managed for products that can be bought and sold on markets, but they do provide many intangible services and functions! This article serves two purposes. First, it introduces valuation methods that are used to convert intangible benefits to dollar sums.1,2 Then, it shows how nonmarket valuations can support local decision-making. Fast Facts The presence of larger trees in yards and as street trees can add from 3% to 15%D to home values throughout neighborhoods. Averaging the market effect of street trees on all house values across Portland, Oregon yields a total value of $1.35 billion, potentially increasing annual property tax revenues $15.3 million.9 ® A study found 7% higher rental rates for commercial offices having high quality landscapes. 14 Shoppers claire that they Will spend 9% to 12% more for goods rand services in central business districts i-)aving high quality tree canopy. 34 Shoppers indicate that they will travel greater distance and a longer time to visit a district having high quality trees, and spend more time there once they arrive. 34 Urban nature in all its forms — urban forests, parks, and greenbelts — provides a range of benefits and services to society, most of which are not readily bought and sold. Economists calculate the "use value" of nature and ecosystems when tangible goods can be exchanged, at market prices, such as timber or fisheries products. 'Non-use values" present a more complex economic puzzle. How can we estimate values for the many indirect, intangible services and functions that urban nature provides, such as beauty, green infrastructure functions, and psychological benefits? A reliance on monetary valuation has become central in our society: what is not counted does not count in today's public arena. When markets do not exist for a specific resource, efforts are made to define it in terms of monetary value.3 Natural settings, including those in cities, offer many beneficial life-support functions. Nonmarket valuation methods arose from the desire to represent the natural environment in the decision-making calculus within communities -4 • a� Across many studies of visual preference, people judge scenes that include natural elements to be of higher visual quality than those that show only built features. Yet aesthetic response is more than a simple reaction to what is beautiful or pleasant; it is an expression of a complex array of perceptual and cognitive processes that drive behavior. -5 Aesthetic https://depts.waShington.edufhhwb/Print Economics.html 11T • .vie of plants ease,ob a tt ployees wild an outside-view of Obits e perlei ce less lob pressure and g r.jci� s cl�on than Orl[LrSitm inn rare rriaela G)2gects or maving rt .outsfde visa. They_also, rept fewer -Keadaches and other adments.than workers; if gut the view_t' 1 1. Is Nature rre6s6s War p actio€: Psyehcl• - have €Qi thatcss te-p6ifts and green spas = , provides-. a sense of rest and allowsworkers-to be more- producdve 1z ."Urnd ca ►rrtg renew busi-nest srncts. Cireer�irig: of business-districts #s t� ases:corr .czni; pride grid r e per _ bort €�f an area,:+ raW ; y ri�ers i� the 8riesses,� j --'Quaky y taric#scaprng ialearts qualitygoods. 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M,.-ftey . 71P°F 'Y LFACT EET 7 :.. _P_ 11C iF- Grsen'a-�% r } .. �.:5..• a l...x... i., e L .r` ..... ..+�_^c+ ",n _ Sy'JaGP Can'ra"33'o+'£ 1,'3r£'rt_S t...._... .1 -10 -as ,beeQ dC`+cafi're: rLeEi s a a r3ilrffbeF .?I p.lb1=c'itIor1s and studies i'nclvding- S td"art Adore f rnaa'azi'n"e m6cated'th"a7c consumers <<alue-a Landscaped horn..e uo to 11.3 percent higher than its base price' — A study by Aspen Environmental Companies.!:found tihat a la:ndsca,p ng rn estrnerit is nc-ad, always recovered and can half reduce time sin the .Market. — lL�ol)L}'f a aLinL says' ii c-+Ltik' 2A landscapino 0,- va d ca' zie Ore s,_hE rn s'_ .,os* e:'P_tive Yla} s lU.boos ,1 our"'hf,me' s ::lt lbPppe'al,,, are- 'r1'<'.faia_ a "deu :'ee, — 1� Cal-lada, reseai dr. at .Quebec's ! aval Universit' seated a detarfec sun,e; stud'}. of 750 iiorzie gales and toured The* landscaping attributes (trees, fiotAiers, plants. nedges) can "command a sdbstant,ai I inane' p en'ci .gym." ,Fast gro%s h, major ecOlWmc in-ipa€t. According -to a USDA-T'unded res -ea. -ch report' _ tr're environmenSal ! horticulture industry [G:ieer Industryi, 'is -one of the fastest grootiizg segmei 1 s of the nation's- zv jCVjtVraJ 2€Ci} ':?jr r=r )z-,Ec-oRnorn r impart w2s e5tima 'ed to 7,Rdj e> . . — $147.8 b4han in output — c.64.3 billion in laborincome — $6.9 billion :in indirect b.usmess-taxes — 1.964-339 lois — $95.1 billion in value :added Businesses benefit. Roadside Studies by the Universi,ty'ofWasl ingtp. n stated that drivers indicated it was easier to locate roadside bus "nesses vcl en they vvere framed by tre; s -and vegetation., rather than having this green ma'tenal removed. Parks improve property vel°ue. There i5'asignficant Ilrik betweenthevalueof a property and:its proximity to parks. greerybeles:and other green spaces. Studies of three neigihborhdotls in B(aul'd:er, Colo. indicated that property values. decreased by $4.Z0for'each foot away from a greenbelt.? ® Gc een space helps decrease air. conditioning casts. Here are some useful references.: According to the Call#ornia EnergyCommissia,n. "Planting the r6rrect trees, shr bs, vines and groundcover can make your "name both w4Ymer in th.6 winter and {ooler in the summer. In fact, the righttype of tree:can reduce vou.r-surrnr r cool"ing-costs by 20 to 46percentl"8 — Computer models devised by the U.S Qepar€ment or. Energy preclfct that the proper placement of onfy three trees will save an average hou-sehald betvve.en $100 and $250 in energy casts arynually: —The cooling effect of an average size laWn is equal to about.9 tons of air conditioning." 75' mf,1gtep-jF'9) BALLET VALET PARKING GARAGE Miami Beach, Florida TECH SAFETYDutch town looks out G zombies' LED strips embedded in pavement glow to catch attention of distracted walkers. ByAmy B Wang The Washington Post It's not a difficult scenario to imagine: A group of pedes- trians stand on a street cor- ner, waiting for the cross- walk light to turn green. At least a few, if not all, are staring down at their smart - phones. Forwhatever reason —whether scrolling through Instagram or engrossed in a game of Cooling Fever — they're not fully attuned to the traffic light ahead. A par- ticularly oblivious walker might even step into oncom- ing traffic. Smartphone zombies," as the verge described them, have become a real concern — and one Dutch municipal- it,rwaots to stemthe problem before it gets worse. Now officials in Bodegrav- en-Reeuwijk, about 25 miles south of Amsterdam in the western Netherlands, are piloting a program that they th nk may help protect such distracted pedestrians. At a handful of intersections around town, illuminated LED strips of light (called "hchtlijn," or light lines) have been installed into the pave- ment. , The "light lines" can change color and are synced with their corresponding traffic lights; as soon as the normal crossing light turns red or green, so, too, does the one in the ground. The idea, officials said, is that people on their phones aregoingto be staringtoward their feet anyway. Why not make it more likelythat they will still be able to see the traffic light in their immedi- ate peripheral vision? "The lure of social media, games, WhatsApp and music is great, and it comes at the expense of paying attention to traffic," town alderman Increasingly serious problem. The NHTSA says 5,376 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2015. PorouA Rees Oskam said in a state- ment. "Asa government, we probably can't reverse this trend, butwe can anticipate problems." The project has attracted criticism from Veing verkeer Nederland, agroup that advo- cates for road safety in the Netherlands. "What you are doing is rewarding bad behavior, a spolcesman for the group told DutehNews.ril about the light lines. Nevertheless, schools in Bodegraven-Reeuwijk that are near the test light lines are reportedly excited about the pilot program, hoping it will increase safety. HIG Traffic Systems, which developed the light lines, hopes other cities in the Neth- erlands will be interested in the system as well, accord- ing to omroep West. In the United States, "dis- tractedwalking" has becom- ing an increasingly serious problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in the United States in 2015, up from 4,884 the year before. Nearly three-quarters of those deaths take place at "non -intersections," while 19 percent occur at places where pedestrians are meant to be, including crosswalks and sidewalks. In 2015, for the first time, the National Safety Coun- cil included in an annual report statistics about dis- tracted -walking incidents involving cellphones. The group found that distracted. wallangwas responsible for more than 11,100 injuries between 2000 and 201-1. The council's list of pedes- trian safety tips includes such age-old advice as "Look left, right and left again before crossingthe street" but also nowwams never to use a cell- phone or other.electronic device while walling. "Walking is one of the best things we can do to stay healthy, but only if we put safety first," the group notes on its website. Lastyear, a Newjerseylaw- maker introduced a bill that would havebanned walling and texting at the same time, as well as pedestrians from using phones,1Pads or other communication devices that werenothands-free, theAsso- ciated Press reported. Viola- tors could have been fined $50,15 days in prison orboth. "Distracted pedestrians, like distracted drivers, pres- ent a potential danger to themselves and drivers on the road," the bill's spoom ser, state Legislator Pamela Lampitt, D, said atthetime, accordingto theAP. "Anindi- vidual crossing the road dis- tracted by their smartphone presents just as much dan- ger to motorists as some- one jaywalking apd should beheld, at minimum, to the same penalty."