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Minutes 06-04-19MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD AT THE INTRACOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE 2240 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019, AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT: Steven B. Grant, Mayor Justin Katz, Vice Mayor Mack McCray, Commissioner Christina Romelus, Commissioner Ty Penserga, Commissioner 1. OPENINGS A. Call to Order - Mayor Steven B. Grant Lori LaVerriere, City Manager James Cherof, City Attorney Queenester Nieves, Deputy City Clerk Mayor Grant called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Invocation by Pastor Kelley, Calvary Chapel Pastor Kelley gave the invocation. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Commissioner Ty Penserga Roll Call Deputy City Clerk Nieves called the roll. A quorum was present. Agenda Approval: 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections Mayor Grant asked to table Item 6C and amend Item 5B to include travel to FL League of Cities Conferences for the Board. 2. Adoption A0=0 Commissioner McCray moved to approve. Commissioner Penserga seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 2. OTHER A. Informational items by Members of the City Commission Vice Mayor Katz had no disclosures. Commissioner McCray had nothing to discuss, but he did attend the Al Amin Interfaith Dinner and he thanked Commissioner Penserga for the invitation. The Police Department made a pact to attend every milestone in the life of Sergeant Crowder's children. Commissioner McCray witnessed the officers at the graduation and advised it was impactful seeing an entire section of Officers in uniform. The Department promised Sergeant Crowder's son they would be there for him. The Boynton Beach Police Department does positive things. He asked Chief Gregory to let the officers know, they are making an impact in people's lives. The class was impressed the officers took time out to attend. He praised the Neighborhood Officer's program and advised it was working. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and other organizations are working. He expressed concern over what occurred in Virginia Beach and he wanted to ensure the employees the Commission is making changes to keep the employees safe. Commissioner Romelus attended the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council meeting and shared all the changes and upcoming events with the Board. She met with residents of Chapel Hill and Mission Hill. She thanked the veterans and Tom Kaiser for the annual Memorial Day activities. It is important to honor the lives of those who gave their lives for this Country. She congratulated all the graduates. Commissioner Penserga had no disclosures. Mayor Grant thanked the Commission for the City donating a cruiser to South Tech Academy. He attended the League of Cities Installation, noting he serves on the Board of Directors for the second time. He attended the Center for Child Counseling Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) breakfast and he serves on the Palm Tran Service Board. He placed flags on graves of veterans; he attended the Boca Chamber Annual Business Luncheon and a fundraiser for Gold Star Mothers at Somerset Academy along with VFW Post 535 He attended a Veteran's Memorial event at Boynton Beach Memorial Park. He thanked all the staff who made it such a great event. He attended the Al Amin Interfaith Dinner, went to VFW Post 5335 for their ceremony for the Forgotten Soldier Outreach at the County Cemetery and attended a Memorial Day Barbeque at American Legion Post 164. He met with the Related Group regarding the future development of the Boynton Beach Mall and attended the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board. He was a Key Note Speaker for the Franklin Academy 8th Grade Graduation, attended the Boynton Beach General Employees' Pension meeting and he hunted his first lionfish at the Lionfish Derby. He thanked the CRA for holding the event. Lionfish is a very invasive species, which is decimating the local fish population that keeps the coral reef clean. He saw turtles and moray eels. In total, over 535 Lionfish. He commented that if E Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 each Lionfish eats more than one fish a day, they are saving thousands of fish each month by holding the tournament. He also attended the Ifdar dinner at the Daca Club at Al Amin. 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNITY AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS A. Post Session Update to be presented by Representative Mike Caruso Mike Caruso, Representative District 89, advised the Legislature passed a $91.1 billion budget. They set aside $3.5 billion into a savings account for a reserve bringing the reserve account to about $8 billion. Florida is the strongest; most financially sound State in the Country. The Legislature allocated $38 billion for health care. The governor was focusing on health care, the environment and education. Another $16 billion allocated for K-12 education, which was an increase of over $800 million, which equates to $243 per student. Last year, there was a $40 increase and before that, there was a zero increase. The per -student allocation is now about $7,700. The State invested $8.25 billion in higher education. They transformed the education process to prioritize affordability and pathways to careers. Educators no longer send youth to an educational system just to get an education. The focus is to get a job. For the third year in a row, US News ranked Florida as number one higher education system. The schools have internship programs as well as vocational training. Representative Caruso's son signed up the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning program at Palm Beach State College, and when done, they lined up a job starting between $50k and $60k. The State allocated $700 billion for Everglades Restoration and clean water was a priority. Representative Caruso thought the allocation was a step in the right direction. There was a $33M allocation for Florida Forever; $4.2M for Red Tide Research; $50M allocation for beach re -nourishment; $40M for job growth Grant Fund ar,d $16M for Enterprise Florida. There was a $21 M allocation for libraries and $21M for the arts. Boynton Beach is in District 89, he obtained appropriations for this district and Palm Beach County totaling $42M. Other projects funded in the district included the FAU Henderson new University Lab, Alzheimer's care, the Wayne Barton after school program in Pearl City. The State passed the tax bill. It provided for $121M in tax cuts. The State is having a back to school sales tax holiday and a hurricane preparation sales tax holiday, which is ongoing. The State is cutting the commercial sales tax on commercial lease from 5.7% to 5.5%. The goal is zero. The referendum for the millage that passed in November added one mil for non -chartered public schools, for public safety and capital improvements. A bill came to the floor that looked like it would retroactively void the referendum, but was amended. The date was changed and the funds could be used as intended. He sponsored a Sober Home bill. The State is cracking down on the illegal process involving patient brokers. These individuals broker patients from the treatment centers to the Sober Homes and then refer them back up to the patient rehab centers and the patient begins the Florida shuffle. Each time the patient is referred back to the treatment center, the broker gets paid. The bill allows for more certifications for peer specialists and those 9 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 helping those in recovery. The measure passed. Another bill prohibited discrimination based on religion in the K-20 School System. Next year, Representative Caruso will be fighting for home rule. He noted issues such as scooters and plastic straws are still under the municipalities' control. Vice Mayor Katz thanked him for coming and for defending the local referendum for teachers. He hoped he would continue to do so and pressure the Governor to allocate more funds. Teacher pay still lacks behind others by $12K. Palm Beach County has the best school district in the State. Mr. Caruso was aware of underpaid teachers. Commissioner McCray thanked him for the report. At the last meeting the City lobbyist appeared. He encouraged him to look for projects benefitting Boynton Beach next year. Commissioner Romelus also thanked him for the meeting. She echoed the prior comments as there were several water projects sent up to Tallahassee and hoped he would support them. Representative Caruso replied he would be happy to meet over the summer and work on appropriation projects for the next session and his staff will contact her. Commissioner McCray requested he also contact the City's lobbyist. Nick Cannon will reach out to the City. B. Mayor to accept a plaque as token of appreciation to the City from Future 6, a local non-profit organization that provides free, ocean based programs to children with special needs. Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director, explained he has worked for the City for 33 years and worked with many non -profits, but few, if any, had as much passion and dedication to accomplish their mission, which affords children with different abilities the opportunity to go the ocean and go surfing. He often saw parents in tears because a child with challenges can get up on a surfboard like any other child. The organization wants to present a plaque of appreciation for the support they get from the City, so he asked Benjamin Ricciardi, President and Donny Ottofaro, Executive Director to present the plaque to the Mayor for their appreciation in allowing them to use Ocean Front Park. The organization will be there once a month. Mr. Majors advised it has been a blessing for Mr. Majors to be a part of it. Mr. Ricciardi thanked the City, Mr. Majors and the Recreation and Parks Department. He introduced his team: Donny Ottofaro, Executive Director; Steve Abbott, Program Director; Kacie Feely, Promotions Director; Sandy Robinson, Treasurer and Scott Keane, Development Director. Mr. Ricciardi presented Mayor Grant with a Plaque of Appreciation and hoped Boynton Beach would be the example other cities would follow, allowing Future 6 to expand their reach to other coastal communities. Mayor Grant wanted to ensure announcements regarding Future 6 are promoted on the City's social media. Commissioner Penserga commented he had wanted to volunteer for some time and asked how he could. Donny Ottofaro, Co-founder and CEO since 2012, explained they 4 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 started in the City in 2016. They used to float between Lake Worth and Boynton Beach because they needed local surfers and non -surfers. The Surf program has a large volunteer group of well-known surfers. They are the volunteers in the water and choosing the waves. Safety is the number one concern. Other volunteers are spotters and cheering them on. No experience is not required. The next surf date is June 22, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The ratio of volunteers to participants is three to one and the volunteers arrive at 8 a.m. In May, there were 41 children. Commissioner Romelus congratulated them. The City has Barrier Free Park and now has another opportunity to provide another activity for those with special needs. Mayor Grant announced the D -Day event on Thursday, June 611, at Veterans Park celebrating the 75th anniversary. There will also be a speaker regarding the Battle of the Midway. He hoped staff would publicize the event. 4. PUBLIC AUDIENCE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS W ILL 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) Susan Oyer, 140 SE 27th Way, distributed a handout about Baltimore and the City Greening Initiative. The City was rolling out the program to the rest of the nation. It provided an overview of the article she retrieved from stream to sea.com. She noted the articles did not mention titanium dioxide, which causes organ failure. The notion was the benefits of preventing skin cancer outweigh the risk of organ failure and destroying ocean life. Mayor Grant asked about locations that have banned Styrofoam, and learned Orlando enacted something last week. Hollywood initiated a ban in 2019 and Gainesville passed something, which will be effective January 21, 2020. Michael Greenberg, 3240 Ridge Lane, had problems with flooding and he attended a City Commission meeting. Andrew Mack, Development Director and Gary Dunmyer, City Engineer got involved. They acknowledged the problem, created a plan, executed it and he was present to express his gratitude. On a different matter, he has a medium sized dog that loves the beach. He was aware something occurred in December and nothing went forward. Juno Beach is immaculate and his fiance does volunteer work cleaning the beach. He acknowledged there may be other unknown issues. Alan Hendricks, 122 SE 4th Avenue, passed out information and announced the grand opening of the MELT bus in Boynton Beach. This is a 40 -foot transit bus that Annette Gray transformed to a mobile classroom, with a small conference room. The bus is in addition to her existing business. The Happy Hour celebration is on Friday, June 7th, at First Transit with music and food. The concept is the bus brings the training to the individual. Commissioner McCray wanted to ensure all was legal. Ms. LaVerriere agreed to coordinate, review, and have the service advertised through the Recreation Department. 5 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Lisa Hargrove Kallai has owned and operated a business at 810 Federal Highway for 16 years. A man purchased the property south of hers and rented to two tenants. One tenant was a beekeeper. The tenant moved out and now she had a problem because the bees were on her property. She got a letter from the City about the bees, which cost her $500 to remove. In addition, she got an extensive letter from the City requiring her to re -landscape, re -asphalt and address several other items in 20 days, which will cost about $8K. She went to the CRA for assistance and they would reimburse her for money to take care of the violations. She got one letter from the City dated March 7, 2019, advising they were trying to beautify the area. She suggested holding charrettes like the one they did in Delray Beach. Delray Beach would put plans together, assist property owners with improvements, such as finding asphalt and other needed vendors, and negotiate a good price on their behalf, which financially aids the property owners, while the City would get the desired result. She sought input from the Commission. Commissioner McCray requested more information about the location. He wanted staff to provide extensions. Ms. Hargrove thought it would be more cost effective if all the property owners got together to make improvements at the same time. Ms. LaVerriere agreed to work with Ms. Hargrove No one else coming forward. Public Audience was closed. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE A. Appoint eligible members of the community to serve in vacant positions on City advisory boards. Mayor Grant read the openings. There were no applicants. B. Appoint Voting Delegate for the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference, August 15-17, 2019. Mayor Grant asked if anyone wanted to attend the conferences. Mayor Grant will attend. Commissioner Romelus would like to attend the legislative policy later this month in Orlando. Commissioner Penserga volunteered to be the Voting Delegate. Motion Vice Mayor Katz moved to approve Commissioner Penserga as the Voting Delegate. Commissioner McCray seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Mayor Grant requested a motion for travel to the Florida League of Cities conference and hearings. A Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Motion Vice Mayor Katz moved to approve. Commissioner McCray seconded the motion. Commissioner McCray requested when a Commission members attends a conference, they give a short summary of what they learned. Commissioners Penserga and Romelus agreed to do so. Vote That unanimously passed. 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. Approve revisions to and addition of project(s) to the Fiscal Year 18-19 approved surtax projects. B. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 19-058 - Approve the temporary road closure of the lanes in the 2000 Block of State Road 5 (Federal Hwy) - 700 feet of the right lane heading Northbcund and 400 feet of the left lane heading Southbound on Thursday, July 4, 2019 for the annual 4th of July event, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to apply for the State permit for the temporary road closure. C. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R19-059 - Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the thirteenth amendment to the Site Lease and Joint Use Agreement between the City, Palm Beach County, and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (fka AT&T Wireless) to allow antenna modifications by Cingular and to update the tower schematics exhibit of the lease for the telecommunications tower at the Rolling Green Municipal Complex (515 NW 14th Ct). D. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R19-060 - Authorize the Mayor to sign three (3) general utility easements for Town Square project. E. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R19-061 - Approve the award of the City of Boynton Beach Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation Grant to the first ranked grant applicant for each of the six grant categories and authorize the City Manager to sign Grant Agreements with the six (6) recipients. 7 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Mayor Grant pulled this item. He wanted to know who the grant applicants were and how they were judged. David Scott, Director of Economic Development and Strategy, explained this year, the City Commission approved $50K for entrepreneurship and incubators. Small businesses are the core of the City and the City wants to support them. The grant was advertised and geared for new and existing incubators and small work groups. They targeted existing incubators that would support small businesses and new incubators. They created four $2,500 grants for work groups to focus on youth, women, technology and regional approaches to entrepreneurship and focus on the groups and bring a report back to the City what the best practices Pre and what works. The goal is to look at What Works Cities, which has larger grants and bring back information generated from the reports they can then present for an application. He reviewed the grants and categories. In reference to regional approaches, staff has worked with the County and the State in addition to the Business Development Board and other local cities to determine how to work together as a partner to create an entrepreneurship enterprise and provide appropriate support. Staff advertised the grant on the City's website, social media, through press releases and direct email to known partners and interested entities. Partners the City worked with included Business Development Board, the Chamber of Commerce, Palm Beach State College, South Tech and a few others. The grant opened April 3rd and closed on May 3rd. The plan is to get their partners up and running, so they can expend the grant by the end of the budget year. They have requested, if the grant is successful, additional funds next year to repeat the grant next year. Six organizations responded 1909 Boynton Beach; Be. Learn. Grow. LLC; Connect To Greatness, Inc.; GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute; Goddess School; and Referral AIM. Joe Russo, Executive Director of 1909, commented he previously explained a bit about their proposal. He was applying for a Section 1 B Grant for a new business incubator grant and two of the working group grants for the regional network on entrepreneurship and the technology sector, Lucas Vogel is involved in 1909. They proposed to have the same operation they have in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach. Mr. Russo explained 1909 has two ongoing business accelerators that have 32 entrepreneurs between the two incubators going through a six-month process. Students receive a two-month in -class curriculum taught by trained facilitators and then a four-month mentorship. Mr. Russo indicated 1909 will also work with students through its working groups and will dive into what is really going on in technology and in the regional network of entrepreneurship throughout Palm Beach County. He noted business owners go between Delray Beach and West Palm Beach and in between the borders of the community. What 1909 builds collectively in Palm Beach County will affect the entrepreneurship eco -system collectively. Since Boynton Beach is between the two other programs, a program in Boynton Beach is perfectly scalable, and there was a section in the grading process about scalability, and 1909 scored high with the intent of building it in the City for years to come. They are 0 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 building an organization for founders and 1909 is the founding year for Palm Beach County. Dr. Angela Shuttlesworth, Founder and CEO of Be. Lead. Grow. LLC, currently works out of co -work Boynton operations on Quantum Boulevard. Her company is geared toward preventing toxic work environments through teaching employee engagement, leadership empowerment and establishing safe spaces for creativity and innovation. Palm Beach County conducted a disparity study. Her focus is on women entrepreneurs and ascertaining issues they face. They have a healthy model. She gave an example of the survey. They had to give a timeline, they would look at registered vendors and minority businesses the City has, create focus groups and take the data and submit a report to the City. The grant is a four-month grant and participants have to identify the outline of what they will produce within the first two months. Ronald Russo, Founder of Beach Labs, explained there was no relation between him and Joe Russo. He explained Beach Labs is a creative agency incubator that he founded in April. After he set up the incubator, he read about the grant opportunity so he applied. He is currently looking for office space in Boynton Beach. He withdrew his application as Joe Russo did an incredible job in downtown West Palm Beach as well as Delray, and he supports what he is doing. Beach Labs is a 501 (c) 3. Cassondra Corbin-Thaddias, President of Connect to Greatness, (C2G) explained the organization empowers African -America middle -school boys to become leaders and change makers. It looks at youth and what their interests are as it relates to post high school careers. They proposed to survey youth from Boynton Beach High School, Quantum and South Tech Academy. There are over 3,100 high school students and they will survey 10% of them. Based on the survey, they will identify businesses in Boynton Beach that align with those interests and identify the gaps. They will identify youth friendly businesses that may be interested in offering apprenticeships/internships of summer jobs. "Sheila" planned to use two instruments to identify youth skills and their beliefs about themselves as entrepreneurs and their career interest and the other is evaluation of businesses to see if they align. Students want certain careers, but there are no jobs aligned to those interests. The grant will evaluate what careers students intend to have and then provide mentorships and internships. Commissioner Penserga thought the program was wonderful and asked what happens after youth connect with a business or mentor, and asked if they follow the students. Sheila responded that is not part of the grant. C2G will collect the data, conduct interviews with youth and businesses and try to connect them. Follow-up would be an entirely different part. There is not a lot of research about career education in this area. It would be beneficial for the City to connect the data. The boys come into the program in the 6th grade and remain until the 8th grade. After graduation from the program, they will return to the program serving as coaches and mentors and continue to connect with their coaches over the past few years. The ultimate goal is to have them graduate high school. 9 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Commissioner Penserga asked if the grant will expand a program already in existence and learned C2G would be three years old in September. This grant looks ahead for what is possible for the boys because they will entering high school. Annette Gray, Founder of Global Business Development Center (GBDC) Entrepreneurship Institute, explained GBCD has been around for 12 years and has had a variety of organizational structures. She started as consultant with the Small Business Administration and some of their resource partners. She later developed the GBDC development center as she felt they needed more technical assistance than GBDC just coming in getting counselling and leaving. She explained they were not competitive because they were not a 501(c) 3, and the majority of the funding went to SBA partners. She advised four years ago she transitions to a non-profit. They focus on entrepreneurs of all ages. They have youth and adult programs, where they help entrepreneurs launch from concept to implementation of their business. They provide back end and incubator support for those organizations. They also work with private and public sectors to create entrepreneurship cultures. This grant will focus on development and having technical assistance for City businesses. They will work closely with the City's Business Tax Receipt office for one to five years. The program goes beyond mentorship, counselling, and workshops. They focus on technical assistance. One program will be a weekend business, start-up boot camp. When the boot camps is over, the owner will have named the business, incorporated the business, selected an EIN number, registered as a vendor with the State, possibly have a one page website and will have ordered business cards. They focus on tangibles and result oriented programs. They also have a business plan - writing workshop. They work under the existing business incubator. Commissioner McCray noted the City has been helping Ms. Gray for some time. Amanda Minton, Operator of the Goddess School, inquired there were so many brick and mortars in downtown that are vacant. She noted there is one shop, the Sol Oasis, with women without their own signs and finding out what is the barrier. She questioned if they knew how to run a website or fear of technology, or lack of a mission. Ms. Minton would use the grant to find out. Commissioner McCray noted the CRA assists new business and has staff, which will help them get their business off the ground and publicized. He did not want duplication. Chris Fab, Founder of Referral AIM distributed information and explained the organization teaches photography skills to youth, veterans and women. They tailor photography equipment to specific interests and they provide portraiture macro -lenses and various other lenses for all types of photographs__: Big Brothers Big Sisters has 20 to 40 youth interested in the program, if funded. Ms. Fab also spoke with Todd Johnson at the Ezell Hester Community Center who also supported the project. By the end of each program, which runs four to six weeks, youth will have learned specific photography skills and also build their own Visura website, learn editing skills using VSVO Editor and learn how to maintain integrity during the editing process. The students will create calendars for photography related competition, starting with young and continuing to veterans. T Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Mr. Scott reviewed the project criteria and read the scoring. The Evaluation team was comprised of Debbie Majors, ADA Coordinator; Saleica Brown, Business Tax and Zoning Manager; and John Durgan, Special Projects Coordinator. The evaluations were conducted and tallied. The Category 1(a) grant recipient (Existing Incubator) was GBDC. The Category 1 (b) grant recipient (New Incubators) was 1909. The Category 2 grant recipient (work groups for women) was Be. Lead. Grow. Category 2 grant recipient (work group for youth) was Connect to Greatness (C2G). The Category 2 grant recipient (work group for technology) was 1909. The grant recipient for the Category 2 grant (work group for regional networks) was 1909. Commissioner McCray inquired how much money each group would receive and learned Category 1 (a) and (b) would each receive $20,000. The four Category 2 grants were $2,500 each. Beach Labs Inc., Referral AIM, and The Goddess School were not funded. Commissioner Romelus wanted to see how the committee ranked the applicants and reviewed the information. Commissioner Penserga was excited about the awards for 1909. He thought it was good for the future of the City and good for where the City was going. He asked if 1909 secured other funding. Mr. Russo explained the organization began November 1st, with support from the Knight Foundation and a $250K grant, from the FAU Adams Center for Entrepreneurship, who is their primary partner. The Adams Center is also developing a future curriculum for ongoing programs and cohorts. 1909 will take the $20K and combine it with the two $2,500 grants to have a $25,000 program which can be scaled and fulfill the City's needs in one holistic effort. The participants pay a fee to cover the cost of program materials, which would not exceed $300 for the six months period, which is $50 a month for current programs. The fee pays for 1909 facilitation costs, materials, programs, and licenses as contained in the financial plan. Commissioner McCray noted 1909 was receiving $25,000. He asked who developed the amounts given to each recipient. Mr. Scott explained staff needed to decide if the committee wanted one single $50K grant for businesses or incubators, and spoke with partner and other cities to determine how to spread the funding. Staff also consulted the private sector and staff recommended the Board accept the rankings and suggest the two $20K and four $2,500 for the working groups. Other organizations were not prohibited applying for more than one grant. Commissioner McCray queried how much Ms. Gray's group received over the years from the City, noting GBDC received funds from the Police Department and other entities. Ms. Gray commented she could not give a total figure, but noted a distinction between her incubator and some of the other programs. She explained GBDC is not a fee-based program. The $20K was all for free programming for the participants. The GBDC give $500 back in tangible assets to the people who are competitive in the program. Participants can choose between a website, business cards or marketing materials. She has received prior funds from the City for specific youth based programs. The incubator is a capacity -building grant for small businesses that came from the City's survey. GBDC will deliver and address deficiencies reflected on the survey. 11 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Ms. Gray indicated GBDC was different because their Mobile Entrepreneurship Leadership and Training (MELT) bus would go to people who cannot come to the incubator lab. The bus will go to individuals who cannot leave their small businesses. They are mobile, which is the different between their application and other applications. Commissioner McCray did not support funding one group all the time. The City needs to take care of everyone. He noted when individuals submit applications; he wanted all to have a chance at receiving grant funding. Mayor Grant noted the GBDC had made presentations to the City Commission in the past and asked if this would continue. Ms. Gray responded it would. It was her way to share the program results and of saying thank you to the City for its support. Mr. Scott advised that at the end of the four months, each grant recipient would report on his or her program. Mr. Scott explained the work group recipients are paid up front. The larger groups get $10K up front and then $5K and $5K. Commissioner Penserga asked about the sustainability of the MELT bus. He asked what would happen after the $20K is expended and learned the bus was being underwritten by the advertising on the bus. They uses the same business model as Palm Tran uses for sustainability. Commissioner McCray encouraged the applicants who were not funded to reapply for the next round of funds. Motion Vice Mayor Katz moved to approve. Commissioner Penserga seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-1 (Commissioner McCray dissenting.) F. Approve reduction of performance bond #NRIFSU0704412 for the completion of the landscaping, paving and grading improvements in association with the Officer Joseph Crowder Park & Dog Park project from $512,642.31 to a 5% warranty bond in the amount of $25,632.12 to be held by the City for a period of one (1) as the warranty against defect. G. Authorize utilizing the Palm Beach County Bid #17-005/ZG for Landscape Installation with A Cut Above Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. of Loxahatchee, FL for Public Works Forestry & Grounds Division to salvage and relocate the remaining trees and palms located within Town Square project that could not be relocated during the demolition phase and to furnish and install plants and material on an as needed basis for an annual expenditure in the amount of $120,000 for the extent of the contract. Palm Beach County's procurement process satisfies the City's competitive bid requirements. H. Approve the minutes from City Commission meeting held on May 21, 2019. 12 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 Motion Vice Mayor Katz moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Commissioner McCray seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 7. CONSENT BIDS AND PURCHASES OVER $100,000 A. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R19-062 - Authorize the City Manager to sign the proposal and purchase of 6 Mobile Diesel Generators from TAW Power Systems, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL, a Kohler Generator Systems Distributor for the sum of $252,552, at a discount of 8% from pricing of the national Sourcewell Contract #120617 -KOH. Sourcewell procurement process satisfies the City's competitive bid requirements. B. PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. R19-063 - Authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Killebrew, Inc. of Lakeland, FL for scope of work that includes pre - chlorinated pipe bursting of potable water mains on Loquat Tree Dr. and Old Spanish Trail, in the amount of $426,950 plus a 10% contingency of $42,695 if needed for staff approval of change orders for unforeseen conditions for a total expenditure of $469,645. Motion Vice Mayor Katz moved to approve the Consent Agenda for Bids and Purchases over $100,000. Commissioner McCray seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Vice Mayor Katz requested adding a Future Agenda item regarding dogs on the beach. He wanted a discussion about the next step for dogs on the beach. Mayor Grant preferred to hear the item in August. Mayor Grant read the press release regarding City Hall Tilt Party on Monday, June 17th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 8. 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. 9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT - None 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 11. NEW BUSINESS - None 13 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 12. LEGAL - None 13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A. Approve request for Conditional Use and Major Site Plan Modification (COUS 19-001 / MSPM 19-006) for 7 -Eleven, Inc., to allow redevelopment for a new 2,540 sq. ft. convenience store, a 3,096 sq. ft. gas station canopy composed of six (6) pump stations, and related site amenities and improvements, on a 0.84 acre parcel located at 4798 N. Congress Avenue, in the C-3 (Community Commercial) zoning district. Applicant: Grant Distel, 7 -Eleven, Inc. - June 18, 2019 B. Approve amendments to the Land Development Regulations, Chapter 4, Site Development Standards, Article I, Environmental Protection Standards, Section 4, Standards, to create regulations requiring proper application of fertilizer to protect water bodies, and amendments to Chapter 1, Article II, Definitions, to add corresponding definitions. Applicant: City -initiated. - June 18, 2019 C. Approve proposed code language implementing CRA Plan -Group 4 (CDRV 19- 003) — Amending the LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS: (1) Chapter 1. General Administration, Article II. Definitions, Article III. Relationship to Comprehensive Plan, and Article IV. Redevelopment Plans; and (3) Chapter 3. Zoning, Article III. Zoning Districts and Overlay Zones, to continue implementation of revisions related to modification of the future land use categories and to other recommendations of the Community Redevelopment Plan, including creation of the Cultural District and Boynton Beach Boulevard Overlays. Applicant: City - initiated. - June 18, 2019 D. Commission wants to discuss public safety as it relates to the Town Square Redevelopment - June 2019 E. Senator Lori Berman and Representative Joe Casello to give a post -legislation update - June 18, 2019 F. Update by 2020 US Census Marketing efforts by Laura Landsburgh, Marketing Manager — June 18, 2019 G. Department to give brief presentation of their operations Development - July 2019 Library - September 2019 H. Staff to review Development Department's plan review processes to identify efficiencies and technologies to assist with timely review of plans/projects - July 2019 14 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 I. Budget Workshops for 2019/20 proposed budget: Budget Workshops at Intracoastal Park Clubhouse; Monday, July 15, 2019 @ 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 16, 2019 @ 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 17, 2019 @ 2:00 P.M. J. Dorothy Jacks, PBC Property Appraiser to address the Commission - August 6, 2019 K. Staff to present updated Social Media Policy - August 20, 2019 L. The Mayor has requested a discussion of possible changes to Seacrest Corridor zoning and land use including expedited permitting — TBD 14. ADJOURNMENT u• .a Commissioner McCray moved to adjourn; Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. (Continued on next page) 15 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, Florida June 4, 2019 ATTEST eenes er Nieves Deputy City Clerk Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 16 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH Mayor - Steven B. Grant Vice Mayor — Justin Katz Commissioner - Mack McCray Commissioner — Christina Romelus Commissioner — Ty Penserga June 4, 2019 Dear Members of the Commission, I was horrified to learn today that the copy of the incubator grant submitted contained a significant error. The grant copy submitted was sent with the Microsoft Word program track changes feature enabled. I assure you that this was not the intent of my team. This was a clerical error and due the cone of silence, I was unable to address the matter with staff or recall the submission. I have attached a clean copy of the grant proposal for this evening's discussion. I am aware that is step may be late; however, I could not in good faith let the previous document stand as the final representation of the organization. Thank you for your time and kind consideration in tonight's deliberations. Respectfully, Arlreel�, �i-ay Annette Gray Founder GBDCEI . R Entrepreneurship Institute Category 1 Business Incubation Existing Business Incubator Annette Gray Founder 1500 Gateway Blvd #220 Boynton Beach FL 33426 info@gbdcei.com phone 561-894-4510 fax 561-894-4501 WWW.GBDCEI.org Type of organization: 5010 3 status approved in 2014 Submission Date: May 3, 2019 Amount of Funds Requested: $20,000 Desired City Assistance' • n' WIWI cr G,t•N46 4.vMR afd mMWn wJWO kka U !C CuY'Kf M.m M• City Executive Summary GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute is expanding its incubation services and reach through a newly developed asset; The Mobile entrepreneurship and Training Unit. The expansion to mobile and virtual incubation is fueled by the entrance of the millennial generation into the market place as employees, business owners and consumers. Industry trends have shifted from physical incubation to Meetings and Events virtual incubation combined with agile co -work Spaces. This .,in 10 business owners and managers will attend quarterly meetings to help GBDCEI proposal and proposed programs are focused and tied directly to the outcomes of the business survey conducted by the Boynton Beach Economic Development Department and current trends facing incubators, entrepreneurs and micro enterprises. city staff and other business owners improve the business environment of Boynton Beach • Over halt of business owners and managers would attend business networking group events Will au, 1W �,tx. 2996 •Qur try lYMwwpr 28%a N,T—rk." r—t, lili't k".. Ift Target Audience. The Boynton Beach Business Survey shows 61 % Boynton Beach business have 1-5 employees and the Business Tax Receipt department shows that 2561 business have registered a license in the past 3 years. Given the SBA's finding that most business fail in the first year of business or by year 5 GBDCEI has chosen to focus on this target population of emerging (startup), Entrepreneurs and Small businesses in their first five years of operation. In Business Owners and Managers intake process and application will be used to • 2 in 5 Boynton Beach owners and managers have operated their determine the stage of business and areas in which business in the City for fewer than 5 years the business needs assistance. The program will t'n&r I year include training, technical assistance and one on 1- """k one coaching for those who are in the concept 10years � l development to those who have been in operations 11 -10rAf, �'1 for five years or less. Ch•M 2V years Program Focus • Development of business plans to improve business operations methods and increase chances for funding • Funding Application Technical Assistance • Technical Assistance with Small/Disadvantage, Minority, Female Certification with the City, County and State. • Training and Technical Assistance with, Digital Marketing, Social media and branding. • Levering technology and agile work teams to offset employee turnover and improve sustainability • Provide mentoring and networking opportunities with more established businesses and vendors Program Delivery Methods Top Business Difficulties* Difficulty n•rnriling/n•lamhtg nmployts`t 30% prnuilling 26% FkIMr1Ww1 trstf 26% Inwfficrent parking -20% Brclriclivr• bininr•tis wgulalion% -19% Safoty -18% .M"W, «w•., r Aero • Group Training • One on One Technical Assistance ( In partnership with the SBDC) • Volunteer Mentorship Program (In Partnership with the Chamber • Annual Conference ( In partnership with Community Business Support Industries • Monthly Networking Event ( In Partnership with the Chamber) • Funding Assistance (in partnership with Accion USA) Project Description: This proposal is to request funds towards the expansion costs of business incubation training and support counseling services for emergent and growing businesses of Boynton Beach. Project Deliverables: Additional Business Difficulties* •Ruw—M—f and MAMVw%akn ro(inrlorl fayinR tho f0fl9wln0. huvn.•x 111411 g— Lack pf pplesn.an ;raHic INyn A' ry (ps;s (yx.n..w� �•,nlAi ry..�. w.yl.. �r 4+,Inv InsulfK�erN hrlwKmg —�. '�,.. u�skAkd wnkns —:". Irll.r,x•i r�nr�lr�li(x,l — Il.. Awrlable Mice/camnercral space cMulucilon -Y'": Sllnxllxxr wmuave ban�erz -,.. Yow /rdldrg,ttMltbn � L -4d 1mlh lwi4lry!OWrwr wfananl �).. alx, • 6 business success training series will be conducted, with 8 separate classes of 25 people participating in the series • A monthly meet the expert round table mentoring event will be held • An annual professional development conference will be held • 10 participants will receive stipend credit totaling $5000 ($500 each) toward tangible paid business development tools and services offered by GBDCEI such as business cards, website development, Social Media Platform setup, graphic design. (This will not be given in cash or monetary tender but is services) • Monthly tracking of program participants • Participants surveys • 200 program participants • 30 business plans • 160 counseling sessions • 50 candidates successfully complete the minority or small business certification process • 50 participants assisted with funding applications • Increase the number of new businesses that are started in the city boundaries • Increase the number of existing businesses' expansion efforts • Increase the number of business owners in obtaining private capital Amount of Funds Requested for Project: $20,000 Applicant Organization GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute (GBDCEI) is the Black Chamber of Commerce 2018 Nonprofit of the Year Award Winner. GBDCEI began as a for profit business incubator Global Business Development Center founded by Annette Gray; after serving as a consultant and trainer for the SBA and many of the SBA's Resource Partners in South Florida. The structure was changed to a nonprofit structure in 2014 was precipitated by market place demand and clients who are accustomed to free services funded by the SBA to resource partners. As a result, competitively and comparatively a for-profit incubator with paid service was not eagerly sought after by clients particular after the economic down turn of 2008- 2011. GBDCEI is incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization and an educational Community Development Corporation. The organization is an essential part of the South Florida economic development t and is sought after by both clients and strategic alliance partners looking to expand their mission beyond their front door. GBDCEI strives to improve local communities by applying innovative development strategies and by promoting job creation via small business ownership. Today, GBDCEI focuses on developing entrepreneurs, future entrepreneurs and building capacity for existing small businesses. GBDCEI was founded by Annette Gray. Annette Gray is an established Business Management and Economic Development Specialist, an international keynote speaker and business trainer. She is currently a Commissioner on The Palm Beach County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women and the former Chairperson of the Delray Beach (CRA) and the former Vice -Chair of the Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative (DBMC). Prior to entrepreneurship, she led and managed teams at Fortune 500 Companies, such as MBNA America Bank and government entities such as the City of Boynton Beach CRA and West Palm Beach DDA. She has over twenty years of experience in marketing, economic development and strategic planning in the private and public sectors. Annette has spent the last 15 years dedicated to the development of entrepreneurs and small businesses. She has served as an SBA Consultant and Trainer, for The Florida Women's Business Center, The Jim Moran Institute for Entrepreneurship, The Urban League of the Palm Beaches, the Boynton Beach CRA (Full CV Attached) The Board is very tactical combination of individuals who has the skills relevant to the navigate thee challenges faced by our clients today's market place • Alterraon Phillips, ESQ. Chairman Legal council • Rocio M. Davis Vice Chair Non -Profit development background • Stephie Rockwell Secretary Digital Media Marketing, Public Relations Governance • Representative Joe Casello, Government Public Policies Governance • Donald Norris Information Technology Governance • Corey O' Gorman Private Sector Sponsorship Governance • Maryan Payne Millennial Advisor According to UBI Global Business incubation is growing rapidly, particularly in the areas of Innovative new programs like pre -accelerators, virtual incubation, integrated co -working space. GBDCEI is well ahead of the curve of these trends. GBDCEI began delivering and specializing in virtual incubation approximately three years ago. This decision was influenced by the multigenerational shift in the marketplace. While Boomers sought out bricks and mouther incubation the Millennial generation expressed a desire for entrepreneurship at the beginning of their careers not at the like their boomer counterparts. They also expressed their desire to be more agile because they have a better capacity to leverage resources globally via the worldwide web. GBDCEI's response to the new trends and demand of clients was to focus on virtual and mobile incubation. This takes the form of a former Palm Tran Bus retrofitted to deliver training and resources to entrepreneurs, solo-prenures and small micro enterprises. This target population finds it difficult to leave their operation to take advantage of resources. Subsequently, a mobile service that comes to them will be invaluable. According to the Boynton Beach Business Tax receipt office there are approximately 2561 business that are between 1 and 3 years in operation. GBDCEI with the Mobile Entrepreneurship Leadership and Training Bus will target this population with, Incubation, training, technical assistance and one on one business coaching. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: about 20% of business fail in their first year, and about 50% of small businesses fail in their fifth year. The GBDCEI team recognizes the importance to the Boynton Beach economic landscape to ensure that the city's business success rate during the critical period is better than the national average. Incubator Facilities: GBDCEI serves clients from a bricks and mouther location at 1500 Gateway Blvd. Boynton Beach. The services are enhanced by the MELT Bus. Prior to the mobile unit GBDCEI served clients from an 1800 sq. ft. office on Congress Avenue. GBDCEI also partnered with local community organizations to use their space and extend the reach in the community The Organization does not currently have a formalized incubation from which clients graduate. Clients are served based an in-depth needs analysis. A la Cart Services are selected by their clients based on their needs GBDCEI Currently offers the following Virtual Incubation • Mailing Address • Telephone number or answering Professional Services • Social Media and digital marketing • Bookkeeping/Accounting • Payroll • Business plan development • Business Structuring ( Formation, licensing, trademark, Patenting, Small business certification, Barcoding Assistance, Marketing Branding, Graphic Design, website development and Social media marketing) Tenants: GBDCEI have served over 200 clients. Additionally, over 3000 clients have attended the workshops, conference and networking events. Clients are identified by client intake files and data sheet that are kept for five years. Attendees to event, conferences, workshops and networking events are identified by attendance rosters and sign in sheets. It is estimated that the MELT BUS retrofitted with 20 computers, will double our capacity and the number of clients we serve .A small sample of incubator clients and services is indicated below and reflects the variety of industries that the organization has served: • Chameleon Security Group (Office Space, Bookkeeping, Payroll, SSM, Business development ) • Miami Beach Fire Benevolent Association (501c3 Structure) • Brandon Flowers Foundation (501 c3 Structure Corporation Structure Phone service) • Marius Boyd (Business Development) • Palmaress Research (Website development, Corporation structure phone service • Bill Tome Foundation (501 c3 Structure) • Watts Accounting (Office space, SSM, business development referrals) • Computer Bargains (Office Space,, SSM, Business development • Shades and more (Social Media Marketing) • Diakare Dialysis (Business Plan Development) • ER Healthcare Consulting (Website development, business plan development, • TIV Fragrance (Website development, SSM) • PSJ Law & Associates (Business Plan Development ) • Sing it Again Miss (Business Plan Development) Business Model: Given the research surrounding the incubation of small businesses the GBDCEI team plans to remain mobile to reach as many clients as possible. Easy access to resources is vital to business owners who are solo or 2 people operations. GBDCEI will also continue to identify strategic alliance partners to ensure a broad reach. A brie audit of today's SBA resource providers with non-mobile resource indicates that the internet and conflicting priorities has reduced the number of client willing to travel to a bricks and motor office. Prior to the MELT bus GBDCEI was complete funded by fee based services, grants and fundraising activates. The MELT BUS provides another level of revenue from advertisers on the side of the bus. Additionally, strategic partners will be given the opportunity to use the bus for a half or full day for a fee. Going forward revenue sources will include: • Fee based services • Grants • Fund raising activates • Mobile advertising • MELT BUS rental The City of Boynton Beach's Business Environment: The City of Boynton Beach business environment is expanding. According the business survey 32% of the surveyed population indicated a desire to expand their current business. The general population is also growing. The current population of approximately 74,000 is expected to increase to 81,000 by 2025. Additionally, the median age continues to decrease (currently 42.8). A final impacting factor is the extremely low unemployment rate of 3.5%. These factors are extremely conducive to the development and continued growth in the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). With unemployment low and the largest generation since the boomers struggling to find employment they are extremely likely to turn to business ownership. GBDCEI has several strong young entrepreneurs program. These programs serves as an introduction to entrepreneurship. Programs such as our kid-preneur leadership academy, Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs, Business Side of Art and Summer Youth entrepreneurship and Training program all focus on inducing to the concept of personal job creation to youth between the ages of 12 and 21. The GBDCEI structure is designed to grow with the entrepreneur or business enterprise. We have the capacity to serve and provide resources at all levels (Concept development, structure, business development and development of exit strategy or succession planning) creating a win win solution of businesses in the city limits Financial Statements GSDC Entrepreneurship Institute Statement of Functional Expenses (990) January through December 2018 Unrestricted Net Assets Advertising Business Expenses Contract Services Facilities and Equipment Fund Raising Income Internet & Software Meals and Entertainment Operations Travel and Meetings TOTAL Unclassified 120,947.60 129.10 3,989.97 10,501.94 834.00 -44.72 237.86 427.35 3,336.47 967.03 TOTAL 120,947.60 129.10 3,989.97 10,501.94 834.00 -44.72 237.86 427.35 3,336.47 967.03 141, 326.60 141, 326.60 is ,4 AM GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute or»>N Statement of Financial Income and Expense Aovutl Boom J My ftww l DEOMOK m16 orowry IKo.FMkaprUa tnoo.n4 Ned Vubk Supoon CC.po.dd• Oono*uboi iwn*mwp &MA tierc S.ivvuA our TOW Dead P. *C S-poon bawd teat Suwon COW 1ppu of b.cow� Morar Ra.or.a otArTnmd4lt •Obw Tool 0u,a. Trpm at b mWM pvow�1aa7.n1 ftYuVam S vwo Fw ftuwM Inmrr • 01Am Tout FVOWM I 0 Toter wCone E •pr. w Ad.rtbirg ewwv. E.o.rw Evi.t E.penw boor...Lvr - MW vew vlw4 Eve COMI d tuw.. Owbift C4rrd SWAM Coo&"I -M-coo Tow Coa0ad Samoa fanMbas and GQ.kmwd konl PaUmo, UbAtma Tdul r.:lKwa Md Eqw". rrd Rm" k.nonr MunwR A Saftrwo Moab rod Lnu'4nwwr Opw.4o..a ern" F� h.n.0 and Liom"o Sumom Tri TsWccm i wftm Toot opwvbo r Tt" and MomonW Tres T,e.r rod Mrnps - off... Total T.e vo rod Mar•r.ps Tow E y4mmoe Nt o.drrT frt 4. "TM NVOC!>tiIb/ TOTAL 27w 02 4.CW00 4OS000 goo Soo 4100 4400 4,10300 4,1000 11,00000 1t X600 40 00 11110 00 4000 4000 .3! 00 ,!1111100 N 700 00 14 700 00 2S0 00 250 00 17 940 O0 17 94000 3210400 32,10400 12610 12610 27w 02 270102 1,2?a1Yi 1,2ti9S 2,wa s.a�a MM &M 1111111 1,Sis 00 19000 Awl N 10,60166 0400 13400 0400 b4 00 44 72 .4472 227 M 227 N 427 33 427 35 moo moo 4v 45 41745 1.41417 1,41417 7M 2s 74112s 3,37E47 3,32.47 4844 M40 IMS? 111Z 17 so? 03 /N7 03 20 21900 20 57100 11.72500 11,72500 110" 11.7" hP 1 Projected Revenue 2020 Product Projected Revenue Grants 50,000 Advertising Revenue 30,000 Sponsorships 150,000 Service Income 50,000 Fund raising 80,000 Total Projected Income Projected Revenue 2021 Product Grants Advertising Revenue Sponsorships Service Income Fund raising MELT BUS Total Proiected Income Projected Revenue 150,000 50,000 80,000 80,000 60,000 80,000 500,000 Proposal Incubator Activities: The GBDCEI team has structured the organization premier one-stop center for small businesses offering a variety of services to aid them in making their business a success. The center has three core programs that deliver its business support services a) Virtual Business Incubator; b) the Mobile Entrepreneurship Leadership Training Unit (MELT BUS) a Technology Program. Described below are the business support services offered through these programs: Participants will be recruited assessed and provided the following services. As an incentive to complete the outlined program all participants who complete the program mile stones will be entered into a drawing to receive $500 value of services. Training: includes individual workshops and long term workshop series that present new ideas, practical business skills, and valuable information. Trainings are structured so that current and aspiring business owners can learn about relevant business topics that include how to start a business, business plan development, securing loans and other debt and equity financing sources, procurement, marketing, and business and financial management tools. Counseling: individual business counseling sessions are provided that are tailored to the specific needs of the entrepreneur. Counseling sessions cover specific areas ranging from start-up assistance, strategic analysis, business feasibility, and business planning. Technical assistance: long term in depth consultation and hands on assistance is provided business owners. Services include a client assessment, strategic plan, implementation plan and evaluation of client performance, as well support on access to capital, loan packaging, grant assistance, business plan writing, business valuations and alternative financing solutions. Virtual Incubation: the center provides access to affordable business address, phone number/answering and associated professional services that include bookkeeping, web development, graphic design, social media marketing. Technology & Marketing Services: offers multi -media services, including cutting edge websites, business cards, signs, postcards, brochures, website design, and search engine optimization. It offers technical services in the area of computer repair, upgrades, & restoration, virus removal and networking. MELT BUS: offers state-of-the-art computer technology and internet access. Its workstations equipped with DSL Internet service provide access to Internet research for business planning and the ability to train clients on various business software products. Clients are able to access Internet service, work on business plans, develop presentations, and produce flyers and brochures. Mentoring: events are held monthly in a roundtable setting to provide opportunities for business owners to help and support each other as well as impart their business expertise and share lessons learned. Networking: events are held monthly to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with business leaders, access business resources, and to stay relevant, keep up with industry trends and connect. Referrals: the center is connected to a network of local, state and regional business assistance programs and services that support business owners. Conferences: the center offers one business conferences annually: The South Florida Finance and Business multi -generational conference provides attendees with an opportunity y to access a variety of top level decision makers from a variety of industries. The conference assembles a level of resource providers in one room that would typically not be easily accomplished by a small business Critical Success Factors: As with any business risk is inevitable. A mobileNirtual incubator relies heavily on technology, population growth and moderate unemployment rate. The GBDCEI strategic plan addresses risk as maintaining a capital reserves account to make needed repairs to the MELT BUS, update and computers and computer software. Additionally, GBDCEI will target and market to a population that is currently employed but wish to leave and start an entrepreneurial venture. This strategy identifies future client while they are financially solvent and help them to develop a transition plan that is well thought out and funded, thus ensuring a better survival rate for the business. Finally, GBDCEI is aware that most incubators are traditionally underwritten by grants and or government economic development dollars. As a result, the success rate and sustainability of incubators are low. GBDCEI plans to actively market and promote the fee based programs on the MELT BUS state wide and via digital marketing nationwide. Project Sustainability Strategy the Boynton Beach Incubator grant dollars will be used to expand GBDCEI service within the city limits of Boynton Beach. The services will be offered free with a stipend offered towards business services as a program incentive. Upon completion of the free programs clients will be offered discounted rates for business services with GBDCEI. The paid services combined with other grants and advertising revenues will enable the center to continue free programs to a percentage of the population. Monitoring and Evaluation: The goal of the program is to help the participants make progress in the areas of their business they feel they need the most help. Measurement will indicate the number of participants served, in what industries and what service. This program is focused on capacity building for Boynton Beach Businesses. The variables outside the control of GBDCEI in funding participation, and skill level of attendees makes it impossible to guarantee funding, and other profitability ( growth in revenue) as a result Measurement areas will be in tangible areas of output. Results - The results from this project will be: • Number of program participants 200 • Number of business plans 30 • Number of counseling sessions 160 • Number of candidates successfully complete the minority or small business certification process 50 • Number of participants assisted with funding applications 50 • Number of program of Business workshops f • To increase the number of new businesses that are started in the city boundaries • To increase the number of existing businesses' expansion efforts • To increase the number of business owners in obtaining private capital An intake form will be used to collect demographic and business information. The same form will be used to ask each participant the areas they are in need of assistance. The information will reveal the number of participants served, in the area, industry, etc. A registration form and survey will used to monitor workshop & Training. This will generate attendance count and overall satisfaction of the training. A counseling journaling form will be used for each one & one counseling session will be documented on a counseling form. The form will summarize the session and document resources provided, take away and items that require follow. Funding assistance will be monitored by a needs analysis funding assistance form completed by the client at the beginning of the process and completed by the GBDCEI counselor at the end of the proceeds indicating steps taken and documenting the outcome (Funded or not Funded). Project Budget Program Expenses Training 4 Training Series (avg. of 80 hours per series @ $30/hr) $ 14,200.00 (Unit cost includes curriculum development, materials, set up and use of computers, instructors' fees and expenses, admin support, and travel) Counseling 240 hrs @ $25/hr (avg. 3hrs per client for a total of 80 clients) $ 6,000.00 Participants Stipend Marketing/Outreach $5000.00 30 hrs @ $25/hr $ 750.00 Program Expenses Subtotal $ 25,950.00 Administrative Costs (15%) $ 3,892.00 Total Expenses $ 29,842.00 $9,842.00 Funded (Inkind services from GBDCEI volunteers and community partners) Milestones and Goals Reports 2019 Detailed Timeline: May Grant Approval (First 2 months report) June - July Development of Marketing materials & Registration of the first 25 Participants (Class A First 4 months report) June - September Development of Marketing materials & Registration of the second 25 Participants (Class B) Month Day Date Time Training Title Class August TBD TBD TBD Exploring Entrepreneurship & Idea A August TBD TBD TBD 1,2,3s of Starting a Business A August TBD TBD TBD Intro to Business Computers A August TBD TBD TBD Intro to Business Plan Writing A September TBD TBD TBD Exploring Entrepreneurship & Idea B September TBD TBD TBD 1,2,3s of Starting a Business B September TBD TBD TBD Intro to Business Computers B September TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series A September TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series A September TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series A September TBD TBD TBD Intro to Business Plan Writing B October TBD TBD TBD Skills to Operate a Profitable Business A October TBD TBD TBD Skills to Operate a Profitable Business A October TBD TBD TBD Marketing & Sales A October TBD TBD TBD Marketing & Sales A October TBD TBD TBD Obtaining Funding for Your business A October TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series B October TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series B October TBD TBD TBD Business Plan Writing Series B October TBD TBD TBD Graduation & Celebration A November TBD TBD TBD Skills to Operate a Profitable Business B November TBD TBD TBD Skills to Operate a Profitable Business B November TBD TBD TBD Marketing & Sales B November TBD TBD TBD Marketing & Sales B November TBD TBD TBD Obtaining Funding for Your business B November TBD TBD TBD Graduation & Celebration B Proiect Timeline Month Class A Class B Class C Class D June July Market August Phase 1 Market September Phase 2 Phase 1 October Phase 3 Phase 2 November Phase 4 Phase 3 December Phase 4 January Market February Phase 1 Market March Phase 2 Phase 1 April Phase 3 Phase 2 May Phase 4 Phase 3 June Phase 4 Phase Workshops Title Length Session 1 Exploring Entrepreneurship & Your Business Idea 2.5 hours Phase 1 Session 2 1-2-3's of Starting A Business (business law) 2.5 hours Session 3 Intro. To Technology & Computers For Business 2.5 hours Phase 2 Session 4a Business Plan Writing Series 3 hours Session 4b 3 hours Session 4c 8 hours Session 5 Keeping the Books (accounting) 2.5 hours Phase 3 Session 6a Skills To Operate A Successful Business 2.5 hours Session 6b/7a Skills To Operate / Marketing & Promotion 2.5 hours Session 7b Marketing & Business Promotion 2.5 hours Session 8 Finding Your Way Through The Certification Maze 2.5 hours Phase 4 Session 9 Obtaining Funding For Your Business 2.5 hours Session 10 Graduation & Celebration 2.5 hours Meet the Team Annette: Project Lead u Rebecca Social Media Manager C: Jovan Graphic Designer Executive Project Manager HR, Payroll Jacqulyn: Director of Programing De Bookkeeper Mohammed: Website Development One & One Coaching will be done by team lead and industry volunteers for SCORE & SBDC Funding Partner Accion USA 31D Annual South Florida Regional Multi -Generational Businc« & Finance Conference ifiMitlr, NOW411twr 12.201$ 1-7AM West Chester Cowitry Club :s=So Westchester Club Dr. Boynton Beach FL 33437 Eve" l **wades a ls&o a www www*dOw"I O"w4w https:ltwwwtven"te.com/e/south-florida- M&Ial multi-gcneratiotut-Maine w4nawe- confercnce-tickets-4c7JGs8pq laildak`- Nels n A ! t.+ rE �;o�++wn I Owu ajWMEELER INC km +a ReRwo w �Uz M `.�i��O Entrepreneurship Institute GR WIN o G Entrepreneurial LEADERS THINKERS M.E.L.T Mobile Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Training Center Life Skills Training Career Development Training Small Business Technical Assistance Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurship Development I In Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute Presents..... Free Preparation Workshops: Steps for writing a successful business plan Monday October 1St 5 Tips for converting a business plan into an investor pitch deck Monday October 8th 3501 N Congress Ave Boynton Beach FL 33426 Pitch Competition Schedule Monday October 22, 2018 (6-9PM) Monday November 5. 2018 (6- 9PM ) 3501 N Congress Ave Boynton Beach FL 33426 Finals well be held at the Multigenerational Business Conference on November 12, 2018 G\Ob°\ eotsop E°he0e° Week The Multi Generational Business Pitch competition Have you dreamed of starting a business as a Family, as a means of building wealth for future gen- erations in your family? Well this is your chance to get the support and resources you need to make your dream a reality! Grab your young ones and old ones, come up with a unique business idea and reg- ister today! Teams must consist of a q, minimum of one adult and one child under the age 40. team mem- bers must attend all de- ! velopment workshops, pitch events and the finals held at the Multigenerational Business Conference. Registration Deadline October 19th Five Finalist will be awarded prize packages that include-. Cash Prizes (given to reimburse business expenses) Legal structure assistance Business plan development assistance Business Coaching > Introduction to investors and or funders --> Business branding package logo > Website Business Cards Social media startup package For more Information Call 561-894-4510 or Send E -email to info@gbdcei.com Www.gbdcei.org ({' G Entrepreneurship Institute Play, Learn * l: and Grow.. T getter 1 6 n N► Register early! $125 Pre -registration & payment required Lunch & Snacks Included For More Information or to Register 561-894-4510 info, a gbdcei. com f� G I? Entrepreneurship Institute Kid-Preneur Leadership Academy aes 10-15 March 11, 2017 ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS! A Spring Break Your Kids Will Never Forget! They Will: Develop & run their own city -� Manage a disaster (flood, earthquake, hurricane a Buy their first home & Car a Get a job a Develop a budget Send their children to college. a Open a bank account => Resolve credit issues => Court trial Meet & get tips from professionals Vice Mayor Fire Fighters, Police Officers, a Pilots, a TV Reporters, Attorneys Business Owners. Visit in person and learn the operations of a City Hall A Bank a Police Department a Fire Station => Grocery Store => TV Station The Airport A Hotel A Hospital 11 (�I 7C, EntrepreneED urship Institute THE BUSINESS SIDE OF ART A YOUNG ARTIST CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CO-SPONSORED BY ARTS GARAGE EVER WONDERED_. Is college fight for me? How do I protect my work? Can my talent be my Job) What is Entrepreneurship? How do I protect my personal brand? THIS PROGRAM OFFERS INSIGHT INTO Leadership various career option% to( artist~ Budgeting Developing Relationships & Finding resources Resume Building THE PROGRAM INCLUDES Professional Career Exploration Starting your own Business Professional industry Speakers Exposure to Successful Artist Plan Development A unique opportunity, The Business Side of Art supports students as they explore creative career options through workshops and guest speakers, Offering creativity boosting and community building, this program provides fun, life - changing opportunities for young artists. AGES DATES LOCATION FOR MORE INFO 16.21 gam - 4pm Arts Garage 6 TO SIGN UP June 13, lune 14, June 15, 94 NE 2nd Ave. GBDCEI June 20, lune 21, and lune 22 Delray Beach, fl 33444 info@gbdcei.com $125 561-450.6357 561-894-4510 Reliatradon DeadUne: www.artsgarage.org www.gbdcei.com June 1, 2017 ANNETTE A. GRAY MBA Business Operations/Management Consultant & Facilitator annette@globalbusinessdevelopmentcenter.com 561-441-4145 3624 Ave De Gien Delray Beach, FL, 33445 Executive Summary: Ms. Gray is an analytical problem -solver with the ability to focus on multiple projects in a global marketplace. She has over 20 years of training, project and management consulting experience in privately held and public organizations. Ms. Gray is currently pursuing her DBA in International Business Management. Her highly developed interpersonal communication and management skills, a solid record in the development of strategic partnerships with businesses worldwide, community leaders, government agencies, elected officials and community non-profit organizations, has made her a sought after speaker, trainer and business consultant. KEY SKILLS: • Economic & Real-estate Re -Development • Project Management • Business Management • New Product Development • Public, private for profit, non-profit and corporate strategic planning • Small business technical assistance • Curriculum Development to aid in development of human capital Relevant Experience (1993 -Present) • Contract Management • Supply-Chain/Project Management • Pro -forma and Financial Management • Customer Donor Relationship Management • Branding/Marketing • Feasibility Analysis • Corporate Trainer • Call Center Management Public Sector Economic & Real-estate Redevelopment West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Director of Business Development Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Marketing & Community Relations Manager Global Real -Estate Collaborative Inc Broker GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute Director Non Profit Capacity Building Business Operations & Management Consulting Florida Women's Business Center Business Trainer/Business Strategy Global Business Development Center Supply-Chain/Project Management Center for Enterprise Opportunity Business management coaching Broward College Business Trainer/Business Strategy Palm Beach State College Leadership & Management Trainer Florida Atlantic University/CURE Facilitated small business workshops and provided business coaching for small businesses in the following areas: Business plan development, Operations, Marketing, and Minority Disadvantage Business Certification Internet marketing, Pro -forma and Financial Management Marketing & Business Development Rainbow Marketing Inc. Chief Operating Officer Home Store.Com Internet Marketing Manager MBNA America Bank, Customer Satisfaction Section Manager Marketing Direct Mail Production Manager, Sports Marketing/Promotions Events Manager, Customer Advocate, Loyalty Marketing, Project Management ANNETTE A. GRAY MBA Business Operations/Management Consultant & Facilitator annette@globalbusinessdevelopmentcenter.com 561-441-4145 3624 Ave De Gien Delray Beach, FL, 33445 Curriculum Design & Facilitator Lynn University School of Business Adjunct Professor Facilitated undergraduate credited courses in the School of Business in the following subjects: Marketing, Market Research, Advertising, Consumer Demand, Events Management Palm Beach Community College Corporate & Continuing Education Adjunct Professor Facilitator in private, public sector organizations and non -credited courses at the college in the following subjects: Leadership, Communications, Emotional Intelligence, First Time Managers Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Managing vertical teams Broward College Adjunct Professor Curriculum Designer of the Mini MBA Certificate program Facilitator of the Mini MBA Certificate program Facilitator and Business Consultant of the Seaport small business program Northwood University Adjunct Professor Facilitated undergraduate credited courses in business department in the following subjects: Marketing, Market Research, Advertising, Consumer Demand and Advertising Education DBA University of Liverpool, England Certificate Leading Services Organizations Harvard School of Business Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Broward College Certified Micro -Enterprise Instructor Florida Atlantic University MBA, Wilmington College, Wilmington, DE B.A., Mass Communications Radio TV & Film) and French, Lincoln University, Exton, PA Certificate/De langue Civilization and Literature, Sorbonne University, Paris, France Activities and Honors: Commissioner/Chairperson Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Change Maker Award Vice Chair Delray Beach Marketing Collaborative Glass Ceiling Award Recipient Unsung Hero Award Recipient Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Woman of the Year Nominee Small Business of the year Training/Learning Management Systems & Technology: Desire to Learn ((D2L, Blackboard iPad-powered learning Canvas Learning Management System Present Present 6/2017 9/2002 5/2000 5/1991 5/1990 Present 2017 2015 2016 2016 2015 & 2018 2012 F FAI bl �laolc( Saleica Brown Score Rank Debbie Majors Score Rank John Durgan Score Rank Evaluation Rank Category Rank Category 1a GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute 86 1 59 1 53 1 3 1 Category 1b 1909 78 1 89 1 70 1 3 1 Beach Labs, Inc 60 3 25 3 48 2 8 3 Referral AIM 65 2 53 2 22 3 7 2 Category 2 Women Goddess School 48 2 50 2 58 2 6 2 Be.Lead.Grow., LLC 85 1 89 1 94 1 3 1 Category 2 Youth Connect to Greatness, Inc 63 1 77 1 85 1 3 1 Category 2 Technology 1909 76 1 6S 1 64 1 3 1 Category 2 Regional Networks 1909 71 1 65 1 64 1 3 1 F FAI bl �laolc( %1!21111 'Y. f I jut-..As.1i' WALK THROUGH BALTIMORE'S NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LOOK UP. THE FAN -SHAPED GINKGO LEAVES AND RUBY - RED PEARLS DANGLING FROM CHERRY BRANCHES ARE THE LITERAL FRUITS OF HOW GENE DESANTIS HAS SPENT THE PREDOMINANT PART OF HIS LIFE. ON SATURDAYS, THE SLIGHT, CAP -WEARING 90 SUMMER 2019 POPSCI.COM 4&%P 44 S7 -year-old plants trees. By his count, 15,223 of them over the past 40 years. For DeSantis, an MVP to local greening outfits, the routine began as a form of ther- apy. The Baltimore native spent some of his childhood in Los Angeles, with an alcoholic stepfather and drug -addicted mother. On the nights his stepfather's drunkenness turned violent, the young DeSantis climbed trees in the yard to find peace. "Trees be- came my friends," he says. "You could say I kind of grew up there." One night in 1976, his stepfather shot and killed his mother and then himself. The fol- lowing year, the 17 -year-old moved in with his grandmother in the blue-collar corner of southeast Baltimore where he had been born. That was also the year he would plant his first tree, and discover the act was a way to cope. "I was angry inside because I thought the world was so unfair," he says. "The pick- ing and shoveling helped me reduce a lot of the anger that I had." The relief DeSantis sought among the branches might be unique to him, but trees' restorative effects are not. Research show that stress levels, heart rate, muscle Ja sion, asthma rates, and blood pressur decrease in their presence. The benefits of urban woods go beyond helping residents take the edge off. They trap pollution, absorb auto emissions, and cool scorching sidewalks. Baltimore's cumulative 14,Ooo acres of canopy, for instance, ensnares in excess of55o,000 tons of carbon per year— offsetting 54 days' worth of emissions from the city's more than 600,000 residents. Few amenities better reveal the overall vigor of a city than its canopy: the mix of trees that line streets, envelop parks, and shade homes. "They're doing so much more to instill true health and wellness to a community," says Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, the country's largest tree -planting nonprofit. Yet despite those benefits, America's metropolitan cover is shrinking. Data from the United States Forest Service shows a decrease of 36 million urban trees between 2009 and 2014, or 175,0oo acres each year. Trunks are losing actual ground to the constructed infrastructure of cities— sidewalks, buildings, and parking lots—which is rising by (more than 167,000 acres per year. "If ever there was a time. to be planting trees, now is that time," Lambe says. J Baltimore, despite its reputation as a gritty port town, runs counter to the trend. Its forest is growing by upwards of5,000 new trees peryear, largely in the dilapidated east- THE GIVING YREES ern and western neighborhoods that have become an icon of the bayside burg. Over the past four decades, by enlist- ing data and an active cadre of volunteers like DeSantis, community groups, and nonprofits, Charm City has be- come a standard-bearer for urban reforestation, and a model for what's possible across the nation. THE TEENAGE DESANTIS HADN'T BEEN BACK IN Baltimore long when, one day in spring 1977, he spotted a group of four city workers turning soil beside a side- walk to plant a tree. He offered to help. The crew said they couldn't pay him, but he didn't care: He just wanted to put a tree in the ground. DeSantis quickly learned the process bears little resemblance to the folk tale in which Johnny Appleseed sowed seeds as he strode through America's countryside. "A lot of people think that trees are little seedlings," DeSantis says. To ensure that their work will survive on the street, urban foresters plant ad- olescent specimens. Up to a couple of inches thick and rising from tangled balls of roots and dirt a foot or more in diameter, the saplings require holes at least twice the width and depth of their root ball. Regardless, DeSantis found the undertaking sooth- ing, and quickly fell into a routine. He'd call the parks department to find out when it would be planting, then walk or ride a bus to get there. It turned out to be an early but important step into a life of service. The same day he planted his first tree, he'd also spent the morning delivering PB&Js to homeless people near the harbor. Today, he's a live-in health aide for a 1o6 -year-old woman, serves hot meals at a church - sponsored employment center called Our Daily Bread, and bakes cookies for folks at the Karis Home shelter (his oatmeal raisin are especially good). He cites his Christian faith as his main motivation, but good works are also an at- tempt to ease his childhood traumas. "I try to get past that," he says. "I mean, you can't ever forget it." In his early years volunteering with the parks depart- ment, DeSantis often found himself trading dead elms for Japanese zelkovas. The late '70s had marked the fi- nal years of a midcentury blight that killed more than 70 million elms, once the nation's most abundant tree. Dutch elm disease, a beetle -borne fungal infection, had marched across the country over three decades. In Baltimore, withering greenery haunted formerly lush neighborhoods. "It was a massive loss," recalls Gary Letteron, a veteran city forester. The nation began to reckon with the idea that dead trees might mean more than just ugliercities. Congress allocated about $2 million to establish four urban forestry research bases, which opened in 1978 in Georgia, California, Illinois, and New York. "Dutch elm was one of the big things that awakened people," says David Nowak, a leading USFS researcher who joined the service in the'8os. If science POPSCI.COM • SUMMER 2019 91 could identify tree -dependent upsides for people and the towns they live in, arborists could make a clear case for pro- tecting them against pests, disease, and development. —> The effort springboarded a field of study quantifying the benefits of canopies. One report by the Environmental Protection Agency in the late '70s definitively determined that greenspaces trap auto emissions. A look at mobile homes in central Pennsylvania by USFS researchers in the early'8os showed that shade reduced summertime cool- . ing energy needs by as much as 75 percent. An often -cited 1984 study found that hospital patients recovering from gallbladder surgery who could see trees out their win- dows healed faster and requested fewer pain medications than those left staring at brick walls. And, in'89, Nowak, then a USFS scrub, did the first-ever citywide canopy as- sessment: Using sample data and a computer program he coded, he calculated that Oakland, California's cover stored more than 16o,7oo tons of carbon. Regardless of this evidence, most cities remained more concerned with economic development than trees. Aver- age municipal spending on urban forestry fell steadily throughout the 198os and 19gos, while high-rise sky- lines rose to support flourishing white-collar industries. Portland's canopy coverage dropped from 42 percent to 27 percent in the 199os. Between 1984 and 2002, 9,000 acres of vegetation disappeared in New York City. Balti- more was largely alone on a different trajectory. IN THE EARLY'90S, DESANTIS BEGAN DIGGING HOLES for a new nonprofit, the Parks & People Foundation, which greened both Baltimore's streets and its vacant lots. Founded in the mid-198os by the late Sally Michel, an active civic volunteer, the organization was "part of a collective push to increase the tree canopy," according to current president Lisa Schroeder. This type of grassroots effort drew federal attention. In 1993, the Forest Service awarded the city $2.5 million for a program called Revitalizing Baltimore, tasked with planting more than 17,000 trees over 10 years. But even well -funded greening, Baltimore would quickly learn, requires a combined effort from city hall, nonprofits, and local businesses. Municipalities themselves manag only about 20 percent of canopied land. Their realization would influence the landscape be- yond Baltimore: It would also help map the support structures, resources, and collaborators necessary for other towns to expand and maintain urban canopies. "The mission was to develop a transferable model for community forestry," city forester Letteron recalls. As Revitalizing Baltimore learned to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, a separate initiative focused on getting the data Letteron and others needed to defend investment in trees. In 1998, the National Science Foun- dation bankrolled the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, the 92 SUMMER 2019 • POPSCI.COM first long-term ecological -research survey in an urban area. The endeavor measured the city's entire canopy and placed a value on its effect on factors including pol- lution removal and energy usage. The hard numbers that folks like Nowak gathered over the following decade helped prove why planting thousands of trunks is mor than just an expensive beautification scheme. Balti- more's trees, for instance, save city dwellers $3.3 million in climate -control costs each year. These parallel efforts led to the creation, in 20o6, of TreeBaltimore, the city's official planting agency, ded- icated to expanding the urban forest by working with communities and residents. "That was very likely a turn- ing point," says city arborist Erik Dihle. The programs in Baltimore helped spur other inno- vations. Nowak and his forest -service colleagues used data from the mid-Atlantic city and other towns to de- velop software that would enable any burg to measure the effects of its tree canopy. Called i -Tree, the applica- tion, which debuted in 20o6, uses a sampling method to count trunks, and attaches dollar values to demonstrate their worth in removing pollution and trapping carbon, as well as in reducing energy usage. The data helps more municipalities make stronger cases for building out their own canopies. Atlanta used an early-stage precursor of the software to ink a pol- icy requiring property owners to replace trees they cut down with same -size specimens. Starting in 2oo7, New York City tapped i -Tree data to undergird a $400 mil- lion, decade-long effort to plant 1 million trees; today, some 7 million trunks in the Big Apple absorb 1.2 Mil- lon tons of carbon every year. In Philadelphia, whlch the EPA ordered to reduce its sewer overflows by 85 per- cent, the software showed planners that a $2.4 billion investment in new green infrastructure will absorb rain- water; the alternative is spending roughly $10 billion in updated subterranean pipes. "It takes time to get the in- formation to people so they become educated," Nowak says. "We're into that trend now." 74 X 7t first long-term ecological -research survey in an urban area. The endeavor measured the city's entire canopy and placed a value on its effect on factors including pol- lution removal and energy usage. The hard numbers that folks like Nowak gathered over the following decade helped prove why planting thousands of trunks is mor than just an expensive beautification scheme. Balti- more's trees, for instance, save city dwellers $3.3 million in climate -control costs each year. These parallel efforts led to the creation, in 20o6, of TreeBaltimore, the city's official planting agency, ded- icated to expanding the urban forest by working with communities and residents. "That was very likely a turn- ing point," says city arborist Erik Dihle. The programs in Baltimore helped spur other inno- vations. Nowak and his forest -service colleagues used data from the mid-Atlantic city and other towns to de- velop software that would enable any burg to measure the effects of its tree canopy. Called i -Tree, the applica- tion, which debuted in 20o6, uses a sampling method to count trunks, and attaches dollar values to demonstrate their worth in removing pollution and trapping carbon, as well as in reducing energy usage. The data helps more municipalities make stronger cases for building out their own canopies. Atlanta used an early-stage precursor of the software to ink a pol- icy requiring property owners to replace trees they cut down with same -size specimens. Starting in 2oo7, New York City tapped i -Tree data to undergird a $400 mil- lion, decade-long effort to plant 1 million trees; today, some 7 million trunks in the Big Apple absorb 1.2 Mil- lon tons of carbon every year. In Philadelphia, whlch the EPA ordered to reduce its sewer overflows by 85 per- cent, the software showed planners that a $2.4 billion investment in new green infrastructure will absorb rain- water; the alternative is spending roughly $10 billion in updated subterranean pipes. "It takes time to get the in- formation to people so they become educated," Nowak says. "We're into that trend now." 74 first long-term ecological -research survey in an urban area. The endeavor measured the city's entire canopy and placed a value on its effect on factors including pol- lution removal and energy usage. The hard numbers that folks like Nowak gathered over the following decade helped prove why planting thousands of trunks is mor than just an expensive beautification scheme. Balti- more's trees, for instance, save city dwellers $3.3 million in climate -control costs each year. These parallel efforts led to the creation, in 20o6, of TreeBaltimore, the city's official planting agency, ded- icated to expanding the urban forest by working with communities and residents. "That was very likely a turn- ing point," says city arborist Erik Dihle. The programs in Baltimore helped spur other inno- vations. Nowak and his forest -service colleagues used data from the mid-Atlantic city and other towns to de- velop software that would enable any burg to measure the effects of its tree canopy. Called i -Tree, the applica- tion, which debuted in 20o6, uses a sampling method to count trunks, and attaches dollar values to demonstrate their worth in removing pollution and trapping carbon, as well as in reducing energy usage. The data helps more municipalities make stronger cases for building out their own canopies. Atlanta used an early-stage precursor of the software to ink a pol- icy requiring property owners to replace trees they cut down with same -size specimens. Starting in 2oo7, New York City tapped i -Tree data to undergird a $400 mil- lion, decade-long effort to plant 1 million trees; today, some 7 million trunks in the Big Apple absorb 1.2 Mil- lon tons of carbon every year. In Philadelphia, whlch the EPA ordered to reduce its sewer overflows by 85 per- cent, the software showed planners that a $2.4 billion investment in new green infrastructure will absorb rain- water; the alternative is spending roughly $10 billion in updated subterranean pipes. "It takes time to get the in- formation to people so they become educated," Nowak says. "We're into that trend now." THE GIVING TREES STRAIGHT AND THIN LIKE A BREADSTICK IN A BLUE puffer coat, DeSantis walks to the southeast Baltimore neighborhood of Canton. (He's never owned a car—or even a cellphone.) On this cold March Saturday, he's made the trek to help a neighborhood group put three oaks and two maples into the ground—for him, numbers 15,219 through 15,223. Though DeSantis keeps only a mental log of what he's planted, local organizations don't dispute his mighty tally: "Gene has always been on the scene," recalls Amanda Cunningham, former program manager at the Parks & People Foundation. Despite his planting bona fides, DeSantis' count is only a small piece of TreeBaltimore's overall goal: to increase the city's total canopy from 28 percent to 40 percent by 2037. They based their aim on a recommendation set fn the late by national conservation nonprofit Ameri- can Forests as the optimal tree cover for towns in forested states. (In grassy and desert climates, the targets are, re- s ectively, 20 percent and 15 percent.) Today, the Baltimore agency has even more incentive to meet that mark. The city is subject to a federal directive to reduce pollution runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. New trees can absorb stormwater that would otherwise flow along surfaces like asphalt and concrete, gathering con- taminants before ending up in the iconic estuary. A single mature stalk, according to the USFS, can store more than 36,000 gallons of water a year. These thirsty trunks, however, can't just plunk down anywhere, so TreeBaltimore collaborates with some 6o local organizations to create a map that pinpoints where new roots can do the most good. A group interested in pro- tecting; the bay, for instance, can use the chart to see where impervious surfaces cause frequent flooding, and then target surrounding land for new trees. "You're tying trees to the actual benefit that they're providing," says Charles Murphy, the office's operations lead. The chart also helps the group identify spots where more shade might benefit people. The traditionally red- lined, segregated swaths of east and west Baltimore, for example, are severely lacking in greenspace, according to USFS data. Others, such as the luxuriant Roland Park in the north end, need only prunirtg and maintenance. "We don't turn away people who want a tree," Murphy explains, "but if we are targeting neighborhoods for larger -scale planting, then we go to the map." Their ongoing efforts have tapped residents, es- pecially DeSantis, for more and more help over the decades. Just before his next fall planting season gets underway, he'll turn 58, marking 41 years since his first tree took root. In 2o19, TreeBaltimore will put 2,000 new root balls into the ground, and its crew of commu- nity and nonprofit collaborators will add thousands more. Organizations will be looking for volunteers to dig those big holes. And, as always, DeSantis will be there, pick in hand, breathing in the fresh air. POPSCI.COM • SUMMER 2019 93 ' 4J�L rr Sc eeoly., ca �S 4° w In/ Parabens �'S-�-�9�� 0 den z�►tee _ 1.�� C4��es tP� --r �� 1��`��ox�ve Gh��o�e�tii�ne �J �'O Ylr.'l S �. � ��T �- �lr�,� r ►r:o r..e � S rw�P r� J n,2�h� )`s �-�� ►� za�: v�vr.� Cti-,e u� - �co�x` tv,� Crib,-ds Commonly used as a According to Nneka o-1-IQs v�a�.c��•�-�; ci�S ;� �;ti.c oxide and hair -smoothing treatments, it lead solvent in the fragrances 0 C `ISD C o cr9 r.e C i S r ✓ Co I 6) to -` ►-5 e�.l6 ai, can to : myriad skin irritations and was deemed that scent aftershave, lotion, soap and more, the Group's healthy -living and potentially cause carcinogenic by the International Agency organophosphate ester hundreds or thousands of l (OPE) flame retardants times daily), they ingest and plasticizers, are now the compounds or absorb the focus of research them through their skin. on retardants' environ- The conclusion: Wiping mental impact and side down cellphones and Beware exposure to effects, such as develop- electronic devices, as well fire retardants and mental issues in children, as frequent hand-wash- plasticizers fertility problems and e A. " 1� -93-19 possibly some types of ing, is essential. Every time, put away your When Orlando Bloom, cancer. smartphone before you Melissa Etheridge and Research presented eat! Plus, parents should Guillermo del Toro had to this spring at the be very careful about evacuate their homes last American Chemical giving handheld devices year as fire tore through Society National Meeting to small children. They parts of California, they & Exposition looked put their hands in their weren't the only ones into whether electronic mouth and lick or chew hoping that Mother devices were a major on surfaces, and that may Nature and the amazing source of our exposure superexpose them to the fire-fighting teams would to OPEs. The conclusion: toxins in OPEs. stop the inferno's spread. OPEs are everywhere That's because fire in the home - - on every The You Docs, Michael retardants, well, they can surface, in floor dust, Roizen and Mehmet Oz, be lifesavers, but they're on study participants' are the authors of "You: also a focus of health and hands and on elec- Losing Weight. "Want 3 -Ingredients Parabens Formaldehyde y Phthalat es toAvozd Often used as a Found in some nail polishes Commonly used as a According to Nneka preservative in cosmetics and personal -care and hair -smoothing treatments, it lead solvent in the fragrances to Leiba director of Environmental Working products, the ingredient is believed to mimic estrogen can to : myriad skin irritations and was deemed that scent aftershave, lotion, soap and more, the Group's healthy -living and potentially cause carcinogenic by the International Agency chemicals have been linked to reproductive science program hormone disruption. for Research on Cancer. issues in men. - N 82 April22,2019 PEOPLE fL 4is (GRACE .TONIC&SCHMIDTS)BRIAN HENN(3);(KEYS) STEVE GRANIR/NIREIMAGE J /1 ONFIDENCE COMPASSION COMMITMENT EFFORT INTEGRITY PATIENCE Since our inception in 2012, Future 6 has been creating, building, nd hosting 100% free ocean -centric programs for children with both ental and physical disabilities on Palm Beach County shorelines. Our rograms are 100% free to participants providing the opportunity to create amazing atmospheres complete with natural confidence building, healthy and fun physical exercise while providing tivational tools for educational success, teamwork ethics, charitable volunteer resourcing, sociability, creativity, and emotional outlets. Our mission and outreach o'ntinvally progresses by partnering with local environmental )!lRty Alfldnizotions and coastal conservation group*S't generations how to exist in a more earth frierld y'iironm¢nt. Our work impacts the South Florida Community, your community. This means you have an opportunity to see your contributions at work so u can have the confidence of knowing where and how your donatio ollars are being spent and utilized. As a local non-profit, w¢ embrace our interests, values, and the needs of the community. Because all of ur programs are offered absolutely free to the participants and their families, our success is directly dependent on contributions from you nd the growth of our volunteer network. Find out more about how you can help and get involved at www.tbtielpingiiand.org. 2019 "FOR THE LOVE OF SURFING" SEASON SCHEDULE OCEANFRONT PARK 64 15 N. OCEAN BLVD BOYNTON BEACH, 33435 APRIL 20 MAY 18' '4FAk JUNE 22 � JULY 20 AUGUST 24 SEPTEMBER 2 I Volunteers ALWAYS needed. Please complete our volunteer registration by visiting us at uww.f6helpinghand.org. For more info and to answer any questions, please reach out to us at Ifo@f6helpinghand.org. If you know of a family that can benefit from our >rganization serving children with disabilities, please share this. 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OUR MISSION WHO WE ARE focebook.com/future6official 5 has 100% en with in Palm ns are i the pheres ilding, chile ationa >le rtAan uu,rVccaWi k-viiiii1UU111y NrV rVc55V_b ray partnering with local environmentally based chty organizations and coastal conserves on groups to help teach our future generations how to exist in a more earth friendly environment. OUR MPACT Our flagship program, FOR THE LOVE OF SURFING, is directed specifically at children with disabilities, social and learning disorders. The program fulfills something different for each individual child based on their disability, especially social interaction, teamwork, confidence, and in some instances, just speaking. The program's purpose is to safely and successfully provide unforgettable experiences for both the children and their families. FOR THE LOVE OF SURFING runs in Boynton beach, FI monthly April - September. To get volunteer, participate, — Ldonate. visit us at I Since our inception, Future 6 has impacted thousands of children with mental and physical disabilities throughout South Florida. We educate each child and parent alike on the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, ocean conservation, and the value of setting life long goals. I ' I 1 \ ;, • ‘ ,...'W' -1,1 / ; �� fir. / arm _ r r 0. . 7,„, -_, ' ,. 4..)...s..,. 2 , - ... s :,- \,‘ 4,...4,,,...z.p..", .:,.ai' ' .41.;.,, C...f. bk-,1.44' - ADICL:,.. ../....,...._40„,[10.7.14.it V,%,-I'it.:AV-2i ) #i . ' '. ,`. 0p', W./7",#'4V.' 17P, i r� yeah I ,1 • . ` ,�..' ,NO ' CyY \ ` ,tib ! �� .• -ro "s _1 r espy. ___- ,y .:1.\' _ 7* +LII 7'y �':\ .', �\ '- �(� ' ` , Ta >•'... it S �+: �`il- ,, i" ,' r to.:''--. 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ON L SATURDAYS , THE SLIGHT, CAP - WEARING mOz • 90 SUMMER 2019 • POPSCI.COM i,��' THE GIVING TREES „irsir JL; lar '' ; . _ • .,-..44 y rr•_ ,.,t , , r � r 57-year- old plants trees.By his count,15,223 ern and western neighborhoods that have become an icon of them over thepast o years. of the bayside burg.Over the past four decades,by enlist- .�.. = .a � 4 a, .. For DeSantis,an MVP to local greening ing data and an active cadre of volunteers like DeSantis, ". outfits,the routine began as a form of ther- community groups,and nonprofits,Charm City has be- •f f 'x <, apy.The Baltimore native spent some of his come a standard-bearer for urban reforestation,and a childhood in Los Angeles,with an alcoholic model for what's possible across the nation. "r _ stepfather and drug-addicted mother.On the nights his stepfather's drunkenness ...- ' turned violent,the young DeSantis climbed THE TEENAGE DESANTIS HADN'T BEEN BACK IN t ', trees in the yard to find peace."Trees be- Baltimore long when,one day in spring 1977,he spotted came my friends,"he says."You could say I a group of four city workers turning soil beside a side- -1.- . kind of grew up there." walk to plant a tree.He offered to help.The crew said One night in 1976,his stepfather shot and they couldn't pay him,but he didn't care:He just wanted - - '.' ,`a killed his mother and then himself.The fol- to put a tree in the ground.DeSantis quickly learned the - �. ' lowing year,the 17-year-old moved in with process bears little resemblance to the folk tale in which � his grandmother in the blue-collar corner Johnny Appleseed sowed seeds as he strode through `� 11�� of southeast Baltimore where he had been America's countryside."A lot of people think that trees - -..v.-- born.That was also the year he would plant are little seedlings,"DeSantis says.To ensure that their L. :-,c -. his first tree,and discover the act was a way to work will survive on the street,urban foresters plant ad- ' ,'"-.-.,•1.. cope."I was angry inside because I thought olescent specimens.Up to a couple of inches thick and PP •. - A" the world was so unfair,"he says."The pick- rising from tangled balls of roots and dirt a foot or more i.'. -i 04-, `.'�-P. ing and shoveling helped me reduce a lot of in diameter,the saplings require holes at least twice the ...1.'‘.a-'11 . ' - the anger that I had." width and depth of their root ball. l i. tI:- �e17' * � The relief DeSantis sought among the Regardless,DeSantis found the undertaking sooth- +', branches might be unique to him,but trees' ing,and quickly fell into a routine.He'd call the parks i _ restorative effects are not.Research show department to find out when it would be planting,then r that stress levels,heart rate,muscle ten- walk or ride a bus to get there. sion,asthma rates,and blood pressure all It turned out to be an early but important step into a * \_decrease in their presence. life of service.The same day he planted his first tree,he'd The benefits of urban woods go beyond also spent the morning delivering PB&Js to homeless , .1" helping residents take the edge off.They trap people near the harbor.Today,he's a live-in health aide pollution,absorb auto emissions,and cool for a 106-year-old woman,serves hot meals at a church- scorching sidewalks.Baltimore's cumulative sponsored employment center called Our Daily Bread, 14,00o acres of canopy,for instance,ensnares and bakes cookies for folks at the Karis Home shelter(his i in excess of55o,o0o tons of carbon per year— oatmeal raisin are especially good).He cites his Christian kr offsetting 54 days'worth of emissions from faith as his main motivation,but good works are also an at- -f'" the city's more than 6o o,000 residents. tempt to ease his childhood traumas."I try to get past that," Few amenities better reveal the overall he says."I mean,you can't ever forget it." vigor of a city than its canopy:the mix of In his early years volunteering with the parks depart- trees that line streets,envelop parks,and ment,DeSantis often found himself trading dead elms shade homes."They're doing so much more to instill for Japanese zelkovas.The late'los had marked the fi- true health and wellness to a community,"says Dan nal years of a midcentury blight that killed more than Lambe,president of the Arbor Day Foundation,the 7o million elms,once the nation's most abundant tree. country's largest tree-planting nonprofit. Dutch elm disease,a beetle-borne fungal infection, Yet despite those benefits,America's metropolitan cover had marched across the country over three decades.In o is shrinking.Data from the United States Forest Service Baltimore,withering greenery haunted formerly lush o shows adecrease of36million urban trees between 2oo9 neighborhoods."It was a massive loss,"recalls Gary a. and 2014,or 175,000 acres each year.Trunks are losing Letteron,a veteran city forester. o o actual ground to the constructed infrastructure of cities— The nation began to reckon with the idea that dead trees sidewalks,buildings,and parking lots—which is rising by might mean more than just uglier cities.Congress allocated .(--' more than167,000 acres per year."If ever there was a time. about$2 million to establish four urban forestry research to be planting trees,now is that time,"Lambe says. ,, I bases,which opened in 1978 in Georgia,California,Illinois, g Baltimore,despite its reputation as a gritty port town, and New York."Dutch elm was one of the big things that E.- runs counter to the trend.Its forest is growing by upwards awakened people,"says David Nowak,a leading USFS of ,000 new trees peryear,largely in the dilapidated east- researcher who joined the service in the'8os.If science POPSCI.COM •SUMMER 2019 91 4 y 's ".,474 it 4 �!' T6 } ' •�rT,.:. A• • r' v'•• i#Y -,•,, r '.''' ' ;4 , , • 4' driM i ,; '- '', 4,:_"...Z4',I:0 i, -'.72.1,,( ' ''•l*:,'• A',:: .i� + r 4 T" ,4 .:k!'4:a• t' , '` could identify tree-dependent upsides for people and the :. 'I ' - _'i ,., ,, 4.17 towns they live in,arborists could make a clear case for pro " ie, --, r'4 r ;. ,' 1 tectingthem against pests,disease,and development. '`" , , ' f r;'t , g I —>The effort springboarded a field of study quantifying 7 ', 1 '.�.; l Gy- . x ' the benefits of canopies.One report by the Environmental r 7 .fff,/ j•_;t W 1 il Protection Agency in thelate'7osdefinitivelydetermined jam, that greenspaces trap auto emissions.A look at mobile 'i111111'< li. ` ',_Yn lit; homes in central Pennsylvania by USFS researchers in the '' -. early'8os showed that shade reduced summertime cool- y ,,-,/,. - ing energy needs by as much as 75 percent.An often-citedt , - _ 1984 study found that hospital patients recovering from t ,':`. Y gallbladder surgery who could see trees out their win- r ""t f0, \ ' ' down healed faster and requested fewer pain medications - Ithan those left staring at brick walls.And,in'89,Nowak, , ' - ; .4 { then a USFS scrub,did the first-ever citywide canopy as- sessment:Using sample data and a computer program he coded,he calculated that Oakland,California's cover first long-term ecological-research survey in an urban stored more than 160,700 tons of carbon. area.The endeavor measured the city's entire canopy Regardless of this evidence,most cities remained more and placed a value on its effect on factors including pol- 1 l concerned with economic development than trees.Aver- lution removal and energy usage.The hard numbers that age municipal spending on urban forestry fell steadily folks like Nowak gathered over the following decade throughout the 198os and 199os,while high-rise sky- helped prove why planting thousands of trunks is mor lines rose to support flourishing white-collar industries. than just an expensive beautification scheme.Balli- Portland's canopy coverage dropped from 42 percent to more's trees,for instance,save city dwellers$3.3 million 27 percent in the 199os.Between 1984 and 2002,9,000 in climate-control costs each year. acres of vegetation disappeared in New York City.Balti- These parallel efforts led to the creation,in zoo6,of more was largely alone on a different trajectory. TreeBaltimore,the city's official planting agency,ded- icated to expanding the urban forest by working with communities and residents."That was very likely a turn- IN THE EARLY'90S,DESANTIS BEGAN DIGGING HOLES ing point,"says city arborist Erik Dihle. I, for a new nonprofit,the Parks&People Foundation, The programs in Baltimore helped spur other inno- which greened both Baltimore's streets and its vacant vations.Nowak and his forest-service colleagues used lots.Founded in the mid-198os by the late Sally Michel, data from the mid-Atlantic city and other towns to de- an active civic volunteer,the organization was"part of a velop software that would enable any burg to measure collective push to increase the tree canopy,"according to the effects of its tree canopy.Called i-Tree,the applica- current president Lisa Schroeder. tion,which debuted in 2006,uses a sampling method to This type of grassroots effort drew federal attention. count trunks,and attaches dollar values to demonstrate In 1993,the Forest Service awarded the city$2.5 million their worth in removing pollution and trapping carbon, for a program called Revitalizing Baltimore,tasked with as well as in reducing energy usage. planting more than 17,000 trees over 10 years.But even The data helps more municipalities make stronger well-funded greening,Baltimore would quickly learn, cases for building out their own canopies.Atlanta used requires a combined effort from city hall,nonprofits, an early-stage precursor of the software to ink a pol- and local businesses.Municipalities themselves manage icy requiring property owners to replace trees they cut only about 20 percent of canopied land. down with same-size specimens.Starting in 2007,New Their realization would influence the landscape be- York City tapped i-Tree data to undergird a$400 mil- yond Baltimore:It would also help map the support lion,decade-long effort to plant 1 million trees;today, structures,resources,and collaborators necessary for some 7 million trunks in the Big Apple absorb 1.2 mil- other towns to expand and maintain urban canopies. ion tons of carbon every year.In Philadelphia,whi h "The mission was to develop a transferable model for the EPA ordered to reduce its sewer overflows by 85 per- community forestry,"city forester Letteron recalls. cent,the software showed planners that a$2.4 billion E _ As Revitalizing Baltimore learned to coordinate with investment in new green infrastructure will absorb rain- a a multiple stakeholders,a separate initiative focused on water;the alternative is spending roughly$10 billion in ,,, getting the data Letteron and others needed to defend updated subterranean pipes."It takes time to get the in- o' investment in trees.In 1998,the National Science Foun- formation to people so they become educated,"Nowak z dation bankrolled the Baltimore Ecosystem Study,the says."We're into that trend now." 92 SUMMER 2019•POPSCI.COM + tiff , t. Lr •i.,.6 ` 1 _ THE GIVING TREES � : f G r, �' *e ,'.tr �h'� 4 'it1 .0.:1/4 �� STRAIGHT AND THIN LIKE A BREADSTICK IN A BLUE - --_--4 puffer coat,DeSantis walks to the southeast Baltimore - neighborhood of Canton.(He's never owned a car—or even a cellphone.)On this cold March Saturday,he's ade �- the trek to help a neighborhood group put three oaks and --ss two maples into the ground—for him,numbers 15,219 through 15,223.Though DeSantis keeps only a mental mlog of what he's planted,local organizations don't dispute his mighty tally:"Gene has always been on the scene," recalls Amanda Cunningham,former program manager s _ at the Parks&People Foundation. Despite his planting bona fides,DeSantis'count is only a small piece of TreeBaltimore's overall goal:to increase { the city's total canopy from 28 percent to 4o percent by 2037.They based their aim on a recommendation set in the late'90s by national conservation nonprofit Ameri- an can Forests as the optimal tree cover for towns in forested py states.(In grassy and desert climates,the targets are,re- ol- s ectively,20 percent and 15 percent.) lat i Today,the Baltimore agency has even more incentive de to meet that mark.The city is subject to a federal directive ,re to reduce pollution runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.New ti- trees can absorb stormwater that would otherwise flow on along surfaces like asphalt and concrete,gathering con- taminants before ending up in the iconic estuary.A single of mature stalk,according to the USFS,can store more than d- th `36,000 gallons of water ayear. These thirsty trunks,however,can't just plunk down n- anywhere,so TreeBaltimore collaborates with some 6o local organizations to create a map that pinpoints where ° rnew roots can do the most good.A group interested in pro- :d tecting the bay,for instance,can use the chart to see where impervious surfaces cause frequent flooding,and then re target surrounding land for new trees."You're tying trees a- -To the actual benefit that they're providing,"says Charles :o i Murphy,the office's operations lead. to " The chart also helps the group identify spots where 1, more shade might benefit people.The traditionally red- lined,segregated swaths of east and west Baltimore,for example,are severely lacking in greenspace,according d City aims to fill its forest (it s to USFS data.Others,such as the luxuriant Roland Park l- already 47 percent in the north end,need only pruning and maintenance. it x trees) with half a "We don't turn away people who want a tree,"Murphy N million new trunks. explains,"but if we are targeting neighborhoods for 1- larger-scale planting,then we go to the map." 1, c, Their ongoing efforts have tapped residents,es- 1- 1 pecially DeSantis,for more and more help over the h o 1. charlotte decades.Just before his next fall planting season gets underway,he'll turn 58,marking 41 years since his first _ : ° some 47 percent tree took root.In 2019,TreeBaltimore will put 2,000 tree cover saves new root balls into the ground,and its crew of commu- nity residents of this nit and nonprofit collaborators will add thousands Carolina city$15.4 y P million in energy more.Organizations will be looking for volunteers to ocosts every year. dig those big holes.And,as always,DeSantis will be there,pick in hand,breathing in the fresh air. 1 POPSCI.COM •SUMMER 2019 93 OPINION _ , . _ A ,��- 9The Palm Beach Post Timothy D.Burke Publisher Rick Christie Editor of the Editorial Page THE PALM BEACH POST EDITORIAL BOARD'S MISSION:The news you need,the analysis you appreciate,the viewpoints you value. ' OUR VIEW: HOME RULE Sunscreen ban pre-empting local control When it comes to big-footing local gov- ernments'authority,it seems nothing is off-limits for Florida legislators. Taxing authority.Plastic straws.Vacation rent- als.It doesn't matter how local,or how well-meaning. If the issue somehow insults a lawmaker's--or influen- tial lobbyist's--sensibilities,it's considered fair game to quash the smaller government's ability to act. Only there is nothing fair about a St.Augustine sena- tor's bill(SB 588)threatening local governments with a $25,000 fine if they prohibit the sale of certain sunscreens. ' Republican state Sen.Travis Hutson's bill,which was approved by the Senate Community Affairs Committee .._ i.-•-last Tuesday is clearly meant to preempt a Key West ordi- nance banning the local sale of sunscreens that contain two ingredients-oxybenzone and octinoxate.A grow- in body of scientific evidence says the chemicals are bad for coraTreefs,-,Teavuig thembleached andoften dying.The ordinance,which passed by a 6-1 City Commission vote earlier this year,is set to go into effect on Jan.1,2021. Key West city commissioners were looking to get out ahead of this potential disaster.Their reasoning is simple: the tourist destination's environment is its livelihood. When corals suffer from bleaching,they turn white and can quickly erode reefs,which act as natural barriers to shorelines from storms,are habitats for marine life and provide an income for dive and tourism companies. No more coral reefs,no more business.Period. _Key West is the only Florida city with a local ordinance liaiuiing sunscreens—taking a cue from Hawaii,which became the first state to pass a similar ban.But Miami Beach is mulling a similar prohibition.And the Legislature's presumption should provide a cautionary tale for other coastal communities like Jupiter,Riviera Beach and Delray Beach,whose livelihoods depend on the environment. Weekly said in a January meeting."We can take a step to eliminate those chemicals going into our water."(Key West's ordinance doesn't prohibit tourists from buying the banned sunscreens outside the city,or online.And sun- screen brands without the chemicals can still be sold.) Hutson justifies his threat to local governments by saying that,while he is concerned about the envi- ronment,he's"just not a fan of government on the state or local level telling a business what to do." He's being shortsighted.Key West passed the ordi- nance to protect its business,by protecting its environ- ment.Even Gov.Ron DeSantis connects the health of Florida's economy to that of the environment. Hutson claims he wants to make sure bans are based on "science and data."But he's just parroting three power- ful companies with a stake in the sale of sunscreens and are registered to lobby on the bill:Johnson&Johnson, which makes multiple sunscreens with oxybenzone; and Publix and Walmart,stores that sell the product. Indeed,Johnson&Johnson argues that certain sunscreen chemicals affecting coral reefs"have led to widespread misin- formation about the safety of many sunscreens in the marine environments"and declares there is"no credible science"to show a link between sunscreens and coral reef bleaching. No credible science?Key West leaders cited published studies by environmental researchers—including a pro- fessor from the University of Central Florida—showing how the two chemicals,which accumulate in water from bathers or from wastewater discharges,can damage coral reefs through bleaching and harming the corals'DNA. The website for the South Florida Reef Ambassador Initiative,which falls under—surprise!—the state's Department of Environmental Protection,tells div- ers to"Avoid sunscreens with Oxybenzone and Avobenzone.The benzones are compounds that are lethal to coral reproduction in very small amounts." Finally,Hutson says he is a"big proponent of making sure people have sunscreen"and believes local bans on certain types of sunscreens are"silly"because the substances pro- tect people from ultraviolet rays.But even the American Academy of Dermatology,which is rightfully concerned that a ban of these ingredients could have an impact on skin cancer rates,acknowledges that there is"emerging evidence that chemical sunscreen ingredients"could affect coral reefs. The organization recommends further study.We agree. But in the meantime,why stop environmentally conscious municipalities from taking steps to protect their coasts? Communities that try to make good laws for their locali- ties shouldn't be at the mercy of a Legislature that stomps all over them on behalf of big-spending lobbyists. • a #w 7*' ' In this August 2010 file -40 to ,* photo,there e' " ° ,.. is bleached cervicornis ! ' __ coral,also known as Staghorn coral, located at Bath&Tennis reef off of *4 Palm Beach. -OS BY 'RING] f 1111 bLUC LL Ilauv ^rpd"N,m 3d3H S18V1S SM3N 1V311 Pod time wig('_l Dv- r ,r,,, co. �( 9 he>Z -- (slo-ysq-k_E.-14 c g 96v-) av 0 6Qn ►tee (0,4i,i 4i, old, .des I- �}- S i n-) G le_o ff+- 0,_`, 1 Oxa ,tee c ct o ,-e+A i n. Ci) e ( 1 (c4,---1.6 41 v_ *X` C -"a WS a cL �e o r5 a,r.i 5 ) k O rn�s 4 14�- -e (h)o r►te r.-e c 5 rw10 ►--) J ,e-rhe )` -��s oiA ZDie v\.vr.� (he��vi I^ -F- -e-C-v-to Acn,)� iy, cr�bee,dc ( V` t, w- `�"-1-D 044,17cts` e Y\aV�.C� ?_______L______4�S i --e/b -C ode J 0 c , \/ -e- C d v cel r-e_ cl s r1A0,. c 1 61 e_A-,1 ►1�, S s-f-e,—.04 cd-it) pt `1959✓17 ! („lfCe t, SY2 wx� . 2 Sea, C - organophosphate ester hundreds or thousands of l (OPE)flame retardants times daily),they ingest and plasticizers,are now the compounds or absorb the focus of research them through their skin. on retardants'environ- The conclusion:Wiping mental impact and side down cellphones and Beware exposure to effects,such as develop- electronic devices,as well fire retardants and mental issues in children, as frequent hand-wash- plasticizers fertility problems and ing,is essential.Every e 6 Po* 1.44'19 possibly some types of time,put away your When Orlando Bloom, cancer. smartphone before you Melissa Etheridge and Research presented eat!Plus,parents should Guillermo del Toro had to this spring at the be very careful about evacuate their homes last American Chemical giving handheld devices year as fire tore through Society National Meeting to small children.They parts of California,they &Exposition lopked put their hands in their weren't the only ones into whether electronic mouth and lick or chew hoping that Mother devices were a major on surfaces,and that may Nature and the amazing source of our exposure superexpose them to the fire-fighting teams would to OPEs.The conclusion: toxins in OPEs. stop the inferno's spread. OPEs are everywhere That's because fire in the home--on every The You Docs,Michael retardants,well,they can surface,in floor dust, Roizen and Mehmet Oz, be lifesavers,but they're on study participants' are the authors of"You: also a focus of health and hands and on elec- Losing Weight."Want 3 Ingredients Parabens Phtha to Avoid Formaldehydelates Often used as a Found in some nail polishes Commonly used as a According to Nneka preservative in cosmetics and hair-smoothing solvent in the fragrances Leiba, personal-care treatments,it can lead to that scent aftershave, , (n director of products,the ingredient is myriad skin irritations and was lotion,soap and more,the ..,j Environmental Working believed to mimic estrogen deemed carcinogenic chemicals have been Group's healthy-living and potentially cause by the International Agency linked to reproductive science program hormone disruption. for Research on Cancer. issues in men. 82 April 22,2019 PEOPLE A.,.4.44-4.. ~ (GRACE•TONIC&SCHMIDCS)BRIAN HEN N(3),(KEYS)STEVE GRAN ITZ/wIREIMAGE• 'I Air '' .l's 1.�C IT A ;ei! ��° .1.