R20-091 1 RESOLUTION NO.R20-091
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4 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH,
5 FLORIDA, ADOPTING A CITYWIDE TREE PLANTING
6 GOAL OF 3,000 TREES PER YEAR TO ACHIEVE 20%
7 TREE CANOPY COVERAGE BY 2035; AND PROVIDING
8 AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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11 WHEREAS, the City of Boynton Beach enjoys numerous benefits from its urban forest
12 including shade, energy savings, walkable neighborhoods, natural beauty, wildlife habitat,
13 increased property values, carbon sequestration, uptake of air pollution, and absorption of
14 stormwater runoff; and
15 WHEREAS, trees are declining throughout the southern United States as a result of
16 development, storm damage,disease, and lack of replacement as older trees die;and
17 WHEREAS, an urban tree canopy assessment of Boynton Beach found that tree canopy
18 covers 16.1% of the city's total land area, and that the City lost 1% of its tree canopy, or about
19 1,800 trees,from 2017 to 2019; and
20 WHEREAS,the same assessment found that 7.4%of the City's land area could potentially
21 be planted with additional trees;and
22 WHEREAS, the City's 2020 Climate Action Plan identifies Urban Forestry as a key
23 strategy to help reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 50% below 2015 levels by
24 2035,and
25 WHEREAS, planting trees in targeted areas can increase equity because low-income
26 neighborhoods often have lower tree canopy and hotter surface temperatures; and
27 WHEREAS,community members have identified tree canopy expansion as a top priority
28 to make Boynton Beach a more sustainable city;and
29 WHEREAS, the City has developed partnerships with nonprofit organizations and
30 received grant awards to plant trees in public parks, schools, and private residences; and
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31 WHEREAS,the City will continue to pursue grants and other funding opportunities, and
32 will engage the private sector to contribute to the citywide tree planting goal; and
33 WHEREAS,the City will conduct a land cover assessment every four to five years to track
34 progress toward meeting the tree canopy goal of 20%coverage.
35 NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
36 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH,FLORIDA,THAT:
37 Section 1. Each Whereas clause set forth above is true and correct and incorporated
38 herein by this reference.
39 Section 2. The Boynton Beach City Commission adopts a city-wide tree planting goal
40 of 3,000 trees per year to achieve 20%tree canopy coverage by the year 2035.
41 Section 3. That this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage.
42 PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of September,2020.
43 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
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45 YES NO
46 Mayor-Steven B. Grant ✓
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48 Vice Mayor-Ty Penserga ✓
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50 Commissioner-Justin Katz i✓
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52 Commissioner-Woodrow L.Hay ✓
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54 Commissioner-Christina L. Romelus
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56 VOTE �-FJ
57 ATTEST:
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60 vi.Ci
61 C /:tal Gibson,MMC •
62 C Clerk tox.% re
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65 (Corporate Seal) 0 L0
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