Download Green Community Alliance application form (151 KB Adobe .pdf)
Background: On February 19, 2008 the Boynton Beach City Commission approved and adopted Resolution R08-025 establishing a Green Task Force to oversee the process of improving and sustaining the environmental needs of the community.
Video: Commissioner Marlene Ross talks about the goals of the Green Community Alliance.
(URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVnUFWEfWAA )
The Commission's goal is to involve City employees and citizens in creating policies and programs that will promote environmental sustainability within the Boynton Beach Community. The Green Task Force was created to focus on areas of Public Education; Water Conservation; Waste Reduction/Recycling and Sustainable Construction, and provide recommendations to the City Commission regarding the development of a long-term environmental improvement plan to reduce carbon emissions and an assessment of our current environmental situation. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Researching successful programs implemented by other communities and providing recommendations for ways to improve the environmental sustainability of City programs, service, equipment and facilities.
- Proposing means to enhance water and energy conservation.
- Creating incentives for residents, businesses, developers and organizations to practice environmental conservation and sustainable building.
- Incorporate green building standards into the City's Land Development Regulations.
- Create incentives for sustainable affordable housing developments.
On October 7, 2008 the City Commission approved the Green Task Force's recommendations in order to facilitate further research and proposals for implementation that will be brought back to the City Commission for approval on a case-by-case, project-by-project basis.
Community Input: Inclusion of community input is crucial to completing the formulation of our City's Climate Action Plan. The Green Task Force recommended that the City Commission allow staff to continue working on the plan and to incorporate public participation through community alliances. These alliances would allow the City to interact with residents, businesses and organizations who wish to assist in prioritizing local efforts.
Climate Action Programs: In continuing sustainability efforts under the direction of the City Manager's Office, these various community alliances will explore the following Climate Action Programs for recommended incorporation into the Boynton Climate Action Plan.
- Increase use of renewable energy sources
- Develop a green building program
- Explore the use of alternative fuels for the existing vehicle fleet
- Develop energy performance contract language for RFP's
- Incorporate climate change adaptation principles into the existing land-use plans
- Expand the current recycling program through consideration of alternative methods and increasing public awareness
- Incorporate the responsibilities for sustainability coordination into one or more existing positions within the City
- Continue to partner with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Authority on regional land-use plans incorporating climate change adaptation, vehicle miles traveled reductions, and increased energy efficiency principles
- Develop and implement a coordinated energy education and public outreach program as well as a training program for local businesses
- Foster community and citizen involvement in the development and carrying out of our local plan
- Explore an Energy Service Company partnership as a possible opportunity for establishing a measurement and verification system for existing energy use management in City and CRA buildings.
- Establish energy-efficiency, climate adaptability and renewable-energy criteria in the Affordable Workforce Housing ordinance.
- Define City standards for energy-efficiency and renewable-energy criteria when assessing the housing, commercial, and transportation sectors
- Develop financial, regulatory, policy, and market incentives for development of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects and programs, training and incentivizing green jobs, assisting existing local businesses through retention and expansion.
- Work with the State legislature to formulate a uniform State Tax Credit for private green buildings that meet a minimum level of green certification through one of the nationally recognized green building programs.
- Define low impact, green development incentives
- Define high impact non-green development disincentives
- Explore partnering with local financial institutions to create a loan fund for climate adapted, energy efficient workforce housing rent-to-own options
- Investigate workforce transportation alternatives to reduce reliance on individual transportation (i.e. mobile workforce programs like teleworking; flexible work hours; 4/10 work days; carpooling policies and incentives; parking solutions)
- Identify opportunities (such as solar/photovoltaic materials) where a demand for manufacturing exists and develop an economic incentive program to attract green business to Boynton
- Conduct a public green event; enhance the local green market activities with greater green business participation.
- Provide incentives for clean industry
GCA Responsibilities: Green Community Alliance (GCA) members will work closely with Boynton Beach City staff for a six (6) month period, in order to address the various recommendations. Separate "sub-teams" may be created within the GCA to further facilitate the research of industry specific initiatives. Through the direction of the City Manager's Office, the GCA, or any sub-team, may receive an extended time period based upon need and scope of work.
The GCA will meet bi-monthly and sub-teams will meet twice a month. Any GCA member is permitted to have one (1) absence from GCA meetings during the established six (6) month period. The second absence shall result in removal from the GCA. If a GCA member joins a sub-team, only three (3) absences will be permitted from the sub-team meetings (separate from the GCA meetings). The fourth absence shall result in removal from the sub-team.
Download Green Community Alliance application form (151 KB Adobe .pdf)
To view PDF files requires the use of Adobe Reader.
free Download Adobe Reader
