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An update from the Anthony James Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental
Solutions (CUES) at Florida Atlantic University
April 2007
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| IN THIS ISSUE: |
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| Fourth South Florida Regionalism Summit to Tackle Tough Issues (Housing, Taxes, Insurance, and Traffic!) |
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The future of the South Florida region hinges on how quickly and aggressively we address the challenging quality of life issues confronting us. Collectively, we could decide whether or not to have housing we can afford, transportation systems that move us efficiently from place to place and local services that reasonably match our ability to pay for them. How can each of us make a difference? Come and hear from those who have been working hardest to address the issues, face the challenges and resolve the problems, and learn what we can do, individually and collectively, to make a difference. The event, sponsored by the South Florida Regional Leadership Council, will take place on Wednesday, May 23rd at FAU’s Boca Raton campus. For more information, and to register online, go to http://www.sfrrc.net/leadership/2007summit/.
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| Al Gore Training Project Taps CUES staffer as Global Warming Messenger |
Assistant Director MaryBeth Burton recently completed a rigorous training program sponsored by The Climate Project, and led by former Vice President Al Gore to spread the message about the threat of and solutions to global warming.
Burton was part of a select group of individuals chosen to receive this important training April 9-11. Each trainee took part in an intensive tutorial about issues surrounding global warming, led by Gore and a team of renowned scientists and environmental educators. In addition, each received technical training to become experienced presenters of a version of Gore’s computer-based slide show, which became the basis of his best-selling book and documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth.” For more information or to schedule a presentation for your organization, contact MaryBeth Burton at 954-762-5261 or mburton@fau.edu.
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| CUES Prepares Toolbox for Planning Sustainable Regions |
CUES, along with its partner, the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium at Florida Atlantic University, is pleased to announce the completion of the Sustainable Emerald Coast Planning Toolbox, a one-stop resource guide to planning tools in Florida. The toolbox was prepared with the assistance of the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in support of furthering collaborative regional vision planning around the state and the efforts of the Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast (CSEC), a public-private regional committee established by Executive Order in 2006 to develop recommendations concerning long-range planning issues related to ensuring sustainable growth and development in Florida’s four most northwestern counties (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton).
The tools included in the toolbox were selected to help the CSEC, as well as other regions across the state, to preserve natural resources; promote a strong, resilient economy; and plan for quality, livable and sustainable communities with a sense of place. In addition to a description of each tool, the toolbox includes illustrative examples of Florida communities that have put many of them into practice. These examples highlight the broad range of tools being used in our state. Also included in the toolbox are listings of state and national organizations with expertise in specific tools. To ensure its technical quality, the toolbox was reviewed by a panel of experts selected for their knowledge of the tools. In 2007, CUES will expand the toolbox to include additional categories of tools (for example climate change and energy-efficiency planning tools) and adapt it to a searchable on-line format. To download a copy of the toolbox, go to http://www.cuesfau.org/projects/project.asp?ProjectID=113.
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| CUES Fellow Serves as Expert in Greenprint Strategy Exchange Workshop |
For nearly a year, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) has been working with the Texas community of West Galveston Island to develop a land conservation Greenprint. A Greenprint, similar to an architectural blueprint, helps the community develop a strategic plan for meeting community identified planning goals through the purchase or protection of land interests. In April, TLP invited CUES Senior Fellow, Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, to share her expertise in land planning and coastal hazard mitigation in a 5-day ‘strategy exchange’ workshop hosted by TPL and West Galveston community leaders.
 The Greenprint’s objective was to outline strategies that would advance environmental and habitat conservation, recreation, unique coastal vistas and coastal resiliency, in concurrence with the real estate development pressure recently experienced on the island. Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin, along with representatives from the University of Texas at Galveston, the University of Florida, the United States Parks Service, and three national non-profit groups involved in conservation, provided their expertise in landscape horticulture, trail development, coastal hazards and land acquisition and development strategies to Galveston city officials and community leaders. At the workshop’s conclusion, the team developed 15 recommendations, which the Trust for Public Land will compile in a report to be given to the community in July of 2007.
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| Florida Oceans Day in Tallahassee |
The Oceans Day Resolution is presented by the Governor and Cabinet to the Florida Ocean Alliance Board of Directors. Florida legislators joined scientists, researchers and maritime interests to celebrate Florida Oceans Day on April 18 in Tallahassee and promote awareness and stewardship of the state's ocean resources. Healthy coasts and oceans are critical for the state’s economy and provide sustainable resources for all Floridians. This year’s theme, “Sea of Change: The Impact of Climate Change on Florida’s Coasts and Oceans,” highlighted the need to address climate changes that impact the oceans.
The Governor and Cabinet led off events by issuing a Resolution on April 17 recognizing Florida Oceans Week and urging all Floridians “to act as good stewards of this priceless resource and to reflect on the influence that our abundant and healthy oceans have on our lives.” Events sponsored by the Florida Ocean Alliance, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography included a reception and over 50 ocean exhibits in the Capitol Courtyard for the public, legislators and agency staff, as well as a Roundtable on Climate Change.
The Florida Ocean Alliance (www.floridaoceanalliance.org) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-private partnership of government, academic, and private sector organizations that promotes awareness and understanding of the ocean’s importance to the ecology and economy of Florida. CUES staffs the Florida Ocean Alliance, with CUES Director Jim Murley serving as Secretary and Dr. Lenore Alpert, Assistant Director of Research at CUES, as Executive Director.
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| CUES Fellow Works With Hawaii County on Community Development Plan |
CUES Senior Fellow Frank Schnidman is working with the County of Hawaii (the Big Island) on the preparation of a community development plan for the Puna District of that island. Puna is distinguished not only by the presence of the active Kilauea volcano and Volcanoes National Park, but also by extensive, non-conforming subdivisions containing over 50,000 lots that were created prior to Hawaii’s State Land Use Law. Most of these lots, which range in size from 1 to 3 acres, have no access to paved roads, potable water systems or the power grid. None have central sewers. Nevertheless, dwellings are being built on them by hardy folks who rely on catchment water, alternative energy sources and cesspools. The percentage of build-out varies from about 25% in locations with more ready access to paved roads and municipal water to lower rates in more remote areas, but the pace of building has increased markedly in the last two years. Among other tasks, Frank will be analyzing the potential use of land pooling or similar land assembly methods to reshape the growth pattern in the nonconforming subdivisions of the Puna District.
Frank, who authored the amicus brief submitted on behalf of John Norquist, President of the Congress for New Urbanism in the now-famous Kelo v. City of New London U.S. Supreme Court case, a brief that was cited in the majority opinion, and which dealt with alternatives to eminent domain to achieve land assembly, is also the author of what is considered the “Bible” when it comes to dealing with antiquated subdivisions: “Planning For Platted Lands: Land Use Remedies for Lot Sales Subdivisions” 11 Florida State University Law Review 505-597 (Fall 1983).
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| Coastal and Ocean Policy Initiative |
Dr. Lenore Alpert, CUES Assistant Director for Research, and Camille O’Brien, CUES Research Associate, participated in the Working Waterfronts Workshop for the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners on April 3rd at the Government Center in Marathon. The workshop included a briefing about the proposed changes to the County’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations, which are designed to preserve and retain the recreational and commercial working waterfronts in the Florida Keys. Public comment was received after the briefing. CUES is subcontracting with the South Florida Regional Planning Council on this project under a contract with Monroe County. Another phase of this work is the preparation of a Marina Siting Plan for the County. The first draft of this plan was delivered on April 17th. MJ Matthews, JD, CUES Senior Research Associate, and Chris Lohr, CUES GIS Technician, were primarily responsible for the content of this draft plan and accompanying maps.
CUES is continuing to work on the Statewide Boating Facilities Access Inventory for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, under a subcontract with the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts – Boston. The main responsibilities for this project include verifying existing recreational boating facilities, such as marinas and boat ramps, in many of Florida’s 67 counties and preparing GIS location maps for the use of field-survey “groundtruthing” teams.
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| News and Notes |
Director Jim Murley has been appointed Vice-Chair of Miami-Dade County’s Carbon Dioxide Reduction Plan Committee. The Committee, in place since 1993, has developed a plan that targets energy use, transportation, land use, and solid waste as the primary contributors to climate change locally. A number of measures have been taken and progress on these items is reported to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners annually. For more information on this innovative group, see http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/globalwarming/c02_reduction.asp.
Director Jim Murley participated in FAU’s research week by serving on a panel entitled, “Sustaining South Florida: Future Challenges” on April 2, 2007. The panel, moderated by Dr. Howard P. Hanson, Associate Vice President for Research, also included Dr. P.D. Scarlatos, Professor and Chair of Civil Engineering and Director of the Center for Intermodal Transportation Safety and Security; Dr. Leonard Berry, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Florida Center for Environmental Studies; and Dean Powell, Watershed Department Director for the South Florida Water Management District.
On April 4, Pembroke Pines Commissioners agreed on one of four redistricting options presented to them by Dr. Lenore Alpert, CUES Assistant Director for Research. Camille O’Brien, CUES Research Associate with the assistance of Brian Johnson and Chris Lohr, CUES GIS Technicians, prepared the proposals. In keeping with State law, Pembroke Pines’ city charter requires that a study be conducted every four years to ensure that the district populations remain equal. On April 18, Camille O’Brien attended the Pembroke Pines Commission meeting to hear the first reading of the ordinance adopting the new districts. The Commissioners thanked CUES and attributed the short adoption process to the clear and concise proposals that were presented to them.
CUES Supports Efforts of Florida Earth Foundation’s Land Use Initiative
On April 6, the Florida Earth Foundation through its Florida Land Use Initiative launched a series of three regional forums to learn what is happening on the state’s rural lands and how, as a state, we can redefine the way we plan for agriculture and development to ensure that agriculture remains a vital part of Florida’s future. The regional forums build on a statewide forum held in November of 2006. CUES’ Director Jim Murley moderated the closing panel for the November forum (What Needs to Happen?) and CUES Senior Fellow Jean Scott participated in the forum planning committee. Jean is also preparing reports on the statewide and regional forums. “The message from the forums is clear, Florida Earth Director Stan Bronson said, with the speed that rural lands are being converted to urban development, we need to start today to change how we plan for rural lands and the natural systems they sustain or they will not be a part of Florida’s future.” For more information on the Florida Earth Foundation Forums, go to: http://flui.org.
CUES Senior Fellow Frank Schnidman, who has served on Palm Beach County's Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Board of Trustees for more than a decade, has been recognized as a "Volunteer Shining Star" by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department in recognition of his dedicated service to the Morikami. Since its opening in Delray Beach in 1977, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens has been a center for Japanese arts and culture in South Florida, with rotating exhibitions in its galleries, tea ceremonies performed monthly in its Seishin-an tea house, an educational outreach program with local schools and organizations, and Japanese traditional festivals celebrated for the public several times a year. Frank, the former President of the Japan Society of South Florida, serves on the Museum's Facilities Committee and has organized numerous international visits to the Morikami, as well as seminars and conferences.
CUES recently completed an economic study of the Indiantown Natural Gas Storage Facility for the Floridian Natural Gas Storage Company. Dr. William Stronge, Senior Fellow at CUES and professor-emeritus in Economics, and Dr. Lenore Alpert of CUES both worked on the project.
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| Don’t miss these important events! |
Climate Change Conference
Please join us May 9-11, 2007 at the Tampa Renaissance Hotel for the first conference on climate change in Florida! This timely conference will focus on Florida, providing the latest scientific findings and identify impacts and actions that should be taken to respond to climate change. Global, national, and state experts will share their perspectives with conference participants in both general and concurrent sessions. Click here for more information on the conference http://www.ces.fau.edu/ccc/index.php. For sponsorship and exhibit opportunities see: http://www.ces.fau.edu/ccc/sponsors.php. For hotel accomodations, go to http://www.ces.fau.edu/ccc/accommodations.php. Visit https://secure.ces.fau.edu/?pg=ccc to register for this event today.
Workforce Housing Solutions Workshop Series: Employer Assisted Housing Options and Opportunities
On Wednesday, May 16, this workshop, presented by the National Housing Conference and the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County, will examine a variety of innovative yet practical options htat can be used by businesses to implement employer-assisted housing options. See http://www.nhc.org/public/event_registration.php?event_id=13 to register online.
4th Annual South Florida Regional Leadership Council Conference
This conference will take place on May 23, 2007 and is highlighted above. For a detailed agenda and to register, see http://www.sfrrc.net/leadership/2007summit/.
The Daily Planet: A Journalist’s Search for Sustainability, From the Amazon to the Arctic
A free lecture by New York Times reported Andrew Revkin at FAU’s Jupiter Campus on Tuesday, May 29th at 7:30 p.m.
For 25 years, initially without knowing it, prize-winning author and reporter Andrew Revkin has been on a global hunt for ways to mesh the human adventure with the planet’s limits. In an illustrated talk, Revkin provides an Earth-spanning tour, from reefs and rain forests to sea ice and tundra, that reveals how scientists are gauging the human impact on ecosystems and climate and how some communities are working to redefine progress. This event is sponsored by CUES and the Scripps Howard Institute on the Environment. For more information or to RSVP, contact scrippsinstitute@fau.edu.
The ABCs of CRAs: Community Redevelopment Agency Basics
May 31, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Coconut Creek Community Center
As more and more local governments in Southeast Florida consider formal redevelopment activity, and as those already engaged in planning for redevelopment or implementing redevelopment plans seek viable approaches to getting underway or moving forward, it is time to pause for a moment, take an "education" break, and focus on the basics. This Hot Topics seminar has been designed for newly elected or appointed officials or those unfamiliar with the "nuts and bolts" of the establishment and operation of a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). It provides a "crash" course in the basics of redevelopment under Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes. The seminar also addresses the concerns of planners, attorneys, bankers, citizens, and other stakeholders who need to learn more about the basics of government-fostered redevelopment. In addition, presentations will cover the current controversy over the use of eminent domain arising out of new legislation from the 2006 legislative session, as well as real property tax and CRA finance issues from the 2007 legislative session. More information on this seminar and registration
Developing Green: Sustainable Development Issues and Options for Local Government Officials and Developers
June 28, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Coconut Creek Community Center
Local governments in Southeast Florida are being challenged to become leaders in the conservation of energy and natural resources as well as in sustainable development. When it comes to redevelopment, professionals are now working with governments and developers to identify and use building materials, landscaping, appliances, lighting, plumbing, and approaches to site selection, heating, and cooling to "Go Green." Going Green and being sustainable apply to all types of development and redevelopment activities. For this seminar, the speakers will focus on redevelopment activity; however, most of the discussion also relates to greenfields development, infill, and redevelopment.
Buildings are recognized as the biggest drain on energy and natural resources. Solar power, trees to the east and west to shade structures, energy-efficient appliances, landscaping with drought-resistant plants, and the use of rain water can assist in the effort to preserve natural resources and save money. Green buildings also can be more healthful environments for the people who work or live in them. This seminar has been designed for newly elected or appointed officials, veteran officials, and those unfamiliar with the Green Redevelopment and sustainability concepts. The course also addresses the concerns of planners, attorneys, bankers, citizens, and other stakeholders who need to learn more about the basics as well as any relevant issues coming from the 2007 legislative session. More information on this seminar and registration
5th Annual Institute: Alliance for Human Services
This conference will take place on October 26, 2007 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. For more information, contact Jose Marcano at 305.646.7138.
SAVE THE DATE: Rail-Volution 2007 to take place in Miami Beach!
Join transit-industry professionals, real-estate developers, community leaders and elected officials to share ideas and attitudes about how rail transit and transit-oriented development is changing the shape of urban America. The event will take place from October 31-November 4, 2007. For more information, visit www.railvolution.com
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