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Florida has a trash problem. This is not new. But do you know why it's so hard for local municipalities to help solve the problem? Florida, like the rest of the planet, is in the grips of a waste crisis, and a new report just released by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection outlines just how dire the situation has become. Yet state lawmakers refuse to listen to legislation that attempts to address the issue. Buoyed by this report, some South Florida lawmakers are now hoping to move the needle in the fight to stop plastic pollution. “An overwhelming amount of people within Florida want regulation on single-use plastics to happen, so the time for it to happen is now,” said Amanda Di Perna, a student at Florida International University. The new report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection sounds alarm bells: 93% of Floridians surveyed, including residents, local leaders and business owners, believe regulation of single-use plastics is needed. “We’re now breathing in the toxins released by burning this plastic because there’s just too much of it and we can’t handle it,” Di Perna said. She and Taina Adam are members of a team of six FIU students from the Campus Green Initiative who spent eight months collecting research used in the FDEP report. “It’s obvious that we’re not able to handle what we’re consuming, and if it continues, the plastics that are quadrupling will last into our environment for years and years,” Adam said. Single-use plastics are items we only use once and then throw away. Plastic bags, takeout containers, utensils, plastic cups — they can’t be recycled and take 450 years to biodegrade. Many wind up in our ocean, killing our marine life and endangering public health. Data shows that in 2020, some 7,000 tons of plastic entered Florida’s marine environment. “That makes me terrified,” Di Perna said. The report is an update to a 2010 FDEP report that strongly recommended Florida start regulating single-use plastics. In 2008, the state actually passed a law preempting local municipalities from banning single-use plastics. “Does it make any sense that the state is blocking local cities? No,” said Illine Davila, president of the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. In 2018, the club formed Florida’s Plastics Free Initiative, joining forces with other environmental nonprofits instrumental in getting the state to greenlight this new study. “We need Florida to break through,” Davila said. “We need somebody to just say enough is enough, take the plastics out. We live in a gorgeous state.” But even that is now at risk. According to the report, Florida has gotten so trashy that we’re losing valuable tourist dollars to places like Jamaica and the Bahamas, which have laws banning single-use plastics. “Right now Florida is losing $7 billion annually in our tourism sector because of the plastic pollution out here in our environment,” Adam said. State Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Monroe County, just sponsored House Bill 1145, which if passed would allow only coastal communities with populations of less than 100,000 to pass laws to regulate single-use plastics. It’s only a pilot program that sunsets in two years. “The next logical step is to take these plastics out of the environment,” Mooney said. “That’s the bottom line.” “The idea is to try to get the ball rolling ... and see if there’s been any improvement or how we can improve the reduction of single-use plastics.” A similar bill has been filed in the state senate by Dade Delegation Chair Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Miami-Dade, but it’s an uphill battle. Rep. Mike Grieco, D-Miami-Dade, has spent the past four years fighting to get his single-use plastic bill just heard. “Every time the bill gets filed it is dead upon filing,” Grieco said. “You know the minute you file it’s not going to go anywhere.” Plastics are a multibillion-dollar industry, and the Florida Retail Federation has spent millions flexing its political muscle, fighting any attempt to ban plastics. “You’ve got folks in control right now that are very business-friendly, don’t really lean on the side of the environment,” Grieco said. Mooney is hoping to change that. “Even with the lobbyist side, there’s still a responsibility,” he said. “If you have a grandchild or a little baby, you need to think about their future.” And the future is watching to see what our lawmakers do. “Something better has to be done, and the cheapest and easiest solution is to stop the flow of plastics at the source,” Di Perna said. “It’s not enough for them to listen to us, they have to take action as well.” Five weeks remain in this legislative session, and so far none of these bills has even gotten a committee hearing. If you want these bills heard, it’s important to contact your representatives and tell them how you feel. By Louis Aguirre - WPLG Local 10 https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/02/02/plastics-report-has-some-florida-leaders-pushing-for-tougher-laws/ See how you can get involved and urge lawmakers to act

Impact 100 announces semi-finalists for grants January 06, 2022 Impact 100 Palm Beach County (Impact 100 PBC) has announced its 2022 semi-finalist nonprofit organizations. The 21 groups, all with projects based in South Palm Beach County, have the opportunity to submit full applications for one of multiple $100,000 high-impact grants. Impact 100 PBC is a women’s 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funding local nonprofit initiatives. It is comprised of a growing number of over 600 women who donate $1,000 annually, pool all money and vote to award grants to nonprofits serving southern Palm Beach County in five focus areas: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation; Education; Environment and Animal Welfare; Family; and Health and Wellness. Since its inception, Impact 100 Palm Beach County has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants. “Our mission in Impact 100 PBC is to improve our community by collectively funding impactful $100,000 grants to nonprofits in our area,” Kelly Fleming, president-elect of Impact 100 PBC, said in the statement. “Last year we had 652 members and we are hoping to reach 700 this year. The more members we have, the more money we can give to nonprofits in Palm Beach County. This ‘team philanthropy,’ where our funds are pooled together, makes a bigger impact than individual donations.” This year’s semi-finalists include the following nonprofits in Impact 100 PBC’s focus areas. Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation: Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts: Hands Across the Community Spady Cultural Heritage Museum: Digitizing Black History GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute: Theatrical Fusion Young Singers of The Palm Beaches: South County Sings for Healing Education: Best Foot Forward: Grounded for Life Florence Fuller Child Development Centers: Intensive Individualized Tutoring for 100 Children Propel Inc.: “VIRTUTOR” University of Florida Foundation: SEFS & GEMS Xcel Mentoring Network: Youth Training & Wellness Environment & Animal Welfare Boca Save Our Beaches: Sea Tails with Seymour Marine Education Initiative: Sustainable Agriculture Education Initiative Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League: Project Catsnip Family: American Association of Caregiving Youth: RACY (Rides for A Caregiving Youth) Camelot Community of Care: Kin- Nections (Keeping Kids with Kinship Caregivers) Friends of Foster Children: Kinship, Care & Connections Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services: TFRC Therapeutic Resource & Family Center Unicorn Children’s Foundation: Family Navigator Program Health & Wellness: Love Serving Autism: Serving with Heart in SPBC Promise Fund of FL: Health Equity for Women in Cancer & Prevention The Lord’s Place: Buckle Campus The Soup Kitchen Inc.: Lift Up Finalists will be announced on March 31 and can present their projects to the members of Impact 100 PBC. Members will vote to award multiple $100,000 grants to nonprofits in five focus areas at the Grand Awards event on April 19. Membership for Impact 100 PBC 2021 is open through March 31. For more information, visit www.impact100pbc.org or call 561-336-4623. By Palm Beach Florida Weekly https://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/impact-100-announces-semi-finalists-for-grants/

How is this 'smashcastle' hurting sea turtles? Read on to find out. When you first look at this photo, I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself, “What a beautiful sunrise.” But if you look closely, you will see a threat lurking on the sand. The remains of a sandcastle built the day before and half washed down by the ocean is more than troublesome to sea turtles. From the time hatchlings emerge from their nest buried in the sand, they’ve already had the odds stacked against them. A very daunting fact is that only one in 10,000 sea turtle hatchlings born will ever make it to adulthood. Humans have sadly contributed to this fact. With six out of the seven species of sea turtles on the endangered species list, it is up to us to help try to save them from extinction. If sea turtles were to go extinct, it would create a big problem not only for the ocean, but also for the beach dunes as well. One specific species of sea turtles called Leatherbacks enjoys the taste of jellyfish for their main source of food. Could you imagine the amount of jellyfish that would be roaming the oceans if we didn’t have the Leatherbacks gobbling them up? We’d be getting stung left and right! We can also give a big round of applause to all the female sea turtles that come to nest on our beaches. It is because of them and the nutrients their nests provide that our dunes can continue to flourish. This is most important for our coastal communities since dunes can protect us from flooding and storm surges. Let’s get back to that half-washed-away sandcastle in the photo. Most people don’t know that sea turtles have very poor vision on land. When the hatchlings, which are smaller than your palm, start making their trek to the ocean, they are faced with numerous natural obstacles, including drift wood and sargassum brought in by high tide. Start adding sandcastles, holes dug by beachgoers, and personal belongings to the mix, and you can see why these little guys/gals have such a low rate of survival. If the hatchlings bump into sandcastles or personal belongings, they can get disoriented and end up in the dunes or even a tasty meal for a land predator. Picture a hatchling who just came out of an egg the size of a ping pong ball trying to make it to the ocean, only to fall into one of those holes people dig as a place to sit. There is absolutely no way that little guy/gal can crawl on out on its own. The “roadblocks” can also affect the females coming to nest. If an obstacle is large enough and she can’t find her way past them, she may end up heading back into the ocean, only to release her eggs there where they will never incubate. This brings us to how it all began for me - HOLES. I started seeing stories on the news and numerous social media sites about these 300-lb. sea turtles getting stranded in these massive holes dug by beachgoers. This can not only cause stress and injury to them, but also kill them if they are not found. After doing much research in my local community and finding out there was not a group, business or non-profit, in the area that patrols the beach for these hazards, I decided to create one myself. I pitched the idea to my local non-profit where I volunteer, and that is how Boca Save our Beaches Hole Patrol began. I now run a “Hole Patrol” with volunteers where we fill in the holes, flatten the sandcastles, clear debris to make paths from the nests to the ocean, and educate beachgoers why we do what we do! I know this article is coming during the close of sea turtle nesting season, but it will begin again in just a few short months. So share this with your friends, snowbirds and family alike so we can not only respect the locals, but also help save a species that does more than we ever knew. If there is not a similar group near you, just remember that YOU can make a difference. It only takes a thought and a willingness to make it happen. By Mystica Green https://olliconnects.org/sunrise-threat-lurking/

Boca’s new waste reduction law is geared to temporary vendors on city property selling balloons and confetti, and food vendors using Styrofoam containers at outdoor events, explained Councilwoman Monica Mayotte, who helped shape the new ordinance. It’s meant to reduce waste that gets thrown away and ends up in waterways, adding to ocean pollution that gets eaten and kills marine life, Mayotte explained before the 5-0 vote. “Let us be the leader to protect our oceans,” she said. Although the law applies to city park pavilion renters, “it’s not my intention for families who gets food to go and take it to a park. We’re going after bigger events and vendors,” she noted. A cadre of speakers came out to support the measure. Among them were Boca Save Our Beaches president Jessica Gray, “Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale” director Rory Fielding and FAU professor Karen Leader. “I work with a lot of young people and hear what they’re worried about,” Leader said. When he was making the documentary shown on public TV, “it woke me up to see it everywhere,” even 12 miles offshore, Fielding said. He called the new ordinance “not enough, but a great start.” “The plastic pollution crisis is here, and it won’t go away,” Gray said. “Balloons are blown away and get mistaken for food.” The only pushback came from Guillermo Aska, representing Party City and retailers that sell balloons and confetti. “People who earn a living in this industry do consumer awareness and education,” he told city council. “We’re not opposing sales,” Mayotte told him, adding. “I want to see how it goes and get feedback.” Mayor Scott Singer called the measure “sensible, and I think people will comply.” By Marci Shatzman https://thebocavoice.com/heres-details-on-bocas-new-waste-reduction/

Proposal would increase fines from $50 to $250 The sight of discarded facemasks, gloves and other personal protective equipment pretty much everywhere over the last year has become a pervasive problem. To reduce improperly discarded PPE, Boca Raton Councilman Andy Thomson wants to increase fines for offenders. Thomson made it a New Year's resolution to pick up trash and clean up neighborhoods while on his periodic runs through the city. During the councilman's jogs, he said he has noticed a substantial amount of the trash is PPE, including finding 143 masks on the ground within 50 miles. At the next city council meeting, Thomson said he will propose a $250 fine for anyone who is caught littering PPE, an increase from the current $50 fine for littering. "If you are going to litter, what is potentially a biohazard, a glove or a mask, you really should be paying an enhanced fine if you are seen doing that," Thomson said. Jessica Gray-Patterson with Boca Save our Beaches said she agrees with the increased fine. Her group found multiple masks at one of their recent beach clean-ups. She said people forget that masks thrown away at the beach end up in the ocean. "In South Florida, we have a lot of rain and wind, so [if ] that mask [is] sitting in a parking lot, a rainstorm washes it to a storm drain," Gray-Patterson said. "We are seeing more masks in the ocean after a year." Thomson said he is pushing for the increased fine at the state level as well. He adds this fine isn't about money but about creating awareness concerning people dumping a used mask or gloves. "What we want to do is educate and send a message that this is unacceptable behavior here in the city," Thomson said. By:Miranda Christian , Scott Sutton https://www.wptv.com/news/protecting-paradise/boca-raton-councilman-wants-to-increase-fines-for-ppe-litterers

If it’s Monday morning in Boca Raton, you may notice somebody standing in the surf or at a boat ramp collecting water in sterile polyethylene bags. They’re not gathering small fish but searching for something unseen — Enterococcus bacteria from sources such as fertilizers, faulty septic systems and polluted stormwater runoff. These bacteria can indicate fecal pollution and other pathogens that in high concentrations may make people sick. Volunteers from the nonprofit Boca Save our Beaches began collecting water samples in January from the ocean at Spanish River Park and South Inlet Park, and from the Silver Palm Park boat ramp and Spanish River Park’s kayak launch on the Intracoastal. Its partners are the Surfrider Foundation and Boca Raton Community High School. “You go in about knee deep, fill the [bag] up, put it in a cooler … and drop them off to Boca Raton High by 11 o’clock in the morning,” said Jessica Gray, founder of Boca Save our Beaches. The samples are incubated in a lab at the high school at nearly 106 degrees for 24 hours. Students in Rachel Wellman’s advanced environmental management class are helping in small ways until she can devise means to work within COVID-19 restrictions that will enable them to do more. For now, she is doing most of the work. The testing protocol includes adding a reagent to the water samples, swirling the mixtures and examining them under ultraviolet light in a darkened room. A yellow color indicates a negative result, but if it glows fluorescent blue — “it’s kind of pretty,” Wellman says — this indicates the presence of bacteria. Another step follows to determine precisely how much. The project gives students “real-life data that can be shared. It’s a good work experience,” said Wellman, an ecologist with a PhD in ecosystems science and management who teaches about water pollution. Surfrider paid for lab equipment, including glass laboratory bottles and an autoclave to sanitize them after each use. REI Co-op, the outdoors clothing and gear retailer, supplied coolers and backpacks. Surfrider has a national network it calls Blue Water Task Force of citizen scientists providing water quality information to more than 50 labs. The goal, the foundation says, is to fill in gaps and complement local and state water quality programs, while raising public awareness of pollution issues. The foundation already had similar water monitoring programs from Jupiter Inlet to Boynton Inlet, so with the addition of the Boca Raton program, most of the county’s coast is covered. Jupiter High School and Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach preceded Boca Raton High in setting up labs to assess water quality. What makes Boca’s lab different is that “we decided to spend the initial money on doing a glassware lab versus doing a plastic lab,” said Aaron Barnes, who runs Surfrider’s Blue Water initiative in Palm Beach County. “Our other labs have only plastic items, which unfortunately are only able to be used once. We’re not for plastic pollution, so … we decided to get the glassware and an autoclave unit which sanitizes the glassware after each time so we are able to reuse it, and therefore create less waste.” Wellman also favored using glassware. She created a spreadsheet with the test results that Gray and Barnes can access. Barnes uses it to post data on Surfrider’s website. Initial test results at the Boca sites showed safe levels of bacteria. Surfrider also tracks weather conditions like temperature and wind speed to try to determine what conditions are most likely to contribute to high bacteria counts, Barnes said. “Whenever we get high readings, we report them to the county officials and whatever city they happen to be in,” he said. The Florida Department of Health already conducts coastal water quality testing through its Healthy Beaches Program, including at several Palm Beach County locations, but Barnes believes there is value in what Surfrider, Wellman and Boca Save our Beaches are doing. “We sample more locations than they do,” Barnes said, and sometimes more frequently. “Bacteria levels can differ from place to place. I feel the more locations, the better.” By Larry Keller https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-boca-high-teams-with-nonprofits-to-widen-water-quality

Boca Raton’s City Council must reconsider its 5-0 decision not to grant permission to build a duplex on the beach, Palm Beach County circuit judges say. Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte prejudged the application by 2600 N Ocean LLC proposing a four-story, 14,270-square-foot residence east of A1A between Spanish River Park and Ocean Strand, the judges decided. At a Feb. 26, 2019, City Council meeting, attorney Robert Sweetapple, representing the landowner, showed a campaign video of then-council member and now Mayor Scott Singer standing on a dune and declaring he could not support plans for a house on the beach. Sweetapple also had copies of emails that O’Rourke and Mayotte had sent constituents saying they would vote against variances for construction seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line. In a ruling issued Sept. 16, Circuit Judges Jaimie Goodman, Janis Keyser and G. Joseph Curley said Singer’s statements constituted a “general political stance made in a campaign video” and were permissible. But O’Rourke’s and Mayotte’s emails to residents — saying they had “no intention of granting [the application]” and “[would] do all I can to prevent this from happening” — showed they were not impartial, the judges said. “This was more than mere political bias or an adverse political philosophy — it was express prejudgment of Petitioner’s application,” they said. Their ruling said 2600 N. Ocean LLC “is entitled to a new hearing without the participation” of Mayotte and O’Rourke, who has since become deputy mayor. That would leave Singer and council members Jeremy Rodgers and Andy Thomson to rehear the application. But Rodgers, a Navy Reserve officer, has been deployed on active duty to the Mideast and has not attended a council meeting since late June. Sweetapple promised even more litigation over the parcel, which was recently appraised at $7.2 million. “Boca Raton has engaged in a decades-long program to deny any development of this private, taxpaying, oceanfront property. To date it has failed to acquire the property as part of its spectacular oceanfront park system,” he said. “The continued denial of any reasonable development of this parcel constitutes a taking. The ongoing illegal actions of the city will continue to be addressed in the courts.” Each side of the proposed duplex would have had a roof level with a pool, spa, fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Sweetapple said the building would have special glass facing the ocean that would transmit only 10 percent of interior light, below the city’s request for 15 percent, and have only 8 percent reflectivity. Lighting is a concern for nesting and hatchling sea turtles. Council members caused an uproar when they gave a zoning variance in late 2015 for a four-story beachfront home two parcels south, at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice to proceed with that project, which still needs review by the city's Environmental Advisory Board and another council vote. https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-judges-quash-council-decision-against-beachfront-duple?xg_source=activity&xg_raw_resources=1

Lawyers for the owner of an undeveloped lot at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. made another unsuccessful attempt July 23 to win permission to build on the beach. The City Council voted 5-0 not to grant a variance allowing construction east of the city’s Coastal Construction Control Line. “I believe the applicant has failed to meet its burden to provide competent and substantial evidence that it has met the criteria for the variance,” Mayor Scott Singer said. The result matched a unanimous recommendation for denial in April by the city’s Environmental Advisory Board. The city’s Development Services Department also urged that the request not be approved. The council’s decision, the final word on the issue unless landowner Natural Lands LLC goes to the courts, was its second affirmation of the CCCL this year; in February it denied a CCCL variance to build a four-story duplex two parcels north, at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. But 2500 N. Ocean’s application came with approvals that 2600 lacked — from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection and its Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Natural Lands wants to build a 48-foot-tall, 8,666-square-foot single-family home at the site, and obtained a Notice to Proceed from the state DEP in October 2016. Brandon Schaad, Boca Raton’s development services director, said that notice was based on a zoning confirmation letter the city “mistakenly issued” that did not point out the property owner still would have to get a city CCCL variance. Also, he said, the state agency sent the city’s copy of the notice to an “incorrect” email address. “In any case, the city has its own CCCL regulations that are separate and apart from any addition to the state’s regulations, meaning that the FDEP’s actions are irrelevant to the proposed variance,” Schaad said. Attorney Neil Schiller, representing the property owner, asked Singer and council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte to recuse themselves from the vote based on comments they made when running for office about protecting the beach. He also asked that Schaad’s statements on sea turtles and environmental impacts be ignored, saying Schaad was not a qualified expert on those topics. In its review the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote that “the project does not significantly impact marine sea turtles and their habitat,” Schiller said. And he argued that reports by Boca Raton’s experts, consultant Mike Jenkins of Applied Technology & Management Inc. and city marine conservationist Kirt Rusenko, were “flawed” by contradictions and incorrect information, citing an email advising Jenkins that a map of turtle nesting patterns was off due to a “slight geo-shift.” Even so, Schiller said, “Based on this graphical representation, there is zero sea turtle activity close to the structure itself or the cantilevered area under the structure.” The City Council caused a public outcry in December 2015 when it approved a zoning variance at 2500 N. Ocean to allow something to be built on the 85-foot-wide lot. City rules normally require lots at least 100 feet wide. Fewer than 10 members of the public spoke at the July 23 hearing; all opposed the CCCL request. “This isn’t about property values. This isn’t about views. This is about preserving and protecting our city’s code of ordinances and our sensitive marine ecosystem,” said Jessica Gray, who founded the group Boca Save Our Beaches after the council’s 2015 decision. David Sergi, another beach advocate, said there was a reason the council chamber was not filled with more opponents. “I think people have been talking about trains a lot this week and golf courses, and they’re just not here tonight; they’re tired,” Sergi said, referring to a five-hour meeting the day before on a possible Virgin Trains station downtown and the proposed Boca National Golf Course. Schiller repeatedly stressed that the previous lot-width variance showed that 2500 N. Ocean was “suitable for construction.” “Again — I’m harping on this because it’s so important — in 2015 this body determined this property was developable and buildable by granting the minimum lot-width variance. The property has not moved location since, neither has the CCCL,” Schiller said. After the City Council denied a CCCL variance in February for a four-story duplex at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd., that applicant asked that a Palm Beach County circuit judge review the EAB and council decisions for irregularities. The legal request is pending. A court review is a prerequisite to filing a Bert Harris Act lawsuit for damages resulting from a government taking of private property. By Steve Plunkett https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-council-nixes-request-to-build-home-east-of-a1a?fbclid=IwAR3wkwrDveC58PAOgB3aSDWZrpEj7HasLfhbZ6-ghdnyWGKLlfBbun7ATMQ

A Boca Raton non-profit is teaching the future protectors of paradise what they can do now and in the future to stop litter and pollution from ruining the ocean and the planet. "I read that this is the last generation to save nature," said Jessica Gray, founder of Boca Save Our Beaches. The organization coordinates beach and corporate cleanups, while also promoting and educating people about conservation. Gray realized there was an opportunity in educational curriculum to teach about local environmental issues. "I talked to a few friends who are educators and introduced this idea. Do you guys have anything in your science program that explains our sensitive South Florida marine ecosystem? And everyone said no," said Gray. "So that’s when I thought, why don’t we do something to introduce that concept, even if it’s a one-day lesson plan or a week that you study the effects on our ecosystem." A Boca Raton non-profit is teaching the future protectors of paradise what they can do now and in the future to stop litter and pollution from ruining the ocean and the planet BOCA RATON, Fla. — A Boca Raton non-profit is teaching the future protectors of paradise what they can do now and in the future to stop litter and pollution from ruining the ocean and the planet. "I read that this is the last generation to save nature," said Jessica Gray, founder of Boca Save Our Beaches. The organization coordinates beach and corporate cleanups, while also promoting and educating people about conservation. Gray realized there was an opportunity in educational curriculum to teach about local environmental issues. "I talked to a few friends who are educators and introduced this idea. Do you guys have anything in your science program that explains our sensitive South Florida marine ecosystem? And everyone said no," said Gray. "So that’s when I thought, why don’t we do something to introduce that concept, even if it’s a one-day lesson plan or a week that you study the effects on our ecosystem." Gray wrote a children's workbook to go along with her group's educational efforts. The workbook centers around a character named Seymour, a seahorse who shows children what kind of debris is in the ocean, why it's harmful to marine life, and what they can do to prevent plastic and litter from getting into the ocean in the first place. "It just instills that in their mind the next time they see a piece of trash they would pick it up," Gray said. On Wednesday, Boca Save Our Beaches went into first grade classrooms at Calusa Elementary School in Boca Raton to teach children about being a responsible steward of the environment, and introducing critical environmental concepts to young children such as "reuse, reduce, and recycle." "It’s bad for the animals and the ocean because it gets into the ocean and hurts the animal," said McKinley Hragyil, a first grader at Calusa Elementary. The children did hands-on activities differentiating plastic from natural elements found in nature, such as shells and seaweed, and then did a mock beach cleanup by picking up plastic pieces off the floor. "If you can ask educated questions and get a good answer in return, you can then be able to develop a lifestyle that protects the ocean, protects themselves and makes the planet much more sustainable in the long run," said Morgan Knowles, program educator for Boca Save Our Beaches. Anyone can purchase a workbook through the Boca Save Our Beaches website by clicking here. By: Amy Lipman Posted at 5:25 PM, Mar 28, 2019 and last updated 4:39 AM, Mar 29, 2019 https://www.wptv.com/news/protecting-paradise/boca-raton-non-profit-is-hoping-to-stop-litter-pollution-from-harming-south-florida-waterways

Developed coasts change the natural beach processes and we have all seen that once beach development begins, more follows. Every building alters the dune ecosystem. Unfortunately, almost all of Florida’s beaches are disappearing due to development. Our state has what is called a CCCL. The Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) regulates structures and activities which cause beach erosion, destabilize dunes, damage upland properties, or interfere with public access. CCCL regulation is also designed to protect sea turtles and dune plants. The City of Boca Raton adopted a CCCL law in 1981 stating “Seaward of the established coastal construction control line no person shall: (a) Construct any structure whatsoever”. Meaning, no buildings should be built on the beach. What Happened at City Hall On February 26, 2019, Developer Azure and owner GRAND BANK NATL ASSN asked to change that rule to allow a private 4 story duplex on the protected beaches of Boca Raton. Note, this unbuildable lot was bought as unbuildable and the owners were aware of the property’s restrictions regarding building. The excerpt here from the 3:11:52 mark in the city video shows that all related parties to 2600 N Ocean were aware that their acquired investment was indeed unbuildable. During the City Council hearing on February 26th, parties of Azure Development LLC, asked the City of Boca Raton to approve a monstrous glass structure or cough up $7M of taxpayer money to cover what the owners think the unbuildable property is worth. Where Did the $7M Figure Come From? You may be wondering, how in the world did the private property owners come up with $7M for an environmentally protected lot? Here’s how: The City’s Beach and Parks department performed an appraisal in 2018 which found that 2600 N Ocean was worth $7M plus. After some research, the $7M price tag assumes that 2600 N Ocean can be built on. “At our Client’s request, our Market Value estimate was based on the Extraordinary Assumption that the necessary variances are achievable and that the Subject Property is a buildable lot.” The 2/26/19 City Council hearing established that this ‘extraordinary assumption’ is not met. Since the appraisal is contingent on this, the appraisal does not tell us anything at all, certainly not that the lot is worth $7 million. Additionally, take note of the dotted line in the image below. This represents the boundary line of the City of Boca Raton. In Boca Raton there is only one dot on the beach – 2600 N Ocean, because we have a CCCL law. The rest of the comparable lots are located in Highland Beach and the City of Delray Beach. These two cities have a more flexible CCCL. How can we compare an unbuildable lot in Boca to a buildable lot in another city? We cannot. Pricing of the Boca Property assumed Boca would grant a variance and used “Comps” in Highland Beach and Delray Beach. The Lot Sold in 2011 for $100? The owners of 2600 N Ocean Blvd. acquired this lot in foreclosure from Gregory Talbot in 2011 for a mere $100. That investment came with two airplane hangars at the Boca Raton Airport. Since the land was in foreclosure, we will never know the exact amount the parcels were acquired for. One can assume that the sale price was discounted for beachfront property in Boca Raton because the property is unbuildable due the City’s CCCL law. For the same reason, in 2018, the most recent tax year 2600 N Ocean was appraised at $150K. After a 3+ hour hearing of “the most turtle friendly building in the State of Florida,” argued by attorney Mr. Sweetapple, the City Council voted 5:0 in favor of NOT building the Boca Beach House. City consultants, City Staff, and the City’s Environmental Advisory Board agreed that the applicant failed to satisfy criteria needed to build on an environmentally protected area. Stay tuned for more updates! To view the full video, visit the city video page and start at 41:17 https://bocafirst.org/it-takes-a-village-actually-a-beach-mob/

The February 27th Boca Raton City Council meeting was unique in recent history. The topic was a landowner asking for a variance to construct a large four story duplex eastward of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. An overflow crowd showed up to voice their opinion on the issue. Several presented credible evidence as to why the variance should not be granted. An example was Boca resident Joe Graubart who pointed out that the City staff had created an 18-page report detailing how the proposal does not meet the qualifications for a variance. Joe’s point was that for the City Council members, a “vote to ‘deny’ the appli cant was supported by expert, substantial, and competent testimony”. Other than the Landowner’s representatives and expert witnesses, nobody spoke in favor of the variance. A Unique Meeting Attorney for landowner wanting to build on the dunes or sell to the City of Boca Raton for $7 million So what was unique? Normally, the petitioner is granted twenty minutes to present their case and provide any necessary evidence or testimony. However, the landowner’s attorney Robert Sweetapple requested two hours for his presentation. Boca Raton city code allows for a maximum of one hour. Additional time can be granted by the City Council if it’s deemed necessary by the members. Mayor Singer enforced the city code and allowed Mr Sweetapple one hour. But when that wasn’t enough, the Mayor allowed another 15 minutes and then drew a firm line rejecting Mr Sweetapple’s requests for more. This was applauded in the overflow room. It will be interesting to see how many future hearings have requests for more than the one hour maximum. Requests for Recusal Mayor Scott Singer enforcing the city code that allows a maximum presentation of one hour. The uniqueness did not end there. Mr. Sweetapple opened his presentation by asking Mayor Scott Singer and Council members Monica Mayotte and Andrea Levine O’Rourke to recuse themselves due to prior statements or emails regarding the protection of Boca’s beaches. His request was deftly handled by the Mayor and Council members. Had all three recused themselves, a quorum would not have been established and the hearing could not be conducted. In the End … In the end, the City Staff recommended against granting the variance as did the public. Mr. Sweetapple did his best to overcome the arguments against him including threats of a lawsuit. This was done several times. Some residents who spoke at the podium remarked they felt his proposal for the City to buy the property for $7 million seemed like a “shake down”. One resident pointed out through public records that the $7M valuation was based on the variance being approved. So without it, the land was worth significantly less. Another astute member of the public used the cross examination phase of the meeting to ask Mr. Sweetapple if the applicant had bought the property knowing he needed a variance to build on it. Mr Sweetapple answered “Yes”. When the vote was taken, the Boca City Council voted 5-0 to deny the variance. The well attended meeting erupted in applause. https://bocafirst.org/boca-council-denies-request-to-build-on-beach-dune/

After hearing more than four hours of competing testimony about a proposed duplex on the beach, the city’s Environmental Advisory Board spent little time reaching a decision. “Environmentally the Coastal [Construction] Control Line is there for a reason, and it was put there for a good reason,” board Chairman Stephen Alley said just before the panel voted 4-0 to recommend that the City Council deny the project a zoning variance. Boca Raton city staff had urged the board not to approve building the duplex at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd., east of the coastal line that runs along the west side of State Road A1A at the property. Plans call for the structure to be four stories, approximately 49 feet tall, with 14,270 square feet of habitable space. “The proposed duplex would have substantial negative environmental impacts, including negative impacts on endangered sea turtles and destruction of native vegetation, dune ecosystem and critical habitat,” said Brandon Schaad, Boca Raton’s director of development services. Those in the overflow crowd Jan. 10 at City Hall made their own recommendations. “If you take [the dune] away, it will be so heartbreaking. Really it’s heartbreaking,” said Tricia Krefetz, calling the duplex a “monstrosity” and breaking into tears while at the podium. Another speaker directed her comments toward the property owner. “When you bought your property, you knew what the rules were. … You’re asking to change the rules,” said Lillian Vineberg, whose family developed the Ocean Club condominium tower at 2401 N. Ocean, across A1A. “Hopefully the developer will see that the best, highest use of this land is to donate it [to the city] to reap a healthy tax deduction,” seasonal visitor Mike Lee said. Robert Sweetapple, attorney for the developer, dismissed Schaad’s analysis as being based on “junk science” and brought a gaggle of experts to rebut it. Boca Raton has a clear choice, he said: Either approve the duplex plan or buy the parcel for its recently appraised value of $7.1 million. “The CCCL was passed after this property was made a buildable site and after taxes had been paid year after year after year,” Sweetapple said. “We’re not taking your beach and your property. The city’s messing with us and trying to take ours.” The environmental board’s review was the next-to-the-last step for 2600 N Ocean LLC, which has a contract to purchase the property from New Jersey-based Grand Bank NA. The City Council will consider the request in February. Council members caused a popular uproar in late 2015 when they gave a zoning variance for a four-story beachfront home two parcels south, at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. That project has not yet come before the EAB. The city staff’s recommendation against 2600 N. Ocean was based in large part on a coastal engineering and environmental review by consultant Mike Jenkins of Applied Technology & Management Inc. Jenkins in turn relied heavily on the city’s marine conservationist, Kirt Rusenko. The property for the duplex (between red lines and west of the yellow beach line) lies in one of the heaviest turtle nesting areas of Boca Raton. Renderings provided by the City of Boca Raton Rusenko’s report on the property showed that from 2008 to 2017 green sea turtles made three nests, loggerheads two nests and leatherbacks one nest, all on the beach in front of the dune system. They made a collective 17 “false crawls,” coming up on the sand but not digging a nest, 12 of them in the foredune closest to the water. “The glass surfaces of the proposed structure would certainly reflect light possibly enough to deter nesting turtles and disorient their hatchlings,” wrote Rusenko, who did not attend the advisory board meeting. But Tom Tomasello, onetime general counsel for the state’s Department of Natural Resources and an expert witness for the developer, said the proposal fully complies with Florida law and rules regarding dunes, lighting and sea turtles. “The idea is to minimize the impact, and we’ve minimized the impact to the dune system as much as we possibly can,” said Tomasello, who also represented Boca Raton when the city obtained state approval to trim sea grapes on A1A. “There is no criteria in any state rule or law that deals with reflection. It has never been an issue.” John Fletemeyer, who supervised sea turtle conservation in Delray Beach for 31 years, presented a study that showed turtles nested less frequently behind undeveloped Atlantic Dunes Park on A1A than behind the condos north and south. “I don’t have a reason for this, but it certainly is the case,” Fletemeyer said. “You would expect … that Atlantic Dunes Park, being least developed, would have the highest nesting densities. In fact, just the opposite is true.” Each side of the duplex proposed by partners Richard Caster and Brian Grossberg would have a roof level with a pool, spa, fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Sweetwater said the “cutting edge” building would have special glass facing the ocean that would transmit only 10 percent of interior light, below the city’s request for 15 percent, and have only 8 percent reflectivity. “And all the glass has been recessed. So this is the most turtle-friendly building that has ever been presented in this county,” Sweetapple said. “This building will actually reduce sky glow, which is the main concern with regard to nesting turtles.” Before the vote, advisory board vice chairman Ben Kolstad said the panel would not offer advice on property rights. “I respect property rights; I have property rights; I intend to enforce them as rigorously as I can on my own property. And I don’t fault the petitioner for doing the same,” Kolstad said. “I do think there’s a pressing public interest here that is being perhaps ignored by the petitioner.” By Steve Plunkett https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-beach-duplex-plan-endures-setback-after-heated-debate