The City of Miami Beach is a leader in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Effectively communicating the challenges of sea level rise and climate change is complex, especially given the information on the wide range of topics that need to be communicated, including but not limited to:

• alternative modes of transportation,

• beach nourishment,

• beach & dune system,

• Biscayne Bay,

• climate change,

• climate change regional collaboration,

• coral reefs,

• electric vehicles,

• Florida Friendly Landscape,

• flood risk reduction,

• green building,

• greenhouse gas emissions,

• living shorelines,

• sargassum,

• sea level rise / king tides,

• wildlife conservation – including sea turtles, bird habitat, etc.,

• tree canopy,

• urban heat island effect,

• waste reduction,

• water quality protection,

• water & energy conservation.

On October 16, 2019, the City Commission approved to issue Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2020-002-WG, Design, Furnish and Install Resilient Signage.  On October 17, 2019, the RFQ was issued. One addendum was issued.  RFQ responses were received on November 20, 2019. The RFQ resulted in the receipt of four (4) responses from Abarcon, LLC, Nexus Alpha Low Power Systems, LLC, Pixelwarps, Inc. and ASI Signage Innovations.

The proposing firms have strong background and experience with manufacturing and installation of various types of signage. However, notwithstanding the qualifications of the proposing firms, it has become apparent that the City may have been premature in releasing RFP for an implementation partner and must first carefully consider the educational component of the initiative as well as the messages that are being displayed regarding climate change and the City’s resiliency and sustainability efforts. In that regard, the Administration believes it is best for staff to take a more hands on approach to this initiative, with regard to the educational component, and possibly work with a marketing firm that with the communication effort, including possibly conducting some studies or focus groups to assure that the City is clearly communicating the intended messages. Once the analysis and design of the message campaign is solidified, the City can then best select the partner that can deploy the selected message campaign.

I concur with staff’s assessment that it is important to carefully craft the resiliency messages that are being deployed across the City. It is of critical importance that any campaign selected by the City has a strong educational focus so that messaging is correctly received by residents, businesses and visitors alike. After considering and reviewing staff’s recommendation, the City Manager recommends that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida approve the Resolution rejecting all proposals, pursuant to Request for Qualifications No. 2020-002-WG Design, Furnish and Install resilient Signage.