To meet the stormwater needs of the City of Miami Beach, the City is investing over $650 million in various infrastructure improvements, which improvements will need to be made over an estimated span of 10 years. The infrastructure improvements include installing larger pipes, building pump stations, and raising roads to ensure that the roads do not flood in future tidal and rainfall events.

During King Tide events, to prevent localized street flooding in areas where the roadway elevation is lower than the high tide levels, temporary pumps have been installed to mitigate standing water and the water has been pumped to the adjacent canal or Biscayne Bay. Typically, pumps have been deployed in these lower areas, such as along upper North Bay Road, Orchard Park, Indian Creek, Tatum Waterway, and other North Beach areas.

In Fiscal Year 2018, $325,410 was spent on the renting and deployment of temporary pumps, not including the cost of fuel and labor to operate the equipment. Costs associated with the increased use of, and requests for, temporary pumps will continue to increase as higher tides occur during each King Tide season. The City' s current stormwater rates do not include components for widespread usage of rental temporary pump installations.

A resolution regarding the utilization of temporary pumps and generators was placed on the July 25, 2018 City Commission meeting agenda and a discussion was referred to the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee (SRC).

At its September 26, 2018 meeting, the SRC moved to have the Administration: (1) identify a targeted level of service for temporary pumps; (2) develop a Fiscal Year 2019 proposed budget for the deployment of temporary pumps; (3) find a permanent funding source; and (4) implement a recommended process for deployment of the temporary pumps; and to (5) bring the item back to the City Commission for approval.

Consistent with the direction of the SRC, the Administration determined the City's level of service would require the deployment of at least 25 temporary pumps, at an estimated cost of $270,000 (assuming three (3) months of King Tides, in the Spring, and three (3) months of King Tides in the Fall).

At its January 16, 2019 meeting, the City Commission approved the SRC recommendation via Resolution No. 2019-30682 and to have the Administration identify $272,000 in the Fiscal Year 2019 Stormwater Maintenance and Operations Fund.

At its January 15, 2020 meeting, the City Commission also approved a referral to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee to explore increasing the usage of temporary pumps and funding it using monies from the Convention Center Hotel.

At its January 27, 2020 Commission Workshop on Resilience, the Public Works Department offered the Commission members, a presentation on Temporary Pumps (attached), which depicts citywide locations where temporary pumps are deployed.  Two scenarios are being offered to the Committee members for discussion and further direction: 14 pumps or 28 pump deployment for six months at a cost of $454,000 or $890,000 respectively.