| | | | | | | | | | City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
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| | | | | | | | | | Item 3.
COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM | | | |
| | | | | | | | TO: Land Use and Sustainability Committee
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| FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| DATE: April 29, 2021
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| | | | | | | | TITLE: | DISCUSS LITTER GETTING INTO THE CITY'S STORMWATER DRAINS WITH POTENTIAL ACTION IF DEEMED NECESSARY. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| At its March 17, 2021 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC) to discuss litter getting into the City's stormwater drains with potential action if deemed necessary.
The referral originates from a Biscayne Bay Health seminar that took place on February 19, 2021. During this seminar, discussions identifying the need for Miami-Dade County and the cities of Aventura, Miami, and Miami Beach to take on new set of goals were had, including the benefit of coordinating stormwater drains.
One of the main concerns spoken of at the seminar was the bay, and how right now it's believed to have excessive nutrients; and how stormwater is a large conveyor of nutrients from natural debris that is composting in the stormwater systems. When it rains, the nutrients from the decomposed leaves and grass clippings flushes out to the bay. Currently, the City of Aventura and Miami are implementing storm drain filters with expanded street sweeping, said to be effective in keeping everything out of the stormwater system - thus reducing maintenance costs and improving water quality. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| The City of Miami Beach has in the past, tried out a similar pilot program. The City installed an inlet grate pilot program along Ocean Drive, from 5th to 12th Streets, however, the program was not successful.
During afternoon rain events, the flowing debris would get caught in grates, causing the drains to clog. These clogs would precipitate streets and sidewalk cafes to flood at the locations where the grates were installed. The City received numerous phone calls, service requests and other complaints regarding the ineffectiveness of the grates during the time they were installed. Attempts were made to have the drains’ performance from the pilot program optimized by the vendor, however, clogging and flooding persisted. City staff determined it was best to have the grates removed in order to reduce flooding. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| It is important to note that the City does have a current pump station design inclusive of bar screen and other pollution control features that remove everything and more than the proposed grates. Based on past experience, and results of the pilot program, the Administration does not recommend the use of additional grates and filters at the stormwater inlet structures.
The following presentation is a summary of all of the City's prior efforts to mitigate stormwater and current initiatives including a typical pump station schematic design. |
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| South Beach |
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| | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | Yes | | No | |
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