As a coastal barrier island, the City of Miami Beach is extremely vulnerable to environmental threats such as rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and storms. The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s Resilient Land Use and Development Element specifies resilient principles, goals and adaptation strategies. The Plan includes the objective to increase the City’s resiliency to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels by developing and implementing adaptation strategies and measures in order to protect human life, natural systems and resources and adapt public infrastructure, services, and public and private property. In addition, the Plan calls for the City to prioritize strategies in areas, which currently experience or are projected to experience tidal flooding, storm surge, or both as a priority for the development and implementation of adaption strategies.
The City has launched several climate resilience projects to address existing flooding and prepare for future sea level rise. These projects include critical life safety and property protection improvements to reduce the risk of tidal flooding, improvements to stormwater drainage, and upgrades to aging water and sewer infrastructure. These projects also aim to include environmental, cultural, and aesthetic benefits, such as improving green infrastructure, street lighting, and sidewalks to beautify the neighborhood. There is a collaborative and cross-departmental effort that is focused on the development and execution of these projects, including all elements of community outreach and involvement.
The attached Resolution establishes the Ad Hoc Neighborhood Resilience Projects Advisory Committee and includes Exhibit “A” the Purpose, Powers and Duties of the Ad Hoc Neighborhood Resilience Projects Advisory Committee. The Administration provided recommendations to the original Committee 1) to incorporate helpful resident ideas and feedback and 2) to avoid overlap that could occur regarding specific projects and items that are already reviewed and approved by the City Commission and by existing Committees and Boards, and not result in fiscal impacts or delays. The Powers and Duties include:
(1) Provide advisory recommendations and feedback on best approaches to enhance resident education, resident engagement, and the best phases and timeframes to optimize how and when community engagement is most helpful.
(2) Provide advisory recommendations and feedback regarding best practices for flood mitigation and climate change adaptation, and how private property owners can reduce their own flood risk.
(3) Share input and evaluate issues related to the benefits and challenges for the resilience program, including general neighborhood aesthetics and utility and infrastructure improvements, for example pump station location decision criteria and process.
(4) Provide a forum for the Committee to share best practices and lessons learned from previous and ongoing projects to be considered for future projects.