A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE CITY'S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POLICY, AS CONTAINED IN CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-09840, BY COMMITTING TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STORMWATER SYSTEM WITH SUFFICIENT CAPACITY, AND UTILIZING INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING TO BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY CAUSED BY STORMWATER RUNOFF IN THE CITY, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A POLICY AND ENGINEERING SOLUTION FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS UTILIZING THE CITY'S STORMWATER SYSTEM.

Attached is a Resolution submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission.

On April 27, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-09840, relating to reaffirming the City’s commitment to the design and implementation of a stormwater system to mitigate the risk of flooding on private property caused by stormwater runoff. At that time, the City was interested in reaffirming its 2011 Stormwater Management Master Plan (adopted by the City Commission on November 14, 2012, via Resolution No. 2012-28068), and endeavoring to protect residential properties from stormwater runoff.

This Resolution seeks to expand upon the intent of Resolution No. 2017-09840, to ensure that the City takes into consideration all integrated water management techniques in order to reduce the risk of flooding on both public and private property due to stormwater runoff.

On October 17, 2018, the Mayor and City Commission accepted the Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel Report that stated, among many things, that the City should “[i]mplement blue and green infrastructure to advance a more integrated and holistic approach to living with water,” and advised that “green and blue infrastructure are approaches to water management that incorporate natural processes to manage and treat water”. This Resolution is consistent with and promotes the Urban Land Institute’s recommendation.

The attached Resolution recognizes, consistent with the City of Miami Beach Stormwater Master Plan, and based upon the parameters of 8.75 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, that it is in the best interest of the City and its residents:

1. To design and implement an integrated water management system with sufficient capacity to reduce the risk of flooding caused by both public rights-of-way and residential property stormwater runoff;
2. To develop a policy and engineering solution for existing residential properties within the City's municipal stormwater system that have a finished floor elevation that are below the future crown of road;
3. To design and install, during the implementation of neighborhood improvement harmonization projects, a drainage inlet for existing residential properties with a finished floor elevation below the future crown of road, at an elevation to cause the first 1.5 inches of rainfall to be retained on the property for pollution control and to preserve fresh groundwater, provided that said residential property does not have seawalls at elevations that allow tidal waters to enter the system;
4. That the City not shed stormwater from public property or rights-of-way on to private property;
5. That the City’s stormwater model for “maximum flood stage” (the highest designed flood elevation) be maintained or improved to ensure that the habitable space of homeowners who have relied on gravitational flow of their stormwater into the municipal stormwater system, not be subject to additional flooding;
6. That the City coordinate a stormwater system that would have the capacity to allow existing residential property owners to connect to the City’s stormwater system, after retaining the first 1.5 inches of rainfall on the residential property;
7. To encourage and create a reward system for homeowners to retain their stormwater on site; and
8. That the City’s Stormwater Master Plan contained in Chapter 110 of the City Code, entitled “Utilities,” at Article III thereof, entitled “Stormwater Utility,” be updated to provide for cost recovery.

Should you have any questions or concerns please contact Cilia Maria Ruiz-Paz at 305-673-7030 at extension 6437.