Item Coversheet

Resolutions - C7  W




COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission 
FROM:Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager 
DATE:July  26, 2017
 



SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, MEMORIALIZING THE CONSENSUS DEVELOPED DURING THE JULY 12, 2017 JOINT WORKSHOP OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE MAYOR'S BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON SEA LEVEL RISE, TO EXTEND THE COMPLETION OF THE STORMWATER FLOODING MITIGATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FROM SEVEN YEARS TO TEN YEARS.

ANALYSIS

The City of Miami Beach has made a commitment to invest in aging infrastructure, adapt to sea level rise, and use the best available science to do so. In March 2016, the City adopted the Southeast Florida Climate Change Compact Unified Sea Level Rise Projection through Resolution 2016-29317. More than one-third of the cities in the region and all four counties have adopted these projections for planning purposes.

The City Commission has adopted policy with regards stormwater infrastructure improvements. On June 8, 2016, the City Commission approved Resolution 2016-29454 which amended the Stormwater Management Master Plan. This action included setting the minimum future crown of road and back of sidewalk at elevation 3.7 feet NAVD. This calculation is used by our engineers to design the drainage system. While in some cases, like Sunset Harbour, this was a significant elevation change, in residential neighborhoods the design is a more subtle change in elevations and neighborhood friendly approaches. Residential neighborhoods will not look like Sunset Harbour.

Over the last few months, there have been community and Commission discussions and questions about program timing, mobility, traffic flow, relationship of the public right of way to personal property, design details, and aesthetics. Staff has actively engaged the community and has listened and learned. We have made drainage design adjustments along the way and we have created new communications tools for residents to visualize neighborhood improvements. We have created facts sheets and tools such as a 3-D model and an adaptation calculator which provide potential changes in existing roadway elevations for each property in simple inches. To make information accessible, more than 250 people attended five dynamic open houses for more personal dialogue. City engineers continue to meet with residents for one-on-one home discussions. Developing public engagement tools and feedback has been valuable to staff and incorporated in our projects.

The infrastructure program began in the most vulnerable areas as design-build contracts to move as quickly as possible to address immediate flooding. Staff has learned that while we can’t prevent disruption, we can minimize repeat construction by addressing all the localized infrastructure needs at the same time We have been trying to avoid the disruption that is compounded when a project is completed, only to be followed by another construction project.

Now that we’ve addressed the most vulnerable areas, our next step is to go into areas that are not as visibly experiencing flooding today. However, through sea level rise science, we know these areas are at increased risk of flooding in the future and drainage improvements will reduce this risk. In addition, it’s important to note that today, 93% of the buildings in Miami Beach are located within a Special Flood Hazard Area as detailed through the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Finally, we also know that most infrastructure, including drainage, water, wastewater, and roadways are old and in considerable need of repair.

On numerous occasions during Commission meetings, the topic of traffic congestion has been brought up. Several measures have been put in place to reduce traffic such as increasing fees for blocking travel lanes during rush hour, requiring approval for special events that significantly impact traffic, the timing of the bridge opening on 63rd Street, and expansion of mass transit. Construction related impacts have also caused significant traffic impacts such as the reconstruction of Alton Road, the rebuilding of the bascule bridge on the Venetian Causeway, and the installation of a storm water system along Indian Creek Drive.

This has prompted the community and the Commission to question the timing of the future neighborhood projects. A very aggressive schedule was initially developed for the stormwater and infrastructure construction. The neighborhoods were identified based upon risk of flooding with additional consideration for alternative travel routes. For example, the reconstruction of West Avenue was not done during the reconstruction of Alton Road.

 

On July 12, 2017, there was a joint meeting of the Neighgorhood/Community Affairs Committee Members and the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Sea Level Rise.  Attached is the presentation that was provided.

 

There were discussion  that included the attached modified schedule extending the timeline of completion for the stormwater program from seven to ten years. It has considered construction related traffic and timing. It presents a balance of our different needs and to continue the stormwater, water, wastewater and road infrastructure investments for flood risk reduction, climate adaptation and overall improved services in a manner that ensures residents’ collaboration, mobility, livability, and quality of life today and for our resilient and sustainable future.  It also allows for a more realistic timeline for completion of the projects as we are finding the delivery of the projects is taking longer than originally anticipated.

 

The consensus was that the program needed to continue.  There was discussion involving traffic and how other construction projects by FDOT and others need to be considered when evaluating the timing of the neighborhood improvement projects.  It was brought up that there were areas that do currently flood and may need to be accelerated such as the entrance to Mt. Sinai, the Nautilus/Orchard Park area, and in North Beach along the Tatum waterway, the latter of which may involve a program to get the private seawalls elevated.

While no formal vote could be taken, there was consensus regarding the recommendation to keep advancing the stormwater program but extend the current timeline to a more realistic ten-year time frame.  This is consistent with the proposed schedule and actual progression of the program to date.

CONCLUSION

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution.
Legislative Tracking
Public Works

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
NCAC_BRP JOINT MEETING 07-12-2017
Stormwater Projects Timeline
MB Projects 2017 2018
MB Projects 2018 2019
MB Projects 2019 2020
MB Projects 2020 2021
MB Projects 2021 2022
MB Projects 2022 2023
MB Projects 2023 2027
Resolution