At the January Sustainability and Resiliency Committee, Commissioner Samuelian introduced an item to review the city’s stormwater resilience program. Staff advised that with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100 RC) Network, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has been invited to assess the City of Miami Beach’s current stormwater management strategy. At the February SRC, the attached scope was discussed and presented.
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary land use and real estate experts in the world dedicated to creating thriving communities around the globe. Their goal is to make cities better places to live for people from all walks of life. ULI is also a 100 RC platform partner, part of a professional network that provides resilience-building tools and services to 100 RC cities. ULI will host an expert panel workshop, led by members from both the local ULI Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council and the national Urban Resilience program as detailed below and in the attached scope of services.
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. The City is approximately 15% into a 10-year, $500 to $600-million multi-year stormwater program, including:
• elevating roads
• upgrading its gravity-based stormwater infrastructure with tidal control valves, pump stations, pipes, and other innovative structures to improve drainage.
• The City is also replacing much of the water, wastewater, and utilities at the same time, as most infrastructure is old and in need of repair.
The City has also updated the land development regulations to incorporate climate adaptation and resilience, such as:
• increasing sea wall height,
• increasing base flood elevation,
• establishing freeboard above FEMA base flood elevation,
• requiring sea level rise and resiliency review criteria for Land Use Boards,
• introducing additional commercial height standards,
• and increasing set-backs and open space for single family homes.
ULI TAP panels are intensive, on-site engagements conducted by volunteer panelists that provide strategic advice to governments and organizations on a wide variety of land use challenges. This four-day event consists of senior practitioners who come from a variety disciplines, such as urban planning, engineering, science, finance, insurance etc. Panelists spend hours in orientation, tours, briefings interviews, and a public listening session. The panel then breaks into teams and prepares a preliminary report of findings.
The final onsite deliverable is a panel presentation to the city at a public meeting (not a public hearing).
The TAP will assess the program through the following questions:
Assessment of existing stormwater program:
• Are on the right track in our approach to mitigate for flooding caused by tidal and rain events? Are we on the right track in term of elevating roads, harmonization, placemaking and aesthetics?
• How might the city prioritize or phase future investments, including both neighborhood-wide investments and scattered, smaller footprints?
• What other investments in public infrastructure improvements could occur where construction is already underway?
• How can the City best communicate with residents and stakeholders about potential solutions and costs, and otherwise engage the community in the on-going stormwater management program?
Exploration of future opportunities:
• How can the city ultimately advance climate adaptation in private development, including residential and commercial development? What strategies could be used to involve the private sector and/or public-private partnerships in the design, funding and delivery of stormwater management and flood mitigation strategies?
• How might the city use its upcoming Business Case analysis to advance future climate adaptation/stormwater management decision-making?
Within 60-days of the panel’s presentation, ULI will provide the sponsor with a manuscript of the final report for comment.
The 100 Resilient Cities Network, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, is covering all hard costs. The City of Miami Beach is providing in-kind staff to support logistics and planning.