A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE (ULI) FINAL EVALUATION REPORT OF THE CITY'S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, WHICH REPORT WAS FUNDED BY 100 RESILIENT CITIES, AND IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A.

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. SRC reviewed the project scope and forwarded to the full Commission in March for approval. In April a multidisciplinary global team convened in Miami Beach to review our program. 

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 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 convened senior practitioners from a variety disciplines, such as urban planning, engineering, science, finance, insurance etc.  Panelists spent hours in reading background material, attending staff orientations and tours, conducting stakeholder interviews, and hosting a public listening session.   The final onsite deliverable was a panel presentation to the city at a public meeting. At that meeting the panel shared their recommendations on:

Program vision:

• Integrate stormwater management into the larger resilience strategy

• Enhance trust, trust the public, increase transparency

• Elevate aesthetics and function to perpetuate city’s cultural relevance

• Actively use green and open spaces for sponge function

• Increase long term financial and comprehensive protection

• Go big on the resilience brand – distinguish yourself from your coastal competitors

Program principles:

• Maintained urgency,

• incrementalism & evaluation,

• transparency,

• ecological health,

• financial pragmatism,

• co-benefits, social equity,

• cultural identity,

• living with water.

It is recommended that the City Commission accept the Urban Land Institute Final Report (attached) for staff implementation.  Certain recommendations may require additional Commission approvals and will be vetted through the committee process.