LTC 260-2019 Miami Beach Awarded SolSmart Gold Designation MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
Tel: 305-673-7010, Fax: 305-673-7782
260-2019
NO. LTC # LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members the City ommission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: May 3, 2019
SUBJECT: Miami Beach Awarded SolSmart Id Designation
I am excited to share with you that the City of Miami Beach has achieved the SolSmart Gold
designation, the highest SolSmart designation. SolSmart is a national designation program,
funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, designed to
recognize communities that have taken key steps toward addressing local barriers to solar energy
and making it faster, cheaper and easier to go solar.
The SolSmart Gold designation demonstrates the city's
efforts to reduce barriers to solar for the community, making
MINNA it easier for residents and businesses to switch to solar
41111/M/ MINIM energy. The city has streamlined its process and reduced the
S O L S M A RT time and soft-costs associated with going solar.
GOLD
�� In 2017, the City of Miami Beach was awarded the SolSmart
Bronze designation. Since then, the Building, Planning, and
Environment and Sustainability Departments have worked
diligently to further support the solar development in Miami Beach. The city achieved the Gold
designation by:
• Creating a solar energy webpage (http://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-
mitigation/renewable-energy/solar-energy/)with information on the city's solar incentives;
• Establishing expedited one-day walk-through solar permitting review process;
• Passing the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Ordinance; and
• Conducting additional staff training on solar technology, permitting, and planning review
best practices.
Your leadership in passing the UHI ordinance was instrumental in reaching this milestone through
the establishment of the following standards:
• Residential height standards that allow for exceedances to the maximum allowable height
for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems;
I
• Accessory use for PV in all districts; and,
• Requiring that new construction install sustainable roofing systems, including the option
of solar roofs.
I would like to highlight the Building Department's efforts in streamlining the permitting process.
In addition to achieving Gold designation, Miami Beach has also earned a Special Recognition
Award in the Permitting criteria category thanks to their efforts.
A special thanks to the Planning, Building and Environment & Sustainability Department on their
collaboration in this great achievement. Please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Wheaton,
Environment&Sustainability Director, if you have any questions related to the SolSmart program.
SMT/ESW/FCT/amb