LTC 367-2020 Private Property Flood Mitigation Feedback
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 367-2020 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: October 19, 2020
SUBJECT: Private Property Flood Mitigation Feedback
I’m pleased to share the results of a private property flood mitigation improvements
questionnaire with the Mayor and City Commission. The questionnaire was created to collect
community feedback for a Land Use and Sustainability Committee item “Discuss Private
Property Resilience Adaptation” heard on September 22, 2020. The goal of the questionnaire
was to understand perceptions regarding personal property flood risk and interest in various
options for a potential private adaptation grant program in light of current flood risk and sea level
rise projections.
The questionnaire was developed by the Chief Resilience Officer in partnership with the
Floodplain Manager, Marketing and Communications, Environment and Sustainability and
Planning and Zoning (Attachment 1). The questions were disseminated through city
engagement channels including targeted emails and social media. Questions were also
included to gauge interest in physical improvements that could be funded by a historic
preservation program under discussion at the Finance and Economic Resilience Committee.
The city obtained 416 answers to the questionnaire October 1st – 9th 2020. Please note this was
not a citywide statistically valid survey, but rather a way to gauge feedback and interest.
Below is a summary of the results:
Most respondents have experienced or observed flooding/standing water on their
property.
o 29% experienced standing water/flooding on the lawn.
o 27% experienced standing water/flooding in the garage
More than half of respondents expressed the need to make improvements to their
property.
o 52% of respondents said they need to make improvements to their property to protect it
from flooding and extreme weather events vs. 47% who said improvements were not
needed.
Most respondents listed the high cost of making private adaptation improvements as the
number 1 reason keeping them from making improvements, but most respondents said
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
they would make those improvements if they had financial assistance.
o 77% of respondents said that they would make private adaptation improvements if the
City of Miami Beach offered a 50/50 grant match vs. 23% who said they wouldn’t.
The top three flood risk improvements that respondents selected to make their homes
more resilient are:
o Engineering assessment to learn how to reduce risk (49%)
o Green infrastructure such as bioswales, retention areas and rain gardens (46%)
o Yard and/or driveway grading elevation (32%)
From the overall community perspective, the 2019 Community Satisfaction Survey shows that
43% of residents are satisfied, 33% neutral, and 24% dissatisfied with their buildings’ flood risk
protections. In addition, “efforts to manage stormwater drainage and flooding” was ranked in the
top 3 priorities for the City.
In addition, to understand the extent of flood mitigation approaches available to private property
owners, market research is underway through an “Invitation to Industry Review Meeting 2020-
318-KB for Private Property Flood Mitigation.” This was distributed to consultants to gather
market research and six companies have been interviewed to understand the wide array of
options available to property owners.
The Land Use and Sustainability Committee moved this item to the full City Commission meeting
with direction that the Chief Financial Officer provide funding options. For questions or feedback,
please contact Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles at amyknowles@miamibeachfl.gov.
JLM/ATH/AK
Attachment 1:
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
1 / 17
50.24%209
29.33%122
27.40%114
25.96%108
15.38%64
12.98%54
2.16%9
Q1 Have you experienced flooding on your property during the last three
years? Select all that apply.
Answered: 416 Sk ipped: 0
Total Respondents : 416
Yes, I
observed...
Yes, I
experienced...
Yes, I
experienced...
No, I haven’t
experienced...
No, I haven’t
experienced...
Yes, I
experienced...
I’m not sure.
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes, I observed flooding on the public road in front of my house.
Yes, I experienc ed s tanding water/flooding on the lawn.
Yes, I experienc ed s tanding water/flooding in t he garage.
No, I haven’t experienc ed flooding issues on my property, but I hav e s een flooding near my property.
No, I haven’t experienc ed flooding issues.
Yes, I experienc ed s tanding water/flooding in habitable areas of my property.
I’m not s ure.
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
2 / 17
44.59%103
31.60%73
21.21%49
14.29%33
8.23%19
Q2 How severe was the flooding on your property? Select all that apply.
Answered: 231 Sk ipped: 185
Total Respondents : 231
Water dr ained
with no damage
Damage
r equired...
Water receded
quickly
N/A
Cl aim w as
fil ed w ith...
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Water drained with no damage
Damage required replacement or renovation
Water rec eded quick ly
N/A
Claim was filed wit h insurance company
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
3 / 17
78.27%299
21.73%83
Q3 Is your property designated a historic property or located within a
historic district?
Answered: 382 Sk ipped: 34
TOTAL 382
No
Yes
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
No
Yes
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
4 / 17
52.36%200
47.64%182
Q4 Considering your flood risk, do you need to make improvements to
your property to protect it from flooding and extreme weather events?
Answered: 382 Sk ipped: 34
TOTAL 382
Yes
No
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
5 / 17
72.00%144
27.00%54
23.50%47
19.50%39
19.00%38
9.50%19
Q5 What is keeping you from making improvements to your property?
Select all that apply.
Answered: 200 Sk ipped: 216
Total Respondents : 200
It’s too
expensive
F lood
mitigation i...
Constr uction
is disr upt ive
It ’s
time-consuming
N/A
The histor ic
natur e of my...
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
It’s t oo expensive
Flood mitigation is too difficult for my property
Cons truction is dis ruptiv e
It’s t ime-consuming
N/A
The his toric nature of my property may mak e mitigation difficult
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
6 / 17
Q6 What are the top three flood risk improvements that would make your
property more resilient? Select only three.
Answered: 180 Sk ipped: 236
Engineering
assessment t...
Green
infr astruct u...
Yard and/or
dr iveway...
Dr y
flo odproofin...
Gar age floor
and/or yard...
Repl acing
imper meabl e...
Other (please
specify)
Elevat e
inter ior fir...
Wet flood
pr oofing tha...
Appl iance
equipment...
Cisterns and
r ain bar rels
Bl ue roofs
that capture...
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
7 / 17
49.44%89
46.11%83
32.22%58
29.44%53
27.78%50
25.56%46
22.22%40
15.56%28
15.00%27
14.44%26
13.89%25
8.33%15
Total Respondents : 180
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Engineering asses s ment to learn how to reduce risk
Green infrastructure s uc h as bioswales, retent ion areas and rain gardens
Yard and/or driveway grading elev ation
Dry floodproofing meas ures to mak e s tructure(s) watertight
Garage floor and/or yard elevation
Replacing impermeable materials with permeable materials
Other (please s pecify)
Elev ate interior first f inished floor
Wet flood proofing that makes uninhabited areas of the property resis tant to f lood damage by allowing water to enter
and exit the exterior area of the property
Applianc e equipment elevation
Cis terns and rain barrels
Blue roofs that capture rainwater by func tioning as a tank -lik e struc ture
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
8 / 17
77.22%139
22.78%41
Q7 If the City of Miami Beach offered a 50/50 grant match (between the
city and grantee) for such improvements, would you apply?
Answered: 180 Sk ipped: 236
TOTAL 180
Yes
No
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
9 / 17
Q8 What are the top three physical improvements, not directly related to
flood risk, that you would make to improve the character of your property
and neighborhood? Select only three.
Answered: 180 Sk ipped: 236
Landscape
impr ovements
Gener al façade
r epairs
Exterior
painting
New doors and
w indow s
Other (please
specify)
Rest or ation of
significant...
Life
safety/fire...
Removal of
through t he...
Signage
impr ovements
Americans w it h
Disabil it y A...
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
10 / 17
54.44%98
51.11%92
46.11%83
42.22%76
28.89%52
21.67%39
20.00%36
15.56%28
10.56%19
9.44%17
Total Respondents : 180
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Landscape improv ements
General façade repairs
Exterior painting
New doors and windows
Other (please s pecify)
Restoration of signific ant exterior architec tural details
Life s afety/fire s afety upgrades, including appropriate railing upgrades
Removal of through t he wall or window a/c units
Signage improvements
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) upgrades
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
11 / 17
83.33%150
50.00%90
43.33%78
34.44%62
20.56%37
16.67%30
13.89%25
11.11%20
Q9 If there was a grant available to make improvements to your property,
what are the top three criteria the City should consider when awarding
funding.
Answered: 180 Sk ipped: 236
Total Respondents : 180
Vul ner abil ity
to flooding...
Pr oper ties
that have...
Financial need
Funding match
avail abil ity
Propert ies
l o cated with...
Propert ies
that provide...
Contributing
properties...
Other (please
specify)
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Vulnerabilit y to flooding impact s, suc h as low elevation
Properties that have prev ious ly s ustained damage from flooding
Financial need
Funding match availability
Properties located within historic dis tric ts
Properties that prov ide workforc e and/or affordable hous ing
Contributing properties within local historic dis tricts
Other (please s pecify)
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
12 / 17
100.00%97
100.00%97
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
0.00%0
Q10 Please enter your name and email below if you are interested in
providing feedback to the City about resilience property improvements.
Answered: 97 Sk ipped: 319
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Name
Email Address
Company
Address
Address 2
City/Town
St ate/Prov ince
ZIP/Postal Code
Country
Phone Number
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
13 / 17
Q11 Please rank the usefulness of information we share regarding flood
awareness through the following delivery channels:
Answered: 177 Sk ipped: 239
66.67%
118
29.38%
52
2.26%
4
1.69%
3
177
1.39
18.87%
30
19.50%
31
10.69%
17
50.94%
81
159
2.94
12.10%
19
12.74%
20
8.92%
14
66.24%
104
157
3.29
Ve ry Useful Mode ra tely Useful Not Useful I Do Not Receive/Use .
City Emails
Facebook
Tw itter
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
VERY
USEFUL
MODERATELY
USEFUL
NOT
USEFUL
I DO NOT
RECEIVE/USE.
TOTAL WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
City
Emails
Facebook
Twitter
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
14 / 17
83.33%150
46.11%83
43.89%79
26.67%48
Q12 Please, select the top two flood awareness/flood risk topics you are
most interested in learning more about. Select only two.
Answered: 180 Sk ipped: 236
Total Respondents : 180
Miami Beach's
efforts to...
Tips on how t o
pr otect your...
Weather alert s
from M iami...
Natio nal Fl o od
Insur ance...
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Miami Beac h's efforts t o reduc e flood ris k
Tips on how to protec t y our property from ext reme weather and flooding
Weather alerts from Miami Beach
National Flood Insurance Program Updates
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
15 / 17
48.95%70
23.08%33
11.89%17
9.09%13
6.99%10
Q13 What’s the combined annual income of your household?
Answered: 143 Sk ipped: 273
TOTAL 143
$1 5 0,000 +
$100K-$149,999
$35 ,000-$74,999
$75 ,000-$99,999
Under $35,000
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
$150,000 +
$100K-$149,999
$35,000-$74,999
$75,000-$99,999
Under $35,000
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
16 / 17
Q14 Please select your neighborhood from the following dropdown menu:
Answered: 174 Sk ipped: 242
Flamingo/Lummus
La Gorce
Normandy Shores
Nautil us
Neighborhood
Wes t Avenue
and Bay Road
Nor mandy Isl es
North Shor e
Oceanfr o nt
South Pointe
Bayshore
Sout h and
V enetian...
City Center
Neighborhood
Biscayne Point
Star/Pal m/Hibis
cus
0%10%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%100%
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8
Private Property Flood M itigation Improvements Feedbac k
17 / 17
12.64%22
10.92%19
10.92%19
10.34%18
9.20%16
8.62%15
7.47%13
6.90%12
6.90%12
4.60%8
4.02%7
3.45%6
2.30%4
1.72%3
TOTAL 174
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Flamingo/Lummus
La Gorce
Normandy Shores
Nautilus Neighborhood
Wes t Av enue and Bay Road
Normandy Isles
North Shore
Oc eanfront
South Pointe
Bays hore
South and Venetian I slands
City Center Neighborhood
Bis c ayne Point
St ar/Palm/Hibiscus
DocuSign Envelope ID: FD6D57DD-9F67-4238-9D5A-D95D580201C8