20150518 AM1MIAMI BEACH
City Commission Meeting
ADDENDUM MATERIAL 1
City Hall, Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor, 1700 Convention Genter Drive
May 18, 2016
Mayor Philip Levine
Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemdn
Commissioner Ricky Arriola
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Commissioner Michael Grieco
Commissioner Joy Malakoff
Com missioner Micky Steinberg
City Manager Jimmy L. Morales
City Attorney Raul J. Aguila
City Clerk Rafael E. Granado
Vlslf us at www.miamibeachfl.gov for agendas and video "streaming" of City Commission Meetings.
ATTENTION ALL LOBBYISTS
Chapter 2, Article Vll, Division 3 of the City Code of Miami Beach entitled "Lobbyists" requires the
registration of all Iobbyists with the City Clerk prior to engaging in any lobbying activity with the City
Commission, any City Board or Committee, or any personnel as defined in the subject Code
sections. Copies of the City Code sections on lobbyists laws are available in the City Clerk's office.
Questions regarding the provisions of the Ordinance should be directed to the Office of the City
Attorney.
ADDENDUM AGENDA
R9 - New Business and Gommission Requests
RgA Request By Attorney Dan Gelber, A Miami Beach Resident And Former State Representative, To
Address The Mayor And City Commission About The City Requesting To File An Amicus Curiae Brief
ln The Lawsuit Filed Last Week By Genting Against Miami-Dade County And The State Attorney To
Allow Gambling ln The Omni Facility On Biscayne Boulevard ln Downtown Miami.
(Sponsored by Mayor Philip Levine)
(There is no backup material for this item)
RgB Discussion Regarding Pollution ln The Bay From The Pump System.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez)
1 The sponsor of the addendum agenda item deems that such item either constitutes a public emergency affecting life, health,
property, or public safety and should be considered immediately; or does not constitute a public emergency, but should be
considered immediately. See Miami Beach Code Sec.2-12 (c)(3).
1
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2
Granado, Rafae!
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Rosen Gonzalez, Kristen
Monday, May L6, 2016 9:28 PM
Granado, Rafael
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald
Please place on agenda a discussion item about the pollution in the bay from the pump system.
http://www.m iam ihera ld.com/news/loca l/environment/article77978817.html
I would like this on Wednesday's agenda.
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
City of Miami Beach Commissioner
305-965-4725
Asenda ttem R16Date-W3
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald Page I of7
ENVIRONMENT MAY 16, 20167:12PM
Miami Beach kingtides flush human
waste into bay,study finds
HIGHI.IGHTS
Study looked at water pumped from island during 2014 and 2015 seasonal king tides
water contained levels of waste wel! above state limits for swimming
City says it is working on public education, system upgrades
BY JENNY STALETOVICH
jsta I eto ui ch @miam ih eral d. c o m
Massive pumps that flush floodwater from Miami Beach into Biscayne Bay during
seasonal king tides are dumping something else into the bay: human waste.
A study that looked at tidal floodwater and water discharged from the island's new
pumps during the 2Ol4 and 2015 king tides found live fecal bacteria well above
state limits. In one case, levels were more than 600 times the limit. While some of
the fecal matter was dog waste, scientists found higher levels of human waste that
likely enter floodwaters from leaky old sewer lines or septic tanks.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article77978817.html slt7t20t64
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald Page2 ofl
Detecting human waste in urban floodwater is hardly unusual, but scientists say
finding so much in a city facing dramatic projections for increased flooding as seas
rise is cause for concern.
e3
WE ARE PRACTICATTY GOING TO HAVE FTOODING ATI THE TIME.
Henry Briceno, Florida lnternational University's Southeast Environmental Research Center hydrologist
"We are practically going to have flooding all the time, so those pumps are going to
be operating almost all the time," said Henry Briceno, a hydrologist with Florida
International University's Southeast Environmental Research Center.
But city officials say the "snapshot" sampling isn't surprising during king tides. But
they also say the study does not acknowledge the "holistic" approach the city is
taking by educating residents and businesses about pollution causes or note that
Miami Beach is also replacing and upgrading sewage pipes and other parts of the
system.
"stormwater pipes are known conveyances of pollution. That is their job," said
Elizabeth Wheaton, the city's environment and sustainability director. "Their job is
to drain the city. So when you sample at the outfall, of course you're going to find
elevated levels of bacteria."
The island currently floods about six times a
year during seasonal high tides that typically
occur in the fall. But that flooding is expected
to become more chronic. In April, the Union
for Concerned Scientists revised its estimate
for flooding on the beach with new sea rise projections from the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to about 380 times a year by 2045.
And the problem is not just one for Miami Beach. Up and down the coast, as seas
rise, more urban water is expected to be flushed into coastal waters, putting at risk
one of the state's biggest tourist draws.
BEYOND THE HlGH TIDES,
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER IS
CHANGING
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environmenVarticleTTgTSSl T.html 5/t7/20165
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald Page 3 of7
PEoPIE D0N'T REAUZE THAT WHAT'S 0N TUUiTREET AIMoST CERTAINty ENDS Up tN THE
WATER SOONER OR IATER.
Miami Waterkeeper and marine biologist Rachel Silverstein
"People don't rcalize that what's on the street almost certainly ends up in the water
sooner or later," Miami Waterkeeper and marine biologist Rachel Silverstein said in
an email. "During Hurricane Sandy, for example, over 10 billion gallons of sewage
spilled. Here in Miami Dade, we still have frequent sewage spills during heavy rains
that aren't even close to hurricane-level storms."
Miami Beach is in the midst of a $SOO million overhaul to its stormwater system
that will eventually include about 7O pumps. So far, four have been installed, which
the city unveiled in 2Ol4 to rave reviews.
At the time, Briceno and a team of scientists from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the University of Miami began sampling water to
determine if the pumped untreated urban water had any impact on the bay. That
first year, they found elevated levels of phosphoms, nitrogen and other pollutants
that can trigger algae blooms toxic to marine life. To confirm the findings, they
returned last year.
380
The number of Miami Beach floods expected to occur annually by 2045
The recent report took a closer look at the water's contents, breaking down findings
into fecal matter measured by water regulators and identifying both human and dog
waste.
At four sites tested in 2015, which included outfall pipes, portable pump discharges
and street water, every site had fecal levels above state limits. Along Indian Creek
Drive, Ievels were 622 times as high. In 2OL4, a storm drain outfall at 14th Street
measured 630 times allowed limits.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article779788l7.html 5lt7l20t66
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald Page 4 of 7
For now, tidal flushing has kept the dirty water
from building up in the bay. Samples taken
further from shore, the team found, was largely
diluted, creating a kind of halo of pollution.
"Tidal flushing every day actually cleans up the water," Briceno said. "That helps a
lot so we don't have a major problem. But those waters that are flushed out go to
the coral reefs."
Wheaton said the city has expanded its own monitoring to get a better picture of
how much dirty water is leaving the city and how tidal flushing affects it. The city
is also trying to better educate the public about waste, including not dropping dog
waste bags into storm drains. In neighborhoods packed with restaurants, grease has
also become a growing problem with blocked drains, so the city recently hired an
additional inspector, she said.
"We all have a responsibility for the health of the bay. The government is just one
entity," she said. "We need to encourage our businesses and resid.ents to to be part
of the solution."
But over time , Briceno worries so much polluted water will start to take a toll on
the bay as the city continues to grow. He also worries about people unwittingly
wading through dirty flood water and said the city needs to do a better job of
informing the public about health risks.
"I recognize that they are doing a heck of a job compared to other cities, but we
need to address this problem," he said. "It could be a problem with public health
and I know it causes problems to the bay's ecosystem. And those waters are
protected."
Briceno believes the city should consider injecting the wastewater beneath the
Biscayne Aquifer into the boulder zone, a fx he estimates would cost about $7
million. But Wheaton, who said the cost would be closer to $10 million per well,
said the cost is too high.
"Do elevated levels of bacteria concern us? Yes," she said. "But we also need. to
look at everything we're doing and not ;'ust a moment in time."
MIAMI BEACH'S BATTLE TO
STEM RISING TIDES
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article779788l7.html 5l17t20I67
Miami Beach's king tide contains human waste I Miami Herald Page 5 of7
+lvlszl<
video: Miami Beach waging a battle against sea level rise
Miami Beach has put into action an aggressive and expensive plan to combat the effects of sea level
rise. As some streets keep flooding from recent king tide events, the city continues rolling out its plan
of attack and will spend berween $400-$500 millio
Emily Michot - emichot@miamiherald.com
Follow /enny Staletouich on Twitter @jenstaletouich
RETATED CONTENT
. Miami Beach wants to fast-track work to battle sea-level rise
. King tides to peak in South Florida this week
fJv?
MORE ENVIRONMENT
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article779788l7.html 5lt7120168