Resolution 2020-31443 Aesthetics Criteria for Future Resiliency Projects
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31443
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A POLICY TO PRIORITIZE
AESTHETICS AS A PRIMARY CRITERION IN FUTURE CITY RESILIENCY
PROJECTS.
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, at the request of Commissioner Mark Samuelian, the City
Commission referred a discussion item to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC)
pertaining to aesthetics as a primary criterion in future resiliency projects; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2020, the LUSC discussed this proposal and
recommended that the City Commission adopt a Resolution to establish a policy for prioritizing
aesthetics as a primary criterion in future resiliency projects; and
WHEREAS, in an essay entitled, "Eleven Ideas to Improve Miami Beach's Resilience
Initiatives," Mr. Aris Papadopoulos, Founding Chair of Resilience Action Fund, writes as follows:
"Most residents and buyers choose to live on Miami Beach not for jobs, schools or family, but for
its aesthetics. Aesthetics is an important component of life quality and market value perception...
Miami Beach would benefit by elevating aesthetics to a primary criterion in comparing options";
and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach has a very robust and comprehensive aesthetics
review process for new development, including the Design Review Board (DRB) and Historic
Preservation Board (HPB) processes; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Urban Land Instutute's (ULI) critical evaluation of the City's
resiliency efforts in 2018, the ULI recommended that the City expand the scope of its aesthetic
review, to incorporate high-quality urban design as a co-benefit of the City's infrastructure
improvements; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach is committed to a high level of aesthetics, at all levels
and functions of City government and for all public projects; and
WHEREAS, the following mechanisms provide additional opportunities to promote
aesthetics and urban design within the City's resiliency framework:
1. Public-Private Alliances;
2. Aesthetics in City Projects, including G.O. Bond-funded projects and stormwater
projects: City projects should, wherever applicable, integrate a strong design
component at the beginning of the design process. These aesthetic components can
include, without limitation, creative placemaking, green infrastructure, trees, and
landscaping;
3. The use of natural landscaping in the form of green buffering and green screening for
infrastructure components located above ground, in particular between elevated
streets and sidewalks, when sidewalks are proposed to remain at existing levels, as
well as to improve water quality and reduce flooding on private property; and
4. Art in Public Places (AIPP).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby recommend that the following mechanisms be incorporated within the City's
resiliency framework, where applicable, in order to promote aesthetics in the context of the City's
infrastructure improvements:
1. Public-Private Alliances;
2. Aesthetics in City Projects, including G.O. Bond-funded projects and stormwater
projects: City projects should, wherever applicable, integrate a strong design
component at the beginning of the design process. These aesthetic components can
include, without limitation, creative placemaking, green infrastructure, trees, and
landscaping;
3. The use of natural landscaping in the form of green buffering and green screening for
infrastructure components located above ground, in particular between elevated
streets and sidewalks when sidewalks are proposed to remain at existing levels, as
well as to improve water quality and reduce flooding on private property; and
4. Art in Public Places (AIPP).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this I4 day of October, 2020
Dan Gelber, Mayor
ATTEST:
1,412ct.a
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
T:Agenda\2020\10 October 14\Planning\Aesthetics Criteria for Future Resiliency Projects-RESO.docx
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
. . .c''.+, ANGUA AND FOR EXECUTION
TIiiCORPi ORATEDI
'-' 7 City Attorney Date
Resolutions-C7 K
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: October 14, 2020
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A POLICY TO PRIORITIZE
AESTHETICS AS A PRIMARY CRITERION IN FUTURE CITY RESILIENCY
PROJECTS.
RECOMMENDATION
The administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the attached Resolution.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
On March 18, 2020, at the request of Commissioner Mark Samuelian, the City Commission
referred a discussion item to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (Item C4Y), pertaining
to aesthetic criteria for future resiliency projects. On June 30, 2020 the item was deferred to the
September 22, 2020 LUSC.
On September 22, 2020,the LUSC discussed the item and recommended that a resolution be
drafted for the City Commission that summarizes the City's design efforts pertaining to
resiliency and public infrastructure projects, including the Shulman proposal on landscaping.
ANALYSIS
Currently the City of Miami Beach has a very robust and extensive aesthetics review process. In
addition to the DRB and HPB processes, City staff in multiple departments are sensitive to and
competent in a high aesthetic standard for the City. When the ULI performed a critical
evaluation of the City resiliency efforts in 2018, one of the recommendations was to further
expand this high level of aesthetic as a co-benefit. The City administration is committed to this
high level of aesthetics, at all levels and function of City government. This is more than just large
public projects and includes everything the City engages in that has a finished product.
The attached Resolution identifies the following mechanisms that can be utilized for an
additional level of aesthetics within the City's resiliency framework:
1. Public-Private Alliances.
2. Aesthetics in City Projects, including GO Bond projects and stormwater projects, shall
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include integrating a strong design component at the beginning of the design process. These
aesthetic components include creative placemaking, green infrastructure, trees, and
landscaping.
3. The use of natural landscaping in the form of green buffering and green screening for
infrastructure components located above ground, in particular between elevated streets and
sidewalks when sidewalks to remain at existing levels, as well as to improve water quality and
reduce private property flooding.
4.Art in Public Places (Al PP).
CONCLUSION
The administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the attached Resolution.
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes No
Legislative Tracking
Planning
Sponsor
Vice-Mayor Mark Samuelian
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