Resolution 2021-31589 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31589
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS'
PROPOSAL TO INVEST $1 BILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT
ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AS PART OF
THE STATE'S BUDGET FOR THE 2021-22 FISCAL YEAR.
WHEREAS, Miami Beach is a low-lying area, facing flood risk from high tides, storms,
hurricanes, and sea level rise, with 93% of all buildings classified in the FEMA Special Flood
Hazard Area; and
WHEREAS, 64% of all existing buildings in the City were built prior to the first Flood
Insurance Rate Maps ("FIRM") that have progressively required higher elevation building to
reduce flood risk; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach is an urban leader in addressing and responding
to the actual and measurable impacts of climate change by amending building and land
development codes to increase resiliency standards, including without limitation (i) increased
open space, and landscape requirements, (ii) new electric vehicle parking requirements, and
(iii) a groundbreaking requirement that new construction larger than 7,000 square feet and
ground floor additions larger than 10,000 square feet must meet applicable LEED or
International Living Future Institute standards, or pay a sustainability fee; and
WHEREAS, the City has also invested more than $200 million in neighborhood
infrastructure projects for stormwater and sea level rise, including stormwater drainage, road
elevation and seawall elevation; and
WHEREAS, in addition, the City of Miami Beach, along with Miami-Dade County and
Miami, is implementing Resilient305, a shared strategy to address resilience challenges
prioritized through intergovernmental and community collaboration; and
WHEREAS, however, despite the City's aggressive steps and tactics to combat
climate change, finances for the hard infrastructure to protect its shoreline and buildings have
been hard to come by; and
WHEREAS, of the 53 miles of seawalls in Miami Beach built to protect areas of human
habitation along the coast against tides, waves, and sea level rise, only five miles are publicly
owned, meaning that most of the responsibility for replacing seawalls in disrepair and low
elevation, falls on the private homeowner and additional financing mechanisms are needed;
and
WHEREAS, a new report commissioned by the South Florida Climate Compact found
that if the South Florida region doesn't adapt to climate change, the damage could exceed
$38 billion by 2070; and
WHEREAS, a recent report by the American Flood Coalition and John Hopkins
University found that an investment of $1 billion into flood-resilient infrastructure could
create up to 40,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis, announced a $1 billion
investment over four years that will allow local governments to build new infrastructure to
address the impacts of the sea level rise (the "Proposal"); and
WHEREAS, if the Florida Legislature approves the new program, "Resilient Florida"
will use revenues from the state documentary stamp tax to pay for the debt service on $1
billion in bonds for projects that address the impacts of climate change; and
WHEREAS, according to the Governor's proposal, the projects could range from
preserving land to building sea walls to address the impact of sea level rise on dozens of
government structures and services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed list includes everything from wastewater treatment, water
supply, stormwater management, emergency response centers, transportation infrastructure,
healthcare, military bases, public housing and public education facilities; and
WHEREAS, should the Florida Legislature approve the Proposal, the Department of
Environmental Protection ("DEP") will manage the program, and will distribute $165.7 million
in grants in the first year, spend $1.7 million to fund 15 additional positions at the DEP, and
spend $12.1 million to provide grants to coastal counties, coastal municipalities and inland
counties that have not completed vulnerability assessments related to the threat of sea level
rise, with priority given to local governments that get matching funds from local or federal
sources; and
WHEREAS, until now, Florida's main contribution to resilience efforts was the Florida
Resilient Coastlines Program which spent its $5.5 million budget on grants to help local
governments plan for sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, both coastal and in-land communities continue to be pummeled by severe
storms and flooding, and proactively investing in flood-resilient infrastructure will help meet a
number of challenges head on; and
WHEREAS, the need for investment in resilience has never been more urgent and
resilient infrastructure will not only help our communities prepare for the future but also drive
economic growth; and
WHEREAS, at a time of unprecedented intersecting challenges, including a public
health crisis, economic recession, and historic storm season, investing in flood resilient
infrastructure can create jobs and provide a multiplier of benefits to communities in need; and
WHEREAS, for these reasons, the Mayor and City Commission of Miami Beach urge
Florida Legislature to adopt the Governor's proposal of $1 billion investment for projects that
address the impacts of climate change into the State's budget for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year.
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 urge the Florida Legislature to adopt Governor Ron DeSantis' proposal
to invest $1 billion for projects that address the impacts of climate change as part of the
State's budget for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this /9 day of Februa 21.
ATTES : Mayor Dan Gelber
i22tt4
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Mark Samuelian)
INEORPS ORATE);
,�• a �.
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney Date
Resolutions -C7 V
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael Paz,Acting City Attorney
DATE: February 10, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
ADOPT GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS' PROPOSAL TO INVEST $1
BILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AS PART OF THE STATE'S BUDGET FOR THE 2021-22 FISCAL
YEAR.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Mark Samuelian, the attached Resolution is submitted
for consideration by the City Commission
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
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?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Mark Samuelian
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Resolution
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