LTC 192-2017 Sea Level Rise and Flooding Outreach EffortsMIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 192-2017 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members • the City C mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 11, 2017
SUBJECT: SEA LEVEL RISE AND FLOODIN r OUTREACH EFFORTS
This is an update to my February 27th letter to Commission regarding sea level rise and
flooding outreach efforts.
The City Commission discussed Commissioner Steinberg's item about the timing of
construction throughout the City of Miami Beach at the March 1st and March 22nd
meetings. The Public Works Department and Capital Improvement Projects
Departments are prepared to present this item at the Neighborhoods Committee
Meeting on Friday, April 21, 2017 for Committee deliberation and recommendation.
At the March 22nd meeting, there was also quite a bit of discussion about road elevation
and community input via resident or homeowner association vote. Staff is awaiting
further direction on the date and format of the workshop to discuss this matter fully.
I am pleased report that on April 4, 2017 an open house was held by the City in
conjunction with the Bayshore Homeowner's Association. This was a new, interactive
format that was held at the Miami Beach High Media Center from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
More than 70 residents visited the following information stations over the two -hour
period:
SCIENCE & SCENARIOS
Coastal Risk Consulting, a local firm of scientists and engineers that understand our
unique vulnerabilities to sea level rise and climate change, was there to share some
of the work they have been doing in other South Florida communities and explain in
greater detail the projections of sea level rise and what that means to the average
resident. They have developed several Miami Beach prototypes to help visualize
and understand flood risk over time and presented these risk based prototypes at
the meeting.
AECOM'S ADAPTATION CALCULATOR
At the City's request AECOM has developed a simple tool (in inches not NAVD) to
help us all understand elevation in layman's terms. Property owners were provided
the estimated height of the new roads in front of their property. With this tool, a
resident can find out the height of the new storm drain inlets, and the road adjacent
to their specific property. The goal is to create dialogue regarding the proposed
project.
ENGINEERS AT WORK
Public Works and Capital Improvement Projects staff explained how neighborhood
work will be done, how long it will take, and how to harmonize the new work with
personal property. This station also showed an animated film of the stormwater
pump stations and how the water quality leaving the new stormwater systems will be
significantly improved from the prior gravity system.
THE MYSTERIES OF FLOOD INSURANCE
The City's Floodplain Manager, whose job is to implement ordinances and policies to
prevent flood damage and to guide the Community Rating System (CRS) program,
was there along with a representative from the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) and our Deputy Chief Resilience Officer. The CRS program is a part of the
NFIP and allows the City to demonstrate the implementation of best practices in
property flood risk reduction and results in savings to Miami Beach residents and
businesses on insurance premiums of $6 million annually. The purpose of this area
was to provide answers on many of the questions about flood insurance that have
surfaced in the community recently.
SUMMARY
At the end of the open house, 36 attendees participated in a short exit survey. A
majority of those surveyed felt enough information was available that evening. One
quarter of those surveyed needed more information and 22% had already made up their
mind. Attached are the four exit poll questions. While this is not a statistically valid
survey, it does help us gauge how to best create opportunities for conversation and
dialogue about these complex matters.
Staff also discussed the format and content of the meeting. We believe this was a good
format for more dialogue and exchange of information. Staff enjoyed the one -on -one
conversation and the variety of tools to communicate risk and risk reduction. Staff also
gained insight for future meetings as well; for example, including both a short
presentation, as well as the opportunities for one -on -one dialogue in the format of the
stations.
NEXT STEPS
Staff is preparing for the Neighborhoods Committee meeting on April 21 for a discussion
on overall citywide construction timing and phasing. We also look forward to the more
comprehensive workshop on road elevation and neighborhood decision - making.
JLM:SMT
Yes- thank you!
No- not so much
I'm almost
there
Answer Choices
Yes- thank you!
No- not so much
I'm almost there
Total
Miami Beach Open House Exit Survey
Q1 Was enough information provided
tonight for you? (select one)
Answered: 36 Skipped: 0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1/4
Responses
52.78% 19
25.00% 9
22.22% 8
36
Miami Beach Open House Exit Survey
2 Now that you're leaving the open house,
how do you feel about the stormwater and
street elevation project in your
neighborhood? (select one)
Better than
before the...
Worse- I'm
confused or...
The same- my
mind is made up
Answered: 34 Skipped: 2
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Answer Choices
Better than before the event- thank you
Worse- I'm confused or don't like what I learned
The same- my mind is made up
Total
2/4
Responses
38.24% 13
41.18% 14
20.59% 7
34
Corner A-
Science and...
Corner B-
AECOM's...
Corner C-
Engineers at...
Miami Beach Open House Exit Survey
Q3 What was the best part of the open
house? (select all that apply)
Answered: 36 Skipped: 0
Corner D- The'
Mysteries of...
All of the
above
1 didn't
really like it
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Answer Choices
Corner A- Science and Scenarios
Corner B- AECOM's Adaptation Calculator
Corner C- Engineers at Work
Corner D- The Mysteries of Flood Insurance
All of the above
I didn't really like it
Total Respondents: 36
3/4
Responses
13.89% 5
30.56% 11
33.33% 12
2.78% 1
25.00% 9
11.11% 4
Miami Beach Open House Exit Survey
Q4 Give us tips for next time- ideas for
interacting with you about this project
Answered: 26 Skipped: 10
Responses Date
1 Have a presentation where the city has to present ideas and address questions. It felt very much as though this was 4/4/2017 8:07 PM
calculated to avoid that.
2 Doesn't mean we agree with the project. Come up with more option, do not stall the project 4/4/2017 8:05 PM
3 City staff took family around great service 4/4/2017 7:58 PM
4 Wants short introduce presentation. Introduction of personal 4/4/2017 7:58 PM
5 It would have been good if there was a unified voice explaining the purpose of the meeting and the city's mission for 4/4/2017 7:57 PM
the project
6 Wished there was more guidance. 4/4/2017 7:48 PM
7 Liked the simplicity. Dense information provided well 4/4/2017 7:44 PM
8 Friendly and informative 4/4/2017 7:43 PM
9 Presentation prior to open house 4/4/2017 7:41 PM
10 Meetings with homeowners 4/4/2017 7:39 PM
11 More public input 4/4/2017 7:29 PM
12 None 4/4/2017 7:27 PM
13 Wine and cheese. A presentation 4/4/2017 7:24 PM
14 Specialized conversation. Loved it. 4/4/2017 7:24 PM
15 Consider impact on properties values as they will be negatively impacted by the project 4/4/2017 7:16 PM
16 Open house good system 4/4/2017 7:14 PM
17 More photos of conditions 4/4/2017 7:12 PM
18 More options for residents, slightly different solutions, more moderate road raise. 4/4/2017 7:11 PM
19 More options for residents, slightly different solutions, more moderate road raise. 4/4/2017 7:11 PM
20 Wanted information more clearly payed out at the event 4/4/2017 7:08 PM
21 Great format. Maybe a quick intro presentation 4/4/2017 7:04 PM
22 Enjoyed that itall was discussed in a unconfrontational way 4/4/2017 7:00 PM
23 Wanted more of a public meeting 4/4/2017 6:52 PM
24 Needs intro speech. 4/4/2017 6:44 PM
25 Handouts very helpful 4/4/2017 6:37 PM
26 Really good. 4/4/2017 6:22 PM
4/4