LTC 534-2017 Miami Beach Awarded Solsmart Bronze DesignationMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC#
534-2017
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of the Cit Commissjon
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
DATE: November 2, 2017
SUBJECT: MIAMI BEACH AWARDED SOLSMART BRONZE DESIGNATION
I am excited to share with you that the City of Miami Beach was recently awarded the SolSmart
Bronze designation. Achieving this designation was a joint effort among several departments,
including Planning, Building, Property Management, Communications and Environment &
Sustainability.
SolSmart is a national designation program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot
Initiative through the Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) initiative,
designed to recognize communities that have taken key steps toward addressing local barriers to
solar energy and fostering the growth of mature local solar markets. The city achieved the
Bronze designation by setting forth planning, zoning and permitting policies and processes that
support the solar market, as well as by educating residents and city employees about solar
infrastructure (Attachment A).
Your leadership in passing the following policies to encourage local solar energy development
was instrumental in reaching this milestone:
• Commercial height standards - allow exceedances to the maximum allowable height
restrictions for sustainable roofs;
• Sustainability and resiliency ordinance — requires all new construction greater than 7,000
square feet to achieve LEED Gold or Living Building Challenge certification and, in doing
so, supports renewable energy systems;
• Land development and permitting fees waiver for renewable energy — waives zoning
review fees for solar roof or other renewable energy system projects;
• 100% renewable energy resolution — supports the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100%"
campaign to commit to 100% renewable energy; and,
• Property Assessed Clean Energy program — provides Miami Beach residents with
financing options for energy efficient and/or green energy improvements through an
assessment on their property tax bill.
We will continue building upon these efforts with the goal of achieving the Silver and Gold
designations in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Attachments:
A - Credits Awarded for City Application
jfr
SMT/MKW/FCT
SOLSMART APPLICATION
PREREQUISITE SUMMARY
Final Review
Bronze Requirements Validation Status
ATTACHMENT A
411111! MOM 111111111.
SOLSMART
MATICNALLY0 . LOCALLY POMPOM
PR -1: Solar Statement Done
P-1: Solar Permitting Checklist Done
PZ0-1a: Luning Review iViemo Done
20 points in Permitting Done (55 points achieved)
20 points in Planning Zoning and Development Review Done (25 points achieved)
20 points in Special Focus Categories Done (95 points achieved)
Silver Requirements Validation Status
Bronze Designation requirements
PZD-2: Allow solar by -right and as an accessory use in all major zones
Done
Incomplete
1-1: Provide cross -training of inspection and permitting staff on solar PV Done
100 points Done (175 points achieved)
Gold Requirements Validation Status
Silver Designation requirements
P-2: Provide a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems (no more
than 3 days)
Incomplete
Incomplete
200 points Incomplete (175 points achieved)
of total points available achieved in each category Points achieved % of total available
Permitting 55 42%
Planning/Zoning 25 17%
Inspection 20 25%
Construction - 0%
Solar Rights - 0%
Utility Engagement - 0%
Community Engagement 35 18%
Market Development & Finance 40 24%
SOLSMART SUMMARY OF CREDITS PURSUED
Miami Beach, FL
Credit Description
PR -1: Post a public statement of solar goals in the form of a SolSmart commitment letter.
P-1: Create and make available an online checklist detailing the steps of your community's solar
permitting process. (0 points)
P-4: Require no more than one application form for a residential rooftop PV project. (5 points)
P -5a: Conduct a review of solar permit fees for residential and commercial solar. (5 points)
P -5b: Earn additional points: Revise or demonstrate that permit fees reflect national best practices ($400
or less for residential, and based on cost -recovery for commercial). (5 points)
P-8: Train permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems. (10
points)
P-9: Train fire and safety staff on solar PV. (10 points)
P-10: Develop a regular communication schedule to solicit recommendations from the solar installer
community regarding procedural changes. (10 points)
P-11: Offer an online process for permitting submission and approval. (20 points)
PZD-la: Review zoning requirements and identify
restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit
solar PV development. Compile findings in a memo. (0 points)
PZD-5: Integrate solar and/or shared solar into relevant local plans (e.g. energy plan, climate plan,
comprehensive plan). (10 points)
PZD-6: Include considerations for active and passive solar in development regulations. (10 points)
PZD-10c: Ensure that the ordinance exempts rooftop solar PV from certain restrictions on accessory
uses. (5 points)
1-1: Provide cross -training of inspection and permitting staff on solar PV via in-person or online
resources. (20 points)
CE -10: Demonstrate activity in state -level conversations regarding solar PV. (20 points)
MDF -7: Provide local incentives (i.e. permit fee waivers, rebates, or property tax exemptions) or locally -
enabled finance (i.e. a revolving loan fund) for solar. (20 points)
Validation Status
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Validation Comments