LTC 211-2023 Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment - Community EngagementDocuSign Envelope ID: 8B2D89A3-E7 A1-4664-BC75-41B24886A4573
MIAMI B EACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www .miamibeachfl.gov
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO : Honorable M ayor Dan G elber and M em bers of the City Com m ission
FROM Alina T. Hudak, City Manager~ ~--f'or
DATE May 5, 2023
SUBJECT: Sea Level Rise V ulnerability Assessm ent - Com m unity Engagement
The C ity of M iam i Beach is developing a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessm ent and Adaptation
Plan funded by the State Resilient Florida grant pro gram . Thro ugh this initiative, the City will
pro vide the com m unity w ith opportunities to share their experiences with flood risk in their
neighborhoods, how this risk affects them , and how the City can approach flood mitigation and
sea level rise adaptation to best serv e the com m unity's needs.
Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan Overview
The V ulnerability Assessm ent will analyze the impact of sea level rise on the City of Miam i Beach
considering 2040 and 2070 projections. This includes how flooding from a com bination of factors
including sea level rise, groundw ater, rainfall and storm surge may im pact the City's critical
com m unity facilities, infrastructure, and neighborhoods. This analysis will pro vide a
com prehensive, detailed view of the City's flood risk to assets and infrastructure and is required
to compete for additional Resilient Florida grant funding. Wh ile the City has been successful in
being aw arded more than $60 million in funding, assets to be considered fo r future grant
applications will need to be defined in the V ulnerability Assessm ent. In addition, Miam i Beach
data and information fro m this project will be included as part of a statew ide vulnerability
assessm ent under developm ent.
The assessment is both quantitative and qualitative, including sections on both hydro logical
m odeling and the com m unity's social vulnerability. The City and its consultants are also
integrating existing policies, plans, and strategies to ensure cohesion with City initiatives. These
include the Vulnerability A ssessm en t (2017), Nei gh borhood Pro ject Prioritization, Blue-G reen
Stormw ater Infrastructure Concept Plan and Road Elevation Strategy (2020), and the Buoyant
C ity Study (2020) in addition to other relevant sources. The assessm ent will be a valuable tool as
the C ity plans fo r adaptation strategies that will enhance resilience to sea level rise and coastal
flooding. This work is being developed in coordination with the Stormwater Modeling and Master
Plan Update being led by the Public Works Department.
211-2023
DocuSign Envelope ID: 8B2D 8 9A3-E7 A1-4 664-BC75-41B248864573
Community Engagement
As a component of the Assessment, the City and its consulting team are examining social
vulnerability and community sensitivity to sea level rise and compound flooding. The community
engagement strategy consists of the three activities below:
1. Focus Group Interviews (early Summer 2023):
o The City and its consultants will hold up to eight, one-hour interviews with
residents, businesses, and subject matter experts across Miami Beach.
o The City will be contacting these groups via email to HOA mailing lists, City mailing
lists, and direct contact.
2. Pop-Up Workshops (Fall 2023):
o The City will engage residents at local events in the form of "pop-up" booths. These
booths will provide the community with opportunities to share feedback and
knowledge quickly and informally. There will be three events hosted: one for South
Beach, one for Mid Beach, and one for North Beach.
o The City will provide prior notice of the pop-up events through mailing lists, social
media, website postings, and announcements at other related events.
3. Final Workshop on Adaptation Strategy Prioritization (Spring 2024):
o This will be a formal workshop and charette at which the community is invited to
review adaptation strategies and provide feedback.
o The City will provide prior notice of the Final Adaptation Strategy Prioritization
Workshop through mailing lists, social media, website postings, and
announcements at other related events.
We look forward to seeing our community of residents, business owners, stakeholders, and
partners at these activities, and appreciate the community's participation in enhancing our city's
resilience.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience
Officer at AmyKnowles@miamibeachf]_goy or Juanita Ballesteros, Sustainability and Resilience
Manager at JuanitaBallesteros@miamibeachfl_gov.
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