LTC 431-2023 Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation Program PPA Update-FEMA FMA Grant Selection for Home Elevation Final Review and Phase II LaunchMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 431-2023 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM, Alina T. Hudak, City Manager� {J,,� -i'cc
DATE: September 25, 2023
SUBJECT: Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation Program (PPA) Update: FEMA FMA Grant
Selection for Home Elevation Final Review and Phase II Launch
I am pleased to provide a progress update for the Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation
Program. The purpose of this competitive, reimbursement-based grant program is to incentivize
resilience action through flood mitigation assessments and projects for residential and commercial
property owners. Properties selected for the program receive $20,000 in funding through a 50/50
matching grant, which includes the value of the assessment. In addition, if the applicant is
considered low-to-moderate income (LMI), the PPA funds the entirety of the program, up to
$20,000, without the match requirement.
FEMA Federal Mitigation Assistance {FMA) Grant Selection
As part of the Private Property Adaptation Program, the City assisted two property owners with
FEMA Federal Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant to fund home elevation. I am pleased to share
that the City was notified these properties have been selected for final review. Since home
elevation is not common in Miami Beach, this program is an exciting opportunity to add a new
strategy to address current and future flood risk for at-risk properties.
Phase II: Design and Construction Update
On August 29, 2023, the City
hosted program participants for a
Phase II Kickoff event at the
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens.
Residents along with City staff
from the Building, Public Works,
Planning, and Legal Departments
were present along with
representatives from each of the
program consultants. The
purpose of the event was to
provide an overview of the Phase
II process and Grant Agreements,
encourage networking among
participants in the cohort, and
give participants an opportunity to
ask program-and project-related
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Miami Beach Fight the Flood
Private Property Adaptation Program (PPA)
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w ith s ta ff a n d fe ll o w re s id e n ts .
T h e n e x t s te p s a re fo r p a rt ic ip a n ts to
s ig n g r a n t a g r e e m e n ts th a t s p e c ify
re q u ir e m e n ts a n d p a ra m e te rs fo r
fu n d d is b u r s e m e n t fr o m th e C ity . T h e
a g r e e m e n t re q u ire s p a rt ic ip a n ts to
p ro p e r ly d o c u m e n t th e ir s c o p e o f
w o r k (w h ic h m u s t b e d ir e c tly re la te d
to flo o d m itig a tio n a lte rn a tiv e s
p ro v id e d in th e P h a s e I re p o rt s ),
p ro v id e s u ff ic ie n t p a y m e n t
d o c u m e n ta tio n , a n d s u b m it re g u la r
p ro je c t u p d a te s .
Phase I: Assessment Background
The Phase I Assessment Phase has been completed. The Assessments included site visits with
the purpose of understanding the property's site conditions and challenges as well as the
participants' priorities and interests. Of the 65 properties that applied for the program, 42
properties moved forward with Phase I and received flood risk assessment reports. The consulting
team contributing to Phase I included Brizaga Inc., Chen Moore and Associates, and Savino Miller
Design Studio. After the applicants completed their onboarding calls, site visits were scheduled
and conducted.
Assessment reports were created for each participating property and included information on the
property's risk to various types of flooding based upon observations from the site visits, elevation
data, and information gathered from the property owners and representatives. The reports also
provided up to three flood risk mitigation design alternatives for each property. The flood risk
mitigation designs included a wide range of alternatives including sea wall upgrades, home
elevation, rain gardens, dry floodproofing, and mechanical systems elevation, among others.
These reports and their selected alternatives were thoroughly reviewed by City staff from the
Environment and Sustainability, Building, Planning, Public Works, and Capital Improvement
Projects Departments. The Phase I assessment reports were delivered to participants in early
June 2023. After the City delivered the reports, consultants and City staff conducted follow-up
calls to review the reports with participants. These calls provided participants an opportunity to
ask questions regarding the information and alternatives presented in the reports and the next
steps associated with the program. Of the 42 Phase I participants, 34 are interested in continuing
in the program.
Next Steps
Participants will seek their own contractors and continue soliciting quotes for their flood mitigation
projects. The City will continue to provide resources and information to assist residents as they
navigate Phase II of the program. The PPA team intends to reopen applications in early 2024 for
the next cohort.
Private property adaptation is a vital component of Miami Beach's overall climate resilience
p la n n in g , a n d w e a re p le a s e d to p r o v id e th is u n iq u e a n d in n o v a tiv e o p p o rt u n ity to h e lp p ro p e rt y
o w n e r s re d u c e th e ir flo o d ris k . T h e m a jo r ity o f M ia m i B e a c h b u ild in g s , 9 3 %, a re lo c a te d w ith in
th e F E M A S p e c ia l F lo o d H a z a r d A re a , a n d a r e v u ln e r a b le to flo o d in g fr o m tid e s , s to rm s , s to rm
s u r g e a n d s e a le v e l ris e . P r o p e rt ie s a n d rig h t o f w a y th a t a re lo w -ly in g a re e s p e c ia ll y v u ln e ra b le
a n d e x p e r ie n c e fl o o d in g e v e n d u r in g s u n n y d a y h ig h tid e e v e n ts . In J u ly 2 0 2 0 , th e C ity
C o m m is s io n a d o p te d th e S o u th e a s t F lo r id a C lim a te C h a n g e C o m p a c t's Unified Regional Sea
Level Rise Projection for Southeast Florida for planning purposes.
The Private Property Adaptation Program is an important part of a holistic resilience strategy that
includes the Resilience Code, the dune system, seawalls, Neighborhood Improvements Projects,
the Stormwater Master Plan Update, Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan, and
infrastructure, facilities, projects and parks incorporating flood risk reduction and sustainability.
Additional information is provided at www.mbrisingabove.com.
For questions or feedback, please contact Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer, at
amyKnowles@miambeachfl.gov.
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