LTC 023-2024 Application Period for the Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation ProgramRECEIVED)
JAN 92 7024
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 023-2024 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City ManaglrW
January 19, 2024 lr ., 1
SUBJECT: 2024 Application Period for the Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation Program
I am pleased to announce a new application period for the Fight the Flood Private Property
Adaptation Program (PPA). Thanks to the leadership of the Mayor and City Commission, the
program is an innovative approach to incentivize resilience action by providing information and
funding for flood mitigation improvements. It is a competitive, reimbursement-based grant and
selected properties may receive funding through a 50/50 matching grant. Up to $20,000 may be
granted for the full scope of work, inclusive of the on-site assessment. In addition, if the
applicant is considered low-to-moderate income (LMI), the program will fund the entirety of the
project, up to $20,000, without the match requirement.
The program was opened in July of 2022, and the first application period received 65
applications from residents with 42 applicants receiving site visits and assessments from the
program's engineering consultants. Grantees from the first cohort are currently pursuing
projects ranging from installing rain gardens to seawall elevation to elevating their properties
and mechanical equipment.
Application Dates and Informational Workshops
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Miami Beach fight the Flood
Private Property Adaptation Program (PPA)
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The application will be open to
single-family homes, multi-
family complexes, and
businesses from February 15
to March 15, 2024. The
application will be accessible by
visiting
www.mbrisinqabove.com/ppa.
Flood Barriers Rain Gardens
Informational virtual workshops
will be held for residential
applicants on February 12 at
6pm and February 22 at 6pm,
with an additional workshop for
businesses to be held on
February 22 at 1 Oam.
B a c kg ro u n d
The City plans and works to invest in the resilience of public infrastructure; however, holistic
resilience also depends on the individual resilience of private properties that make up 75% of
the island. The PPA program aims to reduce a property's risk of flooding from a variety of
sources when feasible, such as rain events, rising groundwater levels, high tides, and storm
surge. Miami Beach is low-lying and 93% of properties are within a FEMA Special Flood
Hazard Area. Considering the topography and sea level rise projections, the City faces unique
challenges being surrounded by water with tidally influenced groundwater, a subtropical climate
with high intensity rainfalls, limited surface or soil storage for infiltration, and high amounts of
impervious areas. This program is intended to help single-family homes, multi-family buildings,
and businesses that were built before the existence of elevation standards required by today's
Resilience Code and the Florida Building Code. Additional information about the how the City is
working to address these issues can be accessed through www.mbrisingabove.com.
I am delighted to provide this unique opportunity to invest in resilience for our residents and
businesses. The program will be widely communicated through city engagement channels. For
additional information, please contact Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer, at
AmyKnowles@miamibeach.goy or Juanita Ballesteros, Sustainability and Resilience Manager,
at JuanitaBallesteros@miamibeachfl.gov.