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Home My WebLink AboutLTC 533-2025 Recommendation Regarding First-Flush Stormwater Treatment InfrastructureDocusign Envelope ID: 8EDEAA91-A25E-435D-AAD8-085AF761AC80 LETTER TO COMMISSION MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LTC #533-2025 TO: Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner Members of the City Commission Eric Carpenter, City Manager FROM: DATE: Mark Taxis, Assistant City Ma � ager Ricardo J. Dopico, City Attorney Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk \ December 15, 2025 SUBJECT: Recommendation Regarding First-Flush Stormwater Treatment Infrastructure The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to advise that on December 9, 2025, the Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority (MWPA) unanimously approved a motion in support of the attached proposed resolution to be presented to the City Commission on December 17, 2025 (the "Resolution"), directing the City Administration to prioritize, as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Budget, the installation of infrastructure to capture and treat first-flush stormwater runoff throughout the City of Miami Beach. Members Present: Ben Mostkoff (Chair), John Gardiner (Vice-Chair), Elaine Roden, Mike Gibaldi, Jose Frias, Chad Braver, and Tim Carr. Motion: The MWPA was established to address marine and waterfront protection issues and to make recommendations to the City Commission. Urban stormwater runoff frequently carries pollutants into surface waters, contributing to water quality degradation, ecological harm, and beach closures. The City's stormwater outfalls discharge directly into Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and other surface water bodies, often bypassing natural filtration processes that would otherwise reduce pollutant loads. The Resolution prioritizes the installation of first-flush stormwater treatment infrastructure, including but not limited to injection wells, infiltration systems, gravity wells, and other green infrastructure solutions, to divert and filter the most polluted portion of stormwater runoff before it reaches surface or groundwater systems. These measures are consistent with best practices in environmental protection and climate resilience. The MWPA unanimously recommends that the City Commission adopt the Resolution and, if adopted, will support and accompany its implementation in coordination with the City Administration. Attachment: Proposed Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, directing the City Administration to prioritize first-flush stormwater treatment infrastructure as part of the FY 2027 Capital Budget. Respectfully, r=DocuSigned by: L��47E Ben Mostkoff, MWPA Chairman Docusign Envelope ID:8EDEAA91-A25E-435D-AAD8-085AF761AC80 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOCATE THE PROJECTED $11.8 MILLION FISCAL YEAR 2025 SURPLUS TOWARD LONG-TERM STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT CONDOMINIUM OWNERS,SMALL BUSINESSES,HOUSING AFFORDABILITY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION;SPECIFICALLY, APPROPRIATING $6.53 MILLION FOR THE ACQUISITION OF 7605 COLLINS AVENUE FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE REINVESTMENT OF SAID FUNDS INTO BUILDING DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE COSTS AND STREAMLINE PERMITTING,ESPECIALLY FOR CONDOMINIUM OWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR SUCH OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES AS THE BUILDING DEPARMENT DIRECTOR SHALL DETERMINE;AND FURTHER,DIRECTING THAT THE REMAINING $5.27 MILLION BE UTILIZED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO CAPTURE AND TREAT "FIRST FLUSH"STORMWATER RUNOFF AROUND PARK VIEW ISLAND, INCLUDING THE PARK VIEW CANAL AND TATUM WATERWAY- REPRESENTING A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN THE CITY'S FUTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE,RATHER THAN SHORT-LIVED RELIEF THAT LEAVES UNDERLYING CHALLENGES UNADDRESSED;AND FURTHER,WAIVING THE REQUIREMENT SET FORTH IN RESOLUTION NO.2002-24764 THAT YEAR-END SURPLUSES,AFTER FUNDING RESERVES,ARE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND. WHEREAS,on September 30,2025,the Mayor and City Commission unanimously directed the City Administration to develop a plan for distributing $11 million of the project Fiscal Year 2025 surplus to residents and to bring the item forward for discussion at the October 29,2025 City Commission meeting;and WHEREAS,the Mayor and City Commission now wish to provide direction with regard to the contemplated $11.8 million FY 2025 budget surplus that is more consistent with the City's long-term objectives;and WHEREAS,previously,on June 25,2025,the Mayor and City Commission had unanimously adopted Resolution No.2025-33799,sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, establishing a policy during the 2026 budget process than any available year-end general fund surplus be used toward the $6.53 million of necessary for the acquisition of the City-owned property at 7605 Collins Avenue from the Building Department for general municipal purposes, subject to compliance with any established City policies regarding reserves;and WHEREAS,the intragovernmental transfer from the General Fund to a proprietary fund necessary to accomplish this acquisition,aligns with community input that prime oceanfront property surrounded by parkland should serve a broader public purpose rather than function as administrative office space;and WHEREAS,the Mayor and City Commission desire that the Building Department,as a proprietary fund,will reinvest the $6.53 million received from this transfer to strengthen public- facing programs that improve customer service for residents,condominium associations,and small businesses;and Docusign Envelope ID:BEDEAA91-A25E-435O-AAD8-085AF761ACB0 WHEREAS,said reinvestment shall include: 1.Extending Ordinance 2024-4682,which currently sunsets on December 31,2025,for an additional four (4)years,continuing the 50%discount on condo recertification filing fees for timely submissions and reducing permitting fees for structural safety repairs; 2.Establishing a Building Permit Concierge Team dedicated to assist condominium associations and small businesses in navigating the complex permitting process, expediting safety repairs and tenant build-outs,reducing rent loss,and improving the City's business climate;and 3.Investing in permitting technology upgrades and efficiency enhancements,as determined by the Building Department Director,to streamline workflows and reduce delays that burden property owners and entrepreneurs and such other lawful purposes as the Building Department Director shall determine;and WHEREAS,these investments will help address the statewide condo crisis by supporting life-safety compliance and affordability for thousands of condominium residents,and will make Miami Beach a more business-friendly and economically resilient city;and WHEREAS,the remaining $5.27 million of the projected $11.8 million surplus shall be used for the installation of infrastructure to capture and treat "first-flush"stormwater runoff, particularly around Park View Island,the Park View Canal,and the Tatum Waterway,where limited tidal flushing has resulted in persistent "No Contact Advisories"and degraded water quality;and WHEREAS,the "first flush"is the most polluted portion of urban stormwater runoff, carrying oils,heavy metals,bacteria,and debris from impervious surfaces into the City's waterways;and WHEREAS,investing these funds in injection wells,infiltration systems,bioswales,and other green infrastructure solutions will reduce pollutant loading and enhance the natural filtration of runoff before it reaches Biscayne Bay,thereby protecting marine life and improving public health;and WHEREAS,the City of Miami Beach faces serious long-term challenges-including aging condominium infrastructure,burdensome permitting for small businesses,and chronically polluted waterways suffering-that cannot be solved through one-time rebate checks that provide only fleeting relief;and WHEREAS,while distributing hundreds of dollars per person may provide short-lived relief to residents,it fails to meaningfully improve affordability,economic development or quality of life; and WHEREAS,by contrast,dedicating these surplus funds to permanent structural solutions-lowering costs for condo owners,helping small businesses open faster,and cleaning the City's contaminated waterways-represents a responsible,forward-looking investment that strengthens the entire community rather than offering symbolic gestures of temporary relief;and 2 Docusign Envelope ID:8EDEAA91-A25E-435D-AAD8-085AF761AC80 WHEREAS,the Mayor and City Commission desire to waive the requirement of Resolution No.2002-24764 that year-end surpluses,after funding reserves,are to be transferred to the Capital Reserve Fund. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,that the Mayor and City Commission hereby direct the City Administration to allocate the projected $11.8 million Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund surplus toward long-term strategic investments that support condominium owners,small businesses, housing affordability,and environmental protection;specifically,to appropriate $6.53 million for the acquisition of 7605 Collins Avenue from the Building Department and to reinvest said funds into Building Department programs that reduce costs and streamline permitting,especially for condominium owners and small businesses and for such other lawful purposes as the Building Department Director shall determine;and further,directing the Administration to utilize the remaining $5.27 million for infrastructure to capture and treat "first flush"stormwater runoff around Park View Island,including the Park View Canal and Tatum Waterway-representing a long-term investment in the City's future and quality of life,rather than short-lived relief that leaves underlying challenges unaddressed;and further,waives the requirement of Resolution No.2002- 24764 that year-end surpluses,after funding reserves,are to be transferred to the Capital Reserve Fund. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of ,2025. ATTEST: Steven Meiner,Mayor Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk (Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez) APPROVED AS TO FORM &LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION olu)2as Date 3