Goal 1: Ensure decisions are data-driven and human-centered

Miami Forever Climate Ready Goal 1 

To best utilize the City’s limited resources and have the greatest possible impact, the City needs to access and understand the best available local and global information. The actions in this goal lay out a number of data streams, collection methods, and analytical tools City staff need to inform decisions that will shape the City’s future. To adapt to climate threats over time, we need to understand the triple bottom line (environmental, social, and economic) impacts of climate change, and potential adaptive solutions broadly and in a hyper local context. This includes South Florida-specific climate and sea level rise projections, climate impacts on vulnerable populations, and global best practices in urban planning, built environment, green and grey infrastructure, and community engagement. To make strategic decisions on where to invest and how to mitigate our own impact on climate change, we need to build a data inventory of our own assets, and develop methods of ongoing monitoring and adaptive management. We must partner with stakeholders of all kinds, from other public agencies to academic institutions to individual constituents, to ensure our decisions are data-driven and take future conditions into account.

OBJECTIVES

  • Objective 1.1: Enhance understanding of the City’s vulnerability to environmental, social, and economic risks related to climate change with data.
  • Objective 1.2: Quantify the City’s greenhouse gas emissions and take action to reduce carbon footprint.
  • Objective 1.3: Improve City department and resident access to critical data and assessment tools.
Plan icon
 
PLAN

development of a document or gathering of information intended to inform future initiatives

Policy.png

POLICY

update or addition to a City policy or standard

Program.png

PROGRAM

creation or refinement of an on-going initiative that typically serves external stakeholders

Project icon

PROJECT

a one-time initiative to develop a specific deliverable

Protocol icon

PROTOCOL

revision or addition to the standard operating procedure, practices, or operations of a City department

Type

Action

Lead(s)

Partners

Plan

 

Establish GHG emission reduction goals and develop multi-year action plan for both City operations and community-wide. This will include new policies related to energy efficiency and renewable in buildings, easing transition to electric vehicles, and promoting other low or no emission mobility solutions.

ORS

MDC, universities

Utilize vulnerability and asset mapping to improve pre-storm evacuation prioritization and resource allocation. Data should be cross referenced to include special needs patients in affected areas and those who require shelter allowing pets. Evacuation plans should also consider post-storm family reunification.

DEM

CBOs, ORS, Police

Policy

 

Consider recommendations in final report of Urban Land Institute's Advisory Services Panel not currently in this strategy for possible incorporation.

ORS

DDA, OCI, Planning, RPW

As appropriate, integrate recommendations on adaptation strategies and policy recommendations from Miami-Dade County's Sea Level Rise strategy and Biscayne Bay Task Force Report, both of which are due to be completed in early 2020.

ORS

OCI, Planning, RPW

Program

 

Create a resilience data repository and GIS platform accessible to all City departments. This will include information such as Citywide flood and heat vulnerability maps as well as data related to current building stock, land use codes, design requirements, affordable housing stock, transit routes, emergency management facilities,and other critical infrastructure.

DoIT

OCI, ORS, Planning, RPW

Activate theMetrolabpartnership with Florida International University, University of Miami,and Miami Dade College to define projects that could benefit from further academic research, and determine mechanisms for ongoing engagement.

ORS

Universities

Coordinate withthe State,County, neighboring municipalities, communitymembers,and university groups on enhancing the collection, monitoring, and analysis of Biscayne Bay water quality data to better understand sources of pollution.

RPW

DERM, MDC, ORS

Project

 

Complete Stormwater Masterplan (SWMP) and all deliverables including inventories of City infrastructure, flood models, policy recommendations, a 20-year capital improvement plan, and staff training. These resources will be used to guide and inform future capital expenditures.

OCI

ORS, Planning, RPW

Gather data on heat variability throughout the City to identify urban heat islands. This information will inform future tree plantings, shading initiatives, and other heat mitigation projects.

ORS

Catalyst, FIU, NOAA

Launchsmall scale pilot offlood monitoring system forgaugingtidal and precipitation levels andperformance of drainage systems. Build in a real time alert system for notifying Resilience and Public Works when response is needed.

RPW

DoIT, OCI, ORS, RPW

Explore use of existing camera and sensor technology for use in flood detection and monitoring.

DoIT

OCI, ORS, RPW

Complete a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for City operations and community-wide.

ORS

FPL, GSA,MDC,SW

 

Type

Action

Lead(s)

Partners

Plan

 

Conduct a robust, interdisciplinary economic risk and cost-benefit analysis that explores cost of action versus inaction for a suite of adaptation options including: implementation of SWMP recommendations, seawall elevations, various building type adaptations, and managed retreat. Include environmental, social,and economic costs and benefits.

ORS

CRC,Finance, OCI, Planning, RPW

Consider integrating recommendations from MDC Biscayne Bay Task Force into policy, infrastructure, operations,and education.

ORS

Comms, Parks, RPW, SW

Conduct a fleet analysis to determine best vehicles for future electric vehicle (EV)changeover.

GSA

ORS

Policy

 

Update relevant policies, design guidelines, best management practices (BMPs), and master plans using findings and recommendations from Stormwater Masterplan.

OCI

ORS, Planning, RPW

Incorporate USACE Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Study into City project planning and land use and building design requirements.

RPW

OCI,ORS, Planning

Project

 

Using findings from flood gauge and sensor system pilots, develop and implement a plan for Citywide expansion.

RPW

DoIT, OCI, ORS, RPW

Create a hydrodynamic model specific to Miami and Biscayne Bay usingDeltares' open source Delft3D software to 1) better understand how local waters respond to tidal fluctuations, sporadic meteorological events, and steadily rising seas and 2) to virtually examine the impacts that engineering and green interventions such as elevated seawalls, mangroves, and storm surge barriers have on the dynamics of bay waters.

ORS

CRC,Deltares,DoIT, RPW, universities

Protocol

Upload Stormwater Masterplan data and other relevant data to Resilient305 ArcGIS Hub. Develop a protocol for continuous updates and utilizing this data when planning.

ORS

DoIT, MDC, Miami Beach, RPW, universities

Develop and implement plan for sharing City data related to flood, heat, and storm risks and monitoring impacts of installed green and grey solutions.Incorporate crowdsourced datain planning viacrowdsourcing and participatory planning.

DoIT

Comms, MDC, ORS, RPW