In this issue:

New and returning commissioners warmly welcomed by Office of Resilience
Join Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for the Extreme Heat Action Plan launch
Miami-Dade County named to Carbon Disclosure Project 2022 A List
Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works inaugurates resilient Tamiami Station Park and Ride Bus Terminal
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava brings new air conditioning units to public housing residents
Miami-Dade County's Black economic development agency doubles homebuying subsidy
Federal Transit Administration invests nearly $1.4 million in critical Transit-Oriented Development projects in Miami-Dade County
Volunteer to restore endangered lands in Miami-Dade County
Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Partnership annual meeting coming to Miami-Dade
Celebrate Biscayne Bay with Blue Scholars
What we are reading
Jobs

New and returning commissioners warmly welcomed by Office of Resilience

In November, six new commissioners began their terms on the Miami-Dade Commission.

District 2 - Marleine Bastien will be the first woman commissioner to hold a seat in this district. A longtime activist and social worker, she will maintain her role as executive director of the Family Action Network Movement.
District 4 - Former Miami Beach Commissioner Micky Steinberg will take this seat.
District 6 - Kevin Marino Cabrera, a lobbyist, won the election for this seat. He formerly represented District 118 in the Florida House of Representatives.
District 10 - Anthony Rodriguez who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022 takes this seat.
District 11 - Roberto Gonzalez appointed on Nov. 24 by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace former Commissioner Joe Martinez.
District 12 - Former Mayor of Doral Juan Carlos Bermudez will take this seat.

The new commissioners are set to be officially sworn in December after the new chair assumes his or her role. In the interim, Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III made adjustments to committee membership to include the new BCC members.

At the December 6 Commission Meeting, Oliver Gilbert was re-elected as Chairman of the Board and Anthony Rodriguez was elected as the Vice Chairman.

A farewell ceremony for the outgoing County Commissioners took place on Nov. 18. The ceremony honored the public service of Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Commissioner Jean Monestime, Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, and Commissioner Javier D. Souto.

The Office of Resilience congratulates and welcomes the new commissioners and thanks the outgoing commissioners for their years of dedicated public service.

County Spotlight

Join Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for the Extreme Heat Action Plan launch

On behalf of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Resilient305 partnership, Miami-Dade County and The Miami Foundation are proud to announce the official launch of the Extreme Heat Action Plan.

Developed with extensive input from the 15-member Climate and Heat Health Task Force and more than 300 community stakeholders, this plan will serve as an addendum to the Resilient305 Strategy and its implementation will be led by Miami-Dade Chief Heat Officer Jane Gilbert and the Miami-Dade Office of Resilience.

Please join us in announcing our collective plans and commitments to help our residents and visitors manage and mitigate the health and economic impacts of extreme heat.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Amelia Earhart Park (401 E 65th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013), west side of the park near the soccer fields

RSVP here.

Miami-Dade County named to Carbon Disclosure Project 2022 A List

Miami-Dade County has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of 122 cities and counties across the globe that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the pressures of a challenging global economic situation.

Designed to encourage and support local governments to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by local governments. Slightly more than one in 10 local governments scored by CDP earned an A.

To receive this top A ranking, a local government must meet the following criteria to:

disclose publicly through CDP-ICLEI Track
have a community-wide emissions inventory
set a renewable energy target for the future
have published a climate action plan
complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment
have a climate adaptation plan demonstrating how it will tackle climate hazards

Miami-Dade County and the other cities and counties on this year’s A List are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action – from ambitious emissions reduction targets to building resilience against climate change – is achievable at a global level, and in places with different climate realities and priorities. While A-List achievements are commendable, the CDP noted that this action needs to go further, faster worldwide.

“Miami-Dade County is proud to be recognized as a world leader for our bold climate action and for our transparency with climate data,” said Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava. “We are demonstrating our commitment to achieving ‘net-zero’ through our Climate Action Strategy. Armed with clear data, we strive to become future-ready by planning for a low-carbon, mass transit and pedestrian friendly community, while working hard to generate and expand access to solar power, make our buildings much more efficient and resilient, and electrify transportation.”

“Congratulations to Miami-Dade County for earning a spot on the CDP Cities A List — one of 49 cities and counties in North America to make the list in 2022,” said Katie Walsh, Head of Cities, States, Regions and Public Authorities, CDP North America. “From mitigating carbon emissions in line with science to building resilience against floods, drought and other climate hazards to centering marginalized and vulnerable communities in their response, A-List local governments are demonstrating best-practice environmental action. Miami-Dade County is in the vanguard leading the way toward a climate-safe future.”

Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works inaugurates new resilient Tamiami Station Park and Ride Bus Terminal

On Nov. 21, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) inaugurated the state-of-the-art Tamiami Station Park and Ride Bus Terminal.

This modern transit hub will provide a new, resilient, convenient, quicker connection for commuters from West Dade. The all-new 837 Express Bus route will run from the new Tamiami Station Park and Ride facility to Downtown Miami via the SR 836/Dolphin Expressway dedicated lane.

“The Tamiami Park and Ride’s modern facility is in line with our vision to continue building a better and more connected community,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “Starting next week, West Dade residents will be able to hop aboard one of our buses to ride comfortably and safely to Downtown Miami."

The Tamiami Station offers amenities such as free Wi-Fi, seven bus bays, four layover bus bays, a bus driver lounge, and digital screens with real-time bus arrival information. There are 458 spaces for regular and short-term parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secured bicycle storage, and designated spots for motorcycles, scooters, and vehicles with a baby stroller or ADA permit or used for carpooling and vanpooling.

“The 837 Express buses will travel during peak service hours Monday through Friday, providing a more efficient, low-stress alternative to driving and improving mobility and convenience. Said Eulois Cleckley, Director and CEO of DTPW. “With each milestone, we are truly strengthening the backbone of our mobility ecosystem and accelerating results to provide enhanced safety, sustainability, efficiency, and connectivity for Miami-Dade County.”

The Tamiami Station Park and Ride/Bus Terminal project is a part of Phase 1 of the East-West Corridor, one of the rapid transit corridors of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program. It was developed prior to the adoption of the SMART Program as part of an incremental approach to implement rapid transit service on the East-West Corridor of the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP).

The Station won the Envision® Silver Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), marking the first time Miami-Dade County has received this ISI honor for its work in sustainable performance and infrastructure resilience.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava brings new air conditioning units to public housing residents

On Nov. 28, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the distribution of 1,700 new air conditioning systems to public housing residents across the County. Although air conditioning is not federally mandated for public housing developments, Miami-Dade County has made a multimillion-dollar investment to ensure residents' safety and comfort.

“Extreme heat is a silent killer, causing more deaths worldwide than all other weather disasters combined,” said Mayor Levine Cava. "As we work to redevelop public housing to make it healthier and more resilient, we must invest now to protect our residents from the effects of rising temperatures. Public housing tenants tend to be older, putting them at greater risk of injury and illness due to extreme heat. These brand-new air conditioners will provide tenants relief from the heat while also keeping carbon emissions and energy costs down countywide.”

Free of charge, Miami-Dade County will provide air conditioning units to County public housing units that do not currently have AC access. The County is also working to retrofit and redevelop public housing facilities, including the installation of central air conditioning in all County-owned developments.

The air conditioning units will be purchased with funds from the American Rescue Plan. In accordance with County guidelines, these units will operate at the highest energy efficiency available.

Miami-Dade County's Black economic development agency doubles homebuying subsidy

On Nov. 21, Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT), a County agency committed to ensuring Black residents participate in Miami-Dade County's economic growth, approved a dramatic increase to its Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) subsidy. At the November board meeting, trustees approved an action item that could increase the contribution to $28,500 for qualified borrowers.

"Miami has been labeled the epicenter of the nation's housing affordability crisis," said William "Bill" Diggs, MDEAT's executive director. "MDEAT is doing all we can to make the home buying experience more affordable for prospective homebuyers. This increased support is a step in the right direction toward creating the multi-generational wealth and prosperity our community deserves."

MDEAT's Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) aims to increase the number of first-time home purchases for low- to moderate-income residents in Miami-Dade County. The zero-interest deferred loan provides funding for first-time homebuyers toward down payments and closing costs, making it easier to get approved for a mortgage. Since 1995, the program has funded more than 7,900 families. More than 3,100 Black families have used MDEAT HAP to purchase homes in Miami-Dade County.

Since its inception, HAP participants have successfully accessed $45 million from MDEAT and combined it with more than $180 million in homeownership funds from other governmental and not-for-profit entities. Interested parties must meet income requirements, complete a homebuyer education course, and obtain financing from a qualified mortgage lender.

More information here.

Federal Transit Administration invests nearly $1.4 million in critical Transit-Oriented Development projects in Miami-Dade County

On Nov. 29, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced nearly $1.4 million in funding to support major Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects in Miami-Dade County.

Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is receiving $840,000 to advance the TOD master plan for the Northeast Corridor of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program, a five-station rapid transit corridor in development. The funding will be applied toward the creation of TODs along the corridor to improve and expand mobility, connectivity, and accessibility with mixed housing and retail opportunities.

The City of Homestead is receiving $533,000 in funding to plan for the creation of TODs around three bus rapid transit (BRT) stations that are part of the South Dade TransitWay presently under construction.

“Thanks to this funding from the federal government, we are making strong investments to expand our transportation system and our housing inventory, two of the biggest priorities of my administration,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Strong public transit systems - including our roads, bridges, and safe paths for cyclists and pedestrians - connect our residents to good-paying jobs, protect our environment and improve our quality of life. This investment builds on two major announcements we made earlier this month to expand our Metrorail and Metromover service while we continue building a strong transportation system for the future.”

“I would like to thank the FTA for their investment in support of TODs in Miami-Dade County,” said Miami-Dade TPO Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III. “The establishment of TODs along our mass transit corridors is a critical component of the SMART Plan. Doing so will allow us to continue to build up the critical mass needed around transit facilities to support an efficient and sustainable transit system.”

“These investments from the FTA recognize the critical needs we have in our community to deliver safe and efficient mobility solutions, and that we are ready to deliver these programs,” added DTPW Director and CEO Eulois Cleckley. “We are grateful to the USDOT for entrusting us with this important funding.”

Partner Spotlight

Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Partnership annual meeting coming to Miami-Dade

The Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) is a coalition of public and private organizations collectively seeking to strengthen community resilience and support rapid recovery from storms and disasters. The Partnership is the only regional collaboration network for professionals in emergency management, climate adaptation, and disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience specifically focused on the U.S. Southeast and Caribbean. Over the past decade, this networking partnership has evolved into the largest cross-sector regional forum for resilience professionals from the public, private, academic, and non-governmental sectors.

Each year, the group engages hundreds of professionals to build relationships and deepen communities’ resilience capacity through targeted regional coordination events, outreach to and engagement with government officials and businesses, support of public policy research, and an annual regional conference.

The SCDRP Annual Meeting connects top disaster resilience professionals throughout the southeastern United States, Caribbean U.S. territories, and the Wider Caribbean nations. Each year, attendees include emergency managers, climate adaptation specialists, academic researchers, environmental justice experts, coastal managers, nonprofit leaders, engineers, climate health professionals, consultants, policymakers, and resilience officers. Attendees come together from each level of professional responsibility, all levels of government, and from the private, public, academic, and nongovernmental sectors.

The SCDRP 2023 Annual Meeting will take place at the Novotel Miami Brickell hotel in Miami, Florida on Jan. 24-25, 2023. The theme is “Responding to the Urgency: Working Together to Build Effective & Inclusive Resilience.” Eight sessions will be presented on a variety of resilience topics with common threads of how to form partnerships, enhance equity/inclusion, and take effective actions with a sense of urgency.

Learn more and register for the conference here.

Biscayne Bay Spotlight

Miami-Dade County receives $14.5 million grant to protect Biscayne Bay

Miami-Dade County is receiving a $14.5 million grant for the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Characterization and Pollution Reduction Project, following an announcement by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) this week. This next phase of funding will be allocated to the county’s ongoing septic-to-sewer conversion initiative – Connect 2 Protect – in the Unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade. FDEP guidelines require that the money be used to further the conversion from septic tanks to sewer systems in communities that are both economically disadvantaged and contain septic tank systems at risk of failure from rising groundwater impacts. An additional over $8 million for restoration and other projects was awarded to municipalities within the County.

Resilience funds in the state budget were enhanced and supported with federal dollars provided via the Biden-Harris administration's American Rescue Plan, passed by Congress in 2021.

“These critical funds are going to accelerate Miami-Dade's septic-to-sewer conversion, as we continue to implement climate mitigation and resilience initiatives,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Septic tank systems are particularly at risk of failure as our community sees increased sea level rise, creating greater risk of nutrient pollution in our groundwater and bay. My thanks to the state of Florida for prioritizing the health and wellbeing of Biscayne Bay and our Connect 2 Protect program.”

The funding originated with a $1 million grant application made by the county in 2020 to address the water quality issues in north Biscayne Bay. Projects included wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements and enhanced technology, habitat enhancement and restoration, education, and water quality investigations. That same month, the County Board of Commissioners adopted the Biscayne Bay Task Force report, which outlined seven major issues to be addressed, with water quality at the forefront. By the end of year, with support from state and county leadership to implement the Task Force’s goals, the $1 million allocation was increased to $10 million. The county has continued to partner with the state in advancing these priority projects since the inception of the grant program in 2020, with $12.9 million in funding for a second phase of projects last year and the $14.5 million grant announced today.

“We know that septic-to-sewer conversions will go a long way in protecting Biscayne Bay,” said Irela Bagué, Miami-Dade's Chief Bay Officer. “Prioritizing vulnerable septic tanks in areas impacted by sea level rise will further prevent nutrient pollution from entering the bay. We are grateful for the continued commitment of our Governor, State Legislature, and agency partners for these investments towards the recovery of Biscayne Bay, the blue heart of our community and the mainstay of our economy.”

“There are more than 120,000 septic tanks in Miami-Dade County, with 9,000 of those at risk of failure,” said Roy Coley, Director of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. “We are ready for and committed to the continued expansion of our system to areas that do not have access to reliable and resilient wastewater infrastructure, which protects public health, the environment, and supports economic growth.”

The grant awarded to the county is part of FDEP’s larger Biscayne Bay Grant Program, which is also providing $2.3 million to the City of North Miami for septic to sewer conversions, $2 million to the City of Coral Gables for Phase I Sanitary Sewer improvements, $2 million to the City of Miami Springs for stormwater infrastructure, $700,000 to the Town of Cutler Bay for wetland restoration, $650,000 to the Village of Key Biscayne for stormwater infrastructure, and $600,000 to Miami River Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Celebrate Biscayne Bay with Blue Scholars

Presented by Blue Scholars and The Barnacle Society in partnership with several other amazing organizations, the third annual Biscayne Bay Experience & Celebration will take place on Dec. 10, 2022. Open to the public, fun activities for the whole family will include on-the-water recreation, education, art, volunteer opportunities and entertainment.

BONUS! Participating beach cleanup and coastal enhancement volunteers will receive free entry into the evening's bay celebration at The Barnacle Historic State Park.

Link below to register for specific activities and/or purchase your celebration tickets today.

Biscayne Bay Experience & Celebration — Blue Scholars Initiative