In this issue:

Season's Greetings from the Chief Resilience Officer
15th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit recap
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accelerates action for Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Study
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department successfully concludes second record-breaking infrastructure investment as part of Capital Improvement Program
Public Housing and Community Development seeks Resilience Program Manager
Training prepares residents at Gibson Plaza for use of backup solar power
Technical partner of BE305 Challenge receives grant for training center
Fares remain free through 2023 during launch of Better Bus Network
Unleash your creative talents by co-creating art during Miami Art Week
Biscayne Bay Advisory Board celebrates a year of accomplishments
Broward County welcomed into Resilient Cities Network at COP28
Step into a leading role in climate science communication with Florida Squeezed
University of Miami's Office of Civic Engagement hiring
Hybrid solar-plus-battery storage system boosts energy security for Seminole Tribe
High-tech filters help North Bay Village protect Biscayne Bay
What we are reading
Jobs
Events

Season's Greetings from the Office of Resilience

We wish everyone a very happy holiday season from the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience.

As 2023 comes to a close, we remember two close friends and devoted climate crusaders whom we lost in the past year - Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin and Carlos Luis Hernandez, Chief of the Water and Wastewater Section of the County’s Division of Environmental Resources Management. Both were outstanding champions of resilience, and we miss them dearly.

Looking back at the successes of the past year, Miami-Dade County was proud to co-host the Climate Leadership Summit with the City of Miami Beach. Celebrating its 15^th year, the Summit enjoyed record attendance of more than 900 participants, 60 exhibitors and 10 media representatives, including the Miami Herald, WLRN, and the Sun Sentinel. Links to video recordings will be available on the recently updated Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact website.

In the year ahead, we are optimistic about the transformational climate action our region will undertake, thanks to unprecedented funding opportunities from federal and state sources, committed collaboration of a multitude of public and private partners, and the incredible public support for this work that helps ensure our region is future ready for all challenges that lie ahead.

We thank everyone for joining us on this journey, and we wish you all the best in 2024!

Jim Murley

Chief Resilience Officer

Miami-Dade County

15th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit recap

The Southeast Florida region has been a leader in addressing climate change for more than a decade. While we continue to face challenges, regional leaders have made remarkable progress and are poised for transformative climate action. That was the focus of the 15th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit on November 16 and 17 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The summit, co-hosted by Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach, aimed to connect and educate attendees, forge new partnerships and encourage creative approaches to addressing climate change in our region.

Distinguished speakers including Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Michael Connor and Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, Resilience, FEMA Victoria Salinas addressed the audience of more than 900 attendees and touched on topics from increasing the resilience of Florida's coastlines to building social equity as a key factor in facing issues of climate change and resilience in our region.

Assistant Secretary Connor made a special announcement at the Summit sharing that the U.S. Army Corps is accelerating action on the Miami-Dade County Back Bay Study.

“As the National Climate Assessment illustrated, climate-based challenges are increasing in magnitude and complexity. Similarly, our approach to addressing these challenges needs to evolve along with the types of infrastructure we implement with our partners. Fortunately, in South Florida, we have strong partnerships pushing innovation and investing significant resources to meet these challenges,” he said.

FEMA's Victoria Salinas shared the stage with Mayor Levine Cava for a "seaside chat" where the dynamic duo discussed FEMA's increased presence and partnership in the region through newly designated Community Disaster Resilience Zones. A large contingent from FEMA's District 4 were in attendance at the event and also met with municipal leaders and managers to continue the conversation and partnership.

Salinas stressed the need for "deep listening and collaboration" in her remarks and gave the region special recognition for it's leadership in climate action.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber kicked off the event welcoming the record-breaking audience of over 900 attendees. Mayor Levine Cava presented Mayor Gelber with a special recognition for his years of service to the Climate Compact and for his initiatives of climate action in the City of Miami Beach.

Dr. Benjamin Kirtman of the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School set the stage for the Climate Leadership Summit with a "State of the Climate" overview and shared the changes South Florida has already seen from sunny day flooding to increasing extreme heat. He emphasized that 2023 was the hottest year on record both regionally and at the global scale and shared information about the increasing frequency of heavy rain events (like the one that occurred the day before the Summit).

Day One of the two-day event included panel, one-on-one interview-style conversations, and Ted-style talks on topics ranging from the role of insurance in building more resilient communities, strategies for electrification, partnering with the private sector, community engagement, inspiring climate action through art, and updates from the region's four Chief Resilience Officers.

The day ended on an upbeat note with a teen Ted-style talk featuring Will Charouhis, a South Florida youth climate activist who shared his hopes and vision for a future-ready region.

Attendees later enjoyed a welcome reception sponsored by Jacobs at the newly renovated, state-of-the-art Convention Center.

For the first time ever, the arts were incorporated into this signature event. The Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience and Arts Resilient 305, a program of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, collaborated in the selection of three organizations, Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE), ARTSail, and Bas Fisher Invitational (BFI), that curated the presentation at the Summit of special projects by local artists.

These three Miami-based organizations, and their artists, joined forces to showcase projects and art activations aimed at shedding light on the numerous ways climate challenges impact our region. The pieces brought awareness while engaging and motivating attendees to partake in meaningful action that will support our community and its future. To see a detailed listing of the artists and their works click here.

Day Two of the Summit featured both elected leaders and administrators at the County level. The day opened with speeches from Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert and Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins.

Wendy Oliver, Executive Director of the VoLo Foundation shared tools and resources available to local government and non-profits through VoLo's website, and encouraged collaboration with the non-profit sector.

Later, Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava joined Palm Beach Mayor Gregg Weiss, Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr, and Monroe County Mayor Holly Raschein on stage for a panel moderated by WLRN's Tom Hudson to discuss how regional elected leaders are implementing transformative climate policies and action.

Following the elected leaders, county administrators including Miami-Dade County Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Morales, Palm Beach County Assistant County Administrator Patrick Rutter, Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero and Monroe County Chief Resilience Officer standing in for Administrator Roman Gastesi discussed how they work together at the regional scale through the unique framework of the Compact.

The event closed with an interactive panel focused on resilient water management moderated by Broward County Chief Resilience Officer Dr. Jennifer Jurado and featuring South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Drew Bartlett and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel James Booth, District Commander of the Jacksonville District who both shared climate resilience projects from Everglades restoration to the re-study of SFWMD canals.

Miami-Dade County Spotlight

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accelerates action for Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Study

On Nov. 16 at the 15th Annual Climate Leadership Summit, hosted by Miami-Dade County, Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael Connor announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will accelerate the timeline for the identification of projects included in the Miami-Dade County Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (Back Bay Study).

“Miami-Dade County is poised for transformative climate action, and the U.S. Army Corps’ unprecedented decision means we are fast-tracking projects that benefit our residents,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are ready to take advantage of the increasing and new Federal funding streams available with shovel-ready projects and innovative climate resilience solutions that integrate nature and that will protect our greatest resource, our people. We want to thank the USACE for their continued partnership and their willingness to think outside the box in the name of community resilience.”

Recognizing both Miami-Dade County’s risk to storm surge and Mayor Levine Cava’s vision for community resilience, the U.S. Army Corps made the historic and unprecedented decision to accelerate the Back Bay Study. Specifically, the Corps and Miami-Dade County will work together to identify projects that protect critical infrastructure to enable their inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 while concurrently advancing pilot projects for non-structural and nature-based measures.

The announcement was made just two days after the White House release of the National Climate Assessment on Nov. 14 which underscored the urgency with which we must take action to protect Miami-Dade County’s people and infrastructure from harmful climate impacts.

Miami-Dade County and the U.S. Army Corps are committed to continued partnership in the development and integration of multiple studies across the County that protect residents from the impacts of climate change and with an eye on securing funding in the short and longer terms through the WRDA and other avenues.

County Spotlight

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department successfully concludes second record-breaking infrastructure investment as part of Capital Improvement Program

The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) continues to break Capital Improvement Program (CIP) construction records, having invested more than $599 million to upgrade the County’s water and sewer infrastructure during fiscal year 2022-2023, which surpassed the previous year’s historic execution rate of $557 million.

WASD’s $7.8 billion multi-year CIP will result in both water and wastewater system-wide enhancements to overcome a vast range of challenges, from addressing aging infrastructure to building capacity and reliability throughout our systems. Under the leadership of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Water and Sewer Department has successfully accelerated many critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. To date, approximately $1.5 billion has been invested in critical upgrades during Mayor Levine Cava’s administration.

“Water is essential to the wellbeing of our community, and these upgrades are needed to ensure continued uninterrupted access to safe water for our residents,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Through these critical projects we are investing in our local economy and good jobs today, to build a future-ready infrastructure for our environment and our customers tomorrow.”

In order to build a resilient infrastructure, WASD is planning for sufficient capacity in its systems to support economic projects and population growth, as well as mitigating the risk of damage to wastewater and drinking water infrastructure by upgrading facilities to include the adoption of resilient and climate-ready designs to maintain high-quality, safe, and reliable services in the future.

WASD Director Roy Coley credits the water professionals who work at the Department for delivering high-quality services that will benefit the public’s health and economic and environmental well-being for decades to come.

“Safe and reliable water and wastewater services provide foundational support to a thriving community,” said Director Coley. “This was another landmark year where we beat our best. We will continue to strive and stretch beyond expectations to provide not only high-quality water services but high-quality customer service as well.”

It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit the WASD website.

Public Housing and Community Development seeks Resilience Program Manager

The Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) Department is seeking a resilience/sustainability professional to fill a new managerial position with title of "PHCD Resilience Program Manager." This position involves the development, execution, and monitoring of all aspects of resilient projects funded by the Department of Public Housing and Community Development and external government agencies. The deadline for applications in Dec. 11, 2023. Click here for details.

Training prepares residents at Gibson Plaza for use of backup solar power

In November, Miami-Dade County's Office of Resilience (OOR) and Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) coordinated a training for residents of Gibson Plaza, an affordable midrise apartment building for seniors. The presentation, led by nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, provided details about the building's new highly reflective cool roof and the solar power and backup battery system that is nearing completion. Most of the funding for the project came from the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Inc. through a grant to another partner, SELF (Solar and Energy Loan Fund), with additional project elements paid for by OOR and PHCD. This is the first County building that has a battery backup. The project allows for the common areas of the building to operate on solar power even when the electric grid goes down, thereby enhancing the building’s resilience and safety for its residents. This means that elderly residents will be able to do things like recharge their electric wheelchairs and cellphones, keep their medicines cool in the common area refrigerator, and obtain ice and cool off in the common area, even if power is disrupted.

Technical partner of BE305 Challenge receives grant for training center

The Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Miami (MIIAC), which is the technical partner of the BE305 Challenge, was among 10 recipients receiving a $900,000 Department of Energy (DOE) grant to establish the Southeast Building Training and Assessment Center (SEBTAC). Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this 3-year grant program will help develop the skills of regional energy efficiency professionals through on-site training services and one-day energy efficiency assessments in disadvantaged communities.

This grant will expand and build upon tools and services currently offered through Miami-Dade County's BE305 Challenge. The Challenge is a friendly competition empowering building owners and managers to take low-cost and no-cost actions to improve energy and water efficiency. It is open to all buildings 20,000 square feet and larger located in Miami-Dade County. To learn more about the program and how to register please click here.

Fares remain free through 2023 during launch of Better Bus Network

On Nov. 13, Miami-Dade County rolled out its new Better Bus Network (BBN) with free fares until Dec. 31 and a series of engagement efforts to inform riders of the news and expanded services. Led by transit riders and the community, the plan improves Metrobus and MetroConnect service, increasing frequency through the biggest network overhaul in county history to ensure greater access to jobs, education and healthcare while raising the quality of life, especially for the most vulnerable populations.

Meeting the goals of Action 13 in the Resilient305 Strategy, the Better Bus Network is a transformative project initiated collaboratively by Miami-Dade Transit and the Transit Alliance. The Better Bus Network's multiple benefits include:

• Doubling the number of residents near 15-minute or better bus service on weekdays, increasing from 380,000 to 814,00 residents.

• Bringing 150,000 more jobs within walking distance of frequent transit service, increasing jobs near frequent service from 326,000 to 478,000.

• Doubling access to lower wage jobs near 10-minute or better service, from 9% of low wage jobs in the previous network to 18% in the Better Bus Network.

• Doubling the number of low-wage jobs that are near frequent transit service on Saturdays, from 17% to 42%.

• Increasing by more than 6 times the number of low-income residents near frequent service on Saturdays, from only 40,000 to more than 256,000.

• Nearly tripling zero-car households near frequent service on Saturdays, from only 19% to more than 57% with the BBN.

Share your creative vision during Miami Art Week

Miami-Dade County artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada calls on Miami to co-create 'The Underwater' interactive artwork during Miami Art Week 2023. This community-wide initiative is designed to grab attention and pique curiosity through site-specific yard signs that creatively reveal Miami’s vulnerability to rising seas, spark climate conversations, and catalyze civic engagement. The Knight Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to the Xavier Cortada Foundation to present this large-scale participatory art project in collaboration with co-sponsors.

Launch of Art Week 2023: Underwater Conversation

Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Miami Beach Regional Library

227 22nd St, Miami Beach, FL

RSVP here

Elevating Installations during Miami Art Week

Dec. 5-10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Miami Beach at Ocean Drive and 6th Street

Downtown at the Arsht Center at North Bay Shore Drive and 14th Street

Learn more here

Close of Art Week 2023: Underwater Conversation

Dec. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Moonlighter FabLab

1661 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach, FL

RSVP here

Biscayne Bay Spotlight

Biscayne Bay Advisory Board celebrates a year of accomplishment

On December 1, the Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board presented a draft of their annual report to the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. The 2023 annual report provides updates on the Biscayne Bay Task Force recommendations, policy work, projects, and accomplishments to improve the health of the Biscayne Bay watershed. It has been a busy year for the BBWMAB, with highlights including $17.5M in grant funding for water quality improvements in the Little River basin, the launch of the Biscayne Bay Friendly multimedia/multilingual campaign, and the update to the 2005 Biscayne Bay Economic Study that shows the Biscayne Bay watershed provides an overall economic output of $64B to Miami-Dade County. Click here to see the year-in-review.

Partner Spotlight

Broward County welcomed into Resilient Cities Network at COP28

Miami-Dade County commends Broward County on joining the Resilient Cities Network. This exciting news will be formally announced during the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28. Now in its 28th year, the United Nations Climate Change conference takes place Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai.

Created in 2013, the Resilient Cities Network brings together more than 200 Chief Resilience Officers from around the world to work together with community partners toward the common goal of meeting chronic stresses and acute shocks that are accentuated due to climate change.

RCN Deputy Board Chair Daniel Standler will formally recognize the new membership of Broward County preceding RCN’s energy roundtable at COP28, which will be attended by Broward County Chief Resilience Officer Jennifer Jurado.

Noting the significance of this new member, Miami-Dade County Chief Resilience Officer Jim Murley said, “Broward County, Florida, USA, under the leadership of Chief Resilience Officer Jennifer Jurado with support from the County Commission, has been a national leader in resilience and confronting the challenges of climate change in Southeast Florida. Broward County is a perfect fit for expanding the Resilient Cities Network, and Dr. Jurado is well respected by her fellow CROs as a national spokesperson for resilience issues at the state and national levels.”

Step into a leading role in climate science communication with Florida Squeezed

Applications are now being accepted for Florida Squeezed: The Convergence of Climate, Communication and Community. Creating the opportunity for world-class climate interpretation and communication, this workshop-style course will be offered in Miami on April 23-26, 2024, to help participants learn about how South Florida is being “squeezed” by climate change. This course is hosted by Earth to Sky in partnership with NASA, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Zoo Miami.

This course will nourish a community of practice that enhances the region's capacity to access and share NASA climate science with visitors to South Florida. This course is designed for interpretive managers, interpreters, tour operators, informal educators, and science communicators at federal, state, or municipal agencies, non-profit, and private organizations. Knowledge of climate science is not required. Participants from Florida and the Caribbean are especially encouraged to apply.

Complete this application form to apply now. Applications are due at the end of the day on Monday, January 15th. The maximum class size is 30. Those not selected will be placed on a waitlist.

University of Miami's Office of Civic Engagement hiring

The UM Office of Civic and Community Engagement is hiring for the position of Senior Manager for Policy and Programs. Jennifer Posner who previously held the position for five years is transitioning to a new role at the University and will serve as Director of the new Climate Resilience Academy.

During her tenure in the Office of Civic Engagement, Jen was instrumental in enhancing and expanding the online mapping and policy tools to address impacts of climate change on Miami's most vulnerable communities. The UM Office of Civic Engagement works closely with the County's Office of Resilience.

Learn more about the open position here.

Municipal & Tribal Spotlight

Hybrid solar-plus-battery storage system boosts energy security for Seminole Tribe

After a significant portion of the Seminole community were deeply impacted by the effects of Hurricane Irma, Seminole Tribe and Department of Energy collaborated to bolster the energy grid in rural areas.

The Tribe is installing solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity and adding battery energy storage, transfer switches, and controls on its rural Reservation of Big Cypress to service four essential facilities: the Field Office, the Health Clinic, the Public Safety Complex, and the Senior Center. The primary goals of the project are to provide reliable electricity to residents during grid outages and weather events and to lower energy costs. This project precedes a newer project to add additional solar and battery storage capacity to other parts of the Reservation.

Expected project benefits by the numbers:

Total power generation:

The system generates 445 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic potential.

Battery energy storage capacity:

The system provides roughly 1,750 kilowatt-hours of battery energy storage capacity.

Savings to the Tribe:

The total cost savings for the Tribe is approximately $3 million (over the life of the system).

Learn more here.

High-tech filters help North Bay Village protect Biscayne Bay

North Bay Village recently partnered with SOP Technologies to install high-tech storm inlet screens across the community. SOP Technologies has created patented stormwater filters that minimize ocean pollution, prevent street flooding, and reduce stormwater management costs for communities around the world. These filters will prevent debris from flowing into Biscayne Bay.

The Village was awarded a $150,000 state appropriation to design, create, and install the filters, thanks to the Mayor and Village Commission who lobbied the State Legislature for the project. Community members can scan QR codes located near installed filters to report misuse of inlets and log the types and quantities of pollutants that have been piled up, by simply using their cell phones.

Learn more at https://northbayvillage-fl.gov/ongoing-projects/