Resilient305 hosts first annual leadership "boot-camp"

On February 18, Resilient305 hosted its first annual resilience leadership boot-camp. More than 50 Miami leaders attended. Resilient305, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation's Global Resilient Cities Network (GRCN) and The Miami Foundation, hosted leaders from Miami-Dade County and its municipalities, including City of Miami , City of Miami Beach , Bal Harbour Village, City of Coral Gables , Town of Cutler Bay , Indian Creek Village, Miami Shores Village , City of North Miami , North Bay Village, Village of Pinecrest , Town of Surfside and City of West Miami. Mayors and elected officials were among those represented.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez opened the event with a speech where he stated, "Our teamwork moving forward will ensure that Miami-Dade and all its cities continue to thrive despite the threats of climate change and sea level rise...the impact of our combined efforts will far outweigh anything we could hope to accomplish alone."

The keynote speech by Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville Kentucky focused on the psychological and cultural work that needs to be done in our nation's cities in addition to the scientific work required for resilience.

"As a city leader, the most powerful aspect of my job is to use the pulpit of my office to constantly beat the drum and implement action that builds positive cultural change within my community," Fischer said.

City leaders had the opportunity to share their own resilience challenges and success stories and to ask questions of resilience experts from the GRCN and their colleagues in other cities.

Mayor Fisher of Louisville wrapped up the day by saying, "becoming more resilient is about more than preparing for a specific moment of crisis that is environmentally based.
It’s about becoming a stronger, safer, more compassionate and more equitable community every day. It’s about becoming a community that cultivates human resiliency."


County Spotlight
Miami-Dade selected to join the U.S. Green Building Council's 2020 LEED for Cities and Communities grant program

Miami-Dade County has been selected to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) 2020 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities and Communities Grant Program funded by Bank of America.

Through the program, the County will receive access to education resources and technical support as they pursue LEED certification. Miami-Dade County is joining the program to advance the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 from the 2008 baseline and to increase sustainability and resilience of county operations. In addition to environmental factors, the rating system considers social and economic indicators, such as health, equity, education and prosperity.

"It is truly an honor, and a validation of Miami-Dade County‘s commitment to resilience and sustainability, to be selected for the LEED for Cities and Communities program." said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “This will be a community effort, achieved by having a vision of combating climate change and promoting energy efficiency on a local level, and continuing to put in place innovative policies and practices to achieve it."

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is now being used by cities and communities across the globe to hone metrics around sustainability initiatives; benchmark performance relative to peers; and educate stakeholders on progress. Across USGBC’s programs, more than 100 cities and communities have received certification.
County prepares to address coronavirus

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez held a news conference on February 27 to safeguard the community against the coronavirus (COVID-19) .

Mayor Gimenez spoke to members of the media after holding a meeting with key local, state and federal agencies and County departments to prepare contingency plans for the potential spread of COVID-19.

“Our goal is to be the best-prepared county in the nation,” he said.

Mayor Gimenez was joined by representatives from the Florida Department of Health, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Jackson Health System, the Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and PortMiami.

“I met with Health Department Administrator Yesenia Villalta last week to go over the health ramifications of this virus,” Mayor Gimenez said. “Now, out of an abundance of caution, with this virus currently identified in patients in South Korea, Italy, Japan, Iran, and other nations, we want to be prepared to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.”

Approaching the coronavirus with the experience and wisdom learned from the previous Zika outbreak, the County is taking every precaution to be prepared should the virus arrive in Miami-Dade. For more information, see the Safety Alert from Miami-Dade County Risk Management/ Office of Safety.
Bike to work March 6

Leave your car behind and bypass rush hour traffic for Bike to Work Day  on March 6. Join your colleagues and friends and bike to work on a police-escorted route from University Metrorail Station to Downtown Miami. You can also participate in twilight rides through Zoo Miami or Miami Seaquarium.

Learn more about Bike305 events .
Join Miami-Dade County for Earth Month activities in April

Registration for Baynanza 2020  is now open. Baynanza is a month-long series of events in celebration of Biscayne Bay and its significance as one of our most important ecological systems in South Florida. Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day 2020 will be held on Saturday, April 18. The County looks forward to welcoming new and returning volunteers and sponsors.

This year, Baynanza will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with  305,000 Acts of Green . County residents are encouraged to commit to helping out by participating in clean-up events and tree plantings or making lifestyle changes, such as transitioning to a plant-based diet. Sign up today  and do your part to help create a more sustainable tomorrow.
Sunshine State Spotlight

President Trump requests $250M for Everglades Restoration in FY 2021 budget

President Donald Trump has included $250 million for Everglades restoration projects in his proposed $4.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2021, released on February 10.
It's a $50 million increase over the $200 million for the Everglades in the current federal budget  approved in December  and should maintain the pace of completing water quality projects, including the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee to cut harmful discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

In an official statement issued on February 10, Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eickenberg said, “This $250 million — a $50 million increase over this year’s funding — is the minimum investment needed for the next fiscal year to restore America’s Everglades for future generations, reduce polluted water discharges from Lake Okeechobee to Florida’s coastal communities, and help ensure clean drinking water for more than 8 million Floridians. It is also a necessary first step in a ramp-up of future investments needed that will allow construction to be completed on the ambitious schedule advanced by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. We look forward to working with our Florida Congressional delegation and our friends in both Houses to persuade Congress to approve the President’s request.”

The $50 million increase was sought by Florida's senators and representatives of both parties.
Resilient305 Spotlight
Better Bus Project launches in the 305

After 100+ community events, workshops, and presentations, Transit Alliance Miami and the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works released the draft new network for the County’s bus system on February 27.

The new network will improve service, connect more residents to more employment opportunities, and integrate trolley services in the City of Miami and Miami Beach for the first time.

"Build a Better Bus Network" is Action 13 in the County's Resilient305 Strategy.

Learn more at  www.betterbus.miami
Global Resilient Cities Network continues work of 100 Resilient Cities with release of Houston and London strategies

Local members of the former 100 Resilient Cities program recently announced the evolution and expansion of their network into the Global Resilient Cities Network (GRCN). This new partnership includes Gr eater Miami and the Beaches and other experts from the earlier program.
 
The GRCN aims to support a community of urban resilience practitioners in 98 cities and 40 countries by l everaging the tools and expertise from the former organization and drawing on the strengths of a team of former 100 Resilient Cities executives.

With support from The Rockefeller Foundation and other strategic funding partners, the network will continue supporting cities and their chief resilience officers in future-proofing their communities and critical infrastructure with a “reach, strength and legacy” to understand and support the challenges of the ever-growing urban society.
 
On February 5 and 12, respectively, London and the City of Houston released their Resilience Strategies. Both cities chose to focus on similar issues that Greater Miami and the Beaches addressed in the Resilient305 Strategy, including shocks and stresses stemming from climate change and creating more equitable access to resources.
Climate Compact Spotlight
Climate Compact Advisory member joins new Florida Advisory Council on Climate and Energy

On February 24, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole Fried announced the launch of the new Florida Advisory Council on Climate & Energy (FACCE). J oin the FACCE as a County representative is Megan Houston, Chief Resilience Officer of Palm Beach County and member of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact Leadership Committee.

This committee of energy and climate professionals will advise the Commissioner and the Office of Energy in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on modernizing energy and climate policies, diversifying energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and creating solutions for Florida’s energy and climate future.

“Florida faces the nation’s greatest risk of extreme heat and flooding, increasingly frequent and devastating hurricanes, and destabilizing weather reshaping our lands, waters, farms, and cities," Commissioner Nikki Fried said. "I believe we can best address these issues by bringing all stakeholders to the conversation. I’m proud to convene this diverse group of experts that will explore innovative solutions to one of the greatest challenges of our generation. From academic institutions to consumer advocates and environmental organizations to utilities, everyone has a seat at our table, and a stake in the fight against the climate crisis.”
Municipal Spotlight
City of Miami fertilizer ordinance approved by City Commission
On February 13, the Miami City Commission approved new legislation to regulate fertilizer use in the City. The ordinance aims to combat the negative secondary and cumulative effects of excess nutrients in Biscayne Bay and water bodies within the city, which are caused by fertilizer runoff. The proposed legislation is based on independent studies, drawing upon research from 85 municipalities and 32 counties that have passed fertilizer ordinances since 2007. 

The Ordinance sets guidelines for the amount of commercial and non-commercial fertilizer allowed in the City of Miami. It mandates that fertilizer can only be applied to actively growing turf. It also designates fertilizer-free zones 15 feet from bodies of water. 

The ordinance also regulates the use of nitrogen-releasing fertilizer in most forms, as well as phosphorus, which will be even more strictly regulated.
Municipalities host resilience round-table

On February 27, the beach communities of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Surfside, North Bay Village and Surfside came together for a Resilience Roundtable to highlight each municipalities' individual resilience work in their community and to identify potential opportunities to collaborate on projects of joint interest. The Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience provided an overview of Resilient305 and ongoing projects throughout the County. It also advised the cities on best practices and upcoming opportunities.
Partner Spotlight
Greater Miami Chamber hosts Resilient Solutions Summit

On February 28, The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce hosted the Resilient Solutions Summit. In attendance were more than 200 local government and business leaders, academics, and community members.

This year's event focused on resilience actions and public-private partnerships for strengthening the greater Miami area.

Miami-Dade County Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) Jim Murley spoke on the " #Resilient305 : Pivoting to Action" panel with City of Miami CRO Jane Gilbert, Transit Alliance Miami Director Azhar Chougle, Miami-Dade College Dean of Engineering Antonio Delgado and The Nature Conservancy Senior Policy Advisor Janet Bowman.

The keynote speaker was newly appointed South Florida Water Management District Chief of District Resiliency, Dr. Carolina Maran, who spoke about the District's plans to study the level of service of District structures and canals in Miami-Dade County in light of sea level rise.
Hinshaw's 4th Annual Sea Level Rise & Climate Change Conference - Providing Corporate Decision Makers with the  Right  Tools to Navigate Sea Level Rise

Register today for Hinshaw's 4th Annual Sea Level Rise & Climate Change Conference on March 31 at the Four Seasons Brickell. This conference will bring together different segments of the business community, including the real estate, architecture, engineering, construction, finance and insurance industries. This forum will challenge everyone to work together and partner with local and state municipalities and regulatory bodies to proactively develop solutions.

WLRN’s Vice President of News To m Hudson will serve as emcee to facilitate the conversation about resilience efforts in South Florida, along with the economic, legal, and financial implications of sea level rise. Florida's Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried will discuss her department's Florida Energy and Climate Plan. Government panelists will include Miami Dade-County CRO James Murley, along with CROs Amy Knowles, City of Miami Beach; Jane Gilbert, City of Miami; Jennifer Jurado, Broward County and Rhonda Haag, Monroe County.

Register here by March 30 and access the discounted registration of $45 per person, which includes a full day of programming, continental breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception. Select ‘Miami-Dade County Resilience’ in the drop down under registration to access this rate. For questions, email Tarah Smith at events@hinshawlaw.com .
Community Spotlight
Save the date for the CLEO Institute's Empowering Capable Climate Communicators Symposium!

The CLEO Institute's 10th Annual Empowering Capable Climate Communicators Symposium is coming up on Saturday, March 28.

This year's symposium will focus on Climate and Health, in partnership with the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. The symposium's keynote speaker will be Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a world-renowned climate scientist named the 2019 UN Champion of the Earth. 
New tools and resources
New study shows hurricanes fertilize mangrove forests

A new study by researchers at Florida International University indicates that the destructive power of a hurricane may help support mangrove growth in the Florida Everglades.

When hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Irma (2017) struck Florida, many mangrove trees lost their canopies, others snapped or were uprooted. Even more were submerged by storm surge. But the storm surge also deposited phosphorus-rich mineral sediment from the ocean floor atop mangrove soils. The sediment increased soil phosphorus concentrations, fueling mangrove regeneration and recovery, according to this study. The results are published in the journal  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

With data from the  Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research  site funded by the  National Science Foundation , researchers came to the conclusion that hurricanes help mangroves increase soil elevation, and branch out and find new homes when seeds are scattered.

Mangrove forests are an important component in Florida's coastal resilience. They blunt the impact of hurricanes, absorb damaging winds and prevent floodwaters from flowing farther inland. They store carbon that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere, and they provide nurseries for fish, crab, shrimp and mollusk species that are critical in Florida's commercial and recreational fishing industries.
Climate for Health

Climate for Health is a national initiative led by a diverse  network of leaders  representing key health care, public health, clinical, and medical institutions and associations. Founded by  ecoAmerica , Climate for Health offers tools, resources, and communications to demonstrate visible climate leadership, inspiring and empowering health leaders to speak about, act on and advocate for climate solutions.
Upcoming Events and Webinars
What We're Reading

Dangerous Earth: What We Wish We Knew about Volcanoes, Hurricanes, Climate Change, Earthquakes and More

Today, we know more than ever before about the powerful forces that can cause catastrophe, but significant questions remain. Why can’t we better predict some natural disasters? What do scientists know about them already? What do they wish they knew?

In  Dangerous Earth , marine scientist and science communicator Ellen Prager explores the science of investigating volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, rip currents, and—maybe the most perilous hazard of all—climate change.

"While many science unknowns exist with regard to climate change and other disaster-causing phenomena, we know enough to warrant action now and how to better prepare and respond to extreme events." said Prager.

More info here.