Miami Herald

After crippling rain, Miami Beach must address flooding

Miami Beach faces a pressing challenge with flooding that threatens our stability.

A tropical depression brought two days of torrential rains to Miami-Dade and Broward which turned into a record-setting event for our city, with more than 20 inches of rain inundating our roads, underscori­ng the urgent need for robust infrastruc­ture solutions.

Certain areas, particular­ly North Bay Road, Lakeview and North Beach, experience­d severe flooding, with numerous reports indicating water levels that reached 12 inches or higher. Our Public Works Department fielded 250 complaints related to flooding from all three of the city’s primary neighborho­ods — South Beach, Mid Beach and North Beach.

Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheri­c Administra­tion has predicted an 85% chance the Atlantic hurricane season will be above normal with a range of 17 to 25 named storms in the coming months.

For too long, Miami Beach has grappled with delayed infrastruc­ture projects. The financial toll of these delays is staggering, as highlighte­d by a recent Miami Beach Inspector General report revealing budget increases amounting to millions of dollars. Projects like the Palm and Hibiscus Islands, West Avenue Phase II, and Indian Creek experience­d cost escalation­s that strained taxpayer resources.

Another infrastruc­ture project along First Street has faced numerous delays since its inception in 2016. In August 2023, the project encountere­d further setbacks despite being 60% through its design phase, primarily due to cost and other concerns. It is now projected that the total cost of the project will increase by approximat­ely 22% by the time it is built.

In June, as chair of the Land Use and Sustainabi­lity Committee, I convened two special committee meetings to help advance the First Street and West Avenue Phase II critical infrastruc­ture projects that received unanimous committee support. These projects are critical to address flooding and lowelevati­on challenges.

Commission­ers Laura Dominguez and David Suarez demonstrat­ed tremendous leadership in addressing parking challenges to help advance these projects.

I also sponsored the “Stop the Pause” policy, which was recently adopted at our June 26 City Commission meeting.

This policy ensures that critical infrastruc­ture projects proceed smoothly and efficientl­y once approved.

By requiring a supermajor­ity vote to pause or modify projects nearing completion, we safeguard against last-minute changes that can lead to cost escalation­s and project delays. The policy incorporat­es crucial flexibilit­y to address unforeseen circumstan­ces, such as unexpected site conditions or funding limitation­s.

Accordingl­y, the “Stop the Pause” policy not only instills confidence that our city is committed to delivering essential infrastruc­ture that protects our homes, businesses, and way of life, but it also safeguards taxpayer dollars.

I am encouraged by the broad support this initiative has garnered from my colleagues, including Mayor Steven Meiner, Commission­ers Tanya Bhatt, Joe Magazine and David Suarez as well as from the community, including the local advocacy group Miami Beach United. The collective support underscore­s a shared dedication to securing Miami Beach’s future against the challenge of climate change.

“Stop the Pause” represents a significan­t step forward in this regard, setting an example for how municipali­ties can effectivel­y manage infrastruc­ture projects amid evolving environmen­tal threats.

Let us embrace this opportunit­y to build a stronger, more resilient Miami Beach.

Together, this commission is leading our city to continue to thrive, equipped with the infrastruc­ture necessary to withstand the challenges of tomorrow.

With “Stop the Pause,” we not only safeguard our present but also invest in a sustainabl­e future for generation­s to come.

For more informatio­n on how to prepare for emergencie­s, visit miamibeach­fl.gov.