In this issue:

Proposed budget cuts property tax, increases critical investments with focus on future
U.S. Army Corps and Miami-Dade County Mayor jointly agree to continue Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Study
Get your hurricane kit ready during the sales tax holiday
Prepare for King Tides and hurricane season
National Association of Counties awards 75 achievement awards to Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County receives over $8.5 million to help low-income households pay water and sewer bills
Miami-Dade County funds arts project to divert waste from landfills
Youth Engagement Roundtable presents resilience recommendations to Mayor
Biscayne Bay Friendly campaign launches in Miami-Dade
County and state Biscayne Bay Boards to meet this month
Participate at the 2023 International Coastal Cleanup
Registration now open for Climate Leadership Summit
Compact teamwork helps land $1 million in planning grant from the U.S. EPA
Urban resilience champion takes helm at UM’s Climate Resilience Academy
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District hosts virtual public meeting on plan integration in southeast Florida
FEMA awards $100 million in two BRIC grants to upgrade critical flood control structures
WE-LAB workshops offer fun science-based ways to save water and energy
What we are reading
Jobs
Events

Proposed budget cuts property tax, increases critical investments with focus on future

Throughout August and September, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has been holding a series of Town Halls and Conversations with Cava to offer details on her proposed County budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, which focuses on building a stronger, future-ready County that provides much needed relief through a 1% property tax cut and a gas tax holiday – totaling over $36 million in savings for residents.

In the third budget of her administration, Mayor Levine Cava is preparing for the future – balancing short and long-term challenges by continuing to invest in housing, transportation, small businesses, the environment and families, while prioritizing much-needed infrastructure projects and critical life-saving services for all residents.

“With this year’s budget, we’re building for today and investing in tomorrow for future prosperity and growth,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “We have proposed a budget that is smart, compassionate, and puts people first. It builds on last year’s historic tax cut while continuing to make key investments in our community’s core priorities.”

Make your voice heard and have your questions answered by attending one of the two remaining Conversations with Cava on:

Tuesday, September 5 (6-8 p.m.) at Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay
Thursday, September 14 (6-8 p.m.) at Westchester Cultural Arts Center, 7930 SW 40th St., Miami

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners will hold two budget hearings in Chambers at the Steven P. Clark Government Center on:

Thursday, September 7 starting at 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 21 starting at 5 p.m.

The proposed budget can be found online at miamidade.gov/budget.

County Spotlight

U.S. Army Corps and Miami-Dade County Mayor jointly agree to continue Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

On August 18, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District celebrated their joint decision to continue work on Part II of the expanded Miami-Dade County Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (Back Bay CSRM Study). The renewed commitment kicks off an additional four-year period that will prioritize further study and refinement of the two proposed storm surge reduction alternatives developed during weeklong charrettes that took place in November 2022 and March 2023, which included extensive stakeholder and public input.

In the second part of the CSRM study, the Corps will invest $7.3 million over the next four years to better understand the feasibility of the project. Building upon work done in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District, Miami-Dade County’s Office of Resilience, and Division of Environmental Resources Management, the continued feasibility phase of the study will feature an increased focus on areas that have been historically underserved by major capital projects. There will also be renewed commitment to incorporate natural and nature-based features.

“This is an extremely important milestone for Miami-Dade County,” said County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “As we approach the peak of hurricane season, we are reminded that the threat of a catastrophic storm is all too real here in Miami-Dade. By working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we will identify both short- and long-term projects that will protect our people and enhance our ecosystems. I am committed to working with our municipalities, community members, and all stakeholders to solicit public participation and feedback that will help ensure an equitable outcome for a future ready Miami-Dade."

Following the joint decision, the Corps and the County co-hosted a virtual meeting to update the public. If you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording here.

“We are excited to continue our collaboration with Miami-Dade County on the Part Two Feasibility Phase of the Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study,” said Col. Brian Hallberg, USACE Norfolk District Commander. “This renewed commitment underscores our dedication to enhancing storm surge risk reduction and resilience in Miami-Dade County. We believe that by working hand in hand with the community, we can develop actionable projects that not only safeguard lives and property but also contribute to the preservation of Miami-Dade County's precious ecosystems.”

This joint effort represents a significant step forward in our mission to mitigate the impacts of storm surge and sea-level rise. We remain committed to a future-ready Miami-Dade and look forward to continued progress in building a resilient and thriving coastal community.

In August 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District and Miami-Dade County, its non-federal sponsor, re-initiated the Back Bay Study following a pause as a result of community response to the original proposal that included mostly grey infrastructure such as large walls, surge gates across canals and rivers, and pump stations. Over the past year, the Corps and the County have worked closely together and with the public to formulate draft alternatives that include more natural and nature-based solutions and that have greater support from the community. This time around in this collaborative work, both entities have worked hand in hand to ensure the process involved all stakeholders by reaching out from the onset of the project through workshops, public meetings, design charrettes and on-the-ground tours.

The Corps and the County are committed to evaluating concepts that are best suited to Miami-Dade's unique environment and economic factors. The Back Bay Study will also be integrated with other USACE studies in the County and region including the Key Biscayne CSRM Study to ensure complementary, comprehensive benefits are created through multiple lines of defense that span the region from offshore to inland areas. The South Dade area of the study will also be expanded to include more natural and nature-based features.

The Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study examines the impacts of and potential responses to storm surge damage in Miami-Dade County. The study area includes coastal and inland areas at risk from coastal storm flooding and sea level rise. To learn more about the study visit https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/.

Get your hurricane kit ready during the sales tax holiday

From Saturday, Aug. 26, through Friday, Sept. 8, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Eligible items include:

Flashlights and lanterns costing $40 or less
Reusable ice costing $20 or less
Radios costing $50 or less
Tarps and ground anchors or tie down kits costing $100 or less
Coolers and portable power banks costing $60 or less
Batteries and fuel tanks costing $50 or less
Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors costing $70 or less
Generators costing $3,000 or less

Read the full list of eligible items. The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Spread the word on social media using #DisasterPrep2023, and visit the Hurricane website to learn more.

Prepare for King Tides and hurricane season

It is King Tide season, and high tides at the end of this month will be about a foot higher than mean high tides. Keep an eye out for flooding in low-lying areas during King Tide on these days:

August 30 – Sept 2

Sept 27 – Oct 3

Oct 15 – 16

Oct 25 – 31

As always, please report any flooding causing issues by calling 311 or via the 311Direct app.

The King Tides coincide with hurricane season. As we approach the height of the season, the County urges all residents to remain prepared. Make sure your emergency supply kit is ready, and evacuation plans are in place for you, your family and pets. If necessary, register in advance for emergency and evacuation assistance. Read more in the 2023 Hurricane Guide.

National Association of Counties awards 75 achievement awards to Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County has been recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) as part of the 2023 Achievement Awards issued to local governments for implementing innovative local programs to improve service, achieve cost savings, help develop a better workforce, and improve accountability.

This year, NACo awarded 75 achievement awards to 13 Miami-Dade County Departments across several program categories. Noteworthy among all these achievements were the 25 awards presented to the Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department, including “Best in Class” for its Public Safety Assessment Program, which improves outcomes in the pre-trial process for the Miami-Dade County court system, along with an award for its outstanding work in the Digital Counties Survey.

“These awards reflect Miami-Dade County’s innovative spirit and relentless commitment to delivering excellence every day,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “I am so proud of the ongoing efforts to develop new and innovative programs that help streamline services to our community, and highlight what our County has to offer.”

For a complete list of the awards, please visit NACo.

Miami-Dade County receives over $8.5 million to help low-income households pay water and sewer bills

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is pleased to announce that 3,520 Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) customers will benefit from federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) funds to pay for their water and sewer utility bills. Miami-Dade County will receive $8.5 million of the $55 million awarded to the State of Florida through the federal program. The LIHWAP is a federally funded program managed by Florida Commerce to support low-income households in need.

“These funds are a blessing to thousands of families in our County that are struggling to make ends meet,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Water is an essential service and a life-sustaining resource. The financial relief these allocations provide will ensure equitable access to this vital resource.”

LIHWAP is a first-come, first-served program that provides much-needed relief to low-income families who spend a high proportion of their household income on water utility services. To distribute the funds, Florida Commerce has partnered with local Community Action Agencies throughout the state and Promise, a technology company with expertise in distributing government relief funds.

“As water professionals, we are committed to safeguarding the public’s health and well-being by delivering high-quality, reliable drinking water and wastewater services to our community,” said WASD Director Roy Coley. “This program ensures we can continue providing these essential services, without interruption, to our neighbors who need them most.”

To determine if your household is eligible and to apply for LIHWAP funds, Miami-Dade County residents should contact Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency at 786-469-4600 or 786-469-4640.

For Florida residents wishing to learn more about LIHWAP, please, visit: www.FloridaJobs.org/LIHWAP.

Miami-Dade County funds arts project to divert waste from landfills

Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs recently provided funding to The Things Lab, a project that combines art, reuse and community to divert waste from landfills. Local artists Susan Caraballo and Kerry Phillips are the founders behind The Things Lab, a place that will be part art installation, part reuse shop, and part workshop space. The art installation will encourage visitors to think about the impact of stuff in our lives and our planet. At the reuse shop, community members will be able to trade, donate and buy used goods to prevent their waste. The Things Lab will also have a lending library of things to encourage reuse and the sharing economy, and it will host community workshops where participants can learn to repair everyday items.

The Things Lab began as part of the art installation "Prelude to 2100," held in February 2022 at the Deering Estate and produced in collaboration with Miami Dade College’s Live Arts Miami, in which Caraballo commissioned Phillips's "Whatsits Emporium & Library of Things" exhibition. After that show, Caraballo and Phillips started a WhatsApp group with over 200 members to date who have been trading, lending, gifting, and selling used objects for more than a year. Caraballo says, "In this process, we have discovered a widespread interest in these different modalities. The Things Lab can serve as a home base for these community exchanges.”

The Things Lab will initially open as a pop-up in November 2023. Caraballo and Phillips are looking for a permanent location, as well as community support with space, donation of items, and financial support. If you are interested in supporting or contributing to the The Things Lab, please contact Susan Caraballo at susancaraballo@gmail.com.

Youth Engagement Roundtable presents resilience recommendations to Mayor

Inspired by the impressive activism of local youth, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava launched the Youth Engagement Roundtable on Monday Oct. 17, 2022. Facilitated by the County’s Office of Resilience, the Roundtable provided a forum for young people, ages 15 to 25, to engage with County government in order to identify avenues that enhance climate action while also proposing solutions through recommendations.

This Youth Engagement Roundtable represents a bold step by the Mayor’s Office to include young people in the decision-making process. Representing a diverse cross-section of our community, the 17 Roundtable participants were identified by key community organizations and academic institutions. Following the meetings, roundtable members presented their recommendations directly to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and discussed next steps on how to implement many of those recommendations.

The Office of Resilience looks forward to continuing the advancement of the Roundtable recommendations and is proud of the 17 youth leaders who devoted their time, creativity and expertise to this important work.

Read the Youth Engagement Roundtable Recommendations here.

Biscayne Bay Spotlight

Biscayne Bay Friendly campaign launches in Miami-Dade

The Biscayne Bay Friendly campaign is an overarching multi-media and multi-lingual educational campaign for residents, business owners, tourists, and students to highlight how daily individual actions can impact Biscayne Bay positively or negatively. The campaign's goal is rooted in developing and experiencing personal connections with our unique environmental resources and educating them on what they can do to help protect and conserve them.

When trash and nutrient pollution get washed into our stormwater systems, canals and waterways, eventually, they reach Biscayne Bay. Using fertilizers, littering, and not picking up pet waste can lead to fish kills. Everyone can be a friend to Biscayne Bay, no matter where they live, work and play, or where they're from. Improving the health of the Bay will improve the quality of life, make the Bay a healthy place to enjoy, and help the local economy.

The Biscayne Bay Friendly campaign will be displayed across a variety multiple of platforms, including social media, web banners, radio, outdoor ads and connect TV. This will help reach our County residents, business owners, students and tourists. Check out a few of the videos from the campaign:

· Fertilizer

· Litter

· Manatee

· Pet Waste

The campaign will also feature educational PSAs by Jayme Gershen titled, “Captain Baywatch.” Gershen was one of the 2021 Oolite Arts “Save the Bay” winners who collaborated with Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs and the Office of Resilience (OOR). The competition tasked creatives with creating a minute-long PSA to raise awareness and highlight solutions for improving water quality in Biscayne Bay.

County and State Biscayne Bay Boards to meet this month

The Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board (BBWMAB) will meet at 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 NW First Street, 2nd Floor Commission Chambers, Miami, FL 33128.

The Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board is a 21-member board tasked with making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and the Mayor on issues related to Biscayne Bay, including, but not limited to: long-term management of Biscayne Bay, health of the marine community, run-off and other impacts to water quality, marine debris, education and outreach, economic development and vitality related to Biscayne Bay, and how conditions in Biscayne Bay may affect residents and property owners.

For more information on the board and its activities, visit: Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board or contact Ana Fiotte at ana.fiotte@miamidade.gov.

In addition to the County Biscayne Bay Board, the State Biscayne Bay Commission will also meet this month on September 7 at 9:00 a.m. at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay Campus (Wolfe University Center, Room 221.3000 N.E. 151st St., North Miami, FL 33181) More details on the State Biscayne Bay Commission here: Biscayne Bay Commission | Water Quality Dashboard (protectingfloridatogether.gov)

Participate in the 2023 International Coastal Cleanup

Miami-Dade County is excited to announce that registration is OPEN for the annual county-wide International Coastal Cleanup to be held on Saturday, September 16!

Get ready to join millions of volunteers around the globe for the Ocean Conservancy’s 38th annual International Coastal Cleanup – the world’s LARGEST one-day volunteer effort for our oceans and waterways.

Spearheaded globally by the Ocean Conservancy, VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade County’s local participation in this worldwide event with 50+ shoreline cleanups around the county. The 2023 Miami-Dade ICC is made possible by the generous support of our presenting sponsors Covanta and Boucher Brothers, with additional support from Blackstone Charitable Foundation, The Brady Hunter Foundation, Benjamin & Gloria Joannou, Jr. Family Conservation Fund, City of Miami Beach, The Miami Foundation, Loud And Live, and Miami-Dade County RER-DERM

All volunteers will get a reusable tote bag with this year's animal theme, the Seahorse! We will have contests for those who find the strangest thing, and as always, community service hours will be provided.

Find an ICC cleanup in Miami-Dade near you

Climate Compact Spotlight

Lock in the Early Bird Rate by registering today for the Climate Leadership Summit

Registration is now open and the Early Bird Rate is now available for the 15th Annual Climate Leadership Summit. Hosted by Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach, this year's Climate Leadership Summit will showcase Transformative Climate Action.

The Climate Leadership Summit is a major regional event coordinated by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a partnership between Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, their municipalities and other partners. Focused on facilitating climate-related collaboration and knowledge sharing, the Climate Leadership Summit features panel discussions themed around innovation, electrification, green infrastructure, transportation, equity and engagement, and much more!

Sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information, contact the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience by calling 305-375-5593 or by emailing resilience@miamidade.gov.

Compact teamwork helps land $1M planning grant from the U.S. EPA

The strength of teamwork of the Southeast Regional Climate Change Compact reaped rewards on August 4, 2023, when Miami-Dade County was awarded an approximately $1 million planning grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to complete a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plan that encompasses Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties.

Miami-Dade County is serving as the lead agency to facilitate the work on behalf of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact that represents the four-county region. The planning grant was awarded under EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program that was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act. GHG reduction measures identified in the plan will be eligible to compete for forthcoming implementation grants. The effort will include an extensive outreach effort over the next two years to engage governmental agencies, tribal governments, community-based organizations, and the public at-large to inform development of the GHG reduction plan.

Partner Spotlight

Urban resilience champion takes helm at UM’s Climate Resilience Academy

The University of Miami recently welcomed Michael Berkowitz as executive director of the Climate Resilience Academy. A champion of urban resilience, Berkowitz brings global expertise to the new role, having founded and built the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative from a fledging idea into an influential network collaborating across 48 countries to help cities become more resilient to physical, social, and economic shocks and stresses.

Berkowitz played a pivotal role when Miami-Dade County and the Cities of Miami and Miami Beach created the first regional partnership of the 100RC network, uniting their vision in the Resilient 305 collaborative to better prepare for and respond to hurricanes, sunny day flooding, sea level rise and the wide-ranging challenges of climate change, including social and economic inequities.

Launched on Earth Day (April 22) in 2022, the Climate Resilience Academy supports the University’s 12 schools and colleges in their efforts to conduct interdisciplinary research, train the next generation of climate scientists and practitioners, and solve the most pressing problems caused by climate change - all while partnering with industry, government, universities, and other stakeholders.

Berkowitz is also taking on the role of the Eric T. Levin Endowed Chair in Climate Resilience.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District hosts virtual public meeting on plan integration in southeast Florida

On August 29, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District provided an update on numerous projects the Corps is leading in southeast Florida and how they work together toward building regional resilience that supports communities, the economy and Everglades and Biscayne Bay ecosystems. The various non-federal sponsors including Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and the South Florida Water Management District also offered local resilience perspectives. Jim Murley, Chief Resilience Officer for Miami-Dade County, highlighted the importance of considering future land use, analyzing comprehensive benefits, demonstrating progress and improving communications and public engagement for the interrelated projects.

Along with discussing the regional benefits of project integration, Corps project managers provided updates on a total of nine individual projects, including:

Navigation: Miami Harbor Improvements Study
Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM): Miami-Dade Back Bay, Key Biscayne, and Dade County (beach nourishment) CSRMs
Flood Risk Management: Central & Southern (C&SF) Florida Flood Resiliency Study
Ecosystem restoration: Broward County WPA C-11 Reservoir, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, and Biscayne Bay Southeast Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER)

For more information and a copy of the final presentation, please visit the USACE Jacksonville District website for Project Integration here.

FEMA awards $100M in two BRIC grants to upgrade critical flood control structures '

In August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded nearly $100 million to upgrade critical flood control structures in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) through two grants in its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

In Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, FEMA awarded $49.64 million for the Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure project to install nature-based flood-control measures in the City of North Miami Beach. Extensive land development, population growth and sea level rise have impacted the ability of the water control structures and canals within the C-9 basin to provide flood control and prevent saltwater intrusion. With a focus on disadvantaged communities, this project will enhance the canal structure with a new forward pump, a tie back levee, elevated flood control gates, and a service bridge to help prevent overtopping and reduce saltwater intrusion.

Conducted in partnership with the City of North Miami Beach, this project includes enhancing Pickwick Lake’s wetland and stormwater detention area. Additionally living shoreline features will reduce bank erosion and improve water quality and aquatic habitat. This project will reduce flood risk by lowering peak canal stages, bank exceedances and overland flood inundation throughout the C-9 basin, for the 5-, 10-, 25- and 100-year extreme storm events, and under 1-, 2- and 3-foot sea level rise scenarios.

Also in Miami, FEMA awarded $50 million for the Improving Canal Systems Using Gray and Green Infrastructure project at Little River Basin. This project will provide major upgrades to flood control infrastructure, especially in disadvantaged communities. The project will improve the S-27 Coastal Structure, upgrade parts of the C-7 canal, convert gate opening systems and enhance its salinity control function. Nature-based solutions include building a 2-acre flow-through wetland to reduce local runoff and flooding at W.H. Turner High School and serve as a project-based learning tool.

WE-LAB workshops offer fun science-based ways to save water and energy

To encourage everyone to take charge in protecting our environment, Dream in Green is offering WE-LAB workshops in September that will provide engaging science-based, Water-Energy Nexus information so that South Florida residents can better understand how decreasing the demand for energy and water can positively affect air quality and improve the water supply.

In addition to the timely information, participants from the City of Miami will also receive a free water and energy-saving toolkit (valued at $50) allowing them to take immediate action at home to save water and energy.

Click on the date and location you would like to attend to register!

September 6, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Charlie Deluca Park

September 13, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Brickell City Center

September 20, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Jose Marti Park

September 27, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Shenandoah Park

If you require translation services, please register en español or an kreyòl .