Actions Toward a Climate Resilient Fort Lauderdale

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1 May 2, 2017 Actions Toward a Climate Resilient Fort Lauderdale 1) Developing Policy a) Adopted Flood Plain Management Ordinance codifying the new FEMA flood maps and setting new requirements for the finished floor elevation of new buildings b) Adopted Florida Friendly Landscape Ordinance which protects and enhances the urban tree canopy, important for sustainability, shade, aesthetics, stormwater management etc c) Adopted the Seawall Ordinance to set a minimum elevation for new seawall construction and requiring property owners to prevent tidal waters from leaving their properties and impacting public right-of-ways or adjacent properties. d) Adopted the Regional Climate Change Compact s Unified Sea Level Rise Projection for SE Florida by resolution for municipal planning purposes e) Adopted an internal Green Purchasing Policy 2) Incorporating Climate Issues in Planning a) Included the We Are Ready We are a resilient and safe coastal community chapter into the City s Fast Forward 2035 Vision Plan, a community-based visioning effort b) Included Goal 2: Be a sustainable and resilient community and related action items into the year Press Play Strategic Plan c) Focused the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report on how climate change is impacting our City and encouraged policies throughout the Comp Plan to address adapting to Climate Change d) Incorporated a climate and resiliency section into the Beach Community Redevelopment Plan e) Adopted the Complete Streets guidebook f) Funded and worked with the Urban Land Institute on the Riverwalk/Uptown projects on areas impacted by sea level rise and future less-vulnerable areas to direct growth. g) Adopted Adaptation Action Areas Policies into the Coastal Zone Management element of the City s Comprehensive Plan. These policies prioritize funding in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding. h) Continuing to implement the City s Sustainability Action Plan with goals to reduce greenhouse emission, reduce electrical and water consumption and fuel use 20% by 2020 from the 2010 baseline. i) Developing a Design and Construction Manual to guide future infrastructure installation that consider sustainability and resilience in every aspect of the design and construction of public infrastructure j) Continue to work to implement select recommendations of the SE Florida Regional Climate Change Compact s with Regional Climate Action Plan

2 3) Investigating Financing Options a) Designated specific Adaptation Action Areas in the annual Community Investment Plan (CIP) and identified specific projects for funding within the 5 year cycle, demonstrating the City s commitment to invest public dollars to reduce neighborhoods vulnerable to coastal flooding b) Used sustainability and climate impacts in weighting projects for priority funding in the 5 year CIP c) Created an Infrastructure Task Force to review current infrastructure needs and determine funding strategies moving forward d) Conducted rate studies for Stormwater and other known capital investments to determine how best to fund infrastructure improvements needed to reduce flooding e) Included climate issues in discussion with bond rating entities, resulting in a AA+ rating for $200M Water and Wastewater bond f) Entered into a Energy Service Company Performance Contract to improve energy efficiency of select City facilities, with financing to be paid off using guaranteed energy savings g) Proposing a Green Fund to create a dedicated funding source for small projects that will improve energy efficiency in City Operations h) Proposing to use the proceeds from the sale of City-owned property to fund elevation of select City-owned seawalls to reduce impacts from flooding during king tides 4) Performing Infrastructure Master Planning All Master Planning considers climate impact and opportunities to incorporate sustainability including: a) Comprehensive Utility Master Plan b) Parks Master Plan c) Incorporated into the scope for development of Cemetery Master Plan d) Seawall Master Plan e) Stormwater Master Plan f) Canal Dredging Master Plan g) 5 year Fleet Vehicle Replacement Plan 5) Building Staff Capacity and Awareness a) Established the Sustainability Division within the Public Works Department b) Hired regional climate and sustainability experts c) Trained 30 hand-picked staff representing all Divisions as Climate Ambassadors in Jan 2013 using a 3-day NOAA Climate awareness program and have held quarterly meetings to incorporate climate issues into everyday City operations d) Provided climate change briefings at department level staff meetings throughout organization e) Arranged and offered NOAA Green Infrastructure Training to our staff and regional participants f) Arranged and offered NOAA GIS Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise Assessment Training to our staff and regional participants g) Provide training on Sustainability and Climate Issues

3 i) Conducted 3 hour mandated training on Climate Change Science, Seriousness and Solution to all 2400 full time employees ii) Current providing a climate change awareness briefing as part of new employee orientation iii) Working with national groups such as the Association for Climate Change Officers to offer technical training on climate issues including 3 2-day workshops entitled Climate Fundamentals Academy iv) Joining and being engaged in the national Urban Sustainability Directors Network h) Through the City s internal Green Team, we are working on sustainability issues i) Flip the Switch Challenge to encourage staff to turn off lights and computer monitors when not in use ii) Kick the Can Challenge to reduce waste generation and divert waste to recycling. iii) Turn if Off Raise awareness on the City s Vehicle Idling Policy iv) Paperwise Begin implementing the City s Green Purchasing policy through purchase of recycling paper stock and changes in operations to reduce printing and other paper uses. v) Green Our Meetings Encourage use of reusable containers, electronic and web solutions to reduce paper use, reduce travel, and reduce waste. 6) Installing Infrastructure Improvements - Climate change, sea level rise and sustainability considered when developing future infrastructure a) Examples under Design i) Coconut Isle Bridge under design ii) Las Olas Garage finalized design following ParkSmart LEED for parking Garages guidelines iii) Fire Station 54 iv) Seven neighborhoods in the Stormwater Master Plan v) Design of select City-owned seawalls to be elevated to reduce King tide flooding on Cityowned rights of way b) Completed construction/installation i) Entered into a public/private partnership to pilot one-way tidal valves in the Riviera Isles neighborhood to reduce tidal flooding. The technology worked well and the City has subsequently installed a total of 147 tidal valves. ii) Pilot Berm on Las Olas to reduce tidal flooding from seawalls on south side iii) Majority of 37 Phase 1 stormwater master plan projects completed to reduce flooding iv) Tropical Storm Sandy/A1A repair and redesign of AIA north of Sunrise to incorporate resilience to wave impacts v) Beach Renourishment for shoreline protection vi) Lining wastewater collection pipes to reduce infiltration of groundwater into the sanitary sewer vii) Raising electrical panel boxes for sanitary sewer lift stations to improve resiliency to flooding viii) Floating docks at City docks to adapt to sea level rise ix) Pending purchase of flashing Roadway Flooded signs

4 7) Better monitoring and data to address concerns a) Upgraded the SCADA system for remote monitoring of water and wastewater pumps and flows b) Installed of a tidal gauge on the New River c) Procured high quality LiDAR (elevation data) City wide to use for stormwater modeling and to refine our understanding of vulnerable locations d) Initiation of asset management for water, wastewater and stormwater. e) Installation of Smart irrigation controls at select parks 8) Changing the Way We Think About What We Buy and What We Throw Out a) Engaged Energy Service Company Performance Contracts Energy efficient retrofit projects are paid for through the guaranteed cost savings generated by the retrofits. b) Instituted a Green Purchasing Policy c) Review Requests for Proposals and Intent to Bid to consider sustainability and resilience issues d) Specifying select City equipment with galvanized parts to reduce corrosion due to contact with saltwater (e.g. vacuum trucks, beach combers) e) Contracting for repurposing or recycling materials from City operations or projects such as construction demolition debris, scrap metal, plastics etc 9) Raising Community Awareness a) Included climate change and sea level rise questions in the annual Neighbor Survey to monitor awareness and perceptions of climate issues by our residents b) Conducted extensive outreach on sea level rise and seawalls to solicit public feedback on the sea wall ordinance c) Conducting targeted outreach on the Stormwater Master Plan to solicit feedback on flooding concerns in specific neighborhoods d) Developed a Green Your Routine portal that provides 100s of web pages of information on sustainability, climate change and resilience e) Making presentation to audiences including realtors, lawyers, homeowners, established and up and coming business leaders on sea level rise and resiliency f) Building a summer camp curriculum around climate change and sustainability g) Participating in Chamber of Commerce Coastal Coalition Resiliency Committee 10) Providing Additional Services a) Developing and distributing outreach materials in advance of annual King Tide events b) Compiling a Municipal tool kits for the region on how to communicate king tide issues with residents c) Providing 24-hour customer service by phone, , website and smart phone app

5 d) Working to maintain the City s Community Rating System points to earn discounts for residence on flood insurance e) Currently developing a seawall maintenance manual for residents 11) Changing the Expectations in the Community a) Developing a Special Events Manual that focusses on more sustainable event planning b) Being transparent about our vulnerability, funding and infrastructure needs to address adaptation 12) Participating in International Technical Exchanges on Climate Issues a) Gold Coast Australia b) Legazpi, Philippines c) Cap Haitien and Limonade, Haiti d) San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic e) Durban, South Africa 13) Recent Awards and Top Ten Lists Related to Sustainability and Resilience a) All-America City - National Civic League b) Top 10 Greenest Mid-Sized Cities - MyLife.com c) Top Ranked Complete Streets Policy in Florida and #3 Nationally - Smart Growth America d) Most Outstanding Green Government - U.S. Green Building Council South Florida e) Certified as a Florida Green Local Government - Florida Green Building Coalition f) 11th Greenest City in the United States - Nerdwallet.com g) Climate Leader Award - Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact h) Top 10 Best Florida Beaches for Families -Community Table i) #42 Green Fleet in North America j) Broward County Emerald Award for Climate Action Leader 2018 Transportation and Mobility Department: Leadership in Energy Efficiency 14) Political Commitments to Climate Concerns a) Mayor Seiler joined the US Climate Mayors and now mayor Trantalis is a member b) City is a member of the Seawall Coalition