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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit ACITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D City Manager DATE: February 20, 2019 SUBJECT: Waiver of Competitive Bidding per Section 18-85(a) of the City Code, for Urban Land Institute Advisory Panel FROM: Jane Gilboa �\ REFERENCES: Chief Resilience Office of Re,e'nce'antS stainability ENCLOSURES: ULI Background Document, Proposed Scope and Agreement BACKGROUND The City of Miami has been on the forefront of resilient planning and recently started evaluating innovative ways to address the impacts of sea level rise and climate change through new and more adaptive strategies. Of special interest is Miami's first line of defense- its waterfront. The scope of this panel will include the Miami's urban waterfront from SE 26th Street (Southern Boundary) to NE 36th Street (Northern Boundary) to NW 27th Avenue (Western Boundary) along the Miami River. The more resilient we make our waterfront, the less damage or disruption will be inflicted by inclement weather and high tides. We must continue to mitigate risk and avoid debilitating direct and indirect costs from storm related damages through wise, calculated investments to strengthen our resilience and protect our neighborhoods. At the same time, we aim to maximize the environmental, social and economic benefits of those investments, such addressing the need for quality open space, access to the water and multimodal mobility. The City of Miami needs to update its waterfront design standards in Miami21 and the Miami River Greenway Plan to take into account current and future increases in density and risks associated with climate change and sea level rise. A continued piecemeal approach of investments will result in non-contiguous and to some extent ineffective attempts to mitigate risks and increase quality of life. The scope of the panel should include recommended methods of investment, both private and public, as well as changes to policy, design guidelines and processes for future construction, specifically as they apply to waterfront and waterfront adjacent properties. Below are the four focus areas to address during the panel's Miami immersion: 1. Develop updated minimum design guidelines waterfront design standards with three building typologies such as multifamily residential, commercial and office in several different topographies with the overarching objective of meeting the City's resilience goals and meeting other applicable standards such as the City's Form Based Code. 2. Define public and private sector roles and recommend financing strategies for infrastructure improvements along the waterfront — green and grey infrastructure improvements that will provide the greatest return on investment and meeting the City's resilience goals. 3. Develop a policy direction that informs both private and public property modifications to enhance flooding and storm surge resiliency, with a specific focus on hi -rises and historic buildings that cannot be elevated and are not likely to be demolished. 4. Integrate the above recommendations into an action plan or steps the city should take in the short, medium and long-term. This Action Plan will be integrated with and leverage other resilience planning work underway, such as the Resilient Greater Miami and the Beaches Strategy, the USACE's back bay study and the City of Miami's Stormwater Master Plan and overall strategic plan. RECOMMENDATION In light of the above mentioned, and pursuant to Section 18-85(a), as amended, it is respectfully recommended that you, as the City Manager, waive competitive sealed bidding methods, via this written finding and reasons herein. Said waiver shall need to be ratified, confirmed, and approved by the Commission, by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, during an advertised public hearing. Your signature below confirms your approval of waiving competitive sealed bidding methods for the Urban Land Institute Advisory Panel. APPROVED: Emilio T. Gonzalez, P City Manager Date: '--2