TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Missie Barletto, Assistant Public Works Director
THROUGH: Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
DATE: April 9, 2019
Title
Intracoastal Waterway Water Level and Infrastructure Vulnerability: Presentation of Ordinance Alternatives for Implementation of Seawall Elevations and Improvements of Private Seawalls
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Provide direction regarding the City's desired ordinance to mandate seawall elevations and timing of improvements to improve resiliency to coast flooding City-wide
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Background:
In October 2018, the City of Delray Beach (City) completed an Intracoastal Waterway Water Level and Infrastructure Vulnerability Study (Study), the results of which were presented to commission on February 12, 2019. The Study looked at today's water levels in comparison with those projected for the next 30 years. The Study recommended that the City use an elevation range of 3.9 to 4.4 feet when planning for infrastructure improvements on a 30-year planning horizon.
The City is primarily vulnerable to coastal flooding due to low or unmaintained seawalls and low or unprotected stormwater inlets. The City has developed a strategy to systematically install backflow prevention devices throughout the public stormwater system to address the low or unprotected inlets. To guide the implementation of the seawall improvements by private residents, ordinances can mandate elevations and timing of improvements to improve resiliency to coastal flooding City-wide. The recently completed Study explored several alternatives that will be presented for review and selection:
1. Public / Private Partnership
a. The responsibility to maintain, raise, repair and replace private seawalls remain with the private owners, except as required by existing City Code of Ordinances
2. Ordinance with Minimum Elevation and Timeline Requirement
a. City adopts seawall elevation standards and timeline that all seawalls would be required to meet.
3. Ordinance with Elevation Requirement Only
a. City adopts seawall elevation standards that all new seawalls and seawall repairs would be required to meet.
4. City Implementation
a. City assumes maintenance responsibilities of both public and private seawalls through the creation of a special assessment district.
This presentation will provide the City Commission with information about ordinance alternatives, pros and cons, and provide background as to how other coastal municipalities are addressing this issue and request direction for the preferred City ordinance.
City Attorney Review:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Funding Source/Financial Impact:
N/A
Timing of Request:
This request is not time-sensitive. However, seawall vulnerability concerns continue to grow and putting an ordinance in effect will help address them.