MIAMI SUSTAINABILITY PLAN MIAMI GREENPRINT. City Information Size square miles City of Miami; 1,936 square miles Miami-Dade County

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1 Jay Rauschenbach UAP 5794 Environmental Studio Sustainability Plan Dissection May 8, 2011 MIAMI SUSTAINABILITY PLAN MIAMI GREENPRINT City Information Size square miles City of Miami; 1,936 square miles Miami-Dade County Region Main Industry/Industries South Atlantic Educational services, and health care and social assistance (30,730 employees); and Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (25,082 employees) Median age: City of Miami: 38.8 Race/Ethnicity: City of Miami: 72.6% white, 19.2% African American, 8.2% other race or of two races Total Population City of Miami: 399,457 Population Change ( ) City of Miami: +64,382 Population Change ( ) City of Miami: +36,987 Median Household Income City of Miami: $29, Sustainability Plan Type of Plan Comprehensive Sustainability Plan Sustainability Capacity Link for Complete Plan Year of Adoption Report Card or Progress Report? (Year) Size of Sustainability Office (staff and budget) Primary P.O.C. (coordinator/planner) December 2010; released, not officially adopted Yes baseline with 2015 targets. 7 staff members Susanne M. Torriente, the Office of Sustainability Director; susy@miamidade.gov Page 1 of 11

2 Abstract Miami Greenprint is the result of an ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability pilot-program that intended to highlight and disseminate best practices for sustainable development. The predominant focus of the plan is to help mitigate climate change through the execution of initiatives, ranging from community programs to municipal policies that aim to produce realistic, measurable goals. The plan acknowledges that climate change mitigation cannot be achieved single-handedly, and subsequently was developed as Miami's regional contribution towards the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration. Dissection Outline I. Overview II. Plan Framework III. Plan Implementation IV. Analysis V. Conclusion I. Overview A. Developing the Plan Miami Greenprint was the product of an ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability pilot-program to model the development of municipal sustainability plans. Miami-Dade County was one of only three municipalities chosen in March 2009 to participate in the program. Prior to developing Miami Greenprint, the Board of County Commissioners and various County departments had begun to slowly implement policies and initiatives to address sustainability and climate change. However, it was their acceptance into the ICLEI program that truly elevated their efforts to cultivate the full, standalone Miami Greenprint sustainability plan. Intergovernmental coordination was a key factor in the development of the Miami Greenprint, involving numerous participants throughout the planning process. In preparation of Miami Greenprint's development, planners reviewed 14 separate County plans to ensure its policies aligned with their policies and goals (see Horizontal Coordination for list of plans). One of the primary documents that the planning team considered was the County's 30-year comprehensive development master plan and how Miami Greenprint could help achieve its sustainable development vision. Two other major influences of the plan's development was the County's agreement with the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration (see Vision and Goals for further information). The planning process was truly a collaborative work of established horizontal goals and strategies, local interests, and building upon sustainability initiatives already in place. Planning Process Participant The Mayor of Miami-Dade Role To provide expertise and guidance from a practical and local Page 2 of 11

3 County's Sustainability Advisory Board Interdepartmental Sustainability Partners Climate Change Advisory Task Force Core Planning Team Cities Stakeholders, partners, and collaborators perspective Network of department directors and key staff that weave sustainability initiatives into their operations Created by Board of County Commissioners to commit Miami- Dade County to GHG reduction and leader Key staff from the Office of Sustainability, the Department of Environmental Resources Management, the Planning and Zoning Department, and the Office of Strategic Business Management Network to track the stages of other city's sustainability plan development and implementation Community experts, Miami-Dade County Public Schools staff, South Florida Water Management District staff As part of the ICLEI pilot-program, Miami Greenprint committed to achieving five milestones designed to evaluate and integrate the environment, social and economic benefits of the plans policies, programs, and initiatives. Milestone Target Date Progress Conduct sustainability assessment Fall 2009 Completed Set sustainability goals Winter 2009 Completed Develop sustainability plan Summer/Fall 2010 Completed (Miami Greenprint) Implement sustainability plan Fall 2010/Winter 2011 In progress Monitor/evaluate progress Fall 2011/Winter 2012 Beginning soon Page 3 of 11

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5 B. Community Engagement and Plan Adoption Miami Greenprint was developed mainly by the participants listed in the box on the previous page; The Mayor of Miami-Dade County's Sustainability Advisory Board, Interdepartmental Sustainability Partners, Climate Change Advisory Task Force, Core Planning Team, Cities, and finally stakeholders, partners, and collaborators. However, the plan did not include public engagement throughout the planning process. A few selected community figures and organizations were invited to participate for their respective expertise. Miami Greenprint was publicly released in December The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners has not officially adopted the plan, but rather intends to use it as a guide to achieve regional and community GHG emissions and sustainability goals. II. Plan Framework A. Vision and Goals Miami Greenprint's vision is clear, detailed, and action-oriented. The plan sets 13 goals scattered among seven plan elements, and then defines a measurable target or narrative needed to meet those goals. To track the progress of meeting the targets, the plan further developed a sustainability scorecard of performance measures for each. The goals and vision of Miami Greenprint reflect the goals and vision of the Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration. Agreement Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration Goal Prevent and mitigate climate change and its effects on Southeast Florida communities through regional collaboration. Commitment to help reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 2008 by B. Plan Elements (summary and initiative highlights) 1. Strong Leadership, Connections, and Commitment The strong leaderships, connections, and commitment element addresses how Miami Greenprint should be used as an action-oriented document rather than just a reference tool, and the need for green leaders to guide the County for generations. Integrate sustainability into all leadership systems. Encourage the government of Miami-Dade County to set precedent on sustainability practices for residents and businesses to follow. 2. Water and Energy Efficiency The water and energy efficient element outlines the importance of an efficient water and energy Page 5 of 11

6 delivery system throughout the County. In 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded a $1.25 million grant through the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to assist in funding energy efficiency projects and support economic development around green industry; the grant has paid for 13 of this projects. Improve energy planning through better public-private partnerships. Expand alternative fuels and renewable energy industries. 3. Our Environment This element addresses the County's invaluable environmental resources; from its urban beaches and waters, to its coastal habitats and wetlands. There is a large presence of sensitive and natural areas throughout the County, so managing these lands and mitigating any harmful effects against them are a high priority. Develop a sustainable solid waste system; municipal, residential, and commercial. Encourage the acquisition of environmentally endangered lands. Implement waste re-use programs. 4. Responsible Land Use and Smart Transportation The responsible land use and smart transportation element focuses on shaping the County into a compact, efficient, and sustainable urban landscape by improving land use and transportation. The policies in this element thus try to connect the land use decisions that affect neighborhood character and the transportation between them. Integrate land use and transportation planning more effectively into capital improvements. Encourage bicycling and walking through various programs and initiatives. Improve existing transportation infrastructure. 5. Vibrant Economy The vibrant economy element addresses the need of having a reliable and viable economy to support sustainability. A strong economy is not dependent on a single industry and is able to embrace new, emerging opportunities; so several policies aim to capture the green industry. Attract green businesses to the County from the development of a local action plan, certification program, and other financial incentives. Support educational institutions that offer green job development programs. Encourage sustainable agricultural practices. 6. Healthy Communities The healthy communities element outlines how personal, environmental, and community health interact and contribute to sustainability. The benefits of living in a sustainable and healthy community can include better physical and mental health, and so the policies in this element help ensure that those qualities are incorporated into neighborhood development. Encourage active and safe lifestyles as outlined in the Open Space Master Plan. Increase the urban tree canopy. Promote buying local food from grocers, farmers markets, and community gardens. Page 6 of 11

7 7. Climate Change Action Plan The climate change action plan is Miami Greenprint's step-by-step action-plan to achieve its climate change and sustainability goals. Even though the climate action plan is just one element in Miami Greenprint, it could be considered a stand-alone plan. The action plan does a great job of defining what climate change is and what it means to Miami-Dade County and the region. The County's location on the oceanfront and in southeast Florida makes it more vulnerable to some unique climate change effects: Salt water intrusion and water supply Coastal erosion and shallow coastal flooding Extreme storms and damage The action plan consists of a climate change adaptation plan and a climate change mitigation plan. 7a. Climate Change Adaptation Plan The adaption plan is dedicated to gaining a better understanding of how the County may be affected by potential future climate change, which in turn would help continue the development of new planning tools. The adaption plan defines three initiatives to support their ambitions: Track local and regional climate change indicators and trends Develop local and regional climate change scenarios of future impacts Integrated future climate change impacts into community and government decisionmaking for capital, operational, and land-use issues 7b. Climate Change Mitigation Plan The mitigation plan outlines the County's baseline GHG emissions and reduction targets from the U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration, and defines the three measurement types of GHG emission impacts used to measure progress: Emission reductions Emission offsets Emissions avoided The mitigation plan further examines the Miami Greenprint policies that include a measurable goals or targets, and how they directly connect with climate change and sustainability. This portion of the mitigation plan presents most of the supplemental scientific data and analysis that supports the climate change initiatives and programs. It also includes an array of graphs and maps depicting beforeand-after scenarios to better represent how the initiatives achieve Miami Greenprint's goals. 8. Implementation Table The implementation table element is a well-organized, complex plan that outlines the path to Miami Greenprint's success. (See Plan Implementation section for further information). 9. Sustainability Scorecard The sustainability scorecard outlines the high-level, key performance indicators for each of the Miami Greenprint goals and 2015 targets. Page 7 of 11

8 C. Horizontal Integration, Coordination, and Collaboration Horizontal coordination, collaboration integration was a strong component of Miami Greenprint. The planning process was truly an intergovernmental effort between County departments and select community figures and organizations. In addition, the plan considered and incorporated 14 other County plans policies to ensure common goals are met: Aesthetics Master Plan Bicycle Facilities Plan Comprehensive Development Master Plan Freight Plan Long Range Transportation Plan Open Space Master Plan Pedestrian Plan Social Services Master Plan Solid Waste Master Plan Strategic Plan Street Tree Master Plan Transit Development Plan Waste/Wastewater Facilities Master Plan Water Use Efficiency Plan Page 8 of 11

9 D. Vertical Integration, Coordination, and Collaboration Miami Greenprint had great vertical integration, coordination, and collaboration on a regional level (SE Florida Climate Change Compact and U.S. Cool Counties program), but failed to directly connect with federal or state plans or interests. III. Plan Implementation Plan implementation is one of the strongest components to Miami Greenprint. The plan's Implementation Table outlines every actionable and measurable initiative, and detailed information concerning their implementation. Lead and partners Funded/unfunded capital and operating costs Funding sources Applicability of legislative action. 5-year milestones Impact on carbon emissions or the value of carbon storage Performance indicators and targets Most participants in the planning process of Miami Greenprint, public and private, were included in developing the implementation table. The strong presence of intergovernmental coordination is presented as a huge benefit to succeeding in implementation. The ICLEI grant afforded Miami-Dade County to develop a truly comprehensive sustainability plan; however, the grant does not cover implementations costs, so the County needs find funding sources to fully take advantage of Miami Greenprint. A majority of the initiatives in the implementation table have a defined funding source already, though many are left 'to be determined.' IV. Analysis A. Plan Vision, Goals, Engagement Process Strengths Goals were clear and concise; included time sensitive, measurable targets The sustainability scorecard provided even a further layer to track progress. Weaknesses Did not engage the community within the planning process; except select community figures for their expertise. B. Comprehensive Plan Characteristics and Traditional Policy Elements Strengths Page 9 of 11

10 The few traditional comprehensive plan elements found in Miami Greenprint were strong in a sustainability sense but minimal in a social and demographic sense; only focused on the climate and environment. Weaknesses Since Miami Greenprint was a sustainability plan, it lacked many of the traditional elements found in a comprehensive plan. It completely left out housing and low-income residents, and barely touched upon community/neighborhood development. C. Sustainability Policy Elements Strengths Sustainability was the primary focus of the plan so almost every policy and its initiatives contributed to the County's climate change and sustainability goals. The County's affiliation with the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact had previously inventoried GHG emissions, so the plan used that data to form its goals and targets; along with the U.S. Cool Cities Program goals and targets which the County is also a part of. Weaknesses Did not include sustainability fairs or workshops to promote public awareness. D. Evaluation/Implementation Strengths Miami Greenprint established an incredible methodology to implement all its policies through an elaborate implementation plan; clear and detailed. Since intergovernmental coordination was embedded in the plan's development, the plan is set up to be easily implemented throughout the County's agencies and departments. The plan also created a detailed scorecard that outlined the entire plan's policies performance measures and 2015 targets. Weaknesses None. E. External Characteristics Strengths Miami Greenprint was written so everyone could read and understand it; bright colors and supporting images, concise and clear wording, and simply accessible to all audiences. Both horizontal and vertical coordination/integration of other County and regional plans was present throughout the entire plan, frequently recommending to simply implement their respective policies. Page 10 of 11

11 Weaknesses However, the plan did not consider any state or federal plans or interests. V. Conclusion Miami Greenprint considers itself not as a Miami-Dade County government plan, but as a plan for the people of Miami. The plan intends to serve as a framework to integrate environmental, social, and economic benefits into the planning process, identified initiatives, and policy implementation. It further refers itself as an 'umbrella plan' that connects the County's sustainability and climate change objectives with all its other County plans. While Miami Greenprint has strong sustainability and implementation components, it lacks the traditional characteristics that plan for community and economic development, and housing. While public engagement was limited throughout the planning process, this downfall was compensated with a large degree of coordination between intergovernmental employees and select community figures and organizations. Page 11 of 11