Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on May 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of Governmental Center East to consider enactment of a proposed Ordinance, the title of which is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO ANTECEDENT GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER STAGES USED TO DESIGN SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS; AMENDING SECTION 27-200 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES ("CODE"); INCORPORATING A GROUNDWATER ELEVATION MAP REFLECTING THE 2070 FUTURE CONDITIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners)
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Why Action is Necessary
The proposed Ordinance was prepared by the Office of the County Attorney as directed by the Board of County Commissioners on May 23, 2023.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the setting of a public hearing during which the Board may consider enacting the proposed Ordinance.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
At its meeting of March 10, 2020 (Item 28), the Board accepted the 2019 update to the Unified Regional Sea Level Rise Projections ("2019 Update") and directed staff to utilize the 2019 Update as the basis for sea level rise adaptation planning. Thereafter, the County began updating its modeling and planning tools to account for future conditions anticipated for the 50-year planning horizon (extending to 2070).
One of the products generated by the County's resiliency planning efforts is Plate WM 2.1. The model that generates Plate WM 2.1 utilizes sea level rise projections as an input to estimate the future average wet season groundwater elevation. The existing Plate WM 2.1 - Future Conditions Average Wet Season Groundwater Elevation was developed using the 2015 Unified Regional Sea Level Rise Projections and 2060 planning horizon. The 2019 unified sea level rise (relative to 2000) projections for 2070 are 10.2 inches higher than those used to prepare the Plate WM 2.1 - Future Conditions Average Wet Season Groundwater Elevation. Due to the porous geology that underlies our region, these changes in sea level rise projections have dramatic implications for regional hydrology and flood protection measures, especially in the coastal areas. Therefore, staff is updating Plate WM 2.1 - Future Conditions Average Wet Season Groundwater Elevation utilizing the Board-adopted 2019 Update.
The Resilient Environment Department utilizes Plate WM 2.1 for permitting and licensing the construction and operation of surface water management systems for new development and major redevelopment to ensure the design criteria accounts for adequate flood and water quality protections. Plate WM 2.1 is adopted in Section 27-200 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances. Applying an updated plate for conditions predicted in 2070 will ensure that 1) the currently expected increases in sea level are accounted for in the design and construction of surface water management systems and 2) these investments are designed to deliver the necessary flood protection level of service and water quality treatment during their expected useful lifespan.
The proposed amendments were presented for comment to the Broward County Water Advisory Board's (WAB's) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on April 16, 2023, and June 16, 2023. The TAC recommended the amendments be forwarded to the WAB. At the November 3, 2023, Joint Meeting of the WAB and TAC, the members unanimously voted to transmit the proposed amendments to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation for approval. Additionally, staff engaged with the engineering community. Staff hosted a July 10, 2023, stakeholder workshop, inviting the engineer of record for all surface water permits issued for the past 15 years and held follow-up conversations to address all questions. As part of the approval process, the proposed amendments were discussed at the Broward County Local Planning Agency's January 10, 2024, meeting and at the Broward County Planning Council's February 22, 2024, meeting. The proposed amendments were approved by both entities.
Source of Additional Information
Maite Azcoitia, Deputy County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Fiscal Impact Statement by the Office of Management and Budget will be provided at the time of the public hearing, in compliance with Section 18.5(e)(7) of the Broward County Administrative Code.