SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Vulnerability Assessment Overview
Body
SUMMARY:
The city of Clearwater is working with the consulting firm, Atkins on a citywide vulnerability assessment, with hopes to better understand how climate factors will impact the city in the near and distant future. This assessment, which started in October 2022, was funded by the State of Florida’s Resilient Florida Grant Program. Under the guidance of a multi-disciplinary Technical Advisory Committee involving regional partners, Atkins has created a “digital twin” of Clearwater to test vital community elements against several projected climate impacts, with the greatest priority being given to analyzing the impacts of flood and heat.
Various city departments collaborated to choose several specific scenarios that Atkins input into the program. This EAB meeting will be the first public presentation for project findings, which will serve as the basis to guide capital project investments, assist with the planning of a future Climate Action Plan and identify alternatives that support social justice and cost-beneficial objectives of the city.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
High Performing Government: 1.1 Provide evidence-based measurement tools to continually guide municipal performance and promote accountable governance.
Environmental Stewardship: 4.1 Support proactive climate resiliency strategies based in science to protect natural and built environments from impacts associated with sea level rise.
Community Well-being: 3.2 Preserve community livability through responsible development standards, proactive code compliance, and targeted revitalization.
