Local Impacts of Sea Level Rise

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Local Impacts of Sea Level Rise Tom Harmer Town of Longboat Key

January 25, 2019

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Introductions

Full Steam Ahead…..

Focus of Presentation 1. Longboat Key In Context 2. Why Important To Us? 3. Our Assessment 4. What We Are Doing?

5. Where Do We Go From Here…..

Longboat Key

Longboat Key

Longboat Key 11 square miles long 4.5 square miles Elevation- +2 to 8’ 7,000 year round residents Over 20,000 seasonal population In two Counties Town split between two Regional Planning Councils

50% of insured structures “Pre-Firm” • Pre 1975 • Built on Grade • Below “Base Flood Elevation” • Single Family and Condos • Flood Insurance Rates High and Continues to Increase • Impact on Value of Property • 50% Rule (Renovations and Redevelopment)

Why Important to Longboat Key

Hmm, Why do people come to Longboat Key???

Why Important to Longboat Key? • Tax Base • $5.7 Billon Tax Base Tax • $25.8M annual tax revenue to County Governments • $42.8M annual tax revenue to School Boards

• Real Estate- Property Values • Public Infrastructure • Private infrastructure • Businesses

Access to Funds

AA+

“The town recently contracted with a coastal engineer to provide a high-level assessment of potential risks from sealevel rise and recurrent flooding in the island within the next three months, which we expect will assist management in identifying future capital needs.�

Our Assessment • 4 Step Process • • • •

Initial Assessment (Complete) Vulnerability Assessment Adaptation Strategies Implementation Plan

• Fact based • Criticized • • • •

Too Much Not Enough Too Slow Too Fast

Controversial Interpretation, but the meaning is still relevant.

Not literally “opportunity� -incipient moment; crucial point (when something begins or changes)

LBK Town “Sea Level Rise” Planning Letter to the News Media To: Town Commission “Stunning” is the first word that comes to mind. Spending $50,000 of taxpayer money to study the impact of a possible sea level rise of 6” in 50 years, 12” in 100 years as a top priority of Town management and government is truly stunning logic with all due respect to those with good intentions.

In full disclosure, we have owned waterfront homes on Longboat for 21 years and have our current one for sale but not because of “The Rising Seas” promoted frequently on the Sunday front page of the Sarasota-Herald Tribune.

The herd mentality, mass hysteria and jump on the bandwagon dynamic is a very seductive and combustible psychology. Therefore, we urge a measured Town approach to inarguable climate change, which has occurred since the beginning of time.

Longboat Key and surrounds have a few other immediate, top priority issues like traffic, beach erosion, storm flooding up island, water supply, sewage system upgrades, new Town Center, power under grounding, etc., etc.

So, why not get those priorities fixed over the next twenty-five years and check to see if the water has indeed risen the projected 3 inches. Then we have another 25 years to 75 years to work on the Town infrastructure in response, seriously.

For the sake of LBK’s economy and property values that drive much needed tax revenue, we urge the Town Commission to keep “The Rising Seas” in realistic context and position on the Town’s urgent priority list. To give this issue high priority, with resulting ongoing media reportage, would be a clear misallocation of limited resources strategy and with potentially damaging, unintended consequences to Longboat Key’s famous brand,

Storm and King Tide Impacts on the North End of Longboat Key

Town Of Longboat Key North End and Village Normal High tide and + 1 foot sea level rise

Town Of Longboat Key North End and Village Normal High tide and + 2 foot sea level rise

Town Of Longboat Key North End and Village Normal High tide and + 3 foot sea level rise 21

Local Historic Data

Sea Level Rise Projections Focused on 2050 Timeframe

Historical Local Daily Rainfall

Historical Local Monthly Rainfall

What Are We Doing?

• In a good position with our public infrastructure- Town Hall, Police, Fire, Public Works, Major Lift Stations all Post-Firm • Base Flood Elevation +1 foot (2006) • Increased private seawall height (2018) • Third Party Assessment (2018) • Stormwater system is an on-going concern • Current Related Initiatives • • • •

Beach Management Plan Update Design of new Fire Station New Stormwater Valves North End Structural Stabilization Project

Stormwater Infrastructure

Installing New Valve Systems

Beach Nourishment

North End Structural Stabilization Project In Permitting……

Where Do We Go From Here…..

• Take a strategic approach to shoreline protection • Factor into our capital budgeting process- priorities • Continue to next phase of our Assessment process • Seek Legislative support- $$$ • Look for regional opportunities (share data and info at least) • Encourage State Leadership- single point of focus (A Center, A Czar?)

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Thank you!

Tom Harmer Town Manager Longboat Key, Florida tharmer@longboatkey.org 941-316-1999 @TownofLBK