PUBLIC INFORMATION:

Public Invited to Participate in the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment Project 

The City of Pensacola invites the public to participate in a virtual meeting on Monday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. on the Resilience Planning Grant and the sea level rise vulnerability assessment project that the city has been working on since July 2020. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Please register for the meeting using this link.

The subject of the City Council briefing and public meeting will be a summary of the project overall, the Vulnerability Assessment results, a discussion about the drafted policies related to the Comprehensive Plan (this does not include adoption of the policies at this time) and a discussion about how the project overall can help improve the city’s participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System program. At the public meeting, there will be time for the public to ask questions and have discussion with the project team.

There are several activities included in the Resilience Planning Grant that will help advance the city’s discussions on climate adaptation:

• Vulnerability assessment: This grant task includes significant data collection and modeling to show what the future impacts of sea level rise will be on the city using sea level rise projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The results of that effort can help the city prioritize projects to respond to increased tidal flooding such as elevating roads, fortifying shorelines or improving stormwater pumps and flood management. The Vulnerability Assessment will include a large detailed map series.
• Comprehensive Plan: The city is required by state law to include goals, objectives and policies in the Comprehensive Plan to address the “peril of flood”. This grant task includes draft language for a new goal with supporting objectives and policies in the Coastal Management Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
• Communications: The city has had several internal coordination calls and meetings and now is preparing to present their findings to City Council and the public. A City Council briefing will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 24, followed by a longer more detailed opportunity for the public to engage at 5:30 p.m. via a zoom meeting. Please register for the meeting using this link.
• Web content: The project includes the development of a sea level rise story map that can be included on the city’s website. It will provide images and information about the project overall to be used as a resource for city residents and business owners.

For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.