The City of Sunny Isles Beach is a city located on a barrier island in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. The city is a culturally diverse area and growing resort area, spanning approximately 1.4 miles, with a population of 22,000.
In response to massive flooding in low-lying areas on the west side of the city that occurred during rain, Sunny Isles Beach undertook a comprehensive engineering analysis, with a plan to address the affected areas. These projects were included in the city’s capital improvement budgets and progress was made each year in order of priority. Though many improvements were made, Sunny Isles Beach continues to seek new and better solutions, through research by experts in Florida and national coordination and support.
Through satellites, specially equipped floating buoys off the coast, and tidal gauges, the city was informed that the sea level had risen eight inches over the last 50 years, with an increase in speed in recent years and scientific projections forecasting another eight inches of sea level rise in the next 20 years.
In December of 2017, led by City Commissioner Dana Goldman, the City Commission joined other coastal communities nationwide to fully address the challenge of sea level rise and flooding. A resolution was adopted to become a member and supporter of the coalition, recognizing the need to advance national solutions to sea level rise and flooding.
