Flooding In Hallandale Beach - The City Has Been Doing Major Water And Wastewater Projects

Last week, I had many meetings with residents who came to meet with me about flooding. The overarching theme was, “what are you doing?” and “I want a pump at my house.” I shared, I wish there were a magic fix and I could make the entire city flood proof. I also shared that, this is the issue I lose sleep over.

We need the plan to create a work plan and then we have to fund the work plan. More importantly, we need to be strategic and get it right. We still continue to do what we can while we are in the process. Below is one of those measures while we are waiting on completion of the study.

I requested that the city enact a local ordinance to implement the state statute that allows police to ticket drivers who create a wake. We have put up no wake signs and deployed police and barricades in low lying areas, but ignorant drivers still barrel through flooded streets and cause damage.

Chief Michel spoke and actually thanked me. This issue is extremely frustrating not just to our residents but our officers. They will be placing the ordinance on the agenda and I requested they utilize the highest fine possible allowed by the statue.

Water and flooding do not have borders. Hollywood to our north has been working on barrier island flooding for years. They have had issues all along A1A, not simply around the Lakes area. They have put out temporary pumps in some areas like Hallandale where there is no quick fix. In addition, there is nowhere to pump water. They are now beginning the process to deep well inject.

The large-scale pumps and seawall project is jointly planned and funded between the FDOT, Broward County, city and private property owners. Broward County, State and Army Corps have authority over the parks along the intracoastal and without getting into the details on all the projects they passed, I will focus on the lakes.

In 2019, they passed a General Obligation Bond to cover multiple projects. In 2023, the project was still conceptual but moving forward with design and permitting. The completion date then was 2025 but we know that is not the case. Their bond did not cover the entire project and they went to the state who actually provided two grants for planning.

The lake seawall sites alone funding was $14 Million for only seven sites and with the state awarding $18 Million in funding they could do all the public sites. The sites with private properties with docks are required to be done through the owners. Ironically, this is where there is some of the worst flooding. I am not covering the other part of A1A, but I understand the cost for stormwater management improvements citywide are well over a billion dollars.

So how does the city pay for stormwater since improvements are not all paid for by grants from other agencies? In simple terms, fees. Hollywood, just like our City, has a Stormwater Fee. Their rate went from 10.62 per equivalent unity to $22.00 dollars this year. This fee is the base for single families. Other properties classes their fee is calculated based on property square footage applied to the equivalent rate.

Hallandale has been doing major water and wastewater projects. These have been time based on the project plans. Obviously, we are doing some projects, but we cannot do them all at the same time. We do not need all the money upfront, so this afforded us the ability to phase in the rates. Increases are being phased up to 2028. The percentage increase overall will be 28.75 % for water, 21.50% for wastewater and 30% for stormwater.

I always like to say percentages always matter but sound extremely high in relation to the actual dollar. For example, the dollar changes for Water and Sewer this year on the base rates went from 38.91 to 42.02 and 25.33 to 26.72, respectively. For stormwater we also have increased the rate by 10% annually. This year it went from $9.81 Dollars to $10.79 Dollars. This fee accounts for our operation and maintenance costs as well as other improvements.

One project that is listed on the current project is the Northeast Drainage between 12th and 10th. We put $10 Million into the plan but know that the project will cost more once we have the final concept and design. We agreed to ask for the State Grant that made it to the Governor’s desk only to be cut. It does not mean we will not do it, it just means it is not fully funded.

This is why we need a new study and plan. The new plan like Hollywood’s will need to include not just drainage pumps but seawalls and other Infrastructure improvements to address the new normal created by Sea Level Rise and Climate Change.

The Infrastructure Plan we are working on is already $300 Million. I have started to make sure we as a commission realistically discuss and prepare our residents for this critical issue. It will take time to create a strategic plan; cost estimates that are just not projected but include the economic reality of increases of goods and service over time and multiple tiered approach to funding.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our city a better place on my Phone/Text: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!