Sarasota to start first climate vulnerability assessment for its municipal systems

In order to find ways to protect its citizens from the increasing effects of climate change, the city of Sarasota will start conducting its first climate vulnerability assessment over the next year.

In the end, the assessment will have a loose adaptation plan to have municipal systems be proactive toward climate-change scenarios.

Although the scenarios are yet to be confirmed within the next few months, tentatively the assessment will study how sea-level rise, flooding, storm surge and increased extreme heat days could affect roads, lift systems, storm water, water pumping and wastewater systems.

A team of technical engineers, scientists and sea-level rise experts will work with the city to conduct GIS maps and interview people already experiencing climate-change issues. Project manager and city sustainability manager Stevie Freeman-Montes said five of the nine firms who proposed plans will be interviewed Friday to figure out which proposal will best fit the assessment.

Sarasota city commissioners voted 4-1 in December to commit $125,000 for the assessment from the local claims fund from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

“The timing is right with the funding,” Freeman-Montes said.

After the scenarios are confirmed and the most vulnerable municipal systems identified, Freeman-Montes said the project will prioritize vulnerabilities and study strategies in place globally, nationally and locally.

Manatee County said it adapted a sea-level rise response plan in the form of beach renourishment to protect Anna Maria Island beachfront properties, but renourishment designs are evaluated to address new needs, such as beach height or width, to prevent long-term erosion.

Freeman-Montes said Sarasota County conducted a similar assessment in relation to sea-level rise and critical public infrastructure such as lift stations and water systems, but the difference is this city assessment will provide possible adaptations with public input to be applied to future projects such as bridges or infrastructure.

“It’s smart for us to be thinking of how we can be resilient in the future,” she said.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Sarasota to start first climate vulnerability assessment for its municipal systems."