environment – Mark Samuelian for Miami Beach City Commission

‘A lot quieter’: Miami Beach Commission will consider ban on gas-powered leaf blowers

Environment, Miami Beach / By marksamuelian

After years of discussions, Miami Beach may soon become the latest city to ban gas-powered leaf blowers. The City Commission will consider an ordinance that would outlaw the noisy, pollution-emitting blowers following a transition period that would allow landscaping companies and homeowners to replace their old equipment. Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who will present the proposal …

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If Florida makes energy efficiency a priority, we’ll save money and combat climate change

Environment / By mdwcomm

BY MARK SAMUELIAN Florida is at a critical energy turning point. The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is reviewing the Florida Energy Efficiency Conservation Act (FEECA), which means it can establish better energy efficiency goals for our utilities and improve how they are measuring energy efficiency. The PSC can meet our state’s energy needs, cut …

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Videos Show Dirty Stormwater Pumped Into Biscayne Bay and Swallowed by Manatee

Biscayne Bay, Environment, Miami Beach / By mdwcomm

At the same meeting, Commissioners John Aleman and Mark Samuelian pushed back on the criticism, saying the city is doing the best it can. “We are constantly challenging what we’re doing,” Samuelian said. “We collectively have to keep pushing the envelope, but we also have to acknowledge that the technology is not perfect,” Aleman added. “There’s …

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Can she keep Miami Beach above the rising sea?

Environment, Miami Beach, Road Raising / By mdwcomm

The city’s efforts have their critics. A citizens group, We Love Lakeview, is protesting a plan to raise roads in their neighborhood, worried about water drainage onto their land and property values. Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian agrees the city must respond to sea level rise but has concerns about what he calls “our one-size-fits-all …

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Keep raising roads, experts tell Miami Beach, but explain it to residents better

Environment, Miami Beach, Road Raising / By mdwcomm

Critics of road raising, including Commissioner Mark Samuelian, argue the city’s “one size fits all” plan to elevate all streets to the same height doesn’t serve residents whose properties are at different elevations and need tailored approaches. The ULI report, Samuelian said, ‘has not materially changed my view.” September 18, 2018 | Miami Herald | …

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Miami Beach’s Road Raising, Stormwater Climate Adaptation Plan Reviewed

Environment, Miami Beach, Road Raising / By mdwcomm

Residents reportedly unhappy with the road raising policy elected Commissioner Mark Samuelian as a lead voice reviewing resiliency projects and slowing some down. Samuelian reportedly found that he supported City Manager Jimmy Morales’ goals to include permanent generators on stormwater projects, finish projects underway, fix issues on completed projects and integrate alternative solutions like green, blue and grey …

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As Miami Beach battles sea-rise flooding, some neighbors feud over the fixes

Environment, Miami Beach, Road Raising / By mdwcomm

“Dramatic street raising causes the city problems. It elongates the projects, it causes there to be a lot more cost and complexity and it is losing the trust of the residents,” said Commissioner Mark Samuelian. Fighting over whether to elevate road or how high to raise them slow down other work that could help residents …

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Revisiting Miami Beach’s Road Raising Policy

Environment, Miami Beach, Road Raising / By mdwcomm

Samuelian acknowledges, “’Do nothing’ is not an option.” He said, “The City has made some important progress over the last few years.” With that learning and the recommendations of outside experts from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Harvard, Samuelian said, “We’re in a situation where we are going to… ‘reorient’ our resiliency program which, to me, …

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