Cutler Bay's Floodplain Mitigation Plan Advisory Committee has rescheduled its August meeting from Aug. 4 to Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 5:30 p.m., according to a notice on the town's website.

The committee, which earned Cutler Bay the James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence in Floodplain Management in June, meets quarterly at Town Hall to monitor the town's flood mitigation plan and advise on ways to reduce vulnerability to flooding. Peak Atlantic hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October, making the Aug. 18 date relevant for residents in flood-prone areas.

The meeting is open to the public. It will be held in the Community Room at 10720 Caribbean Blvd., Suite 220.

What the committee does

Established by Resolution No. 13-56, the committee's job is to promote public safety while minimizing Cutler Bay's exposure to flood damage and protecting the natural functions of its floodplain. It helped develop the town's Flood Mitigation Plan, adopted in May 2015 and revised in November 2021, and continues to oversee its implementation.

Vice Mayor Michael Callahan serves as the Town Council liaison. The five voting members are Jorge Acevedo, a professional engineer and resident of the Special Flood Hazard Area; Luis Badillo, a real estate agent who lists homes in the SFHA; Janice Rowton, an insurance agent servicing National Flood Insurance Program policies; Raul Vergara, a local business representative; and Luis Jimenez, a resident of the SFHA.

All voting members must be local residents. Non-voting technical advisors include representatives from the South Florida Water Management District, the South Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross and two town staff members from the Community Development and Public Works departments.

National recognition

The committee's work helped Cutler Bay become the first Florida municipality to receive the James Lee Witt Local Award, presented June 4 at the Association of State Floodplain Managers conference in Milwaukee. Only two other Florida organizations have won the award: Sarasota County in 2002 and Hillsborough County in 2006.

Mayor Tim Meerbott said in the town's June 11 press release that the recognition reflects the Public Works Department's sustained work on flood mitigation, calling it "results-driven work that has become a standard in Cutler Bay."

How to participate

Residents who want to attend or learn more can call Town Hall at (305) 234-4262 or email [email protected]. The committee's next meeting after Aug. 18 is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m.