Miami is preparing for climate change. Critics say bureaucracy almost slowed it down.

Facing strong opposition from climate-change groups, Miami on Thursday backed down from a change critics said would undermine the city's quest to position itself as the shining example of how a city should prepare for climate change.

Multiple commissioners and a host of activists were worried a change to the city's leadership structure could send the public and other governments the wrong message about how seriously the city is taking climate change. They feared that high-level planning decisions and big-ticket projects across the city wouldn't get the necessary input from the staffers with expertise.

Detractors also worried the city might be at risk of losing $350,000 provided by 100 Resilient Cities, a Rockefeller Foundation program that funded the creation of the resilience office more than a year ago, as well as the ability to tap the program's international network of resources.

As part of a staff reorganization, City Manager Emilio Gonzalez wanted to combine the office of resilience, made up of the chief resilience officer and four staffers, with the public works department.

Jane Gilbert, the chief resilience officer, and her team are tasked with developing a citywide strategy for dealing with the shocks and stresses brought on by climate change — from increased flooding to inadequate building codes to housing and transportation challenges as populations grow and shift. Gilbert and her small staff also work with other cities to develop regional plans and strategies.

But some feared that by coupling Gilbert's office with the public works staff, the city's top resources for climate change planning would be left ineffective and detached from the rest of the city's functions.

In the end, following hours of resident criticisms and opposition from several commissioners, Gonzalez agreed to leave the structure of the department as it stands.

“We don’t want to just be resilient, we want to do resilience," he said. "We will accomplish the same goal."

Miami's approach to planning and executing sea level rise projects is crucial after a majority of voters agreed to tax themselves to pay for necessary work. A $400 million general obligation bond was approved in November, with $192 million of that money dedicated to sea rise projects. It's a small portion of an estimated $900 million worth of drainage work needed across the city.

In a letter from 16 activists, each representing one of the organizations that make up the Miami Climate Alliance, the group asked Gonzalez to adopt the same model as Miami Beach.

"Handling existential threats is not just a matter for the public works department," the letter reads. "It requires a [chief resilience officer] and a plan that can unite all of the city’s departments, priorities, and key constituencies around a robust resilience strategy."

Even 100 Resilient Cities, the group that funded the chief resilience officer position, had a tepid reaction. In a letter written late Wednesday night, the North American regional director of 100 Resilient Cities did not object to Gonzalez's plan, but he didn't give a ringing endorsement either. He reminded Gonzalez that their program requires resiliency officers like Gilbert to have authority to oversee city progress in all areas of resilience named in the strategy.

"We are unable to support cities that do not explicitly enable CROs to perform these functions," Otis Rolley wrote. "I look forward to working with you to help make the city of Miami the most resilient city in the world!"

Critics, more than a dozen of whom spoke at Thursday's meeting, said the move would jeopardize Miami's reputation for being forward-thinking on climate change solutions.

"The message you send today will determine Miami's economic future for decades to come," said Miami resident Sean O'Hanlon. Climate change "has to be on the front burner. If it isn't, Wall Street and Moody's and investors will drop this city like a hot potato, and you can watch real estate values drop."

Amid the criticism, Gonzalez defended the change, saying it wasn't a demotion.

"Just the opposite," he said Thursday morning. "We're wrapping our architects, engineers and planners under the banner of resiliency."

But climate activists believed the shift would have weakened Gilbert's position in City Hall, one that other governments have elevated and given significantly more power.

Commissioner Ken Russell, whose district covers most of Miami's waterfront neighborhoods, said he understood Gonzalez's reasoning but still opposed the change because of the message it would send..

"The message is it's a demotion," he told the Miami Herald, adding that the office should be empowered to work across city departments that don't normally speak to each other often.

This story was originally published May 10, 2018 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Miami is preparing for climate change. Critics say bureaucracy almost slowed it down.."