Elbert L. Waters, J.D.
Project Manager/ Principal-in-Charge
Elbert L. Waters is a Miami, FL based Planning and Development Consultant.
Bert has over thirty years of successful planning and management of complex urban development projects, private sector planning and land development consulting with specific emphasis in the areas of:
Urban Development
Community Services Management
Land Use and Zoning: Community and Economic Development
Urban Real Estate/Finance Development
Neighborhood Redevelopment
Affordable Housing Development/Finance
Urban Design
E.L. Waters and Company, LLC, established in 2005 provides consulting planning, zoning, and development services for public and private clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.
Currently, the Firm is the Planning and Zoning Consultants for the City of West Park, Florida; City of Miami Gardens, Florida (pop. 110,000). Also, the Firm served as Planning and Development Consultants for the City of Opa-locka, Florida and prepared a FINDING OF NECESSITY for the Southeast Overtown Park West Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami, Florida.
Bert served as the Assistant City Administrator for the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. He was responsible for management oversight of economic development services, which included the Planning and Zoning Department; Construction Services; Code Enforcement; and Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA). Bert served as the Director of Community Planning & Development for the City of North Miami, Florida (4th largest city in Miami-Dade County).
He was responsible for management of the department, which included Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement (C.A.R.E.), Economic and Business Development, Building and Inspections, Engineering and Construction Management and the CDBG/State Housing Initiative Program (S.H.I.P.). Bert served as a Community Builder Fellow, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, serving as the federal coordinator under HUD for the Miami-Dade Empowerment Zone Trust, Inc.
The Empowerment Zone is a $25.0 Million economic development initiative for Miami-Dade County. Bert served in various positions with the City of Miami, Florida, as the Director of Community Development Housing ($30.0 Million budget); Assistant Director of Planning, Building and Zoning ($4.0 Million budget); Chief of Land Development, Planning and Development Department: Neighborhood Administrator; and Urban Designer/ Downtown Planner for the Planning Department. Bert helped develop the 1994 Miami/Metro-Dade County Empowerment Zone application, the Wynwood SAFE Neighborhood Improvement District, and the Wynwood Foreign Trade Zone.
He helped create four (4) Urban Redevelopment Plans that provided economic opportunities for residents of Southeast/Overtown Park West, DuPont Plaza, and the Model City/Liberty City areas of Miami. Bert is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., former board member of the Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc., and current board member of the Urban League of Broward County, and former member of One Hundred Black Men of South Florida, Inc. Bert was the Executive Director and Cofounder of the Community Design Center of Columbia, Inc., and a neighborhood planning/design nonprofit organization in Columbia, South Carolina. Also, he served as a member of the Planning Accreditation Board (an Affiliate of the American Planning Association), Site Visit Team.
Bert received a Bachelor of Technology in Architectural Engineering from Florida A&M. University; Master’s in City Planning/Urban Design from Georgia Institute of Technology; and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Waters is a John L. Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Design, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. In addition, Mr. Waters completed the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Community Builder Fellows, Executive Program in Public Management, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. Also, he is an ELI Fellow, Executive Leadership Institute, National Forum for Black Public Administrators. Bert is an avid Jazz Trumpet/Flugelhorn player.
Certifications
Senior Executive Manager/Consultant
Community and Economic Development ■ General Public Affairs ■ Administration
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
An accomplished senior executive and urban planning consultant with over thirty years’ experience in professional planning and economic development, federal program administration, and water resource management. Possesses extensive experience in coordination with local government: planning and management of complex urban development projects: authoring and management of local land-use and zoning regulations; the implementation of housing, neighborhood and community revitalization initiatives; and the planning, implementation and evaluation of economic development strategies. Extensive experience in real estate and economic development finance, strategic planning, and budget development. Strong leadership and diplomacy skills, a skilled consensus builder and decision maker with an intuitive sense for creative and analytical problem solving. A team player with solid character values, interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to manage change and accomplish objectives in a dynamic environment.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
E.L. Waters and Company, LLC, established in 2005 provides consulting _planning, zoning, and development services for public and private clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Currently, the Firm is the Planning and Zoning Consultants for the City of West Park, Florida: City of Miami Gardens, Florida (pop. 110,000). Also, the Firm served as Planning and Development Consultants for the City of Opa-locka, Florida and prepared a FINDING OF NECESSITY for the Southeast Overtown Park West Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami, Florida; City North Miami, Florida; and the City of Miramar. Florida. South Florida Water Management District Florida’s largest water management agency, serving 16 counties, over 150 municipalities, over 7 million people, 1,800 employees with a $1 billion budget, responsible for water supply, water quality, flood protection and the preservation and restoration of Florida’s natural resources
Broward Service Center Director – 2005-2011
Lead all strategic and operational aspects of the delivery of water resource services to Broward County and the 31 cities within the county. Manage a staff of 6 and a budget of $2.0 million. Serve as liaison for local, state, and federal governments and for community groups within Broward County. Provide and assist with the coordination of permitting and other agency functions, coordinate with local stakeholders, manage major projects and messaging.
City of West Palm Beach, Mayor’s Office/City Administration Assistant City Administrator – 2003-2004
Responsible for the management and oversight of economic development services which included the Planning & Zoning Department, Economic & Community Development Department, Construction Services Department, Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA), and Code Enforcement.
City of North Miami, Community Planning and Development Department Director of Community Planning and Development – 2000-2003
Responsible for the administration and management of community services which includes, planning and zoning, code enforcement, building and permitting, housing/ economic development, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP.) programs for the City.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Miami, Florida Community Builder Fellow – 1998-2000
Responsible for federal coordination of the Miami-Dade Empowerment Zone, affordable housing initiatives and partnerships in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Project Team Leader of the first Access Control Area Pilot Program in the country. The ACA program allows U.S. HUD to sell its portfolio of single- family foreclosed properties at a 50°/0 discount to Miami-Dade County. The program is now the national policy of U.S. HUD.
City of Miami Planning and Development Department, Miami, Florida Chief, Land Development – 1986-1998
Division Manager responsible for planning and design for short and long-range development of 1.6. square miles of downtown Miami. Major accomplishments include the extension of 12 additional stations to the downtown Metro Mover (People Mover) along approximately three miles of overhead guideway.
City of Miami Community Development/ N.E.T., Miami, Florida Director – 1995-1998
Responsible for the management, administration and implementation of the City of Miami’s Community Development Block Grant Program ($13.1 million); HOME Investment Partnership Program ($4.2 million); Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS ($8.8 million); Emergency Shelter Grant ($346,000), Neighborhood Jobs Program ($1.8 million), and the Neighborhood Enhancement Team. Managed programs totaling approximately $29 million and a staff of 140. In addition, monitored and implemented fiscal and programmatic control over 190 projects and programs.
Office of the City Manager, City of Miami Neighborhood Administrator – 1992-1995
Assistant to the City Manager, responsible for the coordination and delivery of city services for Neighborhood District Three, population 40,000. City services included police, fire, building and code enforcement, sanitation, and planning and development services.
City of Miami Planning, Building and Zoning Department Assistant Director – 1988-1992
Responsible for administrative services, planning data and analysis and downtown planning of the department. with direct responsibility for management and budget of $7 million and 114 staff. Coordinated policy implementation of the Downtown Master Plan and Development of Regional Impact. Coordinated planning activities with Metro-Dade County relative to the development of the Downtown Metro Mover (People Mover) transit system. Directed the Comprehensive Neighborhood Planning Division.
City of Miami, Planning Department Planner Ill (Urban Designer/Downtown) – 1987-1988
Project Manager (Urban Designer/Downtown) responsible for planning & design of short- and long-range development of downtown Miami, Florida (1.6 sq. miles). Also, responsible for neighborhood/ housing and commercial revitalization programs related specifically to housing and community development within the eight (8) Community Development Targeted Areas of the City.
Planner II – 1984-1987
Principal Planner responsible for short- and long-range neighborhood/commercial revitalization programs; economic development planning; urban design; land development planning and transportation planning for four of eight neighborhood target areas of the City of Miami.
Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation Industrial Development Specialist – 1982-1984
Project Manager responsible for planning, development, management, marketing, financing, tenant negotiation and leasing of a 121-acre Airport Industrial Park valued $2.5 million.
Wilbur Smith and Associates, Columbia, South Carolina Urban Planner/Designer – 1978-1982
Project Manager responsible for the development and management of firm- wide projects in the areas of architecture, urban design, land development planning, economic development, residential commercial, industrial development; and site feasibility analysis
EDUCATION:
- University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, Juris Doctor, 1998
- Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1985-1986 John L. Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies
- Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 1983 Graduate Studies in Advanced Real Estate Finance
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Georgia, 1978, Master of City Planning – Specializing in Urban Design /Transportation Planning
- Florida A.& M. University, Tallahassee, Florida, Bachelor of Technology, 1976, Architectural Engineering
AFFILIATIONS:
- Member, Site Visitor Team, Planning Accreditation Board, APA, 1995-Present
- Member, Alumni Council, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 1994- 1997
- President, South Florida Greater Miami Chapter, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, 1993-1995 First Vice President,
- Gold Coast Chapter, American Planning Association, 1992-1994
- Secretary, Gold Coast Chapter American Planning Association, 1989-1992
- National Forum for Black Public Administrators, 1988-Present
- National Council for Urban Economic Development, 1982-1990
- Member, American Planning Association, 1978-Present
- Member, Couples Ministry, Greater New Bethel Baptist Church
CIVIL AND FRATERNAL AFFILIATIONS:
- Former Board Member, Urban League of Broward County, Florida, 2006-2011
- Associate Member, Broward League of Cities, 2005-2011
- Ex-Officio Member, South Florida Regional Planning Council, 2006- 2011
- Member, “WHO’S WHO IN BLACK SOUTH FLORIDA,” 2006-2007
- Member, ADRAC, Miami-Dade Housing Finance Authority, 2000-Present
- LIFE Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 1973-Present
- Former Member, One Hundred Black Men of South Florida, Inc., Miami Florida, 1990-1994
- Member, Executive Board of Directors, Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc .1984-1990
- Band Member (Trumpet/Flugelhorn), Broward County Symphonic Band, 2009-Present
- AWARDS- EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS; LEADERSHIP MIAMI FELLOW, GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 1998