Unauthorized Short Term Rentals are NOT Allowed in Doral

Palmetto Bay Restaurant updates. Welcome Greek House Kitchen. Palmetto Bay loses La Mora Italiana and La Maison de Bruno

Dine out? How often? Residents want restaurants, but you have to show local businesses the love (patronize our local restaurants) if you want them to locate and THRIVE here in Palmetto Bay.

Current score card for Palmetto Bay 2019: 2 local family owned restaurants have closed.  Greek House Kitchen has opened.

First - the new relocation/opening here in Palmetto Bay:.

Welcome to Palmetto Bay

Greek House Kitchen
17041 S. Dixie Highway
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
TEL: (305) 777 8910

Open 7 Days -- 11am - 10pm
https://greekhousekitchen.com/menu-1

Palmetto Bay losses. We will miss these restaurants.  Palmetto Bay recently lost two fine restaurants:

La Mora Italiana    
17225 S Dixie Hwy
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
https://www.lamoraitaliana.com/

          Now CLOSED


See Community Newspapers, October 8, 2017: La Mora Italiana Restaurant: 'great food, great family'

 La Maison de Bruno     
16701 S Dixie Hwy
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
https://lamaisondebruno.wixsite.com/mysite

            Now CLOSED

See Miami Hal, June 30, 2017: New French Eatery in Palmetto Bay (La Maison de Bruno) (note - review also ran in the Community Newspapers).

Please - Shop, dine, support our Palmetto Bay businesses. The proprietors put their all into making a go of it here. Palmetto Bay recently lost 2 family owned businesses that worked hard to make Palmetto Bay their home and serve our community.

Report: The FPL Power Pole delivery trucks started rolling into the neighborhood at 8:20 on a quiet Sunday morning.

Those local mega power poles just keep coming into a Palmetto Bay neighborhood. Work started at 8:20 AM, Sunday, February 10, 2019, with the reports of the trucks rolling the neighborhood on a previously tranquil Sunday morning. I have been asked as to whether this part of a scheduled maintenance and upgrade program or hurricane hardening.  I cannot answer that, but your present local officials should be keeping you up to date.

Have any of the affected neighbors received official notification as to the work, scope and time frame of this work?

Is this an example of the current application of the Palmetto Bay "Neighborhood Protection Ordinance"?

Prior related post: January 11, 2019, Removal of Palmetto Bay Street Sign - required to get a large utility pole through a tight turn in a Palmetto Bay neighborhood. Updated 1/16/19- PBay Public Services required to revise the re-installation of the street sign.

The January 11 blog post demonstrates some of the prior work that has been occurring in the neighborhood West of Old Cutler Road, bordered by SW 144 to the north and 152nd to the South.

POD - Pelicans greeting park goers in Palmetto Bay - at Deering Point.

Good morning pelicans! Seen on Saturday morning, February 9, 2018, at Deering Point where the C100 canal empties into Biscayne Bay. 

Related Post: POD Pelican seen for first time at C100 - Thurs. Feb. 7, 2019

Palmetto Bay Garden Club combined Garage Sale and Plant Sale: Saturday, February 23, 2019

The Palmetto Bay Garden Club is having a combined Garage Sale and Plant Sale!

WHEN:            Saturday, February 23, 2019

DATE/TIME:    Feb. 23 – Sale starting at 6:30 AM through 3:00 PM

NOTE:             No early birds!

WHERE:         15203 S.W. 84th Court, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157

Interested in gardening? The Palmetto Bay Garden Club provides opportunities to learn about garden related topics from area experts and engage in many garden related activities. CLICK HERE to review some prior posts relevant to the Palmetto Bay Garden Club.

POD Pelican seen for first time at C100 - Thurs. Feb. 7, 2019

A FOSDU sent me this photo of a pelican seen at the C100 canal here in Palmetto Bay (near Coral Reef Park). Are the Pelicans common to the area? I have seen a few along the Palmetto Bay coast, at Deering and Deering (Snowden's) Point.

Photo credit - a FOSDU who prefers to remain anonymous 

I am not sure what the Pelican is up to other than it appears to be reflecting. Is it checking out a new area for the dining possibilities, lost, dazed, or a frequent visitor who I simply had not seen before?

Thank you for the photo. More wildlife making itself home here in Palmetto Bay.

Eugene Flinn

Anaheim Police Department posts an outstanding video (from a series) relating to bike safety. No one—no driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian—has sole rights to the road. Safety is everyone's responsibility.

A great educational video by the Anaheim Police Department, posted to their Facebook page, February 5 at 3:00 PM

No one—no driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian—has sole rights to the road. Safety is everyone's responsibility. #ShareTheRoad



Miami-Dade County has sharrows and many are located here in Palmetto Bay - 77th Ave, 152, 168th and even US1 to name a few.

Related reading: For more information of Sharrows and types of bikeways that you can find here in Palmetto Bay, see my blog post of December 17, 2018, Taking a close look - Old Cutler Bike Trail - designed use, rules of the road - Types of bikeways - 2 discussed here: paved path & sharrows 

Drive safe. Traffic safety is a two way street. It is important for everyone to follow the rules of the road, regardless of their method of travel.

Bike305 Bike the Wild Side - Zoo Miami event - Saturday, March 16 - a twilight bike ride through Zoo Miami

Time to get up close and personal with the animals at Zoo Miami!  The kids will love it - and so will the young at heart.

REGISTER NOW for the Saturday, March 16th twilight bike ride: Bike305 Bike the Wild Side - Zoo Miami event. 

This family-friendly ride and tour will take place at dusk when the Zoo is closing and void of crowds. Ride guides will stop at various animal areas along the way to talk about the animals' habits and habitats! 

This is a very special bike ride that few will ever experience!

                                                                       (Photo credits - published through Bike305 / EBC Facebook pages)

This family-friendly ride and tour will take place at dusk when the Zoo is closing and void of crowds. Ride guides will stop at various animal areas along the way to talk about the animals' habits and habitats! This is a very special bike ride that few will ever experience!

After-hours guided ride and tour (bring your own bike and helmet):

• Adults (13+): $10 plus tax
• Children (3-12): $5 plus tax

After-hours guided ride and tour with rental bike/helmet*:

• Adults (13+): $20 plus tax
• Children (3-12): $10 plus tax

*Bike/helmet rentals - a limited number of adult and children's bikes will be available to rent.

Advance reservations are required. Arrive by 5:30 p.m., ride starts at 6 p.m. - a ride at dusk. The ride is 1 to 1.5 hours. No walk-ups will be taken.

Proceeds benefit Zoo Miami's Conservation Fund to save wildlife.

Click the link provided for more information and to register: (official Zoo Miami site)

Palmetto Bay Charter - Citizens' Bill of Rights - requires Truth in Government by our municipal officials and employees

Municipal official and employees of the Village of Palmetto Bay cannot simply say what they want. They are required by the Palmetto Bay Village Charter to speak the truth and not a filtered or convenient truth. This is the law in Palmetto Bay: “No municipal official or employee shall knowingly furnish false information on any public matter, nor knowingly omit significant facts when giving requested information to members of the public.”

I am proud to have participated in the incorporation process of the Village of Palmetto Bay. The original Charter Committee made sure that the rights of our residents are protected through inclusion of a detailed Citizens’ Bill of Rights that remains untouched through several charter review processes.  Today I post the Citizens’ Bill of Rights – focusing on subsection (2) – Truth in Government.

CLICK HERE to view the full section posted online through Municode.

CITIZENS' BILL OF RIGHTS

 (A) This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing. In order to provide the public with full and accurate information, to promote efficient administration management, to make government more accountable, and to insure to all persons fair and equitable treatment, the following rights are guaranteed:
                     ***
           (2) Truth in Government. No municipal official or employee shall            knowingly furnish false information on any public matter, nor knowingly omit significant facts when giving requested information to members of the public.

          *** [Items (1) and (3) – (13) are omitted but can be viewed by clicking on the
          links posted below] ***

Municode is an online source for the Codes of most local governments.  CLICK HERE to reach the start page for the CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA as published on Municode.

Palmetto Bay is, or will be, #273! (That is good news - this is a tease).

This is a tease, as stated in the caption above. Palmetto Bay will soon be #273!

More information to follow. Hint - it  was mentioned in this blog in 2018. Another hint: the number #38 also comes to mind, but for identification purposes.

Watch this space for more information in the near future ...

MDFR Station 62 continues to take shape. Projected to open in June. Possible grand opening April 8. Photo update.

Photo update regarding ongoing construction of MDFR Station 62 - photos taken Jan. 27, 2019.

I continue to get inquiries as to the status of this station. As Many can view from traveling along Old Cutler Road, Station 62 continues to take shape.  The value to the life-safety of this area is immeasurable.  The Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest Communities are made safer through this enhanced life-safety service in the area. 

The composite photo (to the right) demonstrates how the action construction (top - right) is tracking, faithful to original renderings (bottom of composite - right). 

A source advised me that Station 62 structure is scheduled to be complete in May. Outfitting/furniture comes next. The permanent station is on schedule to be operational in June.

Thank you MDFR! I am looking forward to the completion of Station 62 in Palmetto Bay, a grass roots started in our earliest years of incorporation, which was grass roots and official efforts. It involved an original village safety committee, a couple of mayors & Village Councils and several County Commissioners.  Thank you Commissioner Katy Sorenson for the original support and Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava for support for MDFR to bring it to close. 

The Fire Station was not immune to court contest. The original approval was made after a zoning hearing held in October, 2014, resulting in resolution 2014-075 (links below).  

A lawsuit was filed in circuit court on November 24, 2014, to contest this 3-2 decision (CLICK HERE to view the entire 17 page complaint), filed under Case No.: 2014-029993-CA-01, Gary Pastorella v Village of Palmetto Bay, OCPC & Miami-Dade County. The case was filed on November 24, 2014, and languished with no substantive activity for nearly two years (11/24/14 - 11/14/16), before it was ultimately DISMISSED for lack of prosecution by order rendered November 14, 2016 (CLICK HERE). The official court docket posted online does NOT list a settlement agreement. I never saw any formal agreement, but was told that Miami-Dade County agreed to run a waterline to their property line with the Pastorellas (which is interesting as the Defendants were holding some information back, as discussed below).  

Thank you Miami-Dade County officials who actually determined that the ENTIRE street should have benefit of this water line. Miami-Dade officials made the right choice to bringing much needed County infrastructure to everyone on this street.  The timing, opportunity, was there. It makes little sense to bring water to a County property, using county taxpayer dollars, and not bring the line to an area long in need. 

The Ground Breaking for the Fire Station was held February 5, 2018.  The original estimate for completion remains at 400 days from start of construction.  There have been rain days (built in to the schedule).  The project currently remains on schedule, so we are beginning to see the date when there will be a ribbon cutting / grand opening soon in 2019. I am told by Commissioner Cava that April 8th is the tentative date.

Please look carefully at the front of the station. Did you notice the second bay bay door (2 big read garage style doors)? One bay is for Engine 62. Once completed, Palmetto Bay can look forward to the eventual increase of life safety service. The station is built in anticipation of a future Rescue 62, which should not be too far distant future to complement the service of Engine 62.

There are two main zoning developmental orders that involve Station 62 (click the links provided below for both resolutions 2014-075 and 2015-086 to view the complete resolutions):

Reso 2014-075 -                This was the hearing where the Village council, serving 2010-2014, APPROVED the location on the present location: the southeast corner of Old Cutler Road and SW 142nd Terrace. The site plan was approved. The zoning development order was narrowly approved by a slim 3-2 margin. (Vote was 3-2 with Current council members - Vice Mayor John DuBois and Council Member Patrick Fiore voting in favor along with then Council Member Tim Schaffer. The 2 NO votes were cast by then Council Member Joan Lindsay and Mayor Shelley Stanczyk.)   

Reso 2015-086 -               This updated development order impacted the following: Requiring compliance with recent Public Works Department conditions (a letter dated 9/24/2015 is attached to the resolution) and 2. Fire Station staff will not use the ringing of bells or other alarms in the exterior for notification of emergencies.

(Vote was 4-0 to approve, after public hearing, with then council member Cunningham absent for the hearing and vote)

Click onto the label for “Fire Station” to see prior posts.

Also see prior post of July 27, 2018, Photo update - progress of construction of permanent Station 62 located off Old Cutler Road and 142nd Street – a photo update of the status of the construction of Station 62 as of Thursday, July 26, 2018.

This meeting may be important for residents, especially those who reside along canals. FWC holding public meetings to gather input on aquatic plant management

FWC holding public meetings to gather input on aquatic plant management. There is no local meeting listed for South Florida - And note that this is Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC), NOT the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The SFWMD is the owner/operator of the C100 canals that run through Palmetto Bay.  FWC is Statewide and the information here may be of interest, of impact, to SFWMD as well as our Palmetto Bay community.

This e-mail notice does clearly state that "These meetings will provide the public with an opportunity to provide feedback about management activities on Florida water bodies during the past 12 months." without regard to whether these are FWC or ALL "Florida water bodies". Policy set here may affect all other State agencies, such as the SFWMD.

Anyone, especially those who live on a canal may want to monitor this information.

ALL information below provided through an official FWC Email and is provided verbatim below. Information below is the responsibility of the source.

FWC holding public meetings to gather input on aquatic plant management

FWC holding public meetings to gather input on aquatic plant management

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sent this bulletin at 01/31/2019 09:41 AM EST

Jan. 31, 2019

Suggested Tweet: Public meetings held by @MyFWC to gather input on Aquatic #herbicide treatment program https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/22c1483 #Invasiveplants #news

FWC holding public meetings to gather input on aquatic plant management  

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding several public meetings to gather community input about the agency’s aquatic plant herbicide treatment program.

These meetings will provide the public with an opportunity to provide feedback about management activities on Florida water bodies during the past 12 months.

The meetings will be held at the following times and locations (all meetings are from 5:30-8:30 p.m. local time):

• Feb. 6 – Kissimmee: County Commission Chambers, fourth-floor Osceola County Administration Building, 1 Courthouse Square
• Feb. 7 – Okeechobee: Okeechobee County Civic Center, 1750 U.S. Highway 98 N.
• Feb. 13 – Sebring: Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agri-Civic Center, 4509 George Blvd.
• Feb. 26 – Eustis: Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Dr. 

There will be a Gainesville area meeting scheduled with the date and time to be determined. For updated information on meeting times and locations go to MyFWC.com/WildlifeHabitats and click on “Invasive Plants.”

Comments may also be sent to Invasiveplants@MyFWC.com. 

Invasive plants degrade and diminish Florida's waterways by displacing native plant communities. Some invasive aquatic plants pose a significant threat to human welfare and cause economic problems by impeding flood control and affecting recreational use of waterways.

Facebook group: Cyclists Against Distracted Drivers - C.A.D.D.

A Facebook page (C.A.D.D.) has been formed with the intent to fight against Distracted Drivers in the South Florida area.  Cycling deaths are the catalyst for the creation, but this page is far more than cycling as anyone on our roads is at risk of injury or death caused by a distracted driver. Pedestrians, other drivers, passengers - children in child seats are at risk.

C.A.D.D. is a collaboration page where your support, ideas and suggestions are highly welcomed. All groups need to work together to change the laws in Florida.

There is now a platform where the South Florida cycling community can come together and address these issues as one.

The administrators of this Facebook page created it in memory of fallen cycling friends, some of which are specifically mentioned below:

Denise Marsh
Carlos Rodriguez
Chris Mohr
Walter Reyes
Aaron Cohen
Christophe LeCanne
Omar Otaola

plus so many others...

Related post: November 26, 2018, When will it end? The time has passed for far too many who have waited for the legislature to act on distracted driving