There is very little information in writing or post in searchable text online now days from Palmetto Bay officials. Transparency is waning and, quite frankly, no one wants to watch a video hoping to find what little information is now available. I am more than just a little shocked. I was not
being kept in the loop, but I cobbled information together and ...:
Here is what I learned as an August 1, 2019,
update to Palmetto Bay Mayor & Council:
Mayor Cunningham and Village Staff participated in a conference
call with Miami-Dade County Transit, Commissioner Levine Cava and Maria Levrant
to discuss Malbrook on August 1, 2019. (NOTE - no other members of the Village Council appear to have been notified in advance of this conference)
That it has been previously disclosed to the Mayor and Village
Council, that Miami-Dade County has requested the Village to expand the traffic
study to include areas south of SW 184th Street in Cutler
Bay.
The county’s request came following a resolution adopted by the
Town of Cutler Bay, but may not be required. County staff agreed to
review their comments again and make a final determination as to whether it is
required or not. However, it should be noted that they presented the
comment as a requirement and not a suggestion.
Costs shifted to
Palmetto Bay: If approved, the project can move forward without funding from the
county and costs would be borne solely by the Village. Current estimates
is for a cost of no less than $700,000.00
Project delayed until
2020.
The preliminary cost estimate to Palmetto Bay taxpayers is somewhere in the vicinity of $700,000.00 and construction would likely not start until 2020.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am unsure if this
cost has been discussed at any Village Budget workshops that have been held
over the summer vacation months. The next budget will cover the fiscal year (2019-2020) which will begin October 1, 2019 and run through September 30, 2020 – thus covering the design and
commencement period of this project. No money budgeted means no project.
 |
| Photo from SDU Blog post of 9-30-16. A Malbrook Neighbor meeting I held in 2016 |
Delay in No-Right
Turn Signage.
The no-right turn signs cannot be installed until the project is
completed.
A follow up conference call between all parties is scheduled for
Monday to discuss the county’s final determination.
IMPORTANT ISSUE: Can residents, especially those who live in Malbrook, listen in and
participate, after all, it is their home, their biggest financial investment
for many. [Significant meetings were publicly held under my administrations (CLICK HERE)]
Below is a recap of Marlin Engineering’s project summary as of
July 24, 2019 for your reference:
·
Neighborhood Access Study (Malbrook and Unnamed
Neighborhood) – Draft report submitted in April; comments from the County
received on June 7 were being incorporated into final report. However,
additional comments were made by County on June 19 to include Town of Cutler
Bay’s portion of SW 87 Ave. south of SW 184 St. to access traffic
impact/back-up. Scope and fee proposal for supplemental analysis including 2
intersections was submitted to Village on July 1st and is pending formal NTP by
Village. Data collection for additional traffic volumes are scheduled when
school is back in session.
·
Old Cutler Road Intersection Improvements Traffic Study
– Final Report submitted to the County on July 2nd. Review still in
progress, pending DTPW approval.
·
SW 87 Avenue and SW 174 Street Traffic Study – In progress, draft
report submittal to Village by mid-August.
·
SW 82 Avenue and SW 168 Street Traffic Study – On-hold per Village,
pending Malbrook Neighborhood Access study outcome.
·
SW 95th Avenue Parking Study– Scope and Fee
proposal submitted to Village for review on July 11th. Waiting for approval and
NTP from Village.
It appears that there is significant activity ongoing, behind the scenes, not being reported to the public. This must be the reason for the sudden sunshine meetings scheduled. The following Sunshine Meetings were publicly
noticed on our Village Website as of the time this blog post went live (PLEASE NOTE that these meeting notices could be updated with additional meetings, revised dates and times or
cancellations at any time). CLICK HERE
to view the current Sunshine Meetings that are noticed.
SUNSHINE MEETING
Monday, August 5, 2019 - 11:00 a.m.
Village of
Palmetto Bay Municipal Center
The
Village of Palmetto Bay hereby provides notice that Mayor Karyn Cunningham and
Vice Mayor John DuBois will be meeting on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
at Village Municipal Center – Council Chambers - Village of Palmetto Bay, 9705
East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157. The purpose of the Sunshine Meeting is to discuss the Village Attorney
solicitation process. All members of the public are welcomed to attend,
observe, and give public comment.
SUNSHINE MEETING
Thursday, August 8, 2019 - 11:00 a.m.
Village of
Palmetto Bay Municipal Center
The
Village of Palmetto Bay hereby provides notice that Mayor Karyn Cunningham and
Councilmember Patrick Fiore will be meeting on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at
11:00 a.m. at Village Municipal Center – Council Chambers - Village of Palmetto
Bay, 9705 East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157. The purpose of the Sunshine Meeting is to
discuss: Public Works; roads and traffic calming. All members of the public
are welcomed to attend, observe, and give public comment.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS SCHEDULED TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT
FOR PUBLIC OBSERVATION AND PARTICIPATION
Editor’s
Note: I have to question the
term “All members of the public are welcomed to attend” as that these meetings
are set late morning, mid-day, (11:00 AM) when most people are at work or other
daily commitments, they are neither set for times post work or even at the
early start of the day when many could delay their commute to the office in
order to appear in order to “attend, observe, and give public comment.”
I will keep everyone up to date through this
blog, to the extent that I am able to obtain the necessary information.
