Finally, now it is time for you to weigh in on this project with the current
council (and push our present elected officials to get more involved). Come to
the Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 PM, Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting at Village
Hall. This is an exciting multi-governmental
project and one that everyone in Palmetto Bay needs to be aware of and
understand the profound and long-term implications. Click here, or the headline above to view the complete prior post, which includes
links to the Pinecrest resolution in support of the project (passed by the
Pinecrest Village Council on January 15, 2013) as well as the January 9
Pinecrest Manager report.
This is a long over-due project, one that was first discussed by the
original Palmetto Bay council and was part of traffic planning since I and the original
Palmetto Bay council fought off the County's attempt to four-lane 87th Avenue
in Palmetto Bay. It is time for this council to make a decision: are they going
to participate with Pinecrest and Miami-Dade, and work to bring some traffic
calming improvements to our sections of Old Cutler or will this project die
from lack of input, participation and/or interest or even be rejected?
There has not been a significant public works project in Palmetto Bay
under this current Mayor and council. Projects have generally been limited to the ongoing street repaving/maintenance and drainage maintenance/installation/improvement programs that were set up by the original council back in 2003. It appears that Pinecrest and the County
have worked together to move this traffic circle project forward since 2010.
CLICK HERE to see first notice from Palmetto Bay Public Works – posted on the
official village website. It appears
that the current Mayor and council were never involved in the negotiations of the
interlocal agreement pending on this project. The current interlocal agreement
is for Miami-Dade County to provide the construction design through its
Public Works and Waste Management Department circle while Palmetto Bay and
Pinecrest will assume responsibility for the installation and maintenance of
the circle. Public input was never requested in Palmetto Bay on the assignment of responsibilities
or financial contributions. Regardless, you need to get involved whether you
want this project to go forward or not.
The County is designing the project. I am sure that they will design a top notch functional circle, but wouldn't it be a great opportunity for we, the residents of Palmetto Bay, took some design responsibility in order to be guaranteed input on how this project will look; that the circle be uniquely Palmetto Bay and function as another impressive gateway into Palmetto Bay? This is what happens when your present leaders do not show up and participate. Input after the fact is much less effective than when you take a seat at the table early on.
CLICK HERE to view the Pinecrest materials regarding this traffic circle project.
Get involved. Stay involved. Remember, this is
OUR village. Let’s continue to work
together to make Palmetto Bay a great place to raise our families.
Why has nothing been put out there until now?
ReplyDeleteTraffic circles work. We need this one. Support this project.
ReplyDelete