The facts about the Palmetto Bay Village Center. Its not 485, its never been 485.

We hold the cards.  My opponent and her team either do not get it about the 22 acres or they have no qualms about deliberately spreading misinformation.

It could not be any simpler: The developer must transfer the 22 acres to the village as a condition to any change in developmental rights at the Palmetto Bay Village Center.

Not transferring the 22 acres means that that the developer has no right to 85 units, granted or reduced.

Not transferring the 22 acres to the village means that that the developer's rights remain as existed since 2008: 300 senior units, 100 town homes.

There has never been and never will be 485- based upon the traffic chokeholds that we placed in the ordinance we passed 3-2 in 2016.  We are in some serious negotiations, and those negotiations are delicate. The negotiations require that politics be put aside and we speak in a unified voice.

So far these negotiations are playing out as expected at the Monday, Oct. 15, hearing as the PBVC owners:

• Objected to this ordinance, also alleging the timing is premature.
• Threatened to not deed over the 22 acres (actually 40 acres) unless they get their way.

Strong leadership stands up to threats.  We countered with the fact that the PBVC loses all of their rights of the 2016 ordinance if they walk away, reverting back to the 2008 rights. The owners of the PBVC don't want this.

Here are some of the concessions I achieved Monday night (October 15, 2018):

• The owners admitted that the final number will not be "485". 
• The representative for the PBVC mentioned that negotiations are ongoing for 200 -- half of the units -- to be Senior housing units. That's a HUGE offer in regard to traffic reduction.

The Village Manager and our Village Attorney will now enter into negotiations that should result in a significant reduction of the overall impact of this property AND obtain endangered Pine Rocklands.

None of the above would have happened if Councilman Singer had not brought this ordinance forward. None of this will happen, or our final results will be reduced if we don't stand together.

Being mayor is a special responsibility that I take very seriously. I have to continue to work hard and represent the best interest of the Village. Contrast this with a candidate and her supporters who undermine the process for there own political gain.

Pine Rockland preservation advocate Al Sunshine has endorsed Eugene Flinn for Mayor, Palmetto Bay

Environmentalist / Pine Rockland preservation advocate Al Sunshine has endorsed Eugene Flinn for Mayor, Palmetto Bay.

Mr. Sunshine was direct and to the point:

I fully support Mayor Eugene Flinn’s re-election as an environmentally conscious neighbor who’s worked hard for us and remains committed to maintaining our quality of life and endangered habitats.

He’s an avid, long time supporter of preserving our vanishing Pine Rocklands.

Any friend of the Miami Tiger Beetle is a friend of mine.

Re-Elect Mayor Flinn!

Al Sunshine 

Thank you Al. It is my pleasure to work with you on preserving our environment.

Eugene Flinn

I am proud to announce my Sierra Club endorsement!

I am humbled to announce that I have been endorsed by the Sierra Club.

I am proud of my record for sustainability here in Palmetto Bay. I have worked hard to get Palmetto Bay to be a green city and make it greener every day. Growth is smart growth - and limited growth. I am proud to participate as a member of the Miami Pine Rocklands Coalition among other environmental groups.  I participate and listen and work toward preservation of land from fighting to preserve 22 acres of endangered Pine Rockland at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, to working for grants (to pay in full) our park land. 

 As Mayor, I have refused to meet with developers in private. I am the only member of the Palmetto Bay council who can say this.  I have held meetings in public where interested members of the public can attend, listen and participate. 

 

              I am also proud of working with the original Village Council to renovate existing parks and buying new parkland, as well as bringing diverse park amenities including a dog park, softball complex, beach volleyball courts, and a skate park. I have seen to it that we include and protect our environment sensitive areas such as the 5 acre Pineland in Coral Reef Park. I have also worked with the team to purchase and preserve a bay front park (Thalatta Estate). Activities include Earth Week (to raise environmental awareness) and age friendly programming and promoting bicycling within the village. I participate annually with the various bike to work, alternative transportation events.

              I created “Shade Palmetto Bay” – our annual tree / plant give away (native of course).  This year, I put my money where my mouth is and personally donated 130 seedling pines for the giveaway.

              I worked for for recognition of our green spaces as Florida-Friendly Landscapes. Note that in our Village of Parks, Coral Reef, Palmetto Bay and Perrine Wayside Dog Park were recognized on June 18, 2018. 

              I signed on to the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and joined Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100% Clean Energy – not just signing, but following up on and keeping the commitments made.

I opposed Amendment one in 2016 – sponsoring reso 2016-90 that passed by a slim 3/2 margin.   https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2739/Resolution-2016-90-PDF  Both my opponents, Karyn Cunningham and Tim Schaffer, voted AGAINST my reso warning the public of the hidden agenda contained in Amendment one.

 I was the prime sponsor in bringing Palmetto Bay in as a participating municipality with the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact when it was formalized back in 2009/2010. 

I was the first of our local officials to advocate for the completion of CERP/BBCW in our region. See Palmetto Bay Resolution:  2007-044

I sponsored (with a single co-sponsor) Reso 2009-018 Urging the US Congress and Florida Legislature to fully fund Biscayne Bay Wetlands projects

Reso2007-073 – in support of the SFWMD request for congressional appropriation of funds necessary to bring the Herbert Hoover Dike into compliance with current levee protection safety standards

Reso2016-036 Urging the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the SFWMD to expedite Phase II of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project.

Under my leadership, Palmetto Bay has led the way in green initiatives, building the first countywide LEED-certified park building at Coral Reef Park, followed by the very first statewide Platinum LEED-certified Village Hall! 

·                Palmetto Bay Charter member PACE – I serve on the district board

·                Preserving green space, creation of new green space/parks as well as updating existing green space and parks.  

·                Championed the creation of a Sustainable Community Plan (SCP). 

I sponsored resolution preserving the following acreage:

·       Ludovici Park, working with our Miami-Dade County Environmental Crimes to take ownership of land which had previously suffered mangrove destruction, restoring those mangroves and placing that land in the public domain, eventually becoming Ludovici Park – where a library now stands and the restored mangrove area rests, off the private ownership and in protective hands.

·     Land that the County was about to surplused to developers into public ownership -  soon to be known as The Woods along 168^th street.

·     I was the sponsor of Palmetto Bay Resolution 2010-32, Opposing the FPL application relating to Turkey Point Units 6 & &, power lines, opposing the siting transmission lines down US1 (the subsequent administration pulled out of this effort, leaving Pinecrest and South Miami to win this effort without Palmetto Bay’s collaboration).

Notable resolutions are numerous, but some of my favorites that I sponsored include:

·       2005-043, calling upon the Board of County Commissioners to oppose any extension to the Urban Development Boundary (“Hold The Line”)

·       2007-049 Relating to protecting the land considered to be a wildlife sanctuary at SW 168^th Street and 88^th.

·       2008-078  Requesting Miami-Dade to authorize the use of low emission vehicles on County Owned Residential streets located within Palmetto Bay and the County as such low emission vehicles would assist with greening communities by lowering gas emissions and curtail use of gas, ensure slower speeds and thus protect residents, pedestrians and general public.

      2016-68, opposing the DEP's weakening of restrictions that would allow an increase in the release of toxic chemicals into Florida’s Waters.

·     Obtaining the Tree City USA Designation in my second term.

I am including the following blog posts I have written on these and other environmental topics.

CLICKHERE or the following heading to view a blog post from March 28, 2016, Our environment, our community, our future - a collaborative effort to maintain ourquality of life. Part 1 - our local environment, documenting part of my longterm (not election time) actions relating to our environment. 

We need to protect and prepare for our future, whether it is protecting our native Pine Rocklands, Mangroves, or Everglades.  We need to grow smart or not at all.  And don’t leave out transportation.  Transportation is another Number One issue (yes - there are more than a single critical issue facing South Florida) as growing gridlock is rapidly eroding our quality of life – but more on that in a future post.

I remain proud of my accomplishments to date as well as my ongoing commitment to continue the vision and work to further and exceed these past accomplishments, including:

Palmetto Bay seeks to become a model community for energy savings and environmental conservation. The Municipal Center is a testament to this goal. For more information, please feel free to review the following Official Palmetto Bay webpages:

• Have You Heard? Green is the New Black!
• Palmetto Bay Green Page
  And a few of my past blog posts, including:
• May 4, 2018, Great response to our solar initiatives. Thank you to all who have participated.
• October 9, 2012, Great news. It is official. Palmetto Bay's Village Hall receives Platinum LEED certification.
• August 23, 2017, The Smart Growth Partnership - The Village of Palmetto Bay wins a smart growth award for its DUV Code.
• Also see the article posted online through the Southeast Florida Regional Compact (an organization I have sponsored participating with):  Village Hall LEED Platinum Certified Facility
• Obtaining certification of the first Green Certified municipal building in Miami-Dade County (our Parks building at Coral Reef Park).
• Solar power initiatives.  Co-sponsoring Solar Co-Ops
• Prime sponsor of permit fee waiver initiatives for Solar Panel initiative.
• Championing the efforts to purchase and preserve Thalatta Estate - working with the willing seller to buy the property through the Trust for Public Lands and Florida Communities Trust to bring this property into public ownership for all to enjoy.
• Went electronic, eliminating paper - for e-newsletters - first created e-currents and now "Your Village At Work."
• Tree City USA Designation
• Working for recognition of our green spaces as Florida-Friendly Landscapes. Note that in our Village of Parks, Coral Reef, Palmetto Bay and Perrine Wayside Dog Park were recognized on June 18, 2018. 
• I have also actively worked to support the efforts of community groups such as LivableCutler at the county and state level to halt over development. These efforts led to public acquisition of 130 acres earmarked for CERP/BBCW. My entire family have been part of the volunteer effort to restore the acquired coastal wetlands.
• Finally – I established a Palmetto Bay “Environmentalist of the Year” Award – to recognize and encourage environmental action.

Thank you Sierra Club! 

Eugene Flinn

What’s So Special about a 22 Acre Forest on Old Cutler Road, by Eduardo Varona, Guest Post

Many have questioned over the last decade what is the importance of 22 acres of privately owned native forest on the east side of Old Cutler Rd just north of SW 184 St in Palmetto Bay. Some have claimed and said it is a protected forest. The private owner at times has wanted to develop it and at times seems to want to protect it. Politicians have even fallen on their own swords actually proposing to develop it. At times part of the forest was even looked at for a fire station to serve the surrounding neighborhoods. 

In the last four years there has been a serious push to finally give steadfast lasting protections to this forest through a deal between the Village of Palmetto Bay and the private owner, the Palmetto Bay Village Center (PBVC). This agreement would involve a transfer of developmental rights from the 22 acres east to the parcels surrounding the PBVC. And Palmetto Bay would receive the 22 acre forest as the newest passive park in the “Village of Parks”.

So this begs the question, do the 22 acres of forest need protection? Is this privately owned forest currently protected from development now and in the future?

The answer to the second question is a very certain NO. The 22 acres have never been designated a Natural Forest Community (NFC) by the County and therefore are not protected whatsoever under County laws. To have been designated an NFC the private owner could have approached the county and asked for an ecological and biological assessment of the site. This has never happened. Had it happened, due to the relatively well maintained condition of the forest it would most likely have been designated an NFC. However, even if it had been designated an NFC it would only have protected a percentage of it from development, not all of it. 

What about a covenant that allegedly exists or existed that allegedly protects the forest. Well, depending on who you ask and on which side of the bed they woke, there is a covenant of sorts that is enforced by the Village. A covenant that the Village agrees is soon scheduled to expire.

But in actuality that covenant doesn’t protect the forest at all. It only protects the homes across from the forest along Old Cutler Rd by maintaining a “visual buffer” so that those homes can’t see the PBVC building. That is the extent of the covenant which is due to expire in 2019, if you ask the experts. Finally, is there interest by the private owner to develop the forest? Well why wouldn’t there be as it is prime real estate right on old Cutler Rd. If not protected, someday it will be developed.

Now let’s go back to the original question, the title of this writing. What’s so special about a 22 acre forest on Old Cutler Rd? This forest is very special indeed.  It is one of the last remaining remnants of the tropical rockland forest ecosystem that covered Miami-Dade County before we bulldozed 98% of it. Yes there is roughly only 2% left of this forest ecosystem left in all of South Florida. Most of this ecosystem existed almost exclusively in South Miami-Dade. And day by day we lose additional acreage to development and neglect. 

Specifically, the 22 acres of the PBVC is a tropical rockland forest composed of rockland hammock and pine rockland. These two forest communities exist on the oolitic limestone ground in a fluid equilibrium with each other as the land can transition back and forth between the two distinct plant communities in a natural and controlled process influenced by fire, hydrology, and by man. The species diversity both plant and animal that this 22 acre forest harbors cannot be measured in dollars. It should not ever be measured in dollars. In fact some years ago, the 22 acres was nominated for inclusion into the County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) acquisition program.  County biologists assessed the site in response and documented the important habitat values.  As a result, the Board of County Commissioners added this site to the list of lands that EEL should purchase for management and protection.  The land has remained on the list ever since awaiting funding for purchase.

Roughly half of the 22 acre forest is pine rockland with the rest consisting of an oak hammock also containing trees such as mastic and gumbo limbo. Yet it is a little known fact that pine rockland is a worldwide endangered ecosystem and plant community which only occurs in Cuba, Bahamas, and yes, Miami-Dade County, and only in South Dade. 

There is more that makes this 22 acre forest more unique than other similar parcels in South Dade. This forest is one of the last remnants of a vast coastal forest that existed in a long ecotone where the forest met the South Dade coastal wetlands and then beyond that Biscayne Bay. And there is even more that makes it so special. 

Few understand that all throughout the Miami coastal ridge where now lie the municipalities of Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, and Pinecrest there existed transverse glades, also known as finger glades. These transverse glades, traversed the coastal ridge as creeks and fresh water wetlands that in the wet season flowed with fresh water from the Everglades all the way to Biscayne Bay. One very large transverse glade occurred in the area known as Bel Aire in Cutler bay and it ran northeast into Palmetto Bay emptying most of its fresh water into Biscayne Bay at the Deering Estate.  This same transverse glade, now a canal, at one time also fed this 22 acre forest and the coastal wetlands abutting it with a seasonal seepage of subterranean ground water through the porous limestone underfoot. In fact an unusual tree species for this location so close to the coast still lives on the edge of these 22 acres at the spot where it once met the coastal wetlands. The Swamp Bay, a tree in the Avocado family, mainly occurs in the Everglades tree islands and in transverse glades. And that a specimen of this tree still grows on the edge of the 22 acre forest is evidence of the strong Everglades fresh water connection that once existed at the site.

So to come full circle, the 22 acres is significant in of itself as one of the last remnants of a vast tropical rockland coastal forest that once existed but is now mostly gone. However, the last piece of the intricate story is that this 22 acre forest lies right beside the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) restoration project which is an integral component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This large scale CERP restoration project is planned to restore many thousands of acres of coastal wetlands and the near-shore adjacent portions of Biscayne Bay.  With the exception of what has already been restored at the Deering Estate, the most northerly component of this large project is the 130 acre restoration parcel purchased by the Water Management District just to the south of the 22 acre forest.  This makes the forest and its protection an effort worthy of local, county, state, national, and international significance.

This precious 22 acre forest if preserved will support and enhance BBCW and the Village of Parks far into the future.

Swamp bay trees that are proof of the connection of this forest to fresh water wetlands.

Update on Palmetto Bay Traffic Projects - and further updates will be posted as available

I am posting a photo of the Current Traffic Studies prepared by Marlin Engineering (see photo) for the following listed areas.

DISCLAIMER AS TO OTHER VILLAGE AREAS: There other areas in study, but simply not ready for rollout at this time.  The listed projects have no impact on single neighborhood/street traffic calming such as Traffic Tables and / or traffic enforcement (including CITE program).

DEFINED PROJECTS POSTED AT THIS TIME:

The project board notes the present study areas:

1.       Downtown Redevelopment

2.       A. Neighborhood access study (77^th Av canal east to Old Cutler Road, 160^th Canal north to Coral Reef Drive).

 B. Neighborhood Access Study (Malbrook)

3.       Old Cutler Road at SW 67^th Av & SW 136^th Street

4.       Old Cutler Road at 176^th Street (Turbo Lane)

5.       A. Old Cutler Road at SW 168^th Street (reversible lane)

 B. Old Cutler Road at SW 152^nd Street (reversible lane)

 C. Old Cutler Road at SW 144^th Street (reversible lane)

Malbrook:  Recommendations include:  half street closure on SW 86^th Avenue, a no right turn sign on 84^th Avenue and 168^th Street, increasing capacity of the 87^th & 168^th Traffic Circle to 2 lanes with a right lane [a dedicated (partial) third lane] from northbound 87^th to eastbound 168^th Street increasing capacity.

This is NOT a pilot program, we are currently modeling and  will implement if it works per the modeling. The modeling will be completed in approximately 6 weeks and the modifications will begin in very early 2019 (we are relying on the County and working out a construction schedule taking into account the school year).

I look forward to meeting with the members of the affected neighborhoods once the modeling is completed – before we commence any of the modifications. 

Special note at to Malbrook / 174 Street: I have made a request for Miami-Dade County (DTPW) for action to improve the safety of the 87^th Avenue / SW 174^th Street intersection. Potential fixes would include traffic circle or signal light at this intersection.  

152/77^th Area:  We are now modeling a traffic circle at 152 and Old Cutler Road with a dedicated turn lane form 152 to Old Cutler Road South and restricting cut through traffic through the neighborhood South of 152 Street. 

This is NOT a pilot program, that we are currently modeling and we will implement if it works per the modeling. The modeling will be completed in approximately 6 weeks and the modifications will begin in very early 2019 (we are relying on the County and working out a construction schedule taking into account the school year).

I look forward to meeting with the members of the affected neighborhoods once the modeling is completed – before we commence any of the modifications. 

Farmers Road/Old Cutler North: We are now modeling two traffic circles on Old Cutler Road at SW 136^th Street and at 67^th Avenue.  Traffic diverters on Old Cutler Road at Farmer’s Road and Cartee Road. 

This is NOT a pilot program, that we are currently modeling and we will implement if it works per the modeling. The modeling will be completed in approximately 6 weeks and the modifications will begin in very early 2019 (we are relying on the County and working out a construction schedule taking into account the school year).

I look forward to meeting with the members of the affected neighborhoods once the modeling is completed – before we commence any of the modifications. 

Old Cutler Road – overall:  We are looking at how we can eliminate traffic signals along that entire corridor to improve the flow of traffic along Old Cutler Road.  Improved traffic flow should reduce cut through traffic.

Downtown, we are updating the traffic study to ensure we never exceed capacity of the existing street grid and eliminate cut through traffic into the residential community

Overall remarks: This is what is being done on top of all other areas we are studying and moving forward with. 

I also pledge to continue increasing transit options like our park and ride and on demand free rides

Lastly the fight for a usable transit system is far from over………. I am the only candidate with a proven record of negotiating successfully with the county

About last night (Mon. 10/15/2018) - I continue to work for you to reduce development. The council votes best tell the story.

Being Mayor means putting politics aside. It means taking the political criticism for standing up on behalf of our fellow Palmetto Bay residents and our environment as I did Monday, Oct 15!

I do what I always do, fight for our residents, irrespective of the political fallout.  I voted to reduce development. That is responsibility.  My responsibility to you.

It is important to me that we save the 22 acres of the threatened Pine Rocklands from development.

Karyn Cunningham now takes ownership of the 485. Her votes confirm it. This is significant as the Vice Mayor and Karyn Cunningham fell one vote short of undoing this alleged "485" at a special council meeting set for Saturday morning July 3, 2017, yes, the fourth of July holiday. Now they have flipped and voted to keep 485. Her campaign depends upon preserving this number. Karyn Cunningham is putting politics over our environment.

She is ignoring her responsibilities to you and is playing the "oh so tired" political games. She voted AGAINST an opportunity to scale back the development at the Palmetto Bay Village Center. She voted to keep development at the "needless 485" that she keeps criticizing. Once again, my opponent has no plan other than to criticize.

Last night, the Council held a vote on the Palmetto Bay Village Center. We had the opportunity to reduce development. This was the time for a united council to tell developers that we expect cooperation and reduction. Instead, my opponent and her ally voted against a clarifying ordinance that defines the rights of the development at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, reducing it from their political catchphrase of 485 down to 389. You can view the meeting video by CLICKING HERE.

There has never been and never will be 485- based upon the traffic chokeholds that we placed in the ordinance we passed 3-2 in 2016.  We are in some serious negotiations, and those negotiations are delicate. The negotiations require that politics be put aside and we speak in a unified voice.

So far these negotiations are playing out as expected at the Monday hearing as the PBVC owners:

• Objected to this ordinance, also alleging the timing is premature.
• Threatened to not deed over the 22 acres (actually 40 acres) unless they get their way.

Strong leadership stands up to threats.  We countered with the fact that the PBVC loses all of their rights of the 2016 ordinance if they walk away, reverting back to the 2008 rights. The owners of the PBVC don't want this.

We can also compare the plans, Council Member David Singer's Current legislation as opposed to the only plan pursued by our Vice Mayor and Councilwoman Cunningham (heard at the special council hearing set by the Vice Mayor on Saturday, July 3, 2017 )

Our position is strong under my leadership, but it would be even stronger if Karyn would put her politics aside and work with me as a team. Each council member has one vote, and each vote is equally important. She didn't vote the right way because she wanted to twist what happened to suit her lie that she is anti-development and I am pro. But regardless here are some of the early concessions I achieved Monday night:

• The owners admitted that the final number will not be "485" and in fact offered up a compromise number of 450 - 470. I contend that this is their starting point in these negotiations and the unit numbers will drop further. 
• The representative for the PBVC mentioned that negotiations are ongoing for 200 -- half of the units -- to be Senior housing units. That's a HUGE offer in regard to traffic reduction.

The Village Manager and our Village Attorney will now enter into negotiations that should result in a significant reduction of the overall impact of this property AND obtaining endangered Pine Rocklands.

None of the above would have happened if Councilman Singer had not brought this ordinance forward. None of this will happen, or our final results will be reduced if we don't stand together.

Being mayor is a special responsibility that I take very seriously. I have to continue to work hard and represent the best interest of the Village. Contrast this with a candidate who undermines the negotiations for her own political gain.

It is unfortunate that Karyn Cunningham is playing politics, on these very important issues, putting her political career ahead of our village. 

As your Mayor, I have worked hard to deliver on commitments while others simply make promises. I choose to remain focused in delivering quality service to our community and remaining true to my commitment to running a clean, positive issue focused campaign which points out my accomplishments to date, along with presenting a solid positive vision for the future.

Your, Mayor,

Eugene Flinn

Palmetto Bay - 2018 "MVPs" recognized:

It was my honor to recognize the 2018 Palmetto Bay MVPs - special recognition to some of our community members, without whom we would not have been able to achieve the many accomplishments.

• Father Sullivan of Holy Rosary - St. Richard's Church, who allowed us to use his parking lot for our first "Park & Ride", and to use his hall for community uses
• Alfredo Mesa, who along with Peter England brought us the idea for our
  "Senior Night" at Marlin's Park
• Jackeline Prussing is a member of the Community Task Force, and of the "Art in Public Places" committee. She also has shepherded long overdue safeguards for use at Palmetto Bay Park.
• Richard Lujan, who has worked closely with the Village to procure donated land for our Veteran's Park. Richard is also working to help secure a second "Park & Ride" location.
• Peter England: He not only graciously brought forth the Senior Night Out event, he is also the chairman of the economic development task force and a member of the Deering foundation
• Beth Kibler: She has fought doggedly for environmental issues in our community like the protection of the Pine Rockland on Old Cutler road
• Tony Musto:   When he's not tending to his many duties at the University of Miami, he chaired the Community Center Task Force and kept a steady hand directing the group
• Erica Watts: She is a past PTA president at Coral Reef elementary, member of our Educational Advisory Committee and social activist, and we are proud that she calls Palmetto Bay home.
• Greg Zawyer, past Principal with the Miami-Dade County Schools and member of the Educational Advisory Committee
• Diane Quick, who serves on the Educational Advisory Committee as its chair.
• Suzanne Dundee Bonner: Suzanne was appointed to the task force by the county to provide input during the process of making a recommendation for the transitway
• Deena Pezoid who has dedicated herself to the arts and helped launch our "Art in Public Places" committee.
• Michael Biamonte who is the voice of the Miami Heat and President of the Palmer Trinity School. Michael has worked with me in resolving our issues amicably instead of continuing our fight thru the legal system.
• Judy Stockholm who is a part of the Age friendly task force and one of our super volunteers, the first to arrive last to leave on projects of both the Palmetto Bay Garden Club and special service projects such as recently held at the American Legion.
• Ines Mander one of the many stalwarts of the Palmetto Bay Garden Club who has championed garden projects including the butterfly garden at Ludovici Park and numerous diverse music events our manager is working on bringing to Palmetto Bay in the near future.

What an evening! Photos and video from the 16th annual State of the Village Address, Tuesday Evening, October 9, 2018

What a night!

Results of Palmetto Bay teamwork 2018 showcased at the 2018 State of the Village Address

 

Dear Fellow Palmetto Bay resident,

A great evening at Village Hall was enjoyed by over 200 attendees at the 16th annual State of the Village Address held last Tuesday evening, October 9th.

It was my honor to present this annual address highlighting Palmetto Bay's operations and accomplishments, along with the goals and objectives for the coming fiscal year.

We celebrated increased public services, a lower property tax millage rate for the second time in 4 years, more park programming, another year of reduced crime rate, increased transparency and public participation.  A great year celebrated with the team - council, management/staff and our fellow residents!

CLICK HERE to view the full text of the State of the Village Address.

JB Cash Foundation -recipient of 2018 "Rosemary Fuller Award

Congratulations to Janice and Ted Nickolaris of the JB Cash Foundation, awardees of the 2018 recipient of the "Rosemary Fuller Award" selected by our Education Advisory Committee

Lt. Maria Guerra - selected as next Village Police Commander

Another exciting announcement was Village Manager Ed Silva's selection of Lieutenant Maria Guerra as our new Village Police Commander, continuing a long-standing tradition of promoting from within our own ranks.

Commander Guerra started her career in law enforcement in 1989 and over that span of time has earned more than 60 commendations. She has been part of the elite Northside Crime Suppression Team and, in 2003, was promoted to Lieutenant while serving in the Narcotics Bureau. She then became the first female K-9 Lieutenant in the Miami Dade Police Department. We were lucky enough to welcome her to our Palmetto Bay Policing Unit in 2015.

Lt. Guerra's selection is not final until and unless the Village Council approves the Manager's selection.  I have called a Special Council Meeting for Monday, October 15, 2018 - at 5:45 PM the purpose of the Village Council to take action on the Village Manager's selection of Lieutenant Maria Guerra as the Village Police Commander.

Recognition of  St. Rep McGhee and Commissioner Levine Cava, as well as outgoing councilwoman Larissa Siegel Lara.

We recognized our outgoing District 3 Councilwoman Larissa Siegel Lara, State Representative Kionne McGhee and our County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava for their teamwork with the Village of Palmetto Bay.

The video of the entire State of the Village Speech is also available for your viewing (CLICK BELOW).

Mayor's State of the Village Address 2018

 

Again, thank you everyone for the TEAMWORK of this past year and I look forward to moving forward to an even greater 2019!

Your Mayor.

Eugene Flinn