The election results have been certified - and now its official: 24-Year-Old Mark Merwitzer Becomes Youngest Vice Mayor In Palmetto Bay’s History

A new generation is stepping up to lead.  These are exciting times for Palmetto Bay. 

The election was certified last Friday so the results are now official. 

Mark's hard work and perseverance paid off in the face of vicious rumors and baseless attacks. He ran an outstanding positive campaign based upon his qualifications and vision for our community.

As reported in the Palmetto Bay News: Mark’s campaign was considered a long shot. He faced an incumbent vice mayor supported by influential figures like the county mayor, local school board member, village mayor, and current and former Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest councilmembers, to name a few. Despite these odds and running against an opponent funded by political action committees, his grassroots campaign resonated with voters eager for change.

Perhaps his biggest challenge will be working with Council Member Dr. Marsha Matson to restore civility, accountability and transparency to Palmetto Bay.

Palmetto Bay News - Op-Ed: Rudeness and bullying should not be the norm in Palmetto Bay By Marsha Matson, Village of Palmetto Bay Councilmember, District 3 -May 8, 2024

Palmetto Bay is definitely not a "Bully Free Zone".   

Council Member Marsha Matson is working hard - on her own - to involve the public - and it is sad that she has to go the route of an op ed piece. She can't do it alone at a meeting as she is but 1/5 of the votes of the council and cannot muster a majority for simple things like holding a town hall meetings for our fellow residents.  

Shameful. This is truly the never ending story.  This is your mayor and council, Palmetto Bay - and all those feel good proclamations and certificates are really just cringeworthy attempts to hide the toxic state of Palmetto Bay politics. Elections matter.

Here is opinion, her update, published online by the Community Newspapers on May 8, 2024:

Op-Ed: Rudeness and bullying should not be the norm in Palmetto Bay
By Marsha Matson, Village of Palmetto Bay Councilmember, District 3

I am a grandmother, who will turn 80 years old this year.  I decided to spend my retirement years serving Palmetto Bay, my community.   I helped found the Village as a municipality in the 1990s and early 2000s and I hold a deep affection for the Village and its residents.

So  I ran for Village Council in 2018 and won.  I liked making laws to help residents like reducing density in our downtown and regulating short-term rentals that disrupted quiet neighborhoods.  I enjoyed it so much that I ran for re-election in 2022 and won with over 60% of the vote, the highest of any village candidate.

In 2022, the Village Council added two new Councilmembers, Vice Mayor Leanne Tellam and Councilmember Steve Cody, who formed a solid majority block with Mayor Karyn Cunningham.  They set about running the village their way.  I did not have a problem with that because in our country, the majority rules while the minority is respected and has a say.   I sometimes disagreed with them and gave my opinion.  Over time, instead of listening to differences of opinion and working together to resolve problems, the majority block became more and more intolerant of dissent.  As I did not always agree with them, I became their target on Council to stamp out any hint of criticism of their policies.

In the last two years, they have intensified their efforts to stop me from asking questions and offering my opinion. You can see them in action by watching the most recent May 6 Council meeting on the Palmetto Bay Village website under public meetings:  https://palmettobay.granicus.com/player/clip/1943

I know it is disturbing to witness the rough tactics the Mayor and Councilmembers use on me.  Of course, it is extremely distressful for me.  What they do goes far beyond politics as usual.  When they perceive that I am going to say something they do not want to hear, they cut me off while speaking, talk over me until I stop, shout  “out of order” to have the attorney demand I quit talking, adjourn before I can speak, ridicule me, prevent me from finishing my sentence, and call me names.  They create a vivid picture of schoolyard bullies, except that they are public officials who, while knowing they are being recorded on video, verbally stomp on me.  In every instance, they succeed in preventing me from talking.

I am not the only person bearing the brunt of their distaste for dissent.  Mayor Cunningham, Vice Mayor Tellam, and Councilmember Cody banned the reading of resident’s emails out loud during Council meetings.  Emails were the most popular way for residents to be involved in village government.  When emails became more critical of them, they silenced them.  They abolished the Neighborhood Protection Committee, a committee that worked to protect residents’ quality of life.

I taught government at the University of Miami for over two decades.  I have a doctorate in political science.   I have a good idea of how democracy is supposed to work.   One of the most treasured principles of our democracy is the right of people to express their views of government leaders, especially when they disagree with what the leaders are doing.  This most sacred right, enshrined in our First Amendment, is under attack in Palmetto Bay.  If you find it hard to believe, I invite you to watch the May 6 Council meeting and witness the successful tactics Mayor Cunningham, Vice Mayor Tellam, and Councilmember Cody use to stop me from saying what they do not want anyone to hear.  This letter is my opinion.

Wait! Who wants to make a bet?

The village Public Relations team (whether you call it PR, Publicity or PIO) pushes out media featuring Mayor Cunningham.  Does anyone have any odds on whether the public information office will be fair and even handed by pushing out this council member's comments to the public?

As they say, "and that my friends, is the rest of the story."

PRIOR RELATED POST

Back to my opinion: It is unfortunate that this is far from an isolated event. This toxic bullying  has been going on for far too long. Please see a prior related post of October 11, 2021, Opinion: "Nevertheless, she persisted". Did this lead to a “Code Red” being called on Marsha? Cringe-worthy is the only way to describe the beat down administered on Dr. Matson at the October regular council meeting. Was this all because Dr. Matson wanted to restore just a scintilla of transparency into Palmetto Bay government?

Drawing the Green Line - environmentally friendly and practical proposals for the Tanglewood (entanglement) Park

A great interview with Hal Feldman on the MiamiHal Show - talking transportation and parks - especially the last-minute proposed Tanglewood Park, rapidly becoming known as Entanglement Park.

This proposed park has become quite controversial as of late.  This specific area was discussed as part of the resident-centric Parks Master Plan process that I led in 2007.  A rendering of the proposed park was discussed on the show (and posted below).  There was no interest and the proposal was not moved forward in 2017.  Residents adjacent to this property then began a process directed by Miami-Dade County to purchase this land.  And let's be clear - this process has occurred before including two properties on the west side of 77th Avenue, across from this proposed park.  Current village officials then woke up, saw that they were far behind in the process and spent $25,000 (without a procurement process) to hire experienced County lobbyists to intervene in the process in an attempt to wrest the land from the residents who had in fact followed the process. 

Here is the video from the show:

 

Here are the photos used in the interview:

Here are photos that did not make it to the show - Google Earth overview and 2 photos taken by me of a park Miami-Dade County created in the Falls area.

Thank you Hal!

Let’s get back to thinking green! We have a 2-year limited window for Palmetto Bay's $12,282,434 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. One very positive idea - let's put that ARPA money to work to save our local environment; assist those without the financial resources to hook up. It benefits all of us – and Biscayne Bay.

History: May 20, 2013, Mayor Stanczyk and the 2013 Village Council petitioned the Miami-Dade County Commission for an administrative waiver - a 10 year extension before requiring the homes located within the Franjo Triangle to hook up to the water and sewer service (section 24-43.1 of the Miami-Dade County Code). View: Palmetto Bay Resolution 2013-47.

So what has happened in that time? How many have hooked up to sewer? Worse yet, are we sure that the aged septic systems are not failing?

Now we have an opportunity, Palmetto Bay's $12,282.434 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Palmetto Bay officials need to get this right the first time or future expenses will lead to even more tax increases.  This money can properly provide relief for those most in need in our community. Let's use the funding correctly and not on items that may not pass auditing in future by the Federal government, by providing funding sewer hookup fees for those in District 3 that face a huge layout of funding in 18 months. 

Sewer hook ups may not be sexy, but saving our environment is. My proposal makes better use of Palmetto Bay's limited funding under the American Rescue Plan Act. It gets these homes off septic and onto the sewer system extension that both Commissioners Moss and Sorenson worked with us (Palmetto Bay) to make happen. Save Biscayne Bay. 

This money needs to be invested wisely, not squandered.  So, let’s get people off aged septic systems and hooked up to sewer. Let’s get Palmetto Bay back to thinking green! Let’s actually ‘build back better’! Hook ups are actually a requirement by 2023 and Miami Dade water and Sewer will begin placing liens on these housing units if we don’t help them.

The sewer over septic priority cannot be overstated. Palmetto Bay has another ticking time bomb on its hands. The Miami Herald reported that Sea rise makes septic tanks ‘ticking bombs.’ Why does Miami-Dade still allow them? by Alex Harris, January 15, 2021. For those without a Miami Herald subscription, the Miami Herald reported that:

Miami-Dade’s 120,000-plus septic tanks — an aging, leaky system for disposing of human waste that experts have pointed to as a public health and environmental hazard for bay waters since the 1950s. Yet, despite periodic calls as early as the 1960s for ambitious sewage system upgrades, the Herald found that the county has put only a small dent in the septic mess over the decades — and actually continues to issue permits for new ones.

Money, as usual, is the big stumbling block for a clearly defined problem with straightforward solutions.

Homeowners don’t like paying for it, and neither does the county. The most recent estimate for Miami-Dade was $3.3 billion to get rid of most of them, and the cost per house can balloon far past the average $10,000 price tag. That’s why residents have been granted reprieves from orders to hook into nearby sewage lines for decades.

My proposed solution: Use a substantial portion to go green and complete the sewer system. Homes need hook ups. Here is a one-time gift of money (our Federal tax dollars at work) that may never be repeated.

Photo Credit: Official Pinecrest, published in the Community Newspapers.

It can be done. Pinecrest has been forward thinking: using this money for big ticket items that they have been advocating for. So should Palmetto Bay. Pinecrest was notified that it would receive approximately $8 million of Federal funds that could only be used for very specific matters including water projects. The Village Council and staff worked quickly to take the necessary steps to use most of those dollars to finally resolve the water issue in Pinecrest. See: Community News, Pinecrest Breaks Ground on Water Project, August 22, 2021.

Another positive point - this is a one-time capital expense. Many of the slated uses set by Palmetto Bay officials are just a 2 year bridge, after which the taxpayers will have to pick up the continuing expenses of the employees slated to be hired. Will this lead to even more tax increases in the future?

Let's really build back better! – and smarter. This ARPA money is truly a one-time opportunity.

BACKGROUND - PRIOR RELATED POST: See September 3, 2021, Budget review - my first statement of concern and it is a big one: how the Village plans on spending $12.3 million.

Want answers on the land purchase? Michael Miller interviews Dexter Lehtinen on April 12, 2021

Is there a reason why the current mayor, village council members, charter and officers and other staff failed to ask questions of those with the answers prior to the recent council action?

(Video credit: Community Newspapers - not claim made to their original work)

Oh no! Guess who has a show. Spotlight on the Village hosted by David Singer.

Now it is getting interesting. Did you see the announcement? (screen shot posted at bottom)? Controversy builds ratings, so I am expecting the David Singer show to be a huge hit in the local ratings. Perhaps it will be called "off the hook".

David Singer has announced that he will be moving on from Palmetto Bay Council Member (not commissioner) to hosting his own show on the Community Newspapers Facebook.  He will have a weekly 30-minute show with Miami Community Newspaper's starting the week of December 7, 2020. 

The good news: It will only be thirty (30) minutes.  

The bad news: It will only be thirty (30) minutes. 

Fair questions: 

• How many threats have the Michael and Grant Miller received regarding this planned show? (it is still early - so get your threats of boycotts and other anti-first amendment tirades in early).
• If threats have been made, who has made them? (I bet I could guess who.)
• Will there be prizes awarded for those who correctly guess who screams the loudest?
• Who does David Singer think he is, the second coming of Neal Rogers?
• Will there be a dump button?
• Can we expect a lightning round?
• Will there be a warning label or an "R" or "MA" rating?
• Will David Singer obtain media credentials and, if so, will he attempt to misuse the credentials for access into the next Super Bowl held in Miami?
• Who will be the initial guest(s)?
• Why am I not the initial guest?
• Will there be a live animal segment?
• Can a show hosted by yours truly be far behind?

Stay tuned!

"Un-dorsement" reconsidered. This election is too important for the direction of Palmetto Bay. Miami’s Community Newspapers is endorsing Ed Silva

Breaking news. "Un-dorsement" reconsidered. This election is too important. Miami’s Community Newspapers is endorsing Ed Silva

It is not what the Village can do for a candidate, it is what that candidate can do for Palmetto Bay.

Here’s why Miami’s Community Newspapers is endorsing Ed Silva…

Here’s a real look at the most qualified candidate running for Vice Mayor and why we think he is deserving of your vote:

Ed Silva’s work in both the private and public sector has been exceptional and he will bring great value as Palmetto Bay’s next Vice Mayor.

During his time as the Village’s manager, he focused on important core issues including the environment, transportation and promoted transparency in government. As Village Manager, Ed balanced the budget and increased its net worth by $8 million.

The bottom line for him is to support and engage the community.

He has as a priority on walkability and bike-ability of the downtown, with a focus on supporting restaurants, offices and open spaces. To that end, as Village Manager he spearheaded the negotiations in acquiring 9 acres on Southwest 168 Street for an open space/park.

*** *** ***

Why now?

After seeing the missteps that the Village Council has been making, we decided it’s time for us to step up and deliver a message that the Village needs strong leaders that have real relevant experience that can help lead Palmetto Bay into the future. It’s clear that these are not normal times and Palmetto Bay needs and deserves, the most qualified public servants that can deal with Covid and the economic deficit that is upon the citizens of Palmetto Bay.

Click the link to read the full well-reasoned endorsement of Ed Silva: Miami’s Community Newspapers is endorsing Ed Silva, by Community Newspapers, October 5, 2020

Ballot for Town Manager Search - Town of Bay Harbor Islands, 7-22-2020. How will this impact Palmetto Bay?

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for a top choice to not come to terms. Leadership shows confidence in continuing the process, rather than scrambling at the first occurrence of an unfortunate turn of events. There should be no panic and no rush to cut and run from the process. The top candidate turned down Palmetto Bay on Tuesday, July 14. But there are questions as to why public discussion of next steps for Palmetto Bay manager had to wait until tonight, July 23. That has led to fair questions as to whether Palmetto Bay officials were waiting to see who would be available after the Town of Bay Harbor Islands acted on their process for Town Manager.  

Can someone review this photo sent to me and verify? I was advised that this was the vote on the first round for the finalists for the Town of Bay Harbor Islands manager search. The date of this ballot is listed as July 22, 2020.  There were 6 finalists compared with the 3 for Palmetto Bay. The candidates listed below either did not participate in the Palmetto Bay search or qualify for the final three. The 5 (now) former candidates for Bay Harbor Islands are now moving on; assuming that Bay Harbor Islands comes to terms with their top choice.

The Palmetto Bay manager selection should not be made on a whim, without proper vetting. I recommend that they stick to the process and show respect to the other two candidates who put their faith in Palmetto Bay. The remaining final 2 believed that they would be respected and not abandoned, cast out, based upon the inability of this mayor and council to come to terms with their former top candidate. That is why there are three finalists.

Palmetto Bay should not be someone's safety net, plan "D" or worse.

I am providing links to some recent Community Newspapers opinion articles relating to the current state of the Palmetto Bay search:

Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: Palmetto Bay’s No-Show Manager Might Be A Sign of Bigger Problems, July 17, 2020

Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: Palmetto Bay: Patience May be Your Best Ally Right Now. July 21, 2020

Palmetto Bay may have been turned down by the top finalist, but 2 of the 3 remain and they deserved the respect of the process continuing as promised.

FAIR QUESTIONS:

• Is this why Palmetto Bay scheduled their discussion for tonight, July 23, 2020, to allow for the vote to take place in Bay Harbor Islands?
• Are any of these candidates not hired going to be considered by Palmetto Bay tonight on a whim?
• Did any of these candidates participate in the Palmetto Bay search performed by the Mercer Group, but did not make the list of Palmetto Bay finalists.
• Would Palmetto Bay elected officials actually consider any of these candidates if they chose not to participate in the Palmetto Bay search, or if they did, they failed to make the finals?
• What communication, if any, has been held between any of the 6 listed candidates for Bay Harbor Islands post and our elected officials (or any of their intermediaries)?

We shall see if the Palmetto Bay officials continue to follow the process or if they abandon it and hire on a whim, hiring someone who did not make the top three in a neighboring community. 

You have to be kidding me! Barrow County Manager Mike Renshaw turns down the Palmetto Bay Manager position

I have to say that this is a shockingly new low. Barrow County Manager Mike Renshaw was offered the most lucrative employment package ever offered by Palmetto Bay officials. Yes, that is right: the highest ever. Yet, this was not enough. Palmetto Bay officials (and those who were following this process) went to bed after the July 13, 2020 village council meeting (that actually ran past midnight, so into July 14) thinking that Palmetto Bay had agreed to terms for the next Village Manager. Apparently the money was not enough. With sunrise on July 14, 2020, the news began to circulate that Manager-Select Mike Renshaw had decided to reject Palmetto Bay’s offer and Palmetto Bay. The council spent well over an hour bickering over Renshaw’s final contract at that council meeting. Many of us want to know what happened behind the scenes. Why, after being offered the most lucrative employment contract ever, did the manager-select not put pen to paper to commit, but instead bolted like a spooked horse from a burning barn? Or, were Mayor Cunningham and the rest of the council simply played?

Better now than days, weeks or months into the job. I don't know whether this reads like a script from “The Runaway Bride” or “Bad Date Chronicles." Either way, it is neither entertaining nor good for the reputation of Palmetto Bay.

An article is posted online with the Barrow News-Journal (you must be a subscriber to pass through the paywall to read the full article).
It was reported that Barrow County manager Mike Renshaw will remain with the county for now after talks for him to become the new manager for the Village of Palmetto Bay, Fla., fell through Monday night.

… he said Tuesday that contract talks had broken down and he was no longer interested in the position.

He had been scheduled to begin work in the incorporated village in Miami-Dade County on Aug. 1. 

   ***   ***   ***Renshaw said he had told the Barrow County Board of Commissioners about his candidacy and kept them informed on the negotiations with Palmetto Bay. 

“I’m happy here, but if an opportunity arises that looks interesting and would be a challenge, that’s something I will look at,” Renshaw said. “I’ve got a good working relationship with the board here and that’s crucial to any manager’s tenure.”

The above does not read like a candidate that could be, or should be, persuaded (translation: "begged) to accept the Palmetto Bay Manager’s position. 

I remain proud of what I (along with so many others) worked so hard to build here in Palmetto Bay and believe that the position of Village Manager is one of high esteem. It should only be offered to someone who really wants the position with no holds barred. We need someone who is tried and true, dyed in wool Palmetto Bay Blue!

This is the "Brittany Spears" council - as this latest episode can be titled: "Oops, I did it again" Failure to close. Back to the drawing board. 

FAIR QUESTIONS:

• Did the Village dodge a bullet when the top pick for Village Manager withdrew?
• Who will be blamed for this latest stunt?
• Where do the Mayor and Council go from here? Move on to candidates 2 & 3? Or do they scrap the prior process and start over.
• Do the Mayor and Council suck up any semblance of pride and beg him to reconsider, tossing more money, more perks or what ever it takes to land this fish?
• This is a problem with going far outside the area to bring in candidates. One has to wonder whether this was all a ploy by the manager-select to negotiate a better deal with his present job. 
  
• Was this actually orchestrated behind the scenes to enable some yet to be discovered player to bring in a dark horse candidate who did not go through the executive search process?

Unfortunately, it appears that the article put out by the Palmetto Bay News is going to sit out for the next two weeks, edition running from July 14 - 28, 2020, as an in our face article about what could have been. Not today! Read the Community Newspapers online: Palmetto Bay selects new village manager, by Gary Alan Ruse -July 12, 2020

Breaking News - what was rumor has gone public - could Palmetto Bay become home to a State of Art Hospital at the Luxcom site?

The rumors that council have not discussed (or maybe they did not know) appear to have basis in fact. As reported in the Community Newspapers, Wednesday, April 17, 2019:

State-of-the-Art Hospital Planned for Palmetto Bay, by: Christopher Pearson, April 17, 2019

As reported:

If the Village of Palmetto Bay and award-winning South Florida developer Luxcom can agree upon the details, a new hospital will be built upon the last large undeveloped bayfront property in Miami-Dade County. The 71-acre parcel located at S.W. 67th Avenue and S.W. 152nd Street, just south of the community of Deering Bay, was purchased by Coral Gables-based commercial and residential developers Luxcom in December of 2018.

According to Luxcom CEO Oscar Barbara, the company plans to develop a world-class hospital offering 21st Century technology on a resort campus. The first phase will consist of medical campus with approximately 200 beds, surgical and rehabilitation areas within the main six-story building. There will also be an adjacent emergency center, Heli Pad, two medical arts buildings and plenty of convenient parking. 

“We have analyzed a variety of institutional uses on the property including a hospital and cemetery use and given that the Village of Palmetto Bay has decided to disregard its own expert’s recommendation that the property be zoned for 2.5 homes per acre, we are moving forward with a premier hospital development,” said Barbara. 

“Miami-Dade County is growing at a rate of 36,000 people annually and there is a pressing need for medical services. This new hospital will help address that need by serving the citizens of Palmetto Bay and the surrounding areas. The well-being of patients, visitors and staff will be our objective,” he added. 

According to Barbara, patients and their families will enjoy beautiful views of Biscayne Bay and flowering trees on a campus complete with wellness trails and tranquil natural areas for meditation, rehabilitation and exercise.

Luxcom offers more than 30 years of experience in developing properties throughout South Florida and has received more than 400 awards for its commercial and residential projects.

Click the Headline or CLICK HERE to view the complete story in the Community Newspapers!

Photo/source Credit - Community Newspapers

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.

Solar United Neighbors - time remains to join and save - deadline to join the CO Op is April 27, 2018.

I am working hard to bring Solar to Palmetto Bay.  Wednesday evening was another step forward as the Palmetto Bay Municipal Center was filled with area residents interested in going solar. It was my pleasure to host this meeting and bring Solar United Neighbors to Palmetto Bay for the Miami-Dade Solar Co-op Info Session. This meeting was co-hosted by Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner, Dist.8; Susan Windmiller, The League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County; as well as Mayors Peggy Bell of the Town of Cutler Bay and Mayor Joe Corradino of the Village of Pinecrest. We value our partners, both governmental as well as our ongoing collaboration with the League of Women Voters. 

More information can be found about Solar United Neighbors on their official web site: https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/

Palmetto Bay is currently one of ten (10) Miami-Dade County municipalities that have waived all or at least 75% of permitting fees for solar panels: Town of Cutler Bay, Coral Gables, Surfside, Miami Beach, City of Miami, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, Doral, Palmetto Bay and South Miami.

Waiving these fees can save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their installation.

Palmetto Bay has eliminated building permit fees for installation of Solar panels for a one year period. Learn how you can save money through participating in a Solar Co-Op.  

It was my pleasure to see so many fellow Palmetto Bay residents at this Town Hall event. I remain available to answer any questions relating to Palmetto Bay - I can be reached at eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or by calling village hall - (305) 259-1234.  My cell is (305) 302-3713.  

LWV Pres. Susan Windmiller, Mayors Peggy Cindy Lerner, Eugene Flinn,
SUN's Jody Finver & Mayor Corradino

 

 

I could not be more proud how our hard work paid off - Palmetto Bay's Municipal Center is certified LEED Platinum in recognition of its energy efficiency (and money saving) features.   

Please review the October 9, 2012, article in the Miami's Community Newspapers: "Great news. It is official. Palmetto Bay’s Village Hall receives Platinum LEED certification." I am posting photos below of just a few of our solar panels located through the roof of the municipal center.

Please also read up about Palmetto Bay's sustainability initiatives that I have championed.  This information is located on the Palmetto Bay "Green Pages" - specifically (and CLICK HERE): Have You Heard?  Green is the New Black!

 

 

Buses Are Not “Rapid” Transit, by: Stephen Zarzecki, Community Newspapers, April 9, 2018

Steve Zarzecki pens a rebuttal to a prior column: “Let’s Get Rapid Transit on the Transitway”

Click the headline to read Stephen Zarzecki's column - Busses Are Not “Rapid” Transit, posted online on the Community Newspapers, April 9, 2018.  Mr. Zarzecki responds to what he terms, 'A recent inaccurate and misleading column in the Community News by James McDonald, “Let’s Get Rapid Transit on the Transitway”, cries out for rebuttal. I would like to simply state some facts that he has ignored.' 

Please click the link to read the entire article. The text in the photo in no way comprises the entire article. 

Palmetto Bay is actively working to enhance school/community safety, update by: Eugene Flinn - Mayor of Palmetto Bay |February 27, 2018

Community / school safety will take all the jurisdictions working together.  I am working in collaboration with our State, County, School Board and Local leaders.

Our children’s safety is too important. Since the devastating shooting in Parkland, I have been working with fellow mayors and our County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to do our local/municipal part in making schools safer.

I have personally met with many of our State leaders and our School Board Leaders, including Current Chair, Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman, District 4 and Ms. Susie V. Castillo, District 5. I also held a telephone conference with our own School Board Representative, Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, District 9. Based upon their feedback, I was able to prepare a memorandum and School Safety Legislative Plan Resolution to be presented to our council. ...

Click the link to the article to read the full comprehensive update:

(CLICK HERE) Palmetto Bay is actively working to enhance school/community safety, update by: Eugene Flinn - Mayor of Palmetto Bay |February 27, 2018

The Deering Estate offers many Holiday events - visit & support our backyard on the bay!

Plans for the holiday season - there are many in our back yard on the Bay, Miami-Dade County's Deering Estate - see: Celebrate the Holiday Season with ‘Mistletoe & Martinis’ By: Sharon Kersten.

Mistletoe & Martinis, is a holiday cheer to benefit the Deering Estate Foundation. The event takes place on Friday, December 8 from 7:30 p.m. ‘til 10:30 p.m. at the Deering Estate, that brings together friends, neighbors and donors for a special evening of holiday cheer, celebration and giving. This event is limited to 250 attendees where you can enjoy the historic Deering Estate grounds lit up and fully adorned for the holidays.

 (Images above from prior Deering Estate Holiday events)

There are great events throughout the year at the Deering Estate - scheduled and special events. Unique events like the solar eclipse viewing party that was held early this year and drew a huge crowd.

Here is a bold gift suggestion for the holiday season - a family membership to the Deering Estate - admission to the annual Deering Seafood Festival is alone worth the membership fee. 

Tickets for Mistletoe & Martinis are $75 for members and $100 for non-members. Space is limited, and tickets may be purchased at www.deeringestate.org/mistletoe-martinis, or by calling 305-235-1668, ext. 263.

Additional Holiday Events at The Deering Estate (information supplied by the Community Newspapers article)

Festival of Trees Season Kick-off
Friday, December 1, 2017 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Professional and community organizations come together to transform Deering Estate’s grounds and Historical Houses as they come alive with holiday accents and decorations. Enjoy sipping on hot chocolate, nibbling on holiday cookies and listening to the sounds of the Yuletide Carolers as you wander through the Estate and tour the elegant and historic houses. Children can write letters to Santa and participate in Holiday Crafts while sitting under a large illuminated Ficus Tree.
Tickets
$12 for adults
$7 for children (ages 4-14)
Free for Deering Estate Foundation members. Please note that tickets are non-refundable, rain or shine. Children under 4 years old are free.
Go to www.deeringestate.org/holiday-season or call 305-235-1668, ext. 233.

Story-Time and Photos with Santa
Saturday, December 9 & 16, 2017; 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s visiting the Estate! Enjoy story-time with Santa’s elves throughout the historic houses and photos with Santa inside the historic Stone House Ballroom. Children can also participate in holiday arts & crafts activities. Limited seating available. Free with Estate admission: $12 for adults & $7 for children (ages 4-14); Free for Deering Estate Foundation members. Children under 4 years old are free.
Photos with Santa: Holiday photo packages are available starting at $10 (cash only).
Go to www.deeringestate.org/holiday-season or call 305-235-1668, ext. 233.

15 year history- creating the first LEED Platinum Certified Municipal Center in the Southern US

In honor of the 15th Year Anniversery - see a article still online from the Palmetto Bay News, a Community Newspapers publication.

See:  New Village Hall now open for business, by: Gary Alan Ruse, January 4, 2011

As (then founding/former) Mayor Eugene P. Flinn Jr., the principal champion of the first permanent village hall, is happy to see it completed.

“I am very pleased that we’ve got that project finished,” Flinn said. “I’m very proud of that building. It should be an outstanding and lasting legacy for our people. We have the first municipal building here in South Florida with that level of green technology, and it’s not going to be obsolete.”

Read up on the article.  It was exciting to oversee the creation of the first LEED Platinum Certified Municipal Center in the South (South US).

Also see: October 9, 2012, post: Great news. It is official. Palmetto Bay's Village Hall receives Platinum LEED certification.

Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: Metrorail to Florida City: Build it now!

The time is now - editorial in the Community Newspapers

The Metrorail may finally be getting its long-overdue extension. Now we just need to decide where to start.
...

...the South Dade Transitway is the easiest of the six SMART Plan corridors to develop. There is an existing right-of-way, Route 38 Busway Max, which runs the same route the rail would. The rail extension could begin immediately, and compared to other corridors, the construction would be minimal; the new rail will likely run at ground level utilizing an overhead line instead of a third rail system. In total, it should cost half of what an elevated rail would.

At a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce panel last month, District 13 Commissioner (and Commission Chair) Esteban Bovo and Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez agreed that the Florida City extension should be prioritized. They’re hardly alone.

Almost 15 years have passed since Miami-Dade County residents approved the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP), a half-cent sales tax overseen by the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) to fund an enormous expansion of Miami’s mass transit: 88 new miles of Metrorail and 635 new buses. To date, the PTP has raised more than $2.5 billion.

But during the 2008 financial crisis, the CITT voted to use those funds to support and maintain the present transit system. As a result, fewer than 200 buses have been added and little progress has been made on extending the rail. 

CLICK HERE to view the entire op ed by Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: 

Metrorail to Florida City: Build it now!