"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

Video of the Day - PSA - Gloria Estefan - Put On Your Mask!

Video of the day – Gloria Estefan - Put On Your Mask!

This presented as follow up to the prior post of April 6, 2020, Photo of the Day - Ed Silva and Michael Kesti deliver on safety - providing much needed face masks to our area first responders.

Stay home. Stay safe. 

Photo of the Day - Ed Silva and Michael Kesti deliver on safety - providing much needed face masks to our area first responders.

A much needed donation - looking out for our first responders. Palmetto Bay resident and past Village Manager Ed Silva and long-time resident and Rotary member Michael Kesti deliver personal donations of much needed protective masks to Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Miami-Dade County Police Units. The masks were delivered on Friday, March 27, 2020. (and keeping their social distance!).

This good news story gets better as you consider that Ed Silva and Michael Kesti were ahead of the curve by providing masks to the Village in advance of the CDC recommendation. This allowed our officers to have the masks on hand on day one for use when the recommendation was released.

Great news here in Palmetto Bay!

Thank you Ed Silva and Michael Kesti for being there for our Palmetto Bay community.

Ed Silva is a long time Palmetto Bay resident, local businessperson and served the Village as Building Official and Village Manager.

Michael Kesti is a long time Palmetto Bay resident, member of the Palmetto Bay business community and officer - both regionally and with the local Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay. Michael is the incoming Governor for 2022-23 for Rotary International District 6990 (South Florida and Grand Bahama Islands). He is Past-President and proud member of The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay. 

Working to support local businesses in this time of crisis - Frm Palmetto Bay Manager Ed Silva, put out a very useful list of Palmetto Bay Restaurants

From: Ed Silva <info@voteedsilva.com>

Date: 3/19/20 5:43 PM (GMT-05:00)

To: edesa@bellsouth.net

Subject: 🟢 What's Open in Palmetto Bay!

Also note that other services such as Freebee are working to assist in some service areas, stay tuned for what Freebee may work out with Palmetto Bay.

Hi Ed, Let’s all step-up and support our own Palmetto Bay RESTAURANTS that are OPEN for take-out and delivery orders. Attached is a list and contact information for all open establishments. If you know of a restaurant that is open but not listed, please contact me! Asian Fusion 305 278 6888                                                       Golden Rule Seafood 305 235 0661                                 Walters Restaurant  305 232 1235 - Doordash                  Babe Meat and Counter 786 429 1315 - Doordash        Miller Ale House 305 259 8844                                         Greekhouse Kitchen 305 777 8910 - Postmates                  Fritanga Palmetto Bay 786 732 7688 - Doordash     Subway: 305-253-2221 -Postmates                                          The Original Lots of Lox 305 252 2010                             Shaddai Lebanese Cuisine 786 429 1693 - Doordash          Sushi Maki 305-232-6636   Dapple Bar and Kitchen 305 595 5200                              A Pizza Brooklyn 305 669 1761                                        Caffe Portofino 305 252 2869                       Ayesha Indian fine dining 786 732 4480 - Grubhub Alaines Osteria 305 252 0355   Papa Ricos  305 253 6511 - Doordash   Gold China 305 233 6501   The Butcher Shop 305 253 9525 - Postmates   Sir Pizza 305 506 1040 - Postmates   Offerdahls on The Grill 786 249 0211 - Grubhub   Giardino's Gourmet Salads 305 259 3030 - Postmates   French Bistro 305 251 9014 - Doordash   Chicken Kitchen 305 238 4242 - Doordash   Sports Grill Palmetto Bay 305 233 0456   Fuddruckers 305 238 5680   Steves Pizza 305 233 4561   Hole in the wall 305-233 3225 Stay safe! Ed Silva Candidate for Vice Mayor of Palmetto Bay POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY ED SILVA FOR VICE MAYOR OF PALMETTO BAYD SILVA FOR VICE MAYOR OF PALMETTO BAY

“Encouraging” the Palmetto Bay Village Manager to leave. Considering Section 215.425(4)(a), and Section 215.425(4)(a)1., Florida Statutes. May a local government adopt a personnel policy providing severance pay to employees terminated without cause or who submit a resignation.

I have been asked if the Palmetto Bay Manager can receive severance if he tenders a resignation.  CLICK HERE to view the current proposed resolution placed on a Special Council Meeting agenda for consideration Monday, October 7, 2019, at 6:50 PM.  There is a single item:

 

The short answer is YES, a local government may adopt a personnel policy providing severance pay to employees terminated without cause or who submit a resignation.

This question has been asked before. Florida Law was amended restricting severance to a maximum value of 20 weeks.

CLICK HERE to view the Florida Attorney General Opinion - AGO 2016-14.Municipalities - Public Employees - Severance Pay

The Attorney General’s Opinion “in sum” was as follows:

1. Section 215.425(4)(a), Florida Statutes, permits a local government to adopt a personnel policy providing severance pay to employees terminated without cause or who submit a resignation.

2. Section 215.425(4)(a)1., Florida Statutes, limits such severance pay to 20 weeks. 

3. The amendment to section 215.425, Florida Statutes, operated prospectively, and therefore, under the South Daytona ordinance that existed prior to the effective date of July 1, 2011, the City Manager retains the discretion to decide whether to provide severance pay to City employees who were hired before that date.  

4. Section 215.425(4)(d)2., Florida Statutes, provides that an early retirement program that complies with part VII of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, is not subject to the limitations on severance pay found in section 215.425, Florida Statutes.

A POSSIBLE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: The question, however, is whether a ‘one time’ resolution, as proposed for Monday, October 7, 2019, specifically tailored to the current Village Manager, properly (legally) constitutes “… adopting a personnel policy providing severance pay to employees terminated without cause or who submit a resignation” as it appears to be a one-time, limited inducement, not a long-term policy of impact to the entire group of employees.

Update - Parks Master Plan Visioning Session (Sat. 6/2/18) another successful village public event

Thank you Old Cutler Presbyterian Church (OCPC) for opening up your facilities and hosting yet another successful Parks Master Plan visioning session.  More great ideas and a careful consideration of ideas expressed to date.  

Background on these proceeds can be found throughout my blog, including the post of May 30, 2018, Village of Palmetto Bay - Materials are available to prepare for June 2, Parks Master Plan Visioning Session.  And don't miss in that same May 30, post: SOME INTERESTING FACTS, HISTORY & INITIAL COSTS Of Palmetto Bay's Parks

I am once again providing a link to the current Village of Palmetto Bay Parks Master Plan (CLICK HERE).  This is a detailed (57 page) strategic document that took years to complete and involved significant public participation. Creation of this Master Plan involved surveys, onsite interviews, stakeholder meetings, analysis involving consultants, staff and council members as well as many, many town hall and Village Council Meetings.

Thank you to those who attended Saturday, as well as those who have participated in prior events. This continues to be a work in progress and will come before the council for a public hearing and vote.  I will keep you up to date.

Village police officers were honored for their "life-saving actions" following the driveway shooting of an off-duty Doral officer

Palmetto Bay Officers honored for their life saving actions at the March 5, 2018, regular village council meeting.

Mayor Eugene Flinn was joined by Councilman David Singer, Village Manager Ed Silva, Village Attorney Dexter Lehtinen and Police Commander Gady Serralta in recognizing the Palmetto Bay officers.

See coverage on Palmetto Bay Patch: Palmetto Bay Police Officers Honored For 'Life-Saving Actions', by Paul Scicchitano, Patch Staff | Mar 6, 2018 

 

Council Member David Singer and I support our police! Together we recognized our Village Police for their hard work and heroics. 

Ofc Alex Castillo has 13 years with our Village! Ofc Astrid Rodriguez recently returned for her second tour with the Palmetto Bay Policing Unit.

Traffic solutions. Continuing the collaboration and implementation. South Dade at work on traffic

Thank you Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava and fellow South Miami Dade Mayors - Joe Corradino, Peggy Bell and Jeff Porter, as we work with consultants, and our County  / municipal partners on updates, timelines on implementation strategies for many of the items vetted at the South Dade Traffic Summit.

County and municipal administrators / staff were preset including the TPO Exec Director, and Miami-Dade County Government DTPW reps.

The South Florida Commuter Service briefed us on van pools that service major businesses, ride share apps, and programs for carpooling to schools.  

We are working to get our schools engaged in this traffic effort.

#SouthDade #TrafficSolutions

Productive day in Tallahassee: Mayors Eugene Flinn of Palmetto Bay and Peggy Bell of Cutler Bay testify before the House Accountability Committee - advocating for the original intent of 1/2 cent transportation sales tax

A single-day legislative fly in was held on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.  This was a very productive day in Tallahassee. Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and I were asked to appear before the House Accountability Committee advocating for the original intent of 1/2 cent transportation sales tax. 

Sometimes opportunities/responsibilities arise quickly, and it is important that we be as responsive to our legislative partners, as we ask them to be responsive to us.  It was Monday, 2/12/2018, during a legislative conference call that Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and I spoke directly with State Representative Bryan Avila (R - Miami) (sponsor of HB 243) and House Minority Leader Kionne L. McGhee regarding an important hearing the bill had scheduled on 2/13 before the full House Government Accountability Committee.  It was at this late afternoon meeting (2/12) that Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and I were asked to appear before the House Accountability Committee advocating for the original intent of 1/2 cent transportation sales tax.

Preparation was important and time extremely limited - working with our managers (Ed Silva and Ralph Casals) - we put together and I brought forward an add on resolution (Palmetto Bay Resolution 2018-23) at the Village Council Meeting held that same day (Monday, 2/12/2018).  This resolution was originally co-sponsored by Council Member David Singer. The resolution found a third sponsor and was approved as prepared.

Once in Tallahassee, we met personally with the Committee Chair, Matt Caldwell (R) and Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Barbara Watson prior to testifying before the full committee. Rep. Holly Raschein sits on this committee and met with us to hear our concerns as well.  Rep. Raschein has always been a good friend to both Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay.

Above left - meeting with Comm Chair, Matt Caldwell
Above right, meeting with Rep. Holly Raschein

The Government Accountability Committee reported favorably on HB 243 by a 17-6 vote after much dilberation.  

Meeting with Rep. Barbara Watson

Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay continue to work together for traffic solutions for our South Miami-Dade area.

Both Mayor Peggy Bell and I used our time in Tallahassee to advocate for our entire municipal legislative agendas.  I meet with our House and Senate officials locally, telephonically or in Tallahassee – at their offices, in the hallways or even at the airport.  The weather of Tuesday evening provided Mayor Bell and I with an opportunity not to be wasted – we were resourceful in turning a 2-hour flight delay into time to really dive deep into legislative issues of the session with our State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez.

Meeting with Sen Jose Javier Rodriguez

 

Results can happen! Look to LA. Investigating the facts on transit and seeing work combining with political will to address congestion. Part I - OVERVIEW

Sometimes you have to get out and see things first hand to separate fact from fiction.  Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell, Manager Rafael G. Casals joined Manager Ed Silva and me in Los Angeles.  And, right off, I will advise you that I was warned that I would be upset at what I saw. I was.  LA has made significant impact on its traffic congestion issues - moving forward on building many, many miles of regular bus, BRT, lite Rail and heavy rail - all in the same time that Miami-Dade has only talked, studied and avoided.

The bill is coming due - and Mayor Bell and I are here to contribute our "Two Cents" on this issue (as do residents of LA county, but more on that later).  See the Miami Herald article of Feb. 8, 2018, Miami-Dade warns of massive bus route cuts if state bill passes - by David Smiley and Douglas Hanks.

It appears that the tale of two cities is striking - in contrasts - LA has won the confidence by delivering on commitments, wise spending and addressing issues for its tax payers who have approved 4 of 5 referendums. Miami-Dade, in stark contrast, has avoided delivery and waffles, and denies through continued delays - paralysis through endless analysis. 

Our initial meeting - held Tuesday, Feb 6, 2018 with LA Transit Officials

Here is what LA County accomplished in the 1990s:

The Metro Blue Line opened in 1990. This is light rail line consisting of 22 miles.  The construction cost was $877 million.
The Metro Red/Purples lines opened during 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2000. These are actual heavy rail subway lines consisting of 17.4 miles served by 16 stations, including 6 shared. The cost was $4.5 billion to construct.
The Metro Green Line opened in 1995.  20 miles of light rail served by 14 stations, 1 shared.  The cost for this line was $718 million.

We toured all the systems:

Above left - bike share and local DASH routes. Above right - local on street service.  

Bus exclusive lanes in part of the city (reserved for buses during rush hours only)

Above left - local service bus. Branded, but standard - most important - cleaned daily.

Above right - a transit hub where you can transfer between bus and subway

Nothing unique - above - subway stations - what we will never see in Miami-Dade County.

but (above right) the rail cars are the same as our MetroRail Cars used by Miami-Dade Transit.

 

Immediately above, left and right - LA County, Miami-Dade County &

Palmetto Bay all have strong Art In Public Places Programs - and can

be seen both in LA and Miami-Dade County Stations. (photos of LA Stations)

 LA officials are proud of what they have accomplished since 1990

and they should be proud.

 

This post is the preview for the joint report that will be issued by Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay on our findings.  There will be coverage of our observations and communications with experts in LA - where many go to learn about the 'gold standard' of BRT.  

BRT, or 'Bus "rapid transit"'- is where "The rubber meets the road" and will be covered in a separate part as I want to provide detailed comment on how Miami-Dade's Transitway stacks up - my comments and observations may surprise.  Look for updates on the LA Transit, Fact-Finding investigation.