Finding innovative and successful routes for Palmetto Bay's IBus. Could an FIU and/or a MDC shuttle be on the horizon?

Council Member David Singer and I have been holding a serious of very successful Town Hall meetings.  Topics including Transit. People are taking notice and participation is robust.  

Our next Town Halls (again on Transit/traffic issues) are set for Tuesday, February 13 at 6 and 7 PM.  

See our Official Village Web Site for more information.  Participate - your voice matters.  

There are two important meeting that evening that Council Member David Singer and I both will be participating in - and note other interested members of the village council may attend as well - 
Public Meetings, Workshops & Town Halls

TRAFFIC TOWN HALL MEETING HOSTED BY ADMINISTRATION
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 6:00 PM - Municipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street

Administration will be hosting a Traffic Town Hall Meeting for the area south of SW 152nd Street and west of Old Cutler Road to SW 77th Avenue on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 6:00 PM at Village of Palmetto Bay Municipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. The purpose of the Traffic Town Hall Meeting is to to discuss overall traffic calming improvements for the area.

TRAFFIC TOWN HALL-UPDATE MEETING CO-HOSTED BY MAYOR EUGENE FLINN AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SINGER
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 7:00 PM - Municipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street

Mayor Eugene Flinn and Council Member Singer will be Co-hosting a Traffic Town Hall-Update Meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 7:00 PM at Village of Palmetto Bay Municipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. The purpose of the Town Hall-Update Meeting is to discuss the overall traffic calming improvements and solution ideas for the Village. For additional details on the meeting, please view the Town Hall Meeting Notice HERE.
 
The local media is taking notice of Palmetto Bay's efforts!

Fabienne Fleurantin, South Florida Uncovered, is providing recent coverage on our efforts, proposals, and plans, as well as balanced reporting as to some of the resistance to public transportation in the article: Preliminary plan for Palmetto Bay I-Bus extension includes routes to FIU and MDC

Palmetto Bay is planning a partnership with with Florida International University and Miami-Dade College to use its bus service, the I-Bus, to transport students to FIU’s Modesto Madique Campus and MDC’s Kendall Campus.

A punny nod to the ibises that visit the village’s parks and neighborhoods, the I-Bus was launched in 2006 to connect Miami-Dade Transit routes and “increase the amount of destinations on a fixed schedule,” according to the village’s website.  ... [click the link above ( Or CLICK HERE) to read more of this article]

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Yes, public transportation is government subsidized. Our IBus is paid out of our municipal share of the CITT funds - the 1/2 cent sales tax).  Everyone has an interest in reliving traffic congestion. Public transportation helps those that want to lose their cars - or (and this may come as a surprise to some - can't afford a personal vehicle, but can and do live within Palmetto Bay - this can be anyone of any gender or age, but can be a student or active senior).  Public transportation does not serve everyone, but everyone benefits by getting as many commuters off the road as possible.  Its less congestion for everyone.

Please come on out and work with our Village Administration and fellow residents, with David Singer and me, as we attempt to find the best fit for our IBus. We have many great ideas - what gets you (or your parent or your student) out of your car and onto public transportation.  Please help us serve you better.  As David and I say, "#YourVoiceMatters"!

Team Palmetto Bay presents its legislative agenda priorities to the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation

Team Palmetto Bay - at FIU for the 2017 Miami-Dade Legislative Hearing.

I was honored to speak before the Miami-Dade Delegation.  This was a collaborative team effort.  Palmetto Bay is about programing money for those with unique abilities and seniors, green, traffic calming and stormwater projects. 

Kudos to Mark Merwitzer, Member of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board (YCIB) who spoke passionately in favor of a legislative priority to make testing and driving a primary offense - saving lives!


Starting left moving to right :Mayor Eugene Flinn, County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava,
YCIB member Mark Merwitzer, PPP Chair Peter England and Palmetto Bay Manager Ed Silva.

Palmetto Bay Partners Advisory Committee (PPP) Chair Peter England spoke on an important Deering request that Palmetto Bay is fully supportive.

Palmetto Bay has put together a unified legislative agenda.  See my prior post of January 22, 2017 - Presenting the full text - and transparency protection - Palmetto Bay's 2017 Legislative Priorities - to view the complete 2017 Palmetto Bay Legislative Agenda

This week was FIU week for me, Thursday PBBA, Friday HNBA Mentoring

A week that was very involved with FIU.

Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg is the fifth president of Florida International University and former Chancellor of the State University System of Florida.  

President Rosenberg was the featured speaker on Thursday, October 1, 2015, before the Palmetto Bay Business Association.  

We were updated on the great work of our local State University including the impact specific to Palmetto Bay; from the thousands of graduates to the hundreds of faculty and staff that currently reside within Palmetto Bay.

I am honored to once again take part in the HNBA Mentoring program.  This year's kick off was held on Friday, October 2, 2015, at the UM Student Union.  I am most impressed by the quality of the law students who participate in this program.  Law Students from as far away as UF are participating.  Law Students from UM, FIU and St. Thomas are also present.  I find this program to benefit me as much as the mentees. 

Photo above left, Maria Papasakelariou (FIU Law, HNBA Mentee), Eugene Flinn, Karel Suarez (FIU Law, my 2014/15 Mentee and current President of the HNBA Law Student Division).

Photo above left, Eugene Flinn with Maria Dantes Sanchez, Regional General Attorney at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, HNBA Region President, Region VIII (FL) and prominent resident of Palmetto Bay.

The 2015 kick off event was an opportunity for participating mentors and mentees to meet.  Assignments will be made and announced later this month. 

It is a wonderful opportunity for me to continue to participate in this outstanding program, being able to give back for the opportunities that I have been afforded.

Gator Rebhan is the FIU softball Coach.

Congratulations Gator!  FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced the hiring of Gator Rebhan as the FIU softball Head Coach on Friday, 8.1. CLICK HERE to read the official FIU release.

"Coach Rebhan is a proven winner," said Garcia. "Given the success he has had on the state and national levels, along with the early success he had last year as an assistant coach, it made the decision clear to us that he is the right person for the job."

 "I want to thank Pete Garcia and Julie Berg for giving me this opportunity," said Rebhan. "I've been a local coach in the area for over 20 years and am excited to be given the chance to lead this program. We have a great group of players and a lot of talent on this team. I think being a local coach will bring a lot of excitement to this program. Having been an assistant coach for the team last year, I have a great rapport with the athletes already and am extremely excited to begin."

I want to personally congratulate Gator who also worked with the Village of Palmetto Bay in its Softball programs at Palmetto Bay Park. We were honored to take part in thanking him and wishing him the best at a surprise party held in his honor on Tuesday, 8/5/2014.

Gator in center with (from left to right) Alexandra, Walter, Eugene and Jennifer Flinn