An important environmental post worth repeating: What’s So Special about a 22 Acre Forest on Old Cutler Road, by Eduardo Varona, Guest Post (originally published October 18, 2018)

Is the environmental spirit dead with current elected officials? Why are they willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future to "beautify" the median running within US1 (costs that they gladly assumed from FDOT), but not protect environmentally sensitive land? 

Various plans have been proposed. I proposed working with the Miami-Dade Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (EEL) several times. In fact, I worked to get these 22 acres placed on the "B" List for acquisition, but it requires that Palmetto Bay participate.  That would remove any threat of development both on that land or any transferrable rights being applied to adjoining land.  This land has been used as a political football for far too long and I am anxious to see a realistic plan to save this precious land. 

I rely upon experts. The 22 acres of the Palmetto Bay Village Center should be saved. Please see this guest post from 10/18/2018: 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.

Here is the complete guest post, originally published on October 18, 2018:

Thursday, October 18, 2018

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.

Cully Waggoner's open letter to Anyone Who Cares, Note: NOT the Mayor or Commissioners of Miami-Dade County, We Know YOU Don’t Care.

An Open Letter Op Ed To Anyone Who Cares, Note: NOT the Mayor or Commissioners of Miami-Dade County, We Know YOU Don’t Care.

It rained constantly all day today, October 21st, 2020. It made me feel as if Mother Earth was crying over the decision yesterday by the Miami-Dade County Commissioners to Vote FOR Miami Wilds and the continued destruction of the Richmond Pine Rocklands.

One Mayor and 13 Commissioners and ONLY ONE, Commissioner Suarez, voted AGAINST Miami Wilds. I cannot say that I am not surprised by the County’s stupidity. The County often votes in favor of stupid things that do damage to our local environment, so the destruction of unique to only Dade County Pine Rocklands and the decimation to extinction of the Federally Endangered Species that ONLY live on the site for an EIGHTH Water Park in South Florida seems to make sense in Bizzarro World.

I AM surprised however by Commissioner and Mayoral Candidate, Daniella Levine Cava that voted FOR Miami Wilds. I thought SHE was different, NOT another corrupted South Florida politico like the others, I guess I was wrong. Daniella Levine Cava lost my vote for Mayor and lost my support for anything else. She used to be a beacon of hope, now she’s just like every other politician in this Banana Republic.

Commissioner Suarez is unique in that HE CALLED ME personally about this issue a few weeks ago. In the last SIX YEARS I’ve sent several e-mails, and spoken in person before the County Commission at least TWICE and don’t even get an “Auto Responder” e-mail back from most of the County Commissioner, let alone an e-mail reply or a call back. That shows me how little they care about the people of Miami-Dade County that they represent.

As if the debacle of Coral Reef Commons was not enough, the County decided to double down on yet another developer that lost both Sony and 20th Century Fox as major backers of Miami Wilds so they could build yet another mediocre water park and a hotel on County owned land, without public input, , without zoning change notices, without a conservation plan and without a review by the various County departments.

Southern Anchor is County OWNED Land that SHOULD have gone into the EEL (Environmental Endangered Lands) program that Miami-Dade has. NOT given outright to a developer for profit as they were / are for Miami Wilds. In FACT for the last four years there was a push to put “Southern Anchor”, the former U.S. Coast Guard housing site, into EEL and Miami-Dade fumbled and refused to add it to the EEL List, even though the County ALREADY OWNED IT, let that sink it as to how little the Miami-Dade County cares about our environment.

The Miami Herald, a shadow of its former self after selling its property to a developer for a new Casino that has yet to be built because the voters of South Florida vote AGAINST Casinos and gambling unless it is on Native American Indian land and then gambling is not only OK, except it is NOT taxed.

The main issue as I see it is that the Mayor and most of the Miami-Dade Commissioners DON’T CARE about the people of Miami-Dade County. With exceptions, they never have and they never will Remember how THEY voted when YOU Vote, I most certainly will as will others seeing this.

The full time jobs Miami Wilds will create is hardly significant employment, especially since most of them will be far below the $35k average the developer is touting. More dead-end entry-level jobs is not the answer. The “more jobs” promotion that Commissioner Moss keeps pushing is a misleading narrative at best. Moss was tasked with getting a “theme/water park next to MetroZoo (now ZooMiami) way back in 1997, he’s term limited and in his last term as Commissioner Moss wants one last hurrah before he leaves office.

Another favorite excuse for approving Miami Wilds is that it is being built on a Parking Lot. It is already paved over and won’t hurt any more Pine Rockland. Historically speaking, it is being built on the former landing pad for Naval Air Station Richmond, which became the MetroZoo parking lot in 1981. This is not entirely true, but the developers don’t want you to know this.

First: Pine Rocklands do not have to have Pine Trees on them to be considered Pine Rockland

Second: Some of the Richmond Pine Rocklands was paved over for the Navy Blimp base in 1941 and the land, the Pine Rockland beneath the concrete and asphalt is still intact and restorable. In fact, there are remains of two runways on the old base site. Both have pine trees pushing their way up through them. The old incinerator on the base had a tree growing out of the chimney.

Third: The plans for parking wipe out a part of The Gold Coast Railroad Musuem’s South Pad where the rail and “North Pole” for The Polar Express is. There is Pine Rockland with mostly Australian Pine Trees on it with a mix of other endangered flora and fauna that has already been documented and is a DERM concern.

#SaveItDontPaveIt #MiamiWilds #CoralReefCommons

--

Cully Waggoner

Note, Cully Waggoner also serves as a board member of the Miami Pine Rocklands Coalition.

South Dade Updates Guest Blog- view of the 12/12/2019 Palmetto Bay / Miami-Dade County conflict resolution proceeding by Jay Wolever

Before I get started I want to address the critics that will be curious of why I am guest writing on the former Mayor’s blog. I want to avoid the controversy, bickering, and downright negativity that I feel is plaguing our tiny community today so my opinions are my own, not his, not Karyn’s or any other person in Palmetto Bay.

So what bothered me? The December 12th meeting at the point the Mayor turned it over to the Village Attorney became a disaster. The Village Attorney was not acting professionally and criticized some very talented PEs (Professional Engineers (PE) are licensed in their practice to design). In a mediation, both sides present their argument and their solutions then come together to compromise or impasse. Engineers by trade are problem solvers. The problem here is that when traffic is backed up heading north on 87th and you are heading west on 174th your view of southbound traffic is impeded so if you are crossing 87th or turning left, you have a higher risk of being t-boned. The solutions are installing a Traffic Control Device (TCD). All engineers are bound to design problem solutions based on the law and existing standards. In this case there are many organizations that create the standards for which a design may be based and most likely in this case it would be the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) who study, design and make recommendations to governments to which design criteria (Codification of Law) are created. This code is managed by the Federal Highway Administration and is referred to as the MUTCD or Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The MUTCD is the law under 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655.

To install a TCD, a licensed engineer has to study the problem, confirm there is a risk, and create a design that mitigates that risk. In my practice, I use what is known as a residual hazard identification protocol to determine the mean time between events and what methods are available to mitigate unacceptable or undesirable risks (there is a formula). In this case it is much more simple as that work has already been done by the Federal Government and the ASCE. You will note that members of the council, the Village Attorney, and acting Manager referred to a traffic study performed at that intersection. The Vice Mayor referred to every study performed by the DTPW being wrong citing the 82nd/168th avenue circle as an example of malpractice. He pointed to adaptive traffic mapping applications such as WAZE and that traffic studies done in Miami-Dade County do not account for these apps and therefore are void. To my knowledge this software is not widely fielded and classified as not useful because adaptive mapping only has a temporary effect. However, the main point that the representatives made was that they didn’t do a traffic study that predicts traffic patterns. They looked at the existing traffic count (the cars on the roadway no matter how they got there) and existing risks and determined the appropriate TCD for that application. In this case, a stop sign carried more risk than not having a stop sign. So they looked at the alternatives which were “do not block the box” (if cars move far enough forward, the westbound traffic can see around them and be at a lesser risk of being hit by southbound traffic) or install a traffic circle which the DTPW offered to pay to install. The code (law) says the municipality cannot install a stop sign at that intersection because based on actual data (not modeling) it is more dangerous. The danger being people blocking the intersection and people rolling through the stop sign during non-peak periods.

So why is there a stop sign there now? It starts at a culmination of two different issues, first is the traffic problem in Malbrook and the need to install no right turn signs and the second is an accident that occurred where a car was hit and careened into one of our neighbors’ yards with injuries. Marlin Engineering has completed a traffic study and the Village was coordinating with the county and Marlin to find a method that allows the no right turn signs and keeps the traffic from backing up into Cutler Bay (Remember Cutler Bay had demanded the no right turn signs be removed). Marlin said that they cannot mitigate the traffic problem but they could “que up” traffic so that it did not impede Cutler Bay traffic. Basically they were going to stack cars up in Palmetto Bay on 87th and 168th by adding a second lane on the 87th/168th circle similar to the turbo lane on 87th and Old Cutler road and extending that lane on 168th to the little bridge and stopping there. So the 87th/168th quagmire would still exist but it would double the cars that would be in the intersection and reduce the backup on 87th down to Eureka. The solution to the problem on 174th and 87th was to add a traffic circle. This combined project, the turbo lane on 87th/168th, the second lane eastbound on 168th from 87th to the bridge, and the 87th/174th traffic circle were proposed as a plan to the county that the Village would perform at a cost of over half a million dollars with no contributions from the state or county. The county accepted this proposal from the Village and allowed the temporary installation of the stop sign at the 87th/174th intersection in lieu of installing the traffic circle. One small problem, that solution wasn’t brought before the council for a vote and the electorate of Palmetto Bay did not want to stomach a half million dollars on a useless traffic mitigation project. It died and the County said by law we have to remove the stop sign.

So you have an attorney that looks at three licensed Professional Engineers demandingly and says that “their book” doesn’t take into account the reality of what the residents face daily. He says that the engineers are not putting the safety of the residents first but aren’t the engineers putting safety first and is the Village insisting on leaving a TCD in place that is a higher risk than the alternative? The attorney is right in that the MUTCD doesn’t take the safety of Palmetto Bay residents into consideration, it takes into consideration the entirety of the travelling public within the jurisdiction of the US Federal Government. In my opinion that mediation puts Palmetto Bay at risk of losing any ability to have professional meetings with the DTPW.

This year will bring us a new Village Manager, a new Village Council combined with the newly appointed Village Attorney. I feel we have lost our ability to negotiate deals that benefit Village residents, is courteous of our neighbors, and takes advantage of what developers can offer without sacrificing land that we should be preserving and our precious family time in traffic. We should be working with Cutler Bay as they are fighting to keep development smart, as we should be with Homestead and all our neighbors. Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead make up a powerful voting block across different County Commission Districts and State Legislative seats if we get together and fight for transit solutions, and infrastructure improvements. Traffic is not Palmetto Bay’s crises, it is a symptom of the crisis of not being neighborly.

Nearing the finish line? Years of advocating for an end to distracted driving in Florida, an update Guest Post - Mark Merwitzer - an advocate for safe road travel

EDITOR's NOTE: I am pleased to present another guest post to the South Dade Updates Blog (SDU) from Mark Merwitzer.  CLICK HERE for prior relevant posts relating to Mark Merwitzer.  Mark has been hard at work appearing over the many years before the Florida Legislature to enact life safety legislation relating to distracted driving. 

I want to thank Mark Merwitzer, a Palmetto Bay resident and a founding member of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board (and a past Chair of the Youth Board) for his tenacious efforts on this anti-distracted driving initiative. 

Also see a prior Guest Post from Mark Merwitzer: January 14, 2018, Guest Post - Mark Merwitzer - an advocate for safe roads - ending distracted driving

I am beyond excited to announce the passage of House Bill 107 through the Florida Legislature, and now is on its way to Governor DeSantis’s desk. Years of my hard work, along with others, has finally paid off.

Debbie Wanninkhof / Mark Merwitzer

After three years of my appearances in multiple committees, working with multiple elected officials, rallying support at a local level, and developing a relationship with many Florida politicians, as well as many families who have lost loved ones and then getting them involved, today is the day the Florida Legislature finally passed a texting while driving ban with primary enforcement.

Out of 50 states, 47 have laws to ban texting while driving as a primary offense. Florida is not one of those yet, but Governor DeSantis will have the bill on his desk within the next few days to make texting while driving a primary offense. In addition, the bill would prohibit handheld cell phone use in school and work zones. Currently Florida has a secondary offense which prohibits police officers from giving tickets to texting drivers unless another infraction is involved. Consequently, the roads are filled with people distracted by their phones often resulting in accidents and fatalities. Safety is the foremost concern for all, yet, Florida is currently lacking with this commonsense legislation. That will change October 1st, when the new law takes effect.

My personal journey began three years ago when I was just 16 years old. I was driving down the MacArthur Causeway with my dad after having lunch with my grandmother. My dad was cursing at every car that went by for swerving in and out of their lanes. I noticed that the vast majority of these drivers were on their phone, totally oblivious to the road. It occurred to me that no one was doing anything to address this massive road safety issue. When I got home and did some research, not only did I find that Florida did not have a primary enforcement law, but texting while driving impacts my generation the most.

So, I got to work. I reached out to my local officials along with the local youth councils -one of which I was the chair of- and asked them to do something about this severe problem. Unfortunately, the issue is preempted to the state which means that local governments cannot regulate texting while driving within their own municipalities. So instead of enacting local laws, I am pleased to have worked with many people such as Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor Eugene Flinn, Mayor Cindy Lerner, and many others to have them all pass urgings (also known as legislative requests) to the Florida Legislature and then lobby for the issue.

After all of these urgings passed, I contacted Senator Rene Garcia with the help of outgoing Senator de la Portilla and asked him to sponsor a texting while driving ban in the Senate. Senator Rene Garcia agreed. Representative Slosberg sponsored the bill in the House. Even though the bill did not pass the first year, it was the very first time any kind of texting while driving bill received a hearing since the secondary ban passed in 2013. It was also that year when I traveled up to Tallahassee for the first time and presented the bill before a Senate Committee. It was nerve racking for a then 16-year-old me. I am extremely grateful to everyone who supported me in that first year.

The next year is when things really got moving. After going up to Tallahassee multiple times in 2018, the bill managed to get through the Florida House and 3/4 of the Senate committees. Unfortunately, the last committee chair, Rob Bradley, refused to hear the bill. Senator Bradley single-handedly killed the bill last year. That action devastated many families who lost loved ones and went to Tallahassee to advocate for the bill.

However, I was not discouraged at all and decided to keep up the good fight.

But, as the saying goes, the third time's a charm. This year, I am grateful for the sponsorship of Senate President Designee Wilton Simpson and the work of Representative Jackie Toledo. With their sponsorships and the backing of a coalition of which I am a part of, getting grieving parents on board, sacrificing my spring break, talking to dozens of legislators, and appearing at almost every hearing for the bill, we were finally able to get it done this year. I am so glad to see my hard work finally pay off.

Thank you to everyone involved for making our roads safer.

-Mark Merwitzer

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.

Guest Post - Mark Merwitzer - an advocate for safe roads - ending distracted driving

The following is another in a ongoing series of guest posts. Student Mark Merwitzer will not be distracted from his mission to save lives through advocating for increasing the safety of those on or near the roadways. Once again, Mark reports of his efforts in Tallahassee.  This is the 6th appearance for Mark on this blog (CLICK HERE) to view all prior posts, all related to his public service and advocacy, including how to navigate a traffic circle as well as fighting against distracted driving: Oct. 25, 2017, Driven (without distractions). YCIB Member Mark Merwitzer testifies before Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee and Aug. 14, 2017: Traffic Circle Safety - Please take the time to view this creative video by Mark Merwitzer, Jackson Ribler & Justin Merwitzer. Edited and produced through the talents of "Miami Hal" Feldman.

From Mark:

My name is Mark Merwitzer. I am a 17-year-old high school student who attends School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson. I am also the chairman of the Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board. For the last 18 months, I have been working very diligently with local and state legislators to make texting while driving a primary offense in the state of Florida.

To push for this primary ban I have been working extremely closely with Miami-Dade County and other municipalities. By pushing them to pass urgings and hire lobbyist to support this initiative, the Florida legislature has seen a massive push from numerous local governments across Florida. Their voices are strongly considered as they contribute a tremendous amount to the state tax pool.

Debbie Wanninkhof / Mark Merwitzer

With the support of Miami-Dade County and Palmetto Bay, I traveled to Tallahassee with Debbie Wanninkhof.  Debbie and Rik Wanninkhof’s son Patrick died at the age of 25 at the hands of a cell phone distracted driver. He was a son, a brother, a teacher, a musician, a friend and an incredible human being. Patrick got on his bicycle in June of 2015 to ride for and to build affordable housing for those who needed it most. On July 30, 2015, he was killed by a woman who was distracted by her phone while driving. Yet Debbie and Rik turned their grief into something extraordinary. They went up to Tallahassee with me and shared their story with many Representatives and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee.

With the Wanninkhofs, I had the privilege of testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee in support of House Bill 33. House Bill 33 makes texting while driving a primary offense, which gives police officers the ability to pull over and issue citations to drivers who are texting behind the wheel. I have also been pushing Senate Bill 90, the Senate companion bill to House Bill 33, in the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill passed unanimously in both committees.

Rep. Kionne McGhee

In addition to the bill unanimously passing both committees, I had the privilege of meeting with House Minority Leader Designee Kionne McGhee (rhyme not intended). I am very appreciative to have his support and co-sponsorship of House Bill 33. Having the support of democratic leadership further solidifies the bi-partisanship of the bill.

Sen. Annette Taddeo

I also had the honor of meeting the newly elected Senator Annette Taddeo. Senator Taddeo turned the district blue and defeated Jose Felix Diaz (R) after the resignation of Senator Artiles. She sits on the Senate Transportation Committee and is a co-sponsor Senate Bill 90. I am very grateful to have her support.

Sen. Bill Galvano

The Senate Transportation Committee also has Senate President Designee Bill Galvano on it. He voted in support of the texting while driving ban. I am extremely thankful for his vote, as it shows that Senate Leadership is in support of making our roads safer.

If you would like to get involved with the texting while driving bill, please call your State Representative and voice your support for the bill. Additionally, if you can call Representatives that sit on the House Judiciary Committee, which is the next committee of reference, that would also be appreciated. I have linked the House Judiciary Committee and the find your Representative website for your convenience. Thank you very much in advance for your support. Welcome to the team!

House Judiciary: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=2919
Find Your Representative:

https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

NOTE: Palmetto Bay is a supporter of traffic safety.  CLICK HERE to view a past Palmetto Bay e-currents (Oct. 2009) explaining past efforts from the original Palmetto Bay council on making our roadways safer for everyone, especially our students. Safe streets have been important from the very first Palmetto Bay council. This is an effort that requires continued vigilance and work to see an idea pass, not just paying lip service. It also takes a Village and Mark Merwitzer has been doing much of the heavy lifting these past few years. Subsequent councils (including this current council) have continued to efforts in regard to making our roads safer. - Thank you to Mark Merwitzer and others like him who are committed to making our communities safer!

(Video below - Mark Merwitzer testifying before the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee in Tallahassee on January 9, 2018. A unanimous vote helped move the bill on to the next step.)

Guest Post - Make South Miami-Dade into an attractive, prosperous, first-class community. Choose elevated MetroRail, by Steve Zarzecki

The following is a guest Blog Post from Steve Zarzecki, who wears many hats in our community, including being President, Concerned Citizens of Cutler Bay and appointed Member to People's Advisory Group - Miami-Dade County Public Works & Transportation Department:

Photo: Steve Zarzeci

In a few weeks the TPO will make a decision that will affect us for decades to come here in South Dade. They will decide the mode of Mass Transit on the South Dade Transit Corridor (US-1). It should be clear to everyone that elevated MetroRail is the only viable solution for South Dade.

So, what will we gain from a decision to choose elevated MetroRail? And more importantly, what will we LOSE if they make the wrong choice?

From: American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC, 2017

http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/ptbenefits/Pages/default.aspx

Public transportation in the United States is a crucial part of the solution to the nation’s economic, energy, and environmental challenges - helping to bring a better quality of life. In increasing numbers, people are using public transportation and local communities are expanding public transit services. Every segment of American society - individuals, families, communities, and businesses - benefits from public transportation.

Public Transportation Saves Money

•According to APTA’s Transit Saving Report, a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $9,823 a year by downsizing to (or only using) one car.

(To calculate your individual savings, with or without car ownership or use, go to http://www.publictransportation.org/tools/fuelsavings/Pages/default.aspx​ )

•Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary, alternative to driving.

Public Transportation Provides Economic Opportunities & Drives Community Growth and Revitalization

•Public transportation offers individuals access to jobs.

•87 percent of public transit trips impact the economy.

•Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.

•Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates more than 50,000 jobs.

•Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $32 million in increased business sales.

•Residential property values performed 42 percent better on average if they were located near public transportation with high-frequency service.

Public Transportation Enhances Personal Opportunities

•Public transportation provides personal mobility and freedom for people from every walk of life.

•Access to public transportation gives people transportation options to get to work, go to school, visit friends, or go to a doctor’s office.

•Public transportation provides access to job opportunities for millions of Americans.

Public Transportation Saves Fuel, Reduces Congestion

•Public transportation has a proven record of reducing congestion.

•The latest research shows that in 2011, U.S. public transportation use saved 865 million hours in travel time and 450 million gallons of fuel in 498 urban areas.

•Without public transportation, congestion costs in 2011 would have risen by nearly $21 billion from $121 billion to $142 billion in 498 urban areas.

•Public transportation use in the United States saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

•Households near public transit drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles than households with no access to public transit.

Public Transportation Reduces Carbon Footprint

•Public transportation use in the United States reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined stopping using electricity.

•One person with a 20-mile round trip commute who switches from driving to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

•A single commuter switching his or her commute to public transportation can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10 percent and up to 30 percent if he or she eliminates a second car.

These benefits will not come to South Miami-Dade if a sub-standard, inadequate mass transit system is chosen.

Make South Miami-Dade into an attractive, prosperous, first-class community. Choose elevated MetroRail.

Steve Zarzecki