Who lost in the Village Manager fiasco of Monday, October 7, 2019? Perhaps everyone who wanted improvement to our village as confidence is shattered. This should be cause for concern as when a "partner" pulls out like this, it indicates an unhealthy, unstable government, expect a poor product in the foreseeable future.

I certainly did not see this coming. It is shocking to see a group like I3 use the language seen in an e-mail (posted below) to the Palmetto Bay Village Council. But as one saying goes, 'play silly games, "win" silly prizes'. The question is who terminated who and what will this mean for our downtown area?

Perhaps it is time for this current Mayor and Village Council to simply close up shop and scrap any planning. The word is out and it will be very difficult to bring new quality groups in to work with the present leadership. Work to repair the damage to reputation will take much more than a few staged events with live feeds and selfies.  What occurred Monday, October 7th, 2019, was a figurative torching of the reputation of Palmetto Bay. So many worked so hard for a positive image. Petty politics and scapegoating hit the fan.

It is important to contrast the behavior and actions exhibited at the Special Council Meeting of Monday, 10/7/2019 with the June 11, 2019 article that appeared in Miami Today, by Jesse Schecker, entitled "Karyn Cunningham Palmetto Bay mayor seeks creation of vibrant downtown".  The controlled village press fails to match the gutter performance. 'Resident-centric' change was promised, but to date, only chaos,  and unreasonable delay has been delivered. One has to wonder if this I3 project was to be a cornerstone in what the current Mayor had planned for the Palmetto Bay; what she termed (but did not fully disclose) “…creating a vibrant downtown that attracts new residents, businesses and visitors.” (emphasis added)

But now one has to wonder what will ever be created as never, never, have I seen a communication such as this from an alleged Public/Private partner:

Dear Council,

I’m writing because it has been brought to our attention that Ed Silva - Village Manager, is being terminated. 

It is not our business surrounding the issues related to his termination. However, Mr. Silva has been very helpful in his efforts to coordinate and provide leadership in the Village’s downtown area that provided i3 with the comfort and understanding of the opportunity to partner with the Village. Through his representation of the residents and the Council, i3 was afforded the opportunity and was rewarded with the approval to work with a task force, directed by the Vice Mayor and Village Manager, towards a development plan and financial structure that would be presented to Council for it’s approval. It has been clear to us and gave us significant comfort that his sponsorship and significant contribution towards the overall downtown redevelopment plan, coupled with his professional expertise prior to joining the Village as Manager, would help i3 navigate our planning efforts and negotiations with the Task Force. We sensed we could achieve a workable plan that the residents, Council, participating landowners, and i3 could gain excitement and consensus on.

Without Mr. Silva’s participation in this process as Manager, our understanding of and confidence in the Village’s plan to proceed is uncertain. i3 has already invested significant capital in getting to this point and we simply are too uncertain of a path to proceed. We are very disappointed to get to this point as we have spent many hours and days cultivating a plan and, even more importantly, a relationship of trust with many residents and Council. However, we simply cannot proceed without key, approved team members. 

I am happy to discuss this in person with any of the Council members or staff. I know you have a trust of your residents in making these decisions, which you don’t take lightly. However, I also trust that you understand our responsibility in making decisions based upon a path forward that is supported by clarity, stewardship, and sound business practices. This termination, after all of these months of work and establishing a path forward, unfortunately creates uncertainty that we aren’t able to navigate.

Respectfully,

RENE JOUBERT
Principal
i3

This is cause for concern, regardless of your position on the project: I may not have been a fan of this unsolicited bid, but wow, a pullout after substantial investment - I am told a '6 figure' investment by this private partner in the process before the pullout. Perhaps the so-called task force was seen as a sham. Perhaps any commitments made in private by the members of the village council fail to match the performance in public.  What is next? We shall see. 

CLICK HERE to view prior posts  relating to this Unsolicited bid project (I remain on the record and transparent).

More development! LOOK FOR A FUTURE ARTICLE relating to a grand new MEGA development that may be coming soon to a Palmetto Bay Village Council near you! 

Read the complete June 7, 2018, e-news published by Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn

CLICK HERE to view the full e-mail online. 

Important updates included in the e-mail blast released on June 7, including:

IN THIS ISSUE:     NEW  Make plans to attend our Lunch & Learn Hurricane Workshop this Saturday, with Meteorologist and Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross. CITE update - Report a Traffic Concern Online .  Palmetto Bay will launch a free shuttle beginning Monday, June 11, operating to and from the parking lot of Holy Rosary - St. Richard's Catholic Church and the Dadeland South Metrorail station Join us for age friendly discussions on June 13 and July 13 at Community Meetings that will touch upon the Strategic Plan, DUV code process update & AARP- age friendly discussion.  Palmetto Bay moves closer to receipt of a major grant for Freebee. We continue to work on a southern Park & Ride location.  $80,000.00 grant for Palmetto Bay: Smart Mobility Hubs/Transit Infrastructure Plan View May, 2018, Crime Stats Online (posted on June 4)! How we compare: Our upcoming Budget process officially begins.  Budget Workshops set - dates listed below.  Monday, July 9, 2018 at 6:00 PM (prior to Regular Council Meeting) - General Government Operating Monday, July 16, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Capital Projects  Monday, July 23, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Special Revenue REMINDERS - UPCOMING Important links for hurricane preparedness.  Thank you to those who attended our Palmetto Bay Parks Master Plan visioning session. Opportunities remain for input. I don't mean to hound you, but reminder, that the 2018 edition of the Dogs of Summer is set to return to Palmetto Bay's Coral Reef Park on Sat., June 23, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Village of Palmetto Bay - Materials are available to prepare for June 2, Parks Master Plan Visioning Session

Are you ready to participate in the update to our Palmetto Bay Parks Master Plan? I am 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.

Government Operations versus political campaigns.  Facts verses #FakeNews.  Palmetto Bay has a Parks Master Plan - as evidenced by the document I have just provided.  I keep hearing of village candidates who complain that we need a parks master plan, alleging that they have been waiting for one for years.  This is simply incorrect. Palmetto Bay adopted a formal Parks Master Plan in 2007. It was designed to be a 10 year plan. "Planning" is one of my "Palmetto Bay 'Ps'."  (As well as P for "Positive" - let's keep it POSITIVE here in Palmetto Bay).  Our Village has many active plans, including a Comp Plan, as well as Transportation and Bicycle / Pedestrian master plans (CLICK HERE).  There are many, many strategic plans in existence here in Palmetto Bay (including our annual budgets). The Parks Master Plan is just one of many documents used to guide the village.

Access and providing accurate information is just one of the many reasons why I continue to push for ALL DOCUMENTS to be posted on line. A simple visit to our Village website should be able to resolve any issues.  The Parks Master Plan is, and has been, a living document that has been updated when due.  A single (of several) examples of modification of our Parks Master Plan can be seen in Resolution 2013-44, passed and adopted on May 6, 2013 [but note that the approved site plan referred to as "exhibit 1" is NOT attached and therefore cannot be reviewed through viewing this resolution online. (referred to in Section 3., page 2, lines 29-30). This resolution and the exhibit are, however, attached to the Parks Master plan (page 40 of 57 of the online .PDF)].

Note that these studies are not done simply to sit on the shelf. They are useful tools to take the next steps forward.  These documents are a big part of Palmetto Bay's success in obtaining tens of millions of dollars in grants under my administrations.

How does Palmetto Bay compare in parks?  Palmetto Bay is truly the Village of Parks.  Palmetto Bay, itself, has 104.2 acres of developed Parkland that was accessible to its residents for recreational use. The population at that time was 24,903.  This provided that Palmetto Bay had 4.18 acres of developed parklands per 1,000 residents.  At the time this Parks Master Plan was completed in 2007.  This far exceeds the Miami-Dade County requirements of 2.75 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The comparable (July 2007) were (LOS Standard): 2.9 for Pinecrest, 6.2 for Coral Gables, 3.7 for South Miami and 4.63 for Miami Lakes.

Palmetto Bay has additional park land potential that I have identified, including the Woods at SW 168/88th Court, 160th/89th, the Palmetto Bay Village Center site as well as potential lands consisting of FPL easement.

I strongly recommend that readers review the "Goals, Objectives, and Policies page - our Comprehensive Plan Recreation and Open Space Element, Section VIII, document numbered pages 28-29.

Please take the time to review and prepare.  I am proud of how we have created the "Village of Parks" which includes more than just the LOS of parkland set aside, it includes our people and our programming.  

[Please note that all photos placed on this blog post are part of the actual published parks master plan. These photos can be viewed full size by reviewing the complete document online (CLICK HERE)]

SOME INTERESTING FACTS, HISTORY & INITIAL COSTS
Of Palmetto Bay's Parks

THE FACTS: In the Beginning, the Village of Palmetto Bay was founded with one regional park, one small neighborhood park, and a virtually unused lake park that we assumed from Miami-Dade County.  I am proud to have led the original Master Plan process (completed as some of the changes were being implemented) as well as the fundraising in the form of seeking grants and appropriations for our Parks plan/efforts. 

Coral Reef Park - was cleaned up and rehabilitated from its pre-incorporation state. It hosts or has hosted Family Movie nights, 2Ks, 5Ks, youth sports, beach volleyball, tennis, walking, tot lot, (to name just a few of the activities) and is home to a small (5 acre +/-) native pineland area. This park is one of the gems of Palmetto Bay.

Palmetto Bay Park, did not come to us in the size or existing amenities from Miami-Dade County as Coral Reef Park. This has been a big work in progress. We took the original Perrine Park land (5 acres), plus an expansion area, negotiated with the County for the adjacent seven acres, paying fair-market value, and expanded it... transforming it into Palmetto Bay Park, a state-of-the-art venue offering a wonderful diversity of activities and attractions for boys and girls, young and not so young, including the largest boundless playground in South Florida where children of all abilities can play together. It also offers well-lit walking paths used by joggers and walkers; and a fully renovated community room for parties, ballet and meetings.

Perrine Wayside / Dog Park. We took a former quarry and turned it from a run down, neglected "park" - in name only and turned it into something special. Listed as one of the 10 best dog parks!

Thalatta Estate and Ludiovici Parks have put the "Bay" back in Palmetto Bay. Thalatta Estate remains one of the most serene parks in Miami-Dade County. Ludovici Park is home to passive areas as well as an amphitheater, a community-based library and community room providing activities for our youngest to the oldest residents of the Village and home to the Palmetto Bay Garden Club.

Libraries are awesome facilities - they not only encourage children to get excited about reading, but they are also great learning and social environments for adults. We enjoy an outstanding partnership with the Miami-Dade County Public Library system. 

 

Costs of the initial phase of the Palmetto Bay Parks Master Plan: Of interest, the total amount Palmetto Bay spent on the initial investment to make Palmetto Bay the most family friendly community in South Florida was $16.8 million dollars, not including dollars spent on such items as landscaping, signage, plumbing, electrical, and the like. That's right - almost $17 million dollars has been spent or budgeted on parks improvements between 2002 and the 2008-09 fiscal year. And no taxes were raised to make this happen!

That's the equivalent of more than $350 dollars per-year, per-household, over the initial six years - a small amount, considering the large reward.

Update on Traffic Enforcement - Major Serralta and team discuss special traffic initiatives for Palmetto Bay

Council Member David Singer and I want to thank the participants of our Traffic Safety Town Hall meeting held March 12, 2018. The council chambers was filled with fellow residents who brought forward their concerns for their neighborhoods.  Our Village Police were on hand taking notes and preparing "pink sheets" which will be used to set up special enforcement details throughout Palmetto Bay.  Your voices were heard loud and clear.  Council Member Singer and are fully supportive of life-safety and traffic enforcement measures.

This was a first of the kind meeting where we brought multiple neighborhoods and individuals together and discussed an updated Traffic Enforcement Plan. I also want to thank those who could not attend the event, but who reached out to me over the weekend and earlier Monday to discuss their concerns.

Major Serralta discussed staffing and deployment at the current time, including the level of enhanced protection for our area schools, until they can get their police staffing up.  The projected cost to Palmetto Bay is expected to be in the area of $60,000.00 to take us to the end of this school year.

There is more to come on safety initiatives. 

Our next Town Hall meeting will be held in April and will focus on Community Safety and enhanced School Security. This Town Hall Meeting will be jointly sponsored / co-hosted by Mayor Eugene Flinn and Council Member David Singer. Both Do The Right Thing and Crime Stoppers will be participating in our next Town Hall Meeting. Principals of our area schools will be invited to participate and we expect that they (or their designee) will be available to discuss our school safety plans (to the extend that Public disclosure is allowed, we do not expect any privileged information that risks compromising the programs to be released).

Major Serralta is presently updating the traffic enforcement plans.  This plan will be brought before the Village Council for the April Regular Village Council meeting. 

Council Member David Singer and I are serious about the newly unveiled traffic enforcement program. Child safety is our priority – in or out of our schools.

I want to thank both Crime Stoppers and Do The Right Thing (DTRT) for participating and providing general and child/student safety materials for participants.  Both Do The Right Thing and Crime Stoppers will be participating in our next Town Hall Meeting, Community Safety and enhanced School Security that will be jointly sponsored / co-hosted by Mayor Eugene Flinn and Council Member David Singer.

This Traffic Safety Town Hall has been part of the interactive series that Council Member David Singer and I have been holding.  Prior Town Halls include our Traffic Calming Town Hall (Public Services) held on February 13, 2018. This meeting included our Public Services team and focused upon the traffic calming initiates that I have brought forward.

A Public Meeting was held by us regarding Transportation, on, January 24, 2018, to focus on making better use of the Village's existing IBUS routes, including discussion on improvements to transportation in the community. It was from this meeting (and other council members attended the meeting and took notes!) that the Park and Ride and other ideas came forward.

Public Meeting on Strategic Plan - January 10, 2018.  The purpose of this Town Hall Meeting was to gather resident input and feedback prior to the final adoption of the Village's Strategic Plan. Draft copies of the Strategic Plan were made available online as well as at the actual meeting.

Again, thank you all for participating, making your voices heard.  The Operations Commander took down many “pink sheets” that document problem areas and place neighborhoods in the que for the special enforcement.

The local media is taking notice of our efforts!

Fabienne Fleurantin, South Florida Uncovered, provided 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

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

2 upcoming TOWN HALL meetings - Transparency - actually ensuring that #YourVoiceMatters

I am pleased to be your mayor and to co-host the two town Hall Meetings with Council Member David Singer.

Please attend and be heard - the strategic plan is certainly not a people's plan unless and until it is presented to residents before it is adopted.  The Town Hall meetings provide a special detail focus that is not possible if it is reduced to just an agenda items, a single part of a long regular monthly council meeting.

Your Mayor,

Eugene Flinn

Public Meeting on Strategic Plan - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 7:00 PM
Municipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street

The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to gather resident input and feedback prior to the final adoption of the Village's Strategic Plan. All members of the public are welcomed to attend and participate. A draft copy of the Strategic Plan is accessible by following the link provided.

Strategic Plan Town Hall  -  the Meeting Notice has been posted.

HERE is the link to the Meeting Notice;

HERE is the link to the Public Calendar;

HERE is the link to the draft copy of the Strategic Plan.

Public Meeting on Transportation, Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 7:00 PMMunicipal Center, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street  

The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to focus on making better use of the Village's existing IBUS routes, including discussion on improvements to transportation in the community. All members of the public are welcome to attend, participate, and provide feedback. To view the current IBUS - Bus Circulator - Schedule and Routes, please click HERE. 

Transportation Town Hall  -  the Meeting Notice has been posted.

HERE is the link to the Meeting Notice;

HERE is the link to the Public Calendar;

I would also encourage you to CLICK HERE reach a documents page where you can download and view our current master plans which include the following:

Transportation Master Plan- 2004 May 25, 2017 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/3253

PALMETTO BAY TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN 2004 

15 MB

Traffic Studies & Master Plans Jul 25, 2017 

Home Residents Traffic & Transit General Information Traffic Studies & Master Plans 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/719/traffic-studies-master-plans

Parks Master Plan Mar 3, 2017 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/2631

19 MB

Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan - 2009 (PDF) Aug 18, 2016 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/2089

SWMP Final Report Intro Jan 3, 2017 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/2509

DECEMBER 2014 VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE 5 INTRODUCTION 668 KB

Comprehensive Plan (PDF) Aug 13, 2016 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/239

882 KB

VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY STORMWATER MASTER PLAN 

SWMP Final ReportExecSummary Jan 3, 2017 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/documentcenter/view/2506

1 MB

Sunshine Meeting held Friday, 12/22/2017 - Here is an update - Council Member Singer and I have set 2 Town Hall Meetings

Council Member David Singer and I held a Sunshine meeting on Friday, 12/22/2017.  We are working on several issues and are seeking public input on two very critical issues.  We mean it when David and I say "#YourVoiceMatters. 

The first is on the "Strategic Plan" - too much is happening outside public participation.  We reviewed portions of the plan [a draft presently posted online (CLICK HERE)].  Council Member Singer and I will co-host a Town Hall meeting to promote greater public input on the Strategic Plan. This meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2017 at 7 PM - at Village Hall. Please make plans to attend and participate. The document is available online for your preview and comment as many of you often do, either with me live, via telephone or via e-mail.

Wednesday, January 24, 2017, beginning at 7:00 PM.  he second is a meeting will focus on IBus/Mass Transit - making better use of our IBus.  We will invite our Education Advisory Committee, and local schools - both local school administration. district as well as the PTSAs to discuss improving transportation both as to student transportation (and, hopefully, taking motor vehicles off the road around the schools as well as getting riders to either the Transitway or all the way to Datran / Dadeland South MetroRail station to use mass transit. 

Council Member Singer and I are co-hosting these meetings to involve you, our fellow residents and make some decisions, getting the Strategic Plan process on track. These meetings will be posted to the village website/calendar in the very near future.

We look forward to INVOLVING you and others in our village process.  Please continue the dialogue as we continue to work together to make Palmetto Bay a great place to live, work and play.

Your Mayor,

Eugene Flinn eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov

Miami Herald - real news - regarding Palmetto Bay's code efforts - This city needs less parking, shorter buildings and more building incentives, experts say by Monique O. Madan.

The Palmetto Bay Village Council continues the efforts to create a better downtown. Numerous town hall meetings with and prior to the experts.  Monique Madan provides real news update.  This article clearly delineates the recommendations made in the Dover Kohl report. 

See Miami Herald online: This city needs less parking, shorter buildings and more building incentives, experts say by Monique O. Madan.

Excerpts:

Focused on a city center mostly populated by car dealerships, vacant land, and unkempt buildings, Palmetto Bay’s current zoning code aims to capitalize on public and alternative transportation, with amenities such as wider sidewalks, bike racks, bike lanes, and a hub that would tie in to the South Dade transit way.

But Dover, Kohl & Partners, a national architectural and land-planning firm that was hired by the city to review the code and provide suggestions, said in a presentation last week that if the city wants to see results, it will have to eliminate parking, lower maximum building heights by one story, and find a way to better incentivize business owners.

Marcela Camblor, one of the firm’s planners, said the suggestions are “geared towards making the [downtown urban village code] a more predictable tool to ensure that development results in a vibrant downtown that provides services and restaurants to residents and visitors all while preserving a village scale and character.”

“For that, heights need to be adjusted, the bonus programs clarified and calibrated to materialize the community’s needs and some of the elements of the vision need to be more clearly communicated,” Camblor said.

I recommend viewing my prior related post of Wednesday, July 19, 2017: Here are the recommendations made by Dover Kohl & Partners, Marcela Camblor & Associates regarding the Palmetto Bay DUV - updated to add new links to the report and powerpoint presentation 

As advertised, you can find the actual links to download/view the full report and powerpoint presentation.

Please also view a prior DUV article by Monique O. Magan, (July 14, 2017) This city wants to change things up. What will it take for its downtown to be hot?

As quoted then, 

“I’m open to all changes, anything that will improve our downtown and make it a place we can all be proud of,” said Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. “I’m disappointed that once we opened up Palmetto Bay Park, we haven’t had any book stores, ice cream shops or restaurants show any interest in planting their business in Palmetto Bay. I want to hear from the experts on why that is.”

We are now hearing from the experts and it is time to continue to work on this DUV code. to make it the best it can be and to be responsive to resolving any unintended issues that will appear in any and every existing code, regardless of location.

July 2017 - Palmetto Bay Awarded $1 million TAP grant for bicycle lanes project

Another welcomed grant received a $1,000,000.00 (One Million Dollars) "TAP Grant"- to assist us in implementing our master plans. Congratulations to our Village Staff who work so hard to stretch our Village dollars through seeking (and most importantly - ) obtaining significant grants!

This has been a long time coming - please see my related/prior post of January 26, 2015
Preparing to update the Palmetto Bay plans - partial list of materials available online. Some reference materials for following the Palmetto Bay Strategic Plan process.  This grant will assist greatly in reaching our infrastructure goals.

CLICK HERE to view the actual Palmetto Bay Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

I am a proponent of transparency of our local government and having documents online for 24/7/365 access.  CLICK HERE to view our TRAFFIC STUDIES AND MASTER PLAN PAGE (Thank you to our management team, Manager Ed Silva and Village Clerk Missy Arocha - and their team for getting these documents online!)

I ask for your support and support from my colleagues on the Village Council to complete and close out these long-standing projects.

Thank you,

Eugene Flinn

E-mail message from Village Manager Ed Silva:

Council, the grant has a two year window and our match is scheduled to come from CITT revenues and not from general funds. This grant to build bicycle lanes as per our bicycle master plan and will help considerably in beginning this long overdue process in complying with this approved master plan. Congratulations are in order for the staff who worked hard in acquiring this grant.

Respectfully,

Edward Silva

Village Manager

Village of Palmetto Bay

Congrats to Palmetto Bay's Larissa Siegel Lara. EYE ON MIAMI: Eye on Miami 2016 Political Beauty Contest Winner:...

EYE ON MIAMI: Eye on Miami 2016 Political Beauty Contest Winner:...: 2016 Political Beauty Contest Winner I can't even remember if I held a contest in 2015 but past winners include Christine Fraga, Osca...

Eye on Miami 2016 Political Beauty Contest Winner: Councilwoman Lara Siegel of Palmetto Bay. By Geniusofdespair -

This is not to be taken lightly.  The bloggers at Eye On Miami are very critical and they never are shy about calling people out.  This Eye On Miami post represents an outstanding positive mention concerning one of the hardest working members of our village Council. 

Council Member Siegel Lara is currently hard at work with staff completing our Palmetto Bay updated Strategic Plan.  The final presentation will be at the July 11 council meeting.  Council Member Siegel Lara has an outstanding eye for detail and always comes to meetings well-prepared. She is a strong advocate for public participation, particularly as to our village parks.  She has been one of my most important partners in regard to transportation initiatives, including traffic calming efforts. 

As Eye On Miami notes:

I picked Larissa (Siegel Lara) with great thought, not basing it just on her exceptional beauty. I watched this video and I was impressed with her intellect and poise. I met her briefly at County Commissioner Xavier Suarez's fundraising gala and remember she was well appointed dress-wise - very elegant in a demure way.

Click the link above, or CLICK HERE to view the entire Eye On Miami post. 

Congratulations Larissa, it is my honor to serve along side you.

Preparing to update the Palmetto Bay plans - partial list of materials available online. Some reference materials for following the Palmetto Bay Strategic Plan process

Much of Palmetto Bay's early successes are due to proper planning.  I am posting links to some of these early plans for you, the readers and concerned residents, to follow and monitor the progress of the 2015 Strategic Plan process. There is much more material, and I will update this reference post as material comes to my attention or becomes available online. I will keep these materials indexed under the label of "Strategic Plan."

PALMETTO BAY STORMWATER MASTER PLAN: Soon after Village incorporation in 2002, Palmetto Bay enlisted the expertise of engineers, surveyors, and contractors for the purpose of establishing a “Stormwater Master Plan.”

This plan was developed to identify low-lying areas within our municipal boundaries, in order to systematically pursue appropriate opportunities to protect surface-water quality and to reduce flooding. The Master Plan continues to be used as a blueprint that ensures proper repairs are being made, and that storm drains are being installed and maintained as needed.
Palmetto Bay Stormwater Management (web page and materials)

Traffic Data Collection and Analysis (158 pages) June 2003

PALMETTO BAY TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN (2004)

PALMETTO BAY TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (8 pages)

BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN (August 2009)

VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM STUDY (2009) 

VPB - SOUTHWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL TRAFFIC STUDY (Aug. 2004) (29 pages)

PALMETTO BAY RESOLUTION NO. 2013-42, 2013 Village Council expressing support for the design and construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of Howard Drive/SW 136 Street and Old Cutler Road.

The Franjo Triangle Commercial Island Charrette Report - “A Citizens’ Vision Plan” Nov 2004
A partnership with Palmetto Bay and the Miami-Dade County Department of Planning and Zoning, Community Planning Section. 
 (Note that this is an 84 page document and is a slow download)

PALMETTO BAY VILLAGE CENTER CHARRETTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT (Sept. 2004)