Florida City testing use of Tesla vehicles into their Freebee fleet. Your thoughts?

Florida City just introduced Freebee service using Tesla electric vehicles. Palmetto Bay officials discussed this at a Committee of the Whole Workshop (COW) held on October 20, 2020.

What do you think of adding the expense of Tesla? Does it take a Tesla to get you out of your personal car for short trips and into a shared ride service intra-Palmetto Bay?

Memo, July 16, 2018, Update to Revenue Available for Rapid Transit Corridor Conceptual Financial Plan

Memorandum of July 16, 2018, from County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez to Chair and Members, Board of County Commissioners (9 pages), entitled "Update to Revenue Available for Rapid Transit Corridor Conceptual Financial Plan"

(CLICK HERE) to download and review the copy from my Dropbox.

Link to the Executive Summary for the South Corridor Rapid Transit Project

(CLICK HERE) To view the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation & Public Works (DTPW) - Executive Summary for the South Corridor Rapid Transit Project (Marked "DRAFT").  

This is a 31 page document I placed in my Dropbox for your download and review.

SMART Poll Shows Palmetto Bay and Surrounding Cites Want Rail or Tax Repeal if Buses Win Out

The following is from an official Village of Palmetto Bay media release:

Palmetto Bay, FL (July 7, 2018) - South Miami-Dade residents have spoken. The results are overwhelmingly in favor of rail as the preferred mode of mass transit along the 20-mile South Dade Busway. Don't let the consultants highly misleading numbers fool you. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has called for a vote on the matter July 19th. Here are the numbers from a recent poll that was taken regarding rail v BRT (Bus Rapid Transit). This poll was developed to gauge real voter sentiment after misleading numbers. State Rep. Kionne McGhee, former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, along with the Councils of Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay have continuously endorsed rail as the only viable solution..   The poll was conducted via telephone: Palmetto Bay: 82% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 83% Indicated that they want rail 74%  Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Cutler Bay: 70% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 77% Indicated that they want rail 75% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. City of Homestead: 60% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 69% Indicated that they want rail 56% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Florida City: 47% responded yes, the County did not keep their promis on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 80% Indicated that they want rail 60% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Leaders from these communities are glad to see that they are right in advocating for rail.    "The taxpayers have been paying on promises since 2002. It's time for those promises to be kept, rail to be delivered, and not another failed attempt at taking taxpayer's monies for maintenance and operations", says Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. "We polled our residents in Cutler Bay to ensure their voice was heard on this issue", said Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell. "We heard them loud and clear - Give Us the RAIL! Over 2 billion dollars have been spent in 16 years in more affluent communities, while our residents pay the same but only get inadequate bus service". State Representative Kionne McGhee echoes the frustration of his colleagues. "Denying the North and South Dade communities the opportunity to experience MetroRail is simply a continuation of the county suppressing our abilities to have public access to the best of what Miami-Dade has to offer". Concerned residents are encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) TPO@mdtpo.org and attend their next SMART Plan meeting. It will be held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at 1:30 pm, 111 NW 1st St., Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33128.

(L to R) State Representative Kionne McGhee, Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell, former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, and Village of Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. For More Information: KCraig@palmettobay-fl.gov

South Miami-Dade County Municipal / County leaders - united to make our community safer

I am proud to participate with this group of local leaders who are dedicated to working for resolution of this issue - safety in our schools and community is of upmost importance. It does take a Village; as well as a County, a State and a Nation! 

Everybody wants to keep our children safe. Together we can, and we must, do better.

As a nation, we are facing the reality that no place is sacred or free from violence; not schools or churches, movie theaters, dance clubs or concerts.

It is our job as local leaders to protect residents, and especially our children. Our hands are tied in some critical areas by state laws that prevent us from even having an honest conversation on the subject of gun violence. That doesn’t mean that we’re helpless.

But even if the state continues to block our calls for greater gun safety, there are a few things we can do in our local community by focusing on school security and community caring.

We continue to work together for our community.  Please review the complete joint statement issued by our County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, Mayors Peggy Bell of Cutler Bay, Joe Corradino of Pinecrest, Philip Stoddard of South Miami, and Otis Wallace of Florida City. 

See (CLICK ON HEADLINE): We must do better to keep children safe, joint statement, Miami Herald Letters to the Editor, February 21, 2018

Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay remain committed to the most effective transit solutions. Participating in a panel before the South Dade Chamber of Commerce

The fight for rail continues. Cutler Bay. I took part in a panel today in Homestead before the South Dade Chamber of Commerce, General Membership Luncheon.

The main guest speaker was Alice Bravo, Director of DTPW.  All the South Dade municipalities were represented - Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead and Florida City.

This was my turn to address Homestead/Florida Cities - areas undergoing growth and suffering severe traffic woes to get north.  ​There have been several recent Transportation Summits at the municipal and county levels. Director Bravo provided her update regarding the pending environmental studies by our County', as well as the different timelines of anticipated future actions.

We need rail, not a band aid. The ridership is there to serve rail.  The issues are first/last mile, parking and the fact that there is a shortage of buses to transport both those whoare riding as well as those who would ride if the County would deliver on the promises of the half cent penny transportation sales tax.  We have buses that qualify fully as "BRT" based upon what we observed in Los Angeles - known as the "Gold Standard" and aptly names their "Gold Line."  Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay remain concerned that there will be insufficient investment in transit - planning for 30-40 years out, not merely to cover the current County created transportation crisis.

 

Notes from Participation in South Miami-Dade Municipal EOC call/conference - 1:30 PM 9/7

A conference call was held at 1:30 today

Here are my notes from Participation in South Miami-Dade Municipal EOC call/conference.

Thank you Commissioner Cava for putting this together. 

This storm needs to be taken seriously.  I was present along with representatives from Pinecrest, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Florida City and Office of the County Mayor along with the MDC EOC.

Miami-Dade County is under both a Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch and there is presently a mandatory evacuation order under effect for zones A, mobile homes and barrier Islands. 

The order will likely be extended to B and possibly parts of C – this will be on an address/street by street basis – you may need to call 311 or Miamidade.gov/emergency to view the specific areas where the mandatory evacuations are called.

8 evaluation centers are now open.  There were 670 occupants as of the report at the conference.  Included are special medical needs/02 dependent.  Commissioner Cava has been advocating for additional South Dade shelters.  No transportation? County evacuation buses are circulating.  Busses are picking up – no one is at the stops - it remains available and operation for those who need the transportation. 

3-1-1 has gone to 24/7.  It is busy so be persistent if you need to access a call. Please lave 3-1-1 open for others if you can find the information you need on the county website – MiamiDade.gov/emergency

Medical assisted transport for evacuation – call 311 – special needs should be registered – there is a ongoing database – but make that last minute addition if you need.  Time is running short to do this so, you should have completed your preparations early Friday.

MAKE THAT CALL NOW if you need.  There is a wait for 3-1-1 so be persistent. There will be a time when it is announced that they cannot take on any registrants.

It is time to complete your preparations.  The deadline to be on the road, if evacuating is early Friday evening.  The gale force winds are expected by early Saturday morning. 

Garbage regular pick up is still scheduled for collection on the regular Thursday and Friday Scheduled. 

Please bring in and secure your cans ASAP. 

No NEW PILES – the County Bulky Waste is 2,000 behind.  No new pick up tickets . There is no way to pick up any new debris piles. 

Volunteer network listed on the County Web Site – those who are available and can provide assisted 

Interview / debate: Buses Versus Rail: Which Would You Prefer? wlrn.org

WLRN - More buses or rail, which do WE prefer?  Which is better suited to fixing the problems?  As Mayor of Palmetto Bay, I am pushing to actually implement the solution now, rather than merely pushing off the problem a few years. 

We, the residents of South Miami-Dade, are suffering under crushing traffic. 

WLRN online article (with a link to the radio program):

We recently spoke with Mayor Eugene Flinn of Palmetto Bay and Vice Mayor James McDonald of Pinecrest about the debate between new bus lines versus more rail.
The county has a plan for $115 million  to go toward a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the South Dade.
Leaders, like Mayor Flinn, along with leaders from Homestead and three other municipalities, challenged Miami-Dade officials on that issue, and are pushing for rail instead. 

Click onto the highlighted headline link to view the full WLRN online article: Buses Versus Rail: Which Would You Prefer? wlrn.org - By Luis Hernandez • Apr 12, 2016 

 

Town Hall Meeting - Topic: South Dade Busway

The time is now. Come to Palmetto Bay Village Hall on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - 7:30 PM to hear important updates on the future of livability of South Miami-Dade County.

Town Hall Meeting - Topic: South Dade Busway

Who needs to fund transportation when I can spend 2-3 hours a day in my car commuting - said no one ever!

The South Dade Mayors and councils have been working hard with our State and County officials to finally get what was promised with the 1/2 cent sales tax. Come to our Transportation Town Hall meeting on March 30, 7 PM at village Hall. Be there - traffic permitting


CLICK HERE to view the official Palmetto Bay web site information.

The county must keep its promises on transit, 

Community Newspapers, posted by Grant Miller  

CLICK HERE to read this entire article

South Miami-Dade County is at a crossroads; new development has overwhelmed the existing road system. Mass transit is not a luxury but a long-overdue component to living in South Miami-Dade.

In 2002, the county passed the half-penny sales tax and promised Metrorail would be built all the way to Florida City. This promise was broken and declared impossible to fulfill in 2014.

Now, the county is moving forward with discussions of transportation options, but the conversation for South Dade lags behind and has little input from the community as to what we desire. That is why South Dade mayors have begun meeting and have formed a coalition with State Rep. Kionne L. McGhee to address the traffic and transportation concerns facing the South Dade community and the inevitable growth that is coming to the region. (CLICK HERE to read more)

2014 certified tax roll released July 1st. What it means for Palmetto Bay and surrounding areas.

The Miami-Dade Property Appraiser released the July 1, 2014, Certification of Taxable Value - to the County’s taxing authorities which include county government, the 35 municipal governments, School Board, Children’s Trust and the State regional districts. The County-wide average increase was 6.0% existing, 6.8% inclusive of new construction.

The July 1, 2014, certification is the information used by the County, municipalities and various other taxing authorities in their various budget preparations for the 2014-2015 budgets.

The South Dade Municipalities are ranked below.  Palmetto Bay came out 5 0ut of 6 of what I have included in the list, below South Miami, but thankfully above Florida City.

Homestead led the South Dade rebound for this year with an increase of 5.0/8.00%, just edging out Cutler Bay’s 4.9/8.10.

The % of change from 2013 first number is the Percent change on the existing and second is Percentage of change including new construction.

% Existing    W/New const.                                                                     Total New Const.
4.90&             8.10%             Cutler Bay                                                     $  55,904,952

5.00%             8.00%            Homestead                                                   $  54,069,972
4.40%             5.50%            Unincorporated Miami-Dade                   $592,896,543
3.80%             4.70%            Pinecrest                                                       $  34,922,892
3.00%             3.30%            South Miami                                                $    4,169,483
2.40%             2.60%            Palmetto Bay                                                $    3,587.147
-1.4%              -1.0%              Florida City                                                  $    1,345,916

 6.00%             6.80%             Miami-Dade County (Countywide) (affects all property taxpayer in Miami-Dade County regardless of which municipality or unincorporated area the property is located)

It is important to note what new construction generates.  Palmetto Bay collects 2.447 mills on the taxable value.  The $3,587,147 results in a realization of new tax revenue that totals $8,777.75.  That is revenue; it does not take into account any additional costs for service that the property generates. Remember that number when increased service costs are considered when building the downtown.  Palmetto Bay officials should be careful not to spend what the downtown has not generated.  For example, if Palmetto Bay moved into the Pinecrest range of new construction growth ($35 million for this year), the increase in tax revenue would be $85,456.32.  That would just barely cover the $60,000.00 Palmetto Bay officials have budgeted for the 4th of July downtown celebration / fireworks, leaving just under $25,500.00 to cover any additional costs of service such as police, administrative, etc. 

CLICK HERE to download and review the full comparison chart for each taxing district. This provides much more detailed information from the partial listing above.