Our annual picnic - another Small Town USA celebration. Fun times in our community.

A very sweet 16! Once again, the community comes together to celebrate our Palmetto Bay community. Who doesn't love a picnic.

 

Thank you to our first Vice Mayor Linda Robinson and the original Special Events Committee for starting such a wonderful tradition.  This has been an outstanding event for gathering with friends for an afternoon of good, old-fashioned fun.

 As we have done annually since our first year of incorporation, Palmetto Bay holds this signature event as our way of saying “thank you” to all of the residents.  This year’s picnic offered something for everyone - entertainment provided by local schools, children’s activities, our police proving fingerprinting and other child safety materials, rides, demonstrations by local agencies, and, of course, food - including everyone’s favorite roasted corn on-the-cob.

Each year, thousands of residents attended and enjoyed a great day at the park. It’s a great way to spend your Saturday, and most importantly, a great way to spend time with family, friends and neighbors.

 

 

And once again, the Mayor's Cup was won by Palmetto High School - congrats.
 

Congratulations to Palmetto Bay's initial Vice Mayor! Linda M. Robinson wins two prestigious awards | Palmetto Bay

Linda M. Robinson wins two prestigious awards | Palmetto Bay

Everyone should take the time to review the Palmetto Bay News article congratulating Palmetto Bay’s first vice mayor Linda M. Robinson who was recognized with a “Women of Impact” Award as well as being honored with the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Pioneer Award.  Twelve women leaders were honored for their achievements in their respective fields.  We should be proud that our own Linda was honored as part of Miami-Dade County’s celebration of Women’s History Month.

 

Click the headline to read: Linda M. Robinson wins two prestigious awards, by Gary Alan Ruse, date posted: April 8, 2014.

 

Vice-Mayor Linda Robinson was honored twice, first, on Mar. 2 with the “Women of Impact” Award. Then, on Mar. 13 she was honored with the Mayor’s Pioneer Award during the “In the Company of Women” reception.  It was my honor to attend that function as well as having been one her sponsors, nominating her for the award.  The honors are well-deserved.

 “I truly accepted that honor on behalf of all of Palmetto Bay,” Robinson said during an interview on Mar. 23. “I was so honored and really humbled by this. It’s very exciting when you receive recognition after you’ve done something you really loved every minute doing.”

 

It has been my honor to have worked with Linda and her late husband, Ken Robinson both on important community issues, including the incorporation of Palmetto Bay and then serving with her on the initial Palmetto Bay Village Council. Linda was the catalyst in so many Village projects and initiatives including communications and special events.  The list is far too long to mention here.

A great day for a picnic - Palmetto Bay celebration - March 1, 2014

The Village is now up to the Twelfth Annual Celebration Picnic and it was held on Saturday, March 1st.  Thank you to our first Vice Mayor Linda Robinson and the original Special Events Committee for starting such a wonderful tradition.  Fun was had by all who attended.

As we have done annually since our first year of incorporation, Palmetto Bay holds this signature event as our way of saying “thank you” to all of the residents.  This year’s picnic offers something for everyone - entertainment provided by local schools, children’s activities, rides, demonstrations by local agencies, and, of course, food - including everyone’s favorite roasted corn on-the-cob.

Alexandra and I arrived at noon and the tents were set up and staff/volunteers were working to make the event a success.

Our bikes were safely left with the Green Mobility Bicycle Valet - also seen at larger events such as the Deering Seafood Festival. It was a beautiful day to take our bikes to the park and we avoided any parking issues.  Thank you Green Mobility Network and PBay resident Eric Tullberg! I was told that there were 77 bicycles checked in at the Bike Valet for this event.  Great work!

The Palmetto Bay Policing Unit also gave away approximately 250 bicycle helmets.

Games were ongoing upon our arrival - kids playing yard tennis.

My brother and his family were also in attendance (I am pictured with my sister-in-law and my niece is hidden by the corn on the cob).

Again, a beautiful day for a picnic.  Attendees had a great time meeting up with friends.

All good things have to come to an end. The 2014 PBay Celebration Picnic closed down at 2:00 PM sharp. Those who stayed to the end were treated to a take away of delicious Krispy Kreme donuts - seen on the racks to the right of the photo. I am unfortunately off donuts and I was 'unable' to take my share home to the kids - one of the few drawbacks to taking the bicycles to the PBay celebration.

Village Staff were on hand to assist village residents in taking the DRTF survey.  Take the survey and be entered to win a grill. 

Congratulations Ana Garcia.Palmetto Bay alumna does well. North Miami Beach swears in new city manager

North Miami Beach swears in new city manager - North Miami / NMB - Miami Herald.com
Check out the link above for complete Miami Herald coverage.  I first passed on the good news for Palmetto Bay's initial Director of Parks & Recreation - Ana Garcia - being appointed the new City Manager for North Miami Beach on July 10. - It is now official, Ana Garcia was sworn in as Manager of North Miami Beach last Tuesday evening (8/27/13).

It was an exciting evening for her with Giselle, her mother and numerous other close family members, current and past co-workers in attendance to wish her the best.

I like her priorities. As reported in the Miami Herald, (Manager) Garcia said one of her first goals is to develop a strategic plan. “From that strategic plan, we need to come up with priorities.” 

I still say that one of the strengths of Palmetto Bay's first 8 years was in our developing the various master plans. It is troublesome to figure out why Palmetto Bay's current elected officials refuse to perform a comprehensive planning process.  Pinecrest has now completed its second. But I digress, that issue will be resolved come the 2014 elections.

Congratulations Manager Garcia. Those in attendance who represented your prior cities demonstrated how you build bridges rather than burn them. Good luck.  We all wish you the best!

Three of the mayors that Ana Garcia has worked with: Mayor George Vallejo (NMB), Eugene Flinn, Palmetto Bay; Ana Garcia & Julio Robaina, South Miami

Part of the team responsible for the 2002 - 2010 success.  Part of the PBay First Council Villagers in attendance: VM Linda Robinson, Manager Charles Scurr and Councilman John Breder with Julio Robina

PBay's First Lt. and second Village Commander, Captain Scott Dennis was in attendance

Policy for the PBay council to consider for the 2013 legislative agenda. Work to guard against the re-establishment of the arbitrary property insurance line.

Protection of homeowner’s insurance is a legislative issue that needs some advocacy to ensure that we do not slip bad into even darker days of homeowners insurance. Property/windstorm insurance is an issue you need to watch each and every year.

There are two main issues:

1 The credits that are being lost through the sudden re-inspections that Citizens has been requiring. Have you received your letter in the last two years? It seems as if Citizen's has been doing their best to take the premium saving credits away.  The homeowners of Palmetto Bay need advocacy to prevent such tactics. Some argue that this is nothing more than a backdoor rate increase through removal of the discounts.  This makes homeowners insurance less affordable and its those who can afford it least.

2. Solving an "unresolved problem" of too much exposure - by redefining the mission of Citizens.  

I hope that we are not suffering from institutional amnesia due to the change in leadership. Homeowners insurance is the largest cost to area residents, exceeding property taxes.  Maybe people are starting to forget how much sudden rises or availability of property insurance affects our property values or even if we can get a mortgage. The original Palmetto Bay council took this issue seriously and always monitored the homeowners’ insurance issue. 

Check out the article posted online, Miami Herald: Senate committee hears concerns about Citizens, posted Jan 23, 201, by Brent Kallestad, Associated Press, reporting that:

A number of unresolved problems haunting the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. have left the state increasingly vulnerable to catastrophe, the chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee said Wednesday.

Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, said it's time to redefine the mission for Citizens, created a decade ago as the insurer of last resort. (emphasis added)

Citizens' instead has grown into the largest property insurer in Florida with more than 1.3 million customers, roughly one-fourth of the total market in the state. The company's growth has resulted in part from artificially low rates.

"We haven't solved the problem," Simmons said during a two-hour, late afternoon hearing. "Any cataclysmic event would have cataclysmic results in Florida."

Virtually all Floridians carrying insurance, whether or not a Citizens' customer, would be liable to make up any shortfall in the event of a catastrophe. Any shortfall in the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, often known as the CAT fund, would also be made up from emergency assessments.

Code words?
 

"Redefine the mission"? Ut oh, I think this is all starting to sound like potential code words that we need to dump the expense of coastal insurance back onto those living east of I95 and US1.  Sure the legislators from Central and North Florida will take our tax dollars (their revenue) and distribute them statewide (mostly to benefit central and north Florida), but they want to forget that Florida is a peninsula with nearly 1,200 miles of coastline.  We are all in this together and the 'easterners' should not be cast off from being part of the Florida joint risk come insurance coverage time.

Will such a dramatic and unfair change in insurance happen in this legislative session? It is faintly possible, but certainly not probable. The issue is whether it would happen if those who want to cast the cost of windstorm insurance back onto those living east of US1 stick their toes in the legislative water and find only lukewarm, or worse, no opposition. 

Working the issues important to home affordability.

Palmetto Bay once really worked the issues, not just passed paper stating general intention.  See Palmetto Bay tries to tackle the 'gorilla' of insurance, posted online, re-posting the original article by then Herald reporter Kathleen Fordyce of Nov 17, 2006.  Or Officials Plan to push for storm insurance reform, by then Herald reporter Yudy Pineiro, detailing how Councilman Ed Feller, with the backing of State Rep. Julio Robaina, worked the state Legislature to consider windstorm insurance reform in its 2006 session.

I have provided links to two resolutions (November 1, 2004 and December 5, 2005) that demonstrate the extent that the original council advocated for area residents. I ask this current Palmetto Bay council to continue the vigilance over this key home affordability issue. 

The arbitrary line, gone, but not forgotten (and looked at as the good old days for those west of it):

Founding council members Linda Robinson and Dr. Ed Feller understood the importance of this issue and we all worked together as a cohesive unit with our local representatives in Tallahassee on the windstorm issue. 

Where was the "arbitrary line"?

Please take the time to read the Palmetto Bay council minutes for the November 1, 2004, council meeting (CLICK HERE).  Founding councilman (reminder taken verbatim from the minutes:)Feller explained the matter, noting that a line was drawn wherein all properties east of Dixie Highway and east of I-95 would require windstorm coverage. He stated that he believed this invisible line was “grossly unfair” and “arbitrary” as it determined how much people would have to pay for windstorm insurance; and the arbitrary line should be eliminated. He noted that many residents who have windstorm coverage made changes to their homes in order to get lower rates and have now discovered that the reduced rates were eliminated. Councilman Feller stated that he would like this matter reconsidered so that the reduced rates could be offered on improved homes.

* * *

Discussion ensued.

 Who stands to lose? The South Dade area would get hit hard.

Yearly vigilance and aggressive action is required each year or we could all be wondering what happened as we are writing those much bigger checks for homeowners insurance or worse, trying to sell our homes at a discount to buyers who can write those checks.

Views from the 2012 Palmetto Bay Celebration Picnic

Palmetto Bay held the 2012 celebration picnic on March 3rd, 2012.  This event has been in existence since our first year of incorporation, Palmetto Bay holds this signature event as our way of saying “thank you” to all of the residents.  This year’s picnic offers something for everyone - entertainment provided by local schools, children’s activities, rides, demonstrations by local agencies, and, of course, food - including everyone’s favorite roasted corn on-the-cob. 

Please read two prior postings to provide some reflection on the history of this event:
Linda Robinson, Palmetto Bay's initial Vice Mayor, reflects on celebration history

Linda, as an important part of the first Village Council (Linda was first elected in 2002 and served through 2008) wants this tradition to continue. Linda gives credit to our special events committee. Her comments note that the special events committee and staff, all working as part of the team under the initial village council created events and interests including rides, city information, educational topics, wholesome family events, dunk tank for charity, & local school participation!

Many people still volunteer including Pat and Jim Gladieux who still take charge of the ever-popular corn on the cob. The staff from all Palmetto Bay departments as well as our police work well to continue to make this event a success.

As Linda points out, we have seen helicopters land in the field and firefighters come in their trucks, and schools were invited to participate. The Voice of the Heat served in past years as emcee. Past years have seen well over 5,000 people for a picnic. Linda thanked prior sponsors which included Starbucks, Home Depot, Dade Paper, Banks and Publix, we have had breaks on the food and donations! Many of these sponsors continue to contribute to this present day!  Thank you all.

Another prior post is Palmetto Bay Picnic today, Saturday, 3/5/2011

Linda Robinson, Palmetto Bay's initial Vice Mayor, reflects on celebration history

Linda Robinson, Palmetto Bay’s first vice mayor, reflects upon some of the history of Palmetto Bay’s annual picnic.  Here comments appear in the Soapbox section of the Miami Herald Neighbors, Sunday, March 06, 2011.  Please follow this link to read her full comments (it is the second letter)

Linda, as an important part of the first Village Council (Linda was first elected in 2002 and served through 2008) wants this tradition to continue. Linda gives credit to our special events committee.  The initial chair was Jacquie Sosa who was an anchor with Channel 10.  This position was held later by Jeanne Rothfield and finally Donna Coughlin, our last chairperson. This year the Parks Department, which has worked with our committee, is organizing it. Linda is disappointed to see that the committee isn’t involved anymore.  Her comments note that the special events committee and staff, all working as part of the team under the initial village council created events and interests including rides, city information, educational topics, wholesome family events, dunk tank for charity, & local school participation!

Many people still volunteer Pat and Jim Gladieux still take charge of the ever-popular corn on the cob. Dottie Barton, active on creating Coral Reef park back in the early 80s, was recently assisting staff in the historic house tours. 

The staff of the Planning and Parks Department as well as our police work well to continue to make this event a success.

As Linda points out, we have seen helicopters land in the field and firefighters come in their trucks, and schools were invited to participate. The Voice of the Heat served in past years as emcee. Past years has seen well over 5,000 people for a picnic. Linda thanked prior sponsors which included Starbucks, Home Depot, Dade Paper, Banks and Publix, we have had breaks on the food and donations!

Yes Linda, you are quite right, the efforts and impact that you and the Special Events Committee have been successful and has left an outstanding celebration legacy that continues through this day.  

Thank you Linda.  Thank you all who served on the Special Events Committee

Palmetto Bay Picnic today, Saturday, 3/5/2011

The Village is now up to the Ninth Annual Celebration Picnic for residents on Saturday, March 5^th  Thank you to our first Vice Mayor Linda Robinson and the original Special Events Committee for starting such a wonderful tradition.  The celebration begins at 11 a.m. at Coral Reef Park, located at 7895 S.W. 152 Street (east side). This has been an outstanding event for gathering with friends for an afternoon of good, old-fashioned fun.

As we have done annually since our first year of incorporation, Palmetto Bay holds this signature event as our way of saying “thank you” to all of the residents.  This year’s picnic offers something for everyone - entertainment provided by local schools, children’s activities, rides, demonstrations by local agencies, and, of course, food - including everyone’s favorite roasted corn on-the-cob. 

Each year, thousands of residents attended and enjoyed a great day at the park. Each year’s event is anticipated to be even bigger and better, with performances to take place in the Village’s gazebo and a number of traditional community picnic games, such as, a hula hoop contest, tug-o-war, potato sack race, and a bubble-gum blowing contest.  It’s a great way to spend your Saturday, and most importantly, a great way to spend time with family, friends and neighbors.

Special thanks to Grant Miller of the Community Newspapers, with whom I had the pleasure of working with to create a lasting and exciting event: the annual Mayor’s Cup in Baseball.  Our local high schools – Palmetto High and Coral Reef High again be facing each other for what promises to be an awesome baseball game.  The winner of the game will be awarded the annual “Mayor’s Cup” first awarded in 2008.  Be at the baseball field across the canal from the picnic at 1:00 p.m. to cheer on your favorite team!

I will post some photos of friends and family at the picnic sometime after the event.  Have fun.  

Click read more to see a few of the photos I posted from the picnic.