UPDATE Tallahassee Legislative Agenda 2022 – current money listed in SB 2500 (updated 2-17-2022), now under HB 5001 - Appropriations: what local cities have money listed at the present time in the House/Senate versions.

IMPORTANT NOTE:     Everything is subject to change. Appropriations can and will change. And even money passed in the final budget are not final until after the Governor approves the budget. The governor can and does exercise line item vetoes - where individual appropriations are removed.

CLICK HERE to view the current SB 2500 -  Appropriations (you can search the document by name to see who has what listed to date) CLICK HERE to view HB 5001

SB 2500 (2022) Appropriations
    http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/02500
    SENATE - Substituted HB 5001
    SENATE - Laid on Table, refer to HB 5001

WHO HAS APPROPRIATIONS LISTED (Note that this is a very representative sample of neighboring municipalities as HB 5001 is currently 448 pages long):

Under HB 5001, there are some key differences from SB 2500:

           Coral Gables:
House Bill 5001:
975,000  Coral Gables Mobility Hub (HB 2637)
187,500  Coral Gables Citywide Septic to Sewer Conversion Assessment (HB 2639)
250,000  Coral Gables Stormwater Master Plan (HB 2641)
375,000  Coral Gables - Restoration of Historic Gondola Building  (HB 4173)

Senate Bill 2500:
375,000  Coral Gables Citywide Septic to Sewer Conversion  Assessment (Senate Form 1250)
500,000 Coral Gables Legacy Sewer System Repair and Replacement Project (Senate Form 2612)
500,000 Coral Gables Stormwater Master Plan (Senate Form 1251)

           Cutler Bay:
House Bill 5001:
(No items are currently listed as funded under HB 5001)

Senate Bill 2500:
520,000  Marlin Road Improvement Project - Cutler Bay (Senate Form  2608)
100,000  Town of Cutler Bay - Active Adults Services (Senate Form 2020) 

           Doral:
House Bill 5001:
125,000  Doral Stormwater Improvements Sub Basin D-3-1 (HB 3179)

Senate Bill 2500:
250,000  Doral Stormwater Improvements Sub Basin D-3-1 (Senate  Form 2496)

           Homestead:
House Bill 5001:
250,000  City of Homestead - Breast Cancer Screening (HB 3661)

Senate Bill 2500:
100,000  City of Homestead - Senior Citizen Programming (Senate Form 1446)

           Miami Lakes:
House Bill 5001:
500,000  Miami Lakes Canal Bank Stabilization Phase III Project  (HB 3507)

Senate Bill 2500:
750,000  Miami Lakes Canal Bank Stabilization Phase III Project (Senate Form 1328)

           North Bay Village:
House Bill 5001:
150,000  North Bay Village Stormwater Inlet Filter Installation (HB 4385)

Senate Bill 2500:
150,000  North Bay Village Stormwater Inlet Filter Installation (Senate Form 1757)
250,000  North Bay Village Wastewater Pump Station Improvements  (Senate Form 1758)

           North Miami:
House Bill 5001:
200,000  North Miami Pedestrian Bridge Over C-8 Canal (HB 4613)

Senate Bill 2500:
500,000  North Miami Septic Tank to Sanitary Sewer Conversion (Senate Form 1968)
400,000  North Miami Pedestrian Bridge Over Biscayne (C8) Canal  (Senate Form 2036)

           Palmetto Bay
House Bill 5001:
392,500  Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 43 Construction (HB 4027)
560,000  Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 57/96 Construction (HB 4029)

Senate Bill 2500:
(No items are currently listed as funded under SB 2500)

           Pinecrest:
House Bill 5001:
250,000  Pinecrest Stormwater Improvements (HB 4041)

Senate Bill 2500:
500,000  Pinecrest Stormwater Improvements (Senate Form 1321)
500,000  Pinecrest Water Line Extension Project (Senate Form 1560)

           South Miami:
House Bill 5001: 
(No items are currently listed as funded under HB 5001)

Senate Bill 2500:
500,000  City of South Miami New Police Station (Senate Form 1254)

_______________________________________________________

WHAT IS CURRENTLY REQUESTED BY PALMETTO BAY, but is not currently listed within SB 2500?:

Some important money has been requested by Palmetto Bay officials. There are presently three items filed as House Bills, as listed below:

HB 4025 -  Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 11 Construction
$765,000 Appropriations Project request filed by State Rep. Aloupis
Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 11 Construction: Provides an appropriation for the Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 11 Construction.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
Last Event: Now in Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 2:22 PM

HB 4027 - Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 43 Construction
$785,000 Appropriations Project request filed by State Rep. Aloupis
Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 43 Construction: Provides an appropriation for the Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 43 Construction.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
Last Event: Now in Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 2:22 PM

and, finally:

HB 4029 - Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 57/96 Construction
$1,120,000 Appropriations Project request filed by State Rep. Aloupis
Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 57/96 Construction: Provides an appropriation for the Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 57/96 Construction.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
Last Event: Now in Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 2:23 PM

The item of critical importance is that none of the three items above are currently listed as receiving funding within SB 2500 -  Appropriations

General Bill by Appropriations

Appropriations: Providing moneys for the annual period beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023, and supplemental appropriations for the period ending June 30, 2022, to pay salaries, and other expenses, capital outlay - buildings, and other improvements, and for other specified purposes of the various agencies of state government, etc.

Effective Date: Except as otherwise provided herein, this act shall take effect July 1, 2022, or upon becoming law, whichever occurs later; however, if this act becomes law after July 1, 2022, then it shall operate retroactively to July 1, 2022

Last Event: 02/10/22 S Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/17/22 on Thursday, February 10, 2022 6:17 PM

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information above is accurate as of 2:00 PM, Friday, 2/11/2022. Information listed via link should be updated automatically by source.

It is important that Palmetto Bay officials get these items funded through the budget. There is significant work to be done.

Harsh Impact - Gov. DeSantis vetoes $1 billion from state budget. Palmetto Bay loses the entire $100K appropriation

Palmetto Bay's next budget became an even bigger challenge for this upcoming budget year. The line item veto pen was glowing RED and the cuts were deep. 

This is why you never count your legislative chickens before the budget is signed. Many eggs were broken by Gov. DeSantis to make the current state budget omelet as Gov. DeSantis vetoed $1 billion from state budget due to the COVID created crisis that significant cut State tax revenue. 


The two year scorecard:
Zero received -  $ 1,790,800 requested by Palmetto Bay officials sought in 2019 for 3 projects.

Zero received -  $ 3,245,900 requested by Palmetto Bay officials requested in 2020 for 3 projects.

CLICK HERE to view the 2020 Veto Report. Palmetto Bay's budget veto is listed on page 11 (of 18 total pages)

From the 2020 Veto List:

Page#  Line    Item     Description                                                                              Amount vetoed 

  11        1635   A 114    Palmetto Bay Sub-Basin 61 Construction (HB 3461)       $100,000.00

IMPACT - No stormwater money for this upcoming budget year. No assistance of any type from Tallahassee for this upcoming 2020-21 Palmetto Bay budget. A realistic assessment will need to be made as to what the carry over impact will be for the next legislative session. Costs for legislative travel and lobbyists should not be underwritten by the Village taxpayers if there is no expectation of obtaining assistance. 0-2 doesn't bode well for year 3 of this current mayor and council.

PENDING  Costs to Palmetto Bay taxpayers for legislative items last two years
$ ZERO       State appropriations granted to Palmetto Bay through legislative travel to Tallahassee for the same last two years.

The Tool Box - prior relevant posts:

May 15, 2020, 

Part II – results obtained. Evaluating Palmetto Bay's efforts in Tallahassee at the 2020 Legislative Session

May 14, 2020, 

Evaluating Palmetto Bay's efforts in Tallahassee at the 2020 Legislative Session. Part 1 Goals set.

April 13, 2020,

Tallahassee budget final - Palmetto Bay and other local governments need to get ready to get back to business. Budget prep time is coming up. What did Palmetto Bay and surrounding areas receive from Tallahassee to assist in the upcoming budget year? Let’s deal with some non-Coronavirus news for a change of pace

February 6, 2020, 

Palmetto Bay legislative appropriations requests - Appropriations Project Request-Fiscal Year 2020-21.

February 20, 2020, 
Tallahassee update - What monies are currently listed in House Bill 5001 - General Appropriations Act – a review of what is currently earmarked for our local Miami-Dade municipal communities –including Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay& Palmetto HS

February 7, 2020, 
Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) - FY2020-2021 Recommended Priority List

Yet another car v bike conflict along the Old Cutler Trail – a multi-use path, not a dedicated bike lane.

I have personally witnessed numerous motor vehicle v. bicyclist accidents along the Old Cutler Trail - accidents at the entrance of Thalatta Estate, the library and at the commercial strip just north of SW 168th Street (where the 6/24/2020 incident occurred). Drivers are watching for cars on the roadway. Pedestrians can stop with the next step, but cyclists travelling anywhere from 12-20 MPH cannot.

PRIOR RELATED POST:  Bicycling rules of the road - for cyclists and motorists

Palmetto Bay Police 4 units and MDFR Truck 62 responded to a cyclist struck along Old Cutler Road, just north of SW 168th Street. The Cyclist was using the multi-path - known as the Old Cutler Trail. 

The Old Cutler Trail is not a protected bike lane. Too few are willing to acknowledge that the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle and the bicyclist is a driver under the Laws of the State of Florida (see Florida Statutes, Chapter 316.2065 Bicycle regulations.—). Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws as the drivers of other vehicles. These laws include stopping for stop signs and red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, using lights at night, yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks. 

Predictability is a huge factor in preventing accidents. Drivers look for the oncoming motor vehicles before they make turns. Cyclists on a multi-path are often far from the focused field of vision for motor vehicle drivers, especially if the cyclist is riding on a multi-path in a direction that is counter to the direction of the lane it is adjacent to (e.g. riding southbound on the Old Cutler Path, which is adjacent to the north bound lane of traffic on Old Cutler Road). Cyclists are often obscured by these vehicles and have moved into the path of the vehicle by the time the oncoming traffic has cleared.

The bottom line is that a multi-path is not a protected bike lane and anyone who thinks these paths are “safer” than bike lanes are fooling themselves (and putting people at risk). The accident today is not an uncommon occurrence. In fact, many are slight conflicts (thankfully) and therefore are not even reported.

WEEKENDER – Sat. May 30, FLORIDA HEALTH Coronavirus update released. The short update for the Old Cutler Tri-City area of South Miami-Dade area: Palmetto Bay now at 35 (or is it 37?), Pinecrest jumps to 18, and Cutler Bay remains at 12 confirmed cases. Link provided to full report.

The short update for the Old Cutler Tri-City area of South Miami-Dade area: Palmetto Bay now at 35 (or is it 37?), Pinecrest jumps to 18, and Cutler Bay remains at 12 confirmed cases. Link provided to full report.

Source - official Florida Health Report for Saturday, May 30, 2020:

Cases          Area

17,826*        Miami-Dade County (Countywide) (inclusive of the municipalities listed below)

       12            Cutler Bay                         Page   10
       35            Palmetto Bay                     Page     8
         2            Village of Palmetto Bay     Page   13 
       18            Pinecrest                           Page     9

FLORIDA HEALTH report - Coronavirus: summary of persons being monitored, persons under investigation, and cases - verified as of Saturday, May 30, 2020, 10:00 AM. Data in this report are provisional and subject to change. An area is only listed if there is a confirmed report of the COVID-19 virus for that specific municipality.

The increases may be more an indication of the testing than an actual increase in occurrences.

CLICK HERE to view the official update for 5/30/2020 (975 pages - municipalities listed can be found beginning page 6 – 16)

Part II – results obtained. Evaluating Palmetto Bay's efforts in Tallahassee at the 2020 Legislative Session.

This is Part II of a series. Part 1 was - Evaluating Palmetto Bay's efforts in Tallahassee at the 2020 Legislative Session - goals set. What were the legislative goals set by the current mayor and village council for the 2020 legislative session?

Palmetto Bay may receive $100,000 out of the $3.2 million requested, barely over 3% of what was being sought. But, this $100,000 is $100,000 more than made it into the budget at this time last year (2019).  

The $100,000 in Stormwater funding will require a $100,000 match by local dollars (this is standard). But this is not the entire story as the hard and soft costs spent on staff time, travel, per diem, and a reported last-minute no-bid award of $10,000 for lobbyists count against that $100,000. These costs over the last two years have not been fully disclosed by Palmetto Bay (I'd like to see the actual numbers), but theses costs could come close to completely offsetting the $100,000 earmarked in the 2020-2021 State budget.

I am starting with the goals set in Village Council resolution no. 2019-121*, the annual legislative agenda which set the following priorities for funding, versus the actual results stated in each category below:

A. Supporting legislation that provides funding for traffic calming projects and public transit improvements and extensions for Miami-Dade County;

RESULT: ZERO. While municipalities such as Doral received a budget line of $350,000 for Doral Intersection Signalization Pedestrian Safety (HB 4201) (Senate Form 1832) for traffic improvement, Palmetto Bay had ZERO requested and therefore, ZERO was placed in the budget for Palmetto Bay. 

B. Requesting funding for South Florida Water Management District specifically for canal bank restoration to address the critical erosion needs in the Village of Palmetto Bay;

RESULT: ZERO. Palmetto Bay officials continue to talk lawsuits against the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Let's hope not as there are currently several lawsuits lingering out there which serve no other purpose than to destroy the collaborative spirit between Palmetto Bay and Miami-Dade County.  The goal of litigation is to gain a positive result you were unable to reach pre-lawsuit, not to try to impress residents with how much money can be wasted on filing lawsuits that fail to gain results. Please mayor & council: win a lawsuit - or at least move one forward, before any more lawsuits are filed.

C. Maximizing all available appropriation and funding opportunities to implement storm water and other needed infrastructure projects throughout the Village;

RESULT: $100,000 The standard funding received by any other municipality that make such a request.

D. Supporting any legislation and requesting funding assistance and partnership opportunities that support the age friendly city initiatives and the development of unique opportunities for individuals with special needs;

RESULT: ZERO. There was money placed in the State budget for projects in other municipalities - just not requested, and therefore not earmarked for Palmetto Bay or our special need residents. In fact, special need events have ended since the last election  case in point - Jonathan's Day. I was a huge supporter of these important efforts, but it has ended with my last term. Two years and done in Palmetto Bay. There is no current leadership or desire to see such programs continue here in Palmetto Bay. 

There were no policy initiatives that Palmetto Bay officials worked for in Tallahassee. And at home, well, this current mayor and council have killed any ability to have a community center - a place where serious senior programming can develop and move forward. Same for any incentives in any of the zoning code updates for senior housing or semi-autonomous special needs hosing within Palmetto Bay, Just like workforce housing, the current official attitude appears to be live somewhere else, there is not desire to have 'any of them' here.

E. Support any legislation requesting funding assistance and partnership opportunities for projects that enhance mobility and create a network of interconnected lanes in support of bicycle and pedestrian activity within the Village;

RESULT: ZERO. In fact, bike lanes are being undone in Palmetto Bay, which is contrary to the existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, the current 5 year capital plan as well as the current strategic plan. This mayor and council refuse to follow the plans. Additionally, Palmetto Bay is at risk of losing the $1 million TAP grant for bicycle lanes that was fought for and obtained under my administration. 
See prior related posts:

April 3, 2019, POD - Bike transportation - not sport - along 82nd Avenue. Will I get a response to my request? Dumping $1 million?

and

November 21, 2018, Follow up – requesting status of the$1,000,000.00 TAP grant, will the new council follow through to maintain our priority for bicycle lanes, attempt to repurpose the money or reject this grant?

My goodness, we are talking about a gift of $1,000,000 (One Millions dollars and no cents). Compare that to the currently alleged budget deficit for Palmetto Bay's FY 2019-20 budget which is alleged to be in the neighborhood of $1,000,000.00. Something is seriously out of balance here.

The current mayor and council cannot afford to be turning down money - and then expect us, the village taxpayers to shoulder the burdens they create.

F. Seeking funding assistance for the Village’s FRDAP and other such FDEP projects to address park capital improvements and park property acquisitions.

RESULT: ZERO. Palmetto Bay became "the Village of Parks" under my administrations in large part through taking advantage of state programs such as the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) and FRDAP. Yet, it appears that there were no FRDAP applications even filed for this last cycle. Do I have to do everything myself? The Wayne Gresky quote is applicable here - "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

The year prior - 2019 legislative session recap - also known as "the year without a return on significant investment". Compare / contrast the present status of the Palmetto Bay appropriation requests (2019):

$ 1,790,800   Total money requested from the legislature limited for 3 projects, broken down as follows:
$   745,900   Multimodal center – location undisclosed (23% of the total estimated cost)
$   745,900   Enviro Center to be constructed at Coral Reef Park
$   299,000   Drainage for sub basin 61 (50% match from Village)

$ 1,790,800  Total money requested from the legislature to cover:
$ 6,089,800 Total cost of these proposed projects to the residents of Palmetto Bay.
$   ZERO        Received from the State of Florida for the 2019 efforts.
_____________________________________
* Please note that Palmetto Bay Resolution 2019-121 is NOT currently available under the resolutions page posted on the official Palmetto Bay website - only resolutions 1-33 are posted (CLICK HERE to view this page. CLICK HERE to view a screen shot of the page as it existed on 4/14/2020 - to document where this page has been updated in the interim).  

COVID-19 Weekender update Saturday, May 9, 2020, by FLORIDA HEALTH– Palmetto Bay reaches 27, Pinecrest now at 9 and Cutler Bay remains at 2. Link provided to full daily report.

Source - official Florida Health Report for Saturday, May 9, 2020:

Cases          Area

13,841*        Miami-Dade County (Countywide) (inclusive of the municipalities listed below)

       2            Cutler Bay                      See page    12 (out of 710 total pages)

     27            Palmetto Bay                 See page     8

       9            Pinecrest                        See page    10

FLORIDA HEALTH report - Coronavirus: summary of persons being monitored, persons under investigation, and cases - verified as of Saturday, May 9, 2020, 10:00 AM. Data in this report are provisional and subject to change. An area is only listed if there is a confirmed report of the COVID-19 virus for that specific municipality.

The increases may be more an indication of the testing than an actual increase in occurrences.

CLICK HERE to view the official update for 5/09/2020 (710 pages - municipalities listed can be found beginning page 6 – 15)

Governor DeSantis issues his very first budget vetoes. Cutler Bay and Deering Estate budget appropriations appear safe. Link to entire list provided.

The veto list is out and the news appears better for Miami-Dade Locals that other areas of the State, that is for those municipalities who had their requests make it into the State of Florida budget submitted to the Governor.

Here is the link to the 2019 veto list:

https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/VETO-LIST.pdf

So how did the budget items do in the first budget for Governor DeSantis?

Incredibly, it appears that only a single local item I reported in my May 4, 2019 post listing highlights for our fellow Miami-Dade County municipals (& Deering Estate) was vetoed (indicated in red strike through text). Making it through appears to be $200,000.00 for Deering Estate Field Research Center and $200,000.00 for Cutler Bay-Drainage Improvement Cutler Ridge Section 3

Great work Deering! The list below is a final sampling of some of the local projects that will be funded by the State, as indicated. Check my math [review the official veto list (link provided) to confirm my review]:

$1,500,000.00 for City of Miami Biscayne Bay Tidal Valves and Stormwater Improvements (HB 3729)

$   985,210.00 for West Miami Potable Water System (HB 3775)

$   850,000.00 for City of Miami Springs Senior Center - New Building (Senate Form 1456)

$   750,000.00 for City of Miami Springs: South Royal Poinciana Median (Senate Form 1448) VETOED - Line # 1989, A Project 13

$   250,000.00 for Bay Harbor Islands Sewer Lateral Lining Project (HB 2151)

$   200,000.00 for Deering Estate Field Research Center - from Gen Rev Fund (HB 4055) (1639A)

$   200,000.00 for Cutler Bay-Drainage Improvement Cutler Ridge Section 3 (HB 3769)

$   200,000.00 for Doral Stormwater Improvements NW 114 Ave./50th St (HB 4499)

$   200,000.00 for North Bay Village Stormwater Pump Station (HB 2773)

$     30,000.00 for Miami Gardens Canal Erosion Protection Project (HB 2239)

Palmetto Bay requests submitted that were DENIED (not placed into the budget submitted t Gov. DeSantis:

$   745,900.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Multimodal Transit Station (HB 3763)

                             (total cost of project est.: $3,245,900)

$   745,900.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Nature Education Center (HB 4081)

                              (total cost of project est.: $2,245,900)

$   299,000.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Drainage Sub-Basin #61 Construction (HB 4069)

    (standard Stormwater % 50% of total project cost)

More will follow on breakdown down what the vetoes mean for South Dade, but I wanted to get this breaking news out to the community.

PRIOR RELATED POST: May 4, 2019, Legislativeasks - Legislature completes budget. Now waiting for Gov DeSantis' line itemveto. 2019 score card: Each year is different and 2019 was not a good budgetyear in Tallahassee for Palmetto Bay as the 3 requests failed to make it intothe budget. The three requests totaled $1,790,800.00 that the Mayor and council were seeking to offset $6,089,800.00 in proposed projects – specifics discussed (in the blog post)

End the delay, the time is now for Palmetto Bay to debate and take action on Council Member David Singer's proposed ordinance to ban plastic straws in Palmetto Bay

Let's go Palmetto Bay. Stop bottling up Council Member David Singer's plastic straw ban and let the debate come to the council floor where council members can finally let the public know why they have not seen fit to hear this item. There are no reasons to continue to avoid the issue of banning plastic straws in Palmetto Bay - as, as Gov. DeSantis opined: 

"Citizens who oppose plastic straw ordinances can seek recourse by electing people who share their views."

I have lost count as to how many regular and special council agendas this ordinance has been placed on, but excuses have ranged from inability to complete the agenda on meeting night (leaving a meeting with items unfinished) to the speculation that the Legislature was banning the right of local governments to enact this sample environmental legislation - and the legislature did through HB 771!

HOWEVER - Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed HB 771 that sought to restrict the right of local governments – which presently include Pinecrest and Miami Beach as well some communities that have been looking to enact, such as Council Member David Singer's sponsored ordinance here in Palmetto Bay.

Which all brings us back to the here and now. Council Member David Singer has unfortunately been on the losing end of 1-4 votes recently. Why should you care? Because these items involve Council Member Singer's proposals to increase transparency in Palmetto Bay government or to simply hold on to gains in transparency made from 2016-2018. Other recent loses include holding the line on Village spending as well as other fiscally sound proposals. The unreasonable and petty hold up of Council Member Singer's plastic straw ordinance is merely one example of unsound politics at work in Palmetto Bay. Thankfully, other local governments took action while the Palmetto Bay council bickered - otherwise no action would have been taken in Tallahassee. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke loudly with his veto pen last week, stating in his veto letter that:

"A number of Florida municipalities, including Sanibel, Ft. Myers Beach and Miami Beach have enacted ordinances prohibiting single-use plastic straws," DeSantis wrote in his veto letter. "These measures have not, as far as I can tell, frustrated any state policy or harmed the state's interests. In fact, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has encouraged Florida residents, schools and businesses to reduce plastic straw use." 

"Under these circumstances, the State should simply allow local communities to address this issue through the political process."

Again, as Gov. DeSantis opined: "Citizens who oppose plastic straw ordinances can seek recourse by electing people who share their views."

(CLICK HERE) to view the full veto letter of May 10, 2019.

Please - no more delays in Palmetto Bay. Move this item forward Council Member Singer. And I request that the current Mayor and council to co-sponsor your proposed ordinance. Remember, as Gov. DeSantis stated: "Citizens who oppose plastic straw ordinances can seek recourse by electing people who share their views."

Legislative asks - Legislature completes budget. Now waiting for Gov DeSantis' line item veto. 2019 score card.

Each year is different and 2019 was not a good budget year in Tallahassee for Palmetto Bay as the 3 requests failed to make it into the budget. The three requests totaled $1,790,800.00 that the Mayor and council were seeking to offset $6,089,800.00 in proposed projects – specifics discussed below.

The Miami Herald reported Saturday, 5/4/2019, that ..., "in a half day of overtime, lawmakers quickly approved a $91.1 billion budget with record spending on the environment and more spending on public schools." See Lawmakers work overtime to approve budget, cap session full of conservative victories, by Lawrence Mower, Samantha J. Gross, Elizabeth Koh, and Emily L. Mahoney.

The Dade Delegation (our Miami-Dade County members of the legislature) worked together to bring home the money needed for local projects as listed below. Results to date vary between the locals. There is money for other Miami-Dade Municipalities and organizations in the budget, subject to it surviving Governor Ron DeSantis' line item veto pen. This is Gov. DeSantis’ first budget, so we will learn for future years. I have been following the budget (CLICK HERE) to view a prior related post relating to an analysis of the Palmetto Bay budget requests for 2019.

There were many, many requests submitted – including from our neighbors Pinecrest, Cutler Bay and Homestead. An $800,000 request was placed for the Deering Estate Field Research Center that appears to have been funded at $200,000.00 – again, subject to making it past the line item veto – Go Deering!

I have listed some highlights for our fellow Miami-Dade County municipals (& Deering Estate) based upon my review of the budget. It is important to remember that any of the proposals listed below could suffer the line item veto before the budget is signed by the Governor into law:

$1,500,000.00 for City of Miami Biscayne Bay Tidal Valves and Stormwater Improvements (HB 3729)

$   985,210.00 for West Miami Potable Water System (HB 3775)

$   850,000.00 for City of Miami Springs Senior Center - New Building (Senate Form 1456)

$   750,000.00 for City of Miami Springs: South Royal Poinciana Median (Senate Form 1448)

$   250,000.00 for Bay Harbor Islands Sewer Lateral Lining Project (HB 2151)

$   200,000.00 for Deering Estate Field Research Center - from Gen Rev Fund (HB 4055) (1639A)

$   200,000.00 for Cutler Bay-Drainage Improvement Cutler Ridge Section 3 (HB 3769)

$   200,000.00 for Doral Stormwater Improvements NW 114 Ave./50th St (HB 4499)

$   200,000.00 for North Bay Village Stormwater Pump Station (HB 2773)

$     30,000.00 for Miami Gardens Canal Erosion Protection Project (HB 2239)

Palmetto Bay requests submitted that were DENIED:

$   745,900.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Multimodal Transit Station (HB 3763)

                             (total cost of project est.: $3,245,900)

$   745,900.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Nature Education Center (HB 4081)

                              (total cost of project est.: $2,245,900)

$   299,000.00 requested for Palmetto Bay Drainage Sub-Basin #61 Construction (HB 4069)

    (standard Stormwater % 50% of total project cost)

Recap for the 2019 Palmetto Bay Council Florida Legislative requests in Tallahassee:

$1,790,800.00 Total money requested from the legislature to cover:

$6,089,800.00 Total cost of these proposed projects to the residents of Palmetto Bay.

No legislative asks were even submitted to the legislature, seeking money for the following:

Canal bank restoration in Palmetto Bay

Money for purchase of land of special concern in and around Palmetto Bay – including:

              22 acres at Palmetto Bay Village Center

              Manage/removal of invasive or to restore native plants at :

                             Coral Reef Park

                             The Woods at 168^th Street

Park master plan modification proposed for the community.

Police or security enhancements for the community.

Senior or youth programming for parks   

Again, each year is different, priorities and available money vary each budget year.

New Florida laws that may impact you, taking effect as of January 1, 2019.

As you return to work, note some news laws that took effect with the start of the 2019 New Year. For more information, read the News Service of Florida online Tampa Bay Times, January 1, 2019: Here are Florida’s new laws, effective today

Please note, not all laws passed by the Florida Legislature take effect on the same date each year. For example, some take effect July 1 (start of a governmental fiscal year), October 1, or laws can provide that they take effect upon signing by the Governor (or becoming law based upon the action of the Governor)

Please read the article for full information, but here are some I took special note of and therefore, mention here:

·   (HB 1011) that requires homeowners' insurance policies to make clear that they do not cover flood damage.

·   Minimum-wage workers will start earning $8.46 an hour Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018 — and more than a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage.

·  Businesses in Florida will begin to see lower workers' compensation insurance rates. Regulators approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease in workers' compensation rates for 2019, following a 9.5 average rate reduction in 2018.

When will it end? The time has passed for far too many who have waited for the legislature to act on distracted driving

Heartbreaking.  Simply heartbreaking.  Nov 27, 2018, update: DAVIE, Fla. - The news is not getting any better.  As reported by Channel 10 news, Second victim dies after driver crashes into group of bicyclists in Davie, Driver cooperating with investigation, police say: Report that a second person has died after a driver crashed into a group of bicyclists Sunday in Davie, police confirmed Tuesday. Also see Miami Herald online, A second cyclist has died after being hit by a distracted driver during group ride
By David Neal

Carlos Rodriguez, 62, was identified as the latest victim to die from his injuries. Denise Marsh, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

“Wife and mother killed when driver strikes 6 cyclists on Sunday morning group ride” – the headline of a Sunday article posted online Miami Herald, by David J. Neal.  Heartbreaking. No one has prematurely judged the driver – the journalist reported that “The driver said she was distracted, but doesn’t remember from what.”

I find it extremely troubling how so many people feel it is acceptable to drive while distracted. Most often the distractions are voluntary, created by the driver themselves. It is almost as if some drivers try to find something else to do to take up their travel time.Driving and texting is unacceptable. 

As a cyclist, a runner, as a person simply walking my dog through our neighborhood, I have had more than my fair share of close calls. 

I continue to be an active leader of Palmetto Bay, a community that has consistently pushed for strengthening the distracted driving laws. (CLICK HERE to view some of our efforts).

This is a matter of public safety, of preserving life. I don’t understand the reluctance. Innocent people are being permanently injured, worse yet, lives are being lost. 

I may be leaving elected office on December 5, but that will not silence me from continuing the efforts on this issue of great public safety. 

The time has long passed for the Florida Legislature to properly take this issue on and strengthen texting and driving Law currently on the books. 

How many more residents of this great State have to pay the price?

I want to thank past members of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board, particularly Mark Merwitzer, a Palmetto Bay resident, a founding member of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board, and past chair of our Youth Board. Mark is now a student at the University of Florida and is ready once again to lobby our Florida Legislature this coming year.

The Florida Legislature has pre-empted local governments on many issues, including anti-distracted legislation within their own jurisdictions (as they should as this is a State and a National problem, but preemption is a responsibility to act on our behalf).

We have called upon the Florida Legislature to hear the pleas and act numerous times! Let’s get Florida off the list of a mere 4 states(out of 50) which do not consider deadly distracted driving to be a primary offense.  It is up to the Florida Legislature – and our Governor – to enact a statewide law in order to keep our communities safe – everywhere – in public and private, in school and in parks AND on the roads.

Mark has been a contributor to my blog - one of my medias used to stay on the record and push out many issues of importance.  His latest post was last January - on, of course, the importance of ending distracted driving. Please follow the link (click on the headline) to view Mark's post of January 14, 2018, Guest Post - Mark Merwitzer - an advocate for safe roads - ending distracted driving.

Thank you Mark and fellow students for the work with Miami-Dade County and other municipalities. The Florida legislature has seen a massive push from numerous local governments across Florida.  Palmetto Bay has included the anti-distracted driving legislative annually.  We want lives saved.

How many more lives will it take before our legislature and governor act?

Eugene Flinn