I remain committed to advocating on behalf of Palmetto Bay for debris clearing and post Irma restoration - e-mail contacts listed

Palmetto Bay may have dropped out of the debris pickup business, but that does not mean that I, personally, am not here to address your concerns.  I remain committed to seeing Palmetto Bay through the restoration.

Please mail e-me at eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov and I will forward it to those still involved in pick up and monitor to the best of our ability. You can also forward your concerns to everyone at once. Here are all the emails that your concerns will be going to: 

admintemp@palmettobay-fl.gov
esilva@palmettobay-fl.gov
eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov
dlcava@miamidade.gov
Maria.Levrant@miamidade.gov

Surprising - Palmetto Bay's contracted Irma debris pickup ends as of 10/29 for lack of a second

I have to say that I am very surprised. Palmetto Bay has backed out of Irma storm collection and area restoration.  The Palmetto Bay Contractors had ceased collection as of Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

The request from staff to extend the collection failed for lack of a second at the Special Council Meeting held Monday, October 30, 2017.  This meeting was specially called due to the time sensitive nature of the item to consider extending the debris removal services (CLICK HERE - to view the agenda items).

Yes, the debris pick up was not without its frustrations, but overall, our hired crews worked well in complementing the County efforts at debris removal. The Contractor satisfied the contract - the fact was that the level of debris was actually greater than estimated, which to me meant that it was even more important that we supplement the pick up rather than sit back and place the entire burden on the County. 

The renewal failed for lack of a second at the meeting:
The two-team collective effort is now down to one.  Miami-Dade County is now on its own and solely responsible for continued debris removal, to finish the first sweep and complete any additional clean up or specialty sweeps (including stump or hanging branch removals).  Our efforts died as no council member would second the resolution after Council Member Larissa Siegel Lara moved the item forward - and noting that she stated an intention to enter into a compromise, rather than a full approval of the proposed extension.

Please click the "Storm Restoration" label, and then scroll down to view some of my past updates regarding our efforts to get Palmetto Bay back to pre-Irma status.  

Our crews collected debris over a mere 29 days. Irma struck our area on September 10/11. They  were contracted to start debris removal at the Saturday, September 30, 2017, Special Council meeting.  The Crews started at 2:30 PM on that same day.  Our contracted crews  removed nearly 120,000 cubic yards of debris - as can be seen piled high at the east end of Coral Reef Park or at the second debris station off 168 and Old Cutler Road.

I was told that our crews averaged about 6,000 cubic yards per day, the first two weeks. Toward the end, the crews were averaging 5,000 cubic yards daily. 

Palmetto Bay is now out of the storm debris removal efforts, turning the responsibility back over to Miami-Dade County to complete the efforts. 

The crews will complete their contracted duties of grinding the piles located at both our debris collection points.  The ground debris will then be disposed of at a County/FEMA approved site.

I commend the work of the contracted crews who did work seven days a week to work with Miami-Dade County to remove debris from Palmetto Bay.  This effort greatly sped up the debris removal.  The village staff who were diverted to this effort (which included monitoring) will now return to their normal assignments, unless they are required to remain at the debris collection sites.

FEMA Comes to the Palmetto Bay Village Hall to Offer Assistance

Palmetto Bay is hosting FEMA at our village hall:

PALMETTO BAY, FL, October 30, 2017 -  Starting today and through Saturday, FEMA officials will be stationed at the Palmetto Bay Village Hall to assist anyone that needs to register for federal assistance as a result of Hurricane Irma. 

Miami-Dade County is one of many designated counties in the state to be within the Major Disaster Declaration area, which makes county residents eligible for various federal assistance programs offered through FEMA.  Some of those programs include unemployment assistance, public assistance, small business low interest loans and bridge loans, among others.  Palmetto Bay recently posted a notice of upcoming FEMA deadlines for these and other programs on its municipal website to make sure that residents apply for the assistance they may need within the established time period to do so.  Starting today, FEMA staff is available to answer questions, provide guidance with the federal process and register applicants.

FEMA staff will be onsite at Village Hall from today until Saturday, November 4th, between the hours of 8:30 am and 6:30 pm in the Village Hall Council Chambers.  Anyone who has any questions or needs help to register for federal assistance due to  hurricane damage to their homes or apartments may drop by at any time during these hours, and bring the following required documents and information:
Social Security number (one per household)
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage (insurance policy documents would be helpful)
Bank account number and bank routing number for direct deposit funds (information is printed on personal checks)
Individuals will also be required to provide their telephone numbers and mailing address. 

FEMA staff is ONLY assisting with the registration process for hurricane-related assistance and NOT for the Food for Florida DSNAP Program.  More information about federal disaster assistance is available on the FEMA website or by calling 800-621-FEMA, TTY 800-462-7585.
 

Update on FREE Irma mulch - available for Palmetto Bay residents Saturday - October 28th at Coral Reef Park

FREE Irma Mulch.  I am pleased that I can finally announce that freshly ground mulch*, courtesy of Irma, will be available on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at Coral Reef Park.  There have been many inquiries about when this mulch would be made available.   We ask that Palmetto Bay residents come with their photo IDs, pick up free mulch, and spread our special Palmetto Bay-made mulch back onto their home gardens.

You can take home part of Palmetto Bay's 'mulch mountain' beginning Sat 10/28

Please watch this space/blog for further updates, including modifications.

The plan at the present time is for the mulch pick up to be on at the parking lot east of the tennis courts (where the Farmer's Market is held on Sundays (enter from Coral Reef Drive).  The mulch will be available for pick up beginning at 9:00 AM. The current plan is that Palmetto Bay will supply the garbage bags to carry the mulch.  This free giveaway is limited to Palmetto Bay residents, so don't forget to bring your photo ID.

The mulch would be better suited in your home landscaping than at a County landfill.

Please watch this blog and/or follow/like my Eugene Flinn, Mayor, Facebook page for updates on this and other events affecting Palmetto Bay. 

Your Mayor,

Eugene Flinn 

* DISCLAIMER: Please note that this is raw ground mulch, not commercially prepared and treated mulch. This mulch is locally sourced, grown entirely within the Village of Palmetto Bay. 
 

Update of Irma related debris removal by Palmetto Bay contractors - Monday, 10/16 update

I am providing an official update provided by our Village Manager, Ed Silva:

Good morning Council, below is this morning’s update on debris removal

Debris DMS sites located at CRP and the vacant site to the northeast of 168th ST/ Old Cutler Road are both operational today.

*** *** ***

Map 2 - pick up zones - referred to by manager in posted update

Staff is currently working in Zone  3 (3- trucks) and Zone 6 (3-truck. At 10 am work in  Zone 6 will cease and the 3 trucks will relocate to Zone 5. As of Friday October 13, 2017 the Village estimates that 41% of the debris as estimated by our debris removal contractor has been picked up. The total amount expended to date for debris tickets totaling 48,948.01 cubic yards under this contract is $375,920.72.

We are currently reaching out to the contractor to see if additional trucks are being scheduled so that we can schedule staff accordingly or expedite a request for temporary staffing if needed. Please let me know if I can provide you with additional information regarding today’s debris removal process.

Additionally we have included two maps, one which shows the area of the Village that’s being picked up by the County and the areas being picked up by the Village. The second map shows the 6 zones we have established in the village so that you can understand where the crews are. We are starting to receive emails asking for specialized pickups, please understand that this will delay the process and is counterproductive to getting the job done. Therefore unless directed by Council we will continue with an orderly  and systematic pick up of our village. Thank you for your understanding and in working cooperatively through this process. We ask that you support and get the word out on locations, there is much misinformation out there that is detrimental to all.

Respectfully,

Edward Silva
Village Manager
Village of Palmetto Bay

Map 1- County / PBay zones - referred to by manager in posted update

Update from Village Manager on debris removal 10-11-2017. 330,000 cubic yards of debris picked up in last 10 days.

I am posting an update from Ed Silva, Manager, provided to me earlier today, Wednesday, 10/11/2017:

At present we have cleared out the areas around the schools and are still working on our main north south roads, today we are on SW 82 ave.

Above - note the exact same location, but before and after photos

of the streets surrounding Southwood Middle school

We are diligently working through all of the piles in our community and in 10 days have picked up 330,000 cubic yards of debris along with what the County has already done.

Our crews are averaging about 6,000 cubic yards per day, this week alone and we hope to improve that mark going forward.

We understand the frustration of having debris in your neighborhood and we are working as quickly as we can to remove all of it in a timely manner.

Disposing collecting debris - the mountain grows - mulch will be available - but not yet

I stopped in at Coral Reef Park Tuesday evening on the way home from the office. Crews are working late as the debris collection continues - to varying reviews (more on that later). Coral Reef park is the interim staging point for the debris collected by the Village Contractors.  It is being mulched.  Most will be taken to the final disposal site designated by the County.  There will be mulch available to our residents, but not as of this date as the work site is not presently safe for the public.  I will keep everyone up to date on when the mulch will be available.

                                   (above) The mountain of debris - contractor trucks unloading while the heavy equipment 
                                  is perched on the pile breaking down and moving it toward the mulching machine. 

                                  (above) left a view of the mulch created in two hours
                                   right - the mulcher.  Fit for the job at hand. 

I am looking forward to the completion of the debris removal and restoration of Coral Reef Park.