UPDATE: Traffic Circle project Intersection of SW 168/82 - photos of progress

I am sharing the official update (Thursday, August 10, 2017) regarding the Traffic Circle construction:
          Good afternoon,

Following is an update on the above-referenced project as of this afternoon, August 10, 2017.  Please post an update on the website as soon as possible:

Traffic Circle at the Intersection of SW 168/82

: On Wed., August 9^th contractor completed removal of the traffic signal box and all underground wiring.  In addition, necessary equipment and materials were delivered to the site commencement of construction work.  Subsequently, contractors were out this morning despite the rain and have commenced construction of the traffic circle (See pictures here).  Please note that temporary stop signs have been placed at the corner of SW 82^nd Ave and SW 165^th Terrace to provide for safe access to this intersection during the duration of this project.  Signs have been placed to indicate detours.  There will be no access to vehicular, pedestrian or bicycle traffic at this intersection through the duration of this construction project.

Please pay close attention to travel lane closures and detours which you can find on the project MOT. You are also requested to exercise caution when workers and heavy equipment are in operation. Obey all posted signs and speed limits and allow extra time to reach your destination. 

Thank you,

 

I will continue to keep you up to date. 

You can reach me either by e-mail at eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or my cell (305) 302-3713

Thank you,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor

Public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug 30, 2017, 6:30 to 8:30 PM to discuss possible bridging of 87th Avenue

Do you have an opinion or stake in the 87th Avenue bridge?  All sides need to attend and voice your concerns. Please see the e-mail from our District 8 Commissioner, Daniella Levine Cava.  This meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30 6:30PM - 8:30PM and will be held at the Palmetto Golf Course Meeting Room, 9300 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33157

Here is a verbatim of the e-mail:

Dear District 8 Residents,

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) has agreed to present transportation updates at a community meeting to be held at Commissioner Levine Cava’s request. This presentation comes after the Commissioner requested that DTPW delay moving forward with plans to pursue a bridging project across the canal at 87th Avenue until further data could be obtained and public input received. 

Traffic engineers will present their study data on the possible bridging of SW 87th Avenue across the canal, north of SW 164 Street, which is being recommended by DTPW.  Before this project could move forward, it would need approval from the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). I serve as one vote on the TPO and I am eager to hear from you on this issue. 

The engineers will also provide updates on the new signal management system and discuss traffic modifications along Old Cutler Road. 

Commissioner Levine Cava has not taken a position on the bridge proposed on 87th Avenue, and recognizes that the Village of Palmetto Bay Council has voted to oppose it. She believes it is necessary for the County administration to receive and consider input from the area residents, municipal governments and other stakeholders before proceeding.

DTPW will be available to answer questions and address concerns, as well as to welcome all public input.

-------------------------------------

I respectfully request that you plan to attend and participate.

Your tax dollars - full millage chart for all municipalities and the unincorporated area (UMSA). Read on to find your Overall Total Millage (combined property taxes)

Every property owner pays a tax for municipal services - regardless of whether that property is situated in an incorporated or unincorporated area (its called "UMSA" and substitutes for the municipality) -  some areas have “Debt Service" and other Miscellaneous Millage tacked on as well. 

I have posted the full mileage chart for all municipalities and the unincorporated area (UMSA). Read on to find your Overall Total Millage (combined property taxes)

       YOUR COMBINED – TOTAL OVERALL PROPERTY MILLAGE RATE:

                   (I selected 6 neighboring municipalities and compared with UMSA)

17.8921     UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE (UMSA)

17.8636    DORAL
18.2638   PINECREST
18.2930   PALMETTO BAY 
18.3545   CUTLER BAY        
20.6293   SOUTH MIAMI
22.4787   HOMESTEAD

ALL COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES:

Every county resident pays into Miami-Dade County School Board

7.1380 operating millage

0.1840 for debt service.

Countywide Property Tax millage

4.6669 for operating
0.4000 debt. 

All municipal (and UMSA) residents, but for those living in only 5 cities pay for

County Fire Service –

2.4207 for operating and

0.0075 for debt service. 

All municipal (and UMSA) residents, but for those living in only 5 cities pay for

County LIBRARY Service –

0.2840 for operating –

ZERO   for debt service.

County special (voter approved Property Tax) –

All property tax payers in Miami-Dade County pay 0.5000 for the Children’s Trust

All properties in Miami-Dade County are assessed the following REGIONAL Millages:

0.1359  South Florida Water Management  
0.0471  Everglades Project
0.1477  Okeechobee Basin
0.0320  FIND

No municipality is left out on the chart (posted as a .JPEG below).  You can also view this same chart of the 2016 Adopted Millage Rates online, Miami-Dade County, : http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/library/2016-proposed-millage-chart.pdf

2016 Adopted Millage Rates

Want more information regarding your taxes?  Regardless of Taxing authority, the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser is your best source for information.  CLICK HERE for main page

SOME IMPORTANT DIRECT LINKS:

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs  (CLICK HERE)

Glossary of terms CLICK HERE - defines terms such as “ad valorem tax”; "Real property"; "Save Our Homes (SOH) - Amendment 10"; "Taxable value"; to "Timeshare period titleholder"

Thank you for reading and preparing for our 2017-2018 budget hearings.

Budgeting for our 2017-18 fiscal year. I remain committed to "government 'lite'" in Palmetto Bay

September is budget hearing season in Palmetto Bay.  The decisions made for this upcoming year will impact the municipal services you receive, how much you pay in taxes and, if the decisions are not controlled, can lead to far-reaching impact on future budget commitments through increased recurring budget commitments. 

Several budget workshops were held in July - but note that the important steps are the actual budget hearings  to be held in September. The actual decisions are made at these hearings.

Note that our budget is an ordinance, it is passed in a first, then second reading. 

FIRST BUDGET HEARING - Monday, September 11, 2017 - 7:00 PM
(Preceding Regular Council Meeting)

SECOND BUDGET HEARING - Monday, September 25, 2017 - 7:00 PM

Note that both budget hearings shall be held in the Village Hall Municipal Center, 9705 East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.

Please note that the village council has set the maximum milage rate, and has determined that our property tax rate will NOT be increased for this coming fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2017.  The Village Council may still reduce our property tax rate for this upcoming year - based upon the restraint shown through the budget process. 

The budget process will be the time that we review the services we receive and whether Palmetto Bay remains committed to "Government Lite".  This is OUR money, YOUR money, and you need to stay involved. 

It is important to review what other areas pay, as well as the services that are provided.  I am posting below the comparable municipal tax rates; UMSA, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay are posted below:

1.9283  Unincorporated Miami Dade County (UMSA) - Paid by residents in surrounding areas such as the Falls, East Kendall, Goulds, The Redland, etc. (This is the rate we would be paying had we not incorporated.) 

2.3000  Pinecrest

2.3292  Palmetto Bay

2.3907  Cutler Bay

Please begin your own review and contact me via e-mail at eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or via phone at (305) 302-3713 to discuss. 

Please see my post from last year (September 29, 2016):  Palmetto Bay Mayor & Council approve the lowest property tax millage rate in Village history - 2.3292 mills.,

I was proud of the collaboration of the village council in lowering the tax rate - as that is the direction our tax burden should be heading.

Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: Metrorail to Florida City: Build it now!

The time is now - editorial in the Community Newspapers

The Metrorail may finally be getting its long-overdue extension. Now we just need to decide where to start.
...

...the South Dade Transitway is the easiest of the six SMART Plan corridors to develop. There is an existing right-of-way, Route 38 Busway Max, which runs the same route the rail would. The rail extension could begin immediately, and compared to other corridors, the construction would be minimal; the new rail will likely run at ground level utilizing an overhead line instead of a third rail system. In total, it should cost half of what an elevated rail would.

At a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce panel last month, District 13 Commissioner (and Commission Chair) Esteban Bovo and Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez agreed that the Florida City extension should be prioritized. They’re hardly alone.

Almost 15 years have passed since Miami-Dade County residents approved the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP), a half-cent sales tax overseen by the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) to fund an enormous expansion of Miami’s mass transit: 88 new miles of Metrorail and 635 new buses. To date, the PTP has raised more than $2.5 billion.

But during the 2008 financial crisis, the CITT voted to use those funds to support and maintain the present transit system. As a result, fewer than 200 buses have been added and little progress has been made on extending the rail. 

CLICK HERE to view the entire op ed by Grant Miller, Community Newspapers: 

Metrorail to Florida City: Build it now! 

 

Media Group Lifestyle, 5 questions with Nancy Lawther, Education Advocate

A must read about Nancy Lawther who is passionate about protecting education. Ms. Lawther is a tremendous resource to both the Palmetto Bay Village Council and our Village of Palmetto Bay Education Advisory Committee.

See: Media Group Lifestyle, 5 questions with Nancy Lawther, Education Advocate

Photo credit - Media Group Lifestyle

 

NBC 6 Investigators - Here’s some of what the original Peoples’ Transportation Plan was supposed to fund, and the progress 15 years later:

In my opinion: A classic chicken or the egg argument.  Did we miss the mark on the promises (and redirect spending) due to failure to receive he anticipated Federal dollars or are the Feds withholding the dollars (albeit there are less dollars more than in years past) because of the way the PTP monies were redirected?

CLICK HERE to View the NBC6 Investigative Report online: Broken Promises of Sales Tax Hike Loom Over Transit Debate
By Tony Pipitone

Here’s some of what the original Peoples’ Transportation Plan was supposed to fund, and the progress 15 years later:

• 89 more miles of Metrorail -- instead, there are four additional miles
• 1,191 buses -- currently 815
• 70 percent increase in transit service miles – there’s been a 7-percent increase
• 17-mile elevated line roughly parallel to the Dolphin Expressway – never begun

About $1 billion of the money intended to fund the projects has instead been diverted to pay operations and maintenance costs for projects not covered by the PTP.
"This is the greatest story of mismanagement of a special tax in the history of this county certainly," county commissioner Xavier Suarez told the NBC 6 Investigators.
 

""

The True Costs of Driving - Car owners don't come close to covering the price of maintaining the roads they use.

Past article posted online - The Atlantic dot com (Oct 25, 2015) :

 

TheTrue Costs of Driving - Car owners don't come close to covering the price of maintaining the roads they use.

This article was brought to my attention by Paul Schweip, Palmetto Bay resident, avid cyclist (including a cycling commuter). He has served as a member of the Charter Commission for Palmetto Bay. He also serves the Miami-Dade County Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee, serving a term as Chair, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Urban Environment League and The Stiltsville Trust. He was appointed to the Trust from Commission District 8. 

Thank you Paul for posting this article that I am forwarding via this blog.

Long sought relief for South Miami Dade traffic woes or is this just another delay - more kicking the can down the bus/transitway?

Rail or bust?  Is a bus that rolls like a bus, quacks like a bus, is limited in number of passengers like a bus and not fully funded like the promised BRT of the early 2000s still just a bus; or is this a (certainly not "the") real solution? Have we reached the point of "rail or repeal"?

How are we going to measure success or compliance with spending of the 1/2 Cent Sales Tax? there is a serious question here on the half-cent sales tax we approved in 2002.

See Miami Herald online of July 30, 2017, by Douglas Hanks, A Miami-Dade rarity: a speedy bus route that’s actually attracting passengers

Palmetto Bay is part of "the other side" part of the community represented by, as the Miami Herald states:

"... county commissioners and city leaders blasting the notion of Miami-Dade once again abandoning a countywide expansion of Metrorail first promised to voters in a 2002 referendum. Voters approved a half-percent sales tax for transportation that so far has generated about $2.8 billion in revenue and less than three miles of new rail."

The current Palmetto Bay council has consistently pushed for light rail - in numerous official village resolutions, town hall meetings and in public comments - ALL unanimous statements.

“We are not going to settle for bus in South Dade,” said Peggy Bell, the mayor of Cutler Bay. “Most cities within the United States have good rail systems for commuters. That is what was promised to the residents. And that’s what they want.”

State Rep. McGhee may be foreshadowing a community initiative to repeal a tax many perceive to be miss-applied, The Herald's Doug Hanks quotes Rep. McGee on BRT:

“I think it’s a joke,” Rep. Kionne McGhee who represents South Dade in Tallahassee, said of upgrading the busway. Given the promises of more rail made to voters in 2002 for the transportation tax, McGhee said buses should be considered a surrender on that original effort. “The whole objective is rail,” he said. “If there is going to be a push for more buses, then it is only logical that the people stop paying into the half-penny tax.”

This article is an important read onto the efforts/fight for mass transit to date in South Miami-Dade County.

For additional background, please see prior related post of May 15, 2017, Unified leadership - Mayors Peggy Bell & Eugene Flinn issue a joint statement about collaboration and the need for long term transit solution - Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and I released our joint statement, in part: 

The Town of Cutler Bay and the Village of Palmetto Bay are dedicated to working together to find solutions to the traffic challenges our residents face daily. We are committed to obtaining Rail Mass Transit for South Dade, which is the most important way to address the explosive growth that continues to occur in South Dade. This growth is not due solely to our two municipalities. Cities south of us and unincorporated Miami Dade County residents must drive through these same streets to get to their destinations.

Are transit officials listening?   The overwhelming mood of the South Miami-Dade communities is "RAIL or REPEAL!"

Just for fun - Family Photos from vacation. Fire Tower Challenge

Enjoying nature.  Probably hiked/nature walked 18 miles in just the two days. 


This includes a 5.26 mile nature walk Sunday morning. It was another nice cool walk. 

Our daughters still love to find, pick and enjoy the wild blackberries, obviously avoiding the wild mushrooms.

I am walking the walk.  Look at all the young Pines.  I believe these are spruce.  It is quite nice to see that the pines range from seedlings to grand old pine trees.  

You can hear the birds, but they are camouflaged far too well among the trees. 

The Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge: 29 mountaintop towers with spectacular views

We hiked the Spruce Mountain Trail to see that Fire Tower.  Hiking to Fire Towers is "a thing"  - there is a "Fire Tower Challenge - which is currently a very popular activity up here. 

Check out New York upstate dot com - Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge: 29 mountaintop towers with spectacular views (CLICK HERE) - 

I apologize in advance - this does not appear to be something we can add to the "Mayor's Challenge" portion of #GetFitPalmettoBay. 

More Pines:

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.

Politics aside - "Say it ain't so..." are they really about to "Can" Coke Zero?

Coke is always in the news when it changes its products - and an example of people resisting and resenting change.  Does anyone remember "New Coke" or Pepsi-Cola's "Pepsi Clear"?  I am a fan of Coke Zero - and sometimes change is good - one such example (in my humble opinion) is Coke Zero. And now it appears that it is nearing the end of its shelf life.  

So I say "stock up"!  How long will cans of soda last? (Am I really calling for a hording run on remaining Coke Zero?)

Here is a very well written article that (again, in my own opinion) captures the angst of someone who hates to see one of their favs go by the wayside:

Coke Zero Is Gone Because We Live in a Grim Dystopia in Which Nothing Good Can Exist, by Jay Willis, published in GQ online.

On this point (actually, on many points) I agree with Palmetto Bay's community catalyst Brian Tannebaum.  who says, and 'I quote': "I could go full Scaramucci about this."  

I agree fully and will join Brian in going "full Scaramucci " about this.

Also see CNN Money: Coca-Cola is replacing Coke Zero with a new drink, by Olivia Chang, CNN Money

Congratulations Palmetto Bay Village Clerk Missy Arocha - Has a year gone by already?

Time flies when you are busy improving Palmetto Bay.  It's been over a year since our Village Clerk Missy Arocha has taken over to serve our Village.

Village Clerk Arocha has aggressively pursued many recent council (and her own) initiatives that include improving our village record keeping and communication. Clerk Arocha is working hard to bring Palmetto Bay into the new age in regards to digital record keeping.

The Village Clerk is one of the most important positions of Municipal government. In Palmetto Bay, the position of Clerk is one of the three Chartered positions in the Village appointed by the Village Council. Reporting directly to the Council, the Village Clerk serves as secretary for the Village Council and of the Municipal Corporation. The responsibilities of the Village Clerk in the Village of Palmetto Bay include the following:
 
*Gives notice of all Council meetings to its members and the public, and shall maintain an accurate record of all Council proceedings
*Maintains the seal of the Village and attest the Mayor's or the Manager's signature, as the case may be, on all documents
*Serves as the municipal Supervisor of Elections
*Administers the publication of the Village Code and Charter
*Maintains custody of the Village's vital records including agreements, contracts, minutes, ordinances, proclamations, and resolutions
*Functions as the Information Technology Coordinator
*Manages all Public Information Requests
              
And as a reminder: Public record requests can be made to:
 
Missy Arocha, Village Clerk
Email address: marocha@palmettobay-fl.gov
Telephone number: 305-259-1234

A new e-blast was released Monday, July 24, 2017.  I have sent these periodic e-mails out since my very first term!  Are you a subscriber?  If not, I ask you to sign up.  Please also follow my Mayor Facebook page and follow me on Twitter!

Communication prevents miscommunication.

CLICK HERE to view this 7/24/2017 e-mail.

In this issue: Budget time in Palmetto Bay - I's your money - Let's hear from you. Village receives $550K state grant for stormwater projects Dover Kohl & Partners, Marcela Camblor & Associates present   recommendations regarding the Palmetto Bay DUV All Palmetto Bay area public schools receive an "A" Rating Take the Palmetto Bay Age-Friendly Initiative Survey Congratulations Village Clerk Missy Arocha Should Palmetto Bay reduce the internal street speed limit?

Village receives $550K state grant for stormwater projects

More grants coming to Palmetto Bay - and I want it used for Stormwater; addressing much needed drainage.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on June 23 that it had awarded $550,000 to the Village of Palmetto Bay for stormwater infrastructure improvements as part of a nearly $3 million funding program awarding grants to communities across Florida.

The overall program is designed to improve water quality in impaired springs, rivers, lakes and estuaries, which need help meeting Florida’s stringent water-quality standards

The money for Palmetto Bay is to be used for catch basin retrofits, installation of additional catch basins, sedimentation boxes, baffle boxes and exfiltration trenches throughout the village. This will help reduce pollutants flowing into Biscayne Bay, which is southeast Florida’s largest coastal estuary.

CLICK HERE to view the complete Community Newspapers article by Gary Alan Ruse: Village receives $550K state grant for stormwater projects

" ... I’m resuming the policy of trying to bring back tax dollars to our area,” Mayor Flinn said. “Storm water is a huge issue."

"Whether you believe in sea level rise or not, everybody sees water sitting on their street and park lane, and it’s something we needed to address. That’s one of the reasons we incorporated. We were not getting the attention we needed to get being part of Greater Miami-Dade County. That money’s going to go very far in assisting us with our storm water efforts that we have done annually under my leadership."

I continue to pledge that our village tax dollars be spent for their intended purpose, to address village infrastructure needs.

Next Palmetto Bay debate: should we reduce speed limit on village managed roads to 25 MPH? Your voice matters

BREAKING NEWS- Friday, July 21,2017: Miami-Dade County has authorized the Village of Palmetto Bay to reduce the village speed limit  (on Village jurisdiction Roads) to 25 mph.

What are your thoughts?  Let us know.

Email notification from Manager Silva:

From: Edward Silva
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 12:31 PM
To: Council
Cc: Olga Cadaval
Subject: FW: Final Report regarding reduction of village wide speed limit to 25 mph - SR 2017028829

See below we just got approval to lower our speed limits on internal roads. This was part of the council direction requesting this and staff and the consultant worked hard in getting this accomplished. Special thanks are due to the County in expediting this.

Respectfully,

Edward Silva

Village Manager

Village of Palmetto Bay

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

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

Dover Kohl presentation regarding the Palmetto Bay DUV Code - more updates to follow, for now you can review the link available online: CLICK HERE to view. Note that the village will have this document online ASAP.

Presentation to Village of Palmetto Bay, of 7/19/2017, document entitled "DUV Assessment
Dover Kohl & Partners, Marcela Camblor & Associates, July, 2017"

Update, 7/20/2017 - 4:00 PM: Wednesday, July 19th, renowned architect & planner, Victor Dover presented his team's recommendations for updating the current Downtown Urban Village (DUV) code, which are now available online.   Download or view the DUV Assessment Report or the Powerpoint Presentation made to the Council during the Committee of the Whole meeting. 
 

Another opportunity to hear from the experts and participate in the future of Palmetto Bay

Important public meeting to be held this Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at our Palmetto Bay Village Hall. #YourParticipationMatters.

"Downtown" Palmetto Bay.

“What’s missing are the retail stores, restaurants. How do we make sure to bring those in without having traffic explode?”

This one of the topics set for July 19 at village hall: a presentation by Dover, Kohl & Partners, a national architectural and land-planning firm, hired to review the code and provide suggestions. This is a public meeting. Please attend or watch live on WBAY.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/…/palmett…/article161430718.html…

 

Best wishes for MDPD/Village Policing Unit officer M. Valdez.

It's a bittersweet day for our speed abiding residents. One of our motor officers, Ofc M Valdez, is returning to the County. We will miss him. He has served our Palmetto Bay village Policing Unit with distinction and we wish him the best. #PalmettoBay #MDPD #Police #MiamiDadeCounty

Friday, June 9, 2017 - Village Manager issues recommendation to demolish exisiting Coral Reef Park recreation room

Village Manager Ed Silva announces an intent to demolish the Coral Reef Park building as unsafe.

(e-mail of Friday, June 9, 2017):

From: Edward Silva
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2017 4:28 PM
To: Council
Cc:
Subject: Coral Reef Park Community Center

 

Council,

 

As we all know the recreation room at Coral Reef Park has serious structural issues that have taken a long time to address and fix.  While we await for your direction on how to best proceed, the building was temporarily shored and roof leaks were repaired.  However, the building has developed a number of new roof leaks and we should not continue to keep it open for public use especially now that we have entered a new, potentially active hurricane season.  I am therefore recommending that we proceed with demolishing the existing structure.  We will issue an Invitation to Bid for the demolition and also to reestablish the electrical connections.  We can replace the building with a temporary trailer as a short-term measure until a final decision is made on a new recreation room or center. 

 

The picture below shows the buckets that staff is using to collect the water from 2 of the 5 current roof leaks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Edward Silva

Village Manager

Village of Palmetto Bay

305-259-1234 

Guest Post - Coyotes in Palmetto Bay? What have you seen?

Guest post - legitimate concerns about Coyote sightings here in Palmetto Bay.  I have posted a poor quality photo.  Please send me your sightings.

From Suzanne Dundee Bonner:

Last week, I came across several postings in the site nextdoor.com, from Palmetto Bay residents, of coyote sightings.

These sightings took place near Deering Estate and adjacent to Bill Sadowski Park. At one such sighting, the coyote was seen going after a cat in their backyard.

I have checked with a reliable source at Miami Dade Parks, who confirmed that coyotes, as well as foxes, are in this area, and have been for some time. My source also confirmed that coyotes will target small animals and mammals.

According to many news articles, there are precautions that can and should be taken, to help prevent these encounters from turning bad. Here are some of the highlights:

Do not let small children or pets out from dusk to dawn, unattended. It is said that any pet smaller than a German Shepard should not be let out alone in your yard. Do not leave any pet food dishes, bird seed, or fruit in your backyard. Be careful of any confrontation with coyotes, since many carry diseases, and could attack, if provoked.

I am attaching a link to provide you with a photo of a coyote that are known to roam the South Florida areas, including the Palmetto Bay Village areas.

https://www.wuft.org/news/files/2014/12/10733121054_9d2212a48e_k.jpg

Suzanne Dundee Bonner

Palmetto Bay