Eye On Palmetto Bay

Mayor Carlos Gimenez to Speak at Palmetto Bay Village Voice event

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:34:57 +0000

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to Visit Palmetto Bay and Discuss State of the County

The Palmetto Bay Village Voice (PBVV) will host a public event featuring Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Wednesday, June 6th at 7:00 PM at the Deering Estate at Cutler located at 16701 SW 72nd Avenue, Palmetto Bay.

Mayor Gimenez will update Palmetto Bay residents on the state of the County and will speak on prospects for future improvement and development. At the conclusion of his remarks, the audience may engage the Mayor in an open question-and-answer session.

The actual presentation will take place in the Ballroom of the Stone House at the Deering Estate. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with refreshments served. Mayor Gimenez will address the audience at 7 p.m. This is the latest in a series of public events hosted by the Palmetto Bay Village Voice, a non-partisan group incorporated with the state of Florida with the specific purpose of increasing local government transparency and accountability through education and communication, and promoting active resident participation in the Palmetto Bay community.

Admission is free and is open to the public.

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To learn more about the Palmetto Bay Village Voice (PBVV), visit the PBVV website at http://palmettobayvillagevoice.org/

AVOID THE AREA — Palmetto Bay Water Main Break Being Repaired

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:50:10 +0000

A water main ruptured in Palmetto Bay and is being repaired. Please avoid the area of SW 152 Street between SW 87 Avenue and SW 87 Court.

Thank you to The Office of Commissioner Lynda Bell for the update.

The press release reads:

“A 36-inch water main ruptured on Southwest 152nd Street and 87th Court. Residents are being asked to avoid the area as the road will be closed to traffic on both east and west bound lanes between Southwest 87th Court and 87th Avenue.

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department staff is on site and [is] making repairs.

It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit:
www.miamidade.gov/water“

Important County Charter Reform Questions on January 31st Ballot

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:27:11 +0000

Residents of Palmetto Bay Have A Voice in Reforming Both County And Village Charters in January

With so much media attention focused on the Presidential debates and primaries, it’s easy to lose focus on issues that hit closer to home.

Critically important Miami Dade County charter reform questions will appear on the local ballot on January 31st – issues that Palmetto Bay and all county residents must decide.

Additionally, the Village of Palmetto Bay will conduct a public workshop on January 25th to garner public input as to future revisions to its own village Charter.

Here are the actual charter reform questions that will appear on the Miami-Dade County ballot
on January 31st:

A HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATING TO SALARIES, SERVICE, AND TERM LIMITS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT, AS OF JANUARY 31, 2012, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL: * DEVOTE FULL-TIME SERVICE TO
THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOLD NO OTHER EMPLOYMENT; * NO LONGER
RECEIVE THE $6,000 ANNUAL SALARY ESTABLISHED IN 1957, BUT RECEIVE INSTEAD
THE SALARY PROVIDED BY STATE FORMULA, ADJUSTED ANNUALLY (CURRENTLY
APPROXIMATELY $92,097); AND * SERVE NO MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR
TERMS IN OFFICE EXCLUDING TERMS OF SERVICE PRIOR TO 2012?

CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATING TO INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND ELECTIONS ON CHARTER
AMENDMENTS SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO INCREASE FROM 60 TO 120 DAYS THE
TIME ALLOWED TO CIRCULATE INITIATORY PETITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT
ELECTIONS TO AMEND THE CHARTER, EITHER THROUGH INITIATORY PETITIONS OR BY
BOARD ACTION, BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEXT SCHEDULED GENERAL
ELECTION RATHER THAN WITHIN 60 TO 120 DAYS, AS CURRENTLY REQUIRED?

Early voting has already begun in Miami-Dade County. The closest early
voting location for Palmetto Bay is the Coral Reef Library, located at 9211
SW 152nd Street. For your convenience, here is a (clickable) link from the Miami-Dade
Elections Department listing all of the early voting sites that are open
throughout the County:

http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/wait-times.asp

January is also the first opportunity for many village residents to comment on their own city’s constitution. The Village of Palmetto Bay is currently reviewing the city’s Charter. An appointed committee of residents (the Charter Review Commission) will hold a public workshop on January 25, at 7PM to garner resident input concerning items contained in the Charter that may require modification. This is an important meeting that can help shape the future of this Village.

The items discussed will be presented to the Village Council at an upcoming Council meeting for review and possible approval, prior to being placed on the ballot for the November, 2012, election.

The meeting will be held at Village Hall, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL.

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What is your opinion regarding the county and village charters? We encourage you to speak your mind and share your thoughts with your neighbors and fellow residents.

Mayor Bullies, Fails to Derail Town Hall Meeting

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:18:30 +0000

Despite pressure from the Mayor of Palmetto Bay to derail a public town hall meeting, the event will take place as scheduled, on Thursday, February 2, at 7pm at Christ Fellowship Church.

At Wednesday’s Council workshop (referred to as a COW meeting, or Committee of the Whole), District 1 Councilman Patrick Fiore made known his plans to hold a town hall meeting for the residents, his second since taking office in November, 2010.

As soon as he made the announcement, his plans came under fire by Mayor Shelly Stanczyk. Stanczyk chastised Fiore for planning a meeting while she and other council members and the Village Manager would be away in Tallahassee to attend an annual event known as, “Dade Days.”

The mayor chided the Councilman, citing the “importance” of attending Dade Days, and the opportunities to meet with Miami-Dade’s state legislators in the hopes of securing state funds for Palmetto Bay. She even said, “All of the other council members” would be attending Dade Days.

At that point, Councilman Howard Tendrich chimed in and reminded the mayor he too was staying home and not going to the Tallahassee event. When Tendrich opined about the event being primarily a party, Stanczyk shifted her verbal assault in his direction.

[The ugly incident can be viewed via streaming media on the Village website. Go to http://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/content/streaming-media-archive then select the link to the Jan 18, 2012 Committee of the Whole meeting and scroll forward to 46 minutes and 16 seconds"]

Not only is the mayor’s bullying disrespectful, her assessment of the importance of attending Dade Days is off-base and underlines her own failure to secure any funding from state legislatures during her first year as Mayor of Palmetto Bay.

Dade Days IS a party. The event’s website touts the 2-day happening as a “…celebration of our community during the Florida Legislative Session..created to embrace our diverse cultural community.”

The time to visit Tallahassee and meet with our representatives is in the weeks prior to Dade Days, during the legislature’s early sessions. By the time Dade Days rolls around, much of the state’s available funding (if there is any in these challenging times) has already been allocated.

Dade Days - 2 day party to celebrate Florida State Legislature cultural heritage

Mayor Stanczyk may be comfortable spending the taxpayers’ money to attend the, “Paella Fest,” but she should withhold her caustic, misplaced criticism of any council member willing to stay home to meet with and listen to the residents.

The town hall meeting is open to all Palmetto Bay residents and will take place on Thursday, February 2, at 7pm at Christ Fellowship Church, 8900 Southwest 168th Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.

What are your thoughts on this?

Advocacy Group Hosts Seminar to Organize Palmetto Bay Crime Watch

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:12:57 +0000

County Crime Watch Director to Address Palmetto Bay Residents at Free Seminar

The Palmetto Bay Village Voice will host a town hall meeting and seminar on the formation and importance of neighborhood Crime Watch groups in the Village. The event will be held at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Road, in the 3rd Floor Palm Room at 7 PM on Thursday, January 19th. There is no charge, and all Palmetto Bay residents are encouraged to attend.

McGruff the Crime Dog - "Take a Bite out of Crime," Palmetto Bay

With recent reports of burglary and property crime on the rise in Palmetto Bay, this should be a topic of great interest to every home and business owner.

The featured speaker is Ms. Carmen Caldwell, the Executive Director of Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County since 2000. Caldwell oversees hundreds of neighborhood crime watch groups, and will address the basics of organizing a neighborhood Citizen’s Crime Watch. After her presentation, Ms. Caldwell will be on hand to answer any questions.

She will be introduced by Miami-Dade Police Commander Greg Truitt, who oversees the policing unit of the Village of Palmetto Bay. Palmetto Bay Village Voice (PBVV) is a non-partisan, objective source for community news. PBVV is a not-for-profit Florida corporation with the specific purpose to increase local government transparency and accountability through education and communication, and to promote active resident participation in the Village.

To learn more about PBVV, visit http://palmettobayvillagevoice.com/ or email info@PalmettoBayVillageVoice.org.

Environmental Community Workshop on October 29

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:53:15 +0000

Everglades Foundation environmental community workshop

Environment Florida, a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, will hold a Community Activist Workshop in Palmetto Bay, Florida, at the offices of the Everglades Foundation on Sat. Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is free and the event is open to the public, with a $10 donation at the door to defray the cost of training materials, staff, and food.

Environment Florida has partnered with the Florida Public Interest Group and The Public Interest Network to stage this unique training workshop. The Everglades Foundation, located at 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625, Palmetto Bay, Florida will serve as the host location.

Run by trainers affiliated with The Public Interest Network, the Activist Workshop will cover the best techniques for organizing fellow students and the broader community to take action.

Everglades Foundation Florida Public Interest Group community workshop

Trainers will discuss how to plan a community environmental campaign and develop the campaign’s goals, strategies, and tactics. Attendees will also learn ways to recruit volunteers and get residents plugged into the campaign.

The workshop is an opportunity to learn, share ideas, and connect with other environmentally-active citizens and activists from other causes.

Click HERE for more details and to register, or contact Jessie Miller at jmiller@publicinterestnetwork.org or 978-621-7367.

FLOW! Florida Licensing on Wheels

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:39:57 +0000

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will be providing a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement license, change a name or address on a driver licewnse, get an identification card, renew a vehicle registration, and purchase a specialty license plate.

Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) Mobile Unit

FLORIDA LICENSING ON WHEELS (FLOW)

Pinecrest Community Center
5855 SW 111 Street
Friday, November 4

9:30 am – 2:30 pm

For more information, please call 305-284-0900

To renew an expired or expiring license or to obtain a Florida Identification Card, you must bring a valid passport or certified birth certificate. Married females must bring a marriage license for name verification. Other requirements are a Social Security card or W-2 or 1099 Tax Form, and two proofs of residence including voter registration card, deed or rental receipts, and utility bills. Fees are based on services.

Commissioner Lynda Bell to Speak at Palmetto Bay Village Voice event

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:36:58 +0000

Miami Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell to Visit Palmetto Bay and Discuss Transparency in Local Government

The Palmetto Bay Village Voice (PBVV) will host a public event featuring Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell, Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00 PM at the Palmetto Bay Village Center located at Old Cutler Road and SW 184th Street.

Commissioner Bell will discuss transparency in municipal government. At the conclusion of her remarks, the audience may engage the Commissioner in an open question-and-answer session.

Elected in 2010, Bell is the commissioner for Miami Dade District 8, encompassing Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, and unincorporated areas of South Dade.

This is the second in an upcoming series of public events hosted by the Palmetto Bay Village Voice, a non-partisan group incorporated with the state of Florida with the specific purpose of increasing local government transparency and accountability through education and communication, and promoting active resident participation in the Palmetto Bay community.

Admission is free and is open to the public.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Learn more about the Palmetto Bay Village Voice (PBVV), and get involved! Click HERE to read the Miami Herald article, or visit the PBVV website at http://palmettobayvillagevoice.org/

Palmetto Bay Village Voice To Host Mayoral Forum on June 16, 2011

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:15:09 +0000

Palmetto Bay Village Voice is hosting a free mayoral forum between Carlos Gimenez and Julio Robaina on Thursday, June 16, 2011. All are welcome.

The Palmetto Bay Village Voice (pbvv) will host a mayoral forum between candidates Carlos Gimenez and Julio Robaina this coming Thursday, June 16th at 8:00 AM at the Palmetto Bay Village Center located at Old Cutler Road and SW 184th Street.

Both candidates have confirmed their attendance.

Admission is free, and coffee will be served. The forum will end promptly at 9:00 AM.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Learn more about the Palmetto Bay Village Voice and get involved! Click to read the Miami Herald article HERE

Court Orders Removal of Restrictions to School’s Expansion – Will the Village Comply?

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:16:32 +0000

Appellate Court - "clear and unambiguous" in instructions to Palmetto Bay

A Miami-Dade circuit court has reiterated its instructions to the Village of Palmetto Bay to remove two restrictive conditions placed on Palmer Trinity School, paving the way for the school’s expansion plans.

For those of you keeping the box scores of circuit and appellate court motions, that’s:

Palmer Trinity - 4 Palmetto Bay - 0

The ($17 million dollar) question remains:

Will the mayor and village council follow the court order?

If past behavior is any indication, the answer is:

“Probably not.”

In February, the court ruled in the school’s favor to remove two conditions from a village zoning resolution put in place last year. The conditions include capping student enrollment at 900, and enacting a 30-year moratorium on any further expansion. The school was also granted a request to limit what areas of its zoning application can be further reviewed.

In May, Palmetto Bay filed a motion asking the court to, “clarify” what will be addressed at an upcoming hearing in the Palmer Trinity expansion case. According to the village, the election of new village council members and staff changes means entire zoning resolution should be reconsidered — not just the two conditions.

That’s absurd…

Thankfully, the appellate division of the 11th judicial circuit court for Miami-Dade county sees it the same way. On June 1, the three-member panel of justices Joseph Farina, Joel Brown, and Norma Lindsey concurred – finding that the original opinion in this matter issued February 11 is, ”clear and unambiguous.”

Thousands of zoning issues are ruled upon each year by municipalities across the country. Imagine the delays and costs to taxpayers if unfavorable zoning hearings and ordinances could be challenged each time newly elected officials were sworn in, or new staff members were hired. Ordinances and resolutions are designed to transcend the individuals who enact them,for the sake of continuity, from one generation of residents to the next. The judges went on to say, “The Village of Palmetto Bay shall forthwith commence the required proceedings to remove the two quashed conditions from the Resolution or otherwise render those conditions ineffectual and take no further action that would be inconsistent with this Court’s prior Order of May 5, 2011 and this Order.”

How the mayor and council will respond to this latest court order is unknown. Four legal motions have been decided in the school’s favor, and the village has been admonished by the justices who ruled unanimously that Palmetto Bay, “…acted without substantial evidence” when it cut the Palmer Trinity enrollment cap and set a three-decade freeze on further growth. The triumvirate also referred to the village’s decisions as “arbitrary” and “unreasonable.”

Compounding the pressure on the village is a $17 million dollar lawsuit for damages filed by Palmer Trinity.

Isn’t it time to put aside any emotional and personal objections, and accept the court’s authority and this applicant’s legal rights? As a municipality, we do not have an endless pool of finances or resources to continue to challenge both the applicant and the courts.

Let’s hope the Mayor and council finally agree.

Eye On Palmetto Bay

Mayor Carlos Gimenez to Speak at Palmetto Bay Village Voice event

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AVOID THE AREA — Palmetto Bay Water Main Break Being Repaired

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Important County Charter Reform Questions on January 31st Ballot

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Mayor Bullies, Fails to Derail Town Hall Meeting

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Commissioner Lynda Bell to Speak at Palmetto Bay Village Voice event

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Court Orders Removal of Restrictions to School’s Expansion – Will the Village Comply?

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