State of the City Address
By Mayor Norman S. Edelcup

Dear Residents,
The Charter of our City provides that the Mayor present a State of the City message on an annual basis, in January. The intention behind this requirement is one that I bring to the Office of Mayor, a free flow of information and, most importantly, an explanation as to why we do things the way we do and the meaning of the items and issues that come before your City Commission.

In this regard and in that spirit, I can tell you with confidence that the state of our City is excellent. Our financial condition is stronger than it has ever been, due to proper oversight and forward thinking management. The beginning of this past year saw the kickoff of our
ambitious $40 million dollar Capital Improvements Program. Most notable was the grand opening of the city-owned Tony Roma's Restaurant and the commencement of the construction of the new City Hall. A course has been set to moderate and control
development (utilizing new and developing tools to preserve open space) and to give an incentive to those areas in need of redevelopment, particularly Sunny Isles Boulevard. On a more somber note, this year was marked with the passing of one of our founding fathers and the leading force in the formation of our city - our first Mayor, David Samson. Much has been said about David's tenure and history as an activist, however, one thing is for certain - without his diligence, foresight, and vision, this city would have never been created. In keeping with his wishes, the City continues to move forward, at an extraordinary pace, I might add.

I am honored to have become your Mayor, unopposed, avoiding the need for a January election process. The City Commission has commenced on a program centered on public participation and discussion regarding the complex matters that come before us on a regular basis. It is my intent to continue to educate the public on the issues, as the Commission addresses them, whether that be at Commission meetings, workshops, informal settings, or individually in our offices. It is the duty of the City Commission, especially the Mayor as the leader, to see that a participatory process is followed.
This process is particularly important because of the ongoing development projects taking place in our city. Controlled development has been a theme of mine since I was first elected Commissioner, and it will continue throughout my tenure as your Mayor. We are about to complete the zoning for the Town Center area, which we hope will begin
the process of redeveloping Sunny Isles Boulevard and eventually, the retail sector north to 172nd Street. We will be deliberate and careful in making our decisions, keeping your concerns in mind. We all want the same result - a beautiful city with high quality
commercial and residential development and an excellent quality of life for which we can all be proud.

Streetscape improvements, one of the components of the Capital Improvements Program, have begun. Soon you will see the replacement of all of our benches and trash receptacles throughout the city. Also, streetlights will be replaced along 159th Street and 174th Street, and eventually, as redevelopment occurs, utility wires will be undergrounded along Collins Avenue, and the decorative lighting with the ability to house our banners and holiday lights
will also be installed. Sunny Isles Boulevard will be transformed into a fitting "entranceway" to our city. Road improvements, funded through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the City, will commence simultaneously with redevelopment proposals for the properties along that badly deteriorated corridor.

After successfully completing the stormwater project in the Golden Shores area, we are now working on final plans for the Central Island Stormwater Improvement Project. The Central Island area encompasses the west side of the city, south of 183rd Street and north of 174th Street, between North Bay Road and Atlantic Boulevard. This project, estimated to cost between 5 and 6 million dollars, is the single-largest drainage improvement project to be undertaken in the city. We will apply for a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), continue to seek funding from the State of Florida, and utilize our stormwater fund for this project. We expect the plans to be completed and out to bid by June and work to commence by the end of this year. This construction project will take approximately 18 to 24 months. There will be a public informational meeting prior to commencement of the work.

As all of you know, the demographics of our City have been changing. We are transforming from a retirement/resort community to a family-oriented, year-round residential area. When our city was formed in 1997 there were barely a few hundred school-aged children residing here. Today, the school-aged population is about fifteen hundred (1,500). Groups of parents have approached me and the other Commissioners to assist in the establishment of a school that would give priority to Sunny Isles Beach residents. More
than just a school, the parents desire a higher level of standards than is currently the norm in public schools. Although, the Miami-Dade County School System is burdened with huge overcrowding issues and deteriorating school facilities, they have instituted a new direction, one that streamlines their processes, provides higher standards, and gives priority to Sunny Isles Beach residents. We will compare the public school's proposal to those offered by charter schools, and make our decision.

To that end, we are in negotiations with both the public school system, to create a unique public school setting, and charter school companies. The issue here in Sunny Isles Beach is more complex than in other communities, due to the limited amount of land available to accommodate a school. We are diligently working with property owners to acquire land in the areas where it would be appropriate to locate a school. The land area must be within
close proximity to a playing field, gymnasium, and playground, without the traffic congestion that would result on Collins Avenue or Sunny Isles Boulevard. As this important issue progresses, we will keep you informed.

We have made tremendous progress with regard to park improvements and expansion over the past year. We have purchased the land next to the existing Golden Shores pocket
park, which has doubled the size of that park. We are also in negotiations with an adjoining property owner for additional land, which would further expand that park. Once we have assembled as much land as is feasible, we will redesign the park to fully utilize the space available and address the needs of the area residents.

The previously approved plans for the Active Park have been totally changed and expanded, as the census statistics reflect an accelerated growth of the youth population. These numbers far exceeded the expectations from four (4) years ago when the plans were first set in motion. Fortunately, we had not proceeded with bidding and construction of a facility that would have been inadequate. The new, proposed community center would be
substantially larger and include a gymnasium. The park will still hold a youth baseball field and playground, and school-aged children can use these facilities, should we be able to build a school adjacent to the park.

Completion of the new City Hall, while scheduled for the spring of 2005, may very well be done ahead of schedule. The revenue from the Tony Roma's Restaurant is projected to cover approximately sixty percent (60%) of the operating costs on the new government
facility. We have received a grant for the build-out of the library branch to be located in City Hall, and we have been given verbal approval that there will be a branch of the post office conveniently located on the ground level of City Hall.

Our police department has continued to grow and progress during this past year. A Master Plan Study identifying long-term needs of the department was completed and will begin to be implemented during this next calendar year. The City Manager and Police Chief are going through the Plan to determine which recommendations to implement. One of the recommendations is to compile and adopt our own City of Sunny Isles Beach Police Manual and achieve state accreditation for our department. Accreditation is a highly
regarded credential that is a recognized national level of excellence in police service, so it is befitting that our highly regarded department have this credential. Much like my Certified Public Accountant credential. Although not required, it has added much stature to my business and financial career. It is particularly pleasing to have heard the words of the consultants who stated that this was one of the most professional, responsive, cooperative
departments that they have assisted. This is particularly notable in light of the fact that they have conducted public safety studies and master planning for over one hundred twenty-five (125) communities.

With the commencement of the new transportation tax, the City is in the process of expanding its shuttle bus transportation program. In that regard, last fall we ordered our first customized bus, meeting the specific needs of the City of Sunny Isles Beach. This new bus will be very comfortable, with many amenities for our citizens. It is due to arrive at the end of January. At that time we will evaluate the bus and then move forward to replace the other buses. You can look forward to an expansion of the bus route system, later this
year.

An exciting new undertaking was presented to us towards the end of 2003 - the establishment of a sister-cityship with the city of Netanya, Israel. Netanya is a similar resort/oceanfront community on the Mediterranean. It has beautiful parks and recreation
facilities in addition to new hotels and condominiums. We look forward to making this experience a mutually beneficial one.For the first time, you may read this message on the City's website - www.sibfl.net, which we launched in February of last year. Also, most recently we added access to the City's Geographical Information System (GIS) to the website. Property information and maps are now available for viewing. We will continue to upgrade and expand our use of technology to better serve our residents.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I believe that my vision of our City depends upon leadership. Leadership means listening to all of the different sides, taking charge, and then doing the right thing. Accomplishing this requires each of us to accept a personal
responsibility toward making Sunny Isles Beach a better place to live and raise a family, or visit. Get involved, present your side in an appropriate manner, and you will be heard! There is an old adage that says, "The greatest wealth of a community lies not in the
amount of money in the bank, but the quality of its leadership." I pledge to promote leadership in our government policies, educational needs, and our neighborhoods and businesses.

A happy, healthy, and prosperous new year to all.



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