I Love SIB
By Bari Auerbach

What do you love most about Sunny Isles Beach? Is it the beautiful beaches? Luxurious homes? Parks and community activities? A variety of shops and restaurants? Responsive city government? A great feeling of safety?

There’s “a lot to love” about life in Sunny Isles Beach thanks to progressive initiatives spearheaded by the City Commission, members of city staff and the Police Department who put their heart and soul into ensuring residents enjoy the highest quality of life.

Greatest Love of All

Mayor Norman Edelcup recently loved reporting this good news in his State of the City address: “The city’s financial condition is very secure and strong. This condition allowed us the ability to complete all of the scheduled capital improvement programs. The success of this administration during the year 2005, in terms of planning and fiscal responsibility, is reflected in the decisions by your City Commission for tax relief for the property owners of Sunny Isles Beach. This past year, our tax base was increased by 21% from the previous year to $3.9 billion. The Commission enacted a millage rate reduction from 3.35 to 2.95 per $1,000. This resulted in reduction of our city tax rate.”

Love for Learning

With so many younger families with children moving to Sunny Isles Beach, the goal to build a school within city limits has become a top priority. Making an investment in the future, the City Commission recently voted to increase an $8.5 million grant awarded to the Miami-Dade school district by another $1.5 million to help acquire a 2.1 acre site for a K-8 public school at 182nd Drive and North Bay Road. According to Mayor Norman Edelcup, rising land values created the need to increase the grant amount - but when it comes to creating a model city, many feel the value of having a first class school is “priceless.”

The “love of learning” can also be appreciated at a 7,500 square foot branch of the Miami-Dade County Library now open at Sunny Isles Beach Government Center. Highlights of the 2006 winter programs include adult ongoing programs such as the Sunny Isles Beach Branch Book Club; classes in computer and Internet basics; “Your Health and Your Wealth” seminars; youth reader groups; Valentine’s Day and President’s Day activities; a puppet theater; teen chess club and many more enriching activities. For more information, visit the city’s website www.sibfl.net

Cherishing Good & Welfare

The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department and City Commission love delivering on promises to maintain low crime rates, high profile traffic patrol, strict code enforcement and ongoing capital improvements.

Putting “safety first” along the beaches, the Commission recently approved four new modern lifeguard stands, bringing the total to five stands built to enhance swimming protection along with the watchful eyes of trained, full time lifeguards.

In the spirit of proactive protection, the Commission also recently approved an ordinance autonomous from Miami-Dade county’s, limiting the locations of where businesses can sell alcoholic beverages to one per shopping center; and mandating they must be at least 500 feet from houses of worship and schools. And if you didn’t love waiting on line for gas after Hurricane Wilma, you’ll be especially happy the Commission passed an ordinance requiring gas stations to install emergency electrical back-up generators.

For the love of aesthetically pleasing impressions, the Commission has also devoted a great deal of time, attention and budget funds to street landscape and lighting plans; Town Center conceptualizations; Sunny Isles Boulevard redevelopment; uniform signage for commercial establishments; and just recently, the Commission approved an award of $2.5 million in General Obligation Bond funds from the county to help pay for a planned $5.5 million storm water central island improvement project.

Irresistible Investments

As Sunny Isles Beach blossoms into the “American Riviera,” famous developers continue to carry on a “love affair” with the city, investing in the most desirable property on the ocean, the west side of Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Boulevard and attractive interior neighborhoods. Thanks to land development regulations and other zoning laws regulating Transfers of Development Rights (TDR’s), controlled development has yielded city-wide enhancement such as parks, art in public places, beach access points and generous contributions to support the city’s future school, beautification projects and other proactive civic endeavors.

Fun-Loving

To promote community unity, the city’s Cultural and Human Services Department is always planning entertaining and culturally enriching events for residents of all ages simply adore. From Sunny Serenade concerts and movie nights - to trips to see hit shows, the Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony concerts…From cheerleading, basketball and summer camp programs – to fabulous talent and ballroom dance contests…Sunny Isles Beach is the perfect place for girls and guys who just want to have fun!
A love for green, open space has also prompted the Commission to acquire land for parks. The new Town Center park at 17200 Collins Avenue is now one of the city’s most lovely assets - and soon, an active park with a Little League baseball field will be built adjacent to the public school planned for 182nd Drive and North Bay Road.

Marriage of Convenience

The city’s own shuttle bus service, paired with Metro-Dade transit buses creates the perfect marriage of “convenience and expediency.” The next best thing to a chauffeured limousine, residents love that the Sunny Isles Beach shuttle bus routes have been extended to seven days a week; and there are now two different routes including stops at the Aventura and Intracoastal Malls.

Other beloved city conveniences include having a U.S. Post Office at Government Center; a 24-hour Walgreens; great exercise facilities at Miami Beach Fitness; favorite Starbucks coffees; and of course the most enviable attraction virtually steps away from everyone’s front door: The beautiful beach!

Fond Farewells/Warm Welcome

This March, Sunny Isles Beach will love welcoming new City Manager John Szerlag, appointed by the Commission following the departure of former City Attorney Christopher Russo. For the past six years, Szerlag served as City Manager of Troy – a 35-square mile city in Michigan; population 85,000.

Former Deputy City Attorney Hans Ottinot has also been appointed City Attorney, replacing Lynn Dannheisser, who resigned after completing eight years of dedicated service to the city to join a private practice.

No Heart-Strings Attached

You’ve gotta’ love developers of the Da Vinci condominium for making a “perfect couple” of contributions to the city. First, they committed to widening double beach access points. The Da Vinci 27-story condominium soon to rise at 17141 Collins Avenue is located between two beach accesses [belonging to] Ocean Four on the south side and Jade Beach II on the north side. According to architect Kobi Karp, “We [plan to] make the beach accesses on the Ocean Four and Jade sides even better…In addition to beach access [points] that meet code, we’ll also dedicate an easement on both sides of the property that will add to Ocean Four and Jade -creating even wider access on either side of the [Da Vinci] to enhance our own property as well.”

Da Vinci developers also recently announced a $1 million donation to the future Sunny Isles Beach kindergarten through eighth grade public school. The generous donation was proffered during a Dec. 8, 2005 City Commission meeting just before the City Commission granted Da Vinci’s request to allow 100 percent tandem parking, in which two cars can fit in one spot, based on conditions including mandatory valet parking and an emergency generator.

Loving Couple

Sunny Isles Beach has one of the most romantic claims to fame thanks to a loving couple who might be setting a new record for “the longest marriage known to mankind,” Alberto and Isolina Jorge, the grandparents of Sunny Isles Beach Commissioner Danny Iglesias, recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of their wedding on Jan. 10, 1931 and received an honorary proclamation from the City stating: “The importance of a strong and united marriage and family cannot be overlooked in today’s society.”

Historical Romance

Take a stroll down the “History Hall” now at Government Center and you’ll love seeing the collection of Sunny Isles Beach historic pictures on display compiled by city historian Richard C. Schulman.

Last year, the City Commission also approved a “20-year Time Capsule” to be opened on February 5, 2025. This stainless steel capsule was built into the interior wall of the David Samson Commission Chambers.

Perfect Match

Sunny Isles Beach and Netanya, Israel are now “Sister Cities” following the signing of an agreement on May 19, 2005. The Mayor of Netanya, Miriam Fierberg Ikar along with Consul General Dr. Yitschak Ben Gad visited Sunny Isles Beach for several days of planned ceremonies along with a beautiful boat parade to commemorate the start of this special mutually beneficial municipal relationship.

Love at First ‘Site’

The late Mayor David Samson, who originally suggested 180th Street and Collins Avenue would be the ideal location for the new Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, certainly picked the “right site.” Now, the city is about to mark its first anniversary since moving from an RK Shopping Center into the magnificent four-story, 58,000 square foot building housing offices of the City Commission, city staff and Police Department as well as a Miami-Dade library branch and U.S. Post Office. The public is welcome to attend Commission meetings at Government Center in chambers named after the man who truly loved leading Sunny Isles Beach: David P. Samson.

Love Is in the Air

While there’s already a lot to love about Sunny Isles Beach, the good news is “more allure is in store!” As Mayor Norman Edelcup, recently re-elected unopposed, and members of the Commission, who also have the city’s “vote of confidence” continue striving to put the best interests of residents first, their “affection for perfection” is sure to guarantee ongoing efforts to perpetuate the renaissance of the city and good reason for residents to share the heartfelt sentiment: “I love SIB!”

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