S h h h !
City raises fines for construction noise violations
By Bari Auerbach

“Peace and quiet” are two of the most appreciated amenities in residential communities – so to help ensure developers don’t violate the city’s construction noise ordinance, the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission recently voted to impose stricter and higher monetary fines…First offense - a minimum fine of $10,000; second offense - a minimum fine of $20,000; third offense - a stop work order shall be issued by the City Manager or designee until the violations are corrected and all fines are paid.

After some developers expressed concerns that limiting hours of construction could create undue hardships and additional expenses, the Commission agreed to modify permitted work hours delineated in the ordinance

According to Assistant City Manager Jorge Vera, “Standard time construction activity is permitted between 7 a.m. and 6:30 pm Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. During daylight savings time, construction activity is permitted between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. No construction activities are permitted on Sunday and on certain holidays.”

Mayor Norman Edelcup added, “To ensure better compliance with the noise ordinance, we added a half hour in the morning and about an hour and a half to two hours in the evening for construction [activity] time - with the proviso that the heavier penalties will certainly come into play if these extended hours are violated…We picked hours we felt wouldn’t be too intrusive to neighboring communities…We have a desire for peace and quiet - but at same time [we want] to allow construction activity to move forward efficiently.”

Commissioner Lewis J. Thaler noted, “By giving [developers] the right to work longer it shortens the amount of time the noise will be there. I believe we’ve balanced times and holidays and they know they will have significant fines if they go over the [permitted] hours.”

Henry Kay, president of the Sunny Isles Beach Citizens’ Coalition observed, “Nobody likes noise…unfortunately we all have to live with things we don’t like to the best of our ability…When the [construction noise] fine was $250, a developer would work until 10 p.m. to get it done…Now the $20,000 [fine] has become an issue…As much as we would like peace and quiet, we [currently] have traffic blocked [due to construction]. My belief is the Commission has taken the most intelligent step to go down the ‘middle road’ taking the proper steps to protect us from transgressions beyond the [construction] time frames.”

Following approval of the amended construction noise ordinance at the March 16 City Commission meeting, it was announced the second reading will take place on April 11 at the next regular Commission meeting; and that staff would further research the feasibility of setting appropriate decibel level limits for construction noise in Sunny Isles Beach.

Make some noise for the library…now, Shhhh!
This year, April 2 through April 8 will be Miami-Dade Public Library System appreciation week in the City of Sunny Isles Beach. At the March 16 City Commission meeting, Mayor Norman Edelcup read the following proclamation:

“The Miami-Dade Public Library System offers something for everyone; and libraries are a key player in the national discourse of intellectual freedom, equity, access and narrowing the digital divide. Libraries are an integral part of the American dream - offering places of opportunity, education, self-help and lifelong learning; therefore playing a vital role in providing Miami Dade residents with the resources they need to live, learn and work in the 21st century.

The Miami-Dade Public Library System is a challenging and dynamic place and librarians are the ultimate search engine helping people of all ages find the information they need in print and on-line…The awareness and support may be increased by raising visibility and communicating why libraries are unique and valuable and how librarians provide information and skills needed to succeed throughout life.”

The “love of learning” can 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 calendar 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; holiday events; a puppet theater; teen chess club and many more enriching activities. For more information, visit the city’s website www.sibfl.net

‘We hear you loud and clear’
Raising the bar for responsive government, the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission is moving forward with the following initiatives based on listening to “what the people want” relating to education, transportation and hurricane disaster preparation...

School slated to open August ‘08
Sunny Isles Beach is now well on its way to acquiring a kindergarten through eighth grade public school to meet the needs of the community’s growing population of families with children.

City Attorney Hans Ottinot explained, “Almost two years ago, the City of Sunny Isles Beach entered into an informal partnership with the Miami-Dade School Board to construct a kindergarten through eighth grade public school. Through numerous negotiation sessions, the partnership has developed into a firm commitment to construct the first school in the city.

“The inter-local agreement [between the City and School Board] reflects the commitment made in order to construct a school for the benefit of the residents of the city. Essentially, the agreement outlines the responsibility of the city and the School Board with respect to acquiring the proposed school site and the construction of the school. The School Board has committed to opening the school’s doors in August of 2008. It is anticipated construction will commence in June 2007.”

The School Board has initiated eminent domain proceedings to acquire the school site and order of taking trials are scheduled for May relating to property located between 182nd Drive and 183rd Street at Atlantic Boulevard.

Free rides to Mount Sinai
The City Commission recently adopted a resolution approving an agreement with Logisticare for the provision of transportation to Mount Sinai Medical Center for Sunny Isles Beach residents not otherwise eligible for free transportation.

According to the City’s Cultural and Human Services Director Susan Simpson, Logisticare is a transportation service provider already contracted by Mount Sinai to provide transportation to patients with authorized visits. Reservations will be required no later than 24 hours in advance. Service to passengers in wheelchairs will also be provided utilizing a separate vehicle and will require 24 hour reservations as well. The transportation service is scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will be available as of April 3. For more information, phone: 305.792.1706.

‘Power surge’
After recently passing an ordinance requiring gas stations operating within city limits to have adequate alternative energy sources including emergency generators, the Commission adopted a companion ordinance created to require owners and operators of high rise buildings with a height of 75-feet or more to also have alternate sources of energy including generators. The generators must be sufficient to operate at least one elevator unit per high rise building to ensure uninterrupted services to the public during a declared state of emergency.

Yet another proactive effort relating to hurricane damage prevention and beautification is a recently adopted ordinance amending the city’s code relating to the utility requirements of new construction and rehabilitated structures – providing for the installation of underground service facilities on all new construction within the Town Center District.

“It has been a general policy for new construction on Collins Avenue [to have underground service facilities] and this requirement should also apply to new projects in the Town Center district,” Mayor Norman Edelcup explained. “This won’t apply to projects that have already received development approval - only new projects going forward [in the Town Center district encompassing Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard and to developments] adding units or additional FAR (floor area ratio).”

‘Listen and learn’
While many times stories from investigative news sources focus on problems a “failure to communicate” can cause between the public and elected officials, Sunny Isles Beach is proud to buck the trend. Beyond the accessibility of members of the City Commission at Government Center, public hearings at Commission meetings provide residents with the opportunity to express their opinions and viewpoints. Ultimately, “when people talk – the Commission listens’ to learn what’s on citizen’s mind about important issues - before making up theirs.

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