'Seven years of progress'
City's anniversary time to reflect on accomplishments
By Bari Auerbach

Sunny Isles Beach recently commemorated its 7th anniversary since incorporating on June 16, 1997 - but what gives the city cause to celebrate year-round are the magnitude of capital improvements and progressive initiatives initiated by the City Commission that are serving to create a higher quality of life for residents.

"At one point in time, this area was infested with seedy rundown motels.Drug dealing and prostitution were taking place right under our windows.That's all gone and today we have beautiful new buildings, improved shopping, wonderful restaurants, safe streets and we will continue to encourage this kind of positive growth." The late David Samson, the first Mayor of Sunny Isles Beach, made this astute observation during a State of the City Address highlighting great strides made by the city following the landslide vote in favor of incorporation.

Just recently, the city's current Mayor Norman Edelcup recognized members of the community who played a part in the process of incorporation and the vision to make Sunny Isles Beach "the jewel of Miami-Dade County."

At the June 17, 2004 City Commission meeting Edelcup noted, "It's good to see people here in the audience and on the [Commission] dais who participated in the formation of the city. Our first Mayor David Samson certainly got the city off to a fine start.We'd like to thank all those responsible for bringing this city to where we are today on its seventh birthday and hopefully, the best is yet to come!"

Commenting on the city's "extreme makeover," Edelcup shared just some of the improvements he feels help make Sunny Isles Beach the preferred community in South Florida: The transformation of old motels into luxurious condominiums and condo/hotels; changing from a transient to a residential community; the addition of public parks and beach accesses throughout the city; local city government becoming more responsive to the needs of residents; enhanced public safety; free bus transportation; new lush landscaping; and citywide beautification projects.

Capital Improvements
Following approval of the city's first formal Capital Improvement Program, an eight-year plan was developed to institute approximately $40 million worth of public improvements mostly for parks, beautification and infrastructure.

Some of the more significant projects already underway or yet to come include the community center and park development at the active park site on 181st Street and North Bay Road; landscaping of 159th Street; and streetscape improvement for Collins Avenue. The city is also on the road to enhancing its shuttle bus service thanks to a municipal component of the recently passed half-cent transportation sales tax.

Yet another much needed improvement was made in Golden Shores to address flooding problems. "The Golden Shores storm water drainage improvement project was the single largest infrastructure improvement effort every undertaken by the city," said City Manager Christopher Russo. "Now, key intersections in the Golden Shores area which had long been subject to both chronic and lasting flooding will drain within a reasonable time frame."

'Luxury On the Rise'
"Our landscape reflects luxury construction and high-rise oceanfront buildings, based on zoning that takes into account people's lives by providing for tall and thinner buildings with view corridors and unparalleled beach access points throughout our city," Russo notes in the Sunny Isles Beach City Guide. "In addition to luxury development of residential, condominium and single family homes, there are also new, modern hotels rising along with a steady changing and upgrading of retail, dining and entertainment venues."
In keeping with philosophy of "controlled development," following adoption of the city's Land Development Regulations establishing zoning codes autonomous from Miami-Dade County's, a separate zoning district was carved out for the "Town Center" district.

At the May 6, 2004 City Commission meeting, an ordinance was approved relating to the creation of the Town Center district. The zoning regulations outlined will dictate the shape of residential and commercial development to come for the area encompassing the west side of Collins Avenue from 172nd Street to and inclusive of Sunny Isles Boulevard.

'Remarkable Renaissance'
Feature stories about the renaissance that has taken place in Sunny Isles Beach since incorporating have appeared in many leading publications including South Florida CEO, the business magazine of Miami-Dade, Broward and the Palm Beaches. Focusing on the phenomenal rise of new multi-million dollar developments, the City Report noted, ".Such is progress and Sunny Isles Beach is in the thick of it - to the tune of thousands of residential units coming online in the next several years. The city's renaissance translates into billions of dollars invested in a strip of beachfront only 2.5 miles long and three blocks wide."

The City Report also included a "who's who" list of prestigious developers recognizing the potential and allure of Sunny Isles Beach including the Trumps of Williams Island; Donald J. Trump and the Dezer family; Turnberry Associates; Jorge Perez of The Related Group of Florida; Cornerstone Premier Communities; Edgardo DeFortuna of Fortune International Realty; and J. Milton & Associates.

According to Bill Lone, executive director of the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association and president of the Renaissance Economic Development Council, "Sunny Isles Beach has been a favorite vacation spot for decades, but its recent transformation has been nothing short of amazing. Since incorporating in 1997, the city has reinvented itself with aging beachside motels giving way to luxury high-rise condominiums and elegant hotels."

'Beautiful Features'
The Guide to Sunny Isles Beach highlights the exclusive, multi-million dollar developments already built or soon to rise along the east side of Collins Avenue as well as a host of community amenities making Sunny Isles Beach one of "South Florida's most affluent and livable cities."

From beach access points, new parks and a Cultural and Human Services Department planning a variety of events for residents of all ages to enjoy - to a highly visible police department, shuttle bus service and sweeping capital improvement/ beautification projects, the introduction explains how the decision to incorporate has resulted in increased services and a higher quality of life - without any major increase in taxes.

"Sunny Isles Beach is quickly becoming not only a symbol of the renaissance of the beautiful east coast of South Florida, but also an international destination," Russo notes in the City Guide. "Our city's prime location, with two miles of renourished beach on one side and the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway on the other, has resulted in the highest proportionate level of real estate investment activity in all of South Florida - the last section of the Gold Coast to be totally redeveloped."

'Safety First'
Crime in Sunny Isles Beach has dramatically decreased since the city's Police Department, now under the leadership of Chief Fred Maas, became operational shortly after the city incorporated. City leaders often say they're proud to have "the premier Police Department in all of South Florida" routinely receiving prestigious law enforcement awards.

High visibility combined with all-time low crime rates and a philosophy of community policing have also served to build confidence and bolster property values in Sunny Isles Beach as more and more families keep moving in attracted by the appeal of safety, security and the beauty of living right by the ocean.

'Growing Richer and Younger'
Formerly predominately populated by retirees, the largest age group in Sunny Isles Beach is now between 25 to 34 and the second largest age group is 35 to 44, according to the 2000 Census report. Today, the city is welcoming a steadily increasing population of younger families, which has led to the development of new city parks and recreational opportunities.

"Prior to the city's incorporation, there were neither parks nor community programs in the city," said Susan Simpson, director of the Cultural and Human Services Department. "With the purchase of land, development of parks, and addition of staff, the city now has four parks and is well on the way to developing the fifth.

"As more staff was hired, more programs were initiated. The city now has an annual summer camp program, a Cultural Arts Program, and often over 200 people attend Serenade Concerts in the park. In addition, several special events are offered throughout the year that include an Easter Egg Hunt, Family Fun Day, bike rodeo, a Halloween event including a haunted house, and a Holiday Park Lighting Ceremony.

"One day each month, residents can come in to City Hall to get their blood pressure and blood sugar screened by qualified nurses from Parkway Regional Medical Center, and a bookmobile now tours the city three days per week to provide library service.

"We look forward to continuing to expand service to the community with the addition of a community center where a variety of programs will be offered for all residents of Sunny Isles Beach."

'Enhanced Communication'
"The city has several vehicles of communications to inform the public about City happenings like Commission meetings, cultural events, free concerts, summer camp, etc.," explained Alyce Hanson, Administrative Services Director. "These vehicles of communication - the Community Newspapers' Sunny Isles Beach Sun, government access television channel 20; and city flyers are a great way for local residents to keep informed. The newest vehicle of communications, the City's website, www.sibfl.net, reaches further than any of the others as it's accessible worldwide.

"Sunny Isles Beach has many residents who live here only part of the year. Through the website they can easily keep up on what's happening - whether they're physically in the city or not. The website is a vehicle for the city to provide information all in one place. Currently the website provides information such as:
. Information about local elected officials.
. Hurricane preparedness.
. A city calendar, listing meetings, concerts, summer camp, upcoming cultural events, etc.
. Maps to show "Where in the world is Sunny Isles Beach?"
. Agendas for upcoming City Commission meetings.
. Copies of ordinances and resolutions that have been adopted by the City Commission.
. Many of the articles that are published in the Sunny Isles Beach Sun.

"In an effort to provide seamless e-Government services, www.sibfl.net includes links to other governmental agencies. For example, the city is serviced by Miami-Dade County's library system. On the City's website homepage by clicking on Library Services (or through Quickfind, clicking on Library), you can find the address of the closest county library branch, and find out the schedule and locations of the Bookmobile that comes to Sunny Isles Beach. Also, on the Library Services page, under Library Card, you can click on the link to the County's website to sign up for a library card.

"Links to other services provided by Miami-Dade County or the State of Florida include paying a parking ticket, ordering recycling bins, registering to vote, renewing an auto tag, getting a hunting fishing license, and finding/adopting a pet - just click on Online Services on the city's website homepage."

'Good Work Public Works'
The following initiatives are on Public Works Director Jim Watts' list of "most impressive improvements":

1. Golden Shores Paving & Drainage
We completed a $4 million project in Golden Shores. All streets were brought up to original elevation and widened to meet current state law. The drainage was lined to make the system waterproof so the pump station is not over burdened during rainstorms. Atlantic Boulevard is not connected to any drainage system and simply flooded when it rained. We drilled four gravity wells, which run approximately ninety feet deep. The four wells displace just under 6,000 gallons of water per minute. The project was contracted to the Redland Company out of Homestead. Oversight of the project was conducted by, Beiswenger, Hoch and Associates of North Miami Beach. The project was completed for only one quarter of one percent over budget, which is unheard of.

2. News Racks
The City decided to rid itself of all the various size, shape and colors of metal and plastic news racks found along Collins Ave. A new City ordinance was issued and once passed into law, we ordered 96 custom metal, black racks. We then leased the racks to the venders who choose to pay $25 per rack per year. We quickly ran out of racks and have just ordered 60 additional racks that should be delivered in sixty days. All racks conform to our master streetscape plan for Collins Avenue.

3. Beach Access Points
An extra special effort is being made to keep all beach access points neat and clean. Also for the residents living in the south section, we have partially installed a shower at the beach end of the 160th Street access.

'Reducing Speed/Heightening Compliance'
In response to requests from the citizens of Golden Shores, the city's Code Enforcement and Licensing Department presented an ordinance to the City Commission reducing the speed limit in the area from 30 MPH to 20 MPH. in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of residents.

A Multi Family Use Program was also established focusing on eliminating all unauthorized uses in the Golden Shores area specifically dealing with illegal rentals and sub divisions of single-family residences. The program has brought numerous illegal structures into compliance.

The Code Enforcement and Licensing Department has also targeted several areas of the City for enforcement activity focused on property maintenance issues. The City's property maintenance ordinances are aimed at promoting the aesthetic environment throughout the community. Staff has focused on some of the older shopping plazas in an effort to continue to beautify the City. As a result, buildings have been re-painted, landscaping has been added and even parking lots have been repaved and re-striped.

Further efforts have been initiated to ensure strict enforcement of all provisions of city property maintenance codes, evidenced on many vacant lots pending development

'The Best is Yet to Come'
Construction is now well underway for the new Sunny Isles Beach Government Center; new parks will soon be enhancing the city; even more luxurious multi-million dollar developments are on the rise; following passage of a Town Center ordinance, a "Mizner Park" type ambiance is anticipated for Sunny Isles Boulevard and the west side of Collins Avenue; and in the near future, the city is hoping to acquire land to build a charter elementary school.

And so, in just seven short years, Sunny Isles Beach has compiled a long list of city-wide accomplishments to be proud of, fulfilling the late Mayor David Samson's promise to create the "the jewel of Miami-Dade County" - and now residents are looking forward to seeing Mayor Norman Edelcup's prediction come to fruition: "The best is yet to come!"


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