‘Summer summary’
By Bari Auerbach

In case you missed recent Sunny Isles Beach City Commission meetings or didn’t have a chance to read your Sunny Isles Beach Sun Community Newspaper, this “summer summary” should help you catch up on important zoning decisions affecting future development, as well as good news about lower taxes and projects designed to enhance quality of life.

Lower Taxes

In keeping with state-mandated tax reductions, next fiscal year’s $22.1 million preliminary budget for the City of Sunny Isles Beach features a proposed lower tax rate – dropping 19 percent from $2.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $2.398. More good news is property value assessments have increased by 12 percent (up from $251,450 to $324,735).
To offset decreased revenues, the City Commission may approve budget cuts created by reducing employee positions; however staff members could still qualify for a three percent salary increase and bonuses for promoting cost efficiency. Other proposed cuts include less extravagant fireworks displays for the city’s annual anniversary celebration; eliminating holiday lighting at Samson Park; scaling back landscaping costs; and possibly putting the wireless island project on hold.
Still focused on “making the best even better,” the Commission could also approve increasing the budget’s allocation for capital improvements by as much as 94 percent (over $30 million up from $15.6 million), funded mostly by impact fees paid by developers. Projects slated include drainage enhancements, undergrounding of utilities and upgrades to Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard as well as Town Center Park. Special budget meetings will be held at Government Center in September.

Public Safety

While budget cuts may reduce administrative positions within the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, Chief Fred Maas maintains residents will not see a decrease in police presence. And now, thanks to a new automation system enhancing public safety, response times to calls are expected to be expedited.

At the July 19 City Commission meeting, Capt. Mike Grandinetti explained. “We went before the Commission and approval was granted for the funding of this project - allocated through the Police Department’s federal forfeiture funds. [Thanks to] the diligence and hard work of our project manager and everyone else involved we were able to complete this project somewhere between four and seven months early and approximately $30,000 under budget.
“This automation project consisted of four major modules: Our computer dispatch system; our mobile computer terminals for laptops in police cars; our mobile field reports giving officers the ability to write reports directly from the police cars; and our record management system.”
“This is a tremendous system [helping to ensure] the safety of officers,” Chief Maas said. “It can give them a ‘heads up’ as to what they’re facing...We thank the Commission and I’m sure residents will be happy because there was no cost - not one penny for taxpayers.”
Facilitating a rapid response time for fire rescue service is another one of the city’s top priorities - so this summer, it was announced the next great thing to come for residents’ health and welfare will be an expanded two-story fire station. The new station will be constructed at 172nd Street and Collins Avenue at the site of the existing station considered “relatively old and small - making it difficult to serve the needs of the community.”

Honors and Accolades

Over the summer, the city recognized individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to Sunny Isles Beach.
At the July 19 City Commission meeting, it was announced the beach access point at 180th and Collins Avenue will be dedicated in honor of Trump towers development partner Michael Dezer and family. The honor was bestowed in appreciation of the Dezers’ “dedication to the city, outstanding vision, leadership and contributions as hoteliers, developers and philanthropists supporting humanitarian causes in Sunny Isles Beach, the U.S. and Israel.”
The Commission also proclaimed July 18 as “Mary Lee day” to honor the owner of Christine Lee’s restaurant, which recently moved to Gulfstream Park. Lee’s civic contributions included donating free food to residents of Marion Towers as well as police and fire departments in the wake of hurricane Wilma.
In June, the city expressed appreciation to the Sunflower Society, once again donating $5,000 to sponsor children to attend the Sunny Isles Beach summer day camp program.
“Every year the Sunflower society has contributed to our summer camp program providing scholarship funds to children who could otherwise not attend,” said Susan Simpson, director of the city’s Cultural and Human Services Department.

Going Green

Always seeking to glean more green space, this summer the City Commission began negotiations to purchase yet another parcel of land to be used for open space and park purposes on the northwest corner of Collins Avenue and 164th Street.
At the July 19 City Commission meeting, City Manager John Szerlag was also pleased to announce a grant award of $200,000 from the Florida Recreation Assistance program has been extended for the development of Pelican Community Park on North Bay Road - scheduled to open in September adjacent to the new public school now under construction.

Progress towards the goal to see more green can also be measured by two new parks coming to 19200 Collins Avenue (Heritage Park); and a one acre site at the southwest corner of Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard (Bella Vista Bay Park) a potential water taxi site.

Growing Younger

Next summer, Sunny Isles Beach kids will be looking forward to “back to school time” when the city’s first public school opens in August ’08. A gala groundbreaking ceremony was held in May for the school, shining a spotlight on the city’s younger demographics and the most desirable amenities families with children are looking for.
According to the groundbreaking event program, “State School BB1 will open in 2008 with facilities for 1,624 new student stations. This beautiful school will host students from pre-kindergarten to the 8th grade on a landmark site that will truly make the school unique.
“The school includes a four-story classroom building and two-story administration, media center and cafeteria/auditorium...supporting the site are three levels of raised parking. The school will share a special use agreement with the City of Sunny Isles Beach to have shared use of the facilities with a [city] park across the street (Pelican Community Park).
“This is a cooperative venture between the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The construction management firm is the MCM Corporation and the project architect is SBLM Architects, PC.”

What’s Developing

Over the summer, the term “mixed use” was often heard at Commission meetings, highlighting developers’ progressive approach when it comes to satisfying diverse seasonal and year-round needs.
“Mixed-use” is a new mantra for properties rising on Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard combining residential, retail and office space elements. And on the horizon, ushering in a landmark change, the building replacing the Rascal House restaurant will feature condos, “tower townhomes” and a gourmet market.
Recently, the City Commission denied an appeal by Publix Supermarket, Inc., suing the city over interpretation of a “submerged land” ordinance.

According to Mayor Norman S. Edelcup, the city’s submerged land ordinance was originally drafted to protect property owners. “What we’re talking about is if platted land eroded it would still be considered part and parcel of above-ground land.

“We know this case will continue on...It’s apparent Publix will attempt to defy the will of the city and people who don’t want to see its Comprehensive Plan increase in density. There has to be a limit when you have to say no to a developer.”

City Attorney Hans Ottinot added, “Our [city] code never permitted this conduct - that you can go out and buy land under water that is not within a platted land and use it for density.”

Quiet Zone

A noise ordinance adopted by the City Commission was intended to help residents enjoy “peace and quiet” – but recently, a “noise issue” arising between Ocean Four and Florida Ocean Club condominiums brought up the dilemma of how to handle the exhaust fans buildings are required to have.
If you were wondering “what happened next?” after the agenda item was deferred for further study - an independent engineering firm was retained to provide an analysis. According to City Manager John Szerlag it was determined, “The best solution is to have four fans that currently face seaward run continuously with the other 18 hooked up to CO2 censor running intermittently.” Subsequently, language was added to the city’s noise ordinance excluding intermittent exhaust fans.

More Fun

If you missed sharing in the city’s 10th anniversary festivities – throughout August, you’ll still have a chance to join in more fun activities being planned by the Cultural and Human Services Department - from excursions to Jungle Island and a Miami Spice dinner – to a teen skate day.
The city’s summer camp program was a big success again this year - and at the library located in Government Center, there are always ongoing children’s programs including kid’s book discussion groups, crafts, magic shows, reading parties, puppet shows and yoga classes.

Atlantic Isles Improvements

In July, the City Commission voted in favor of a special assessment for residents of Atlantic Isles. The assessment, totaling over $1 million, will help fund the installation of a central sewer system in order to eliminate septic tanks and “bring the island into the 21st century.” The work is expected to commence next spring and be completed by the fall of 2008.
According to a recent Herald article, the estimated cost for the entire project is $4.6 million. As part of the project, Sunny Isles Beach will conduct and pay for the drainage work, undergrounding of utilities and installation of street lights, while the city of North Miami Beach will be replacing a water main at no additional cost to property owners.

Pier Pressure

Just recently, NBC 6 local news featured a story about the Newport Fishing Pier in Sunny Isles Beach. Built in 1936, the half-mile long pier was designated a historic site in 1982 and has long been a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts and sightseers.
According to the news report, “The pier has been closed since hurricane Wilma and the city is seeking state financial help to get the 70-year-old landmark back in shape.
“Deemed too dangerous to repair after the hurricane, the only part of the pier that was open to fisherman to put their lines in was the same water open to swimmers. The city shut down the pier completely on June 28...The repair cost is $4 million and may be more, according to the man who leases the pier from the state of Florida.

"It is a $4 million job to get it repaired," Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman S. Edelcup said. "We feel that, since the state does own it, that we should be able to seek state funding."

“[The city] sent a letter to the governor requesting the funds. But there was another complication. The Florida Wildlife Commission, the National Parks Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and the county Department of Environmental Resources all have to approve the repairs.

"It takes a lot of perseverance and time, but the cause is just," Mayor Edelcup said.

Driver’s Ed

With summer coming to an end, more traffic is expected on city roads – so to enhance public safety, Sunny Isles Beach is offering a driver safety course for motorists age 50 and up that will be taught by instructors from AARP. Participants completing the course may be eligible for discounts from their insurance agencies. The course will be held in two sessions at Government Center for a $10 fee. To register, phone: 305-792-1706.

To keep up to date on city news, visit the website www.sibfl.net or tune into SIB Cable TV Channel 77

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