By Harvey Busch, Chairman


The July meeting of the City Advisory Committee was attended by Mayor Norman Edelcup, Vice-Mayor Lewis Thaler, Commissioner Gerry Goodman, City Manager Rick Conner and Assistant City Clerk Mauricio Betancur.

Bob Welsh, Chairman of the Long Range Planning and Technical Subcommittee discussed the possibility of installing artificial turf on the athletic fields in the City and received a response from City Manager Conner that in fact the City is in the process of replacing the infield portion of the softball field at Pelican Community Park.

Tony LoCastro, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, asked for an update regarding the complaint filed by Emanuel Pine involving the Miami-Dade Fire rescue mishandling a situation at Oceania Tower 1 and was told that it was still under investigation.

Isaac Aelion, Chairman of the Capital Projects Subcommittee, discussed a serious drainage problem that exists at the rear of the school on North Bay Road and that the City should look into extending the numbers of drains along that road.

Steve Trattner, Chairman of the Traffic and Safety Subcommittee, reported that the City Commission expressed support to create an opening in the back wall of the Golden Shores Park that would provide alternate travel route and Vice-Mayor Thaler suggested that would also provide a direct bicycle path from Heritage Park to 167th Street.

Loretta Mufson, Chairwoman of the Youth Advocacy Subcommittee, reported the Teen Bash was a great success with approximately 50 teenagers attending.  A “back to school” and other future events are in the planning stage.

Ann Kaul, Chairwoman of the Senior Citizen Welfare Subcommittee, inquired about the feasibility of having an assisted living facility in the City and City Manager Conner stated that he would meet with her to discuss various options on the matter.

Isaac Feldman requested that the City create a new committee that he would Chair that would focus on Film and International Business and that he will provide a mission statement at the next meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.