By Harvey Busch, Chairman

What a well attended meeting we had on September 23, 2009 of the Mayor’s City Advisory Committee.  All the current Sub-Committee Chairmen and Chairwomen were in attendance in addition to Mayor Norman Edelcup, Vice-Mayor Lewis Thaler, Commissioners Roslyn Brezin and Gerry Goodman, City Manager Rick Conner and Assistant City Clerk Mauricio Betancur.

City Manager Rick Conner announced that the Florida Department of Transportation advised him that the Flyover at Collins Avenue and Sunny Isles Boulevard is scheduled for a much needed major renovation in March 2010.

Tony LoCastro, Chairman of the Condominium Subcommittee, announced that Emmanuel Pine, Dennis Stubbolo, and Dana Goldman Gates have joined his group and that all Condominium Association Presidents in Sunny Isles Beach will be invited to an informal meeting with this new entity to discuss their concern and issues.

Loretta Mufson, Chairwoman of the Youth Advocacy Group Subcommittee, reported that she had met with Susan Simpson, Cultural and Human Services Director and Lisa Taylor, Sunny Isles K-8 School Counselor, regarding the possibility of offering and funding group sessions where children will be able to discuss various issues in their lives.

Anh Kaul, Chairwoman of the Senior Citizen Subcommittee, proposed creating a Sunny Isles Beach “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” program and it was approved by the entire Advisory Committee with details to be worked out with the City.

Bob Mincow, chairman of the Planning, Zoning, Beautification and Technical Matters Subcommittee related how his important group is working diligently in helping our City obtain and utilize alternative energy derived from wind and sun.

Claire Lipson gave her report on the status of the International Arts Festival and the Mayor explained that this event must be funded trough sponsorships and not through taxpayer money.

Bob Caplan, requested support in establishing a Cultural Arts Center in Sunny Isles Beach and a unanimous vote was passed by the Committee to explore this exciting endeavor.

Isaac Aelion, Chairman of the Capital Projects Subcommittee, reported about his meeting with Chief of Police Fred Maas, concerning emergency helicopter landing sites and was informed that there is one in Haulover Beach, three in Aventura and one in the parking lot of St. Mary Magdalene Church in our City.