By Bari Auerbach

The first City Commission meeting of 2012 featured more milestone “firsts” for Sunny Isles Beach – continuing to earn fame and acclaim for financial strength, luxury, park projects and public safety promoting the highest quality of life.

‘First Class Finances’

At the Jan. 19 City Commission meeting, CPA Cynthia Calvert of the accounting firm Keefe McCullough & Co. explained, “Keefe McCullough audits sixteen municipalities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties - and of those sixteen municipalities, the City of Sunny Isles Beach was the first to issue their comprehensive annual financial report…Having it ready for us on November 14, 2011 was an enormous task that took many hours of hard work.

“I’m pleased to tell you Sunny Isles Beach received the highest level of assurance that a city can obtain on their financial statements. I’m also pleased to tell you, the city received the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting Award for [fiscal year 2010/2011]. Receipt of this award reflects on the professionalism and commitment of your entire Finance Department and high degree of dedication and leadership displayed by the City Commission and City Manager.

“This certificate program has been in operation since 1946. Its purpose is to encourage governments to prepare their financial statements at the highest quality for the benefit of citizens and other parties with a vital interest in governmental accounting. During the half century the program has operated, it has gained widespread recognition as the premier indicator of excellence in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

“To earn the certificate, Sunny Isles Beach had to substantially conform to the program’s demanding criteria, which go well beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principals.”

Sunny Isles Beach City Manager Alan J. Cohen noted, “The City Charter requires that the Manager, once a year, presents the annual city audit - but in fact, the yeoman’s work on this is truly done by our Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Minal Shah. I tip my hat to her and her staff who do an incredible job day in and day out to keep our books in order.”

Shah added, “I’d like to thank our finance staff for doing an incredible job to coordinate and move this audit along as well as the auditors for their commitment in completing the audit so quickly. Special thanks to Michael Quesada, the city’s Comptroller, who took the lead in the audit.”

‘First Class Hospitality’

The Jan. 19 City Commission meeting also highlighted good news that Trump International Beach Resort is bringing even more notoriety to Sunny Isles Beach by  receiving the first annual Hospitality Leadership Awards for hotels with over 200 rooms presented by the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association.

Ibis Romero, director of the Sunny Isles Beach Tourism & Marketing Council, presented certificates of appreciation to award winners Susan G. Boone, Sales and Marketing; and Raul Navarrete, Food & Beverage/Banquets

‘First FBI Graduate’

Yet another special presentation made by Police Chief Fred Maas at the Jan. 19 City Commission meeting focused on recognizing Captain Dwight Snyder for being the first Sunny Isles Beach officer to graduate from the prestigious National Academy of the FBI..

Maas explained, “Back in October 2011, we were afforded the opportunity to send someone to the prestigious National Academy of the FBI in Virginia. This required Captain Snyder to be away for eleven weeks…It’s a very arduous task and you have to be in the right frame of mind as well as have the ability in your personal life to do this – Captain Snyder accepted this challenge.

“On December 16, 2011 he became one of 266 graduates from 49 states - there were a lot of participants there from around the globe. Captain Snyder did a remarkable job - bringing acclaim to the city and our Police Department.” 

Snyder noted, “I’d like to thank the city for allowing me to represent Sunny Isles Beach and the Police Department. It was a tremendous opportunity that will pay dividends in terms of contacts and friendships made.”

Sharing some of his experiences while at the FBI Academy, Snyder said, “There is a large physical component called the ‘Yellow Brick Road.’ It consists of many different physical challenges and when you successfully complete them, they present you with a yellow brick. Receiving this meant so much to me…It represents team work, commitment and hard work. I also want to acknowledge colleagues for their support…I’m very proud of this city and our Police Department…This is not an individual achievement - this is a team achievement.”

Maas added, “Captain Snyder put his heart and soul into this challenge, doing a tremendous job. This is the first of what I hope to be many graduates of the prestigious FBI Academy for this city, helping to ensure the highest quality of police service for a long time to come.”

‘First Class Gateway’

In keeping with continued efforts to enhance Sunny Isles Beach with the most desirable parks and recreational facilities, the City Commission has been considering plans for the development of another “first class” park complex at the gateway to the city on Sunny Isles Boulevard.
Back in April of 2011, developer Joe Milton, representing 4M Investors, LLC, explained original plans to build a Park/Aquarium complex at the gateway to the city on Sunny Isles Boulevard were no longer feasible due to the withdrawal of support from operators of the Seaquarium and the inability to secure another aquatic-oriented joint venture partner. He proceeded to present a “Plan B” proposal for the development of Gateway Park including a park, garage and “anchor” restaurant.
At the Jan. 19 City Commission, Milton appeared before the Commission again to report attempts to secure a restaurant were unsuccessful. “We [still] hope to create a very unique park in the city,” Milton said. “We think it’s the most important location for the city as an entry point and Town Center…It’s well placed and seventy percent of your traffic currently comes in through there. We have put all our efforts into making sure we give you an excellent product.”

Explaining why obtaining a restaurant didn’t come to fruition, Milton said, “This has proven to be a ‘commercial impossibility.’ We found someone who specializes in bringing restaurant operators to locations and also reached out to several other companies representing renowned restaurants. An immediate concern was ‘how do you drop off people?’ That’s going to be a problem with any [restaurant] operator at this location…in this economy - most are looking for foot traffic.”

Milton went on to say that after realizing a restaurant would not be feasible, the decision was made to bring in a design team and acclaimed landscape architect Barry Miller to play a definitive role in the development of Gateway Park. “We feel the location is too important to have a temporary status,” he said. “This needs to be an incredible park that brings elegance to the city and a sense of arrival – truly a ‘gateway’ representing itself with the quality the city deserves. We want to design a park similar to the level of a Heritage Park in quality but different in design – a little bit more elegant and romantic.”

‘First Class Luxury’

“I haven’t heard of a property going for over $40 million down here, so perhaps we’ll have another first for Sunny Isles Beach.” Mayor Norman Edelcup’s optimistic prediction relating to the Mansions at Acqualina could come to fruition when the ultra-luxurious condominium tower by the Trump Group of Williams Island fame rises at 17749 Collins Avenue.