• Love of biking keeps rolling on in Palmetto Bay
• ‘Kendall’ against new council 4-1
• School Board’s Evelyn Greer deserves credit for her work

Love of biking keeps rolling on in Palmetto Bay

Michael Miller

Mayor Eugene Flinn addressed a group of bicyclists on Chinese Bridge, a popular spot along the bike path at the Deering Estate, as Palmetto Bay Bike Patrol Officer Madeleine Brodeur and resident Adrian Rivas looked on.

Mayor Eugene Flinn addresses a group of bicyclists. (Photos courtesy of Bill Kress)

Dr. Ed Feller, veteran councilman in the village, may not be showing up in TV commercials yet, but he is visible in some photos touting the new prescription discount cards available through Village Hall (see story on front page). He may not be Vanna White, but you have to admit, he looks pretty good at it.

Meetings coming up that you may not want to miss… the Final Budget Hearing will take place on September 23 at the Deering Visitor Center at 7:00 p.m. It will be immediately followed by the Local Planning Agency Meeting & Special Council Meeting. Then the very next night on September 24 there will be another Special Council Meeting at the Deering Visitor Center, also at 7:00 p.m.

Eric Tullberg and fellow bike enthusiasts.

UDB folks pleez note! Urban Development Workshop scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, October 15 in the downtown library auditorium to gather public comment on policy regarding Urban Development Boundary, a repeating issue in West Kendall and Southwest Dade.

From October 14-16, 2009 “a panel of experts” from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct the policy analysis of the county line that has so far kept western growth under wraps. The analysis is designed to provide an independent evaluation and assessment of UDB policy and processes related to UDB amendments. For information, visit www.miamidade.gov/plan/zone , we’re advised.

‘Kendall’ against new council 4-1

A resolution restructuring Community Councils sponsored by Commission Vice Chair Jose ‘Pepe’ Diaz was adopted at first reading by a 8-5 vote last week. (A second proposal replacing Councils with only one countywide Zoning Board of Appeals was defeated by an 11-2 vote, only Diaz and Bruno Barriero in favor).

The restructuring measure provides for nine appointed members in ‘no more’ than four area councils, replacing the existing 10 that now include East Kendall Council 12 and West Kendall Council 11 with six elected and one appointive member, excepting 11 which now has two appointive terms, although originally with only one.

Aside from representation by elective rather than appointed members, territorial boundaries for regionally-styled councils appears as the key issue since the enabling ordinance limits the new set-up to no more than four Councils countywide, any or all four conforming to geographic lines of 13 Commission district boundaries.

Does that leave the door open to retention of both Councils 11 and 12, gerry-mandered within five Districts? Or combining them into a single Kendall nine-member body? A Kendall-wide council should be the least of potential representation for unincorporated Miami-Dade’s largest area in both population and territory.

Next: just how did our five Kendall Commissioners vote? Commissioners Katy Sorenson, Carlos Gimenez, Chair Dennis Moss and Javier Souto said “Nay” along with Rebecca Sosa, all apparently happy to leave 10 Councils as they now stand.

Commissioner Joe Martinez, who voted “Yes,” has explained that puts him “on the prevailing side,” able to request reconsideration of the proposed ordinance, should “negotiations break down” as Commissioners resolve formation of the new Councils.

In other words, even though the initial approval appears to be a “done deal,” the door is still open not only to revise the four-Council set-up but reject it in its entirety. ...Especially if too many devils show up in the details.

Kendall Drive traffic bulletin from Commissioner Martinez reminds that eastbound travel lanes on Kendall Drive during 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. hours shift from the north to south between SW 150th Avenue (near the Target Store) and SW 162nd Avenue (near new WK Baptist Hospital construction).

Westbound lanes will stay open as currently used. The Change is needed while a center median is built for the new six lanes that still carries a “fall, 2009” completion date — by Thanksgiving, we hope!

Intercepted E-Mails: Unimpressed by Katy Sorenson’s answer to a question raised at a Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations session, a KFHA member asked for clarification of any pay cut in Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s salary of $350,000 to help balance a $444 million deficit. “Mayor Carlos Alvarez has already indicated on numerous occasions that the proposed five percent across the board salary cut would include him,” replied Vicki Mallette, one of the Mayor’s staff members.

“That has never been in question.” Replied the KFHA’r: “So, instead of making $350,000, he will only be making $332,500. I hope that is not too great a sacrifice for the Mayor!”

UDB folks pleez note! Urban Development Workshop scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, October 15 in the downtown library auditorium to gather public comment on policy regarding Urban Development Boundary, a repeating issue in West Kendall and Southwest Dade. From October 14-16, 2009 “a panel of experts” from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct the policy analysis of the county line that has so far kept western growth under wraps.

The analysis is designed to provide an independent evaluation and assessment of UDB policy and processes related to UDB amendments. For information, visit miamidade.gov/plan/zone, we’re advised.

School Board’s Evelyn Greer deserves credit for her work

Just to set things straight... in our previous issue we ran a story, “Town dedicates new soccer field at Cutler Ridge Park,” which mentioned Dr. Larry Feldman of the Miami Dade School Board. This brought a response from long time resident and activist Louise Lockwood, who pointed out that at the time the work was done to obtain the 30 year lease arrangement that allows the field that is part of Cutler Ridge Elementary School to be used as a soccer field and extension of Cutler Ridge Park, Evelyn Greer was the person serving on the School Board and the one who deserves credit for all the work on the project.

Ms. Lockwood should know, since she herself was serving on the Cutler Bay Parks Committee back then and was the one who originally reached Evelyn Greer and got her started working on it. Alan Ricke of the town’s parks and recreation department was also involved in the process that began several years ago. Anyway, certainly those folks should be acknowledged for their efforts and for doing the groundwork that led to the final results. And a thank you!

2nd Budget Hearing – You may not want to miss this one, and it takes place on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Where? Why at the South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th Street. Town Council Meeting – The next one also takes place on Wednesday, September 23rd, immediately following the Budget Hearing, and also at the South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th Street, so you won’t have to travel far to attend this if you’re already there for the Budget Hearing. Makes sense.

And if you need a copy of the Budget Workshop book or care to see the Town Manager’s notes on this, just visit the Town of Cutler Bay’s official website at http://www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/ and click on the links in the center column of info. Chili Day in Cutler Bay – And we don’t mean a cold snap coming, although that’s always a possibility, too, we suppose. No, we’re talking about that savory, spicy, Tex-Mex type of food everybody loves. This special event occurs on Saturday, October 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cutler Ridge Park, 10100 SW 200th Street.

Intercepted E-Mails: Unimpressed by Katy Sorenson’s answer to a question raised at a Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations session, a KFHA member asked for clarification of any pay cut in Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s salary of $350,000 to help balance a $444 million deficit. “Mayor Carlos Alvarez has already indicated on numerous occasions that the proposed five percent across the board salary cut would include him,” replied Vicki Mallette, one of the Mayor’s staff members.

“That has never been in question.” Replied the KFHA’r: “So, instead of making $350,000, he will only be making $332,500. I hope that is not too great a sacrifice for the Mayor!”

UDB folks pleez note! Urban Development Workshop scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, October 15 in the downtown library auditorium to gather public comment on policy regarding Urban Development Boundary, a repeating issue in West Kendall and Southwest Dade.

From October 14-16, 2009 “a panel of experts” from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct the policy analysis of the county line that has so far kept western growth under wraps. The analysis is designed to provide an independent evaluation and assessment of UDB policy and processes related to UDB amendments. For information, go online at <www.miamidade.gov/plan/zone >, we’re advised.

Thought for the Day:
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde

Gary Alan Ruse and Richard Yager contributed to this column.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to < >.