COCONUT GROVE

GOING POSTAL
It's been eight months since workers cut down seven oak trees in the post office parking lot, tore up the asphalt and deposited a huge mound of gravel. That's where the "improvements" stopped.

"It's truly an eyesore," says Grove resident Johleen Solly. "On my walk to the post office I usually count the empty beer bottles that are thrown into the lot."

Debra Fetterly of the postal service's southern district says work was stalled when contractors cut down a tree on the city's swale without a permit. Last February she told Miami Monthly the USPS anticipated construction to resume in March, once the $500 fine was paid. So what's the holdup?

After the fine was paid, Miami's Public Works Department required additional plans for new entrance and exit driveways. Then, the city requested a detailed architectural survey of preconstruction conditions of the site, which had not yet been submitted by presstime. Public works says they expect to review and return the survey within three weeks of receipt. Once all final permits are acquired, the USPS says construction will take 90 days.

And what of the eyesore plaguing the Grove? "The fenced-in area remains unsafe for our employees to do regular housekeeping," said Fetterly. "The Postal Service takes pride in being a good neighbor of the community and we also want to provide a safe work environment for our employees."

MORE MOORINGS
Miami commissioners are just a step away from allowing a new mooring field in Coconut Grove. Amendments to Chapter 50 of the city code – which pertains to ships, vessels and waterways – were approved on first reading and are expected to sail through the final reading.

Stuart Sorg, chairman of the Waterfront Advisory Board, said Chapter 50 has not been revisited in 23 years. "In the past, Chapter 50 had no teeth," said Sorg. "People left their boats out there in the water and they had no licenses or mast headlights and nothing could be done about it."

The changes implement strict regulations on abandoned vessels and the release of sewage from vessels, and allow for improvements to Dinner Key such as installing up to 225 new moorings.

DOWNTOWN

BANNING PANHANDLERS
City commissioners are moving to get panhandlers out of downtown Miami.

An overwhelming majority voted last month to establish hefty fines for panhandling throughout downtown, and especially at major intersections where drivers are most easily approached.

Anyone caught asking for cash will be fined $100 plus 30 days in jail the first time around and thereafter, $200 and 60 days in jail. Downtown Miami business owner Jose Goyanes said he constantly fends off panhandlers and agrees that it is "the first step to stop blight in downtown Miami."

MIAMI

SETTING LIMITS
Advertisers interested in displaying their message on large outdoor murals across the walls of Miami buildings have until May 6 to submit their applications. But only if they can first prove they removed all nonpermitted murals by April 20, 2008.

After many months of talking about it, Miami commissioners finally drew the line on outdoor advertising murals last month, setting guidelines and limits on how many are allowed within the city's various neighborhoods.

A total of 35 murals will be permitted within the downtown core and no more than 20 within each of the city's five districts. The first round of permits will be drawn through a lottery on May 12. Each permit will cost $10,500. Fines for illegal murals range between $250-$1,000 a day on first offense, and $5,000 for repeat violations.

AVENTURA

TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
Builders in Aventura breathed a sigh of relief when the city's new transportation mitigation impact fee came up for final approval. The revised ordinance established fees almost 40 percent lower than originally proposed.

"Between first and second reading we met with representatives of the building community and went over their concerns," said Eric Soroka, Aventura City Manager. "We made some modifications that include the fee change and the implementation date."

Starting Jan. 1, 2009, the city will charge developers $803 per new dwelling; $1,286 for every 1,000 square feet of new commercial space; $1,797 for every 1,000 square feet of new retail space and $2,247 per every 1,000 square feet of hotel space.

Soroka said the money will fund an expansion of the city's shuttle system, including added routes and stops, as well as more shuttles

SOUTH MIAMI

ELECTION HEARING
South Miami's election debacle is set to go before a judge in a three-day trial beginning May 21.

South Miami resident René Guim, who lost to Commissioner Velma Palmer by 24 votes in February, sued to have the election results thrown out after it was found that 53 voters were erroneously notified by the Miami Dade Elections Department that they were ineligible to vote.

"I can't get into much detail, but the bottom line is as we continue in our discovery, the list keeps getting larger and it's not just 53 voters as the elections department has alleged," said Guim. "The list of disenfranchised voters is getting larger and larger as more names are uncovered."

Guim says he feels positive about the trial, but "really this lawsuit has nothing to do with René Guim vs. Commissioner Velma Palmer, but to try to right what went wrong with the elections department and the citizens that did not get the chance to vote."

BRICKELL KEY

CELEBRATING THE GREEN
Brickell Key has chosen a green theme for its 11th annual Brickell Key Day community street fair. The downtown island will commemorate the re-installation and expansion of its central Village Green with an art show, Taste of Brickell Key, musical performances, soccer demonstrations, special guests and scores of children's games and activities.

An impressive group of environmental, cultural and civic exhibitors and vendors will also be on hand to celebrate the sustainable community, Brickell Key's guiding philosophy. Organized by the Brickell Key Master Association, the event takes place May 10 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 305-358-9892 for information.

CORAL GABLES

TERM LIMITS
The Coral Gables Citizens Political Action Committee wants elected officials in the city to be limited to two terms in office, for a total of eight years. Until now, city code has allowed unlimited terms.

PAC president Vincent Damian says limits are needed because long-term incumbents gain too much of a political and financial advantage over would-be challengers, making it very difficult for newcomers to run for office. City leaders are expected to discuss the matter on April 29.

Damian wants voters to decide on term limits during the November election. Should commissioners deny the ballot request, the PAC intends to gather the 2,700 signatures it needs to force the item on the ballot.

PALMETTO BAY

SCHOOL EXPANSION NIXED
The Palmetto Bay Village Council denied the controversial expansion of Palmer Trinity School – a hot topic that brought out almost 800 people to a second hearing.

Palmer Trinity, located at 7900 SW 176th St., wanted to develop 33 acres known as Hester Grove to build a gymnasium, 50-foot high performing arts building, chapel with a 71-foot bell tower, swimming pool, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, elementary school and 200-seat football stadium.

The school also hoped to increase enrollment from 600 to 1,400. Sean Murphy, Head of Palmer Trinity said the plan was rumored to be a mega project, but "this is more of an open, park-like design." Palmer Trinity now has two choices: appeal the decision or present the plan to the village again in six months.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH

THE BEST ON TAP
There's something about the water in North Miami Beach that makes it taste good. So good, in fact, that the city came in first place at the Florida Section American Water Works Association's 2008 Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest, and placed third statewide at the Sixth Annual Drinking Water Taste Test in Tallahassee.

"We were hoping to make number one again but I guess you can't win all the time," said Deputy City Manager Kelvin L. Baker. The city's water won the best-tasting contest at the state level in 2003, and at the regional level in 2003 and 2007.

The City of Tallahassee won first place statewide, but Baker says all three judges were from the capital, "so I guess they all clearly agreed on their acquired taste."

The North Miami Beach Public Services Department purifies its water at the Norwood Water Treatment Plant, which taps into the Floridan Aquifer and uses the latest advances in water treatment – nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.

UPPER EASTSIDE

CINCO DE MIMO
Borrowing from a popular Mexican celebration, the MiMo Historic District is throwing a Cinco de MiMo street festival, May 2-3, along Biscayne Blvd. between NE 67th and 77th streets.

The party kicks-off with a "Fiesta en el Jardin" (Party in the Garden) at the Upper Eastside Gardens, 7244 Biscayne Blvd. Festivities include a piñata created by Mexican artist Pepe Mar, a Mexican food market, and a Frida Kahlo look-a-like contest.

The Upper Eastside green market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Legion Park, and the street festival starts at 5 p.m. with strolling mariachis, face painting, zany tourist characters, costumed 1950s dancers and free walking and bus tours exploring the historic MiMo architecture of Biscayne Boulevard. The tours depart from the Vagabond Motel, 7301 Biscayne Boulevard.

MIAMI BEACH

BEACH TENNIS HITS OCEAN DRIVE
Beach Tennis USA is launching its 2008 National Tour in Miami Beach.

The professional sport that mixes volleyball and tennis opens its Sunshine State Slam May 3-4, on the sand between 8th and 9th streets. The tournament features top-ranked pro beach tennis teams from around the world.

On May 3 the men's and women's pro tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. with division finals continuing throughout the weekend. Players will compete for a first place cash prize of $3,000 and earn points to qualify for a spot in Beach Tennis USA's 2008 National Championship this summer in Long Beach, N.Y.

Now in its fourth season, beach tennis was launched in the U.S. as a pro and recreational sport in 2005.

KEY BISCAYNE

STREET MATTERS
The Village of Key Biscayne will soon be installing traffic cameras to catch red light runners. The Village is in the process of hiring American Traffic Solutions, Inc. – the same company that installed cameras for the City of Aventura.

The cameras will be mounted along Crandon Blvd. at the intersections of Harbor Drive and Key Colony Drive. The fine for a first offense is $125, second offense $250, and third offense $500.

The traffic cameras will complement recent improvements like pedestrian crosswalks, new bicycle lanes, smoother sidewalks, landscaping, bus shelters and trashcans along Crandon.

The $11 million infrastructure project, which began in 2005 and was completed in March, runs from McIntire Street to Bill Baggs State Park.

It was funded by Florida Department of Transportation grants, the Public Transportation Trust and tolls collected on the Miami-Dade Rickenbacker Causeway.

VIRGINIA KEY

JIMBO CELEBRATES 81ST
James "Jimbo" Luznar celebrated his 81st birthday on April 13th in the company of hundreds of longtime friends. Known affectionately as the "friendliest man on earth," Jimbo has been serving up shrimp, smoked fish and beer to generations of Miamians, tourists and even movie stars who want to get away from it all in his corner of paradise, since 1954.

CORAL GABLES

NEW BID DIRECTORS
The Coral Gables Business Improvement District has a new board of directors for 2008. The executive board consists of Brad Rosenblatt, a downtown commercial property owner, as president; John O'Rourke, owner of Montica Jewelry on Miracle Mile, as vice president; Gus Fonte, owner of the bridal boutique Daisy Tarsi, as secretary/treasurer; and Burton Hersh of the Hersh, Vitalini & Corazzinian architectural and professional design firm, as member-at-large.

The BID's board of directors is made up of property owners, business owners, and ex-oficio members, including Andres Futo (Cacao Restaurant), Commissioner Maria Anderson, Lizet Fullerton (Fullerton Properties Realty), Abe Ng (Sushi Maki), Jennifer Hornik (Jae's Jewelers), Michael Wurster (Westin Colonnade Hotel), Randy Hill (55 Merrick), Helena Ulloa (I. Designs Optica), and Judy Weissel, a property owner.

Incorporated in 1997, the BID covers the area from Douglas Road to LeJeune Road and from Giralda Avenue to Andalusia Avenue and focuses mainly on promoting and marketing the downtown business district. It is managed by executive director Mari Molina and assistant Taciana Amador.

MIAMI-DADE

SPANISH IMMERSION
Students in Miami's Spanish International Studies Program traveled to Spain over spring break, visiting Segovia, Madrid, Toledo and Sevilla. Beginning in first grade, the Spanish IS program provides children with an international curriculum emphasizing studies in Spanish. It is offered in nine Miami-Dade County schools.

"I have seen first hand how great the program is, having three children in the program at Coral Way K-8," says Michael Wallman, president of the Spanish International Parents Association. "There is no Spanish spoken at home, yet all three of my children are now bilingual thanks to the IS. The program even brings teachers from Spain to teach our public school kids proper Spanish – lisp and all."

COCONUT GROVE

GRAND SCHEME
A six-block multi-use development in the heart of the Grove's Village West will bring gentrification that much further into one of Miami's oldest black neighborhoods.

The plan, as presented by the Pointe Group to the Coconut Grove Village Council, encompasses three blocks on both sides of Grand Avenue, from Margaret St. to Plaza St. It will displace residents living in 180 rental units.

While Grand Village will have some workforce housing, The Pointe Group's Peter Gardner said his company has "hired consultants to help these residents on a case-by-case basis."

Pierre Sands, president of the Village West Homeowners Association is worried. "Put yourself in those people's shoes," he said. "I am concerned about these families and their children and where they will go."

Grand Village includes 168 residential units (113 apartments, 30 singlefamily homes and 25 town homes), 144,000 square feet of retail space and 480,000 square feet of office with 1,600 parking spaces, some underground. The project envisions a 20,000 square foot grocery store, but city commissioners are reviewing an ordinance that could increase that space to 40,000.

Gardner said his company is "talking to several grocery vendors and it would be more appealing for them to have a larger footprint" in the project. Developers still need to secure rezoning for two of the blocks. The Planning Advisory Board is expected to review the change this month.

BRICKELL

PEDESTRIAN PRIORITIES
Brickell Avenue will be getting much needed safety improvements as part of a Florida Department of Transportation street repair project slated to begin in 2009. The announcement followed a pedestrian safety study focusing on the stretch between SE 26 Road to SE 8 Street.

Traffic consultants C. H. Perez & Associates recommended pedestrian warning signs and activated flash beacons for certain intersections, especially the Coral Way- Brickell Ave. intersection.

VIRGINIA KEY

ROWERS WANT NO WAKE
Rowers using the Miami Marine Stadium basin at Virginia Key are frequently in danger of capsizing due to wakes caused by speeding watercraft, says Miami Marine Council board member Monk Terry. He is asking the city's Waterfront Advisory Board to help find a solution before there is a serious accident.

"There have been a lot of close calls where rowboats have been tipped over and you have kids in the water," said Terry. "It is a dangerous situation."

Marine Patrol Sergeant Mike Gonzalez agrees. "I get calls all the time about the situation. Jet skis go about 60 mph in the basin and we can't [stop them] because there is no speed limit and it isn't a [no wake] manatee zone."

The item is expected to return to the Waterfront Advisory board in May. "This is going to go [on for] several meetings but we just need to start," said WAB member Wendy Kamilar, who suggested workshops with stakeholders, the city and the public to figure out what can be done. The Miami Rowing Club is based on the sheltered basin.

SOUTH MIAMI

IT'S [KIND OF] OFFICIAL
W. Ajibola Balogun is South Miami's new city manager, even though he technically doesn't have a contract. Commissioners voted 4-0 to officially promote the former assistant city manager, but a subsequent meeting to approve his contract was cancelled. City Clerk Maria Menendez says she was not sure when the contract will go before city commission for approval.

Balogun was acting city manager for several months after city leaders fired Yvonne Soler-McKinley, causing a ripple effect that saw the exodus of Public Information Officer Teresa Gavalda, Finance Director Eliza Rassi, Planning Director Julian Perez and Chief of Police Vincent Landis.

PALMETTO BAY

PARTY POOPER
Palmetto Bay is giving residents two extra hours of raucous party time, but only one night out of the year.

Village Council members passed an amendment to the noise ordinance allowing residents to keep the volume up until 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve.

Some council members suggested 2 or 3 a.m. and adding the Fourth of July, but that didn't fly.

"We are still a relatively new city," said Mayor Eugene Flinn, "and we need a realistic code that reflects the community, while also keeping our residents safe."

MIAMI

LIARS NEED NOT APPLY
If you're looking for a job with the City of Miami, you better not have anything to hide. Commissioners have given their blessing for the administration to hire a company to give pre-employment polygraph tests.

A $200,000 limit was set for a twoyear contract and city staff is reviewing two qualifying bids. A contract would require final approval from city commissioners before any tests begin.

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests either for pre-employment screening or during the course of employment, but federal, state and local governments are exempt.

MIAMI

TAX DOLLARS AT WORK
Thousands of dollars in settlements are regularly approved by Miami commissioners. In March alone, the city dished out $326,286 taxpayer dollars to resolve claims for injuries sustained on the job.

One claim by a retired Miami firefighter totaled $60,000, while a police department employee settled for $116,286. An employee of the Parks and Recreation Department pocketed $150,000.

Meanwhile City Attorney Julie Bru asked commissioners to defer another settlement until the May 8 meeting. The case of Jerry Frank Townsend vs. the City of Miami alleges that in September 1979 Townsend was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced for crimes he did not commit. Townsend spent 22 years in prison and was released in 2001 when the State Attorney's office vacated his conviction. His settlement claim: $2.2 million.

COCONUT GROVE

PLAYHOUSE PROSPECTS
Results of a three-day charrette on the Coconut Grove Playhouse should be ready by July, says Michael Spring, director of Miami-Dade County's Department of Cultural Affairs.

Three separate schemes were envisioned for the Playhouse, which closed under the burden of a $4 million debt two years ago. Although they differ in many ways, the plans each contemplate a 600-seat main stage; a second venue with 200 seats; an underground parking garage; and office, retail and commercial space.

"The charrette was a terrific success," says Spring. "With the team of planners from the University of Miami, along with volunteer architects from the community, the big issues were talked about and incorporated in the scenarios that evolved over the weekend."

"I liked the way the charrette got the community involved," says Rick Kalwani of Aries Development, which currently manages the Playhouse parking lot and has a first shot at bidding on the site's development. "My plan now is to wait for the report from the University of Miami and I should be having continuous meetings with the board."

BRICKELL KEY

STYLIN' STUDENT
Brickell Key resident Jayme Weber, an emerging design student, was selected from over 500 participants to model her evening dress design at the Style 2008 Fashion Show on Ocean Drive during Miami Fashion Week. Inspired by a spring motif, Jayme handcrafted the cocktail dress in cotton and organza, with floral details enhanced by Swarovski crystal beads.

Jayme's parents are personal trainer Annette Weber and Bruce J. Colan, a partner at Holland & Knight and incoming chair-elect of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

DOWNTOWN

FINER FACADES

Downtown Miami went under the microscope last summer following complaints of buildings in disrepair, graffiti, code enforcement violations and other problems. The Miami Downtown Development Authority is hoping its facade improvement grant program will clear up some of the eyesores.

Downtown business owners are eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the costs of improvements to their storefronts, including masonry work, security, awnings, paint, window and door glazing, signage, lighting, electrical repairs and upgrades. The program also reimburses qualifying businesses 100 percent of the costs to replace metal shutters with seethrough grates to minimize graffiti.

Neisen Kasdin, chairman of the DDA's Economic Development Committee, says the program will improve the perception of safety on streets in the Central Business District.

"We want to focus our efforts on Flagler Street first since it is the most important retail street and will have the greatest impact."