Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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CONTENTS:City Manager, Attorney Named Best in Florida
Don’t Miss Town Hall Meeting Dec. 13
Debris Removal Continues at Considerable Cost Savings
Kick Off the Holidays at Merrick Park
Have Breakfast with Santa at the Youth Center
Winter Camp Adventures Await in Coral Gables
Seniors Invited for “Tea and Talk” with Jim Defede
City Unveils Streetscape Master Plan
Nominate Your Favorite Landscaping Job
City Clean-Up Laws Apply to Tenants, Property Owners
City Announces 2005-06 Cultural Grant Recipients
“Party in the Park” for Cancer Research
Traffic Watch
Cultural Events Roundup
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City Manager, Attorney Named Best in Florida >>> The Florida League of Cities has named Coral Gables City Manager David L. Brown and City Attorney Elizabeth M. Hernandez as City Attorney and City Manager of the Year in this year’s Florida Cities of Excellence Awards.
Brown was one of eight finalists for the title, competing with managers from the Cities of Pembroke Pines, Delray Beach, Cocoa, Dunedin, Tamarac, Port Orange, and Tarpon Springs.
Hernandez was one of five finalists for the award, including the attorneys for Lake City, North Lauderdale/Pembroke Pines/Coral Springs, Plantation, and Titusville.
Brown began his career with the City of Coral Gables as a lifeguard and Manager at the Venetian Pool from 1975 until 1982. That year, he was recruited to run the Miami Seaquarium as General Manager, a position he held from 1982 to 1986. In 1986, Brown returned to the City of Coral Gables as an Assistant City Manager, a post he held for the next 16 years before being named Coral Gables’ 12th City Manager in 2001.
Today, Brown is widely recognized as one of the City’s most influential leaders. Over the past year, he has implemented a series of initiatives that are making significant contributions to this municipality of about 43,000 residents. Under his leadership, the City has jumped into the 21st Century with an automated workflow system at City Hall that will make internal processes more efficient and allow residents and business owners to interact with City Hall online for many requests. On the development side, Brown is overseeing the monumental task of rewriting the Zoning Code, Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Municipal Code with more safeguards for residential areas from commercial encroachment. Brown also oversaw the rollout of the nation’s first Pay-By-Cellphone parking program right here in Coral Gables.
Hernandez has served the City of Coral Gables since 1985, and has occupied her post as City Attorney for more than a decade. Widely regarded as one of the top government lawyers in Florida, Hernandez has defended this municipality’s interests with an impressive record of legal victories. Most recently, she was instrumental in the comprehensive review of the City Charter, which serves as the City’s constitution and defines the powers of City government and how it should be structured.
Earlier this year, Hernandez was elected President of the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association (FMAA), an organization of more than 600 attorneys who specialize in the legal representation of municipalities. In 2004 and 2005, she was named by her peers among Florida’s Legal Elite, a listing of top legal eagles published by Florida Trend magazine and South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers magazine. She also received of the 2005 Legal Ethics and Professional Award from the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar. Hernandez also serves as President of the Cuban American Bar Association, which works to bring diversity and sensitivity to the legal profession.
For more information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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Don’t Miss Town Hall Meeting Dec. 13 >>> Mark your calendars for an important Town Hall Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Coral Gables Country Club, 997 North Greenway Drive. The topic: emergency response operations during the 2005 storm season. Just as most communities in South Florida were starting to make headways in clean-up efforts following Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Wilma swept in, generating more debris and leaving an estimated four million people in South Florida without power for weeks. Other utilities, such as telephone and cable service, were also affected. Coral Gables officials have organized this Town Hall Meeting to provide an open forum where residents, City officials, and utility providers can discuss issues relating to emergency planning and preparation, response and recovery efforts, and what can be done to improve recovery efforts during future storm seasons. Representatives from Florida Power & Light, BellSouth and Comcast will be present to directly address issues relating to restoration of electrical, telephone and cable services. For more information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 305-460-5206.
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Debris Removal Continues at Considerable Cost Savings >>> Since late October, the City of Coral Gables has collected approximately 200,000 cubic yards of debris produced by Hurricane Wilma. The final citywide pass-through will begin this week until all the post-storm debris is collected. In comparison to Miami-Dade County’s debris removal, the City is moving at a faster pace and ensuring that prices paid to contractors include significant cost-savings.
Throughout the cleanup process associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, City administrators have met with FEMA representatives to ensure the costs of debris removal are fair, reasonable, and properly documented. The all-inclusive pricing of $28 per cubic yard that the City of Coral Gables is paying to outside contractors includes debris pick-up, transport to chipping site, processing into mulch, transport to landfill, dump tipping fee, and the removal of hanging tree limbs (hangers), stumps and leaning trees. This all inclusive price provides complete removal and disposal of all debris in the most cost effective manner. As it has done in the past and with proper oversight from FEMA, the City of Coral Gables will continue to provide the most cost-effective approach for post-storm recovery and for full restoration of services.
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Kick Off the Holidays at Merrick Park >>> Come to downtown Coral Gables on Friday, December 2, for an evening of music and fun as the City officially kicks off the 2005 holiday season. This year’s tree lighting festivities include caroling, carnival rides and games, arts and crafts, food, and pictures with Santa, who is taking a break from his holiday preparations to spend a little time with us here in sunny South Florida. From 5 to 10 p.m., enjoy a trackless train ride, carnival games and rides, face painting, a caricature artist, arts & crafts, bounce houses, bungee jump stations and a giant slide. Between 5 and 8 p.m., enjoy performances by local artists and members of the Actors’ Playhouse. At 7 p.m., Santa arrives to help the Coral Gables City Commission with the annual holiday tree lighting. From 7:30 to 10 p.m., he will be available for pictures with his littlest fans. Merrick Park is located across from City Hall at 405 Biltmore Way. For everyone’s safety, Biltmore Way and Andalusia Avenue will be closed from Noon to Midnight in connection with the event. For more information, call Asst. Parks & Recreation Director Fred Couceyro at 305-460-5620.
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Have Breakfast with Santa at the Youth Center >>> Santa likes South Florida so much that he is returning after the Tree Lighting on Dec. 2 so he can enjoy a tropical breakfast with his little fans ages 8 and under at the Youth Center on Dec. 10. Jolly Ole’ St. Nick arrives at 9 a.m. for games, activities, music, breakfast and many photo opportunities. Registration is now open. Prices for one adult and one child are $14 for Youth Center members; $18 for Coral Gables residents, and $23 for everyone else. Additional children are $7 each. All children must be accompanied by a parent. The Youth Center is located at 405 University Drive. For more information, call 305-460-5600.
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Winter Camp Adventures Await in Coral Gables >>> The holidays are fast approaching and the Youth Center and Venetian Pool have lined up fun activities for Dec. 19-30, when children are on break from school. At the Youth Center, there are three Winter Camps to choose from: the Holiday Art Camp for children ages 7-14, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, offers kids the chance to create lasting works of art through clay, paints and other media. The Gymnastics Holiday Camp for children ages 3-15 runs in half-day and full-day sessions from 9 a.m. to 1,4 or 6 p.m. Participants learn progressive gymnastics skills that improve strength, flexibility and coordination, and take time out for arts and crafts and games as well. The Club P.L.A.Y. Holiday Camp for children ages 5-12 offers sports activities, field trips, special events and a cookout. Hours are the same as the Gymnastics Camp. Prices vary. Call 305-460-5600 or visit the Youth Center at 405 University Drive for more details.
The Winter Camp Adventure at the Venetian Pool will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec 20-22. The program, brought to Coral Gables by the Young Rembrandts Children’s Drawing Program, is for children ages 6-13 and uses art to help them develop motor skills, patience and self-confidence. Fee is $100 for Coral Gables residents; $125 for everyone else. Snacks and all drawing materials are included in the fee. Children are encouraged to bring bathing suits and sunscreen. The Venetian Pool is located at 2701 De Soto Boulevard. Call 305-460-5306 or 305-252-1531 for more information.
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Seniors Invited for “Tea and Talk” with Jim Defede >>> Seniors ages 55 and over are invited to the Biltmore Hotel on Dec. 9 for a complimentary afternoon of “Tea & Talk” with Jim Defede, critically acclaimed author and journalist whose work has appeared in the Miami Herald, Miami New Times and Newsday. The event, brought to you courtesy of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board of Coral Gables and the City of Coral Gables, will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the Granada Room at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP no later than Dec. 7 by calling 305-460-5600.
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City Unveils Streetscape Master Plan >>> The City of Coral Gables has completed a Downtown Streetscape Master Plan that calls for more tree plantings to beautify the commercial district. The plan identifies opportunities for tree planting within the downtown commercial district of Coral Gables, from S.W. Eighth Street on the north, to University Drive on the south, and between Le Jeune Road and Douglas Road. Incorporated in 1925, Coral Gables is known as the “City Beautiful” for its lush tree canopy, which developed through systematic integration of street trees into the design of residential areas. In contrast with the extensive tree plantings in residential districts, the downtown area currently lacks the presence of street trees, due mostly to the costs of planning, tree planting and maintenance. During the past years, however, an unprecedented hike in the development of commercial buildings in the downtown area has presented opportunities for developer funding of future tree plantings. In 2003, the City of Coral Gables received an Urban and Community Forestry Grant that provided funding for the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan. The City will seek further grants to assist in the implementation of this plan. For more information, call the Public Service Department at 305-460-5131.
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Nominate Your Favorite Landscaping Job >>> Attention gardening and landscaping aficionados: if there is a home or business in Coral Gables that you admire for its beautiful landscaping, The City Beautiful wants to know. The City is now accepting nominations for the 2005-06 Landscape Beautification Awards. Anyone may nominate any residential or commercial property in Coral Gables, regardless of ownership. Since 1977, members of the Landscape Beautification Advisory Board have selected five winners each year to receive a photo and plaque. Photos of the winning properties are also placed on display at City Hall for the rest of the year. Click here to obtain a nomination form online, and attach two to five photographs or digital images that show the view from the street. Deadline for submitting nominations is Dec. 31. Send a printed copy of the completed form with attached photos or digital images on a disk to: Coral Gables Public Service Department, 2800 SW 72 Ave., Miami, FL 33155. For more information, call the Public Service Department at 305-460-5131.
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City Clean-Up Laws Apply to Tenants, Property Owners >>> In an effort to curb the amount of litter produced by activity in the downtown area, the City is placing 52 additional trash cans in the area and is scheduling more frequent street sweeping, trash collection and routine pressure cleaning of sidewalks. Additionally, officials are increasing enforcement of Citywide clean-up laws, specifically Ordinance No. 2004-38 entitled “Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places,” which requires all property owners, as well as their tenants, to maintain immediate surrounding areas such as sidewalks, grass strips, alleys (to mid-point), curbs and other rights-of-way, up to the edge of the pavement, free of litter. Failure to maintain these areas clean will result in fines. For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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City Announces 2005-06 Cultural Grant Recipients >>> Congratulations to the following organizations that were awarded cultural grants from the City of Coral Gables: The New Theatre, Actors’ Playhouse Productions, Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, GableStage, Coral Gables Congregational Church, Miami Children’s Chorus, Sunday Afternoons of Music, Miami Bach Society, Teatro Avante, Fantasy Theatre Factory, Momentum Dance Co., Seraphic Fire, Center for Advancement of Jewish Education, Murray Dranoff Foundation, Chopin Foundation of the United States, Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, University of Miami Frost School of Music, Tigertail Productions, South Florida Youth Symphony, Bascomb Memorial Broadcasting Foundation, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Miami Civic Music Association, Center for Emerging Art, Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Merrick Festival, Voices for Children Foundation, Young Patronesses of the Opera, Freddick Bratcher & Co., Dance Now! Ensemble, and St. Patrick’s Day Committee. In total, $175,000 in grant funds were awarded to these organizations to support festivals and cultural and community events in Coral Gables. The City is proud to support the cultural community for its invaluable contributions to the Coral Gables way of life.
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“Party in the Park” for Cancer Research >>> Come to the garden at the Village of Merrick Park from 7-11 p.m. on Dec. 1 for a cocktail reception with unique libations, stylish food and an exciting interactive raffle followed by a special performance by comedian Bobby Collins. A dessert after-party completes the evening for VIP ticket holders. The event raises funds for the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. VIP tickets are $250.00; reserved seats are $125.00, and tickets for the interactive raffle are $25.00 each. For more information, call Jeanne Bonich at 305-243-9088.
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Traffic Watch >>> Construction on the Ponce de Leon Median Improvement Project is currently in the final stages of Phase Two. The following measures continue to be implemented:
> Sidewalk construction is almost complete on the intersections along the west side of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from Alcazar Avenue heading south.
> Construction has moved to the east side of the Boulevard, moving south to north. Traffic has been shifted to the west side.
> Drainage construction on the east side is ongoing. Barricades have been installed along the east side of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from Almeria to Alcazar Avenue, though access to businesses is still available.
> Police are ticketing people who illegally park inside the construction areas.
> Left turns are allowed only at the Miracle Mile and Alhambra Circle intersections of Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
> Left turns at the remaining intersections continue to be restricted, and police continue to enforce the "No Left Turn" signs.
> The Trolley stops along Ponce de Leon Boulevard at Valencia Avenue, Miracle Mile, Alhambra Circle and Minorca Avenue have been temporarily suspended.
> The valet service adjacent to Houston's, at the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile, has been moved to Miracle Mile.
> Alleys perpendicular to Ponce de Leon Boulevard and within the boundaries of the construction area will be monitored to make sure vehicles are not blocking the alleyways.
> Le Jeune Road: There will be intermittent day and nighttime lane closures at non-peak hours along Le Jeune Road while workers perform various operations between SW 8th Street and NW 7th Street. Non-peak hours are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Contractors are repaving travel lanes in this area during nighttime hours. Paving is a moving operation, which requires men and equipment to move in and around the work zone. Motorists should use extreme caution when traveling through the area. Paving will take a few weeks to complete. At least one lane will remain open at all times while this work is underway, but motorists may experience delays when traveling through this area. Adjoining side streets might also be impacted. For more information, please call 305-499-2410.
> The portion of San Lorenzo Street that runs through the Village of Merrick Park will be closed from Noon to Midnight on Dec. 1 in connection with the “Party in the Park” fundraiser for the UM Sylvester Cancer Center.
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Cultural Events Roundup >>> The following cultural events were announced recently. Please call ahead to confirm, as dates and times may change. For a complete list of current and upcoming events in Coral Gables, click here.
> December 1. The unveiling of the Coral Gables Country Club historic marker takes place at 4 p.m. in front of the Club entrance on 997 North Greenway Drive. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 305-460-5206.
> December 2-31 TheNew Theatre, 4120 Laguna Street, presents the world premiere of “Ladies and Not So Gentle Women,” a play by Alfred Allan Lewis about the lives of several famous women of New York and Paris high society. Performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $55. For more information, visit www.new-theatre.org or call 305-443-5909.
> December 3. The Growing Place of the First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables will host its annual Art Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Biltmore Way and Hernando Street. Artists interested in participating should call 305-441-7042. Admission is free to the public.
> December 3-May 31, 2006. A breathtaking art exhibit by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly takes place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Fairchild will extend its hours every Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. so visitors can enjoy Tropical Chihuly Nights, offering spectacular views with dramatic lighting set against the Garden’s stunning landscapes. Admission is $20 for members, $15 for children members (ages 6-18), $30 for nonmembers, $20 for children non-members (ages 6-18), and free for children ages 5 and under. For exhibit information, visit www.fairchildgarden.org or call 305-667-1651.
> December 10. The City of Coral Gables invites you to a Holiday Open House at the lovingly restored Coral Gables Merrick House, 907 Coral Way, home of City founder George Merrick. The event takes place from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, December 10. Join us for refreshments, musical entertainment by guitarist Juan Areco, and tours through the home. The event is free and open to the public.
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