A recent letter sent to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez by Coral Gables City Manager David L. Brown urged the county to consider an alternate fiscal year 2008-2009 budget. Coral Gables joins Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Gardens and Opa Locka in opposing the county’s budget proposal. The proposed budget shifts more of the county tax burden on municipal residents, including those living in Coral Gables, while sparing residents living in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. The preliminary county budget increases the countywide tax millage rate and reduces the Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) and Fire and Library services millage rates. That was the same message that County Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez, who represents the district that includes the south end of Coral Gables, delivered to Coral Gables Commissioners at the July 15 City Commission meeting. Gimenez alerted Gables leaders that this proposed county budget is not good news for certain cities, including Coral Gables. Under this fiscal plan, those cities using the least amount of county services are going to be impacted the greatest.

Most Coral Gables residents will see an increase in county taxes, or those with homes valued at $290,000 or less will not receive the full benefit of the additional $25,000 homestead exemption approved by the majority of county voters. Miami-Dade Commissioners will vote to finalize the county budget in September. This was not the only opposition from the City of Coral Gables to the county’s future plans. The Coral Gables City Manager also spoke at a special session of the Miami-Dade County Commission, opposing Miami-Dade County’s efforts to transfer municipal fire protection and rescue services to the county, which would mean a county takeover of the Coral Gables Fire Department. After intense discussion, the item was deferred until further study.

At a budget workshop conducted July 16, Coral Gables Commissioners saw a presentation from City Manager David L. Brown about plans for the next fiscal year. The 2008-2009 budget estimate includes maintaining the property tax millage rate of 5.25 that was reduced last year as a result of property tax reform. The budget includes no change in the number of police officers and firefighters, but reduces the number of part-time employees, overtime, professional services, automotive vehicles and equipment, information technology equipment, employee training and other expenditures. Those reductions will cover unprecedented cost increases of fuel to operate police, fire and city vehicles, as well as electric utility increases to city facilities and street lights, increase of general liability, workers compensation insurance, group health insurance and retirement funding. The proposed millage rate of 5.25 will generate total estimated property tax revenue of $66.9 million for fiscal year 2008-2009. The proposed property tax bill of a Coral Gables residence will not change from last year if the assessed value remains the same. The City of Coral Gables will have two public hearings to discuss the upcoming budget, on Tuesday, September 9 and September 23, after 5 p.m. at Commission Chambers, 405 Biltmore Way, second floor.

Every local government, including Coral Gables, is required by the State’s growth management laws to address its attainable (affordable) housing needs. Accordingly, the City is developing strategies to promote housing that is affordable to the City’s workforce and senior citizens, while still comparable in character, design and construction to typical market rate housing. The target of Coral Gables’ attainable housing efforts are moderate income households earning less than 120 percent of the City’s median income which is approximately $95,000 per year. This includes senior citizens, young professionals, and public servants — such as teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters — who are essential to the community’s quality of life, but cannot afford to live in or commute to the City. For more information about attainable housing efforts in Coral Gables, click here.

Want to know what your local government has accomplished since 2001? A recent document highlighting the accomplishments of the Coral Gables City Commission, City Administration, as well as of the team of 800+ loyal employees, is currently available on the web. A listing of organizational improvements accomplished in the past seven years range from administrative and legislative improvements, capital improvements, historic preservation, technology and communications to successful initiatives. Future challenges that the City of Coral Gables is facing such as pension reform, annexation, and balancing smart growth in the downtown area are also identified. The City of Coral Gables has been able to tackle all these projects with just 27 cents for every tax dollar collected. The majority of tax dollars go toward Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade County School Board, the State of Florida and others. To view this document, click here.

Thank you to all the responses to the City’s Green Forum for bringing some good points about going green in Coral Gables. Most people know that the City of Coral Gables provides recycling collection at all residential homes. But what about recycling in commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants or in multifamily buildings such as rental apartments or condominiums? Commercial recycling became mandatory in Miami-Dade County in 1992, requiring all rental property owners and condominium associations to provide recycling programs. Landlords or condominium associations are responsible for establishing a recycling program in their buildings. The same is true for property owners of commercial establishments who must provide a recycling program for their employees and tenants. This can be accomplished by contracting with an authorized private recycling hauler.

The City of Coral Gables does not have a franchisee contract with any vendor to provide commercial recycling collection and does not have enforcement jurisdiction to penalize those businesses that do not recycle. The City does have a franchise contract with Waste Management to provide multi-family recycling collection. Miami-Dade County’s Solid Waste Management assists those uncertain on how to comply by providing specific information and suggestions on how to start a recycling program. The County does randomly notify, and if necessary, inspect commercial and residential buildings reported to be out of compliance by haulers and concerned citizens. Those who do not comply with recycling may be subject to fines ranging from $300 to $950. For additional information on how to establish a recycling program in commercial buildings, click here.

After Labor Day, the Venetian Pool will be closed for the next eight months to complete a series of renovations to its facilities. The City will spend $310,000 for ADA related items such as the renovation of the men’s and women’s bathrooms and locker rooms and new handrails on both sides of the ramp leading to the pool. Also as part of the county’s Building Better Communities Bond Program, $750,000 will go toward improvements to the restoration of two fountains in the patio and entrance area and a new non-skid surfacing to the pool deck. These monies will also be spent on improving the deck drainage system and outdoor shower, and the upgrade of the chlorination system and replacement of expansion joints at the bottom and sides of the pool. The Venetian Pool, built in 1924, was originally a rock quarry from which the oolitic limestone was crushed to pave roadbeds and larger pieces used in the accent of houses. Today, it is a one-of-a-kind picturesque swimming pool that transplants the look of Venice into the heart of Coral Gables.

The number 8 is an extremely lucky number for the Chinese culture because the word eight in Chinese sounds like the word prosper or wealth, which is no wonder why this Friday will be filled with a lot of memorable activity. If you turn the number eight to its side, it becomes the symbol for infinity, a good reason to be married on 8-8-08. Whether you are planning on getting married or thinking you could’ve had a V8, make this once in lifetime opportunity a happy one. Here are a few things you can do this Friday: Watch the opening of the Beijing Olympics, collect all 8-8-08 memorabilia, or go out to dinner anywhere on Calle Ocho. All these fun things will improve your chances for luck and wealth.

EVENTS ROUNDUP
For the definitive guide
to upcoming events in the
City of Coral Gables,
click here

TRAFFIC
The construction of the residential complex known as Old Spanish Village will be affecting traffic on the following roads:
Galiano Street: From Sevilla Avenue to Malaga Avenue. This road is closed to vehicle transit until mid August.
Coconut Grove Drive: From Ponce de Leon Boulevard to Malaga Avenue. This road will be closed until approximately October.
Palermo Avenue: From Ponce the Leon Boulevard to Malaga Avenue: accepting vehicle traffic from residents who live in this block only. Please find alternative routes or follow the detour signs. Drive with caution as there will be barricades, workers, and large vehicles in the area until the construction is over.

CITY OF
CORAL GABLES

MISSION
Dedicated people providing exceptional services to residents, businesses and visitors while preserving our heritage.

VALUES
Accessibility
Accountability
Competency
Dedication
Innovation
Integrity
Loyalty
Responsiveness

Visit the
City of Coral Gables
web site:
www.coralgables.com
 

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