Assistant Chief Richard Naue Jr., a respected senior law enforcement professional who has worked for the City of Coral Gables for the past 30 years, has been named Interim Police Chief. He will take the post left by Police Chief Michael L. Hammerschmidt who passed away on August 20 after losing his courageous battle with cancer. Richard Naue joined the Coral Gables Police Department in November of 1977 and was promoted to Police Sergeant in 1983.  Ten years later he became a Police Lieutenant and consequently a Police Major in 1997. His most recent promotion came in January of 2007, when he was selected as Assistant Chief of Police in charge of the Field Operations Bureau. During his law enforcement career, Naue was twice selected as Coral Gables Officer of the Month, in June of 1983 and in May of 1992. In 1989, he was selected by his peers as the recipient of the coveted Robert DeKorte Memorial Award in 1989 and in 1998 he received the James Avery Brotherhood Award.

A resolution of the Coral Gables City Commission was unanimously approved opposing Miami-Dade County’s tentative millage rates and the proposed county budget for fiscal year 2008-2009. The Coral Gables leaders agreed that the proposed county budget and tentative millage will adversely impact all citizens of Coral Gables and unfairly shift a greater amount of the tax burden to the City’s residents, businesses and other municipalities -instead of evenly distributing the tax burden among all Miami-Dade County residents. The City of Coral Gables encourages residents to let their voices be heard at the upcoming county budget hearings scheduled on September 4 and September 18, 5:01 p.m., 111 N.W. First Street, 2nd floor, at County Commission Chambers.

The public is invited to attend the upcoming Budget Hearings for the City of Coral Gables on Tuesdays, September 9 and September 23, beginning at 5:01 p.m. Both meetings will take place at Commission Chambers, 405 Biltmore Way, 2nd floor. The proposed 2008-2009 budget maintains the same 5.25 millage rate from last year. To review the proposed budget for next year, click here.

In looking for sources of additional revenues for the City, the City Commission approved a proposal to allow advertising inside of the popular Coral Gables trolleys. On August 26, the Commission authorized the City Manager to negotiate a contract with Artcoart Plus, a company selected to sell and produce electronic ads that will be displayed inside the trolleys. The company is also set to produce printed maps of the trolley route after providing the City a percentage of all ad revenues. The monies collected from this new venture will help alleviate the operational costs of the Gables trolleys, a free service to the community which transports 5,000 passengers daily through the Ponce de Leon corridor. The trolleys are also available for rental during non-operating hours as an additional source of revenue. Companies interested in advertising or renting the Trolleys, should call 305-460-5070.

A seven-member Evaluation Committee will review a proposal to be presented next week by a company interested in managing the Country Club of Coral Gables facility. The public will be invited to observe — but not participate — in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Commission Chambers. In June, the City of Coral Gables received two responses to a Request For Proposal for the long-term leasing of the Coral Gables Country Club facility. The Evaluation Committee has reviewed the proposals for sufficiency and disqualified one of the proposals for not including the required documentation. Toronto-based Liberty Events is the only certified proposer that will be evaluated by the Committee, which in turn will forward a recommendation to the City Manager and then to the City Commission for a decision as to whether or not the City should negotiate a contract with the company.

You have probably seen the work being completed at the War Memorial Youth Center recently, which included the sodding of the field, the replacement of the outdoor basketball box lights, and the installation of playground shades. This week, the indoor basketball gym floor will also be stripped and entirely refinished. But there’s also other work being done throughout Coral Gables to the many playgrounds and parks including: Coral Bay Park (construction of the park pavilion and ADA improvements); Granada Pro Shop (interior and bathrooms ADA improvements and ADA accessible parking space); Jaycee Park and Pierce Park (installation of ADA accessible picnic table); Phillips Park and Sunrise Park (shade structure installation); Riviera Park (new park with gazebo, resurfacing of existing walkways, new play animals,  light fixtures, landscaping, benches and trash receptacles); Rotary Centennial Park (new play equipment, walkway, benches, trash receptacles and fence); Salvadore Park (demolition of tennis hard courts and conversion to clay courts, resurfacing of clay courts, lightning upgrades and other playground improvements); Venetian Pool (slip resistance surfacing to the floor, replacement of chlorination system, and ADA improvements); and to William H. Kerdyk Biltmore Tennis Center (ADA improvements and permanent bleachers). These park upgrades are being made to enhance the quality of life of residents of all ages.

The Coral Gables City Hall was constructed from 1927-1928 and is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and on the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places. Coral Gables City Hall is perhaps the most important example of the City’s strong effort toward historic preservation, recognizing the historical and architectural value of Coral Gables significant buildings. That is why this facility was recently awarded the Outstanding Historic Preservation Award by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, as part of the City Beautiful Award that recognizes outstanding architecture in the City. Designed by architects Denman Fink, Phineas Paist, and Harold Steward, the building features a semicircular wing with 12 prominent stone columns, a bell tower, balcony, and cast ornamentation, creating spectacular facades.  Coral Gables City Hall continues to be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations, an ongoing effort which has included the restoration of the interior cupola and ADA enhancements.

The Seaway Group, the company that took over control of the City-owned property in 1992, has posted information on the world wide web about the Biltmore Villages. The proposed construction around the Biltmore Hotel include the upgrading of the existing West Lot parking field as the site of hidden parking with additional hotel rooms and condominium residences above it. All changes will be subject to the normal rigorous review and approval process imposed by the City of Coral Gables. Numerous public hearings will be scheduled to receive input from all parties affected. Residents looking for more information about this topic and interested in seeing preliminary renderings should click here.

The Miracle Mile Streetscape Advisory Committee, a group of volunteers made by design professionals, urban planners, engineers, transportation professionals and the Business Improvement District, is holding a public forum on Monday, September 8, at 6 p.m. at the Westin Colonnade Hotel, 180 Aragon Avenue. The meeting will be held to seek input from merchants, property owners, City staff and residents about the several streetscape design options for Giralda Avenue (Restaurant Row) and Miracle Mile. The group was formed this year to evaluate and recommend the best streetscape design option for the continued success of the commercial owners and the broader vision consistent with the walkable features recommended by the 2002 City Charrette. This presentation is the first in a series of public forums that will be presented to several City Boards, the Chamber of Commerce, residents and ultimately, to the City Commission for approval. For additional information, contact the Business Improvement District at 305-569-0311.

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

TRAFFIC
Coral Way and Segovia Street: This week you should begin to see lots of activity at the intersection of Coral Way and Segovia Street where construction crews will install a large traffic circle. For the next two weeks, workers will be removing existing street signs, traffic lights, sidewalks, gutters, shrubs, curbing and asphalt to prepare the area for the construction of the circle. The following streets are close and remain closed throughout the duration of the project: Coral Way at Segovia Street, North Greenway Drive at Segovia Street, Segovia Street at Coral Way and Segovia Street at Biltmore Way. Local traffic will be permitted through the area at all times. Signs are positioned just outside the construction zone that clearly mark detour routes. The traffic circle is scheduled to be completed by December 15.

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
 

You are subscribed to City Beautiful e-News.
Forward this information to a friend or ask them to subscribe at e-news@coralgables.com.
To unsubscribe, e-mail us at e-news@coralgables.com.
Please visit the City of Coral Gables website at www.coralgables.com
or call the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.