2018 City of Doral Parks Bond Doral Parks for Tomorrow
Your City, Your Parks, Your Future!
Since Doral’s incorporation in 2003, City leadership has envisioned world-class parks with many amenities that would be multigenerational, multi-purpose and multi-seasonal. Recognizing that the City would grow overtime, the City is working proactively to help provide additional parks, facilities, and amenities to meet the needs of both current and future residents. A key goal is for all residents of the city to be within walking distance of “walk-to” park (or neighborhood park) that meets the recreational needs of residents of all ages, interests and capabilities. On November 6, 2018, Doral residents will have the opportunity to vote on a General Obligation Parks Bond for $150 million that would help fund the construction of high-priority future Doral park projects. This summary provides detailed information to help voters understand the bond financing ballot question, bonding process, and associated projects. As part of the City’s comprehensive public education campaign, more information will continue to be posted online throughout the process as it becomes available.
www.DoralParksBond.org
What is a Bond? A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters the power to decide if a municipality should be authorized to raise funds through the issuance of general obligation bonds. A general obligation (G.O.) bond is a form of borrowing in which a municipality pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt with interest over a specified term. G.O. bonds are generally the least costly financing option available to the city for funding these projects, and will allow them to be completed much more quickly than traditional funding approaches.
Why is it Needed? The park system master planning process approved last year validated that Doral has a proven reputation for providing high-quality parks, amenities, and experiences, however, struggles to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population in a landlocked geography. As noted in both the 2010 and 2017 Doral Parks System Master Plans, the City is perpetually playing “catch up,” resulting in parks which can become over-used, over-programmed, and inflexible. The 2017 Parks System Master Plan provided several alternative strategies to funding the proposed improvements. A bond referendum allows for a larger amount of high-priority projects to be completed in a shorter amount of time when compared to the traditional, “pay-as-you-go” strategy, which would take substantially longer to fund the same projects. The City Council’s unanimous decision to proceed with a bond referendum came after much deliberation, considering all of the information gathered during the Parks System Master Plan Update, population growth estimates, and additional feedback from the community. With the recent success of Doral Legacy Park, an ambitious project in its own right, the City Council felt confident the community would support an effort to fund more projects up-front. General funds, partnerships, sponsorship, impact fees and grants all continue to be part of the long-range vision proposed within the master plan, especially for continued operation and maintenance.
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about the bond
What’s Included in the Bond? The 2017 City of Doral Parks System Master Plan utilized 11 different analysis and engagement techniques to identify high-priority needs of Doral residents. This process incorporated a substantial public engagement component with a total of six (6) public workshops, a community survey, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and numerous presentations. This multi-year, intensive process revealed that the community’s highest priority parks and recreation needs were (in order of importance):
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New/additional park spaces Trails and greenways Indoor recreation centers Aquatics centers, facilities, and programs Social spaces (shelters, pavilions, etc.) Fitness programs and facilities Small neighborhood park spaces Soccer Tennis
The projects proposed within this bond are intent on meeting the greatest amount of highpriority needs mentioned above, allowing for the greatest benefit to the largest amount of Doral’s residents as possible, regardless of age, ability, or location within the city. The bond projects are organized into five (5) categories, which include:
Doral Central Park
Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion
New Walk-To Parks
Improved Existing Parks
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Expanded Trail System
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What Will it Cost? On November 6, 2018, Doral voters will have the opportunity to vote on a General Obligation Parks Bond for $150 million that would help fund the construction of future Doral park projects. This bond will help provide the residents of Doral with access to numerous new recreation and leisure opportunities city-wide, and it is estimated that a 30 Year, $150 Million G.O. Bond could cost the typical homeowner an average of $139 per year in additional property taxes.* To find out the estimated impact for YOUR household, please visit the project website at:
DoralParksBond.org/WhatWillItCost/
Bond Funds Distributed by Amenity Type
*This was based off Miami Dade County’s 2018 assessment of the median homestead Doral residential taxable value of $193,121
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about the bond
What is the Project Timeline? Following is a timeline of progress to date, as well as an approximated schedule of how future projects will be implemented IF the residents of Doral vote to approve the proposed bond.
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Doral Central Park Vision At 82 acres, Doral Central Park will be the largest park in the city, and one of the largest in the region. The community’s vision for this park reflects Doral’s populace in that it is both bold and diverse. Located in one of the fastest growing areas of the city, Doral Central Park is envisioned to be a multi-generational destination park for all Doral residents, regardless of age or ability, that seamlessly blends outdoor recreation, indoor recreation, and aquatics in a sustainable and community-centric way. Central Park will be the recreation and special-events hub in Doral, and is anticipated to provide over 30 different components and programmatic areas, including
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70,000+ SF indoor recreation center Aquatics facility Formal events lawn Skate spot and pump track Multiple playgrounds Natural area and boardwalk trails Lakefront sand volleyball Urban dog park Basketball and tennis courts Lakefront promenade Multiple restroom buildings Multiple picnic shelters Large events/sports lawn Lakefront trail Bike and exercise loop Community garden
Y O U R C I T Y, Y O U R PA R K S , Y O U R F U T U R E !
Proposed Bond Projects
Indoor Recreation Center The Master Planning process identified the provision of additional indoor amenities as one of the greatest needs system-wide, with over 50% of survey respondents indicating a need for indoor facilities and/or programs. The Central Park Indoor Recreation Center is envisioned to be the hub of indoor recreation and athletics in Doral. At approximately 70,000 square feet, this will be the largest indoor facility in Doral, and will be home to the City’s only indoor fitness center. The design and program of this facility will reflect the dynamism and diversity of Doral’s population, with a focus on indoor fitness, social interaction, and multi-purpose, multi-use spaces. This center will be multi-generational, offering something for residents of all ages and abilities.
Aquatics Facility In 2015, the City of Doral commissioned an aquatics feasibility study to determine the viability, program, and location of a future aquatics facility in Doral. The result of this planning process, which was informed by the overall 2017 Parks System Master Plan, was a vision for the inclusion of a large, outdoor aquatics complex at Central Park. The lakefront aquatics facility would provide both recreational and competitive athletic facilities which are anticipated to include: -- Competition pool -- Teaching pool -- Activity pool w/ zero-depth entry -- Lazy river -- Water slides -- Training and concessions buildings -- Multiple picnic shelters and cabanas w w w. D o r a l P a r k s B o n d . o r g
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Waterfront Promenade This linear, urban plaza space will be designed for both pedestrian circulation and relaxation and will serve as a link between the indoor recreation center area and the natural areas of the park to the northeast. Along the Waterfront Promenade, visitors will find contemporary amenities such as lounge chairs, moveable café furniture, public art, contemporary shade pavilions, and ample nighttime lighting; all of which directly overlook the scenic 27-acre lake.
Cultural Plaza The lakefront Cultural Plaza is envisioned to be one of the premier social gathering spaces in Doral. This dynamic space will include flexible amenities for people of all ages, including outdoor Ping-Pong tables and game areas, urban swings overlooking the lake, multiple flexible seating areas, a gathering pavilion, and a sculptural playspace. The Cultural Plaza will be designed to support numerous regular community events and programs such as movies in the park, outdoor fitness classes, civic gatherings, and small concerts. Visitors to the plaza space will also have access to food and beverages from the walk-up window of the café located inside the indoor recreation center.
Urban Dog Park Over 40% percent of Doral residents own at least one dog, which has made Trails and Tails Park – Doral’s only off-leash dog park – a very popular destination. To help meet the needs of dog owners in Doral, Central Park will provide users with access to an off-leash urban dog park, complete with dog washing stations, picnic shelters, separate large and small dog areas, and accessible walkways. The Urban Dog Park will also be lighted, allowing for increased usage, especially during the short days of winter or the cooler nights of summer. 8
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Proposed Bond Projects
Fitness Loop At 1/3-mile in length, the multi-purpose, one-way Fitness Loop has dedicated lanes for walking/ strolling, jogging, and cycling. The outer perimeter of the loop will provide walkers with access to regularly-spaced outdoor fitness stations and educational signage/exhibits geared towards improving community health. The location of the cycling lane on the innermost loop will limit potential pedestrian interaction or conflict with bikers, providing for an uninterrupted circuit.
Sports + Athletics Doral Central Park will provide ample opportunities to support recreational athletics in due to the large amount of flexible greenspace within the design. This greenspace, which will serve as home to numerous large-scale community events, can also support recreational play for soccer, football, and baseball/softball. At Doral Central Park, the focus will be on recreation, not competition, and the flexibility of the greenspaces will allow them to adapt the changes in trends over time. In addition to the flexible open lawn areas, Central Park will provide visitors with access to (4) tennis courts, (3) full-sized basketball courts and (1) half-sized court, (3) lakefront sand volleyball courts, and Doral’s first “Skate Spot.”
Destination Playspaces The City of Doral believes in the power of play and its ability to improve the mental, physical and social health of Doral’s youngest residents and visitors. Doral Central Park will provide users with three unique play environments, including the Destination Playspace, the Sensory Playscape, and the sculptural play area in the Cultural Plaza. These play areas will provide a wide array of contemporary, accessible play experiences for children of all ages and abilities. Users will have access to multiple picnic shelters and a conditioned restroom building nearby.
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Doral Central Park: 22
LEGEND: LEGEND: 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
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LEGEND: 1.
70,000 SF indoor recreation center
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Dedicated drop-off plaza
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Surface parking lot
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Competition pool
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3 Park maintenance/storage building
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3 Formal events lawn
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Events pavilion
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Aquatics facility
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Leisure pool deck
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Competition pool deck
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Skate spot and pump track
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Sensory playscape
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Wetland boardwalk trail
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Lake-front sand volleyball
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Playground/playspace
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Tennis courts
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Small tot-lot
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Lake-front promenade
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Cultural plaza w/ sculptural play piece
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Primary vehicular entrance
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Existing water storage tank w/ Art in Public Spaces mural.
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Perimeter roads w/ on-street parking
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Canoe/kayak/paddle boat launch
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Natural area w/ nature trails
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2323 Nature pavilion
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Restroom building
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Small picnic shelter (typ.)
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Large Picnic Shelter
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Main events/sports lawn
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Lake-front trail
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Bike and exercise loop
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Community garden
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Overflow turf parking area
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Learn-to-bike loop
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Doral Central Park / Master Pla
DoralCentral CentralPark Park//Master Master Plan Plan Doral 10
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70,000 SF indoor recreation center 1.Dedicated 70,000 drop-off SF indoorplaza recreation center 2.Surface Dedicated drop-off plaza parking lot 3.Competition Surface parking pool lot 4.ParkCompetition pool maintenance/storage building 5.Formal Parkevents maintenance/storage building lawn 6.Events Formal events lawn pavilion 7.Aquatics Events pavilion facility 8.Leisure Aquatics facility pool deck 9. Leisure pool deck Competition pool deck 10. Competition pool deck Skate spot and pump track 11. Skate spot and pump track Sensory playscape 12. Sensory playscape Wetland boardwalk trail 13. Wetland boardwalk trail Lake-front sand volleyball 14. Lake-front sand volleyball Playground/playspace 15. Playground/playspace Urban dog park 16. Urban dog park Basketball courts 17. Basketball courts Tennis courts 18. Tennis courts Small tot-lot 19. Small tot-lot Lake-front promenade 20. Lake-front promenade Cultural plaza w/ sculptural play piece 21. Cultural plaza w/ sculptural play piece Primary vehicular entrance 22. Primary vehicular entrance Existing water storage tank w/ w/ ArtArt in in 23. Existing water storage tank Public Spaces mural. Public Spaces mural. Perimeter roads w/ on-street parking 24. Perimeter roads w/ on-street parking Canoe/kayak/paddle boat launch 25. Canoe/kayak/paddle boat launch Natural areaarea w/ nature trails 26. Natural w/ nature trails Nature pavilion 27. Nature pavilion Restroom building 28. Restroom building 29. Small picnic shelter (typ.) Small picnic shelter (typ.) 30. Large Picnic Shelter Large Picnic Shelter 31. Main events/sports lawn Main events/sports lawn 32. Lake-front trail Lake-front trail 33. exercise loop BikeBike andand exercise loop 34. Community garden Community garden 35. Overflow parking area Overflow turfturf parking area 36. Learn-to-bike loop Learn-to-bike loop
NW 92nd Avenue NW 92nd Avenue
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Every person. Every season. Every time! NW 33rd Street
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Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion Embracing Doral Culture The proposed bond includes the design and construction of Doral’s first dedicated, cultural arts facility at Downtown Doral Park. The Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion will serve to celebrate the unique culture of Doral, as well as the variety of cultures, arts, and experiences embraced by the city’s residents. At approximately 9,000 square feet, the Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion is envisioned to be the hub of cultural and performing arts in Doral, and will be supported by satellite programming locations at both Doral Central Park and Doral Legacy Park.
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"The Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion will serve to celebrate the unique culture of Doral"
Y O U R C I T Y, Y O U R PA R K S , Y O U R F U T U R E !
Proposed Bond Projects
Program Summary The Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion building will include multiple programmatic components such as: -- Large art gallery space visible from both inside and outside the building -- A flexible multi-purpose room -- Multiple outdoor courtyards -- Catering area -- Dedicated vehicular drop-off area -- Public restrooms
Progressive Design The contemporary design of this facility will complement the progressive, urban setting of Downtown Doral. Complete with a rooftop terrace and outdoor art galleries, the Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion will be one of the premier event venues in Miami-Dade County.
Culture; Inside and Out! The construction of the Doral Cultural Arts Pavilion will expand the size of Downtown Doral Park by approximately 1.3 acres, and will provide park visitors with access to additional site amenities such as: -- Accessible rooftop plaza -- Amphitheater green roof terrace -- Additional multi-purpose greenspace -- Public art -- Public garden spaces -- Additional seating areas w w w. D o r a l P a r k s B o n d . o r g
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New Walk-To Park Keeping up with Growth The parks system in Doral primarily includes three (3) types of parks: public and/or private “walk-to” parks (often called “neighborhood parks); larger “City parks” that serve residents City-wide; and Doral Central Park (a regional hub). Walk-to parks play an important role of ensuring a high quality of life for Doral residents by providing amenities and experiences that help meet many of their day-to-day recreation needs. As Doral’s population continues to grow, the city’s parks system must grow alongside it to maintain the quality of life that residents have come to expect.
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"The vision is for every resident to be able to safely and comfortably walk to a high-quality park within a 5 to 10-minute walk from their home”
Y O U R C I T Y, Y O U R PA R K S , Y O U R F U T U R E !
Proposed Bond Projects
Parks = Quality of Life
“White Course” Walk-To Park
Currently, less than 40% of Doral residents have access to public park within a ½ mile of their home. Additionally, it is important to note that the city is currently “underparked,” based on state and national benchmarks as well as comparisons to similar cities.
To help ensure Doral residents continue to have access to neighborhood park spaces, the bond will help fund construction of the currently undeveloped “White Course Park Parcel” within Downtown Doral South.
If no additional parkland is acquired, the parks acreage level of service will decline by 37% by the year 2020, when the city’s population is estimated to exceed 80,000 residents. When a city’s park systems level of service decreases, so does its overall quality of life.
This future park is located within one of the fastest growing residential areas of the city and will help meet the day-to-day recreation needs of those residents, as well as those city-wide. A preliminary concept illustrating the potential program of this proposed park is provided below. 14 3 6
1. Fitness trail 2. Garden paths
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3. Picnic shelters
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4. Native gardens 5. Shaded playground
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6. Flexible event plaza
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7. Shaded seating areas 8. Outdoor fitness stations
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9. Sculptural earthen berm 10. Multi-purpose greenspace
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11. Connection to future school 12. Entry sign and roadway buffer 13. Restroom and storage building 14. Pathway to Downtown Doral South
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NW 41st St.
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Improved Existing Parks Doral Quality The City of Doral has a proven history of providing high-quality parks and public spaces, which when combined with Doral’s active and social population, result in high levels of usage. While positive, this increased level of consistent activation also results in an increased level of wear and tear on the equipment and facilities at existing park sites Improvements to existing parks must continue to be made to ensure a “Doral” level of quality, safety, and accessibility is maintained.
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“The City of Doral has a proven history of providing high-quality parks and public spaces”
Y O U R C I T Y, Y O U R PA R K S , Y O U R F U T U R E !
Proposed Bond Projects
Safety, Accessibility, Usability With Doral’s population projected to continue increasing into the foreseeable future, strategic improvements to existing parks and facilities will be necessary to maintain quality of experience that Doral residents have come to expect. Many of these improvements will be focused on increasing the usability, accessibility, and most importantly, the safety, of Doral’s existing park sites. A key example of one such improvement is the addition of lighting to highlyused facilities to increase their usability year-round.
Areas of Focus Given their age and level of usage, an increased amount of focus will be placed on improvements to:
Morgan Levy Park
Doral Meadow Park
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Trails & Tails Park
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Expanded Trail System Critical Infrastructure The proposed bond includes funds to construct approximately 5 miles of new, multi-purpose trails throughout the city. Additional paved walking and biking trails were identified as one of the highest priority needs by City of Doral residents. In addition to serving as a means of recreation, trails are also critical transportation infrastructure for Doral’s residents, allowing them to move to and between the city’s parks, neighborhoods, and cultural facilities without the use of a car.
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“In addition to serving as a means of recreation, trails are also critical transportation infrastructure”
Y O U R C I T Y, Y O U R PA R K S , Y O U R F U T U R E !
Proposed Bond Projects
New Trail Segments
Doral Trails Vision Plan
Although Doral has made significant progress developing its trail network over the last decade, the majority of City’s existing multi-purpose trails are located on the western and southwestern edges of the city where available easements and right-of-way were available. The central and eastern portions of the city have very limited pedestrian infrastructure and are an area of priority for the city. Doral Central Park, Downtown Doral, and Morgan Levy Park are all located within this region, in addition to thousands of residential units.
Improvements to Existing Trails In addition to building new trails, the City will also leverage the bond funds to make strategic enhancements to existing trail segments. Much needed improvements – such as the addition of lighting – will improve the condition, usability, and safety of the existing trail network for users city-wide.
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Ballot Language
Doral Referendum Referendo para Doral Referandòm pou Doral Doral Parks for Tomorrow: General Obligation Bonds Referendum for Parks, Natural Areas, and Recreational Facilities To improve public health and protect natural areas by building/improving parks and recreational facilities with safety features, including, but not limited to, green spaces, community centers, cultural amenities, aquatic facility, playgrounds, sports fields, and five miles of walking/cycling trails, shall Doral issue General Obligation Bonds, within maximum lawful interest rates, maturing within 30 years from each issuance, not exceeding $150 million, payable from ad valorem taxes, with independent annual audits and citizen oversight? Parques del Doral para el Futuro: Referendo relativo a Bonos de Obligación General para Parques, Áreas Naturales e Instalaciones Recreativas A fin de mejorar la salud pública y de proteger las áreas naturales mediante la construcción/mejora de parques e instalaciones recreativas con dispositivos de seguridad, incluidos, entre otros, espacios verdes, centros comunitarios, servicios culturales, instalación acuática, zona de juegos, campos deportivos y cinco millas de senderos para caminar/montar bicicleta, ¿deberá el Doral emitir Bonos de Obligación General, dentro de las tasas de interés máximas permitidas por la ley, con vencimiento en un plazo de 30 años a partir de su fecha de emisión, por un monto que no supere los $150 millones, pagaderos de los impuestos ad valórem, con auditorías anuales independientes y supervisión ciudadana? Pak yo nan Doral pou Demen: Referandòm sou Bon ak Obligasyon Jeneral pou Pak, Espas Natirèl, ak Enstalasyon Rekreyatif Pou amelyore sante piblik epi pwoteje espas natirèl yo gras a konstriksyon/amelyorasyon pak yo ak enstalasyon rekreyatif yo avèk fonksyon sekirite, tankou, pami lòt bagay, espas vèt, sant kominotè, enstalasyon kiltirèl, enstalasyon akwatik, teren amizman, teren espò, ak senk mil santye pou mache/monte bekàn, èske Doral dwe emèt Bon ak Obligasyon Jeneral, avèk to enterè ki nan limit maksimòm legal la, k ap rive a echeyans disi 30 lane apati chak emisyon, ki pa depase $150 milyon, ki peyab avèk taks sou valè, avèk odit endepandan chak ane ak kontwòl sitwayen? For Bonds/A favor de los bonos/Pou Bon yo Against Bonds/En contra de los bonos/Kont Bon yo
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How to Get Involved
Your City. Your Parks. Your Future! Doral is YOUR city, and the future of its parks is in YOUR hands! Please utilize the available resources to educate yourself on the various bond projects proposed and their potential implications. EVERY VOTE COUNTS; many of the projects proposed herein will either be delayed or financially unfeasible without the funding provided by the bond.
How and Where do I vote? The last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2018 election is October 9th, 2018! Please visit the project website to find out more information about how you can register to vote, as well as where your specific voting location will be come November. www.DoralParksBond.org/get-involved/
Who can I contact? If you have any questions regarding the bond or bonding process, please contact: City of Doral Parks and Recreation Department 8401 NW 53rd Terrace Doral, FL 33166 305-593-6600 DoralParksBond@CityOfDoral.com w w w. D o r a l P a r k s B o n d . o r g
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Your City, Your Parks, Your Future!
www.DoralParksBond.org