SERVING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SINCE 1958
Community Newspapers SUN
FEBRAURY 16, 2009
S unny I sles B each
Road to Riches
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE PELICAN COMMUNITY PARK PROGRAM FINE ARTS FOR KIDS
Page 2
• • • • • • •
SCIENCE SINCE SPUTNIK
VOL. 27, NO. 7
City’s drive to revitalize continues in ‘09 BY BARI AUERBACH rom initiatives to complete roadwork and streetscape beautification plans – to giving the green light to create more green space, Sunny Isles Beach is cruising along the “road to riches� with capital improvements plus a plethora of services and amenities fueling public good and welfare in 2009 and beyond.
F
‘EASY STREET’ When Mayor Norman S. Edelcup recently delivered the annual State of the City Address, he emphasized, “The city’s financial condition is very secure and strong. We have been able to maintain our funding on scheduled capital improvements this past year and at the same time maintain a healthy general fund reserve balance of $17 million. During the past year the financial well being of our city held steady‌[and since 2006] property tax rates were reduced significantly.â€? If tradition continues, Sunny Isles Beach residents will keep enjoying the highest quality of life along with one of the lowest tax rates in Miami-Dade County (2.48 per $1,000 of assessed property value).The city’s ‘08/’09 budget includes funding for a plethora of capital improvements and services including: Pelican Community Park operations; phased replacement of police and public service vehicles; completing a computer backup system for disaster recovery; Government Center modifications; park upgrades; landscaping work; Sunny
Isles Boulevard improvements; undergrounding utilities; enhanced signage; and construction projects including restoration of the Newport Fishing Pier. Future budget goals include creating a “land bank� enabling the city to purchase properties for pubic purposes that can be developed to enhance Sunny Isles Beach; acquiring new parks; constructing parking garages; and beautifying the streetscape along the west side of Collins Avenue. ‘PAVING THE WAY FOR PROGRESS’ To help expedite smooth traffic flow on Sunny Isles Boulevard leading to Collins Avenue, the City Commission has advocated incurring the cost of installing an underground conduit and repaving the southern portion of the road.Florida Power & Light has been working to underground utilities on Sunny Isles Boulevard – but due to unforeseen project delays, the City Commission plans to proceed with repaving the road as soon as possible to help alleviate traffic gridlock.In keeping with the city’s goal to beautify and revitalize Sunny Isles Boulevard – a gateway to the city – road improvements including rebuilding curbs, driveways and gutters on the edge of both sides of the street were planned and funded in part by a $3 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. Sunny Isles Boulevard is part of the city’s vision for an upscale, vibrant Town Center district featuring shops, restaurants, green open space and luxurious developments
0DU F K
––––––––––––– See RICHES, page 2
Page 6
• • • • • • •
POLICE PROMOTIONS Page 20
NOTICE
Due to the special piano performance on March 18, 2009 there will be NO regularly scheduled Sunny Serenade in March.