On Tuesday, April 14, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the City of Coral Gables will hold a Special Municipal Referendum election for the purpose of asking voters registered in Coral Gables to vote on five amendments to the City Charter.  Each of the five proposed amendments will be covered in separate e-News editions. The purpose of the coverage is to explain the amendment but no position is being advocated by the Administration. The first Charter Amendment proposes to increase the threshold from $25,000 to $100,000 as the amount of public works project or improvement would require a formal public bid and award process, including public advertising, sealed bids and City Commission approval. Public works projects under $100,000 that are already included in the City budget will not require a formal public bid but will need to follow informal bid procedures which require at least three quotes from qualified vendors. Under the informal bid process, City Administration reviews the bids for price, timeline and consideration. This Amendment also proposed to transfer Section 54 from the City Charter to the City Code so that any future changes to this Section may be modified by a vote of the City Commission instead of by a vote of the qualified electors. Be informed: Look for further explanations of other Charter Amendments in future editions of e-News. 

Commission Selects Five Finalists
For City Manager’s Position

A list of nine recommended candidates was presented to the City Commission on February 10 by Colin Baenziger & Associates, the executive search firm hired to screen candidates for the next City Manager of Coral Gables. From the list of applicants, the City Commission shortlisted five candidates they are interested in conducting individual interviews which are scheduled for Friday, February 20. The finalists for the City Manager’s job include: Steven Crowell, City Manager of North Port; Joe Rasco, director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Miami-Dade County; Patrick Salerno, former City Manager of Sunrise; Larry Spring, Chief Financial Officer of the City of Miami; and Buford “Randy” Witt, retired Brigadier General of the U.S. Army. After the individual interviews, the City Commission will convene to publicly discuss the City Manager’s selection process at a public meeting scheduled for February 20 at 3 p.m. at Commission Chambers. Members of the public are invited to observe the discussion; however no public testimony will be taken. You can watch this meeting live on Coral Gables Television, Channel 77. 

The City of Coral Gables is joining the National League of Cities to offer a Prescription Discount Card that will provide citizens access to savings on the high cost of prescription medications. The free prescription discount cards will soon be available and distributed in various Coral Gables public facilities. The program is administered by CVS Caremark at no cost to the City of Coral Gables. Card users can obtain discounts on any prescriptions not covered by insurance, receiving an average savings of 20 percent at numerous locations throughout the Coral Gables area including Navarro, University Pharmacy, CVS, Walgreen’s and others.  Card users that get their prescriptions by mail may receive up to 50 percent through mail service. There is no age or income requirement or enrollment fee for card users and coverage can be extended for all family members. Further announcements will be made on upcoming e-News about how to obtain a Prescription Discount Card Program as well as a list of participating pharmacies.  

Celebrating The Pancoast Family Legacy

The City of Coral Gables embraces art in all its forms and is happy to have pieces on display in unconventional places. This month Coral Gables and the Miami-Dade Public Library System commences a three month long celebration of a grand mural that adorns the Coral Gables Branch Library. The exhibition The Pancoast Family Legacy: Celebrating a Tradition will take place from February 24 through April 5, 2009. Kay Pancoast’s Coral Gables Mural is comprised of colorful ceramic tiles that depict many of the City’s landmarks in a very unique way. Pancoast’s mural has been a permanent installation at the library for 40 years. Although the exhibition centers on the anniversary of the large art work and its creator, the entire Pancoast family has left its mark in the art world and the exhibition will pay homage to them: Lester, Russell T., and Helene Pancoast, as well as Marty Grafton, and the late architect for the Coral Gables library Wray Succop. The talented family exhibition will feature hand-made ceramic tiles, watercolors, sketches and drawings and paintings. Children from the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center have created a ceramic mural using some of Pancoast’s techniques. Their rendition will also be on display at the library. The special celebration begins with a reception on Thursday, February 26 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Margaret M. Beaton Room at the Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia Street. 

Perrin Plaza Is Officially Dedicated

New on the map of the City of Coral Gables: The Perrin Plaza, officially dedicated on February 10 in front of the upcoming Coral Gables Art Cinema at 260 Aragon Avenue. Among those present was Ann Mumford, cousin of the Perrin family who flew in from Richmond, Virginia to participate in the celebrations honoring Harry and Mary Perrin whose estate donated $250,000 through the Coral Gables Community Foundation to help with the build-out of the future art cinema. Close to 100 people attended the event and received a preview of the interior improvements being made to the shell space on the ground floor of the City Museum Garage. The Art Cinema will be the first City-owned facility used to showcase film screenings, film festivals, lectures, book readings and other cultural events. 

Master Plan To Detail Cost
Of Downtown Parking Improvements

After much deliberation about the advantages and disadvantages of parallel parking versus angle parking in Downtown Coral Gables, the City Commission requested additional information about the cost of these plans and available funding sources. At the last City Commission meeting, the BID presented a conceptual design of converting on-street angle parking to parallel parking which would widen the existing sidewalks and provides for improvement to walkway connectors to nearby public parking. Concerned about the present and future cost for the City, affected property owners and tenants, the Commission asked staff to work on providing a Master Plan that will detail the costs of all options before moving forward. Last January, the Commission authorized the development of a Master Plan for right-of-way improvements for Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue.  

Multi-Residential Almeria Row
Recognized For Classical Design

Recognized for excellence in traditional and classical design, the multi-residential townhouses of Almeria Row received the Shutze Award presented by the Southeast Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America. The award is named after Philip Trammell Shutze, an Atlanta architect who is considered to be one of the 20TH Century most devoted classicists. Almeria Row will be featured in the architectural publication Today’s Custom Home. The project has also received the 2008 Palladio Award for multi-family category and the 2008 Congress for the New Urbanism Charter Award. The Palladio Award is an international award designed to honor outstanding achievement in traditional design. The CNU Charter Award is also one of the most respected urban design awards in the country and internationally recognizing excellence in architecture that promotes traditional building communities and contributes to sensible City building practices. Congratulations to developer Fernando Menoyo, architects Maria de la Guardia, Teofilo Victoria and landscape architect Douglas Duany for creating a timeless architectural beauty.

EVENTS ROUNDUP
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TRAFFIC

February 27 & 28: As a result of the Middle Eastern Festival, Palermo Avenue will close from LeJeune Road to Salzedo Street between the hours of 10 a.m. and Midnight. Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes. 

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

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