WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011

Solar-Powered Parking Pay Stations
Make Debut In Coral Gables

Parking in Downtown Coral Gables is becoming more convenient these days as the City replaces old parking meters with pay stations that provide patrons with multiple payment options including coins, bills, debit and credit cards. Approximately 800 parking meters on Biltmore Way, Alhambra Circle, Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Down­town parking lots are being replaced with 80 state-of-the-art, solar powered pay-and-display stations. Drivers must take the ticket and place it on the dashboard with date and time visible. The new aesthetically pleasing pay stations will have easy on-screen operating instructions and greater efficiency with the capability to notify City staff electronically when the units need maintenance or the coin boxes are full. These new pay stations are part of the City’s ongoing efforts to offer more efficient, customer friendly and reliable parking alternatives. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parking Department at 305-460-5541.

Pilot Project To Test Advanced
Single-Space Parking Meters

As a pilot project that is also designed to improve the parking experience in Downtown Coral Gables, the City of Coral Gables will be testing a new generation single-space parking meter that promises to end the need for carrying a pocket full of change. Within the next 60 days, 40 of these single-space parking meters will be installed on Miracle Mile for a trial operational period of a minimum 120 days. The pilot program was made with IPS Group Inc., a San-Diego based high tech company which manufactures the advanced solar-powered meters that can accept credit card transactions and can be retrofitted onto the existing meter poles. City Manager Pat Salerno requested staff test this new technology. The City of Coral Gables will be the first municipality in the country to perform a parking meter field test with this cutting-edge technology.   The meters let patrons choose payment with the traditional coins, or the more convenient credit or debit cards. They also support the City’s existing Pay-By-Cellphone program and provide a comprehensive web-based management system. After the trial period, the City of Coral Gables is under no obligation to purchase any meters from the vendor and will evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of these new meters before deciding whether to continue their use. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parking Department at 305-460-5541.

Is It Lunchtime Yet? Jazz It Up Today At Museum Plaza

You don’t know what you’re missing if you haven’t been to the weekly Wednesday Jazz in the Gables concerts, a free event taking place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Plaza of the Coral Gables Museum on the corner of Salzedo Street and Aragon Avenue. Performing today is jazz rising star Nicole Yarling. Her chosen instruments are her voice, the violin and the fiddle - in that order. For more than a decade, she has been a part of South Florida's musical world and has toured for three years with Jimmy Buffet. The weekly series, which lasts until April 27th, presents jazz musicians performing for free at lunchtime. Box lunches from your favorite Coral Gables restaurants (Pardo’s Chicken on March 16, La Tartine on March 23), will be available for purchase. The event is presented in partnership with the Miami Jazz Cooperative, and the Coral Gables Museum. Coming up next week on Wednesday, March 23rd is the beautiful voice of Rose Max and the Brazilian acoustic guitar of Ramatis, presenting the perfect mix of soulful Brazilian music which takes you to Rio de Janeiro without leaving Coral Gables. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Economic Sustainability Department, at 305-460-5313 or click here.

Rose Max and Ramatis

Gables Fellows Program Is Accepting
Applications For Internships

The City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami are pleased to announce the  Gables Fellows Program, a paid internship for the Fall and Spring semesters with the City of Coral Gables beginning in Fall 2011. This fellowship will be paid for by UM and is designed for undergraduate junior and senior UM students interested in careers in public service, architecture, arts and culture, non-profit management or economic development. The fellowship program is part of a 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami. Applications are being accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2011 and must be hand-delivered to the University of Miami Office of the Provost, Ashe Building, Suite 240. The selected intern will rotate through various City of Coral Gables departments to gain experience and hands-on knowledge of the day-to-day operations of municipal government. At the end of the semester, interns are required to submit a five-page report on the experience and its impact on their academic and professional development. University of Miami undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are invited to apply for the fellowship and must demonstrate interest in local government and community development. For more application details and additional information, contact Devika Milner, Office of the Provost at dmilner@miami.edu.

Coral Gables Commission Appoints New City Attorney

The Coral Gables City Commission has appointed Craig E. Leen as the new City Attorney. The appointment becomes effective April 11, 2011. He replaces Elizabeth M. Hernandez who retired in December after 16 years of City service. As City Attorney, Leen will serve as chief legal advisor to the Commission, staff and City Boards. He was an Assistant County Attorney for Miami-Dade County since 2005 and served as the Chief of the Federal Litigation Section. Prior to this position, he was an associate at several national law firms and a federal law clerk to the Hon. Robert E. Keeton of the U.S. District of Massachusetts.

Coral Gables Residents Invited
To Public Reading & Free Lecture

As part of the 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami, Coral Gables residents are invited to two important events. On Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m., Coral Gables residents will have an opportunity to enjoy an interesting reading by an accomplished writer, CUNY professor and UM alumnus. Terrence Cheng (UM MFA '97) is the author of Sons of Heaven, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick as well as a Borders Original Voices selection. In 2005 he received a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. The free public reading takes place at UM's CAS Gallery, 1210 Stanford Drive. Then on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., UM School of Education Dean Isaac Prilleltensky will give a talk on "Promoting Your Personal, Family, and Community Well-Being: From Science To Action." The lecture will be held at the Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. Free parking is available at the University of Miami Campus after 4 p.m. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.

Historical Resources Department
Moves Offices To Old Police & Fire Station

If you’re looking to visit or do business with the City of Coral Gables Historical Resources Department, don’t come to City Hall. The department’s administrative office has relocated to the second floor of the Old Police and Fire Station which now houses the Coral Gables Museum. The entrance to the Historical Resources Department will be at 2327 Salzedo Street. Their hours of operation remain 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with offices closed on weekends and holidays. For more information, please call 305-460-5093.