WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2011

Building & Zoning Department
Makes Customer Service Improvements

Since new Building and Zoning Department Director Carmen Olazabal joined the City of Coral Gables in September of 2010, operational improvements have been put into effect to provide better customer service. Turnaround times for new commercial permits have dramatically improved from a 55-working-day wait to now only 24 days. Certain permit types are now being fast tracked, an initiative that has reduced the turnaround time on all permit types. There have also been a number of other improvements in the routing process of plans, the creation of code enforcement and fee guide webpages and other user friendly technology upgrades. These initiatives have been implemented after suggestions and recommendations from customers, staff and analysis from a report of the Building and Zoning and Planning Departments submitted by JRD & Associates, Inc. To optimize those areas in need of immediate attention, management reports have been created as tools to better manage the department's resources. The focus of Ms. Olazabal has been on improving the efficiency of the Building and Zoning Department, creating management tools that increase accountability, and establishing proper guidelines to better serve customers. Ms. Olazabal is a Coral Gables resident who previously was the Assistant Director of the Building Department for the City of Miami Beach. She is a licensed Professional Engineer with significant experience in project management and structural/project engineering. She has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master of Science in Engineering-Structural from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. To see a report of all improvements to the Building and Zoning Department, click here.

It’s Very Gable-licious:
Restaurant Week Set for June 6-19th

It’s bigger, better and tastier, and very Gable-licious. The fourth annual Coral Gables Restaurant Week will be held from Monday, June 6 through Sunday, June 19th. Celebrate the great international chefs of Downtown Coral Gables as they showcase delectable three-course menus for lunch and dinner, all for a fixed price. More than 30 Coral Gables restaurants will be participating this year. You can sample and vote for your favorite dish at the kick-off event, Taste of the Gables, to be held on Thursday, June 2, from 6-8 p.m. at The Westin Colonnade at 180 Aragon Avenue. Cost is $25 in advance; $35 the day of the event. Event proceeds benefit the United Way of Miami-Dade. To see a list of participating restaurants for Restaurant Week, click here.

Do The Trolley Hop On Gallery Night, On Friday, June 3rd

It’s the best night of the week to be aboard the Trolley: on Coral Gables Gallery Night on Friday, June 3rd. From 6-10 p.m., be on the lookout for the orange paintbrush to identify the new Gallery Night Trolley, which along with the regular Trolley line, will loop between galleries and art venues participating in this special night showcasing various works from European and Latin American art masters to outstanding contemporary artists. Previously Gallery Nights featured a limited Trolley route along Ponce de Leon Boulevard that has now has been expanded to include additional art venues for patrons to visit. On the first Friday of each month, the Gallery Night Trolley will take you to the doorsteps of participating galleries and other venues making it easier for you to enjoy a night of art, culture and fun. For a map of the Gallery Night Trolley loop, click here.

Summer’s Almost Here! Register
Your Children For Coral Gables Summer Camps

June 9th is the last day of school in Miami-Dade County and children will enjoy a summer break from June 13th until August 19th. The City of Coral Gables offers a number of Summer Camps organized by the Parks and Recreation Department that offer the perfect opportunity for your kids to enjoy fun activities, practice their favorite sport and make new friends. Registration is now open for the following camps: Club P.L.A.Y., Half Day Fun Camp, Half Day Sports Camp, My First Camp, Abrakadoodle Arty Camp, Teens Outside Camp, Volleyball Camp, Basketball Camp, John Crotty Basketball Camp, Sunblazer Soccer Camp, Kixs 4 Kidz Soccer Camp, Smash & Splash Tennis Camp, Jr. High Performance & Junior Development Tennis Camp, Junior Lifeguard Camp, Sport-Specific Fitness & Conditioning Camp, Pre-Teen and Teen Fitness Program, Fitness Fun Camp, General Fitness & Conditioning Camp, Creative Camp and Co-Ed Gymnastic Camp. Registration is now open. Weekly fees vary. To see a list of Coral Gables Summer Camps, click here.

Coral Gables Residents Invited
To Free Lecture On Innovations In Cardiology

Coral Gables residents are invited to attend a special event presented by the UM Doctors Lecture Series. On Tuesday, June 7, at 6:30 p.m., Doctor William W. O’Neill, Executive Dean for Clinical Affairs of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer of UHealth, will give a talk on “Innovations in Cardiology.” The lecture will be held at the Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center, 6200 San Amaro Drive. A question-and-answer session will follow the lecture. Doctor O’Neill is a world leader in the field of interventional cardiology and in the research of new techniques to diagnose and treat obstructed heart arteries. The free lecture is part of the new 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami and is designed to enrich the community with intellectual discourse and stimulating presentations by faculty experts in various disciplines. To R.S.V.P. for the event, call 305-243-9697 or send an email to eventsrsvp@med.miami.edu. To view an e-vite, click here.

Click It Or Ticket: Wear Your Seat Belt To Save A Life

rom now until June 5th, 2011, the City of Coral Gables Police Department will be enforcing the Click It or Ticket campaign, making sure that motorists and passengers wear their safety belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,593 passenger vehicle occupants died in 2009 in motor vehicle crashes nationwide. In Florida, 82 percent of drivers wear their seat belts, according to state statistics, a sharp rise over the last decade but still below the 87 percent average in the 26 states with primary seat-belt laws. NHTSA estimates that safety belt use saves Florida an estimated 124 lives, 1,733 serious injuries, and $408 million in costs annually. Wearing a seat belt reduces injuries and could save your life and that of a loved one: death sometimes results from hitting the windshield, being thrown from the vehicle and banging against vehicle parts and passengers. Adults who do not use seat belts send a deadly message to children. Statistics show that the more likely that if a driver is buckled up, children riding in the same vehicle are buckled up 94 percent of the time. No matter what age you are and no matter what the distance to where you may be going, please wear your seat belt when driving all the time.