WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2011

City To Lower Property Taxes

The City Commission approved a reduction in the property tax millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year starting October 1, 2011. During the Budget Workshop held on July 20th, the rate was preliminarily set at 5.869 mills, a decrease from the current millage rate of 6.072. The proposed rate represents $5.869 per $1,000 of assessed property value and results in a decrease in property tax revenue of $2 million. It’s been at least 25 years since the City has reduced the amount of property tax revenue collected for two consecutive years. “I am very pleased with the proposed budget which reduces the millage rate while preserving essential services. The City Manager has been reorganizing departments, reducing expenses, staff and payroll. All of those efforts allow us to reduce our millage rate. This is what the residents and I wanted,” said Mayor Jim Cason.

The proposed budget maintains the levels of service residents expect from Coral Gables. The City’s workforce is budgeted to remain the same, 791 full-time employees. That’s fewer employees than the City has had in at least the past two decades. City Manager Pat Salerno has continued his personal analysis of the City’s current administrative organization and distribution of responsibilities in the ongoing pursuit of an optimal organizational arrangement. The proposed changes will streamline the organization and reduce the number of departments from 17 to 14.

The budget provides funding for Capital Improvements totaling approximately $8.5 million. It includes $1.8 million in repairs/improvements to the public safety building, necessary structural repairs to City Hall, repairs/improvements to Venetian Pool, and bridge and waterway repairs/improvements, among others. The Roadway Improvement Program will provide $768,000 to resurface and rebuild streets and make related improvements. Other capital projects include $5.7 million for required improvements to sanitary sewer force mains, lift stations, sanitary sewer pipe replacement and $200,000 in storm water drainage improvements.

Coral Gables has been facing real challenges in these tough economic times. The City has and will continue to act accordingly to ensure it emerges from these difficult times with a foundation for a better future. The proposed budget takes care of the needs and services of residents and businesses in the here and now, while looking ahead and anticipating how we will meet these requirements in the future. There will be two public hearings in September before the final budget is adopted.

Cultivating Beauty

It’s easy to get distracted while driving on Alhambra Circle in the downtown area. 

Drivers and pedestrians alike are slowing down and looking up at the sky to enjoy the new breathtaking view. Approximately 67 towering Medjool Date and 61 Bismarck Palm trees now adorn the median on Alhambra Circle from Le Jeune Road to Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The beautiful transformation is in part due to the continued generosity of Manuel C. Diaz, proud resident and president of Manuel Diaz Farms. Mr. Diaz donated all 61 Bismarck palms worth $80,000 for Alhambra Circle and made it possible for the city to purchase 45 to 50-foot-tall Medjools. Mr. Diaz and his son Nick personally supervised the planting of all the trees on Alhambra. Back in April, Mr. Diaz made another significant donation of large trees to the City worth more than $95,000 for Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

The small Oak trees and Medjools that were originally on Alhambra Circle were transplanted to other areas of the City. The 27 Oak trees, along with 27 more Oaks donated by Mr. Diaz are being replanted on City owned property. The seven Medjools were relocated to the entrance way of Coral Gables High School along Bird Road. The landscaping additions are truly a sight to behold. The trees will enhance the City’s character and the aesthetic experience of living in Coral Gables for decades to come. Landscaping enhancements are an important aspect of the City’s ongoing initiative to beautify our neighborhoods and downtown. There are other significant enhancements underway in Coral Gables. Don’t miss the transformation of Segovia Street and the addition of 300 beautiful Oak trees currently being planted in the swale and median.  

Ongoing construction on Alhambra Circle.

Ongoing construction on Segovia Street.

Construction Begins For
The Palace Senior Living Facility

Construction has broken ground for the development of The Palace, a public/private partnership between the City of Coral Gables and The Palace Management Group that will result in a 243-unit senior living facility at 45 Andalusia Avenue and a new parking garage complex at 50 Andalusia Avenue. The existing Municipal Parking Garage 5 at 50 Andalusia, as well as Parking Lot 9 behind the Ross Dress for Less store at 2 Miracle Mile, are now closed to the public. Drivers looking for nearby parking options during this construction period are asked to go to the Municipal Parking Garage 6 located at 51 Aragon Avenue. Construction of the senior residential facility and new garage is expected to be completed in 2013. The Palace of Coral Gables will be a magnificent 9-story structure with independent living and assisted living studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments with a diverse retail component on the ground level, just steps away from Miracle Mile. Upon completion, the new parking garage complex will offer 205 spaces serving the residents of The Palace, as well as an additional 337 public parking spaces.

Pay Your Local Business Taxes
& Annual Fire Inspection Fees Online

If you are one of the more than 9,000 businesses in Coral Gables needing to pay your local business taxes or fire inspection fees, you can do so now from the comfort of your computer. Beginning this year, the City of Coral Gables is accepting payment through the Internet using Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover credit cards. Previously, the City only accepted payments of local business taxes and fire inspection fees by mail or in person at City Hall. Renewal notices are being mailed to Coral Gables businesses and payment must be received by September 30, 2011 to avoid penalty fees. Businesses that opt to pay online will be able to print a transaction confirmation at the time of payment. An official document from the City of Coral Gables Finance Department will then be mailed to post at the place of business. For questions about fire inspection fees, please contact the Fire Department at 305-460-5563. For other local business tax renewal or new application questions, please contact the Finance Department at 305-460-5302. If you have received your renewal notice and would like to pay the local business tax or annual fire inspection fee online, click here.

Police Accreditation Assessment Team
Invites Public Comment

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive on Saturday, August 6, 2011, to examine all aspects of the Coral Gables Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. As part of the on-site assessment, Department personnel and members from the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, August 8, 6 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room of the Coral Gables Police Department located at 2801 Salzedo Street. Comments can also be made via telephone between the hours of 2-4 p.m. by calling 305-460-5557. Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the Department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. Written comments about the Coral Gables Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation can also be sent to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 or via email at calea@calea.org. Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the Police Department, they will report back to the full Accreditation Commission, which will then decide if the Department is to be granted accredited status. Accreditation is for three years, during which the Police Department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

Residents Can Track Power Outage Information Online

During this rainy summer season, power outages occur when coastal wind gusts blow debris into overhead power lines or when lightning strikes essential electrical equipment. Thanks to a new interactive online map introduced by Florida Power & Light, Coral Gables residents now have access to near real-time information about power outages affecting our area. The FPL Power Tracker allows users to know the time when the outage began or was reported, the number of FPL customers affected, the cause of the outage, the latest status report on the progress of the restoration and the estimated time when power will be restored. If a customer is experiencing an outage, he or she can access the Power Tracker map via a battery-powered laptop with Internet connection, most smart phones and other Internet devices or by asking a friend or family member to go online from another location. In the event of a major tropical storm or hurricane, a large number of outages can be expected. If this occurs, the FPL Power Tracker will enter “storm mode” during the initial phases of restoration and will not display details for individual outages. Instead, the map will provide regional updates along with daily restoration reports. To access the new FPL Power Tracker, click here.

Nominate A Deserving Senior From Coral Gables
For Annual Positive Living Award

Nominate your most deserving Coral Gables resident, age 60 or older, for this year’s Annual Positive Living Award presented by The Alliance for Aging. The award recognizes South Florida’s senior community in 13 areas: Animal/Wildlife, Arts and Music, Corporate Service, Education/Mentoring, Environmental Protection, Faith/Interfaith, Health Care, Inter-Generational, Legal, Philanthropy, Positive Living, Public Service and Sports and Entertainment. Nominations are being accepted through August 22, 2011 and will be judged by a panel of distinguished community leaders. Winners will be announced in September. Last year’s winners from Coral Gables included Marian Krutulis from Gulliver Schools and Adult Activity Center volunteer Belkis Frangente. The Alliance for Aging is a private, not-for-profit organization committed to improving the lives of older people by funding more than $60 million annually to local agencies. To obtain a nomination form, click here.