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ADDRESS, from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Miami-Dade Police Honor Guard gave a spectacular presentation of colors. Phillis Oeters of Baptist Health, a sponsor of the event, gave the welcome remarks and introduced Mayor Stanczyk, who in turn introduced the village council, charter officers and village staff. Stanczyk also acknowledged visiting VIP’s such as MiamiDade County Commissioner Lynda Bell and South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard. After a short video celebrating the 10th year of the village’s incorporation, Mayor Stanczyk began. “As you all know, Palmetto Bay was incorporated in September 2002,” Stanczyk said. “The birth of our city, like the birth of our nation, didn’t come without a fight. I’m sure former Mayor Eugene Flinn, attorney Ed Ludovici, and our current Vice Mayor Brian Pariser will be more than happy to share some of their early war stories with you.” Stanczyk went on to talk about the improvements to the park system, mentioning each park and its special attractions. Next she mentioned education. “I am very proud of our village’s schools — thanks to the dedication of our remarkable principals, administrators and parents who work so hard to make sure our children succeed,” Stanczyk said. Mayor Stanczyk praised the work of the Palmetto Bay Village Policing Unit. “Your council recently voted to help this effort by adding two police officers to the force for this fiscal year,” she said. “Once again, we have one of the best response times to calls for service — emergency and non-emergency. Commander Truitt and his dedicated officers are to be commended for this remarkable trend, year after year.” She also praised the Public Works Department, which has made significant advances in roadway improvements, traffic calming and stormwater drainage. Stanczyk said that sidewalk repairs and installations of new sidewalks would continue. The mayor promised improvements to IBus service and ongoing beautification enhancements as well. “Once again — four years in a row — we have received Tree City USA recognition and were awarded the Tree City Growth Award for our continued outstanding commitment to our tree canopy,” Stanczyk said.
She mentioned the attention that Planning and Zoning has been receiving about ordinances creating “appropriate standards” for non-residential uses in residential neighborhoods. “We love our churches and schools and we love our residents,” Stanczyk said. “We want all to be able to live in harmony. To that end, we have worked hard to create laws to protect everyone’s interests. Just as residents don’t want to be surprised when they discover a large development comes to their neighborhood, we also want to make sure that developers are not surprised by provisions of the laws that were not clear to them.” She spoke about the Code Compliance Department’s Lot Maintenance and Abandoned Properties Program, tackling foreclosed properties that have been allowed to fall into disrepair. Stanczyk said she is proud of the Art-in-Public Places program, which is managed by Planning and Zoning. Next she mentioned the Building Department and improvements there. “When we first took over this function, our average turn-around for permits was seven days for homes. Now, it is 1.28 days. The average was 15 days for businesses; now, it is 1.57 days.” Stanczyk mentioned that the millage rate has been held at 2.447 since 2009 and reminded everyone that out of their entire tax bill, only 13 percent goes to Palmetto Bay. The rest goes to county government, the public school system, South Florida Water Management District, and other services. “In this contentious world that we currently live in, our community is not immune,” Stanczyk said in closing. “I urge all of us to work together, to be respectful of each other, and to realize that while we may have different views, we can express these views with courtesy. “We all come from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different cultures, but we are all human beings who have basically the same needs — we strive for a sense of contentment. Like any family, we may have our battles, but… in the end, we are all residents of Palmetto Bay and we share a goal — to make this village the best community to live in.”
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Oct. 30 - Nov. 12, 2012
CANDIDATES, from page 1 the nature of the village.” Vice mayor candidate John Dubois vociferously opposed the NPCA goals, agreeing with Araiza that they exposed the village to liability and calling it “an expansion of the principles behind the moratorium that was recently passed.” District 2 incumbent Howard Tendrich also was opposed to the NPCA because he said it diminishes the strength of the council and elected local government officials’ ability to do their job. Incumbent Vice Mayor Brian Pariser supported the NPCA. He called the liability concerns “scare tactics” and said the “community has to be protected.” When asked whether Palmetto Bay should continue contracting with the Miami-Dade Police Department, all seemed to agree the arrangement was working well, however there were different interpretations on how to handle crime. Pariser said Palmetto Bay is a low crime area and 75 percent of calls come from the “Dixie corridor” or commercial district along US1. Cunningham agreed but said neighborhood safety came up often as she was knocking on doors. She used an example of an elderly couple she went to see who just recently had experienced a break-in. They would only speak to her through a window out of fear for their safety “and I’m not really that scary” she added jokingly in one of the few lighter moments of the event. Dubois said break-ins and vandalism were big worries for residents. “Everyone I talked to knew someone affected by crime,” he said.
PALMER, from page 1
Regarding making changes to Coral Reef Park to provide lighting for evening games on the playing fields all concurred it was a bad idea, however Cunningham supported a neighborhood strategic plan to gauge community sentiment. Schaffer said more residents were using the facility so lights were unnecessary. Tendrich said for 40 years there have been no lights and the park services provided programs for all. Araiza agreed with the status quo but called the concession stand a “$1.3 million mistake.” Retired medical social worker Brenda Storch shared her thoughts on the forum afterwards. A resident for over 20 years, she said she was supporting Pariser and Schaffer. Storch’s home borders Palmer-Trinity School and she said although she lost her quality of life when the school expanded; she wants to protect her neighbors from the same fate. “My house is right next door to the school,” Storch said. “The lights shine in my windows at night, I can’t sleep and the trucks come through at 7 a.m. every morning. I’m on social security and my home is all I have. I don’t want others to go through what I went through.” Resident Joe Garcia grew up in Cutler Ridge and has been a resident of Palmetto Bay since 1993. He said the forum was informative. “I have a good understanding now of the candidates and their positions and ideas,” Garcia said. Although he is not completely decided on who he will vote for, he said he is much closer to a decision. “I’m not 100 percent sure but very close. I’m a businessman and I think I agree with both businessmen John Dubois and Jim Araiza…but Howard Tendrich is still in the running.”
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three of the five) acted either from “wishful thinking” or “more likely a willful disobedience” when the village council placed a 900student limit on Palmer Trinity School after a lower court told the city, in effect, to allow up to 1,150 students. These are words of sharp rebuke and reflect a court that grew weary of the endless litigation. Attorneys I have spoken to appear to all agree that Palmetto Bay is not going to find any warmer reception from the trial courts than it has received from the appellate court. In fact, word is out that all cases could have been settled. There could have been peace in the community. A school could have gone back with full energy and resources to teaching. A community could have begun healing and begun to move forward on more productive endeavors. I know how confident the three-person majority running the village council — Brian Pariser, Shelley Stanczyk and Joan Lindsay — were in total victory over Palmer. Unfortunately, the residents and students are stuck in the middle, having no voice and worse, no ability to influence any change in
ongoing lawsuits. As litigation observers can attest to — only settlements bring closure. The council never negotiated. Palmer won. Palmetto Bay lost both in court and in credibility in future lawsuits. Palmer now has its 1,150 students, but the lawsuits continue over the arbitrary actions of the village council in denying Palmer its property rights and a fair hearing. Lawsuits that probably were meaningless were energized by an appeal court’s published opinion giving credibility to the Palmer claims that its rights were being trampled on by a council that engaged in “willful disobedience” of prior court orders. The “wishful thinking” of Mayor Stanczyk, Vice Mayor Pariser and Councilwoman Lindsay failed badly in litigating the appeals. These same three now want to continue to litigate only tactics on to the trial courts. The residents and schools of Palmetto Bay deserve better. It is time to step forward and negotiate a reasonable settlement to the remaining lawsuits. The politicians need to know that this is not about their egos. Lawsuits should be properly managed in the best interest of the residents.