Harbor Island Monster Problem!

There is a monster of a problem affecting quality of life in Harbor Island. This monster has been rearing its ugly head for years. This ogre of a problem called parking in Harbor Island grows with each new development or renovation in the Island.   The more progress attracted to Harbor Island the more parking spaces the residents will need.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 6:30 PM a workshop to address the problem was held at Harbor Island 360 meeting room.  The Village Manager Mr. Frank Rollason, NBV Police Chief Robert Daniels and Public Works Director Mr. Rodney Carrero- Santana instructed by the Village Commission organized the workshop.  

The proposed plan included parking decals for the residents that live in building without parking spaces. These decals would require yearly renewal for a fee of $ 25.00. Three day guest passes would be available at no charge for family and friends that visit.  Residents that live in buildings that have inside parking would not be eligible.  This would free up spaces by forcing those residents to park in the available interior parking spaces in the building which they reside.   Cars without decals will be ticketed and towed.

Some 45 concern residents of Harbor Island attended the workshop. Many of them appreciated the effort by the Village Manager, Chief and Public Works Director to address the problem. The residents asked how may spaces do we have and how many spaces do we need? The Manager, Chief and PW Director did not know. Disapproval and discontentment by the residents was very apparent when they pointed out how unprepared the Manager, Chief and PWD  were.

Some of the residents resented the idea of proposing a plan without knowing the details of the problem. While others made it clear that no matter what, there are more cars then spaces.  Another resident displeased with the situation sited that this was a problem created by the Village and that it should be solved by the Village by buying up a property and possibly building a municipal parking lot.  Mr. Rollason pointed out that financially the village just does not have the money. Considering that local real estate taxes went up as did the water use rate.  Village employees got raises and the police budget went up considerably! If these practices continue taxes will need to go up again! And Harbor Island will continue with their parking problem unsolved!

Some of the residents offered an unofficial parking space count and pointed out all the obvious holes of the proposed plan.  Many Harbor Island residents that attended the workshop offered good ideas and suggestion: simple ideas that work such as allowing back to back parking where possible; allowing parking temporally on the site of the future Village Hall; taking back the green areas that were granted to the developers and turning them back to parking just to name a few of the ideas offered.  The Village Manger quickly pointed out that ideas that cost money cannot be considered at this time.

Additionally the decal plan would lockout residents from North Bay Island and Treasure Island from using Vogel Park.   One resident objected to the plan because it did not take into consideration spontaneous visitors.  Residents with corporate cars not registered in Harbor Island and snow birds that have their cars registered in another State will not be eligible for decals.

At Large Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez and Harbor Island Commissioner Vise Mayor Eddie Lim all fought very hard to get the Speed Tables approved and financed for Harbor Island to address the car speeding issue. This is a real problem that may put children running out of Vogel Park at risk. 

Six Speed Tables are ready to be installed in Harbor Island, three for West Drive and three for East Drive.  If these Speeding Tables are installed twelve parking spaces will be lost. Vice Mayor Lim was not present in the meeting to defend the Speed Tables and Commissioner at Large Jorge Gonzalez was present but said nothing; both of which reside in Harbor Island and were very influential in the approval of the speed tables.  The Mayor was very quiet and stood in the back maybe because she showed up at 7:35 PM.  More to come…The Countdown has begun!

Honestly Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST!

Mario Garcia

February 27, 2014

In other 79th Street Causeway matters…

The Lexi Condo Association members met with the directors and developers yesterday for the first time. The meeting was concerning a water front thirty nine unit condo building been propose. This structure is to be erected on the lot where the gas station used to be on the causeway. This preliminary meeting was to discuss the building plans been proposed and how it may affect North Bay Village and the Lexi condo owners.  

This building will sit directly in front of the Lexi. Naturally, the Lexi condo owners were concern not as much as how high the building will stand but how wide.  These development company directors do not show the same interest to accommodate the Lexi as the Hotel/Condo developers did.  They have heard the concerns and requests of the Lexi Condo Owners and have said they will see what can be done, but not in a promising tone.

The architectural design of the building can and should be modified to improve the water view for North Bay Village residents and Lexi condo owners. However the developers don’t appear to be flexible or willing. I suggest that the North Bay Village P & Z Board and the Commission show them the same inflexibility and unwillingness  they have shown the Lexi Condo Owners and residents of North Bay Village with any and all variances that come up.  

Hopefully I am wrong and the developers make changes that are acceptable to all concerns, we will see.  When community and developers work together and compromises are agreeable to all parties then everyone wins!

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST!

Mario Garcia

February 20, 2014

Water Leaks in North Bay Village

North Bay Village Commission Meeting of Tuesday February 11, 2014 under Good & Welfare addressed water leaks that have been popping up in different areas of Treasure Island.  

A resident that lives in Adventure Avenue complained about a water or sewer leak in front of her home. This resident was very concern because despite calls and reporting it to the village manager had yet to be resolved.  The homeowner also pointed out that another home on West Treasure Drive had what appeared to be a leak as well.  The concern neighbor was worried that the water had a pungent smell and that could be sewer related.  Further stating that someone from the Village Public Works Department had come to look at the problem and had place an orange traffic cone on the spot where the water appeared to come from. A few days later the orange cone was taken away.

The Mayor did her usual surprised and shock expression then asked Public Works Director Rodney Carrero-Santana to address it.  Mr. Carrero explained that there were aware of five such leaks and that two had been fixed.  That currently was getting estimates to fix the remaining three. He explained that it would be cheaper to get an estimate to fix all three.  Mr. Carrero assured everyone that it was not sewer water but potable water.

The problem here is that the Commission and Public Works Director have been aware of the water and sewer pipes infrastructure deterioration for quite sometime now. These leaks are signs of old and frail pipes that need immediate attention. Leaks in nature will not get smaller but with time if ignored will get bigger and bigger.

This was addressed with the need to change the water meters because water bills are underestimated with the old meters. More money you said, now they paying attention! I cannot give you the details of how much it will cost to update the sewer and water pipe infrastructure because I don’t have those figures. However I can tell you that the money is not there. We probably have to raise the money with bonds and that will increase the debt millage for fiscal year 2014-2015 budget.  

This is not fictional or imaginary is a real problem only the budget year may change. The numbers, time table and cost are yet to be determined but the sooner we address them the less impact it will have.  Stay tuned more to come…

HONESTLY OPINIONATING

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

THE COUNT DOWN HAS BEGUN

Mario Garcia

February 14, 2014

OK NORTH BAY VILLAGE LET'S GET POSITIVE!

On Tuesday’s February 11 Commission Meeting Police Officer Columbano was presented with a Life Savings Award Plaque for his heroic action in saving a life! Just a normal day at work and a reflection of many NBV police officers that do a great job in our village. Hats off to you PO Columbano!

Ok let’s continue on this positivism kick, although many won’t see it this way. Item # 13 C: An Application by Isles Of Dreams, LLC Concerning Property Located At 1415 Kennedy Causeway, Tract C of Harbor Island, North Bay Village Florida. The Commission unanimously approved the Site Plans to build a 237 unit, 32 story mixed use structure while respecting the Bay View Overlay Standard.  The plans presented beautifully, balances privacy for the condo owner and NBV residents’ right of access to the water.  When this structure is finally built as presented, it will bring pride and recognition to North Bay Village. Congratulations!

Hate to ruin all of the above positivism but we need to get back to business and expect more fiscal responsibility from our elected officials. Just a few months after a tax increase and water bill hike our commission with the exception of North Bay Island Commissioner Richard Chervony, is in favor of renting additional space at the Causeway Towers.  Village positions have been added converted and some salaries were raised. The financial update report has no wiggle room and if expenditures continue untamed we will be facing another tax hike!  More to come…

Humbly Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

THE COUNT DOWN HAS BEGUN

Mario Garcia

February 13, 2014

THINGS JUST NEVER CHANGE

It seems to be an eternity since our last commission meeting.  There was a lot discussed at the commission meeting held on Tuesday February 11, 2014 that may interest our North Bay Village residents.  However I am still working on the details of my opinion.

Under New Business Item 15 C: REMOVAL OF BULB OUT AT 1680 SOUTH TREASURE DRIVE.  It was presented to the commission and approved. The owner sited that the Bulb Out was interfering with his driveway and making it difficult to enter his garage.  The owner was given permission to remove the Bulb Out. My neighbor and I out of curiosity decided to drive by the property and see for ourselves when we left the meeting about 12:30 am. We were expecting to see exactly as it was presented to the commission.  That was not the case; the Bulb Out does not appear to be interfering with anything and is positioned further than other Bulb Outs from other driveways.   Is this going to create a precedent? Should the owner not only pay for the removal but refund the cost of installation? Can the village reverse their approval? Who was responsible for this possible blunder?  These questions deserve that the village commission and staff address and satisfy us with answers. More observations to come stay tuned…

Honestly Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

Mario Garcia

February 12, 2014