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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 008-2016 Bal Harbour Village January NewsletterVOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2016 MESSAGE FROM THE VILLAGE COUNCIL ACTION CULTURAL EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS STAFF SPOTLIGHT ON THE POLICE BEAT P.02 P.03 P.04 P.05 P.06 P.07 IN THIS ISSUE Residents and visitors now have a new and convenient way to communicate with the Village. My Bal Harbour is a new mobile app that enables users to make service requests and access Village information any- where and at any time, seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Easily downloaded to a smart phone, the My Bal Harbour app allows users to submit requests and photos, track previous re- quests, receive notifications and important alerts, find local stores and restaurants and even pay for parking. Additional services include listings of scheduled Unscripted Bal Harbour Art access events, accessing Village meetings and post- ed agendas and sending emails or calling Village officals. To install the app, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for “My Bal Harbour.” Download and install the app and register your profile. USING TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER SERVE RESIDENTS MY BAL HARBOUR APP NOW AVAILABLE THE VILLAGE OFFICIALS THE VILLAGE COUNCIL PATRICIA COHEN ASSISTANT MAYOR District 3pcohen@balharbourfl.gov GABRIEL GROISMAN COUNCILMAN District 5ggroisman@balharbourfl.gov MARTIN PACKER MAYOR District 2mpacker@balharbourfl.gov SETH E. SALVER COUNCILMANDistrict 1ssalver@balharbourfl.gov JAIME M. SANZ COUNCILMAN District 4jsanz@balharbourfl.gov JORGE M. GONZALEZ VILLAGE MANAGERmanager@balharbourfl.gov DWIGHT S. DANIE VILLAGE CLERKddanie@balharbourfl.gov RICHARD J. WEISS VILLAGE ATTORNEYWeiss Serota Helfman Cole & Biermanrweiss@wsh-law.com MESSAGE FROM THE VILLAGE NEW YEAR PROMISES MORE PROGRESS IN BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE We hope the new year brings you and your family much health and happiness! With the new year, we have new challenges and new resolutions for the months ahead. Resi- dents of Bal Harbour Village have much to look forward to with many exciting initiatives on the horizon, including: • New technology - Read about the My Bal Harbour mobile app on the previous page and look for a soon-to-be-unveiled Village website now in its final stages of development. • New events - Building on our recent series of successful cultural events, we will be delivering even more exciting activities in 2016. (See the highlights of some of the impressive recent events and some events planned for 2016 on pages 4 & 5.) • New ordinances - In 2015, the Council enacted new laws that prohibited the use of Styrofoam in the Village, allowed dogs on the beach hard pack and made Bal Harbour the first municipality in the U.S. to adopt a historic open trade ordinance. Look for more proactive legislation in 2016. We encourage you to sign up to receive Bal Harbour Alerts via text and email. Sign up on our website at balharbourfl.gov or via the My Bal Harbour mobile app. For more information, call Village Hall at 305-866-4633, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. B H 2 RECENT EVENTS BRING THE SEASONS ALIVE COUNCIL ADOPTS HISTORIC OPEN TRADE ORDINANCE Bal Harbour Village recently became the first municipality in the country to pass a law aimed at ensuring open and nondiscriminatory trade with partners, such as the State of Israel. The anti-Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) ordinance was unanimously passed by the Village Council after two public readings. It prohibits a municipality from contracting with any business that is engaged in the boycott of a person or an entity based in, or doing business with, a country or jurisdiction in which the U.S. has free trade or other agreements. “Recently, we have seen the increase in efforts to boycott and otherwise discriminate on the basis of nationality and ethnicity,” said Councilman Gabriel Groisman, who sponsored the ordinance “The ordinance will send a strong message to the private sector that Bal Harbour will not do business with companies who practice ethnic, religious, racial or national-origin discrimination.” FALL FESTIVAL A Family Fall Fun Day was held at Bal Harbour Park which was decorated to celebrate the fall season with interactive activities for children of all ages, including bounce houses, scarecrow bowling, a live DJ, arts and crafts and food and refreshments for all in attendance. HOLIDAY LIGHTING CEREMONY To kick-off the holiday season, a holiday lighting ceremony was held on Founders Circle. Bal Harbour resident and entertainment reporter Lisa Petrillo served as emcee of the event which included a champagne sabrage – a technique for opening a champagne bottle with a saber – and used for ceremonial occasions. The sabrage was provided courtesy of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Hotel and the sweets and refreshments were catered by Zodiac at Neiman Marcus. Music and entertainment was provided by students from the Hebrew Academy and Ruth K. Broad K-8. The official “lighting” of the lights and decorations was performed by the Mayor and Village Council. RECENT COUNCIL ACTION Councilman Seth Salver (L) and Mayor Martin Packer. (L-R) Council members Jaime Sanz, Seth Slaver, Patricia Cohen, Mayor and Mrs. Martin Packer, Councilman Gabriel Grossman and Village Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez. NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS More than 1,000 beachgoers celebrated the arrival of the new year at Bal Harbour Beach while enjoying the festive fireworks display over the jetty, along with many others who watched the spectacular show from the comfort of their homes. According to Florida Statutes, an Ordinance is an official legislative action of a governing body and a regulation of a general and permanent nature and enforceable as a local law. 3 ARTS AND CULTURE IN BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE In keeping with Bal Harbour Village’s continued dedication to supporting the arts through its Unscripted Bal Harbour Art Access program, several events took place over the past few months including art chat lectures, private collection tours and exclusive access to some of South Florida’s most prominent and prestigious art events. PRIVATE TOUR OF THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE Art Collector Martin Margulies (below far right) personally lead this exclusive tour featuring new installations by Susan Phillipsz and Anselm Kiefer as well as other awe-inspiring works of art. PRIVATE TOUR OF THE DEBRA AND DENNIS SCHOLL COLLECTION At the home of well-known collectors Debra and Dennis Scholl, Bal Harbour residents and guests were led through the impressive private art collection which was recently curated by Franklin Sirmans and primarily focuses on Australian Aborigine and American contemporary art. More than 100 Bal Harbour resi- dents and guests enjoyed a fasci- nating conversation with Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Deputy Director Leann Standish and Jorge Perez. Mr. Perez shared his inspirations for collecting contem- porary art and his commitment to commissioning public artworks within his extensive development projects. He is well known both for his real estate investments and his extensive collection of Latin American art. (L) Village Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez and Mayor Martin Packer. Village officials join with Jorge Perez (center) and PAMM Deputy Director, Leann Standish (at far right) during the Art Chat. ART CHAT WITH JORGE PEREZ (L-R) Councilman and Mrs. Seth Salver and Mayor and Mrs. Martin Packer. 4 ART BASEL Bal Harbour residents participated in an exclusive private tour of the outdoor exhibition Art Public, an annual Art Basel exhibition featuring unique and commissioned public art projects throughout Collins Park in Miami Beach. In collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art, the private tour was led by expert guest curators and included both the outdoor collection as well as art inside the Bass Museum’s rotunda. ART FOCUS Wednesday, January 27 at 6 p.m. at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Become a Collector is an intimate cocktail reception exclusive to Bal Harbour residents and guests sharing the ins and outs of how to build a collection with expert Lisa Austin, founder of L&A Art Advisors and an Unscripted Bal Harbour advisor for 2015-16 and Patricia Garcia-Velez Hanna, Art Director for real estate company The Related Group. RSVP by January 22 to: unscripted@balharbourflori- da.com ART ACCESS TOUR Sunday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. at 2901 NE 1st Avenue. Join us for this Valentine’s Day pri- vate reception hosted by Art Wynwood founder Nick Korniloff and tour by Art Fair Wynwood Director Grela Orihuela. Guests are also invited to enjoy the fair after the tour. Street parking and fair valet parking available. RSVP by February 5 to: unscripted@balharbourflorida.com ART ACCESS TOUR Thursday, February 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach with art expert Diana Lowenstein, a gallery owner and collector who will share her insights about the art at the resort, followed by a tour. On street parking and hotel valet avail- able. RSVP by February 10 to: unscripted@balharbourflorida.com. UPCOMING EVENTS Residents and guests pose in front of one of the many public art sculptures. 5 STAFF SPOTLIGHT Named the Bal Harbour Assistant Village Manager in February 2015, Ramiro Inguanzo sup- ports the Village Manager in day-to-day Village operations and serves as Director of Human Resources and Interim Director of Tourism and Marketing. Ramiro has worked in government at the local and state levels since 1992. He previously worked for the City of Miami Beach for more than a decade in various roles, including Chief of Staff to the City Manager and Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations. At the State level, Ramiro worked for the Appropriations Committee of the Florida House of Representatives where he researched, evaluated and tracked proposed legislation. He also worked for the State’s division of public colleges at Miami-Dade College as an Assistant Dean then as Senior Advisor to the College President. He was recently appointed by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County to serve on the Local Action Team for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative and was appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission to serve on the Neat Streets Miami/Com- munity Image Advisory Board. Ramiro is an active member of the Miami-Dade City/County Management Association and earned multiple degrees from Florida State University. FAMILY DAY AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAL HARBOUR SHOPS As part of their year-long celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bal Harbour Shops, a family day was held on November 15 with activities and treats for children. As part of the celebration, a Bal Harbour Village proclamation was presented to Bal Harbour Shops founder Stanley Whitman and his family (at left, presented by Mayor Martin Packer) congratulating them on the success of the Shops over the past 50 years and extending best wishes for many more years of health, prosperity and happiness. VILLAGE RECEIVES FINANCE REPORTING RECOGNITION Bal Harbour Village has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehen- sive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2014. Con- gratulations to Village staff – particularly Chief Financial Officer Amber Riviere – for their dedicated efforts in producing an award-winning CAFR. This is the first time the Village has received this honor. Mayor Martin Packer presents Stanley Whitman with a Village proclamation. 6 ON THE POLICE BEAT The Bal Harbour Village Police Department is taking a proactive approach to pedestrian safe- ty by developing strategies to ensure this community remains a safe place to walk and travel. The efforts include traditional methods and new ideas regarding enforcement, education and engineering. Some recent initiatives which have been implemented in the Village include: • Lowering speed limits in designated roads where there’s a high volume of pedestrian traffic. • Lengthening crosswalk time at designated intersections, from the typical 20 seconds to 30. • Limiting right turns on red. • Improving crosswalk markings, including adding lighted crosswalks. • Improving lighting along streets and walkways. • Enforcing speed limits and other traffic laws consistently. • Improved signage However, the most important step in achieving pedestrian safety is improving crosswalk markings, including lighted crosswalks. The Village is testing lighting at cross walks on Bal Bay Drive and the intersection of 96th Street and the crosswalk leading to the Bal Harbour Village Park. The Village has consulted with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and partnered with Lux Solar to use innovative solar-charged lights to aid pedestrians and vehicular traffic to better recognize crosswalks. The Village Administration would appreciate feedback from residents regarding the crosswalk lights. Please contact the Village Manager’s Office or the Police Chief’s Office at (305) 866-4633 or email: moverton@balharbourfl.gov to provide any feedback you may have. The Miami-Dade Chiefs of Police Association sponsored a Thanksgiving holiday meal for homeless U.S. veterans. Bal Harbour Village Police Chief Mark Overton (at far right), along with several other police chiefs from throughout Miami-Dade, volunteered to serve holiday meals to deserving and needy veterans. ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY CHIEF OVERTON SERVES VETS ON THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE BENEFITS CHILDREN The Bal Harbour Police Department joined with the Safety Alliance for Excellence and Coastal Construction to hold a Holiday Toy Drive to benefit the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation. Residents and businesses contributed through community outreach and collection boxes at Village Hall, the Bal Harbour Shops and the St. Regis Residences. The toys were delivered to appreciative youngsters at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital). Thank you to all residents who made generous contributions. Lighted crosswalks being installed at 96th Street (above) and a rendering showing a pedestrian crossing at night. 7 Bal Harbour Village Hall 655 96th Street Bal Harbour, Florida 33154 PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 2783 VILLAGE CONTACTSNormal operating hours for Village Hall are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. VILLAGE HALL(305) 866-4633 POLICE DEPARTMENT(305) 866-5000 PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES(305) 866-4633, Ext. 368 TOURISM MARKETING(305) 866-4633, Ext. 337 VILLAGE FINANCE(305) 866-4633, Ext. 329 WEBSITES BALHARBOURFL.GOV (Village)BALHARBOURFLORIDA.COM (Tourism) @BALHARBOURGOV@BALHARBOURPD BALHARBOURGOVBALHARBOURPOLICEDEPT UPCOMING MEETINGS • Tuesday, January 19 at 6 p.m., Resort Tax Committee meeting • Tuesday, January 26 at 7 p.m., Village Council meeting • Wednesday, February 3 at 11 a.m. Architectural Review Board • Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m., Village Council meeting • Tuesday, February 23 at 6 p.m., Resort Tax Committee meeting