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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 165-2016 Bal Harbour Village August - September NewsletterVOLUME 2 • ISSUE 8 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2016 MESSAGE FROM THE VILLAGE ELECTION INFORMATION A BRIEF HISTORY OF BAL HARBOUR UPCOMING FALL EVENTS SHUTTLE BUS HITS THE ROAD EFFORTS TO REDUCE MOSQUITO BREEDING CALENDAR P.02 P.03 P.04 P.06 P. 06 P.07 P. 08 IN THIS ISSUE Bal Harbour Village is looking spectacular at 70. Join us as we mark and celebrate this special milestone. Bal Harbour Village was incorporated on August 16, 1946 on what was then 400 acres of sand dunes and marshes. Through the decades, the Village has grown into a prestigious, world-renown community that offers the very best in living, visiting, playing and shopping. On pages 4-5, the history of the Village is highlighted. To commemorate the Village’s anniversary, a new Village flag has been designed and officially unveiled in a public ceremony on Founders Circle on August 31. Our new flag, pictured below, features a white background and two waves under the new Village logo. The top wave represents the Atlantic Ocean and the bottom one, Biscayne Bay – the two bodies of water which Bal Harbour resides between. The white background represents the white sand beach that draws residents and tourists from all over the world to our little piece of paradise. In addition, several events are planned to take place between now and the end of 2016. On Sunday, November 6 at 4:30 p.m. – a historical 70th anniversary exhibition and tour will be led by Dr. Paul George, a professor of history and local historian, in collaboration with Claire Breukel, head curator of the Unscripted Bal Harbour Art Program. This exhibit of historic photographs will be displayed in the Florida Room of the Sea View Hotel and will also include an outdoor companion exhibit along the beach walk. Both the indoor and outdoor exhibits will be up from November through the end of December. A family friendly concert on Bal Harbour Beach is being planned for Saturday, December 10. As more details become available about this event, we will share and communicate with our residents. BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY 2 BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 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 CELEBRATING A 70TH BIRTHDAY, STAYING SAFE AND PREPARING FOR AN ELECTION This year, Bal Harbour Village is celebrating its 70th year as a prosperous, world-renown community offering the very best in residential living, tourism and shopping. We are planning events that will look back at the visionaries who created our master-planned “Dream Village,” celebrate how far our community has come to fulfill the dreams of our founders and how we will continue to prosper and thrive with future success (see page 1 for events and pages 4-5 for a summary of our history). With on-going reports of local infections of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade, Bal Harbour is taking precautions by removing standing water throughout the Village (see page 7). Mid-September is the historical peak of hurricane season. Remember to be prepared. For information, go to the Village website, www.balharbourfl.gov. September is also budget time in Bal Harbour with public budget hearings scheduled for September 13 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 -17 Budget. We encourage you to attend. Bal Harbour Village is also looking forward to another tremendous season of world-class art and cultural events from our Unscripted Art Program. We encourage you to take advantage of these exclusive events. Election day is on Tuesday, November 8. In addition to the national and state elections, resi- dents should be prepared to vote for Bal Harbour Village candidates for Council members in Districts 2 and 4 (see information on the following page). If you have not already done so, install the My Bal Harbour mobile app on your phone by go- ing to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for “My Bal Harbour.” You can also sign up on our website or via the mobile app to receive important information about Bal Harbour Village via text and email. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook@balharbourgov and Twitter@balharbourgov. If you ever have any questions or need any information, please feel free to visit or call Village Hall at 305-866-4633, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 8, 2016 ELECTION NOTICE ELECTION NOTICE On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, in addition to the federal and state elections, an election will take place in Bal Harbour Village to elect one Councilmember for Council District 2 and one Councilmember for Council District 4. All registered Bal Harbour Village voters may vote for one candidate in each of the Council Districts – so for the November 8, 2016 election, voters may vote for one candidate each for Council District 2 and Council District 4, respectively. The voting precinct will be at the Bal Harbour Parks and Recreation Center, 18 Bal Bay Drive. In Bal Harbour, votes may be cast between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 8. Early Voting shall be held as provided for the countywide election, and absen- tee ballots shall be available as provided by law. The Council Induction Meeting is currently scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Bal Harbour Village Hall. At this meeting, the Village Council will meet and select the Mayor and Assistant Mayor for a two- year term. VOTER INFORMATION VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES Voters must be registered at least 29 days prior to the election (October 11, 2016) to vote in the November 8, 2016 Election. DEADLINE TO REGISTER BY MAILApplications must be postmarked at least 29 days before the election (October 11, 2016), to vote in that election. DEADLINE TO REGISTER AT COUNTY REGISTRATION SITESAt certain locations, applications will be kept and delivered to the Elec-tions Department. Applications must be turned in at the registration site at least 29 days before the election (October 11, 2016), in order to meet the book closing deadline. TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA, you must be:• a U.S. citizen,• a Florida resident,• at least 18 years old,• not have been convicted of a felony If you do not meet any ONE of these requirements, you are not eligible to register. An application to vote is available at www.dos.myflorida.com. Questions? Contact the Supervisor of Elections in Miami-Dade County, by visiting www.miamidade.gov/elections. DEADLINE TO REGISTER AT THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENTApplications which are delivered to the Elections Department at least 29 days in advance of the election (October 11, 2016), satisfy the book closing deadline. VOTE BY MAIL (ABSENTEE BALLOTS)All vote-by-mail ballot requests must be signed by the voter and received by the Elections Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 6th calendar day prior to the election, Novem-ber 2, 2016. Voters can request an absentee ballot:•Online at: http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/voter-information.asp•Email to ABUnit@miamidade.gov•Call 305-499-8444 District 2 – Shown in RED (Seat currently held by Mayor Martin Packer) Ocean Front Section – Lots 12 through 16 Tiffany–10175 Collins Avenue, Plaza–10185 Collins Avenue, Kenilworth–10205 Collins Avenue, Bellini–10225 Collins Avenue, Carlton Terrace–10245 Collins Avenue, Ocean Front Section – Tract A – Oceana 10201 Collins Avenue District 4 - Shown in PURPLE (Seat currently held by Councilman Jaime Sanz) Ocean Front Section – Tract B, SunTrust Bank-9600 Collins Avenue, Business Section- Areas 1 through 5, Bal Harbour Shops–9700 Collins Avenue, Village Hall–655 – 96th Street, Residential Section - Block 1– Lots 1 through 4, 16 Bal Bay Drive-Public Works, 18 Bal Bay Drive-Park & Recreation Building,22-24-26-28 Bal Bay Drive, Shaker Villas-34 Bal Bay Drive Residential Section – Block 2 – Lots 2 through 4,20 Park Drive - Whitehall, 30 Park Drive - Whitehall, 32 Camden Drive, The election for the Council Representatives for Districts 1, 3 and 5 shall be held in November 2018. BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE COUNCIL DISTRICTS 4 BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR CELEBRATES SEVENTY YEARS OF GROWTH AND PROSPERITY A VISION FOR A SUBTROPICAL PARADISE In the 1920s, South Florida was over-flowing with visionaries. From the edge of the ocean to the sawgrass of the Everglades, new municipalities were springing up. One group of visionar- ies had their sites on a narrow piece of land just south of Baker’s Haulover Inlet. Where most saw barren sand dunes and marshes, our Village founding fathers saw a pristine subtropical paradise rising up from the ocean to the bay. In 1929, Miami Beach Heights, a Detroit-based real estate development corporation, pur- chased the raw land. Headed by industrialist Robert C. Graham with associates Carl Fisher and Walter O. Briggs, the group began the task of crafting a new community. Perhaps most significantly, they hired one of the leading urban planning firms of the 20th century - Harland Bartholomew & Associates - to design a “Dream Village.” From the beginning, the Village was envisioned as a modern community that would maintain exceptionally high standards, provide superior services and foster civic pride. The nation-wide depression and the advent of World War II delayed bringing the Village to life. Graham and his group, in patriotic gesture, leased the land to the United States Air Corps for $1 a year. The area became a center of year-round training complete with barracks and a ri- fle range located on the site of what is today the St. Regis Hotel. A prisoner-of-war camp, locat- ed on the current site of the Bal Harbour Shops, housed German prisoners. Soldiers stationed up and down Miami Beach marched north to the area, known as “tent city,” for maneuvers. After the war ended and the troops departed, development resumed in earnest. Graham quickly converted some of the barracks into apartments to boost the resident population - the State of Florida then required twenty-five males to qualify for incorporation. A “DREAM VILLAGE” IS BORN The Village incorporated on August 16,1946, as one of the very few municipalities in Miami- Dade County developed with a fully conceived master plan in place. The Village was first called Bay Harbour, but the name was soon changed to Bal Harbour, with “Bal” created from combining Bay + Atlantic – defining a community with oceanfront property. Marshes were filled, sea walls were constructed and the yacht basin was created. Contracts were signed for the sewer systems, water pumping stations and utilities. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities placed underground. Collins Avenue was paved into four lanes with a landscaped median and a new bridge was built over the Haulover inlet. The new government was housed in converted military barracks until the current Village Hall was built in 1956. Bolstered by Miami’s post war prosperity, Bal Harbour’s growth escalated with the rapid sale of residential lots, the development of community resources and the construction of hotels. The first hotel was The Kenilworth By-The-Sea, a 160 room hotel open in December of 1946. It now is the Kenilworth Condominium. The first home was built at 160 Bal Cross Drive. It was built by Robert C. Graham Jr., the son of the Bal Harbour developer. Within a decade, nine Robert C. Graham and partners review the plans for a new municipality, a “Dream Village.” During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps trained in the year-round tropics of what would soon become Bal Harbour. An early aerial photo shows Bal Harbour streets completed before any homes were built. 5BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR CELEBRATES SEVENTY YEARS OF GROWTH AND PROSPERITY resorts would line the ocean front: The Sea View Hotel, the Bal Harbour, Balmoral, Ivanhoe, Colony, Singapore, Beau Rivage and the Americana. In 1950s Bal Harbour helped the coastal area receive the name “America’s Riviera.” At the height of South Florida’s hotel boom, these world-class resorts attracted countless upscale clientele and helped put Bal Harbour on the map. A long list of entertainers, musicians, dignitaries and presidents all chose Bal Harbour to play and relax. GROWTH AND FAME COMES TO BAL HARBOUR Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, many important events and national conventions took place in Bal Harbour’s hotels, including nationally televised Constitutional Conventions - in 1961 with President John F. Kennedy, in 1967 with President Lyndon B. Johnson, and 1971 with President Richard M. Nixon, as well as President Bill Clinton for the Summit of the Americas in 1994. In 1965, the Bal Harbour Shops first opened on the south border of Bal Harbour. It was designed and built as an outdoor luxury mall on 20 acres of mostly vacant land. The unique lushly-landscaped mall was immediately successful and perfectly matched the balmy beauty of the surrounding Village. Anchor stores Neiman Marcus (1971) and Saks Fifth Avenue (1976) were soon added to the other boutique high-end specialty stores. The facility is known world- wide for destination luxury shopping and is often listed as the industry’s most profitable mall in terms of sales per square foot. In the past 50 years, the mall has helped to attract countless tourists, visitors and celebrities to the Village and remains a main destination in South Florida. Bal Harbour Village was at the forefront of a major challenge facing South Florida over the decades. Beach erosion, stemming from storm and hurricane damage, often threatened the resorts, homes and tourism in the Village. The Bal Harbour Village Council, realizing the impor- tance of maintaining beach quality, was aggressive in exploring and researching options for innovative restoration projects. The neighboring municipalities followed Bal Harbour’s lead. BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE LOOKING SHARP AT SEVENTY! Today, beyond its tropical beauty, Bal Harbour remains home to world-class residences and resorts, superb dining and incomparable world-famous shopping. Bal Harbour is an integral part of the luxury experience of the Greater Miami area. The “Dream Village” that founder Robert C. Graham envisioned so many years ago continues to prosper and thrive. Bal Harbour Village remains a pristine community which is a carefully designed haven for the very best in residential living and upscale tourism. With elegant homes and condominiums, elite shops, expansive resorts and exquisitely manicured roadways, the Village is widely recognized as the jewel in the crown of South Florida’s communities - a model for the good life. President John F. Kennedy is greeted by Bal Harbour Mayor White during a convention held in the Village. Bal Harbour Shops (above and below ) opened in 1965. A 1970s view of Bal Harbour from Haulover Inlet looking south. 6 BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 BAL HARBOUR’S FLORIDA PARADISE 5K RUN AND WALK ON OCTOBER 16 SEPTEMBER • Monday, September 19, 7:30 p.m. ArtCHAT: Public Art in Chicago: A con- versation with Tony Karman and Rhona Hoffman • September 22-25, 2016. ART ACCESS Tour: EXPO CHICAGO Bal Harbour res- idents receive VIP access and a special tour of the EXPO Chicago Fair OCTOBER • Sunday, October 23,12 p.m. Art ACCESS tour: NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauder- dale exhibition. UPCOMING UNSCRIPTED ART EVENTS In keeping with Bal Harbour’s dedication to supporting the arts, the Unscripted Art Program connects culture seekers with South Florida’s finest and most dynamic art museums and events. Below is the fall schedule of events. To receive your free Unscripted Art Access Card go to balharbourflorida.com/access. NOVEMBER • Sunday, November 6, 4:30 p.m. Art ACCESS EXHIBITION - Bal Harbour 70th Anniversary exhibition (see page 1). • Monday, November 28, 6:30 p.m. ART ACCESS TOUR: The Odermatt and Kowal collection. Private tour at the Kenilworth in Bal Harbour. DECEMBER • December 1-4 Art ACCESS: Art Basel Miami Beach free unlimited access to several top fairs. • Sunday, December 4, 11 a.m. ART ACCESS TOUR: Art Basel Miami Beach Art Tours. TEAMWORK RESULTS IN 96TH STREET BEACH SHOWER Bal Harbour Village, Bay Harbor Is- lands and Surfside joined together to install a beach shower on 96th Street. The three mayors and staff recently marked the milestone and are looking for more joint projects. SHUTTLE BUS HITS THE ROAD WITH TECHNOLOGY AND CONVENIENCE Full of comfortable seats and the latest in transportation technology, Bal Harbour’s new Shuttle Bus is rolling through the Village to serve residents and visitors. To make sure the Shuttle system works best for you, we encourage you to access the Express Shuttle App, now available within the MyBalHarbour App. The MyBalHarbour App can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play. The Express Shuttle App will enable you to track real-time location of the shuttle and view arrival times. You will also be able to view the Express Shuttle route and find the nearest shuttle stops based on your location. Another option to riders is checking the estimated shuttle arrival times by calling the automated voice line 305-692-0062, and entering your stop number. Happy riding! Village Manager Jorge Gonzalez and Mayor Martin Packer joined residents for the first shuttle ride on July 5, 2016. (L-R) Mayor Martin Packer joins with Bay Harbor Islands Mayor Jordan W. Leon- ard and Surfside Mayor Daniel Dietch. Bal Harbour’s Florida Paradise 5K Run and Walk is set for Sunday, October 16. The race, to benefit the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, will start at Village Hall and take participants through the tropical splendor of Bal Harbour Village. To register, go to the Active website http://5ksignup.balharbourfl.gov/ • Thursday, September 22, Excursion to the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum at Miami Beach. • Thursday, October 20, Excursion to the de la Cruz Collection in the Miami Design District. • Thursday, November 17, Excursion to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE FALL SCHEDULE OF EXCURSIONS The Bal Harbour Parks & Public Spaces Department has planned an exciting fall schedule of Excursions for Bal Harbour residents. All entrance fees for the excursions are complimentary to residents with the Unscripted Access Card. Shuttle service to and from Bal Harbour will be provided. Attendees are responsible for their meals. Residents who wish to participate are requested to make reservations by calling the Recreation Center at 305-993-7363. ACTIVITES & EVENTS 7BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 ADDRESSING SAFETY ISSUES BAL HARBOUR REMOVES STANDING WATER TO ELIMINATE MOSQUITO BREEDING With recent reports of local infections of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade, Bal Harbour Village is taking precautions to address this issue by identifying and removing standing water through- out the Village. Any standing water in place for more than 48 hours will be removed to the extent possible.  The Parks and Public Spaces and Code Compliance Departments are coordinating closely to sweep all of the Village’s parks, right-of-ways, storm drains, construction sites and public areas to remove long-standing ponding water. In the event that the water cannot be removed or disbursed, an environmentally-friendly product will prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. For more information, please visit the Florida Department of Health website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/zika-virus/. If you notice any water that has been standing for more than 48 hours, please report it to the Parks and Public Spaces Department by email publicspaces@balharbourfl.gov or via telephone at 305.993.7368.  Mayor Packer and Alexis L. Moseley from the Office of County Commis- sioner Sally Heyman visited the Shul of Bal Harbour to distribute information on preventing the spread of the Zika mosquito virus. Stop mosquitoes from living and multiplying around your home or business. Drain standing water. Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected. DISCARD: old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used. EMPTY AND CLEAN: birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least once or twice a week. PROTECT: boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water. MAINTAIN: the water balance (pool chemistry) of swimming pools. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use. Feeling the sting ofmosquitoes? Then it’s time todrainandcover . DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MOSQUITO VIRUSES Aside from being a nuisance, bites from infected mosquitoes can spread different types of diseases. We encourage you to protect yourself, your family and your community from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Here are some tips: • Mosquitoes breed by laying eggs in standing water. As little as a teaspoon or bottle cap of water standing for more than one week is enough for mosquitoes to breed and multiply. • At least once a week, empty, turn over or cover anything that could hold water. Keep flower pots and saucers free of standing water. • Bromeliads (ornamental plants) can hold water between their leaves. If you have bromeliads at home, make sure to flush the water out of your plants, or coat the water with a little bit of food grade oil, or treat the water in your bromeliads with a safe larvae- cide. • Use and repair screens on doors, windows, porches and patios to keep mosquitoes outside. • Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk; if you must be out during this time, cover your skin with clothing and apply mos- quito repellent. • If you must be outside when mosquitoes are active, cover up. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeve shirts. • Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus and IR-33535 are effective. Use netting to protect infants younger than two months of age. Other important numbers: Florida Department of Health, 1-855- 622-6735. Miami-Dade County, 3-1-1. 8 BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 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 BUILDING DEPARTMENT(305) 865-7525 POLICE DEPARTMENT(305) 866-5000 PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES DEPARTMENT(305) 866-4633, Ext. 368 TOURISM MARKETING(305) 866-4633, Ext. 337 FINANCE(305) 866-4633 WEBSITES BALHARBOURFL.GOV (Village)BALHARBOURFLORIDA.COM (Tourism) @BALHARBOURGOV@BALHARBOURPD BALHARBOURGOVBALHARBOURPOLICEDEPT Tuesday, September 13 First Budget Hearing, 7 p.m., Council Chamber September 19-25Chicago Art Week Tuesday, September 20 Second Budget Hearing, 7 p.m., Council Chamber Thursday, September 22Excursion to the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum Transporation provided Sunday, October 23Art Access Tour, 12 p.m.NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale Thursday, October 27Council Meeting, 7 p.m. Council Chamber(Special meeting date) BAL HARBOUR - VILLAGE - UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS