On February 8, 2023, your Mayor and Council will travel to Tallahassee for a day of legislative meetings with key members of the Florida House and Senate during a special session of the Florida legislature. As representatives from across the state advocate for their city projects and constituents, Mayor Karyn Cunningham and our Village Council will visit our state’s capital to bring attention to Palmetto Bay’s own projects and priorities.
The Council will meet with various representatives throughout the day to muster support for the Village. As in previous years, stormwater projects remain a top priority and the bulk of Palmetto Bay’s legislative agenda at the special session will address this issue. In addition, the Council will request assistance for our much-anticipated Veterans Park.
All Palmetto Bay projects for consideration are:
Veterans Park – Phase 1 Improvements
· State Request: $200,000
· Project Scope: Funding would assist with the Phase 1 development of the newest addition to our “Village of Parks.” Veterans park is a blank canvas and has been designed to honor all men and women who have served in any branch of the United States military. Construction will include parking spaces, a walking path, trees, and sod to begin the park development.
Stormwater Projects (drainage)
· State Request: $3,944,000
· Projects: Sub-basin 11, Sub-basin 41, Sub-basin 44
· Project Scope: Stormwater improvements including building additional catch basins, manholes, culverts, and exfiltration to connect catch basins within all sub-basins. These improvements will enhance surface water quality, control flooding during and after major storm events, and reduce pollutants into the Biscayne Bay Aquifer.
In addition, during last night's Regular Council Meeting, the Mayor & Council also adopted a resolution supporting and approving the legislative priorities for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Instead of hiring a lobbying consultant, Palmetto Bay officials have lobbied the state themselves for local funding for over five years. The Mayor & Council, along with Village Manager Nick Marano, Community & Economic Director Heidi Siegel and Village Clerk Missy Arocha, will make the one-day trip and return the same evening as they work to bring needed state assistance to Palmetto Bay.
