The latest news for you: ENEWS - Labor Day Edition!

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E-NEWS: Sept. 6, 2023

Paying tribute to those that labor in Coral Gables

The national Labor Day holiday pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. The profiles below highlight City of Coral Gables employees and departments who are essential to the city's day-to-day operations.

“Labor Day is dedicated to workers, many who work behind the scenes to serve our residents, businesses and visitors by providing essential services," said Raquel Elejabarrieta, director of Human Resources. "Coral Gables is a thriving community and our team is essential to maintaining services that residents and businesses come to expect. Their hard work and dedication ensures that our city continues to flourish."

News and Updates

Kenneth Vilato,

Code Enforcement

Kenneth Vilato is a highly motivated and dedicated Code Enforcement officer who has been with the city for seven years. He provides excellent customer service in his role and takes great pride in educating and maintaining the standards of the City Beautiful.

Code enforcement officers preserve and improve the quality of life in Coral Gables by enforcing the provisions of the city's zoning codes.

Gabrielle Melendez,

Emergency Dispatch

Communications operators assist when anyone in the City of Coral Gables calls 9-1-1 for police, fire or medical assistance. Communications operator Gabrielle Melendez is a member of this important division which fulfills an essential role in our city.

Communications operators are required to multitask as they maintain a calm demeanor while talking to callers seeking assistance, and simultaneously dispatch the correct and necessary help to those in need.

Officer Alexia James, Police

Officer Alexia James has been with the Coral Gables Police Department for six years. James helps keep the City Beautiful streets safe when going out on patrol, answering calls for service, and offering assistance wherever it is needed. She is proud to be part of a department that has one of the fastest response times in South Florida.

A field training officer, hostage negotiator and crime scene auxiliary officer, she often assists on interview panels for the hiring of police recruits.

Lt. Julio "Billy" Torres,

Fire Department

Lt. Julio “Billy” Torres is a Rescue Lieutenant for the Fire Department. The department has been recognized as one of the top five emergency medical services agencies with the highest patient satisfaction and engagement in the U.S.

For more than two decades, Torres has been involved with various specialized teams, expanding his base of knowledge within the department, including the Advanced Life Support Team and the Special Response Team.

Demetreus Allen, Solid Waste

Demetreus Allen, a vehicle operator, has been a dedicated member of the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department for more than two decades. He works hard to keep the City Beautiful clean. Allen can usually be spotted wearing a smile and lending a hand at the city's drive-thru recycling events and downtown cleanups.

Coral Gables’ Solid Waste team is responsible for twice weekly residential garbage pickup, and weekly recycling and trash collection.

Elizabeth Gomez, Parking

Elizabeth Gomez has managed the Coral Gables trolley system since it began service in 2003. She oversees day-to-day operations of a transit system that serves more than one million passengers annually and is one of the most successful trolley services in the region.

The Coral Gables trolley system is a critical economic engine as it not only serves our residents and visitors, but provides transportation to many that work in the city. This free service connects to Miami-Dade's Metrobus and Metrorail, as well as to the City of Miami's trolley system.

Aleyda Hernandez,

Passport Office

Aleyda Hernandez, Passport Counter Supervisor, has worked in the Coral Gables Passport Acceptance Facility for more than seven years in a range of roles. She provides excellent customer service to passport applicants with a strong eye for accuracy and an aptitude for problem-solving.

The facility operated by the Clerk's Office processes an average of 20,000 new applications and 4,000 renewals each year and has received a perfect score from the U.S Department of State in its oversight program.

Valentin Garcia,

Community Recreation

Valentin Garcia is the irrigation foreman for the Community Recreation department. He oversees the irrigation systems at recreation facilities including parks and the Granada Golf Course, ensuring these grounds stay lush and well-maintained.

Garcia also services the more than 140 pet waste stations throughout the city, which helps keep the City Beautiful, beautiful.

Mark your calendar

Cycle Day - Parks Edition

Get ready to tour the City Beautiful's most celebrated parks from the seat of your bike. This family-friendly bike ride takes place on Sunday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

and includes a bike safety demonstration, a guided tour of some of the city's most popular parks and concludes with play time at the Youth Center playground.

Tours are led by the Coral Gables Police Bike Patrol officers and volunteers from Bike Walk Coral Gables.

Learn more

Coral Gables Prep turns 100

This October marks the centennial anniversary of Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, formerly known as Coral Gables Elementary.

To celebrate a century of educational excellence in our community, the school will host several events for students, parents, alumni and the community. The centennial gala will kick off the series of activities at the iconic Biltmore Hotel on Sept. 23.

Learn more

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Join Police and Fire personnel on Monday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 a.m. at Coral Gables Fire Stations to commemorate the deadly 9/11 attacks on our nation.

Firefighters and police officers will line up outside each station and stand in silence as the all-alert tones are sounded at 8:35 a.m. At 8:46 a.m., the time of the initial attack, a Communications Operator will broadcast a message over the city’s emergency radio in remembrance of the 2,977 souls lost on that fateful day.