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It goes without saying that 2020 and 2021 were years unlike any
we have ever seen. I was reminded of those challenging days, and what has been required in order to navigate through the pandemic. While we understand the pandemic is not totally over, we have been successful in continuing to deliver all essential services to the residents of West Park, and the future of West Park is bright.
Each year, a privilege of serving as Mayor is the presentation of our balanced budget for the year ahead.
Together, we successfully managed uncharted territory due to a global pandemic and challenging economic conditions. This forced some other city governments to declare financial emergencies. Here in West Park, we not only survived, but we thrived by standing unified for our city’s future. Every year I have said that budgets are about priorities, and this year’s budget, like the previous ones, demonstrate these are not just words. They are promises kept.
Below are highlights of some of our accomplishments from
this past year:
1. Our Minor Home Repair Grant Program award 17 residents over $66,000 in funding.
2. Our Childcare Assistance Grant Program awarded
$600.00 in funding.
3. We provided a year round Senior Program and Youth
Program.
4. We repaired the field at Mary Saunders Park.
5. We developed a collaborative partnership with Memorial
Healthcare to provide a Summer Youth program.
6. We awarded 7 scholarships to West Park students in the
amount of $7,750.00.
7. We provided our monthly free Fresh Food Distribution
program to residents. 8. We distributed free back to school
supplies to over 125 students.
9. We hosted the Annual Mother’s Day Brunch and Father’s Day Fun, Food & Wheels event. 10. We worked collaboratively with our State Legislature to secure $400,000 in
funding. 11. We awarded 8 business grants in the amount of
$90,000 to West Park businesses.
12. We held our Annual Mary Kendrick Thanksgiving
Community Event as well as the Holiday Tree Lighting &
Holiday Toy Giveaway.
West Park truly is a city on the rise, and if we keep
doing the work, the best is yet to come!
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for every one of
our wonderful city employees for their dedication to our city
and for working tirelessly every day to keep our critical city
services running and accessible.
Our community continues to come together to support one another. Because of our cautious approach to the City’s budget in 2022, West Park is strong financially and situated
to remain stable. Our city revenue continues to grow showing that West Park is a desirable place to live. Because of our community’s resiliency, our future economic projections remain optimistic.
Our commitment to public safety has never wavered and once again, that is reflected in the budget. We continue to build stronger relationships with our law enforcement team
through efforts like community policing, crime prevention, and intervention programs that show everyone in our community that their lives matter. Also, I am proud to say that Fire Rescue is leading the way in life saving measures by making it a priority to always be ready to provide the highest level of care and professional emergency services to our diverse community with respect, integrity and compassion.
I extend a heartfelt thank you to members of the City Commission. I am grateful to have had this chance to serve alongside each one of you and I am optimistic for what the future
holds. I also want to thank the people of West Park.
Most importantly, this year, because we have built such a strong financial position, the millage rate is proposed to decrease from 8.5 to 8.2 mills.
Over the next fiscal year, we’re focusing on the services you can and should count on now. And we’re going to do them with excellence. Great service should not be the exception to the rule. We aim to provide the best possible service to our residents. We want them to be safe, housed, and cared for. And we want them to be happy. Here and now. If we continue to make progress on all these things with financially sustainable government, it will go a long way toward achieving our most important goal, which is to maintain and improve the quality of life of the people who live in West Park. Again, I want to recognize our amazing employees at the City of West Park – the men and women, who despite the significant hardships and uncertainties of the past few years, kept this City running, designed and administered pandemic recovery programs which boosted the local economy faster than most, and set us up for the successes we can build upon today…Thank you all!
We must continue to double down and do the work of good
governance, the work of building, the work of integrating our
safety systems, restructuring our government, and creating
#OneWestPark.
Remember to contact me at City Hall with your ideas,
suggestions or concerns. I represent you and appreciate
your input into the continued success of our beloved city.
I can be reached at (954) 326-8990 or via email at: fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org
To see more #Miaminews from #Aventura to #Coralgables to #SouthMiami, #Pinecrest, #Palmetto Bay and #Cutler Bay and all throughout #Miamidadecounty go to:
www.communitynewspapers.com
