To ensure wheels of progress continue to turn in Sunny Isles Beach, a special City Commission meeting was held on March 3 to provide updates on renovation of the historic Newport fishing pier and construction of a pedestrian/ emergency vehicle access bridge over the canal at North Bay Road.

Addressing the Commission’s concerns about delays, City Manager Rick Conner explained to “get the ball rolling” city staff met with consultants from Marlin Engineering to create a schedule of specific dates for completing project phases.

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup expressed a “zero-tolerance level” for complacency, noting, “I believe there’s an attitude of ‘once we’ve got the contract we don’t have to perform.’”

Commissioner Bud Scholl added, ”It’s helpful to talk about these issues…moving forward, future contracts should stipulate deadlines…a [time] schedule should be developed up front, monitored and adhered to.”

RENEWING THE NEWPORT PIER

When Hurricane Wilma cut across south Florida on October 24, 2005, the Newport fishing pier sustained extensive damage. In December of 2007, good news about renewing the Newport pier was announced when the City Commission passed a resolution approving a letter of agreement with Dr. Robert Cornfeld, president of Newport Operating Corporation, for restoration of the pier located at 16701 Collins Avenue. Built in 1936, the half-mile long pier was designated a historic site in 1982 and has long been a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts and sightseers.

According to the public/private partnership forged between Cornfeld and the city – Cornfeld agreed to contribute $2 million toward the demolition, design and replacement of the pier and would share in net revenues. The city is designated as the lessee with the State of Florida for the pier – retaining control over the entire pier design, operations, and selection of the firm occupying the pier’s restaurant.

During a Dec. 13, 2007 Commission meeting, Cornfeld proffered a $500,000 deposit and expressed appreciation to the Commission and city staff for “the opportunity to join together in a public/private partnership to resurrect [the pier] that has been part of the community for over 70 years.” Mayor Edelcup noted, “[The city will] work diligently with you to restore one of Florida’s great resources…We hope to completely rebuild the pier so it will stand for at least another hundred years.”

BRIDGE BUILDING

Fulfilling the City Commission’s mission to safeguard the community and plan ahead for emergency evacuations, a resolution was passed in September 2008 authorizing the city manager to proceed with obtaining a design scheme for a pedestrian/emergency vehicle bridge on North Bay Road.

Designs for the bridge include installation of a gate only allowing vehicles to go through in the event of an emergency. Flashing back to a City Commission meeting on April 17, 2008, the concept of building a bridge connecting North Bay Road between Winston Towers 100 on 174th Street and the Porto Bellagio condominium across the canal to the south was discussed.

Reasons cited for the need for a bridge included incidents such as pedestrian and vehicular accidents, a gas main break and a structure fire that caused severe gridlock to the point where traffic on Collins Avenue and local feeder streets were rendered immobile.

In the event Collins Avenue is closed, there is no other north/south route through the city.

Beyond creating an inconvenience to the motoring public, if Collins Avenue is closed, the Police Department, fire trucks and ambulances would not be able to respond to emergency calls in a timely manner.

Sunny Isles Beach Police Chief Fred Maas reiterated the need for the bridge in a memo to the City Commission. “The infrastructure of the interior roadways are insufficient and antiquated to the point that they are not capable of handling the diverted traffic off of Collins Avenue when that roadway is mandatorily shut down due to emergency,” he wrote.

“Insofar as there is no other north/ south route connecting the city, it is impossible for emergency vehicles to respond in a timely manner to locations in the city when Collins Avenue is shut down or has limited lanes open.

“Collins Avenue is additionally impacted by high volume because local residents, in many cases, must travel that thoroughfare to reach their destination regardless of how short a distance since there is no alternative north/south route. “It is our position that an alternative north/south thoroughfare will not only save lives but be effective in traffic control… If [a bridge] creates an additional traffic outlet resource in the case of an emergency, it will help us.”

‘CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRESS’

Another agenda item at the March 3, 2010 special City Commission meeting was an ordinance approved on first reading authorizing the issuance of [not exceeding] $15,000,000 of Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds of the City of Sunny Isles Beach.

City Manager Rick Conner explained the bank qualified loan from SunTrust with a 15-year term and amortization rate of 4.2 percent is “very favorable given today’s market…municipal bond rates like this probably aren’t going to get much lower.” Quarterly payments are slated to start on October 1, 2010. The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at the regular City Commission meeting.

At the March 18 City Commission meeting, a discussion regarding plans for the park grounds at Heritage Park (19200 Collins Avenue) focused on design elements including a “Heritage Wall” commemorating city history and founders – and just how high the wall should be.

After viewing schematics presented for the Heritage Wall proposed for the northeast corner of the four-acre park site, Mayor Norman S. Edelcup and Commissioners expressed their opinion that the wall appeared too high – rising to approximately 12 feet at its highest point; and that steps leading up to the wall were an undesirable design element. “We would prefer the wall to be at grade level with no stairs…we also don’t want it to be so high that it detracts from the look and feel of open space,” Edelcup said.

Commissioner George “Bud” Scholl also inquired about having an interactive water feature by the wall, noting it would be a nice water-play addition for children—but City Manager Rick Conner explained that because HRS requires bathroom facilities with showers to be located within close proximity to an interactive water feature, it wouldn’t be feasible to have a water play area close to the wall.

Ultimately, the Commission agreed it would be necessary to “go back to the drawing board” on the park’s Heritage Wall feature to determine how high it should be. At the next Commission meeting on April 15, easier to visualize, three-dimensional schematics will be presented proposing “new heights” to help give the Commission greater insight into what wall dimensions will be optimal, taking into consideration that Heritage Park will be surrounded by a six-foot high fence. During the park discussion, it was also noted that other major components will include two playgrounds (one for children ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 12); a “great lawn” area, about thirty percent larger than at Samson Park and large enough to accommodate approximately 1,500 people for special events such as the city’s Jazz Fest; and a 500-space parking garage, already under construction.

“Heritage Park will be a great asset to the city,” noted City Manager Rick Conner.

‘MORE GREEN ON THE SCENE’

Sunny Isles Beach residents can also look forward to even more parks coming to the south end of the city on the west side of Collins Avenue – extending from Sunny Isles Boulevard to the south entrance of the city. At a Commission meeting on Jan. 28, a resolution passed naming the South Collins Park System as “The Intracoastal Parks.”

Individual arms were also designated and named as follows: Sailfish Park, Dolphin Park, Stingray Park, Manatee Park, Marlin Park and Tarpon Park. City Manager Rick Conner noted family names in honor of benefactors will also be added at a later date. Mayor Norman S. Edelcup recently noted, “With a growing population in Sunny Isles Beach starting to include many young families, the City Commission is working hard to provide more open green and park space as called for in its Comprehensive Plan.”

Plans to build a safer designated “Skateboard Park” area including a concession stand at Town Center Park are also underway. Susan Simpson, Director of Cultural and Human Services explained the Skateboard Park will be located in the area of the park where the city’s annual Easter Egg Hunt event has been previously held and that the Egg Hunt will now be moved to Pelican Park.

HIGH SCHOOL ‘WALL OF GIVING’

At the March 18 City Commission meeting, principal of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Sr. High School Sally Alayon and PTSA member Marianna Talalaevsky appeared to present a video of the school’s achievements just one year since opening; and request a donation from the City of Sunny Isles Beach that may help create a “wall of giving” at the school.

At least 300 students who reside in Sunny Isles Beach are currently enrolled in the high school neighboring FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, which is also attended by students from Golden Beach, North Miami and North Miami Beach.

After the Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Community School opened, a donor wall was established to help provide for “varied and enriched” programming in light of inadequate state funding. The donor wall helps raise funds overseen by trustees providing for capital needs such as new technologies to aid teachers, the creation of unique school programs and purchase of educational tools and resources not allocated in the school’s budget.

Talalaevsky noted that the city and Mayor Norman S. Edelcup helped create a “Wall of Giving” at the K-8 Community School to acknowledge and display a range of donations and expressed her opinion that a similar wall would be ideal for the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning High School – where at least 50 percent of enrollment is expected to be comprised of students from Sunny Isles Beach within the next two years.

The Commission concurred the following “three-pronged approach” to supporting the high school could be most advantageous:

Approving a city-funded donation earmarked for a specific purpose(s); developing a scholarship program sponsored by the city that would be initiated by the beginning of next fiscal year; and forming a city-school partnerships providing opportunities for students to earn compensation in return for providing services such as creating art in public places, producing films about the city or presenting musical performances at special events.

Inviting members of the Commission to attend the high school’s official dedication ceremony on April 16, Alayon and Talalaevsky said they would be back at the April 15 City Commission meeting with a formal proposal for forging a fundraising partnership with Sunny Isles Beach.

It could have been described as “the greatest expo on earth” when L’Expo du Cirque held at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort came to town, shinning the spotlight on the City of Sunny Isles Beach. The unprecedented networking event presented by the Aventura Marketing Council, Sunny Isles Beach Tourism and Marketing Council and Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau showcased products and services offered by over 85 diverse businesses, resorts, non-profit organizations and attractions including Jungle Island.

The evening’s stellar entertainment was presented by the South Florida Circus Art School and talented mimes from Krop Sr. High’s STAR Academy. Guests were also invited to see the new Seven Seas Spa & Salon – one of the newest attractions at the newly remodeled Newport resort. Upon arriving at the Newport, a record turnout of guests were greeted by “L’Expo du Cirque” performers extending an invitation on behalf of South Florida Circus Art School (SFCAS) to “Come Fly With Us!” Based in North Miami Beach, SFCAS encourages enthusiasm for and dedication to the circus arts with classes and training as well as professional youth and adult performance troupes that present community outreach circus shows at events and for charitable organizations.

The fantastically festive atmosphere extended to the Seven Seas Spa & Salon, a new Aveda Concept Salon featuring New York’s renowned Dashing Diva Nail Bar – a glamorous highlight of the Newport’s multi-million dollar hotel renovation. For the style-conscious coveting beauty on a budget, the full-service salon promises “rest, renewal and rejuvenation” facilitated by an enlightened team of beauty and massage professionals prepared to “pamper you with a VIP experience that will immerse you in an unparalleled journey of the senses.”

Designed by Mabel Norman of Acropolis Interior Design, the Seven Seas Spa & Salon boasts sparkling crystal walls, opulent granite and a color scheme accented by amethyst, associated with peaceful environments and key lime, symbolizing growth and harmony— paralleling attributes of Sunny Isles Beach, becoming internationally renowned as “Florida’s Riviera.”

After members of the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission joined in the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Seven Seas Spa & Salon, the “ohhs and ahhs!” continued at the Newport’s majestic Atlantis Ballroom — transformed into a pseudo big top complete with over the top cirque-style decorations and a spectacular array of hors’doeuvres proving the Newport’s expert catering staff never “clowns around” when it comes to creating the very best social and corporate functions.

The Newport is just one of many fine resorts benefitting from membership in the Sunny Isles Beach Tourism and Marketing Council (formerly known as the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association). Executive Director Ibis Romero explains, “Over the years, we’ve evolved into a domestic and global tourism marketing arm for Sunny Isles Beach as well as a catalyst for branding our beautiful city around the world.”

Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman S. Edelcup added, “Our commitment is to create an environment in which businesses, residents and tourists thrive in our community. To that end, Ms. Romero will be working hand in hand with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to position Sunny Isles Beach for success in the domestic and global tourism market; and continue brining more world class special events to the city such as the Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Festival and the OSS Off Shore Powerboat Races.”