LIGHTS OUT
Key Biscayne Police Officer Nelia Real directs traffic during a power outage. Several businesses and condominiums were without electricity until mid-morning.
Islander News 2002 Newsmaker of the Year: The rec center
Before 2002 came to a close, the Village Council had approved funding for the recreation center, with construction slated to begin in February or March.
It was a long road leading up to that point and it made the Village of Key Biscayne Recreation Center The Islander News Newsmaker of the Year.
In the first days of 2002, the Coalition to Rescue Paradise spearheaded a move to have the Village Council appoint a committee to review construction of the police, fire and administration buildings and the recreation center. The two committees were appointed in early January. The newly-appointed Recreation Center Review Committee embarked on an intensive 60-day analysis of the island’s recreation center, many calling it excessive and expensive. The following month, the Council announced it would study whether to put the issue of the recreation center to an island-wide vote. The Council did not follow up on the plan, however, citing the positive results of the rec center survey and not wanting to “politicize” the upcoming Council and mayoral elections.
As residents began to declare their intention to run for Council, it became apparent that candidates were divided into two factions: those supporting a recreation center as planned and those who said they supported a rec center but not the one under consideration by the current Council.
The Coalition to Rescue Paradise supported three candidates: Carol Diaz-Castro, Andy Gordon and Jim Taintor. Only Diaz-Castro was elected to the Council. The pro-recreation center forces supported Dr. Jorge Mendia, Robert Vernon and Henny Groschel-Becker. Mendia and Vernon were elected. The selection of pro-center candidate Bob Oldakowski gave center supporters the super majority they needed to proceed.
La Purisima
The Nicaraguan tradition of La Purisima was celebrated at St. Agnes Catholic Church. The group “La Tuna” serenaded The Virgin by singing Las Mañanitas. Traditional Marimba played throughout the night. Pictured are organizers Patricia Villa and Lorenzo Peraita.
Village dedication ceremony
The Village of Key Biscayne held a dedication ceremony for the Village administration/police and fire station. A bench was dedicated in the memory of Officer Ted Zorsky. Pictured are Wayne Slaton, former Mayor Joe Rasco, Nancy Gamwell and Robert Brooks.
Double the birthday fun
Tim and Lourdes Jofre Collett, hosted a birthday party for Miriam Menendez and Jose Alonso. Pictured are Tim Colett, Roberto Gentilini, Damaris Martinez and Yoyi Picaza.
Pig Roast
Marilyn and Willy Borroto hosted a pig roast at their home for supporters of Mayor Bob Oldakowski. Pictured are Willy Borroto, Carlos Manuel de la Cruz and Bob Oldakowski.
Rasco selected Palmetto Bay interim manager
The Palmetto Bay Village Council has selected former Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco as interim manager of their newly incorporated municipality.
“I have been asked by the newly incorporated Village of Palmetto Bay to be an integral part of their transition team,” Rasco stated by e-mail. “I am serving as interim village manager to help this new village avoid some of the pitfalls of starting a new municipality from scratch. Various unforeseen challenges can materialize while negotiating the terms of municipal services with the county.”
Swimming with the opera singer
Famous Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli had the opportunity to slip into a wet suit for an unforgettable one-on-one encounter with Flipper the dolphin at Miami Seaquarium’s Water and Dolphin Exploration program.
Virginia Key development: wait and see
Councilmember Jim Peters has presented a motion, his second, to direct staff to draft a resolution opposing the City of Miami proposed zoning changes, that would allow commercial development on Virginia Key.
The rezoning, affecting more than 50 acres, aims to transform Virginia Key into a profitable waterfront enterprise. Parts of Virginia Key, transferred to the City of Miami from Miami-Dade County in 1995, have remained un-zoned since annexation. A possible “marine facilities” designation, a new zoning category, is intended to facilitate development allowing public access to the waterfront. The new designation would permit anything from a marine stadium to retail and restaurants, areas for recreational activities or a water-theme park. Accessory hotel accommodations would, similarly, be permissible.
Peters’ previous resolution failed by a 2-5 voice vote.
“The City of Miami is in the process of re-zoning or moving towards re-zoning and changing the master plan on Virginia Key,” Peters said. “Even though they call these re-zoning efforts things like parks and recreation, under parks and recreation they can do things like build hotels, restaurants, cafes, host recreational activities, etc. This is our driveway. The developers coming to the City of Miami to develop that property need to know up-front that there is a group that are or could possibly have their lifestyles affected by this, that want to fight it. They need to know from the get-go that we want to fight it. I don’t think we should be in a position of trying to negotiate anything, I think they need to know that we oppose it, so that way there’s no surprise, no misunderstanding. The resolution was met with little support, described alternately as inappropriate, premature, and untimely.”
Village to receive $330,000 annually from transportation tax
During its December meeting, the Village Council approved a resolution establishing a Crandon Boulevard streetscape advisory committee to assist staff in the preparation of a new zoning ordinance for the entire Village.
The move follows the half-penny for transportation tax, approved in November elections.
“Key Biscayne stands to receive up to $330,000 a year,” said Village Manager Jacqueline Menendez. “It is my understanding that the monies will be used for enhancements for transportation, but is not limited to road improvements. With that said, this item requests that you form an advisory committee made up of citizens that will track the way for beautification, not only for Crandon Boulevard but for the entire island, and will come with a plan for landscaping, irrigation, road improvements, etc. That will help us to come up with a plan for Key Biscayne.”
Our new Representatives
Bob Oldakowski was sworn in as the fourth mayor of Key Biscayne during a ceremony at the Sonesta Beach resort. New Councilmembers are Carol Diaz-Castro, Dr. Jorge Mendia and Bob Vernon. Pictured are newly elected Councilmember Dr. Jorge Mendia with Councilmember Mort Fried.
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