Cutler Bay Charter Amendments

The November 6th ballot for Cutler Bay residents is approximately 11-12 pages long. You can download and print out your individual copy of the ballot by visiting http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/.

The Voices of Cutler Bay recommend APPROVAL of most of the amendments to the Charter of Cutler Bay. The exceptions are:

Formal Recognitions to be Made By Council or Individual Council member with Majority Consent of Council
While there is no formal procedure for Council recognitions, this amendment adds unnecessary complexity, opens the door for unseemly public debate about private citizens eligibility, and infringes on the mayor’s duty to represent the Town for ceremonial purposes. It also creates the need for additional meetings and wastes taxpayers money staffing those meetings.
Please Vote NO by selecting # 269

 

Providing for Non-Resident, Non-Voting Members of Town Boards, Agencies and Committees
“Citizen” advisory boards, agencies, and committees should consist of citizens. Non-voting members would create unnecessary complexity and distraction to the already difficult tasks of deliberation and consent. Boards, agencies, and committees already have the ability to request input and/or advice from non-residents, if they so desire.
Please Vote NO by selecting # 285.

 

Restriction on Consecutive Service on a Charter Revision Commission as a Voting Member
Why limit the Council in choosing whom they feel can provide a meaningful service to the Town? The charter review commission meets every 6 years and there is a small pool of residents willing to serve the long hours required for this commission.
Please Vote NO by selecting #289.

Budget suggestions sent to all Council members

Dear Council Members:

Another budget cycle is upon the Town. This has got to be a very stressful time for each of you facing the task of trying to do as much as possible with dwindling funds and additional expenses.

The Voices of Cutler Bay have discussed at length the 2012/13 budget and new expenses that the Town faces.

The balloon payment that will be due in 2013 of an additional $702,913 for the Town Hall and land payment.

• The cost of paying the principal and interest for the bond providing for the payment to the Miami-Dade County Public School system to get a Cutler Bay High School.
• The maintenance of the new Lakes by the Bay Park estimated to be $250,000.00.

All of these items are tremendous enhancements to our community and we commend you for all the hard work you have done to bring these improvements to the Community.

Realizing the stress that you will face trying to “find” the money required to cover these expenses and maintain our standard of service. The members of VOICES would like to offer some cost savings and income generating ideas that should be addressed.

1. Grant writers on staff
2. A  Cutler Bay Police force
3. Staff “in-house” attorney(s)
4. Working with department head to develop a plan that could move toward self supporting activities without additional taxes.    Example PARKS (Town events that provide revenue)
   • Weddings in the park.
   • Renting park space for concerts.
   • Fishing tournaments with some funds collected from admission
   • fees going to prizes and the other to the town
   • Other team sports.  i.e.: paint ball
5. Future sale of the Town Hall building with a lease back provision.
6. Allowing a business to sponsor a park.
7. Lowering the travel and expenses for the “general government” aka the manager.
8. Students to get community service. (Employee savings)
9. Review consultants fee vs.: staff cost.

VOICES would like to suggest that the Council appoint a “Budget & Finance Committee” of qualified professional s to investigate the ramifications and feasibility of the above suggestions and any other cost savings or income generating ideas and provide a complete report to the council prior to the budget cycle for 2013/2014.

Other Towns and cities have implemented this type of financial and budget advisory committees:

• City of Miami Beach
• City of Miami
• City of South Miami

 One final thought might be that there are many qualified and experienced professionals in our Town, particularly in our retirement communities.

The VOICES of Cutler Bay.

Email sent to each Cutler Bay Council Member– 6/25/12 9:45 AM

 

The Land Development (LDR) are behind us now. As a member of our Town Council, you are to be thanked for your services. As members of the Voices of Cutler Bay, we hope that you would agree that the completed LDR’s are a much better document then they would have been thanks to the community’s involvement in the process.

 With that in mind, we encourage you to review the long ignored communications committees recommendations on how to increase community awareness and participation. This document has never been openly discussed by the council and few of the recommendations have been implemented. As the LDR issue has shown, the Council needs to find ways to let the public know what is taking place within our community, listen the public’s opinion, and vote accordingly.

 The next few months there will be several important items to be discussed including the charter amendments and subsequent vote, the Town’s budget and the potential annexation of new land. It is imperative that the public be informed and included in these discussions. We will be doing our part to ensure that the public is aware of these upcoming issues.,we hope that you will as well.

 On a different subject; We have heard comments from members of the public that they feel both ignored and disrespected when members of the council leave the dais during public comments. We assume this is not your intent, but it is the message you are sending.

 

Below is a condensed version of the Communications Committee final report to the Town Council

We suggest that the Town Council use these ideas as a guide in establishing better and improved communications with the community.

The potential magnitude and technical aspects of this endeavor may require the Town to hire or contract a “Media” qualified person to implement, maintain, organize and oversee all functions of communications.

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 **************  We submit the following only as suggestions: *******************

A. Internet -  The Town’s Internet Web Site

1.  An improved page for Town Events
2.  A Library page for informative, downloadable documents such as the Charrettes and
   the Town Charter.
3. A page for Press Releases
4. An improved page for useful Links
5.  Information regarding subject of workshops in notices of workshops
6.  A summary of Council Meeting agendas on website, with hyperlinks to more
   detailed PDF files.
7.  A method of “Opt-in” to or “Opt-out” from any direct mail, e-mail notices,
   newsletter, or other forms of communications.
8.  Information on “going green” and how to do it
9.  A web site search bar
10.  A page targeting non-resident web site users. (Town statistics, commercial and
    residential information, current events, etc.)
11.  A page for Rumor Control and/or Q&A
12.  A page for news articles of interest – an example is the recent possible loss of bus
    routes
13.  A “suggestion box” – web site design changes, Town needs & ideas.
14.  A citizen’s Forum
15.  Provide a summary of “why an ordinance is being considered” in plain language.
16.  Utilize video streaming technology (web cam) to “live broadcast” events such as council meetings, “town hall” meetings, and/or “fireside chats”. Archive the broadcasts so that they can be downloaded or viewed on-line at a later date.

 Other Internet       

17.   Explore and utilize new and future Internet technologies to improve
communications between residents and the Town.     Twitter – Facebook –
etc.

   18.   An Internet email system should be utilized for three levels of
information  distribution: A. General notifications (council meeting
dates, committee meetings, etc.), B. Special announcements (office
closure, Founders Day, etc.), C. Emergency
announcements (disaster assistance information, etc.) The Internet email
system  must include a user “opt-in” and “opt-out” feature for each level.

B. Format of Town Council Meetings

19.   Include a brief preamble of “how the meeting works” prior to the
meeting.

20.  Re-format the agenda to allow items that require public input (second
readings, etc.) to appear earlier in the meeting, and other items (first
readings, resolutions, consent, reports) later in the meeting to facilitate
public input.

21.  Require three hearings (two with public input required) instead of two
to allow more time for
public involvement.

C. Public Signage

          22.  Electronic signage should avoid “tackiness”, and adhere to any and all
safety standards.

23.  The Town should prohibit commercial bus shelter and bus bench ads
if and when possible or feasible.

24.  Implement Town standards for bus bench and bus shelter ads and
require Town approval of content.

25. The Town should install bus bench or bus shelter informative and
useful signage, such as a Town map with “you are here” markers.

26.  Historic Marker erected on Old Cutler Road to promote the history
of that road and the History of the Town of Cutler Bay.

27.  Install fixed electronic sign(s). The location of these sign(s) should
be decided after a comprehensive study, including traffic counts,
and specifically traffic usage by Cutler Bay residents. For safety
concerns, sign(s) should not be placed at intersections.

28.  Evaluate the use of mobile electronic signage where appropriate.

29.  Ask merchants, specifically food supermarkets, to voluntarily host
electronic signage in windows, on their premises.

30.  Electronic signage should contain information of immediate
pertinence. Be informative, yet brief (such as “Council Meeting
Tonight”), and accompanied by reference to the Town’s web site
address (such as “See http://www.CutlerBay-fl.gov”).

31.  The Town should use the Town billboard to promote the Town’s
web site.

32.  Evaluate practicality and feasibility of replacing street signs with
those that are community distinctive.

33.  Promote the Town’s website address on every form of signage and
each form of communication.

D. Public Presentations

34.  Schedule Public Meetings other than Town Council meetings.
Two types of presentations are recommended: 1. Presentations
by Council, staff, or other speakers presenting news or other
information with little or no public input. Example: the “State of
the Town” presentation, 2. “Town Hall”, or “Question and
Answer” sessions with participation by both Town and residents.
3.  “Public Comment” sessions, where the residents can engage in
“Open House Sessions with Council”, and express concerns
and opinions on particular issues.

35.  Individual council members should schedule meetings within
their district area at a common
place and/or issue individual newsletters for distribution to
their appointed district.

36.  Staff, in addition to being responsive to requests to attend civic
or other organized meetings, should actively seek such
opportunities.

E. Print Media

37.  Issue Press Releases to publicize important events.

38.  Provide Police Department with an information “package” to
distribute during their interactions with the residents.

39.  Publish a Town Newsletter, distributed quarterly or as
needed.

40.  Ensure vendors utilize “green” materials and policies.

41.  Insert the Town’s newsletter into the Miller Community Newspaper.

 F. Feedback from the Public

42.  More frequent Town Hall Meetings on sensitive or controversial issues.

43. Utilize surveys and other methods to receive feedback and determine citizen’s wishes and
needs.

44. Utilize surveys and other methods to rate Town performance.

45. Hand out schedules, notices, and opinion surveys during Council Meetings and workshops.

G. Direct Mail

46.  Use Direct Mail to reach out and engage citizens in community affairs and events as
needed.

47. Include a method to “opt-out” and/or “opt-in” in each and every mailing, including the
Newsletter.

48. Utilize the “non-profit” status of the Cutler Bay Foundation to reduce cost of mailings.

49. Continue to mail Town Newsletter quarterly.

50. Distribute Town Issues or actions through established civic organizations.

51.  Use “mail-in” ballots whenever possible.

52. Distribute literature door-to-door. Use volunteers, city workers, and/or police during their
normal duties.

H. TV/Radio

53.  TV/Radio ads should include reference to the Town’s Internet web site.

54.  TV/Radio ads be used to market regional events, such as an art festival, that would be held in
the Town.

I. Telephone

              55.  Promote community events in the after-hours recorded script on the Town’s telephone
number. This is not a recommendation for an automated receptionist.

56.  Explore and utilize new telephone technologies, such as text messaging.

57.  Implement a “robo calling” system.

 J. Other Comments, Ideas, and Suggestions

58.  Use “Plain Language” in all Town Communications.

59. Make Town Communications Bi-lingual.

60.  Utilize more frequent usage of the citizen’s advisory committee system to encourage public
involvement.

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