5 Benefits of Living in a Walkable Community

As we envision the future of the city of South Miami, we must decide how to engage development as it relates to the health of our community. Here is a great article about the benefits of walkability.

https://www.locallogic.co/blog-post/5-benefits-of-living-in-a-walkable-neighbourhood

South Miami Citywide Garage Sale

An ordinance approving a single day relief from garage sale permits was passed at a commission meeting in December. However, the procedure for initiating a date was not clarified in the ordinance. The South Miami Neighbors recently inquired about that as we've all got loads of stuff we've been saving for much too long. Please stay tuned for a date when this piece of the puzzle is resolved. In the meantime, please take a look at this great article about us when approached the city commission about the idea.

http://sfmn.fiu.edu/south-miami-considering-citywide-garage-sale-event/

2020 Candidates Forum at Elks Club (part 1 - commission candidates)

2020 Candidates Forum at Elks Club (part 2 - mayoral candidates)

Candidates Forum 2020

Who's going to sit in the big seats?

South Miami Neighbors welcomes you to an evening with South Miami's mayoral and commission seat candidates. Please come to learn more about the fine people who have stepped into the spotlight, looking to lead South Miami into the future.

Please bring your questions so that the candidates will know what is important to you and the rest of the city residents.

Join us Thursday, January 30, 2020 

from

6:30--9:30 PM 

at the

Elks Lodge

6304 SW 78th Street

South Miami, FL

We thank all the candidates for accepting our invitation and thank you for joining us!

PARTY IN THE PARK!

Artwork by Mari Chael

It's time for a party!!

Join your South Miami Neighbors at Dante Fascell Park on December 15, 2019. We're going all out this time! We've rented both pavilions. We're bringing a bounce house and we've got music supplied by Banana Chant!

Becca Lago has done an amazing job putting this event together. From arranging for the pavilion rentals, the bounce house and finding the band, she's putting together what will be our biggest and best potluck party ever!




If you want to help out, Becca has a private Facebook group that you can join.
You can also contact her via email at info.somineighbors@gmail.com

What are you bringing to the potluck??? 

Check out our Meeting notes from October 21, 2019

Hi all,

Please check out our meeting notes to see what we discussed and what you might want to be a part of in the future.

South Miami Neighbors Minutes Oct 21, 2019,  at Planet 57

In attendance:

Holly Zickler, Annick Sternberg, Fabian Kahn, Gray Read, Mari Chael

Pablo Alvarez, FIU Biscayne Campus, Sr Journalism (South Florida Media Network) Emily Gorman, OrganizingRepresentative, Sierra Club/ Ready for 100 Campaign

1—Public Space Challenge Grant awarded to the South Miami Neighbors: Painting the Rainbow:

Tasks:

--Meet w Meg Daly and get a better feeling for Art Master plan & to facilitate volunteer participation, etc.

--Meet w Bo Droga, who can add perspective on the process, etc.

--Possibility of getting additional sponsorships for materials, labor, etc. Possible Sponsors &Community partners (the list can be expanded):

South Miami Hospital FNBSM

Grass River/ Fed Realty The Underline

Sherwin Williams along Underline Ace along the Underline

Rotary

CRA/ City of South Miami Chamber South

Red Merchants

2—Garage Sale Update:

Annick & Holly spoke at last commission meeting in support of a citywide garage sale day in resident’s yards. Although the resolution did not appear on the agenda, commissioners seemed supportive. If passed, the garage sale will be scheduled for 2020 because the holidays are upon us. Date of garage sale TBA once a resolution is approved.

3—Potluck on Dec 15, Dante Fascell Park. On the issue of corporate food sponsorships: the potluck is not a venue for this.

Task: Have info at the potluck to encourage growing membership in South Miami Neighbors ($15 per family) &sponsorships on projects: SoMi Rainbow Underline/ Alternative to College Fair/ Candidates Forum

Think about and prepare a more formal sponsorship to ask for participation in the future. Develop a procedure/guidelines.

/

4—Alternative to College Fair: Application to South Miami Community Center pending. Anticipated to take place in March or May 2020. Participating institutions and trades can include Port of Miami, Jorge T Baker Aviation, Mc Fatter Technical College, Robert Morgan Trade School, South Miami Police, etc.

5—Tentative date for Candidates Forum: Monday, Jan 27, 2020, is available at the Elks Club (the venue for the last Forums). Fabian is our go-to guy. This year if we wish to have food (which is optional), the cost for cleanup is $200 (non-negotiable). Do we wish to forego food?

6—Emily Gorman, representing the Sierra Club discussed the Ready for 100 Campaign, Readyfor100.org. South Miami has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The city has submitted a $300,000 grant proposal to the SE Sustainability Directors Network and will learn if they will receive it by the end of November. It will be used for implementation and consulting related to the 100% Renewable commitment and other citywide sustainability efforts. If they get the grant, the goal for the next 2 years will be to set its implementation plan. (6 cities already implementing this.)

Having open communication with the community, understanding the needs and the wishes of the residents is vital to the success of the program. The South Miami Neighbors could play an important role in the communication process. Helping to identify the needs and wishes of residents, organizing with other community organizations to tap into other groups of residents and tirelessly requesting/demanding from the city to recognize what residents want and updates on their decision making and progress. We could also help organize listening sessions and bringing in experts from other cities farther along in the process.

Gray will contact the City Manager to set up a meeting to ask what is the city’s timeline for this program and how they plan to keep the residents informed. Holly will join her for the meeting.

--can be a topic for discussion at Candidates Forum & a component for Lovable Cities discussion (Holly offered to host a potluck dinner on May 6^th or 7^th 2020)

--How can we cut electricity consumption? Seal doors, windows, roofing, plant trees, add insulation (program in place in CRA to insulate houses)

--FPL customers can organize; sign up for a purchasing program (Solar Together)

--There are 2 bills in Tallahassee targeting 100% renewables statewide

--Gray hopes the grant includes newsletter w topics: recycling, composting

--Idea: CRA as the pilot area because it includes public housing, private residences with onsite solar

7—This year let’s get out there and participate in Give Miami Day, on Nov 21, https://www.givemiamiday.org. And a thought: If we participate annually we can make our membership day concurrent w Give Miami Day. Update, need a real website and not a blog. We might need to budget for that in the coming year.

/

Come out and share your ideas in this public workshop on the redesign of the Shops at Sunset.

Quick! YES, YES, YES!!!!

On Aug 28 Vote YES on #240 

1. Democracy relies on the trust the people place on their elected leaders: the opinions of the majority or in this case, supermajority, is a more democratic alternative to the unanimous vote. Democracy does not work on the basis of 100% agreement.

2. Our downtown needs help. The Shops at Sunset Place, is the unique and one of a kind large parcel in our downtown by the South Miami Metrorail Station. The taller portions of the revitalized Sunset Place are along US1, our urban boulevard. New residents and inhabitants will bring much needed people to support our downtown businesses, and would help with the momentum boosting our city merchants and restaurants., This change, if implemented, will not effect residential areas; South Miami must not pass up on this opportunity

3. But it is not just up to the Shops to carry 100% of the burden for re-energizing our struggling downtown. Here are other ways the City can demonstrate it supports our downtown:

•  Allow portions of our downtown streets to open to pedestrian only traffic at certain times of the week (during the weekend, etc.), allowing businesses to spill onto the sidewalks and streets in a convivial way.

• Our current shuttle has a limited route, and there is no predicting its whereabouts. An expanded route and an app to determine its location will help. Open electric vehicles like the Downtowner with its on-demand free shuttle for South Miami residents will also assist residents to visit our downtown. We can encourage walking and biking to downtown; it’s easy to walk to destinations 15 mins or less away ("Walk 10,000 steps a day for wellness"). It’s easy to bike to destinations 1-2 miles away. Sometimes we forget that South Miami is only 3 square miles!

• Make it easy for small properties to add much needed urban, transit-served apartments, studio apartments, and additional office space. Relax parking requirements in the smaller parcels, or even allow the market to determine how much parking, if at all, to provide. That way, the City can reward property owners, future residents, and future office workers that desire to live a car-optional lifestyle.

4. Let’s ignite the spark and give the love and support for our city’s healthy downtown on August 28th! Voting YES on #240 is the path forward!

--The South Miami Neighbors board

South Miami Community Conversation on Climate Change

What would it look like?  What would it take?

Join us for a South Miami Community 

Conversation on Climate Change

Monday, March 6, 2017

Tea & Poets, Shops at Sunset, South Miami

Stop in between 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Speakers, Exhibits, Conversation Tables

Link to Facebook Event page  or call Gray Read 305 205 4814

Sponsors:  South Miami City Commission

FIU College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts

Great Turnout at Today's All America Park Potluck

Here are a few photos from today's potluck at All America Park. We had a great turnout with old friends and new and everyone brought wonderful dishes to share. Some of our City Commissioners and the Mayor were also in attendance.

Parks and Recreation Survey Extended

Please click on this link to the South Miami Parks and Recreation Department's web site to fill out the survey and express your goals and dreams for our city's open spaces.

Since there was such a small sampling of resident responses in June, the department has decided to extend the survey's availability so that they can get a more true representation of what South Miami's residents would like to see in their parks. This is your chance to add your two cents and make our city even greater.

Help shape the Parks and Recreation Master Plan!

The South Miami Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled two public workshops to get input on the city's parks and recreation master plan. At the workshops, Miller Legg (the consultant hired by the city) will conduct a discussion of goals and objectives so that residents can discuss the community's needs.

Both workshops will be held at South Miami City Hall (6130 Sunset Drive). The first will be held Thursday, June 25, at 7p.m., and the second will be on Saturday, June 27, at 5p.m.

Residents are strongly encouraged to fill out the Parks and Recreation Residents’ Survey, which is available online at www.southmiamifl.gov. This quick (15 minute) survey allows you to give input about the future of our parks and programs.

Parks and Recreation announces summer camp, ballet and swim classes, and free movies in the park!

Ok, the headline kind of says it all. South Miami Parks and Recreation have announced their 2015 Summer Camp, ballet classes, swim classes, and three free outdoor movies. Summer 2015 is going to be great in the City of Pleasant Living!

More information below the break…

Parade of the Elves this Sunday

South Miami will host our 32nd annual Parade of the Elves this Sunday! Come join University of Miami baseball coach Jim Morris, this year's Grand Marshall, for the merriment on Sunset Drive, between Red Road and US1. The parade begins at 2, with a pre-parade show at 1.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the parade should contact Maria Elena Stout-Tate at 305-668-2509.

Ludlam Trail Town Hall Meeting November 12 at South Miami High School

Friends of the Ludlam Trail is hosting a town hall meeting at South Miami High School next Wednesday, November 12, at 7p.m. Come participate in the discussion about how best to balance Flagler-FECI's desire to develop the property with building the world's next great urban linear park.

South Miami High School is at 6856 SW 53 Street.

Comment on the South Miami Intermodal Transportation plan tonight!

George Puig and Stewart Robinson of Kimley-Horn will present an update for the South Miami Intermodal Transportation Plan (encompasses bicycle and pedestrian route plans)  this evening for the Green Taskforce Meeting. Please come by to give your comments if you can. This will likely be one of the last chances for public comment. The meeting is at 6pm at City Hall.

Murray Park Aquatic Center opens August 6!

The Murray Park Aquatic Center opens Wednesday, August 6, with a ribbon cutting celebration at 10am. Come see this wonderful new addition to our community!

City aims to build "great streets," invites comments on new plan

The city invites residents to comment on the draft intermodal transportation plan, prepared by planning consultants Kimley-Horn. The plan includes improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the city, with links to all of our parks and public spaces.

Please take some time to look over the plan and send your thoughts in an email to info@southmiamineighbors.com.

After the jump, the complete text of Kimley-Horn's Vision, Goals and Objectives document, along with drawings of proposed street configurations...

City Commission meeting includes major issues

We encourage you to attend tomorrow (Tuesday) evening's City Commission meeting, which will include several significant agenda items. The commission will consider a series of changes to the city charter - including changing the date of municipal elections - and will discuss utilizing a private contractor to handle trash collection.