SIB Veterans Wall Nominations Are Due by September 1 July 2016 The City of Sunny Isles Beach recognizes residents who have served in the U.S. Military Services by adding their names to our Military Memorial Wall at Heritage Park each year on November 11. To apply, complete the application form, provide proof of residency and a copy of Honorable Discharge Certificate or the DD214 Discharge Form. Everyone seems to have their own special relationship with technology. George Bud Scholl Mayor Veterans or relatives get the application at the Government Center (18070 Collins Ave.) or Pelican Community Park (18115 North Bay Road). A resident may also request an application be mailed to their home. Applications may be downloaded at sibfl.net. Click on the Resident page and then on the right side open and print an application. If you know a military veteran, male or female, who resides in Sunny Isles Beach, remind them of this honor. For questions call Cultural and Community Services at 305.792.1706. Some of us love it, some of us hate it and some of us have just accepted it as a new part of our everyday life. One thing is for certain, technology is all around us and in many cases has made our lives easier and more productive. We have strong Information Technology ( IT ) leadership and staff at city hall. Given these excellent resources, we established a mandate with our IT staff that has been coined the Mayor s Technology Challenge. They were asked to come up with their top ten ideas that utilize technology to enhance the quality of life and convenience for our residents and/or make City staff more efficient. I am pleased to report that, as expected, our staff rose to the occasion and came up with several great ideas. Some of these ideas have already been or are in the process of being implemented. Perhaps you have already noticed in key locations around the city are Soofa park benches. These special benches utilize solar energy to provide a remote charging station for your portable phone or tablet. Our IT folks implemented tracking devices on our shuttle buses that will enable us to know where they are at all times. Riders can now download a mobile app to their smart phone that will tell them when the bus will arrive at their bus stop. We do our best to have our buses run on schedule, but it will be great to know when the bus is coming in real time. Especially on hot or rainy days! Future enhancements may be outdoor displays at our bus stops that can tell riders when the bus will arrive and free WiFi on our buses. The above describes just two examples, which we are implementing, of some of the great ideas that came out of the Mayor s Technology Challenge. Stay tuned for more as our IT Department and city staff continue to use technology to enhance our collective quality of life.
A Message from the City Manager by Christopher J. Russo A few things for our to do list! The desirability of our City continues to grow while all the improvements and related construction continues. I would like to use this opportunity to let our residents know about things you can do to make your stay or daily life more enjoyable. If you have never been, DO stop in our Visitors Center in the lobby of the Government Center. Whether a visitor or resident, there is something for all: information about city events or places of interest, SIB souvenirs, gifts, high quality apparel, beach gear, or an umbrella. If you drive a car to the beach, DO park in one of the public parking spaces, and not in retail shopping centers. All retail properties are private and will have your car towed from their spots. There is an abundance of pubic parking for the beach, and more will be available soon. Don t end a beautiful day in Sunny Isles Beach with the inconvenience and expense of having to retrieve your car from the towing company, legally working for the owners of the retail property. At the beach, the first thing you should DO, is consider safety while deciding on your spot. If using an umbrella, pick a location on the beach that is not too close to the water s edge. This enables our lifeguards to maintain a clear view of you, your family, friends, and everyone else who may be in the water. This is critical to their ability to react timely in an emergency. No hotel, condo or individual, nor the City, owns any part of the beach; it is a completely public beach for all to enjoy. Your safety is our greatest concern and being aware of the placement of umbrellas can make a significant difference in identifying someone in distress. Please DO be careful when walking or bicycling thru the City; especially on State Road A1A known as Collins Avenue. Because of the long and narrow shape of the city most new amenities under construction, including parks, streetscape beautification, landscaping, sidewalks, and utility undergrounding, require placement of either temporary pavement or steel plates while work is in progress. Stay alert of these temporary changes in both the roadway and sidewalk surface materials when walking, jogging, or riding, while these projects are still under construction. One of the benefits to living or vacationing in Sunny Isles Beach is that a person can actually DO it without needing a vehicle. The City is amenity laden, enabling patrons to get around on foot, or to use the complimentary city shuttle. In fact, many people DO just that and have eliminated the car from their daily use. Remember, as you navigate on foot, motorists must yield to pedestrians when they are in the crosswalks or crossing streets. The pedestrian, under Florida Law, has the right of way unless they are clearly jaywalking or violating the law. Please, DO be safety minded as you navigate on foot on the sidewalks or crossing the roadways of the City. During the summer months, while school is out for our children, DO make sure you take advantage of the many programs offered through our Cultural and Community Services Dept. From athletics, to camp, to special activity programs, there is much to offer for the children to keep them active, engaged and occupied during the summer break. I hope these TO DO tips make either a stay or living in our City more enjoyable. The City remains an attractive oasis or, as many say, paradise which is still a work in progress as we recently only celebrated our 19th anniversary.
Celebrating 19 Years! On Sunday, June 12, 2016 the City celebrated their 19th anniversary of incorporation. The food, rides, music and cake were great but bingo was the biggest hit of the day! Thanks to all that came out to celebrate with us! Visit the photo gallery on the website for a glimpse of the day. Need help? At our anniversary event, staff was on hand to assist with the installation of our newest technological convenience, the SIBshuttle app. Our efforts don t end there. Call 305.792.1706 any day from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm to speak to a live person for assistance or stop by Pelican Community Park or the Government Center. Please keep in mind that the bus drivers must focus on the road and try to keep to a schedule. They are not your best resource for assistance with learning more about this feature. Summer Safety SIB Ocean Rescue hosted community outreach events in May to educate the public on water safety. The best advice is to swim near a lifeguard stand. There are 10 on our 2.5 miles of beach so you are sure to find one near you. Also important to note in July, fireworks are prohibited everywhere in Sunny Isles Beach, including the beach and hotels. The City wishes you all a safe 4th of July and the Police will do their part. They need you to do your part and obey the rules. From the condos and hotels, you can see all the fireworks that surround our City including Aventura, North Miami, Miami Beach, downtown Miami and Hollywood to the north. A 360 view! Rising Horizons Did you miss it? Well we are pleased to report it is back! Rising Horizons, the geometric sculpture by world renowned Venezuelan artist Rafael Barrios has undergone a renovation and is back on its pedestal at Town Center Park. Barrios work is recognized internationally and was shared with millions in a public art project on Park Avenue in Manhattan in 2012. It is one of many of the prized art pieces on display in our City. Art and Culture Survey Thank you to all that participated in the Art and Culture survey conducted by AEA Consulting. Results are being tallied. If you didn t complete one, email us at chsd@sibfl.net and we will send you a survey so your comments are included. New Skate Park Opens at Haulover With the mangrove mitigation project at Town Center Park ready to commence, the City partnered with the County to build a skate park at Haulover Park. The new park opened in June. The best part? More hours and it s free to use! This central location will make it easier for our municipal neighbors to share in the fun. For more information, visit miamidade.gov or call 305.947.3525. The skate park at Town Center Park is now permanently closed.
A City That Keeps on Giving from the desk of Commissioner Isaac Aelion nformation New SIBshuttle Mobile App Now Available Everyone is familiar with the expression a gift that keeps on giving. Well, I like to think that we are a City that keeps on giving to our residents. The City of Sunny Isles Beach which measures only 1.25 square miles in size and has today a population of 21,962 residents, will soon be able to add another park with a stage to the current 10 parks in the City. This new addition will be the third park with a stage, which means that more events will be added to the already busy public events schedule throughout the year. The Cultural & Community Services Department of the City is seasonally adjusting its public events programming as a result of community feedback which it receives throughout the year. Just think about it. Where else in the world can a community boast of life by the beach, a community school of excellence, state of the art events programming, feeling safe to walk around at three in the morning because of one of the best police departments around, and to top it all off, food flavors from around the world at our local restaurants. Living in Sunny Isles Beach is truly a gift that keeps on giving. Commissioner Aelion can be reached at 305-792-1700. Be Prepared for Hurricane Season You spoke, we listened. Now it s easier than ever to know when the free SIB Shuttle Bus will arrive at your stop and ride it to a destination of your choice! Download the free mobile app, SIBshuttle, to your smartphone or other device to have the bus schedule and location right at your fingertips! After the application is downloaded to your phone, follow these steps: Choose your language: English, Spanish or Russian. Choose the line to travel: orange or blue. Choose your location: see what time the bus is expected. Fred Maas Chief of Police First, allow me to wish each family in SIB a happy, safe and relaxing summer whether you do a stay- cation or travel to another destination. Hurricane Season began June 1st; so we must prepare for the safety of our families and homes, whether we are here or out of town when a storm strikes. Should you be away during hurricane season, make sure you have taken the precautions to protect your home. Have a family member, trusted friend or neighbor available to prepare your home in your absence if a storm pops up. If you are in town when the alert is given for a storm, our best advice is to tune into local news channels, English or Spanish. There you will receive the most up-to-date advisories and tips for preparation. Their comprehensive instructions will provide additional measures of safety and security and leave you feeling very prepared. Most importantly, always remember, that we are on a barrier island and if the evacuation notice is given by the Governor/Miami-Dade Mayor, residents and visitors must heed the order. Emergency response personnel: police, fire and rescue, must also evacuate. The consequences of staying could be devastating and life threatening. For further details, pick up a brochure at the Government Center, Pelican Community Park or check sibfl.net for details. Stay Safe by Staying Informed! If you are not sure which line to take, the map of each line can also be accessed to determine a route. Riders may also check if the bus is running on time by visiting the web page at SIBshuttle.net or by calling the bus hotline at 305.741.0907. To give feedback about the shuttle service please email: sibshuttle@sibfl.net.
July 1 Friday, 9:30 am 2:30 pm Mini-FLOW: Florida Licensing on Wheels SIB Gov. Center 1st Floor Meeting Room July 4 Monday, Government Offices Closed Federal Holiday: Fourth of July No Shuttle Bus Service Pelican Community Park Closed July 5 Tuesday, 9:30 am 4:00 pm Blood Drive SIB Gov. Center parking lot July 6 Wednesday, 3:00 4:00 pm Bingo SIB Gov. Center Commission Chambers July 10 Sunday, 11:45 am 5:00 pm Cultural Event Trip: Miami Marlins Marlins Park, Miami, FL July 12 Tuesday, 10:00 am 1:00 pm Golden Era Movie Pelican Community Park July 14 Thursday, 9:00 am noon Blood Pressure and Glucose Testing SIB Gov. Center 1st Floor Meeting Room July 17 Sunday, 11:30 5:00 pm Cultural Event Trip: Schnebly Redlands Winery Tour Homestead, FL July 21 Thursday, 9:00 am City Commission Workshop FY 16/17 Budget SIB Government Center Commission Chambers July 21 Thursday, 6:30 pm Regular City Commission Meeting SIB Government Center Commission Chambers July 23 Saturday, 10:00 4:00 pm Summer Splash Heritage Park July 27 Wednesday, 3:00 4:00 pm Bingo SIB Gov. Center Commission Chambers July 27 Wednesday, 6:30 pm City Advisory Committee Meeting SIB Gov. Center 1st Floor Meeting Room All persons are invited to attend these meetings. If a person decides to appeal any decision made at such meeting or hearing, they will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in any meeting because of that disability should contact the City Manager at 305.947.0606, no later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding. JULY 2016 SIB Branch Library Programs Miami-Dade County Sunny Isles Beach Branch Library: For more information about hours and the offerings below call 305.682.0726. Classes and programs are held in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, 18070 Collins Avenue, unless otherwise indicated. Programs for Adults Basic Computers, Internet and Email Tuesday: July 5 for English Tuesday: July 19 for Spanish 10:30 am inside the library Programs for Children Summer Reading Program End of Summer Reading Celebration Saturday: July 30 11:00 am noon Bedtime Stories Wednesdays: July 6 27 6:30 7:15 pm Sharing stories and music in the evening. Ages 3 to 5 yrs. Reading Ready Toddler Storytime Mondays: July 11 25 10:00 10:30 am Stories, songs, and activities for toddlers and their caregivers. Ages 19 mo. to 3 yrs. Family Program Saturdays: July 2 30 11:00 am Stories, crafts and activities for children & their families. IS PUBLISHED BY THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH CULTURAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES 18115 North Bay Road Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 305.792.1706 July 2016
18070 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 The official communication of the City of Sunny Isles Beach! JOIN US THIS JULY JOIN US THIS JULY Golden Era Movie You Can t Take It With You Tuesday, July 12 10:00 am 1:00 pm Pelican Community Park 18115 North Bay Road Complimentary movie and lunch with SIB Resident ID Card, $5 without. Summer Splash Saturday, July 23 10:00 am 4:00 pm Heritage Park 19200 Collins Avenue Featuring large water slides and other inflatables along with DJ music and fun interactive games. Vendors for food & summer treats.