2011-0519 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting May 19, 2011 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida if there is a problem. Commissioner Gatto asked what holidays, and Ms. Simpson said it would be in compliance with our noise ordinance. 13. CITIZENS' FORUM: REQUESTS, PETITIONS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 13A. Dawn Spillane of Golden Shores, said she passed the Tot Lot Park at 191 Street and Atlantic Boulevard, and noticed that a portion of the wall was cut out. She spoke to her neighbors and no one knew what it was about. She called City Hall and found out that the City had decided to put a basketball court under the bridge, and there would be a gate located in the Tot Lot. She feels this is a bad idea, this will be the access to the basketball court, and there is already an access in place not a block away. She had her neighbors sign a petition to stop this entrance as it will allow people into their neighborhood that they don't want, like thieves. Also, has the air quality been checked under the bridge, who is going to be policing this area, bird droppings, etc. They have a sense of security in Golden Shores and that will be lost along with property values, and insurance prices will go up. Action: Vice Mayor Thaler said it was the idea of the residents in Golden Shores in 2009 when we were talking about the basketball court and putting an opening there which was suggested by the Golden Shores residents so they could have a walkway to the new park. Public Speakers: Dawn Spillane; Vicky Spillane; Marianna Talalaevsky; Jaclyn Matityahu Ms. Spillane said no one asked them, and she asked if we can reverse it. Mayor Edelcup said at this point we can gate that back area and lock it until we can resolve if we should open it or not depending upon how the residents of Golden Shores feels. If the majority of the people in Golden Shores don't want it open, then we can keep it locked. Ms. Spillane asked if she can just get a petition signed by 75% of the residents in Golden Shores, and Mayor Edelcup said no, we need to make sure that the residents understand what is being asked. We can conduct an opinion in that area and find out which way the mothers would prefer their children to get to Heritage Park. The gate has already been bought, the hole has already been made in the wall, and it would cost more money to close the hole than to put in the gate. Commissioner Scholl said when we planned this and we had a number of public hearings, we had the trail that goes from Golden Shores to under the bridge to the new Park, and residents from Golden Shores came and said it was a great idea, they loved the fact that their community is interconnected to the Park. People came and advocated for this, and what the Mayor is suggesting is a good middle ground in that staff will put out a survey and will find out what the residents want to do ultimately. The gate would stay there until we have the vote and then if it turns out they don't want it, then we will close it up. In response to a question of how the area will be monitored, Mayor Edelcup said there are cameras being installed underneath the Lehman Causeway, we have Park Patrol, and we have a person assigned to Heritage Park that will also encompass him checking that area and the pocket park in Golden Shores Park, in addition our Police will be patrolling the area. Also, Public Works has their facility there and they are underneath the Causeway all the time, and so the Public Works will be monitoring it as well. The cameras have already been bought and paid for with Police forfeiture money and so it is not costing any taxpayers money and