Past BHA News
BHA News, Vol. VI No. 2, Summer
1996
President's Column By T. Sinclair
(Tory) Jacobs: Elections
July 23rd, September 3rd, October 1st
(runoffs, if needed), November 5th . . .all election days in
Miami this year. Many races, many candidates and perhaps a few
ballot questions.
This is the first time in the five years
of cosponsorship of Candidates Forums by the Miami Roads Neighborhood
Civic Association and the Brickell Homeowners Association that
we have scheduled more than one Forum. The first will be on August
22nd for the September 3rd election and the other on October
24th for the November 5th election.
Another first for this year. . .we have
invited our neighbors: members of the Cliff Hammock Homeowners
Association, contiguous to the south; members of the Pointe View
Homeowners Association, representing the five condominium associations
sandwiched between our 15th Road members and our Brickell Key
members; and the residents of UTD Towers, a rental building in
our midst, just across Brickell Avenue from the Immanuel Lutheran
Church, venue for both of this year's Candidates Forums.
We welcome the participation of our neighbors.
We share common goals for protection and enhancement of the quality
of life in our cherished residential community.
We may differ on candidates, but we are
as one in our commitment to our neighborhood.
Residents, Neighbors and Friends: Let's
meet the candidates at each Forum. Let's vote in each election.
If we don't, can we complain?
On the Beat: Tracking Brickell Police Coverage
The number of police officers assigned
to patrol the Brickell/Coral Way area is targeted to double if
all goes according to a new plan being tried in this area by
the Miami Police Department, Lt. Manny Orosa reported.
"Simply put, we will have one officer
per zone, per day," he said. "So instead of our current
four per day, we should grow to eight per day, per shift."
With a number of new restaurants and other
developments sprouting up in the Brickell area lately, BHA directors
have stayed in close communication with Lt. Orosa, Officer Jeff
Giordano, Chief Warshaw and other officers about police protection.
Police are paying particular attention to increased visibility
in our neighborhood so that they thwart thugs and robbers that
might see an opportunity to prey on folks outdoors, going to
restaurants and enjoying the new amenities.
One of the moves already in place is the
addition of an overtime officer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. patrolling
South Miami Avenue, Brickell and South Bayshore from 8th Street
to 25th Road, Lt. Orosa reported. During the daytime shift on
weekdays, one officer rides a bike to patrol the area.
Under the new prototype plan starting
in mid-August, officers will work in three shifts 6:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with the same
eight officers rotating in each shift. The officers will not
be shifted to other neighborhoods but rather be dedicated to
the Brickell/Coral Way area. With this plan, Brickell residents
will get to know their officers and the officers will get to
know residents, businesses and the area very well.
Contract Awarded for Brickell
Medians
Residents should be seeing the results
of regular work and maintenance in the Brickell medians now that
the City of Miami has signed a one-year contract with Recio and
Associates, Inc. The new contractor is trying to make up lost
time clipping, clearing and spraying the improved medians which
have not had a dedicated crew looking after them since they were
completed less than a year ago.
"They've started cleaning up, clipping
branches and trying to repair the irrigation system," Raul
Garcia, Chief of Operations for the City's Public Works Department,
said. "Whatever trash is there, they have to pick up right
away, including palm fronds, branches, whatever."
The one-year contract with Recio states
its scope: "For the furnishing of all labor, materials and
equipment to maintain by mowing/cutting, pruning, trimming, weeding,
fertilizing, mulching, controlling disease and insects, removing
litter and repairing existing irrigation (as necessary) the landscaped
rights-of-way medians on Brickell Avenue, in the City of Miami,
Florida, for the lump sum of $48,560."
In addition, "the work includes maintenance
of irrigation equipment and removal/replacement of dead or diseased
plant material, with materials to be supplied by the City, unless
otherwise indicated in specific changes to the contract."
Concerned Citizens Watching
Over that past year BHA directors have heard from many residents
in the area concerned about whether the improved medians will
be properly maintained or left to degrade over time. Sections
of the irrigation system are already not working, and sod and
trees have died in spots. Some trees are still under warranty
by the original contractor who will be required to replace them,
Garcia said.
BHA readers are reminded that it was an
ad hoc group of BHA residents that were successful in persuading
Florida Department of Transportation and City officials that
additional work was needed when the initial landscaping did not
meet promises or expectations. No one wants all that effort to
go to waste.
The contract terms dictate the following
items of note:
Non-Performance Condition
The contract gives the City the right to deduct fees from the
contractor if work is not being properly carried out. The clause
states: "Liquidation Damages: It is mutally agreed that
time is of the essence in the carrying out of all the tasks required.
If the Contractor fails to carry out these tasks within the periods
specified, the City at its option may deduct the amount of $200.00
per calendar day elapsing beyond the specified time for completion
of the task."
Recio and Associates is a general contractor
company that reports being in business for 25 years. Other Recio
maintenance projects have included U.S. Hwy. 1 medians in Coral
Gables, State Road 836, Sawgrass Expressway and portions of Tamiami
Trail. The City of Miami worked with the firm after the hurricane
on various projects, Garcia said.
Residents who notice debris, dead foliage
or other problems in the median that do not seem to be getting
attention are urged to call Garcia's office at 575-5256 to report
the problem.
Vote on Bond Measure Slated for
November: Brickell Area Parks May Get Help
Three parks in the Brickell area would
get capital improvements as part of the $200 million general
obligation bond measure to be voted on in Dade County this fall.
If the measure passes, Simpson, Alice Wainwright and Southside
would be among the parks, community centers and recreation facilities
countywide to benefit. Historic Brickell Park, embroiled in a
legal dispute between the City of Miami and the Brickell heirs,
is not included in this plan since its fate is still uncertain.
The "Safe Neighborhoods Parks Act
of 1996" would provide capital improvements for parks throughout
Dade through an effort by a local group of community leaders
and the Trust for Public Land, a national conservation group
that helps raise capital for urban areas. The revenue generated
from the additional tax homeowners would pay is spread countywide.
Brickell Area Parks Get Slice
About half of the 100+ parks in City of Miami territory are to
get about $21 million of the $200 million package, Albert Ruder,
director of the City of Miami Parks & Recreation Department
said.
The plan calls for Simpson Park to get
$150,000, Wainwright $100,000 and Southside Park $100,000.
The money earmarked for Simpson would
go toward a greenhouse, restoration of the pond, building renovations
and fencing, Ruder said. The Wainwright money would be used for
a nature trail, walkways, bathroom, pavilion and picnic facilities,
security lighting and landscape improvements to the playground.
At Southside, the park located behind
the fire station on Second Avenue, softball, basketball and volleyball
courts would be improved and landscaping enhanced.
A Battle Ahead
At their July 16th meeting, Metro-Dade Commissioners approved
the plan to go before voters in November. Lengthy debate ensued
about distribution of the funds throughout the county and whether
all neighborhoods were getting a fair share. Everyone agreed,
however, that the $200 million is only a small portion of the
capital actually needed across the board.
Backers of the plan have outlined which
parks would get what so that voters can be sure the money will
be spent on what was promised, project director Brenda Marshall
said. Additionally, the plan calls for an annual audit of expenditures
of all bond proceeds.
In all cases the intent of the Trust for
Public Land is that operation and management funding be secure
to sustain the improvements.
"Before the municipality can get
the dollars for capital improvements, they have to show the operational
funds are in place," Marshall said.
Dade voters have exhibited the "no
new tax" sentiment that has swept the country lately, rejecting
several bond measures last year that would have increased property
taxes. One to refurbish and modernize police equipment and systems
for crime control recently failed at the polls.
Surveys conducted by the conservation
group in Dade County twice in the past year showed a 65 percent
positive response by residents when queried about how much they
would tax themselves to support a bond measure for parks. The
threshold was around $7 per year for the average household, based
on a home value of $90,000. Nearly all Brickell Avenue condo
values are above that mark.
The most pressing concerns named by people
in the survey were crime, getting youth off the streets, preservation
of natural areas and other quality of life issues, Marshall reported.
Distrust of public officials was another theme that came up,
she said.
The ordinance was drafted by a citizens
advisory coalition and the individual projects are going "to
be line itemed" on the ballot.
Of the $200 million, $108 million is earmarked
for local parks and projects, $77 million for regional parks
and $15 million for grants to address additional needs. Some
of the big regional winners would include Crandon Park ($6 million),
Haulover Park ($4 million), Metrozoo ($12 million) and Fairchild
Tropical Garden ($4 million).
Voters can expect to start hearing more
about the ballot item in the coming months through a "grassroots
campaign" planned by the trust. BHA directors are deciding
whether or not to take a stand on the measure.
Column: In Search of Better TV
By Charlotte Schiff-Jones
Editor's Note: In an age of burgeoning
new technologies for entertainment, interconnection and communication,
consumers sometimes feel overwhelmed with an array of choices.
With the advent of satellite dishes and cable company competition,
BHA condo associations have found themselves frequently questioning
their means for obtaining an important commodity: television.
Charlotte Schiff-Jones provides some insight about the state
of the art.
To stay with cable or move to space, that
is the question. The answer is not related to which is nobler,
but to which is more practical, cost effective and beneficial
in the long term. Cable has been less than perfect on many fronts
and direct broadcast (satellite dish) offers many apparent advantages.
The purpose of this column is to lay out the relative pros and
cons as succinctly and candidly as this writer's long experience
in the business of alternative television distribution will allow.
Direct broadcast (DBS) offers at least
as many cable networks, and sometimes more, for a slightly lower
monthly fee. That alone whets appetite for disgruntled cable
subscribers who have either experienced inferior personal service
from the phone or house call departments, or who have resented
rising rates, or whose cable company does not carry one or more
of the networks they prefer that are available on the DBS service.
I, for one, would like Bravo to be a full 24-hour service,
not part time while my husband would kill for Sci Fi.
But let's look at the price. The equipment
costs $600-900 plus $100+ for installation if individually purchased.
If, however, a deal is made with the buildings, there would be
no cost to the apartment owner. But there is a Florida statute
prohibiting the use by the satellite service of existing cable
wiring. Therefore, there is either an enormous installation cost
or, if the statute is ignored, a series of law suits and possible
violations might ensue. The company is offering discounted monthly
rates if we offer enough volume (many buildings), but demands
a contractual commitment of five or more years.
Broadcast signals are not included, requiring
either a return to rabbit ears (antenna) or subscribing for basic
cable (if the contract will allow). If it does, it adds to the
monthly cost. If it doesn't, those old enough to remember jiggling
antenna every time you changed a channel in order to see a clear
picture without ghosts or snow will know how unattractive that
idea can be. Of course, it is also possible that the satellite
service will promise to install a master antenna for broadcast
signals but the statutory environment on the issue of their right
to do that is murky as well.
Other drawbacks to direct broadcast, or
wireless operators in general, include: frequent fadeouts due
to weather changes; no in house service department; no weekend
or on-call service; limited or no pay-per-view programming; no
capability for adaptation to new technologies (telephony and
high speed data) or future interactive services; no local or
government channels.
One of the interesting developments in
the cable television industry has been its fairly recent reaction
to the new experience of competition. Service has improved, customer
involved personnel have undergone intense training, technological
advances have already begun to be part of the service (Internet
on-line computer data transmission service, 30 channels of digital
music, in some cases competitive telephony service) and others
will follow soon (e.g., shopping and banking from home or office).
If you are on the Internet, or plan to be, the coming cable modem
will hasten the creepy crawly pace of current telephone line
transmissions more than 20 fold.
Having spent my life at the cutting edge
of communications, I can't imagine voluntarily committing for
five or more years to an antiquated, soon to be obsolete technology,
in order to save a few cents a month...especially when I know
I will come to regret it before the capital investment is amortized
(if self purchased).
If the offer still has the capacity to
engender interest or even doubt, it might be turned to advantage
by using the power of our potential en mass cable loyalty to
solicit even better service and a quicker schedule for upgrading
technology and channel capacity. A conversation on the subject
already has served to elicit a commitment by TCI to wire the
Southside Elementary school at no charge, for example.
Post-script: A new possibility just surfaced
worthy of exploration and assessment at a later date. I have
just learned of a proposal made to The Imperial for the installation
of a satellite dish on the roof that would service those residents
who choose to make the capital investment, without interfering
with basic cable service. Legal and technological issues need
to be examined.
Charlotte Schiff-Jones, owner/resident
at The Imperial, is President of Gamut Media, a strategic marketing
and creative services company specializing in program networks
for cable, direct broadcast, wireless and multimedia, with particular
emphasis on the launching of U.S. networks in Brazil and other
Latin American countries.
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