Latest news with #CountyCommission
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
We got a look at radical Rickenbacker Causeway plan. Here are the pros and cons
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado calls her proposal to re-envision the Rickenbacker Causeway a 'beautifully crazy idea.' Miami does need outside-the-box thinking to address the traffic congestion and need for more green space that affect our quality of life. 'The Shoreline' is Regalado's plan, designed with help from a developer, to build a 25-foot-tall viaduct to split vehicles traveling to and from Key Biscayne from pedestrians and cars stopping at Virginia Key. Significantly, it would also increase waterfront recreational space. 'Any meeting that you have in Key Biscayne, the No. 1 complaint will be the Rickenbacker,' Regalado told the Herald Editorial Board. 'I've gotten stuck in it a million times as a county commissioner who has to go out there.' Her proposal falls somewhere between innovative and pie-in-the-sky. It has been well received by officials and residents in Key Biscayne, and it's worthy of consideration, if Miami-Dade can pull it off. That's a big if. The Shoreline is still in its very early stages — it hasn't even been presented to the full County Commission — so it's too soon for the Editorial Board to endorse it or oppose it. We recently met with Regalado and project designers and were left both impressed and with lingering questions. The project would send roughly 28,000 high-speed vehicles that head daily to and from Key Biscayne and fast bicycle pelotons to the top of the viaduct, which would have two lanes in either direction, plus 10-foot-wide shoulders. The viaduct would begin at the east end of the Powell Bridge and stretch the full length of Virginia Key to Bear Cut Bridge before it comes to ground level at the Crandon Marina entrance. The area below would be used for slower local traffic headed mostly to and from to Virginia Key (roughly 12,000 vehicles per day), bike and pedestrian paths. That would clear space for more beach, park and parking spaces. The project's intentions are noble; it would not only improve traffic but also pedestrian and bike safety, which is sorely needed given how dangerous the causeway currently is to anyone who's not in a car. 'We're creating, by elevating this [viaduct], an opportunity for mobility and for the free flow of traffic at higher speeds that do not affect or create a friction with those of us... riding our bikes or walking or just going to the beach,' Shoreline designer Juan Mullerat told the Editorial Board. The project also calls for traffic circles each at MAST Academy and the Marine Stadium entrance, which has no crosswalk, and vehicles would no longer cross bike lanes to get to the beach area. Regalado also envisions connecting the new recreational area of Rickenbacker to the Underline, a gem of a linear park in Miami, where underutilized space beneath the Metrorail is being transformed into 10 miles of bike and pedestrian paths and recreational areas. 'This vision is exactly what the Underline, we, hoped would happen,' Friends of The Underline founder Meg Daly said of the Shoreline. 'This inspirational approach to solving larger problems in having these hybrid projects really makes sense.' There are questions, though, about how much the Shoreline would cost. The Herald reported a figure of $475 million but a final estimate is not available yet. We suspect the project would cost a lot more than what's been reported. There's no direct comparison in terms of scope but the Interstate 395 'Signature Bridge' in downtown Miami is costing $840 million. And, then, by making it easier to reach Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, would the new Rickenbacker add pressure to increase development on these two environmentally sensitive islands? Developer David Martin, CEO of Terra Group, paid for the Rickenbacker plan design and has a vested interest in it — he recently purchased the old Silver Sands hotel property on Key Biscayne, the Herald reported. Some Rickenbacker users have also wondered whether the viaduct would be aesthetically pleasing. Another potential hiccup: Miami-Dade County already has been working on a master plan for the causeway that's not yet public. The county also just started a three-year planning process for a Bear Cut bridge replacement, the Herald reported. How easily could Regalado replace those plans? The Shoreline could spur a much-needed transformation of the Rickenbacker Causeway and its surroundings. It just has to be feasible. Click here to send the letter.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Polk County OKs initial contracts for long-sought Agricultural Center south of Bartow
The Polk County Agricultural Center Complex in Bartow took a giant gallop forward on June 3 when the County Commission voted to approve architectural and engineering services for phase one of the long-discussed complex. A contract with The Lunz Group LLC was approved by the commission for $1.57 million. 'This has been a lot of work for a lot of people. I've been after this since I have become a commissioner. And it's had a lot of roads up and down, bumps, bangs,' Commission Chairman Rick Wilson said prior to the unanimous vote. In thanking those who helped push for the project, Wilson added, 'This is Polk County; this is going to be a nice facility for generations to come.' An equestrian-themed public facility in Bartow was first publicly discussed at a County Commission agenda review on May 20, 2024. Phase one would include a covered arena with seating. Overall, the complex will be designed to highlight Polk County's agricultural heritage. Bartow's City Manager Mike Herr made the pitch for the facility last year to the commissioners once another site for the complex fell through after years of planning. The last proposed equestrian center was to be developed in Fort Meade, but the Polk County Commission rescinded its pledge of $6.5 million toward the center in July 2023. On June 3 after the commission vote, Herr was very happy with the decision to begin the initial phase. 'We are very excited about the County Commission hiring the Lunz Group. First, they are a local firm, so circulating tax dollars to a professional firm who is qualified is important,' Herr said. 'This is a very exciting day for the south-central area of Polk County," he said. "The Equestrian Center will serve as a driver for additional agri-tourism events at this site and will attract families from all across the region. It's a very good example of putting heads in beds. Our city cannot wait for it to be open.' This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County moves forward on long-sought Agricultural Center in Bartow
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Inmate names to remain public under ICE agreement with Miami-Dade jails, admin says
A proposed update to Miami-Dade County's detention agreement with ICE won't cause any changes with how family members can find relatives in local jails or give the federal immigration agency extra authority within the county's Corrections system, a top deputy to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pledged Monday. James Reyes, chief of public safety under Levine Cava, said the updated agreement does not give Immigration and Customs Enforcement additional powers in Miami-Dade jails, where the county already has a state-mandated cooperation agreement with ICE to hold inmates for two extra working days if they're booked on local charges while also being sought for deportation. The agreement, proposed by Levine Cava, is scheduled for a final vote before the County Commission on June 26. Immigration advocates have expressed concerns that the proposed update to that agreement would give ICE the ability to remove some inmates' names from the Miami-Dade online portal, where anyone can search for someone to see if they're being held. Reyes said all inmate names will remain in that public database, even those being held for ICE. 'Nothing is going to change,' said Reyes, who was the county's Corrections director before Levine Cava promoted him to his current position, overseeing the jails and the Fire Rescue Department. 'If somebody is in our custody — we have a public-facing site that's searchable where you can see who is in our custody. That's going to stay the same. As long as they are in our custody, they will appear in that searchable database.' Immigration advocacy groups had hoped to block approval of the agreement at a Monday morning committee meeting by the County Commission. That meeting of the Policy Council was canceled when not enough commissioners showed up to meet the quorum requirements. While commissioners didn't show, multiple local residents did attend to object to the ICE deal that is recommended by Levine Cava but requires a commission vote. 'It's immoral,' said Silvia Muñoz, a Miami volunteer for the Cuban American Women Supporting Democracy advocacy group. 'It's a human-rights issue.' Miami-Dade already had a fierce fight over turning over county inmates to ICE when they're sought for deportation. That was in 2017 during the initial weeks of the first Trump administration, when Miami-Dade under then-Mayor Carlos Gimenez agreed to honor detention requests from federal immigration agents. The county had been declining to delay releasing inmates at ICE's request before Trump took office unless the federal government agreed to cover the extra jail costs. When Trump promised a crackdown on 'sanctuary' jurisdictions, Gimenez, now a Republican member of Congress, agreed to drop the reimbursement requirement, and commissioners voted to endorse the new policy later that year. Levine Cava is a Democrat who voted against the Gimenez ICE policy when she was a county commissioner in 2017. She hasn't sought to change it since becoming mayor in 2020. Reyes, a former Democratic candidate for county sheriff, said the proposed update to the existing ICE agreement would let Miami-Dade collect $50 from Washington for every inmate it holds for ICE. 'The only thing that changes for us is currently we don't get reimbursed,' he said. It costs about $523 million a year to run Miami-Dade's jails, where the average daily population is 4,700 inmates, according to budget documents. That translates to a daily cost of about $305 per inmate. Advocacy groups pointed to language in the proposed 'Basic Ordering Agreement' with ICE that governs public records in the county's Corrections Department. The agreement states that information generated under the arrangement becomes 'under the control of ICE' and can only be released by federal authorities. Reyes said he couldn't offer an example of what kind of public record would be covered by the agreement but said it could be federal documents — like a detainer request itself. Advocacy groups say the language could be read as giving Miami-Dade the green light to remove inmates' names from local search portals once the people are being held for ICE, making it impossible for their custody status to be known to civilians. Local jails release inmates to ICE when the person has a federal 'detainer' request attached to their name in federal law enforcement records. Those detainer requests ask a jail to hold someone for up to two business days past when they would otherwise be free to go on whatever local charges brought them into the jail system. Juan Osorio, who is part of the Tallahassee-based Rising Voices Collective advisory group, was also in the audience for Monday's canceled committee hearing. He said the public-records language is problematic. 'It would basically make it impossible — or very difficult — for the public to get that information,' he said. Osorio said he wants to hear from the mayor's administration on its interpretation of the language. 'They need to clarify that for the next meeting,' he said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery Whitewater honors late Commission Chairman Elton Dean with plaque
Blue umbrellas dotted the audience to defend against the sweltering sun. But despite the heat, a crowd of about 50 turned out in their Sunday best to celebrate late Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean at the sprawling Montgomery Whitewater development he helped drive. 'We're here to honor somebody who meant so much to this county but also so much to each of us individually," Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair told the crowd of about 50 people. Dean was a champion of west Montgomery and instrumental in advocating for the project. McNair heralded the work Dean did, much of which was behind the scenes and without recognition. Photos: Elton Dean through the years 'We miss you, Chairman Dean, but through this incredible park, we see your vision and move forward every day," McNair said. Brandon Dean spoke emotionally about his father and described him as his best friend. 'My dad was not into politics," Brandon Dean said. "He was into people." More: Montgomery County names new park for longtime leader Elton Dean Former Mayor Todd Strange said that Dean was a visionary. 'You could not help but want to do the great things that Elton wanted to do," Strange said. County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton said that he and Dean loved each other and urged the people of Montgomery County to honor his legacy by loving each other in the same way. Dean was elected to represent County Commission District 2 as a Democrat in 2000 and served as the commission's chairman for more than a decade. He died in 2022. Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's education reporter. She can be reached at agladden@ or on Twitter @gladlyalex. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Community celebrates Elton Dean's commitment to Montgomery Whitewater
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Palm Beach County suspends DEI policies to save nearly $330 million in federal funds
The Palm Beach County Commission has taken emergency action to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from its policies to reduce the risk of losing millions in federal funding. This action on Tuesday was spurred in response to President Donald Trump's executive order that prohibits the use of federal funds for the promotion of gender ideology and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs. For Palm Beach County, this action will mean several changes to county policies, including: — Suspending portions of the county's Equal Business Opportunity Ordinances, removing the enforcement and utilization of preferences or distinctions based on sex or race. — Eliminating the county's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, though this office never was staffed. Masimba Maxwell Mutamba, who is with the county attorney's office, told county commissioners during a public meeting on Tuesday that the goal of the emergency ordinance is to 'minimize the potential that a federal agency will independently decide that Palm Beach County is not fulfilling the terms of the grant conditions that incorporate these executive orders.' 'Basically, what we are recommending is that this board pass an emergency ordinance that suspends certain provisions of programs we currently have in place that may subsequently be found or determined by a federal agency to be violative of certain grant conditions,' Mutamba said. For the 2025 fiscal year, the county received nearly $330 million in federal grant funds, according to county documents. 'Although staff believes all county policies, programs and ordinances are consistent with the current interpretation of federal law by the courts with jurisdiction, the new interpretation of federal law by federal regulatory agencies raise concerns and could subject the county, the county commissioners and staff to potential legal liability,' county staff wrote. In need of a four-fifths vote by the County Commission to go through, the county commissioners voted 6-1 to put the emergency ordinance into effect but not without much turmoil expressed by some of the commissioners about the decision. 'I am committed to fairness, opportunity and inclusion for everyone in Palm Beach County because when we invest in every part of our community, we all rise. With that being said, I don't want to risk $329 million that come into our neighborhoods to provide essential services that we all rely on,' Commissioner Joel Flores said during Tuesday's meeting. 'There's no bone in my body that wants to approve this suspension. But I will do it only because I don't want jeopardize the livelihood of some.' Commissioner Gregg Weiss called the decision one of the hardest votes he has had to cast in public office. 'It's attack on local control, and it threatens the fairness that we all have been working on so hard to build into our system,' he said. 'For years, we've made sure that small businesses, especially those owned by women, minorities and historically excluded groups have a fair shot at doing business with the county. This new policy puts that progress at risk.' Not every commissioner shared these sentiments. 'I don't agree that this is a terrible thing to happen. I don't agree that having the best person for the best job at the best price for our taxpayers is a bad thing,' Vice Mayor Sara Baxter said. 'I can't be any more in support of something that gets rid of things based on race, whether it's one way or the other. That's a terrible way for society to thrive, and we got rid of it, and to go back to it is awful.' Mayor Maria Marino said she viewed the decision to go forward with the emergency ordinance as a 'temporary insurance policy for our taxpayers and our grant programs.' The Palm Beach County School Board set out to take similar emergency action in April, removing references to affirmative action in hiring, minority preference in vendor selection, racial balance in student assignments and racial diversity on some district committees, among other changes.
