During an October 30 workshop at Miami Lakes Town Hall, councilmembers discussed the second phase of implementing a mechanism to closely evaluate and monitor the town’s expenditures, and selecting a lobbyist for Tallahassee. Councilmembers discussed Vice Mayor Manny Cid’s proposal for Phase Two of his Performance Based Budgeting (PBB), which is scheduled to take effect for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Phase One of the...

  Following an extensive study and research process to determine if Miami Lakes is ready to start its own police department from scratch, the town’s Police Review Committee recommended the city should stay with Miami-Dade County for patrol and specialized services for the time being. The committee released its report at the October 8 regular Town Council meeting, where councilmembers unanimously supported  the recommendation....

  Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Manny Cid attended his first Florida League of Cities Growth Management and Economic Development Committee meeting on September 20. The committee addresses policies specific to municipal concerns with community redevelopment, economic development, special districts, foreclosures and affordable housing, as well as charter schools and growth management. The meeting focused on priority issues including Municipal...

  The County’s new fiscal year began on October 1, but getting there wasn’t easy. On one hand, taxpayers were calling on their elected leaders to provide economic relief by keeping the property tax rates flat. On the other hand, doing so would mean placing services provided by police, fire rescue, the library system and the animal shelter in financial difficulty. Tough choices had to be made and in the end, while not every...

  On October 8, the Town Council presented Broderick Schwinghammer with the Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award for creating a new park for the town. Under Schwinghammer’s direction as Senior Patrol Leader and Eagle Scout candidate. Boy Scout Troop 566 of Our Lady of the Lakes, and 40 volunteers, worked for two days clearing an overgrown abandoned lot and creating “Poets Keep Park” located at 7350 Sabal Drive. The...