At its May 2 regular meeting, the Miami Lakes Town Council was expected to approve two ordinances on second reading, several site plans and final plats, several business-related resolutions, and discuss a host of new business items.
• Council members were expected to give their final approval for an ordinance to amend the town’s procurement ordinance for a broader participation in the program and clarified the local preference language. The change would make it easier for more businesses to qualify for local preference.
• Council members were expected to give their final approval for two separate but related ordinances to a process for selection of the next town manager and town attorney.
• Council members were expected to approve the Graham Companies’ final plat entitled “TGC Main Street East” prepared by Schwebke-Shiskin and Associates Inc. The location of the project is east of N.W. 67 Avenue and north side of Eagle Nest Lane. The project includes three 3-story town house buildings and a five-story apartment building with a parking garage.
• Council members were expected to approve a resolution for the final plat of The Graham Companies’ project to build the Bob Graham office building which is located west of Oak Lanes and south of Governor’s Square Boulevard.
The developer is requesting the final plat to create a new plat as one tract of land which is 7.294 acres with a frontage of 699.48 feet adjacent to Oak Lane and includes a dedicated 58 feet wide ingress-easement of which 29 feet is proposed on the subject property and 29 feet are on the adjacent property to the north.
• Council members were expected to approve The Graham Companies’ final plat entitled “TGC Lakeside South located at the southwest corner of Commerce Way and N.W. 82 Avenue.
The project includes constructing two one-story warehouse/office buildings, one of which would include 31,720 square feet of warehouse and 5,000 square feet of office (36,720 square feet total), and the other which would include 33,700 square feet of warehouse and 5,000 square feet of office, 164 off-street parking spaces and associated improvements on a 5.3 acre site.
• Lawmakers were expected to approve Comar Ventures Corporation’s request for a site plan approval to build four single-family homes in the Loch Ness community, 7242 Loch Ness Drive.
Last year, the council rejected the corporation’s request to build five homes on the site following a disdain from Loch Ness residents who said the homes would ruin their quality of living. The applicant was able to bring back the proposal in front of the Town Council six months after it was declined.
• Lawmakers were expected to approve a resolution to revise the 2016-2017 budget by modifying line items within the general, building department, impact fees, capital projects and storm water utility funds.
The changes include a two percent cost of living increase for town hall staff, $100,000 for the employee retention program, $6,800 for last year’s election costs, and transfer $215,000 from the building department fund reserve will cover expense which is offset by an increase in revenue.
• Council members were expected to adopt a resolution supporting the development of a Smart Cities strategic roadmap for the planning and the implementation of future Town Smart Cities Initiatives.
• Council members were expected to discuss Councilmember Luis Collazo’s proposal to adopt a six month building moratorium and review the town’s current Land Development Code and adopting recommendations with respect to future land use and development in Miami Lakes.
Lawmakers were also expected to discuss Collazo’s proposal to direct town staff to explore the feasibility of an “on ramp-only” design for access to I-75, which was proposed by Susan Herrera.
The proposed project could alleviate some of the traffic congestion.
• Lawmakers were expected to discuss Councilmember Frank Mingo’s request to draft a resolution to support the $325,000 in the Florida budget to fund the study of rock mining blasting effects and review the claims process for damages. If approved, the town’s resolution would be immediately forwarded to the governor’s office.
• Council members were expected to discuss Mayor Manny Cid’s proposal to add a sunset clause into the town’s Land Development Code governing conditional uses.
Cid said the clause would state when, and under which conditions, an approval for conditional use would end.
Council members were also expected to discuss Cid’s new business item about a time frame of the planned storage facility and alternatives for Miami Lakes residents.
• Council members were expected to approve the recommendations for the inaugural class of inductees for the Miami Lakes Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame committee proposed the following members: Former Miami Dolphins head coach and former Miami Lakes resident Don Shula, former Miami Dolphins player, broadcaster and former Miami Lakes resident Jim Mandich, former Major League Baseball player Alex Ochoa, and longtime Miami Lakes Optimist Club member Jack McCall.
The induction ceremony is planned to coincide with the opening of the new Miami Lakes Optimist Clubhouse this month.