Preview of January 15 Town Council meeting

The Miami Lakes Town Council was expected to approve three ordinances on first reading, several resolutions including awarding contracts for capital improvement projects and council members’ new business proposals during the January 15 regular Town Council meeting.
• Council members were expected to give their initial approval for an ordinance which would protect tree canopy throughout the town and adopt the town’s Beautification Master Plan.
The proposed measure would ensure the integrity of the town signature appeal, its tree canopy, is property maintained, restored in areas where it has been diminished and replanted with appropriate materials (right tree right place).
• Council members were expected to give their initial approval for an ordinance which would establish a restricted long-term infrastructure renewal and replacement fund to renew or replace depreciating or decaying general fund assets, excluding routine repairs and maintenance or new construction.
If it becomes law, the ordinance would establish a $150,000 annual fund contribution from the general fund, which may increase as needed through the budget process.
• Council members were expected to give their initial approval for an ordinance to amend the town’s budget to carry over the prior year’s estimated surplus to fund several projects that includes funding for one-time operating and or capital improvement expenditures, and adjusted amounts from grants and donations for town’s events.
• Council members were expected to approve a resolution to prioritize funding from the State Legislative Session including $2 million for Phase 2 of Royal Oaks Drainage project, $6 million for the Miami Lakes Business Park Northeast Resilient Transportation Infrastructure, and $853,000 for the Miami Lakes Business Park Southeast Resilient Transportation Infrastructure.
• Council members were expected to approve three separate but seemly-related resolutions to create three advisory committees from residents of the Royal Oaks East, Royal Oaks Section One and Miami Lakes Section One Special Taxing Districts for the purposes of reviewing the yearly budget for each respective special taxing district and to promulgate recommendations to the Town Council and staff for adjustments to the level of service, budget or any other related matters.
• Council members were expected to authorize the town manager to execute a contract with Southeastern Engineering Contractors for the N.W. 67 Avenue widening project in an amount not to exceed $602,000.
The scope of the work includes traffic improvements at the intersection of Ludlum Road and N.W. 167 Street, including widening the roadway to incorporate an additional through lane for northbound traffic at the south leg of the intersection.
• Council members were expected to authoriz the town manager to execute a contract with Arbor Tree and Land for Canal Bank Stabilization Phase II project in an amount not to exceed $1 million.
• Council members were expected to approve Vice Mayor Nelson Rodriguez’s idea for a public transportation and traffic summit with the town’s neighboring cities and communities.
Rodriguez said the summit is needed since the county has proposed six major public transit routes known as SMART Plan which doesn’t include Northwest Miami-Dade such as Miami Lakes, Palm Springs North and Hialeah Gardens.
• Council members were expected to discuss Mayor Manny Cid’s proposal to amend the town attorney’s contract and assign Assistant Town Attorney Lorenzo Cobiella to full-time with the town.
Cobiella is a member of the law firm of Gastesi and Associates.
Raul Gastesi is currently the town attorney on a full-time basis.
• Council members were expected to discuss Councilmember Jeffrey Rodriguez’s proposal to install the first Little Free Library at Picnic Park West, which is a non-profit organization that enables the exchange of millions of books in neighborhoods through donations.
• Council members were expected to discuss Councilmember Josh Dieguez’s proposal to direct the town manager to take all steps to form Complete Count Committees (CCC) as one step to position Miami Lakes for a successful census count.
• Council members were expected to discuss Cid’s proposal for a 2025 Strategic Plan for a friendly, open, innovative, effective and efficient government for its residents and businesses.
Cid wants the plan to be open and transparent and solicit as much input as possible from the town’s stakeholders.
• Council members were expected to discuss Vice Mayor Nelson Rodriguez’s proposal to set a date as soon as possible for the town’s new blasting advisory committee to meet with the town’s state legislative representatives as well as with any new state representatives that may have changed committee assignments.
The proposal also includes the town manager working along with the committee as the liaison with assistance of outside consultants.