Miami Lakes Town councilmembers held their monthly meeting on May 13 and were expected to take action on one ordinance on first reading, several resolutions and discussing some new business matters.
• Lawmakers were expected to give their initial approval for an ordinance requiring Miami Lakes to notify homeowners and condominium associations of proposed building and zoning projects within one mile of their boundaries. Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez recommended the measure at the April 8 regular Town Council meeting.
• Lawmakers were expected to approve a proposed site plan on a conditional use application for a nonpublic child care facility submitted by Marisol Torres and JMC Properties at Royal Oaks Corporation, 15225 N.W. 77 Avenue.
Town staff is recommending approval of the plan for the Little College Corporation, which includes a maximum enrollment of 194 children ranging in age from 2 to 10 years, with the facility operating from Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The plan also includes the applicants providing a minimum of 7,210 square feet of outdoor recreation space, which must be fenced.
• Council members were expected to approve a resolution codesignating Miami Lakeway North between N.W. 67 Avenue and Miami Lakeway Drive as Father James P. Murphy Way.
The location is near Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and School, where Murphy served as pastor from 1996 to 2011, and contributed to the Miami Lakes community for many years. He died earlier this year from cancer.
• Lawmakers were expected to approve a resolution to place a non-binding straw ballot measure for the November election to determine if residents want Miami Lakes to continue to pursue obtaining its own town-wide zip code.
• Lawmakers were expected to approve a working contract in the amount of $149,101 with JVA Engineering Contractors for drainage improvements for N.W. 83 Place.
The new drainage system will address flooding after heavy rainfall events due to limited existing drainage. The existing roadway pavement between N.W. 158 Terrace and N.W. 162 Street will also be milled and resurfaced with a 1” lift of S-III asphalt.
• Council members were expected to approve a working contract in the amount of $141,406 to Williams Paving Company to complete the second phase of the Greenway Trail improvements along N.W. 170 Street between N.W. 82 Avenue and N.W. 77 Court.
The project consists of two components.
The first component includes the work to be performed on property owned by the town. The second component is for work to be performed on property that is currently owned by Miami-Dade County.
The second phase of the Greenway will provide connectivity to the existing trail, enhance the aesthetics of this portion of right of way, and provide additional opportunities for safe pedestrian and bicycle use for recreational and transportation purposes. The project was selected and received funding assistance through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federally funded competitive grant program.
• Councilmembers discussed Councilmember Ceasar Mestre’s proposal to increase the height of private property walls to nine feet that are adjacent to a street right-of-way by amending the town’s land development code.
According to Mestre, many residents brought it to his attention that their desire for the maximum height of walls to be increased in efforts to enhance public safety.
The town’s existing code allows walls to be no more than six feet.
• Councilmembers discussed Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez’s recommendation to create a Youth Town Council. Currently there are only two youth appointments to the Youth Activities Task Force. Although the YATF does unbelievable work with the youth, Rodriguez believes direct input from a youth council would benefit the Town.