Charles Lester

The strategic plan for the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, covering 2021-2022, aims to realize a long-range vision of sustainability and enhance the quality of life for its community. It focuses on five key goals: developing and maintaining quality infrastructure, ensuring long-term financial stability, enhancing programs, services, and amenities, fostering a productive and engaged workforce, and enhancing the town's presence and identity. The plan seeks to preserve the town's unique small-town character while providing large-town amenities.

The Town Council meetings covered topics such as budget discussions, design review board meetings, and public hearings. Key actions included resolutions for GIS utility data systems, wastewater collection, lease agreement extensions, and a Sister Cities agreement with Eshkol Regional Council of Israel. Amendments to the Town Code were discussed, including those related to mechanical equipment, tennis and padel courts, and sign regulations. Approvals were granted for temporary sales center extensions and the design of the 96th Street Park. The council also considered pursuing a public-private partnership for Town Hall.

The Town Council meeting highlights included approving a budget amendment for continuing after-school programming and summer camp, awarding a contract for replacing Sewer Ejector Station A, approving an employment agreement with the Town Manager, and approving consultant services for Police Department accreditation. Amendments to the Town Code were approved, defining mechanical equipment and adding tennis court dimensional standards and padel ball to outdoor recreational game court facilities. An agreement with Momentum Group for the Art Festival was also approved. The Town Council also had a retreat to discuss strategic planning and vision, committees, Town branding presentation and discussion, Town Hall development plan and Broad Causeway bridge replacement.

The meeting included a special presentation introducing Police Officer Andrew Troncoso. The council discussed a rate adjustment based on the 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) for solid waste collection services, and a 2023-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, Florida and the South Florida Police Benevolent Association. They also considered hiring additional full-time personnel for the Police Department, including a Compliance Manager and two Public Service Aides. Other topics included electrical contracting services, renewal of lease agreements for mailing equipment, and engineering consulting services. Additionally, there were discussions and possible actions regarding attendance to the Miami-Dade County League of Cities 70th Annual Gala and this year's Law Enforcement Awards Gala.

The council held a quasi-judicial public hearing regarding a request from CBS Realty Holding LLC for the designation of their property as a brownfield area. Discussion included the wording of the application, specifically regarding the use of local labor and materials. Concerns were raised about the timing of the application, given that construction was already underway, and the lack of transparency in the process. The council also discussed the potential benefits and drawbacks of granting the brownfield designation, including the availability of state tax credits and the potential for negative impacts on the town. The applicant's representative addressed questions regarding the timing of the application, the oversight of the cleanup process, and the potential negative impacts on the town.