September 20, 2017  | Visit our webpage
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From City Hall
debris collection
Recovery Updates - Afternoon Report

City Services:
Most City services and facilities are back to normal operations, including:
  • City Hall
  • Passport Acceptance Facility
  • War Memorial Youth Center
  • Adult Activity Center
  • Venetian Pool
  • Salvadore & Biltmore Tennis Centers
 C ertain neighborhood parks are still being cleaned. For an update on all services and facilities, please contact the City's hotline at 305-460-5401.
 
Garbage:
The City of Coral Gables continues its regular collection of garbage this week. Please help us help you by placing your garbage cans/bags curbside or as close to the street as possible for quicker pick up by our collection crews.  Garbage must be kept separate from debris piles. Recycling and trash bulk pick up is suspended until further notice. For more information, contact the City's hotline at 305-460-5401 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For after hours, call 305-442-1600.
 
Debris Collection:
The City has been actively clearing blocked roadways beginning the first daybreak after the storm on Monday, September 11, that left more than 170,000 cubic yards of landscape debris.   We now have more than 80 debris collection trucks (some as large as 100 cubic yards) working throughout the City, collecting and transporting full truckloads to our debris staging area, all per FEMA guidelines.  They measure the debris, unload, and return to the zone for more collection.  The City has two large volume grinding/chipping machines and a third as back-up to expedite processing.  The initial citywide cleanup is expected to take three weeks, although we are feverishly working to get it done sooner.  We then expect residents to continue to place additional debris in their swales as they conduct back yard landscape clean-up, which we will also collect.  In comparison, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 took nearly 3 months and cost almost $10 million; Hurricane Wilma in 2005 cost over $12 million and took over 2 months. Because the City of Coral Gables followed FEMA guidelines, FEMA reimbursed 75% and the State of Florida reimbursed 12.5% for both Katrina and Wilma, which arrived in the same fiscal year.
 
Residents are reminded to place only landscape/vegetative material in debris piles - No plastic bags or non-landscape material, or furniture of any kind, may be placed in debris piles.  If your landscape service is assisting in cutting and clearing on your property, limbs and branches must be cut to 4'-6' lengths so they can be picked up by collection equipment.
 
Disaster Relief Collection:
The City of Coral Gables is coordinating a disaster relief collection to help families from the Florida Keys who were left homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Beginning today, Wednesday, September 20 through 3 p.m. on Friday, September 29, the City is collecting donations of: clean clothing, clean towels, clean linens and comforters/quilts, pillows and personal unused hygiene products. Please note that we're not accepting any food donations. You can drop off your donations at the lobby of the Public Safety Building, 2801 Salzedo Street. All donations will be transported to a nearby center that is handling the direct distribution of items to the affected families being sheltered at FIU.
 
Traffic Update:
  • 8 traffic crash reports were written yesterday, September 19 (no injuries);
  • 8 traffic intersections are inoperable;
  • 6 police officers are escorting cleanup crews around the city.
Tolls Resume:
Starting tomorrow, the Florida Department of Transportation will start collecting tolls on state roadways and bridges again after more than a two-week suspension because of Hurricane Irma. Tolls will not be collected on a portion of the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike to assist Monroe County residents with recovery efforts.
 
Giralda Plaza Grand Opening:
The grand opening of Giralda Plaza has been rescheduled for Friday, October 13,  beginning at 7 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music and a special performance.  
 
Fairchild:
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is reopening after Hurricane Irma this Saturday, September 23 with free admission to the public on Sept 23 and Sept 24. All exhibits are functional and open.  Fairchild Garden has established a Hurricane Garden Relief Fund to help rebuild and restore the Garden. Monies will be used to raise felled trees and restore damaged collections and grounds.  Visit www.fairchildgarden.org  for more info.
 
Thank you for your Patience!
 
#GablesStrong

Quick Links
Miracle Mile & Giralda Ave Streetscape Update
To view weekly updates on the construction work, traffic impact and other relevant information, click here.
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