Your Weekly News and Updates |
|
Chief Press Named Interim Village Manager |
|
As the Council conducts a search for the Village's next manager, Police Chief Charles R. Press has been appointed as the Interim Village Manager, effective Dec. 31, 2020.
Chief Press has been with the Village since 2004.
|
|
Holiday Celebrations & COVID-19 |
|
The Village of Key Biscayne reminds residents and visitors that this holiday season we have the collective responsibility to do everything that we can to flatten the curve and slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health authorities from the CDC have advised that this holiday season, celebrations should remain small, with members of one’s household, or be celebrated virtually to protect the health of friends and loved ones and slow the spread of COVID-19.
|
|
Key Biscayne Residents Have Options for Covid-19 Testing |
|
Health officials recommend getting tested if you are feeling COVID-19 like symptoms or have come into contact with someone who has tested positive.
Drive-through testing at the Key Biscayne Community Center remains available 2-days per week by appointment only and is self-pay. The COVID-19 self-pay cost at the drive-through testing is $85 and registration is available on the Key Biscayne Community Foundation website. Dates are subject to change, please confirm your date and time when making your appointment.
A second option for COVID-19 testing is available to the community, seven days per week from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., via the Baptist Health Urgent Care Express facility located at 240 Crandon Blvd. Suite #110. Patients that present to the Baptist Urgent Care Express will be seen and evaluated by the onsite practitioner, who will order the COVID-19 test (on-site rapid antigen, "gold standard" PCR, and/or antibody) as appropriate. Baptist Health does accept most insurances. For uninsured patients or patients with a non-contracted insurance, the COVID test self-pay cost is $199. Patients are welcome to walk in or to use the "Save my Spot" feature to minimize their wait times. For more information, click here.
|
|
It's Getting Cold Outside |
|
The temperatures have dropped in South Florida and Key Biscayne Fire Rescue wishes to remind residents to stay warm and be cautious when lighting fires in chimneys or turning on any space heaters that have no been in use as these can both become smoke and fire hazards.
Additionally, whenever there are extreme changes in the weather, it is important to stay hydrated and ensure that plants and trees are properly watered.
|
|
Safe Routes to School Construction Has Begun |
|
Construction has begun on the Safe Routes to School Key Biscayne K-8 Center Project. The project was awarded to the Village by the Florida Department of Transportation in order to create and improve on the walkable pathways to access the school. The project includes the construction of five-foot- wide sidewalks along Glenridge Rd, Ridgewood Rd, and W Enid Dr, ADA ramps, high emphasis crosswalks, and new signs.
Construction will be on hold from Dec. 23, 2020 - Jan 2, 2021.
Residents are being advised before construction nears their property and crews are ensuring that areas are picked-up upon the completion of each section. Properties affected by the construction will not be disturbed for more than 24 hours.
The project is expected to be completed in May 2021. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the construction of this project, please feel free to contact Engineer Jorge Ortiz, KCI Technologies, Inc. at (305) 962-6891, Ramon Llana EI. KCI Technologies, Inc. at (786) 516-6478, or Javier Rey Brooks, Public Works Engineer at (305) 365-7562 or by email at jbrooks@keybiscayne.fl.gov.
|
|
Do you know about Miami-Dade County’s Landscape Irrigation Ordinance?
|
|
According to the University of Florida, IFAS Extension: overall, homeowners over-water by as much as 2–3 times the amount needed by the plants, based on estimates of climate demand.
Since 1991, Miami-Dade County (“County”) has had a landscape irrigation ordinance, codified in Section 32-8.2 of the County Code, to help protect our environment by encouraging more responsible use of water resources.
These restrictions are based off of general landscaping water needs in Florida. In general, a healthy landscape only needs 3/4 to 1 inch of water per week during the summer growing season and only as needed to supplement rainfall. During the winter season, when a lawn goes dormant, it requires even less.
The County’s two-day a week landscape irrigation ordinance is applicable across the County to all users of any water sources, including public or privately owned water utilities, private wells, and any private connections with surface water bodies including canals and lakes. Water restrictions are permanent and enforced year-round. To learn more about the County’s water restrictions, click here.
Recently, the South Florida Water Management District requested that all municipalities, including Key Biscayne, adopt the District’s model ordinance implementing landscape irrigation conservation measures to bring greater awareness to existing landscape irrigation measures. Key Biscayne has acknowledged the importance of implementing these landscape irrigation measures to protect and preserve Key Biscayne’s precious water supply and ecosystems.
If the Village Council adopts the ordinance on second reading, Village residents may:
- Continue irrigating two-days a week before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.; days depend on whether the property address is odd-numbered or even-numbered
- Continue watering using methods such as hoses with nozzle attachments and watering cans, which are low volume irrigation, without regard to schedule restrictions.
Prior to second reading, Village officials are working with the condominium associations and homeowners to clarify the ordinance and how it advances water conservation across the Village.
For more information about the Village’s proposed landscape irrigation ordinance, please contact Dr. Roland Samimy, Chief Resilience Officer for the Village of Key Biscayne at rsamimy@keybiscayne.fl.gov.
|
|
Your Village Government
Mayor Michael W. Davey
Vice Mayor Edward London
Councilmembers:
Franklin H. Caplan
Luis Lauredo
Allison McCormick
Brett Moss
Ignacio J. Segurola
Village Manager Andrea Agha
Village Clerk Jocelyn Brewster Koch
Village Attorneys Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
