June 14, 2022

Good morning Palmetto Bay! This weekend, the Village Council, along with many friends and neighbors, including our Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, celebrated the life and legacy of Al Dotson Sr. by naming the street in his honor on SW 179th terrace and 78th avenue, just outside the Dotson home. You can click here to learn more about this amazing resident. #PalmettoBaysGotTalent

Last week, we held our Regular Council Meeting and it was a long one! I moved five items to a Special Council Meeting called for June 21st at 6 pm before our Zoning hearing. You can listen to a 5-minute recap of the meeting by clicking here.

I was able to share some time discussing the small business community in the Village at the Community Newspaper program hosted by Lisa Greer. We are proud that our businesses in Palmetto Bay continue to increase in numbers. In fact, even through the COVID-19 pandemic closures, Palmetto Bay realized a 243% increase in the number of business licenses issued from the prior year. So far this year, Palmetto Bay has issued new licenses to 55 new businesses! If you are a local business, check out our Business Improvement Grant and see if you are eligible. Click here to listen to the South Dade Chamber Shout Out show with Lisa Greer.

Tomorrow, the Everglades Foundation is launching an educational campaign in the tri-county area about the source of our freshwater. The Foundation has been a great partner with the Village in educating our community on resiliency and water. They will be holding a press launch for the "Your Water Comes From The Everglades" campaign on June 15, 2022 at their offices located at the Palmetto Bay Village Center. Please join Mayor Levine Cava and our Vice Mayor Leanne Tellam at 10:30 am. The event will be held at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, where the foundation has its offices (backside patio area), located at 18001 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.

Speaking of water, I arrived last night in DC to participate in the American Flood Coalition 2022 Mayor's Summit. I have served on the Advisory Board since 2019 and have been able to initiate policy in our community that supports resiliency, such as our CRS (Community Rating System). You can view the agenda for the two-day summit by clicking here. A very timely summit given the recent issues with flooding in Miami-Dade. The summit will include speakers from the EPA, FEMA, NOAA, and Department of Transportation.

A reminder that we are still currently recruiting members to serve on the Art-In-Public Places (AIPP) Board and the newly-created Resiliency Committee. Interested parties should contact Village Clerk Missy Arocha or complete the application form and email it to the Office of the Village Clerk along with a resume and list of qualifications. Click here for more information.

As always, I encourage you to stay tuned into reliable information sources. You can subscribe to the Village Newsletter by clicking here and of course, I am here to answer questions or lend a helping hand. I have enjoyed joining small groups for After Hours with Karyn in your driveway or homes. If you are interested in scheduling a time for me to meet with you and your neighbors, I can also be reached at kcunningham@palmettobay-fl.gov or at 305-799-0695.  I look forward to seeing you in and around the Village. Together we are making Palmetto Bay a better place to live, work, learn, and play. 

Warm regards,
9705 East Hibiscus Street
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
305-799-0695