Annexation Update by Chuck Ross

I drafted the post below before the Manager decided to call off the annexation workshop at a recent meeting this month.  It appears that the number of registered voters who have moved into the new apartment complex Alta Mira (See post below) may have pushed the number to over 250 qualified electors (based on info from our Village planners).  If it will require that the question of annexation be placed on the ballot, then the voters in the proposed area must vote by a majority to accept our proposal.  Unfortunately we don't have the resources to spend on a venture where the outcome is up to voters who may be persuaded by misinformation to vote against the proposal.  North Miami is moving to annex the same area and they have the resources to persuade and the leadership on their Council that we lack in Noah Jacobs.

Noah interrupted me at a recent meeting (as he often interrupts certain speakers) during Good and Welfare in the middle of my comments and told me that Government is "reactive;" that's how it works.  I would say some governments are reactive-- the bad ones-- and Noah Jacobs is the definition of bad government with no vision.  From the beginning, he absolutely failed to consider annexation as an option and bring it to a workshop to discuss the pros and cons.  This matter has been on the table for over a year, and at least a third vote was needed to consider it.  Anderson and Ross had the vision to consider the matter, while Cooper, Watts and Jacobs made it clear they were not open even to discussing it.  Finally, more than a year later the Commission voted to have a workshop , but now the opportunity is mostly likely lost.  This is "reactive" government, why it's bad, and one example of why the current leader is a failed leader.  

This was a one time opportunity to annex an area that has a value of  approx. 50% or $65,000,000 of our existing taxable base of $132,000,000-- all commercial properties--but because we didn't have proactive leadership, we likely missed it.  If so, we now need to figure out another way to finance required infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, such as rehabilitating Village Hall, lighting around the Rec Center and in other areas of the Park, upgrading our roads and medians and building a sound barrier along the railroad tracks that many residents desire.

I would urge you to write the Commission and call for them to have the workshop to consider the pros and cons.  Maybe I am wrong, and the possibility is not lost.  Until it is fully vetted at an open forum, we will never know for sure.

There are other options to raise funds for the sorely needed infrastructure upgrades and improvements that involve higher taxes on our community.  I can get into that in another post.

Chuck
       

Updated Post on Annexation:

First, the number of projected residents is higher than we thought.  The study was only referencing existing residents, of which there are approximately 560.  At Baywinds, there are 204 units, and the number of units will more than double.  The potential number of residents may ultimately be over 1,100.  If the existing qualified electors are currently approximately 220, then it could be estimated that there may ultimately be over 400.  The number of residents and voters is all conjecture at this point.  In contrast, in BP there are over 1,800 qualified electors and approx 3,100 residents, to put things in perspective.

All of the residents will be living in the two gated apartment complexes pictured below, and the rest of the properties in the proposed annexation area are commercial.  

If you visit the apartment complexes, you will note that the existing complex called Baywinds, pictured below, is well maintained.  It is managed by a large company located in Florida.


 The other complex, called Alta Mira and pictured above, is managed by a large national corporation.  It is still under construction, and very few units have been rented to date. How many people will live there, and the ultimate number of qualified electors as stated earlier, is unknown.  

PROPOSED BOUNDARY:
The proposed boundary across the RR tracks that includes the two residential apartment complexes above starts south of 121st St, and extends to the north side of 119th St, over to Biscayne Blvd, and then South to the Auto Shop just south of the All Florida Pools building.  (See area Highlighted in Pink in the chart below)  The proposed annexation area would result in approx $65 Million in taxable value of commercial properties.  Our current taxable value for Biscayne Park is $132 Million, so this would bring the Village to $197 Million in taxable value.
            

I have done research on crime in the subject area, and according to the Chief, crime appears to be nominal.  I also spoke to one of the MDC officers who patrol the area.  One issue that has been raised is that the apartments may become dilapidated in the future and weigh down the property values of the Village.  The answer is that the Village has a Code Department, and that should insure that those properties will be well maintained,  Further, the companies that manage these properties are large professional organizations with significant experience.   There is no evidence to support that these properties will bring down property values.  In addition, the Village will now have the ability to place our police in that area.

There was a meeting with a local realtor who was originally opposed to the annexation proposal, but after the above information was provided, the realtor decided that it was a good idea for the Village in order to access additional revenue sources!

I hope that the Village Commission will move forward and consider voting to annex the commercial properties.        
           
Chuck