"Once Upon a Time..." A Fairy Tale for Young and Impressionable Children, by Noah Jacobs

Blue is from Noah; Red is my humble suggestions.

Annexation Workshop Recap

I hope this finds everyone doing well. It was nice to see a good number of people were able to come to the annexation workshop. For those of you unable to attend I wanted to touch base and go over some of the key points so that everyone is aware of what information is currently out there.

The planners are currently telling us that we can apply for a very small but lucrative area to our northeast no, east. The area being targeted is between 119th and 121st, going from the railroad tracks to Biscayne Boulevard. There is also the possibility that the area could go as far south as 116th Street no, 118th Street. In that targeted area there are a few office buildings, a motel, and two apartment complexes. Also in that area you have some light industrial as well as some other small businesses. 

In the best case scenario, we were presented with the idea that we would get about $380,000 in increased net income. That dollar value is determined after most, but not all costs are figured in. Understanding also that this process will take at least about a year maybe.  Neither necessarily accurate nor relevant.

There is no guarantee that the County will allow us to 'cherry pick' this area. North Miami is also attempting to annex this area (as part of a much larger annexation). While the benefits of the annexation are not guaranteed, the costs of the process, between $15-20,000 are needed during the beginning steps no, for the whole process.

The reason for this annexation idea is because we have the highest millage in Miami Dade County no, it's because we have not been able to support ourselves in any other way, including having the highest millage in the County. Even with that millage rate we as a community are basically breaking even no, we are meeting certain basic and immediate needs.  Considering our real responsibilities, including long range plans and having a reserve, we are failing to break even. Rather than try and examine some of our spending, and possibly 
other options Commissioner Ross brought forward this idea as the cure all to the budget woes we all agree we are facing Ah, the "Commissioner Ross" fixation again.  Noah doesn't realize to what extent we have examined our spending, and cut it substantially.  We are at the bone now.  No one suggested that annexation was a cure-all regarding budget woes.

When this was first brought up, the area was inclusive from 116th Street no, it was never clearly stated at the outset what the southern boundary would be.  It is now known to be 118th Street, there were concerns about altering the image, nature and character of the Village. To avoid some of these concerns, the current idea is the smaller area should be annexed. Hopefully, the County Commission allows us to just take the smaller area.

Over and over, we were told by Commissioners Ross and some of her strongest supporters that we had no other choices. Neither "Commissioner Ross" nor anyone else ever said we had no other choices. I will agree that something needs to be done, but I'm not certain this is our only option.  It is certainly not our only option.  It is one of very few left to us, and the others have been rejected by the majority of the current Commission, including Noah.  I even heard one of her strongest supporters advocate that we should not consider using this new revenue (best case scenario), to lower our own millage. I will always work to give you the best services we can provide, and try to keep your millage low at the same time. A time-honored and meaningless platitude.

After the residents spoke, the commissioners each got a few moments to speak, and possibly bring up ideas. While Commissioners Cooper and Watts, suggested that we continue to look at the budget and possibly cut from our expenditures been there, done that.  We have cut to the bone, including economizing, firings, and consolidations.  Our Village Clerk, who usually only has to do the jobs of two people, is now doing the jobs of three people.  We have outsourced, and what remains of Public Works is at pains to function., Commissioners Anderson and Ross both seemed to say we had no other option but to continue pursuing annexation. The fixation now includes Anderson, too.  No one ever said we had no other option, no matter how many times Noah sings this lullaby.  It is what Noah and the rest of the majority have left us as the best option.

Finally, I brought forward an idea that had not been spoken of.  It has been spoken of by Noah's friend Barbara Watts before Noah jumped on board, and it was spoken of in the past before Noah attempted to achieve his rudimentary awareness of Village dynamics. We have a shell lot next to the log cabin. We own that lot and can conceivably develop that lot. Why not work with a developer to develop that lot and put some commercial property on the ground floor of a 3 story building. Because the Village isn't zoned for commercial or three stories, because there aren't adequate provisions for parking, because the neighbors of this lot fought it years ago, because it will create a traffic problem at our most problematic intersection, and because we don't have commercial activity within the Village, which is one of the reasons Noah and his pals give for not wanting to annex the area across the tracks.  If we put municipal, and police administration in that same building, then we can create an income stream to permanently benefit our community, and avoid the hazards and/or uncertainties of annexation.  A charming and promising statement from someone who has no idea what income we need, no idea how our current income is spent, and no idea what income such an enterprise would generate.

Working to create a new building is something the whole community can benefit from, and take pride in.  Unless the residents of Biscayne Park like the Park for the reasons they chose to live here in the first place.

All the best,

Noah