This is it.
Enter any questions by pressing the orange comment button at the bottom of this post (or you can accomplish the same thing by clicking on the orange title of this post).
Address your question to any particular candidate or a few of them, or just ask the question of all of us.
For the candidates, the way to reply, or respond to the question, is to click the "reply" option just under the question.
Again, candidates, you're going to want to give a relatively complete answer, but please be more or less concise. There are no limits, so we have to limit ourselves. We will do this out of courtesy for our neighbors and for each other. If anyone wants more discussion, s/he will ask for it.
In my opinion, the questions can be personal, but there is no need for them to be nasty or accusatory. There's no "gotcha" here. Voters have to compare candidates, so they should leave room, and motivation, for as many candidates as possible, and as are interested, to respond to each question.
My questions are directed to all of the candidates.
ReplyDelete1. You have been elected. You are now a Biscayne Park Commissioner. Priority number 1 is?
2. You have been elected. You are now a Biscayne Park Commissioner. What is your understanding of the relationship (per the charter) of an elected official and the Village Manager.
3. You have been elected. You are now a Biscayne Park Commissioner. Your Vision for our community is?
4. You have been elected. You are now a Biscayne Park Commissioner. How do you work to build consensus with your fellow commissioner members?
1. For me, the first priority is forming a vision. This can be an intention about what are the biggest problems, or what are the main goals, and prioritizing. I would view Art's priority #1 as my priority #2.
Delete2. It is the manager who effects what the commission envisions, as well as executing the usual day-to-day particulars of municipal functioning, and it is the commission's job to communicate clearly what is the desired direction, and monitor for movement in that direction. Managers and commissioners can point out to each other when they are off track or have overlooked something, but this is a conversation, not a confrontation or threat. From time to time, according to the particular arrangement set by the commission when it hires a manager, there is an opportunity for a performance review, or stock-taking. Or, if there are major and unanticipated problems, this can be more emergent. The result can be confirmation that the manager is satisfactorily executing the requirements of the job (and wishes of the commission), or that s/he has gotten hopelessly off course and should be replaced.
3. We are a very small and frankly simple municipality. Generally, there is little room for change. Exceptions would be something like annexation (not at issue now) or public art. But apart from "new directions" like those, it's a matter of attending to parochial and mundane tasks, and getting them done. For us, because we're small and fiscally limited, there's even more than usual of the need to prioriize: do we try to fix certain spots of certain streets this year, or do we do a major tree-pruning project this year? We always juggle choices like those. We always will. In the same way that we take a deep breath, and renovate the log cabin, or build an administration building, I'd also like to see us power ourselves with renewable energy. Any of these take grants, so finding and getting them is also part of my vision. I can best summarize, and I consistently have, by reminding you of my slogan: "For the Best We Can Be." It's not specific, but it summarizes my vision.
4. It depends entirely on who are the commission colleagues, and to what extent they are available for consensus. Some are, and negotiations can happen, and some are simply not.
In the absence, so far, of anyone except Art and me, I'm going to take another nibble at the apple, as the lawyers put it.
Delete1. Although I very much agree with Art about the critical importance of choosing a proper manager, and with some urgency, our vision can determine which manager we choose. For example, in 2016, when we chose our last proper manager, there was a lot of talk about where we wanted the focus for Village functioning (what was our vision). We decided Code issues were of paramount importance, and it was largely for that reason that we hired Sharon Ragoonan, the candidate with an unusual concentration of Code experience.
3. We have some very interesting conversations to have as a Village. Apart from the usual issues that occupy elected bodies, we have to decide what we want to do about things like the medians (a very high priority for me), and lighting (do we want more, or less? Or more, but lower level and less imposing? There are important facts and theories that can lead us either way.) Are we ready to make a serious go at street repairs? If we are, that likely affects the millage, or leads us to make assessments. We have to talk about sanitation: flog WastePro more and better?, replace them? Write the checks necessary to bring this back in house? We as a neighborhood, and a municipality, have these things to discuss. My vision is that we have these discussions, and make our decisions, and act.
Lotsa questions, Janey. Permission to be frank?
Delete1. PRIORITY #1: That’s easy. We do what the current commission should have done early last summer: Hire a manager so someone is actually running this village. No organization, let alone a government, can function with the key executive position empty – and with other positions empty or performing at unacceptably low levels. This commission, of which I’m a member, has failed this village miserably by not already hiring a manager. Correcting that is truly priority #1.
2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMISSION AND MANAGER: The commission holds the manager accountable for running this organization and following the Charter. Our relationship is all about accountability—for getting things done under our direction and for reporting back. Our vision, her/his plan of action (that we approve). The manager is the CEO and we’re the board of directors. Individually, we provide support and ideas/suggestions, and we question and expect answers. Transparent communication is key. I don’t like things hidden in the shadows.
3. MY VISION: For starters, my vision is to craft a vision as a group and to charge the manager with moving us toward that vision every month and every year, with every decision we and she/he makes. Presently, we have no vision at all. Several years ago, as you know Janey (as the person who brought together a group of residents), we crafted a suggested vision and steps to create one. Our methodology was on point, and our product was creative and transformative, including five guiding principles by which the commission can function. We conducted several community workshops, which created quite similar visions for Biscayne Park, independent of each other and of our own process. I would like to take a look at that product again. Personally, I loved our identity statement for Biscayne Park, which I still use today: “An Oasis in the Heart of Miami.” Those seven little words speak volumes about the potential of our village. As you’ve heard me say more times than you likely cared to hear, Janey, without a vision (destination) we are a gas-guzzling train fueled with taxpayers’ money, wandering aimlessly (and running off the rails frequently), wondering why we never get anywhere. Vision first, action plan for the coming years next, fueled by a budget and driven by a manager with the commission playing the role of navigator.
4. BUILDING CONSENSUS: First, we don’t really need “consensus” on matters. We need a majority of three to agree on how we move topics forward. For me to work alongside other folks, whether I agree with them or not, they need to demonstrate strong work ethic. As a group, we work through issues if everyone shows up: literally, which was a problem with the last commission when several members were MIA as often as not; and figuratively, with ideas and being prepared to work hard every meeting, homework done, opinions and questions prepared. When commissioners are prepared and educated and engaged, respect follows from the group and we can find our way through the issues to an agreement. Then, we put a bow on that box and put it up on a shelf, no harm no foul, and move on to the next topic.
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ReplyDeleteHi Janey here are my responses to your great questions.
ReplyDelete1. Priority number 1 is to get a qualified Manager in place.
2. The Manager manages the Village and its employees. Commissioners are there to represent the residents and give direction to the Manager based on what the majority of the community wants. Those lines have been seriously blurred for some time now and we need everyone to stay in there lane if we are to move this Village forward.
3. My Vision is quite simple and that is to never put my or any minority opinion or position above what is in the best interest of the majority. Every single vote I make will always have one determining factor and that is what is in the best interest for the majority of the residents in BP and not for those who yell the loudest or may support me. If that is not the kind of commissioner the Village is looking for then they should look elsewhere.
4. I have always worked well with most people. I have a great track record working with some of the most difficult people in my professional life and I take pride in that. I have no hidden agenda so my intention is to work to help, support and inspire those around me, I strongly believe I can do that.
Thanks for your questions.
First of all, thanks to each of the candidates for stepping up to run for office, and for participating in this venue.
ReplyDeleteMy question concerns finances, to all candidates:
During 2008-2011, the Village lost substantial revenues due to the real estate crash. At the same time there were an increased number of abandoned and foreclosed houses that required maintenance drawing on our limited Public Works resources. Economic conditions tend to be cyclical and the Village budget has increased by about one-third in the last ten years. What strategies would you support in the event of another financial crisis?
Thanks, Janey, for starting us off, and thanks, Rox, for continuing the conversation.
DeleteI'm not sure we have to worry about "the event of another financial crisis." I think we're in one. What hasn't yet happened is reassessment of properties. I don't know if any of our neighbors has found him- or herself unable to keep up with expenses, and has yet had to abandon home ownership, but it can happen now, just as it happened in '08-'11. And if that does happen, reassessment will also happen, and taxes/revenues will drop. And that can happen any day, week, or month now.
There is one of two results. Either we try to continue to function with less (but we're already tight, and we'd have to lose functioning in order to accommodate lower revenue), or those of us who can agree to pay more would simply have to agree to do it. This is not at all unprecedented.
As you have pointed out in a separate communication, spotty total losses like these are not permanent, and if someone can't sustain home ownership, someone else will come along to buy the home, sometimes for enough money that the revenue from that property will actually increase. This doesn't happen to the whole neighborhood, or all abandoned properties, at once, but it shortens the time to more or less full resumption of functioning.
Destructive crises can be terrible things. Individuals don't always survive them, and even municipalities might not survive them. We just have to find ways to work together for the good and survival of the Village. We have to extend beyond just our individual selves.
Hi Rox and thanks for your question.
DeleteI realize that government is not like the private sector but I think the first thing we need to do is look at ways we can cut our costs now. I am not convinced that we are running very efficiently. I don't think we need to wait and react to a downturn we should do everything now to be proactive. Sometimes its real easy to sign a check when its not coming directly out of an individual's pocket. I tell my managers to run their operations like it was their personal business. You would be amazed how quickly over time drops and the operation becomes more efficient. We need to do a better job managing the communities money. One of the most valuable lessons I learned before I got married 31 years ago was never to live above your means. There will be good times and there will be difficult times but if during the good times you realize that the difficult will come you'll be ready for it. Oh and hiring a good Public Works Director wont hurt.
I agree, my first priority as well is to get a good qualified manager in place. Once we have a full team of qualified people, we can hope to collect whatever money is owed To the village. Small fines and fees can add up. This needs to be collected. CITT and FEMA reimbursements are critical for us to try to obtain. We need to cut expenditures that are frivolous. We need to get a waste management company that collects our waste neatly and cleanly. My understanding of the the priorities for leadership, is that the commission directs the manager, and the manager runs the village. We can question, and oversee as needed.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIf money / budget were not a limitation, what project or improvement would you want to have the new fully staffed Village undertake? The intention of this question is to glimpse your capacity to envision things greater than possible. Thank you all for your answers in advance and for desiring to serve.
Rafael,
DeleteAs Art lists, there are many things we, or any municipality, could do with an unlimited amount of money. When you ask "what project or improvement" (in the singular), there is a sense that you're asking about one thing, or a first thing. If that's what you mean, then I would say drainage is our biggest urgency. But it's a huge project/expense, and even an unlimited local/municipal budget wouldn't be enough without state aid.
So if I were to set that aside as probably not being what you mean, then I would say improvement of the medians. We are of course unique in the park for our endowment of medians, and we don't do much at all to do justice to this amazing feature of the Park. And developing and improving our medians, with a full scheme of plantings, and the addition of more public art features, enhances everything about the Park. There has also been talk about using one of the larger medians for a dog park, which some Village residents say they want. But interestingly, not one Village resident whose block includes a larger median wants a dog park there. Also, you and I have talked about using a larger median, or even a succession of them, to install outdoor exercise equipment. As long as we keep as our main theme for the medians a well-planned profusion of plantings, I would not be opposed to this interesting "side" use for the medians.
Fred
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ReplyDeleteHi Rafael hope you're doing well. I love this scenario! Right off the top of my head fixing our streets, improving drainage, lighting, trimming trees, planting new ones, proper maintenance of our medians would top my list. From there I would love to see more art in public spaces, would love a community garden and more community events ( post Covid ) come in a close second. Would also like to look at traffic mitigation opportunities and bike lanes. I would love to make our streets more pedestrian friendly. I think I already spent all of our imaginary funding:(
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHello, all. I'm (fashionably) late to the party. Where's the keg?
ReplyDeleteI'm grabbing one question now between work Zooms and will chime in again later. Regarding Rafael's "pipe dream" scenario (Mac wins the lottery and gives all the money to BP), I'd want to wrangle the issue of septic/sewers/drains in light of environmental changes that will eventually require attention (and money) that's greater than our current limitations. One of these days, we'll be forced to figure something out, most likely in conjunction with the county/state/federal governments. That's some heavy lifting.
In terms of sexier ideas (I know, what could possibly be sexier than sewers?), I'd love to spend the imaginary money on comprehensive median development (with the park as the hub), with gardens and gazebos and pathways and places to marvel at nature in our urban setting ... something that establishes our "oasis" brand and provides places for families and the community to gather outside of their homes and hedged properties. The coming together of neighbors in the digital/virtual age is something that many/most cities can't accomplish within walking distance of every single home, but BP by its very design is laid out with that possibility in mind. That project may not be as much of a pipe dream if we developed a vision for it, then a plan that was executed in bites every year.
PS: Poor Fred. I just rattled him to his core. I wrote a reply that I then decided to edit. I can't find an edit or delete option, so I asked him to delete so I could repost this. (Hence the "This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.") He doesn't want anyone to think he's editing responses on this blog, so I had to assure him a thousand different ways and times that I would clear his name of anything that whiffs of censorship. The only way I finally got him to "delete" was to yell in the phone, "Delete the f-ing thing already, I'm busy!" Lesson learned if we serve on the the commission together: Toss an f-bomb at Fred and he jumps!
Mac,
DeleteI'm going to take the liberty to reply to you. I hope that's viewed as OK in this particular post and the unusual context.
I have always said that the only way references like "f-ing" or "f-bomb" or "f***" work to communicate something is if the reader "reads" what the writer didn't write. I view it as a silly and frankly childish game that is supposed to relieve the writer, and the presumably tender viewer (who isn't one bit tender, and is very clearly reading what wasn't written) of the burden of impolite language. So, fuck you, Mac. You very clearly and accurately explained my dilemma, and I appreciate what I believe is your genuine empathy. Even though you leaned hard on me to do what I made very clear I really didn't want to do. I have never before censored anyone, or removed anyone's post or comment, and I hope I'm never asked to do it again.
As for your first paragraph, that's another one of those projects that's way, way bigger than we are. Luckily for us, State Senator Jason Pizzo is working on it in Tallahassee. I agree with you that it would be a great advantage for all of us, for a number of reasons.
Fred
Boom there it is LOL
ReplyDeleteMac knows I mean that out of respect, appreciation, and some affection.
DeleteI'll take that as a pinch on the butt! ;)
ReplyDeletePS: Still can't see the "delete" button? Is it right in front of my nose?
Mac right under your post you should see the word Reply and the word Delete.
ReplyDeleteNope ... only "reply" on my screen.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the best use of the CITT funds, assuming we don't lose them.
ReplyDeleteI would have to re-investigate the approved uses for those funds. We've toyed in the past with some uses, and even tried out having our own local shuttle, but nothing was of real value, and satisfied CITT's rules. We talked in the past about making our one or two bus stops nicer, which would qualify, but we never decided to do it.
DeleteWe could use CITT funds for something like drainage projects, but apart from small discrete things, like fixing a drain that has stopped working, drainage projects cost way more than we get from CITT. We could use it for sidewalks, but there's no room here for sidewalks. We could use it for street repairs, and again, the amount we get would limit us to very small repairs. Although we should do those things.
CITT is a tricky business for us, because of the limitations on how the money can be used, but we would do best to consult with CITT, and get suggestions from them as to what they think would help us, and what would help the wider area outside BP. Maybe there are projects we can do with neighboring municipalities, that would help all of us.
Fred makes a good point about doing some due diligence first. This commission of newbies (me among them) and a new manager will be learning the CITT rules and regs, now that money has been freed up. (We still await approval of the five-year plan, etc., but we're practically there.) We need to make sure we fully understand AND COMPLY with the 20% transit fund so we can access the 80% for roads and other purposes. If we screw that up, we can't access any of the money. And, we need to get the funding restarted (halted in January thanks to our prior manager who let it lapse and the prior commission that didn't even ask the right questions of him, nice work Dan and Will) ... and ask if we can reclaim what hasn't been funded since then.
DeleteOnce we investigate all of that, there's enough money to take a bite out of some road and drain issues. That's the manager's job to figure out, working with Public Works. We approve and oversee ... s/he gets it done, starting with a priority list of locations. I'm particularly concerned about the areas that flood.
Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) I need to understand what this money can be used for. I have heard from a lot of people but I don't think anyone I have spoken to has a clear understanding how this money can be used in our community.
DeleteMac,
DeleteJust to reiterate a point I made elsewhere in this thread, I'm looking again at your second paragraph in response to Chuck. Although I absolutely agree with Art and you and Judi about the high priority of engaging a manager, which, as you all also very rightly point out should have been done a long time ago, our vision may have a lot to do with which manager we hire.
Let's say, for example, as you say, that CITT and other public works projects are considered prominently important for us. Let's say, in effect, that at this point in our history, this is our overriding vision for now. I'm talking about the "five year plan" you referenced. If we know that, then we're looking for a manager candidate who happens to have a higher degree of public works experience, and probably local/Florida contacts. Clearly, there's all the mundane and boilerplate stuff a manager does, but we might very well want someone who happens to have had dealings with CITT, and knows its rules and how that system works best.
As I said, I'm the first to agree we owed ourselves a proper manager a very long time ago. Even six months ago would have been an advantage. But our recent commissions haven't wanted anything, including proper management, and they've stalled so long that in less than two weeks time from now, there will be at least a little bit new, if not a whole majority's new, about the commission. Today (not even a few weeks ago), I would say let's form our vision, then hire a manager. It's become sort of too late to rush ourselves into a competent manager, thinking that will suddenly improve things for us. It will, but today, that's priority #2.
Is our "five year plan" about CITT and public works? Is it about something else? Let's see who is our new commission, have them hold a public visioning session immediately, and choose the manager most poised to enact our vision. Now that we might actually have one.
Fred
Fred, did you invite the Williams to this party?
ReplyDeleteJudi, if you're checking in, I'd like to ask for clarification of your last point: [the commission oversees the manager] "as needed." That sounds rather soft around the edges, responding as a resident. Recent experience indicates that lax oversight of the manager by commissioners got us into a helluva mess, leading to his termination for cause. What amount of oversight do you think commissioners should employ, and how and when?
To all candidates: The flipside is the manager reporting effectively to the commission and residents. I've made my opinions clear on "reporting" at several commission meetings, which the then-interim manager ignored after receiving clear commission direction. How do you all think the manager should report back to this commission/community ... and when, on what topics, etc.? My opinions are on record. Yours?
Mac,
DeleteOf course I invited them. I never heard back from either one.
As for Judi, she initially wrote back to me to say she was busy, and didn't have time for this, but she did leave a comment, which I assume she took the time to consider and compose at the end of her day. I was very grateful to her for her having extended herself that way. I'm afraid the Village will take much more of her time than this "Meet the Candidates Event" did, if she gets elected. And it won't be confined to her after work evening hours, either. I have no idea what she imagines doing about that.
Fred
Oh, I'm sorry. I overlooked your questions in the last paragraph. "Reporting" is two things. One is the formal report, that can be weekly, or every other week, or some have suggested monthly would be adequate for a "manager's report." The other kind of reporting is informal, and it's essentially continuous. Ideally, the manager and the commissioners have good working relationships, and the manager touches base often, to give information, provide up to the minute follow-up, or ask questions. Also ideally, it's a burden on the manager, because s/he has to do this five times every time it happens.
DeleteOn what topics? All of them. I don't need to know if the manager has found a lower price for paper clips. But we have very few topics around here, under normal circumstances. One resignation or firing of an employee who is not a leader or director? No, I don't need to know. Although sometimes, a good manager with whom the commissioners have a good relationship will drop that bit of news, too. Issa? Cesar? Mailan? Yeah, I want to know about that. And if it's a retirement, we need to fete the employee, and I want to be there. A letter from CITT threatening to take back hundreds of thousands of dollars, or a suspicion that maybe something has happened, and a commissioner might not, for the moment, live within the Park? Um, yeah, I want to know about that. I want to hear about it, I want to talk about it, I want it on the agenda for the next meeting, and maybe I want a special meeting, depending on what it is.
Fred
I'll buy that, Fred. Communication and accountability. Certainly, hoping it's all going swimmingly hasn't worked for us in the past ......
DeleteThe way I would handle this is the same way I handle my current managers. They are given a clear directive with specific goals and deadlines and then they are required to report whether those goals and deadlines were achieved. That is how they are scored on overall job effectiveness. Having an excellent reputation with the managers client in this case the resident of BP is also critical to the overall success of any manager. Finally, the manager is allowed to manage without being micromanaged by anyone. Giving them the opportunity to achieve those directives, goals and deadlines is how the commission should hold any manager accountable. Commissioners need to Commish and Managers need to Manage.
Deletehey everyone, I have a question about something that is an upcoming issue (in my opinion). We have a famous Air BnB house somewhere in the block behind us but more recently there seems to be a party house about a half a block away on 119th street between 6th and Griffing. There have been parties somewhat regularly on the weekends even during Covid. This is distressing in many different ways. I see the possibility of neighbors selling out because of the noise and disruption and possible neighborhood decline.... So, my question is: how do we regulate these Air BnB and party houses in a way that regular residents can live their lives without a somewhat constant noise problem?
ReplyDeleteBrambleWitch,
DeleteYou're asking two different questions. It's very hard to identify what house is an "Air BnB" house per se, and there's really no fair way to legislate against this use of a property.
What is a matter of legislation -- and you refer to it -- is something like noise. We can also regulate parking, which we do. So what we all have to do is call police if noise is unreasonably loud or unreasonably late, and if cars are parked where they shouldn't be.
Fred
PS: We also, by the way, have at least one ALF in the Park. And that's the same issue.
BrambleWitch,
DeleteI'm thinking about your reference to COVID, and the other thing we could do is legislate, as an "emergency" matter, against gatherings of X number of people. But we would then have to have evidence of such a gathering, and we'd have to distinguish a gathering of revelers, or strangers, or partiers, from a group of X number of people who happen to live together, or who are visiting each other in a normally safe and orderly way. It's really hard to make rules like that for homes. You should also know, if you don't already, that in recent weeks, these private parties have become "superspreader" events, which makes it more important, and perhaps urgent, that we explore ways to cap them or stop them.
Fred
Hello, love your name just sayin :)
DeleteWe already have an ordinance in place that addresses this which I have copied below, see number 5. I would suggest calling the police and have these parties shut down if they bother you. Once they get shut down on a few times the party will move elsewhere.
Sec. 10-1. - Offensive noise prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, excessive, unnecessary or unusual noise. The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, excessive, unnecessary or unusual noises in violation of this chapter, but this enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive:
(1)Horns, signaling devices, etc. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle on any street or public place of the village, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any such signaling device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of any such device for any unnecessary and unreasonable period of time.(2)Radios, televisions, phonographs, etc. The using, operating, or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio receiving set, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants, or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntarily listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(3)Animals, birds, etc. The keeping of any animal or bird which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity.
(4)Hawkers, peddlers. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers, and vendors which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
(5)Other noises. Any noise between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood; any continuous noise that is plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
Good wet morning, Nancy.
DeleteRegarding AirBnBs (short-term rentals, party houses generally), that's an easy answer and tough solution ... basically what Art and Fred have already replied back. As you know, the state of Florida does not allow local municipalities to ban short-term rentals. However, those properties must follow all local ordinances/laws/code, etc. That's where noise, nuisance, parking rules come into play. Call the police: often, repeatedly, and demand something be done. Get other neighbors in the area to do the same thing at the same time. If such a property were near me, I’d let the police know as soon as I saw someone unloading luggage from an Uber: “Heads up, gang. It’s about to go down. I have you on speed dial. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other this weekend.” (I would encourage you to not engage with the renters yourself. Let the police handle that. I can imagine encounters with drunken partiers going sideways easily.)
Police and Code are expected to enforce, and in this case a permanent resident is on the short end of the stick. It won’t make you feel any better knowing that you’re not the only person dealing with this. I’ve received lots of similar (or worse) complaints since becoming a commissioner in January. Bottom line: We can’t stop those rentals, but we can make the renters miserable and fine the hell out of anyone we can fine: renters, owners, visitors. When renters post what a pain in the ass BP is on AirBnB reviews and how awful their stay was, other partiers won’t want to come here and the owners will become more discriminating about to whom they rent.
I just added the topic onto my November meeting notes. The commission can’t tell the police what to do, but we can certainly engage with the interim manager and police chief about what they’re doing to enforce ordinances that would help you out. You’ve heard me use the phrase “An Oasis in the Heart of Miami” to describe Biscayne Park. Drunken partiers disturbing residents doesn’t exactly align with that vision, so let’s see what the chief has to say on the topic on November 17. (I may not be a commissioner then, so plan to attend and bring it up during public comment or request that other commissioners do on your behalf.)
Mac.
PS: That gorgeous purple plant you gave me is SO happy with all this rain. I split it into three pieces that are placed in a giant triangle around our entrance among all the greenery. It’s already so pretty, but when it creates the giant mounds it wants to be, it will be a showstopper! Thanks again. What’s it called? Of all things, I have the worst time with plant names.