Message from the City Manager's Office

Published on December 01, 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the strides we’ve made together as a community. This year has been one of growth, resilience, and collaboration. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all our city staff, whose dedication and hard work continue to improve the quality of life for our residents. Your commitment is what makes our city a wonderful place to live, work, and thrive.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024

First and foremost, we celebrated several key milestones this year. Thanks to the continued leadership and direction of the City Commission, I am proud to report that for the 12th consecutive year, we’ve been able to lower the millage rate to 1.8 mills per $1,000. This is a testament to our fiscal responsibility and our commitment to keeping the financial burden on our residents as low as possible. Our Finance Department’s efforts to make this happen were recognized with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

In terms of public safety, 2024 saw the successful launch of our Intersection Safety Camera Program, a joint effort with the Police Department and the City Commission. The program, which installed red-light cameras at key intersections throughout the city is encouraging better driver behavior in our community through enforcement 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Our Police Department is fully staffed in all divisions and positions.

We also made significant strides in enhancing our communication with residents. We proudly launched our redesigned website, sibfl.gov, and a new citizen engagement app, My Sunny Isles Beach. Our Building Department successfully transitioned to a fully digital platform, making it easier for residents and contractors to navigate the permitting and inspection processes. We also continued to offer opportunities for residents to connect with the city through our successful Community Resource Fairs, where we provided valuable resources and information about city and county services. In recreation, we celebrated the opening of the Meditation Garden at Town Center Park, a peaceful urban retreat designed for adults seeking a serene escape. Muchneeded upgrades were made to the gymnasium at Pelican Community Park including a new floor, security cameras, scoreboards and acoustic panels. This past October, we were proud to host local artist Luli Sulichin’s installation, Caged Pacifiers, along with her curated exhibit, Saltwater Tears, created specifically for Sunny Isles Beach. We’re excited to continue bringing engaging art exhibits for our residents to enjoy.

STORM PREPAREDNESS

Our proactive approach to emergency preparedness was put to the test in June when we experienced severe flooding due to torrential rains. Thankfully, our city’s infrastructure held strong, and we’ve since made significant improvements to our flood response capabilities.

In the wake of the storm, the City Commission authorized the purchase of two high-water vehicles and two large capacity pumps. We also launched a new flood risk portal in partnership with Forerunner, providing residents and property owners with easy access to important floodrelated information tailored to individual properties.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

While we celebrate the accomplishments of 2024, it’s the exciting prospects for the future that I look forward to. We have laid the groundwork for transformative projects that will shape the city for years to come.

One of our most significant projects this year was the purchase and subsequent demolition of the Le Richieliu building to make way for the expansion of Pelican Community Park. This new development will provide more green space and recreational opportunities for residents to enjoy.

Our vision for the future of the west side of Collins Avenue is taking shape through a comprehensive planning effort. The Planning and Zoning Department has been working closely with residents through focus groups to gather input on how we want that area to develop in the coming years. We are looking to finalize this plan in 2025.

Another key development in the coming year will be the relocation of our Building Department to the new Government Center Annex, previously home to Tony Roma’s. This new space will provide a more accessible and efficient environment for residents conducting business with the Building Department. The addition of a café space at the Annex will provide long-term revenues to offset operating expenses at the Government Center. In addition, we’re moving forward with the Intracoastal Sports Park, which will add multi-use courts and additional amenities to our park system for our residents.

At Bella Vista Bay Park, we are preparing to implement design plans that include a marine patrol office, as well as enhancements to promote ecological education and a waterfront oasis for our residents to enjoy.

Finally, we’re continuing to make investments in our infrastructure. The Golden Shores Pump Station is being upgraded with larger pumps, improved pipes, and new monitoring software, all designed to improve the system’s efficiency.

I look forward to continuing our work together and achieving even greater accomplishments in the next year.