Oakland Park is getting eight new solid waste vehicles
From David Volz
Oakland Park is upgrading its solid waste fleet with eight new vehicles. The City Commission approved the purchase during the Commission Meeting on Nov. 30th, 2022. Several vehicles in the City’s sanitation fleet have reached or exceeded their lifespan and require significant maintenance and repairs. Disruptions in supply chains of replacement parts create challenges in keeping sanitation trucks on the road. The new trucks will replace aging vehicles and help address recent delays in collection services. They will also reduce long-term operational and maintenance costs. The new vehicles will include trucks for residential garbage, recycling, and commercial service. Oakland Park will buy the trucks from Nextran Truck Center through a Florida Sheriffs Association contract, which helped secure competitive wholesale pricing. Public Works initially planned to purchase six new vehicles this fiscal year, but the lower-than-expected favorable 3.21% interest rate will enable the City to purchase two additional trucks ahead of schedule. The new vehicles will allow the City of Oakland Park to continue to provide quality solid waste service, which earned a 94% favorable rating from residents in a recent citywide survey. We appreciate your patience while we transition the vehicles into service and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service to the community.
Oakland Park is beginning construction soon on the new Fire Station 9, located at 3881 N.E. 6th Avenue in Oakland Park. In addition to a new two-story, three-bay facility, the project will include public restrooms, on-street parking, and traffic signal improvements.
The City of Oakland Park held a Swearing-In Ceremony for two newly-elected Commissioners on Wednesday, Nov. 30th, 2022. Steven R. Arnst and Tim Lonergan took the Oath of Office at the beginning of the City Commission Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The Commissioners were each elected to serve a four-year at-large term through November 2026. Both elected officials previously served on the Oakland Park City Commission. Commissioner Arnst served from 1993 to 2001 and 2003 to 2011; Commissioner Lonergan served from 2013 to 2020. Arnst and Lonergan join Oakland Park Mayor Aisha Gordon, Vice Mayor Mitch Rosenwald, and Commissioner Matthew Sparks on the City Commission
Miami Dade celebrates Safe Routes to Parks project
From David Volz
The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department hosted a dedication ceremony celebrating the award-winning Safe Routes to Parks project at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. The project prioritizes and enhances pedestrian mobility along West 74th Place, connecting community residents to the park in a neighborhood with a large population of older adults. Enhancements include new tree-lined walkways and benches to provide safe seating on the route to the park.
This project was completed in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Director Aileen Bouclé and the TPO Governing Board, Chaired by Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners Chair and District 10 Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, Miami-Dade County DTPW Director Eulois Cleckley, and Miami-Dade County Parks Director Maria I. Nardi.
The Safe Route to Parks initiative is part of the Miami-Dade County Parks Masterplan vision of increased walkability and equitable access to parks and recreation amenities for all residents, and also part of the TPO SMART STEP (Street Transportation Enhancements) project in Miami-Dade County. The project received the National Association of Counties (NACo) Award and the Miami-Dade County Safe Streets Summit’ Tri-Region People’s Choice Award for Best Project, which honors individuals and jurisdictions that lead by example in creating better streets for all users.“Thanks to the Safe Routes to Parks project and the leadership of Senator René García, we have a safe and beautiful connecting corridor to Amelia Earhart Park,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This partnership is a great example of how interagency collaboration advances our Parks Masterplan vision to create safe, accessible and sustainable routes to parks in our community, which is important for the physical and emotional health of our residents and visitors.”
“This new development has provided much needed connectivity enhancements to our beautiful Amelia Earhart Park and for the residents of our District 13 community, especially our seniors who frequent this park. They now have a safe and aesthetically pleasing route, with the bonus of cooling shade trees along the way. And I am pleased to say that the Safe Route to Parks corridor at this park is highly utilized,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner René Garcia.“We are proud to celebrate the award-winning Safe Route to Parks initiative, part of the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Space Master Plan’s goal of increased walkability and more equitable access to parks and recreational amenities for all residents,” said Director Nardi. “This connectivity project furthers the Parks’ Masterplan vision of a safe 10-minute walk to a park. We are grateful to the Transportation Planning Organization and Miami-Dade County Department of Transit and Public Works for their partnership and collaboration in implementing this initiative that helps build a healthier community.”
Executive Director Bouclé stated, “The Miami-Dade TPO Urban Mobility & Non-Urban Core Task Forces were created to focus on addressing bicycle and pedestrian mobility challenges in Miami-Dade County. As a result, the SMART STEP was created to facilitate interagency coordination, innovation, and accelerated implementation of pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects that increase connectivity and enhance safety throughout the county.”
Miami-Dade celebrates World Travel Expo
From David Volz
With the goal of promoting tourism to Miami International Airport’s network of 166 destinations across the globe, Miami-Dade County officials and local travel industry executives hosted a kickoff event on December 2 for members of the Consular Corps of Miami to announce the first World Travel Expo (WTE) Miami scheduled for June 13-15, 2023, at the Miami Airport Convention Center.
The kickoff event – held at MIA’s annual Consular Corps of Miami Holiday Reception – featured MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié and WTE President and CEO Javier Palencia, who gave local consulates and guests a preview of what to expect at the inaugural expo.
“In addition to raising awareness about the extensive route network that MIA has to offer, the World Travel Expo will also promote increased travel between Miami-Dade County and our sister cities around the world,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “The Miami tourism industry continues to reach new heights this year and we hope to spur additional growth with this inaugural event.”
Hosted by MIA and sponsored by IATA, American Airlines, and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), WTE Miami 2023 will give tourism representatives from MIA’s international markets the opportunity to meet with airlines, tourism bureaus, tour operators, cruise lines, hotels, and other industry organizations, to discuss potential air service route development and promote their destinations. Influential leaders and experts from the global travel and tourism industry will also discuss current challenges, emerging trends, and business opportunities. More than 2,000 travel professionals are expected to attend.
“We look forward to hosting our first-ever World Travel Expo next year and we deeply appreciate our global sponsors for their support,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO. “With MIA on pace for a record year in passenger traffic as the busiest U.S. airport for international passengers, our rebound from the pandemic has been a huge success story. We look forward to sharing those best practices with our industry colleagues around the world.”
