Most people’s shopping lists include things like groceries, clothes, cosmetics and home furnishings – but have you ever wondered what cities have to buy to maintain and upgrade municipal services?

At virtually every Sunny Isles Beach City Commission meeting, resolutions are passed approving purchases that enhance efficiency, infrastructure, aesthetics, public safety and overall quality of life.

The city’s fiscally responsible purchasing power is being generated by financial strength. In the most recent State of the City Address, Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman S. Edelcup noted, “The city’s financial condition is very secure and strong.” But anyone needing even more proof of the city’s prosperity can just ask to see a copy of the latest municipal audit report prepared by the independent certified accounting firm Rachlin, LLP.

According to the audit, Sunny Isles Beach assets exceeded its liabilities at the close of the most recent fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2007) by $93,166,401 net assets. Of this amount, $20,048,561 unrestricted net assets may be used to meet the government’s ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors

The city’s total net assets increased by $14,931,394 - primarily attributed to the acquisition of property and other capital improvements. And as of the close of the current fiscal year, the city’s governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $43,311,358 - an increase of $4,652,063 in comparison with the prior year.

So while you may be running out to the store to buy a carton of milk, eggs, toothpaste, gas or other necessities, here are just some of the purchases recently approved by the City Commission to make the best even better in Sunny Isles Beach:

*Twelve handheld P71S0 police radios and associated accessories in an amount not to exceed $39,800

Explaining the need to purchase the police radios, Police Chief Fred Maas reported, “The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department has only replaced approximately 20 of our handheld police radios over the past nine years. With the increasing number of malfunctions and repair cost of these original radios and to assure the safety and reliability of this important lifeline equipment issued to our officers, these twelve radios would be used to replace several of the older and malfunctioning radios.

“Purchasing these radios through the Miami-Dade County Enterprise Technology Services Department would be the most cost effective method [considering] Miami-Dade County purchases directly through MIA Com, Inc. GE Ericsson, Inc. and receives a 37 percent discount. Miami-Dade County also provides the programming for all radios on their system. Funding for the above radios and associated equipment were budgeted and are available under General Fund Capital Expenditures.”

*Computer equipment and associated software for phase two of the Disaster
Recovery Plan

The City Commission authorized Police Chief Fred Maas, in accordance with the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, to expend $75,000 from the Federal forfeiture DOJ funds for this purchase.

Maas reported, “It is recommended that the City Commission approve the expenditure of partial Federal DOJ forfeiture funds previously awarded to the Police Department as the results of investigative participation in forfeiture and seizure cases. These funds are permissible by law to be spent for the purchases of police equipment and other law enforcement activities.

“The Information Technology (IT) Department has developed a multi phase disaster recovery plan for the city’s current infrastructure. Phase two of this plan will develop and prepare the Police Department’s infrastructure for compatibility with the city s overall Disaster Recovery Plan to provide for virtualization and off-site data storage…The project will begin the second week in May 2008 and will be completed by August 2008.”

*Purchase of software support and maintenance for a three year period in an amount not to exceed $49,190 per agreement with New World Systems, Inc.

Doug Haag, Assistant City Manager, Finance and Edel Fonseca, Information Technology Director, reported, “The following is our yearly maintenance agreement with New World Systems…Currently this software manages the Finance Department…New World has outlined the cost for the next three years in their proposal as follows:
5/1/2008-4/30/2009: $14, 861; 5/1/2009- 4/30/ 2010: $16,347; 5/1/2010-4/30/2011: $17,982: Total: $49,190. Funding is available in the current fiscal year budget for this item.”

*Purchase and installation of signage for Pelican Community Park in an amount not to exceed $10,800 per agreement with GraphPlex Signage

Assistant City Manager Jorge Vera reported, “The construction contract for Pelican Community Park did not include a budget amount for signage. As part of the temporary Certificate of Occupancy (CO), there are several evacuation signs as well as room location signs meeting ADA requirements that need to be installed prior to CO.

“In addition to the interior signage, exterior identification signage for the building is also needed. In order to expedite the construction and installation of the signage, the city will ‘piggyback’ to an existing contract that it currently has with GraphPlex. GraphPlex has provided a proposal for the interior and exterior signage in the amount not to exceed $10,800.”

*Janitorial services for city facilities on a month to month basis in the amount of $10,280 per agreement with Cleaning Systems, Inc.

Public Works Director Rick Conner reported, “The city’s janitorial services agreement with Cleaning Services, Inc. has expired and we are currently operating on a month to month basis for services. Staff is preparing bid specifications that will allow us to approach this effort in much the same manner as we did a landscaping services bid.

“We hope to be done developing the documents within three months - but so that we are covered in the meantime, we would like to enter into an agreement to continue the services at the costs described in the expired contract on a month to month basis.

“There are several city office buildings that were not in existence when the original contract was let and therefore they were not covered. The new agreement would provide for services for the Government Center post office, library, Heritage Park and the forthcoming Pelican Community Park…Additionally, the unit prices are the same prices utilized under the original agreement with the single exception of weekend work.”

*Maintenance and cleaning services for the Government Center fountain in the amount of $11,750 per agreement with All Florida Pool & Spa Center

“On September, 17 2007 the city entered into an agreement with All Florida Pool & Spa Center to provide maintenance and cleaning services for the Government Center Fountain,” Conner reported. “At that time, it was anticipated these services would not individually or cumulatively result in expenditures exceeding $10,000 and the agreement was approved administratively.

“Now the Government Center fountain is in need of a new liner. This will be a marked improvement to the existing surface which must be constantly drained and cleaned causing serious concern in this time of major water conservation efforts and will provide much improved aesthetics. Long term durability will also be significantly improved.

“All Florida Pool & Spa Center has submitted a proposal for construction of the liner in the amount of $11,750…Funding is currently available in the City Hall Improvements Capital Account.”

*A charitable contribution to the Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor Elementary School Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) in the amount of $500 for Teacher Appreciation Week events

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup reported, “Many of Sunny Isles Beach elementary students attend the Ruth K Broad Bay Harbor Elementary School. The Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) at [the school] is sponsoring Teacher Appreciation Week during the week of May 4-10, 2008 for their teachers’ hard work and dedication throughout the school year.

“The week-long event will include many special activities and treats for their educators. The Ruth K Broad Bay Harbor Elementary School PTA is requesting support from each of the municipalities in which its students live including Bay Harbor, Surfside, Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach for Teacher Appreciation Week by contributing $500.”

*Landscaping plans for improvements to William Lehman Causeway south on Collins Avenue and the Sunny Isles Boulevard intersection with Collins Avenue under a Miami- Dade County Landscaping Committee Grant in an amount not to exceed $125,000 per an agreement with O’Leary Richards Design Associates, Inc.

City Manager John Szerlag reported, “In April 2007, the City Commission approved the selection of the landscape architect firm and subsequent design of O’Leary Richards Design Associates for the Collins Avenue landscaping project. The purpose of this preliminary design phase was to obtain a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation or Miami-Dade County.

“After presentations to both the City Commission and the Miami-Dade County Landscaping Committee, the city was notified in January 2008 of a $200,000 grant award. The plan approved by the Landscaping Committee was prepared by the firm of O’Leary Richards Design Associates - also instrumental in helping the city obtain the grant due to their longstanding relationship and successful track record within the county.

“The next step in this project is to prepare bid ready specifications and we are recommending O’Leary Richards Design Associates because it is a logical extension of their previous work on behalf of the city. We have $1,033, 315 budgeted giving us a total of $1,233,3l5 to construct the project. This project will address the area on the west side of Collins Avenue starting at the Lehman flyover and continue to approximately l89th Street. The design will follow the overall scheme previously presented to the Commission.

“We did a preliminary plan of which this is part. We will not have to acquire any easements. The total cost of the project is estimated to be less than $1,300,000. There will be an annual operation and maintenance costs which is not budgeted. The expected time for completion of the design and permitting is Fall of 2008. Estimated final completion of the construction phase is Fall 2009.”

*The City Commission recently approved amendments to the fiscal year 2007-2008 budget to fund various new and/or additional goods and services including:

Repairing computers damaged by power outage: $6,099; hiring a consultant to review the recommendation for employee health dental insurances: $3,800; maintaining Heritage Park parking area: $30,000; maintaining property acquired at 287 Sunny Isles Boulevard: $20,000; parking for commercial vehicles under Lehman Causeway: $2,000; replace all non-countdown pedestrian signal heads with countdown signal heads: $81,000; replacing small bus shelter benches with regular benches that have a backrest: $16,000; replacing cloth covers at Town Center Park with permanent structures: $130,000; continuing Sir Winston Cruises as part of cultural events: $33,500; relocating showers at Pier Park: $3,500; adding showers and restroom facilities at Pelican Community Park Gymnasium: $488,000; recruiting costs for Assistant Public Works Director: $11,500; and purchasing a coin counting machine for the Finance Department: $3,000

*Bridge with ‘priceless benefits’

At the April 17 City Commission meeting, the concept of building a bridge connecting North Bay Road between Winston Towers 100 on 174th Street and the Porto Bellagio condominium across the canal to the south was discussed.

City Manager John Szerlag noted, “The estimated cost for this project is around $3.5 million - not including property acquisition costs…This project has enormous health/safety benefits and we thus need to make it a top priority. Further - construction of a vehicular bridge opens up more avenues for grants which we will pursue in conjunction with our lobbyist.”

The Commission also received a letter from Police Chief Fred Maas reiterating the need for the bridge. “In light of the recent traffic disaster that occurred in our city on Thursday March 20, 2008 I [strongly recommend] that our only relief and preventive measure in future incidents is the construction of an alternate north/south emergency roadway to bypass Collins Avenue,” Maas wrote. “With the increase of population, development and traffic commute through our city, the need is absolute for such an alternative.”

*Buying time

In addition to strong purchasing power, the city also implements plans and programs designed to generate revenue and create “win-win” situations. For example, to help protect the future of development in Sunny Isles Beach in light of current real estate market conditions, the City Commission passed an ordinance to permit a voluntary program for the extension of time for unexpired development approvals and transfer of development rights (TDR’s).

Developers voluntarily participating in the extension program would be required to comply with a monetary compensation plan outlined in the ordinance.
Mayor Norman S. Edelcup said, “We’re being responsive…An [extension of time to build is] justified to solve a problem that may not be short term…Developers will start projects when the economic climate produces a positive impact for them.”