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Front Page » FYI Miami » FYI Miami: September 22, 2016

FYI Miami: September 22, 2016

Written by on September 20, 2016
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

COCONUTS ARE ALLOWED: In a city peppered with all sorts of palm trees, city leaders have give the official OK to planting Coconut Palms. City commissioners approved a resolution directing the city manager to allow the planting of Coconut Palm Trees (Cocos Nucifera) and Royal Palm Trees (Roystonea Regia) in the public right-of-way on the same or similar basis as other tree species found in the Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual. The legislation notes that the city administration had been discouraging the planting of Coconut Palms and Royal Palms due to a perceived safety hazard to both people and property. Miami-Dade County does not prohibit the planting of Coconut Palms or Royal Palms, it says. The city commission deems the trees not to be “detrimental to native plants, native wildlife, ecosystems, and human health, safety or welfare.”

CONSUMER PRICES FLAT: As consumer prices nationally rose 0.2% from July, the Miami area’s prices remained flat for the two-month period of July and August, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Energy prices in the area fell 3.4% in the two months and the price of food remained unchanged, the bureau reports. The largest South Florida increases in the two months were rent of primary residence, up 1.3%, and medical care, up 1.1%. Nationally, the cost of medical care rose 1% in just August, the largest one-month jump in medical care since February 1984.

STATE OF DOWNTOWN: Roughly 90,000 residents call downtown Miami home and another 20,000 are expected to move to downtown in the next five years, according to the Miami Downtown Development Authority. Additionally the median downtown income is $66,498, roughly 162,000 daytime workers are employed downtown and a 1.4-million-square-foot increase in leasable space is expected over the next three years.

VOICES FOR WOMEN: The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women will meet with a  public forum from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Community Room of the North Miami Public Library, 835 NE 132nd St. The Commission for Women, under the purview of Miami-Dade’s Office of Community Advocacy, was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the county commission, administration and the public about issues pertaining to the status of women. The commission also advocates for women in the community to improve their quality of life. All meetings are public. Attendees can comment at the start of the meeting. Details: (305) 375-4967, CFW@miamidade.gov; or www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/women-board-home.asp

One Response to FYI Miami: September 22, 2016

  1. Mariano Corral

    September 22, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Coconuts and Royal Palm Trees Allowed Article:
    It is inconceivable that the City Commission has made this decision because the Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual does not prohibit these palms from being use on rights of ways. First of all let me make it clear, I love both species and specify them all the times. However, as a Landscape Architect practicing for 40 years I can tell you that unless you have the sufficient ground space to allowed the Royal Palm fronds at its maturity, or coconuts to drop safely, it will cause harm to the public and cause property damage. The safety zone for a Royal palm tree is 26’to 30′ in diameter. The palm frond is approx. 12′ to 13′ long and weighs 60-80 pounds. As a professional Landscape Architect our first priority and duty” is the welfare and safety of the public.” It is the reason we are license and it is the reason we practice right tree in right location. The commission has opened up a can worms. If prior to this decision the City Staff as been using common sense and practicing public safety when it came to the use and its location of these palm trees, then KUDOS and applause to them. There is plenty of evidence of accidents of autos and people being hurt by these palm trees due to its improper location. Just look up accidents on US1 or on urban or residential streets. Go to City of Coral Gables and see what the root system of Royal Palm can do to a sidewalk planted to close.
    Someone has not informed fully the city commission or provided sufficient evidence as to the danger these Palm trees can cause in rights of ways or along urban sidewalks. Unless the city is willing to have a special maintenance crew that does nothing but drive around town checking and cut off those fronds and coconuts that are ready to fall and also have a healthy funding in their coffers, then that is great and good luck.
    And by the way who and what Legislation informed the City Commission? Who are they? I wish the City the best of luck, this is one professional that will not place his license in jeopardy.
    I can see the ambulance chasers sharping their knives.

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