Eugene Flinn, Palmetto Bay's Founding Mayor

08/26/2025

Vice Mayor Merwitzer is hosting a community conversation THIS THURSDAY and he needs YOU there. Important talk on the budget.

Remember when our local government held actual community workshops on the budget? Too few still remember. Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer invites ...

03/12/2025

To the Colonial Palms Plaza.

Exciting - if you're a fan of reading. But it is more than just books; it is also a gathering place (most often for people who like to read)...

02/26/2025

No wonder the party in power fought so hard in the last election to keep outsiders out of office! This new Vice Mayor has come to office in Palmetto Bay to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and it appears that he is all outta bubble gum! Palmetto Bay the "Village of Parks" or "Village of Perks" for village officials? $132,000 in part for "monitoring 'Opposition Activities'" (our neighbors). $400 a month car allowances. What else will we find if transparency is ever restored to Palmetto Bay?

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE - Per the Vice Mayor: A salary and insurance is apparently not enough for their part time service, per the Vi...

02/25/2025

A must view. The video is just under 30 minutes. Thank you Vice Mayor Merwitzer for attempting to bring back transparency and accountability to the Village of Palmetto Bay.
Some highlights (or lowlights depending upon your view):
The Mayor and Village Council are now eligible for a $400 a month car allowance. When was this approved?
$6,000.00 has been spent due to a council member's rampage. The $6K confirms the opinion of the Village Attorney.
Over $132,000 has been spent on a lobbyist relating to the Tanglewood property. It is the Vice Mayor's opinion that (go to the 9:00 minute mark of the video) the procurement code was bypassed. "monitoring opposition activities" were raised as part of the takes assigned the lobbying firm. Furthermore - an unknown person or organization paid for a "push poll" - incorrectly insinuating that the land was to be sold for private developers. The surrounding residents are NOT private developers.
The Vice Mayor is committed to bringing back the Neighborhood Protection Committee. I briefly served on this committee until I was removed. The entire committee was eventually shut down. This was unfortunate.
Transparency alert! - Check out 17:00 of the video. A journalist notified Vice Mayor Merwitzer that Palmetto Bay was the only municipality not to share wage and benefit information for elected officials - apparently the Village Mayor and Council Members have allowed themselves to receive a "car allowance" of $400 per month. Does anyone here recall this ever being disclosed publicly; including approving such a major perk during the budget process?

A must view. The video is just under 30 minutes. Thank you Vice Mayor Merwitzer for attempting to bring back transparency and accountabili...

02/17/2025

Happy Presidents’ Day for those who celebrate. Who here is old enough to recall (or studied in History class) the controversy created when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill in 1968? This legislation moved federal holidays to Mondays. The intent was to provide for long weekends. There was opposition to this move, by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate. Good or bad?

How do you observe this Federal holiday? Do you reflect upon legacies of past presidents, simply relax over a long weekend, participate in ...

01/27/2025

Seen roaming in Palmetto Bay - know anyone looking for this pup? Has been spotted in the area west of southwood. Two collars - one may be a tracking collar. I did not personally see the dog, but neighbors have spotted it. Let me know if you have any information. Looks to be a German Shorthair Pointer.

01/24/2025

Looking forward to a chill weekend - figuratively as well as literally.

Our bushes are full of cardinals who are taking turns feeding at the Palmetto Bay Bird Feeder Cam.

The real attraction is not the food in the feeder. We have planted our yard with native plants that provide significant natural food sources as well as nesting opportunities for our native songbirds.

Looking forward to a chill weekend - figuratively as well as literally. The bushes are full of cardinals who are taking turns feeding at t...

12/07/2024

When did Village Officials make the decision to accept judgment against the Village? No one knows. We will all have to wait until any shade session transcripts are released before the public finds out.

Village Officials have not released statements about this profound development.

Details are important. This judgment requires Palmetto Bay to take the following action:

PALMETTO BAY will adopt an Ordinance, approving the proposed rezoning of the Property from Agricultural (“AG”) to Estate Modified (“EM”).

PALMETTO BAY is directed, in accordance with applicable law, to properly advertise a rezoning and bring before the Village Council for final decision in the matter of rezoning the Property from Agricultural (“AG”) to Estate Modified (“EM”) by February, 2025.

PALMETTO BAY shall effect the rezoning of the Property from Agricultural (“AG”) to Estate Modified (“EM”).

HOWEVER, and one slight good point for village taxpayers, each side shall each bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs. (Taxpayers will "only" be responsible for the attorneys fees and costs paid to the list of lawyers who represented Palmetto Bay).

We will also now wait for the February zoning hearing to hear about the details.

Palmetto Bay officials have surrendered and did not contest judgment against the village in the case of FAIRCHILD BAY SUBDIVISION LLC VS VIL...

12/04/2024

The decision was released this morning deciding the appeal of Village of Palmetto Bay, Florida, et al. v. Miami-Dade County, Florida, 3rd DCA Case no.: 2024-0230. This was a 14 page decision. In conclusion, the panel ruled that:
.. the County was and is the ultimate decider as to the necessity of the Bridge Project. Because its actions were consistent with the applicable regulatory framework, it acted within its purview in approving the construction. We therefore find no reversible error and affirm in all respects.

The action of Miami-Dade County regarding the 87th Avenue bridge has been affirmed on appeal. The decision was released this morning decidi...

11/20/2024

Things are getting interesting once again – and interesting is not often good for the Village of Palmetto Bay. It appears that the owners of "Fairchild Bay" are seeking to have the trial court reconsider a June 2024 denial of their motion for summary judgment. The Plaintiffs may argue that a September 2024 appellate decision changes everything – and that the prior denial of their motion for Summary Judgment should be reconsidered in light of the Appellate Court ruling that Palmetto Bay officials "...failed to follow the essential requirements of the law, rendered a decision wholly unsupported by competent substantial evidence and subjected Petitioner to reverse spot zoning that resulted in a confiscatory taking of its real property.”

This was a damning opinion and it was not contested by the village officials – they accepted the findings of that order without seeking a rehearing or appeal.

This hearing is presently set for December 3, 2024, at 9:30 AM., before Judge Spencer Eig.

Stay tuned.

Are Palmetto Bay officials about to take an additional loss in regard to the Fairchild Subdivision zoning application? ( CLICK HERE to view...

11/18/2024

Exciting times. A product of Village upbringing now ready to take a leadership role in the future of our fine village.
Mark’s campaign was considered a long shot. He faced an incumbent vice mayor supported by influential figures like the county mayor, local school board member, village mayor, and current and former Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest councilmembers, to name a few. Despite these odds and running against an opponent funded by political action committees, his grassroots campaign resonated with voters eager for change.

A new generation is stepping up to lead. These are exciting times for Palmetto Bay. The election was certified last Friday so the results ...

11/07/2024

A great start. Recognition of the youth movement in Palmetto Bay. I am very excited and can't wait for the Vice-Mayor elect to take office and move the Village of Palmetto Bay forward on a positive path!

The 24-year-old lifelong resident defeated the incumbent, Leanne Tellam.