Coconut Grove Village Council Meeting Rundown for May

UPDATED

The May Coconut Grove Village Council Meeting included updates from community leaders, discussions about new developments and changes with Coconut Grove Sailing Club membership and information about an event to honor Grove peacocks.

All Grove Crimewatch Chair Robert Loupo addressed the village council to give an update on Coconut Grove safety.

Loupo said that the investigations into the two Coconut Grove rape attacks, which took place in October and November 2009, are on-going. Recently, Miami-Dade County District Seven Commissioner Carlos Gimenez donated $4,000 as reward money for the capture of the rapist, which increased the award amount to $10,000. Community leaders hope that the reward increase will persuade individuals with information to speak out.

“The number one difference of any capture, especially with this rapist, is awareness in the community,” Loupo said.

To ensure the safety of homes when residents are out of town, All Grove Crimewatch is providing a home watch service. Homeowners can call Neighborhood Resource Officers Leo Carrillo (305-389-7996) and Joe Guell (305-303-9163) to report when they will be out of town and officers will patrol the home during that time. Loupo said to make sure to call at least a few days in advance.

Jihad Rashid, president and CEO of the Coconut Grove Collaborative, was next before the council to discuss the possible development of the Gibson Community and Educational Center and Grand Avenue Kiosks.

The Gibson Community and Educational Center would provide affordable housing for the elderly and their families and include a community educational center with meeting rooms. The council passed a motion to place this development on the next meeting agenda and will then vote on whether to adopt and write a resolution in support of the community and educational center.

Rashid shared his hopeful outlook about the developments with the council.

“If we get stability in the Village West community, it will spark things,” Rashid said. “[These developments] will promote the Village West as a destination.”

The Grand Avenue Kiosks, which have been vetted by the Miami-Dade County Public Works Department, will be stationary hut-like structures where local vendors can sell handcrafted goods. The kiosks will be located in four locations in Coconut Grove. A pilot program will exist for the first few years and if the kiosks are successful more will be added. Rashid presented the plans before the council, which decided to circulate the plans for the kiosks to all council members before voting on whether to pass a resolution.

Another topic discussed at the meeting was The Peacock Promenade Launch Party to celebrate the Coconut Grove peacock population. The event will take place May 29 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Shoppes of Mayfair Promenade. The launch party will feature live music, dancing, food, art and drinks for the entire family.

Council member Michelle Niemeyer then discussed issues pertaining to the waterfront, specifically the membership changes at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.

Niemeyer said the sailing club would be proposing to eliminate their social membership which would impact many residents.

This change was later confirmed by Alyn Pruett, vice commodore of the sailing club.

Members will vote on June 4 at the sailing club’s annual meeting on whether to eliminate the social membership. If the measure passes, the club would also eliminate the current $1,000 regular member initiation fee and decrease the cost of regular membership to $250 a year plus $17 a month for people who do not own a boat and $140 a month for people with boats for the first year. The sailing club would also offer a one-time $113 discount for current social members who become regular members. These changes would take effect on July 1.

Despite the possibility of these changes, Pruett said, “we still believe it is the best bargain in town.”

Social members who switch their membership will receive a parking sticker, have voting rights at the club and be able to rent the club’s sail boats the Sunfish, Ensign and Flying Scots at the lower regular member rate.

The sailing club will hold their weekly members only forum May 26 at 7:30 p.m. where a presentation on the proposed membership changes will be given.

The next Coconut Grove Village Council meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on June 17 at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.