| Background Next steps in the process |
| Background: Originally the
boundaries of the Village of the Falls were included in the proposed city of
East Kendall under study by the East Kendall Municipal Advisory Committee
(“MAC”). Many residents of the Falls area were concerned about the size of
the proposed East Kendall city (approx. 90,000) and did not feel that East
Kendall represented their 'community'.
The Falls residents conducted a petition drive which resulted in presenting over 2,000 signed petitions to Miami-Dade county requesting the county to exclude the Village of the Falls (see 'Proposed Village Boundaries') from East Kendall. The county approved the petitions to exclude the area. Three “Project Managers” Dave Allen, Tom Griffith and John Gentile – residents who have volunteered to lead this effort – working with a few other resident volunteers, began preparations for initial Town Meetings to initiate a self-study program. May 21, May 28, and June 4 Town Meetings were held at Vineland, Leewood and Gloria Floyd Elementary Schools with a combined total of over 330 attendees and with the intent of soliciting additional volunteers in the effort. o click here for photos from May 28 meeting o article by Kathleen Fordyce in Neighbors on May 21 meeting o printable version of the presentation (requires Adobe® Reader® Click here to download ) As interest in the incorporation grew, the initial group of residents began to formulate the organization needed to gather facts to understand and deal with the issues facing a new city. Committees were formed from these volunteers and empowered to focus on specific issues, resulting in findings and recommendations which will be presented to the county and the residents via public forums. Over time these committees have continued to grow as more and more residents decide to become involved. Activities of the committees are overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of the Project Managers and the chairs of each committee. All meetings are open to any resident who desires to attend and participate. Steering Committee Meeting - The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held Monday July 14, 7:30pm at the Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, 11155 SW 112th Avenue in Bldg. #4, Room 111. Each committee chair reported on their committee activities to-date. A report of estimated revenues and expenses for The Falls area [Click here to view the report], provided by the Miami-Dade Office of Management & Budget (OMB), was also discussed. o To view the meeting schedule at a glance, click on "Meetings Calendar" o Or to view information about a specific committee, click on "Committees", then click on the specific committee you are interested in On July 30, 2003, the Village of the Falls Foundation, Inc. was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation specifically to support charitable and educational activities in the Village of the Falls area. For more information on the Foundation [Click here] On July 30, 2003, a second petition drive was begun by the area residents to petition Miami-Dade County to initiate the incorporation process for the creation of a new municipality in the area of the Falls [Click here for a map of the Proposed Village Boundaries ] . By Labor Day, over 1,500 signatures had been obtained. On September 9, 2003, Miami-Dade County verified and “certified” the petition. |
| Next steps in the process:
Short Term
Long Term
It is not too late for you to get involved in this process. All committees are open for membership and involvement. Show up to a town meeting. |