Title
A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Attorney and City Manager to reinitiate the annexation process for High Pines/Ponce Davis.
(Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
Body
High Pines/ Ponce Davis is an enclave bounded by the City of Coral Gables to the North, South, and East. In 2017, pursuant to Miami-Dade County Code, Chapter 20 “Municipalities”, Article I “Boundary Change Procedure”, the City conducted a petition process to ascertain support amongst registered voters in High Pines/Ponce Davis for the annexation of the area into the City of Coral Gables. In response to the petition, 27.9% of registered voters in High Pines/Ponce Davis supported annexation, surpassing the required 20% to initiate the annexation application process.
Soon thereafter, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2018-105, directing the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare and submit an application for the annexation of High Pines/Ponce Davis. The City’s application received a positive recommendation from the County’s Planning Advisory Board and from then County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
On July 17, 2019, a public hearing was held on the annexation application before the Health Care and County Operations Committee (HCOC), and the HCOC laid the City’s application on the table, effectively denied without the full Board of County Commissioners ever hearing the matter and without giving residents in the area the opportunity to vote in a referendum.
Given the documented support for the City’s annexation effort, and the long-term benefits that will accrue to both the City and High Pines/Ponce Davis, the City wishes to re-initiate the annexation process via this resolution.