The most difficult challenges involved neighbor-versus-neighbor disagreements. Below are excerpts from Coral Gables Mayor Donald Slesnick's recent ``State of the City'' speech.

 

Last year, I spoke to you about six commission objectives by which we planned to make this wonderful city even better. Those themes were downtown revitalization, neighborhood enhancement, improved parking and public transportation, preservation of historic resources, increased public awareness and enhanced information technology.

Despite facing numerous unexpected challenges this past year, your commission has kept its collective eye on those goals by embracing a philosophy of ``building bridges'' between the past and the future, between people of different beliefs and between the diverse interests of our population.

More than 60 years ago, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis astutely observed that: ``In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in government action.'' That statement is as true now as it was then. Looking back at some of the city's toughest challenges, the most difficult ones have involved neighbor-versus-neighbor disagreements - disputes that call for the building of bridges to achieve mutual understanding and reciprocal trust.

In an innovative bridge-building approach, the city encouraged participants in certain neighborhood disputes to seek a workable compromise through mediation. An outstanding example of this would be the University of Miami's effort to expand its physical facilities, which would impact an adjoining residential neighborhood.

Through good-faith negotiations, the university and the local homeowners association were able to reach an agreement for a future student-housing complex based on a development plan sensitive to the requirements of the school administration and the concerns of its next-door neighbors.

The Commission is hard at work to bridge the gap between the inherent development rights of property owners and the rights of neighbors to protect the quality of their residential life which is the hallmark of Coral Gables.

An out-dated comprehensive plan and its accompanying zoning code have failed to ease our growing pains. New house structures are being proposed that overwhelm their historic neighborhoods and new multifamily, mid-rise buildings threaten to dwarf the quiet tree-lined streets nearby.

The dilemma of allowing new construction to take place while preserving the scale and tranquility of residential spaces is a very real challenge for developers, homeowners and city government. It's ultimately a balancing act between property rights and neighborhood values. . . .

With a City budget that exceeds $100 million and a work force of more than 850 employees, your government is handicapped with antiquated information technology which we have now committed to upgrade and replace from top to bottom. Our goal is to enable persons to go online to report service problems, check on building permits, and pay city bills on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week basis. . . .

As Memorial Day nears, let us remember that the price of freedom is not only measured in dollars but also in human life as we pray for the families who have given that ultimate sacrifice during this war and in previous ones.

We acknowledge the military service of your Chamber President Lettie Bien, who is currently on the front line in Iraq and wish her Godspeed and a safe return soon.

Let us give thanks for the many blessings which have been bestowed upon us as Americans and express gratitude for the privilege of living in this beautiful, peaceful community. May God help us to collectively and cooperatively meet future challenges with compassion, integrity, intellect and courage.