The Coral Gables Times

IOU's May Be Needed For Work From City's Till Greenbacks Would Spur Business

The City of Coral Gables in 1961-62 proposes to spend more money than any year since 1927 to help promote business. A total of $147,430 has been earmarked in the proposed 1961-62 budget to boost business. Only the nearly $170,000 spent in 1927 exceeds this figure, also a considerable boost from last year's $102,237 expenditure. Approximately $71,000, or half, would go directly for paid advertising. This is more than twice the $30,000 spent for this purpose last year. The total for printing and advertising alone will be $79,000. An additional $51,850 is earmarked for general publicity. This include $35,000 for the PGA golf tournament, an increase of $10,000 from the $25,000 appropriated the two previous years; $3,000 for Orange Bowl and Junior Orange Bowl floats; and $10,500 as the city's contribution to the overall costs of putting on the extravaganza. In reality, the PGA produces much of its own revenue and the $35,000 is not a total expenditure but a working figure. Rounding out the balance is $10,000 for the contractural service of Publicity Director Bert Burris; $3,744 for other salaries; $550 for communications; $600 for office supplies and expenses and $300 for expense allowance.

$1 Million Bond Issue Suggested

A new lighting system for Le Jeune Road costing an estimated $53,000 will just about eat up the meager $76,902 proposed in the new budget for capital improvements. But a new revenue bond approach to "Operation Bootstrap," if approved, will provide the City with $1 million ready capital to get started on the following projects: Street improvements in the business section. ($185,000). Continuation of the sidewalk repair program. ($50,000). Location study, plans and specifications for a new library. ($4,000). Additional street lights in residential areas. ($18,480). Construction of building at tennis courts, Salvadore Park. ($14,200). Construction of Bridge on Blue Road. ($25,000). Development of neighborhood parks. ($31,460). Improvements to city garage. ($32,900). Repayment of loan on fire station. ($150,000). Of the balance of the $76,902 proposed for capital improvements, $8,000 is proposed for lighting at Salvadore park, $5,000 for resurfacing of playgrounds, $5,000 for Parkway improvements and $3,500 for police and fire station changes. The original pay as you go plan to finance Operation Bootstrap by setting aside $100,000 annually until a sizeable kitty existed has been scrapped in favor of borrowing $1 million and pledging cigaret tax revenues.

Burdine Tract Wrangle Back Before Commission

(Continued from page 1) Conklin, vice president and comptroller for the department store chain. Conklin said he came to dispel the misinformation that had been spread about Burdine's role with the tract and to relate that the firm has no further interest in building a store and wanted to sell the property. A third owner is Brovay Corp., which owns a small piece of the tract fronting on South Dixie Highway. The latest action by the property owners, 400 of whom signed a petition to have the streets paved, came in the wake of a recent move by the McBrides which denuded the area of all trees and shrubs. Edward McBride said Tuesday that this was ordered by the City after complaints by the homeowners of jungle-like conditions on the tract. Now the homeowners are unhappy because all the trees are gone. Spokesmen for the homeowners, Wayne Withers, James Walmy and Jackson L. Peters, complained about the legal expense and inconvenience homeowners had been put through fighting tract development along lines they opposed. The group indicated paving the streets would forever end plans to re-zone the tract, principally residential today. J. Allen Brown, a representative for the tract owners who worked with the City for nearly two years to set up a series of buffer zones between commercial and residential areas, backgrounded the events that led up to the April 4 Commission decision to turn down the proposal. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 1955, in a suit brought by homeowners, that the city had illegally re-zoned the land for a prospective purchaser — Burdine. Since then, the fear has lingered among property owners that other attempts would be made to turn the land into a shopping center.

Committee Is Looking For Spot

A three-man committee of the Coral Gables Planning Advisory Board is looking into possible sites for a garden center. The committee, made up of Arthur C. Bivins, Don Wessell and Mrs. S. M. Greene, is looking into various city-owned property as a possible site. Mrs. Malcolm Lovell, president of the Coral Gables Garden Club, appeared before the Planning Board May 3 to enlist its support for the plan. The club seeks a lot with a minimum size of 125 by 150 feet for a 75 by 100-foot building and parking facilities. Under their plan, the 307-member club would maintain the building and the city the land and plantings. A site close to the central business district is sought. A proposal to utilize a tract owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lovell at the intersection of Coral Way and Red Road failed to materialize recently.

Beauty in the Gables

FROM MILWAUKEE comes Jean Hastings, a teletypist at the Southern Bell Telephone Co., on Alhambra Circle. The 21-year-old brunette (blue eyes) likes to go to the horse races. When home, she likes to cook for her husband, Wayne, who works for Florida Power and Light Co. The Hastings live at 11485 SW 57th Ter.

753 at Gables High to Get Diplomas; Ponce Has 611

(Continued from page 1) then deliver the traditional address to the graduating class. Platform guests will be introduced. Among them will be former Gables mayor W. Keith Phillips, Mrs. Walter Piper, president of the Gables PTA, and Dr. Roy F. Mack, who has established an annual $500 scholarship for Gables senior. Dr. C. Raymond Van Dusen, outgoing chairman of the Dade County School Board, will present the diplomas. The program is expected to be about 2 to 21⁄2 hours. Leading students will conduct much of the commencement exercise at Ponce de Leon Junior High. Master of ceremonies will be Mitchell Auerbach. Graduation speeches will be given by Hazel Bakst, George Cole and Sue Harrison. Sue Lojinger will lead the audience in prayer with Eric Lemberg conducting the salute to the flag. The concert chorus, under Mrs. Juanita Raifeld, will present the musical program. Irene Stein will do a violin solo and Arlynn Ikenson, Julie Mally and Bonnie Rieless will do a flute number. David Galbreath will preside over the benediction and George Blumenthal will present the processional music, "Pomp and Circumstance." Principal J. J. Norton will present the diplomas. Commencement theme for this year is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Increased for 2,300 7,000 Gableites to Get Tax Break

(Continued from page 1) cause of certain tax bill changes. Some 2,300 others will get raises. The figures have nothing to do with Metro reassessments. It will boost the pay of city employes by more than $197,000. A capital improvements program totalling $76,902 is incorporated with a recommendation for a $1 million bond issue to finance additional improvements. Advertising and publicity are given a generous boost. And it is the first time in 15 years, with the exception of fiscal 1952-53, that the city will operate in the black. Seemingly loaded with contradictions, the budget is the results of months of work by City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr., Finance Director Kenneth Allyn, various department heads and assistants. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be sandwiched in June 27 between the City Commission budget meetings which started June 1 and end July 10. The City Commission, sitting as a board of equalization, will meet July 10-12, with final adoption of the budget set for July 11 to July 25. Although all budgets approved in recent years have been "balanced budgets", this marks the first year that this is an actual presentation. Ever since World War II, the city has been living partly off monies "saved" during the war from unexpended capital improvements funds. This year the money ran out. But at the same time, part of the city's indebtedness was retired, releasing more than 5.06 mills from the levy. These factors interacted, permitting a shift of millages from debt service to operating. A total of 4.7 mills are recommended to be applied in this way. It is also recommended that 1⁄2 mill be shifted from debt service to the Special Benefit or "Hurricane" fund, making a total of 1 mill for that purpose. Here's the way the proposed 19 mills would stack up: Special Benefit | 1 mill Debt Service | 1.79 Operating | 16.21 This also causes a shifting in the tax structure, with homesteaders, hit hardest by the former debt levy, getting the major benefit — a 4.7 mill decrease on the $5,000 homestead exemption, and 1.31 mills for all over $5,000. Finance Director Allyn points out that this factor will complement the increases proposed by Metro. These of Metro will hit low valuation homesteaders hardest and give a break to high valuation property and businesses. See other stories on this page on capital improvements and advertising and promotion.

Incinerator Problem Confab

Miami's incinerator smoke and smell will be the topic of a conference between City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. and Miami City Manager Melvin Reese Friday. Robinson met with Miami Director of Engineering Ted Eefting on the problem last week after the Coral Gables City Commission threatened to take legal action. Eefting told Robinson that Miami was working with the builder, designer and engineers to eliminate the source of trouble. The incinerator, located in Coconut Grove near the Gables city limits, has been spewing smoke and odors since it was put into operation last summer.

DR. FRANKLIN J. Evans, Coral Gables city commissioner, physician and attorney, is president-elect of the Florida Academy of General Practice. Dr. Evans was elected recently at the organization's annual meeting at the Americana Hotel.

We're New To Dade BIRTHS AT DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL

May 24 Kurt and Ese Jaeger, girl, 2960 SW 18th St.; Kirby and Jean Brookins, girl, 526 SW 65th Ave. May 25 Menno and Beverly Overheul, girl, 2992 SW 30th Ave. May 26 Barton and Eugene Mackey, girl, 9282 Martinique Dr.; Virgil and Jane Baker, girl, 1040 SW 70th Ave.; Fred and Betty Riley, boy, 4415 SW 94th Ct.; Robert and Carolyn McCue, boy, 9410 Independence Rd.; B. J. and Gloria Stewart, girl, 11250 SW 48th St.; John and Barbara Busto, girl, 11641 SW 61st Ter.; W. M. and Joan Shoemaker, boy, 4901 SW 94th Ave. May 27 Frank and Charlotte Miller, girl, 9120 SW 16th St.; William and Sharon Waffie, boy, 1278 Alhambra Cir. May 29 George and Toni Haskins, girl, 8965 SW 21st Ter.; Terence and Rita Lostua, boy, 9765 SW 74th St.; Ruben and Jean Purvis, boy, 3640 SW 89th Ct.; Albert and Lois Brynteson, boy, 2841 SW 29th St.; Michael and Carolyn Nuln, girl, 4511 SW First St. May 31 Maurice and Gloria Weintraub, girl, 8770 SW 48th St. June 1 William and Barbara Jolly, girl, 4520 SW 49th Ave.; David and Joyce Norris, girl, 6775 SW 32nd St.; Nells and Jean-nine McIntyre, girl, 9330 SW 68th St.