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Colbourne-HolidaySocial-NYEIt is my honor to continue serving you as your Miramar City Commissioner.

2019 was a year of significant accomplishments that included our Economic Development Program support to small businesses and the groundbreaking of the renovations of the B & M shopping plaza, a long-time staple in our community. Completion is expected in January 2020.

This year we completed the long-awaited construction of a beautification wall along Miramar Boulevard. I am also happy to share that my colleagues and I have approved funding to build a similar wall on Pembroke Road. We look forward to starting that project in the very near future. 

In 2020, through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, I will continue to support funding for the expansion of Pembroke Road to US 27, to address traffic congestion in west Miramar.

This year, I became more involved in the need for increased living wages and I'm very proud of this Commission for approving my request to pay our Janitorial contract that includes a living wage.

In the spirit of celebrating our diversity and appreciation of that which makes us unique, we hosted several events such as:

-   Seniors Day at the Marlins Park

-   The inaugural Women's Empowerment Luncheon and Awards Ceremony

-   Our first Clergy Appreciation Luncheon recognizing pastors for their community service

-   We hosted the Miramar Latin Music Festival and presented several leaders with Hispanic Heritage Community Awards in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month

-   To create platforms for dialogue and youth empowerment, we hosted the Jamaican Youth Link Up with Consul General Oliver Mair

-   And to keep the fun alive for our children, we hosted our annual Halloween Trick or Treat in River Run Park

As I look forward to 2020 and the work that still needs to be done I am excited and prepared. Prepared to take on what is important to you, our residents and the enrichment of our communities. You have my commitment that I will continue to monitor projects that are in progress. I will continue to advocate for you and for One Miramar through promoting the rich diversity of our city.

 With hope and enthusiasm, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

 Your Commissioner

Yvette Colbourne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIRAMAR LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 A HUGE SUCCESS

MIRAMAR, FL (Monday September 23, 2019) – The City of Miramar celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with over 2500 residents attending the Miramar Latin Music Festival hosted by Commissioner Yvette Colbourne on Saturday, September 21. Latinos from various areas
of South Florida converged representing Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Panamanians, Dominicans, Peruvians, Cubans, Venezuelans, Argentinians, the Caribbean and Latin America.

A free family event, the smells and sounds of the culture filled the air creating a true festive ambiance. The festival featured award winning performances by Rey Ruiz, who did not disappoint as he entertained the crowd with his favorite songs creating nostalgia. Additional
entertainment was provided by Lisett Morales and the Reinier Bonachea’s Orchestra, Tito Swing and DJ Fito. The MC’s for the night were MC Gaby and MC Julissa Perez. For Commissioner Yvette Colbourne, who is a Panamanian of Caribbean descent, this festival has been her vision for the last 6 years as she has championed Hispanic Heritage Celebration in the City of Miramar. “The Latin Music Festival is the City’s way of bringing our community together to show appreciation for the Hispanic contribution during Hispanic Heritage Month”, she shared during the event. The festival has grown from a small gathering to a signature event in Miramar recognizing the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the country's history, heritage and culture.

In a message from local Miramar resident, Martin Mejia, shared, “Being a resident of Miramar, I am proud to have a representative of us Hispanic and Panamanian pride, it was a spectacular concert, Thank you very much”. Dayanara Torres, an attendee commented, ”Commissioner Colbourne, you always put the Hispanic Heritage on top. Proud of you and what you represent to the community”.

For more information on upcoming events in the City of Miramar visit www.miramarfl.gov or call the Office of Marketing and Communications at 954-602-3254.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

MIRAMAR LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 UN GRAN ÉXITO

MIRAMAR, FL (lunes 23 de septiembre de 2019) - La Ciudad de Miramar celebró el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con más de 2500 residentes que asistieron al Festival de Música Latina de Miramar organizado por la Comisionada Yvette Colbourne el sábado 21 de septiembre.  Los latinos de varias áreas del sur de la Florida convergieron en representación de Puerto Ricanos, colombianos, panameños, dominicanos, peruanos, cubanos, venezolanos, argentinos, caribeños y latinoamericanos.

Un evento familiar gratuito, los olores y sonidos de la cultura llenaron el aire creando un verdadero ambiente festivo. El festival contó con actuaciones premiadas de Rey Ruiz, quien no decepcionó mientras entretenía a la multitud con sus canciones favoritas creando nostalgia. Lisett Morales y la Orquesta de Reinier Bonachea, Tito Swing y DJ Fito proporcionaron entretenimiento adicional. Los MC de la noche fueron MC Gaby y MC Julissa Perez. Para la comisionada Yvette Colbourne, quien es panameña de ascendencia caribeña, este festival ha sido su visión durante los últimos 6 años, ya que ha defendido la celebración de la herencia hispana en la ciudad de Miramar. "El Festival de Música Latina es la forma en que la Ciudad une a nuestra comunidad para mostrar su agradecimiento por la contribución hispana durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana", compartió durante el evento. El festival ha pasado de ser una pequeña reunión a un evento emblemático en Miramar que reconoce las contribuciones de los hispanos y latinoamericanos a la historia, el patrimonio y la cultura del país.

En un mensaje del residente local de Miramar, Martin Mejía, compartió: "Siendo residente de Miramar, estoy orgulloso de tener un representante de nosotros, el orgullo hispano y panameño, fue un concierto espectacular, muchas gracias". Dayanara Torres, una asistente,
comentó: "Comisionada Colbourne, usted siempre pone la herencia hispana en primer lugar. Orgulloso de ti y de lo que representas para la comunidad ”.

Para obtener más información sobre los próximos eventos en la Ciudad de Miramar, visite www.miramarfl.gov o llame a la Oficina de Marketing y Comunicaciones al 954-602-3254.

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CoM_Colbourne_July42019_SM

August 2018 | Miramar Today Newsletter


Hello Neighbors,

We are approaching that time of year when the days grow shorter marking the end of summer vacation. We’ll pack away our suitcases and trade them for back packs and lunch boxes. Our children will be going back to school. Some just beginning and others reaching educational milestones this school year.

My wish is that every student returns to school energized with open minds and an insatiable appetite to learn all that they can and be grateful for the opportunity to do so.

And for parents and teachers, may you be blessed with abundant patience and tolerance as you lead, guide and nurture the hearts and minds of our children.

To a great 2018/2019 school year!


Yvette Colbourne, Vice Mayor

April 2018 | City Beat


Greetings Miramar residents, 

We are certainly off to a very busy year already with beautification projects in our great city. 

My colleagues and I approved beautification dollars for Miramar Blvd as part of the 2013 bond and we approved the installation of a wall on Miramar Blvd from University Drive to Douglas Road to enhance the area. A survey is underway. 

As part of our city’s Adopt-a-Street program, I adopted Sherman Circle. I chose the 2.3-mile section because there are many opportunities for improvements and I am inspired by the willingness of the residents to engage and invest their own time to improve the aesthetics of the area. 

Our first order of business was held on Saturday January 27th where we had our first Clean Up Day of Service. Eighty volunteers from many of schools including New Renaissance Middle School, Miramar High School, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Everglades High School, Somerset School, Nova High School, Broward College, our homeowner’s/ condominium association for Lakeshore, Cottages of University, Honey Place and Montego Bay all participated in the clean-up. These groups along with the residents joined me in the maintenance and beautification project from 9am to noon. I am very proud of the work we accomplished to improve the area and I want to offer my deepest gratitude and thanks to everyone that came out for this day of service. 

On Saturday April 21, 2018, I hosted the 2nd Clean Up on Earth Day around Sherman Circle, where we improved the landscaping at the entrance of Sherman Circle from Jodi Lane.

As your MPO representative, I continue to strive to improve our transportation and infrastructure systems i.e. Bus Shelters, road improvement, potential new bike lanes, bus routes etc., especially as the City is continuing growth with new developments.

Yvette Colbourne
Vice-Mayor, City of Miramar

December 2017 | City Beat


Hello Miramar Residents, It has been a very busy 2017 for the city of Miramar. We are closing out the year with many accomplishments. Some of our accomplishments that I am very proud of are: 

We Kept the millage rate flat which kept your city taxes low. 

We Continued to improve our Transportation and infrastructure systems. 

Our persistent drive to promote diversity and inclusion led to a resolution proclaiming June as Muslims American Heritage month and August as Indian American Heritage month and we passed legislation in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. 

In the spirit of economic development, we approved funding for the renovation and beautification of the B & M shopping plaza. 

Despite the many inconveniences caused by the Hurricane Irma, I am happy to say that almost every resident has recovered from the storm. 

Thankfully, just 6 weeks after the storm we were able to kick off the holiday season with our annual Halloween celebration at River Run Park followed by distribution of turkeys the week of Thanksgiving. 

As we take time to show gratitude and appreciation with our family and friends, I want to wish all of you a happy, healthy, safe holiday season and prosperous New Year. 

City of Miramar Commissioner Yvette Colbourne

October 2017 | City Beat


Hello Neighbors, 

Thank you again, for re-electing me to serve as your Miramar Commissioner. I am committed to continue to serve you with a vigorous and unwavering passion; and work to build One Miramar. 

To this effort, I am pleased to announce the Commission approved two major infrastructure projects totaling $47 Million dollars: Phase 3 Historic Miramar Infrastructure Improvement, to upgrade our drainage system and increasing flooding protection; and the renovation of the East Water Plant, to improve water quality. 

 In June, I held my third annual Homeowner’s Association Roundtable. Participants gained insight in upcoming legislations, transportation improvement projects and the American Dream Mall planned near Miramar in Miami Dade County. 

Although Hurricane Irma has left our city with piles of debris, clean-up efforts are on the way and I am pleased to have provided hot meals, water, ice and comfort to many of our residents. 

My heart goes out to the residents of Houston, the Keys, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Countries who suffered the brunt of the Hurricanes. They have a long and arduous task ahead to recover. 

If I can be of assistance as you, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Your Commissioner,
Yvette Colbourne

January 2017 | City Beat



It is my honor and pleasure to serve as your Miramar City Commissioner.

2016 was a successful year that highlighted what we can do for the City of Miramar to make it the most livable city. Some significant accomplishments included building a new Police Headquarters, the completion of the renovation of River Run Park, construction of the Adult Day Care Center and the opening of the Pembroke Road I-75 overpass. From developing the infrastructure to small business development, to my continuous focus on showcasing the diversity of our communities, to listening to you, the resident and addressing your concerns, I work for you to make Miramar a better city.

As I look forward to 2017, I am excited and ready. Ready to take on what is important to you, our residents and the enrichment of our communities. You have my commitment that I will continue to work on completing those projects that are in progress such as the good neighbor agreement to minimize the impact of nearby blasting, the renovation of Shirley Branca Park and a Police Substation in our Historic Miramar. I will continue to advocate for the most vulnerable in our community, our children and our seniors, and I will continue to advocate for One Miramar through promoting the rich diversity of our city.

With a joyful spirit and enthusiasm, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Your Commissioner,
Yvette Colbourne

October 2016 | City Beat

Dear Neighbors,

I continue to be committed to addressing the concerns of the residents of Miramar.

A dream...turned vision...turned project will soon become reality. It has been my passion and mission for the City of Miramar to have a safe, socially interactive place for our senior citizens that would otherwise be homebound. With a licensed nursing staff, certified nursing assistants and experienced activities coordinator our adult day care will provide recreation for the participants and peace of mind for their families. We are now on the heels of the completion of this brand new facility located at 8915 Miramar Parkway with an expected grand opening in the fall of 2016.

Part of Building and maintaining a great community requires passing responsible and conscientious legislation. The Miramar Commission approved the Puppy Mill Ordinance on August 17th. This Law will aid in fostering the ethical and humane treatment of animals in our city. There are so many animals in rescue shelters that need a nice home and the ban on the retail sale of animals from puppy mills will certainly help to find them homes.

At our September 7th Commission Meeting residents attended and spoke about their concerns with the blasting that is occurring near our city limits and its impact on our community. My colleagues and I unanimously approved a resolution to have the City Attorney conduct research on how the blasting near Miramar can be mitigated. The report on the research is scheduled to be included on the October 19th Commission Meeting agenda.

My heartfelt gratitude to the residents for sharing your concerns. I am honored and proud to have successfully advocated these issues on your behalf.

Your Commissioner,
Yvette Colbourne
(954) 602-3131

July 2016 | City Beat



Dear Neighbors,

As your Commissioner, I strive to keep Miramar a great place for all to live, work and enjoy.

Over the summer and into the fall, you will be able to see firsthand how your Commission-Approved bond-dollars have enhanced many of our public, outdoor spaces to improve our quality of life. I encourage you to visit our beautiful parks, to see the ongoing or completed constructions and to enjoy the facilities and programs offered.

This month we celebrated the opening on our Police Headquarters and in the fall we will celebrate the opening of an Adult Day Care Center to service residents in need of supervised care in a safe and supportive setting. The new facility will house services designed to improve the quality of life of some of our most vulnerable residents, including therapeutic activities, nutrition, health and personal care. These two facilities will be great additions to our community as we continue to move our beautiful city forward.

Finally, this month I hosted the 2016 Reception and Roundtable for Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Groups, Property Managers and Residents; the event allowed for open discussion on issues and a forum to develop solutions. Also featured legislative updates and an overview of our permitting process. Participants representing 35 Miramar communities included Calabria, Tropical Crime Watch, Honey Place, River Run, Riverdale, Courtyard at Nautica, Riviera Isles and Harbor Lakes. Thank you to all participants and presenters.

The first half of this year has been full of excitement, and I am looking forward to what the summer will bring. I wish you and your families a fun, happy and safe summer season.

I am here for you! Please do not hesitate to contact my office at 954-602-3131.

Your Commissioner,
Yvette Colbourne

December 2015 | City Beat


Dear Neighbors,


I am truly honored to serve as your Commissioner during 2015 and working alongside the residents and businesses of Miramar who make this City great. As your Commissioner, I am committed to keeping Miramar a great place for all to live, work, and enjoy.  

Thank you for your service! Special thanks to community organizations, homeowners associations, churches, businesses, and residents that partnered and worked with the City of Miramar and with whom I have had the pleasure of working with during the year. Your commitment and dedication to the community helps make  Miramar  a better place to live. 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! Thank you for the opportunity to assist you in resolving issues and concerns that are important to you. I am grateful that you have entrusted me with your concerns and provided me an opportunity to assist you. I am committed to continue working with you on the issues of importance to you. I invite you to contact me at 954-602-3143 and ycolbourne@miramarfl.gov to share with me issues that are important to you. This will allow me to better serve you.

Happy New Year! I am truly excited for what 2016 has in store for Miramar, the opening of the Adult Daycare Center and the new Police Headquarters, the completion of Miramar Boulevard expansion and many other projects which will be inaugurated in 2016.

I wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year and I look forward to continue to work with you to make Miramar the BEST place to live in 2016.

I am your Commissioner.

Yvette Colbourne

July 2015 | City Beat Magazine


Dear Neighbors,

I am honored to serve as your Commissioner. I have worked diligently to unite our city by addressing the needs of residents, businesses, city’s infrastructure, city employees’ concerns and cultural diversity within our city. The City of Miramar is a Living Wage Employer! I am proud that I successfully advocated for legislation that affords all City of Miramar employees a living wage of at least $12.50 per hour. A living wage is the amount needed to meet the basic needs to maintain a safe, decent standard of living within the community. I am honored to have spear headed the effort.

My work on behalf of senior residents and disabled adults has resulted in the city acquiring new community buses and the City Commission approval of an adult daycare facility on Miramar Parkway West of Douglas Road. 

Your traffic concerns have been heard! As a Metropolitan Planning Organization representative, I continue to advocate for traffic improvement for our growing city and addressing the need for expanded bike paths, bike lanes, walking paths and bus shelters.

Miramar has hosted many events that celebrate our diversity. I had the pleasure of sponsoring Jamaican film “Destiny’s” first viewing in the United States. I was honored to inaugurate the City of Miramar’s first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade and the City was home to the 2nd Annual Latin Music Festival. All of these events were well attended.

As I continue my efforts to address the needs of Miramar residents, I recently hosted a roundtable discussion that brought together residents representing more than 30 homeowner associations with our Public Safety Departments. I heard concerns and successes residents experience in maintaining their communities.

To share your concerns, please call me at 954-602-3131 or email me at ycolbourne@miramarfl.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.

I am your Commissioner.
Yvette Colbourne,
Commissioner, City of Miramar