Initiatives and Accomplishments

Stephen Shelley

Photos

During his service to the City of Homestead, a few of Stephen Shelley’s accomplishments include:

Helped plan and implement the revitalization of Homestead’s Downtown through the building of a new City Hall, Police Station and Seminole Theatre with additional plans to construct a parking garage, retail center, bowling alley, movie theatre, Cybrary and revamped Downtown Central Park.

Implemented an annual Military Appreciation Week to honor our military men and women who selflessly serve this great Country. This event attracts thousands of attendees who come to learn about, and give thanks to, our military men and women. The event includes military static displays, a fitness competition, music, food and community performers;

Spearheaded and passed a resolution to rebrand the City of Homestead as the “Gateway to Everglades and Biscayne National Park” to increase the number of tourism dollars being captured by the City of Homestead and help spur Homestead’s economic growth;

Created and launched the Homestead National Parks Trolley connecting Downtown Homestead with Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and Homestead Bayfront Park that attracts more than 15,000 riders to Downtown Homestead annually. The National Parks Trolley was selected by the National Park Service to recieve the Directors Partnership Award in 2015, only one (1) of eight (8) projects in the entire country to recieve this prestigous award;

Spearheaded the creation of a Water Trolley in Biscayne National Park to allow visitors from Downtown Homestead to traverse Biscayne Bay and visit Boca Chita Key. Residents and visitors alike can now board public transportation in Downtown Homestead and visit the island of Boca Chita in Biscayne Bay to climb the lighthouse, camp or visit for the day;

Created “Artist in the Spotlight Program” and “Children in the Spotlight Program” to highlight local artists and encourage our youth to express themselves through art. This program is hosted in the newly revitalized Seminole Theatre and provides great exposure to Homestead's local artists but also creates a beautiful backdrop for those persons attending shows and events at the theatre;

Collaborated with the YMCA and Homestead Hospital to create a regional 5k running event the “Jingle Bell Run” to promote health and fitness and bring new visitors to Homestead.

Collaborated with the Mahogany Youth to teach them about the Legislative process and helped them adovocate locally and at the state level to establish a Sir Lancelot Jones Day in honor of an African American Pioneer who helped preserve the land that is today Biscayne National Park. Every October 13 is now Sir Lancelot Jones Day in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. The roadway leading into Biscayne National Park has also now been renamed to Sir Lancelot Jones Way;

Initiated and funded the creation of large bronze historic plaques to mark the historic buildings, locations and churches within Homestead's Historic Downtown and the Southwest Community;

Initiated, planned and implemnented the creation of an annual Eco Fair in Downtown Homestead to highlight Homestead's stewardship in advocating and promoting Eco Tourism and promote local eco friendly businesses;

Helped plan, promote and run the launch of the Everglades National Park Quarter by the Federal Reserve in the City of Homestead. This event was covered by national media outlets and drew quarter collectors from all across the United States;

Collaborated with the National Parks, Miami-Dade County and Miami International Airport to establish a three (3) month long exhibit in Miami International Airport promoting the National Parks and the City of Homestead's National Park Trolley. This included use of the large LED sign entering the airport, CNN TV spots, other promotional materials placed prominently within the airport. MIA serves more than 44.6 million passengers a year that pass through their terminals;

Fought FDOT to save the historic palm trees that line Krome Avenue in Northwest Homestead. FDOT had planned to remove the trees and I was able to convince them to preserve them and redisgn their planned roadway project;

Worked with FDOT to save money and expedite the planning and building of the truck bypass to eliminate trucks from Homestead's Historic Downtown. The truck bypass is now funded and part of FDOT's 5 year construction plan;

Helped launch an educational Institute in Biscayne National Park in conjunction with the Florida National Parks Association. The Institute provides an educational and interprative park expierence for visitors to Homestead and South Florida who are looking for an off the beaten path expierence. i.e shark tagging, lion fish hunting, etc... which helps attract more visitors to Homestead and Biscayne National Park;

Advocated for the creation of a license plate to help fund the back log of maintenace related to Florida Bay and Everglades National Park. The license plate would provide a consistent funding source to help Everglades National Park provide a better user/visior expierence;

Successfully negotiated with the Seminole Theatre Board to terminate thier operating agreement return control of the Seminole Theatre to the City of Homestead to enable the City to complete construction of the historic structure;

Helped organize and start the South Florida National Parks Camera Club to create a means for future photographers in South Florida to hone thier skills while expierencing South Florida's National Parks. In three (3) years the club has grown to nearly 40 members and has engaged in service projects in both Everglades and Biscayne National Parks;

Fought for and passed a resolution to bring back once a week bulk waste pickups and implemented a NW Neighborhood Cleanup Day to keep our neighborhoods clean;

Facilitated the creation of A Neighborhood Crime Watch Committee in the NW to help reduce crime;

Worked with the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Service to expand the Homestead Trolley System to include weekend trips to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks;

Advocated to hold the line on property taxes, including voting to decrease Homestead’s property taxes this past year;

Negotiated the Settlement of two (2) lawsuits pending against the City of Homestead saving the City of Homestead more than 10 million dollars;

Initiated landscaping and roadway improvement projects throughout the NW Neighborhoods;

Fought for and passed a resolution in support of maintaining funding for Agriculture in Miami-Dade County;

Supported the opening of three (3) new parks, including Roscoe Warren Park on the east side of town;

Supported the operation of an internal Trolley System throughout the City of Homestead;

Fought to protect the Homestead Air Reserve Base from encroachment as a result of incompatible development on the land surrounding the base.

Created a community sponsorship program by passing a resolution establishing a framework in which community organizations and donors can sponsor our City parks and help offset the maintenance costs associated with our parks upkeep; and

Collaborated with the Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce to develop a task force to address problems our military families were having with City Utilities deposits as well as with the local homeowners associations related to obtaining housing.

ELECT STEPHEN SHELLEY TO BE HOMESTEAD'S VICE MAYOR