The New Mayor
An Interview with Vince Lago, the New Mayor of Coral Gables
On April 13, Vince Lago was elected the 27th mayor of the City of Coral Gables, by a record turnout of 10,406 registered voters. The previous record was in 2001 (10,271 votes), though that represented a higher proportion of registered voters at the time. Regardless, the current turnout was a jump compared to the last election, which saw 8,572 votes. Lago also won by 21 percentage points, a significant margin compared with the last two elections, which were each decided by a few hundred votes.
Mayor Lago previously served for eight years as a city commissioner, during which time he was the most active member of the commission, writing scores of legislative bills designed to push his agendas on sustainability, environmental protection, traffic solutions, historic preservation, limited development and economic frugality. It was a contentious election, with a great deal of negative campaigning, but Lago proved resilient – even in the face of a last-minute Miami Herald endorsement of his principal opponent, Commissioner Pat Keon. In the end, Lago won the endorsement and approval of nearly two-thirds of the voters, thanks to his years of “open door” policies, his bi-annual town hall meetings, his community engagement and his reputation as a commissioner who listens to the concerns of residents.
We caught up with Mayor Lago shortly after his election victory and asked him to share with us his agenda for the coming years.
Q: TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR VICTORY?
A: We walked to thousands of homes, and we listened, which has been the hallmark of my eight years in public office. It’s all about listening, and being available to handle issues as simple as a pothole or your garbage not being picked up, to something as complex as traffic calming or acquiring a piece of private property and making it into a public park.
Q: WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU WILL DO AS MAYOR?
A: During the first 100 days [after April 30] I am going to do a “listening campaign,” which will engage all residents, the business community, the BID [Business Improvement District], the Chamber [of Commerce], and the media – one and all who want to sit down and have a discussion about city issues. Their concerns and ideas will be memorialized on the [city] website and show clearly what was brought before us in these 100 days.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FIRST PRIORITY FOR THE CITY?
A: What I would really like to see us deliver is the electronic permitting process… It’s a roll out which will really benefit the business community and the residents, to ensure that we simplify our permitting process. And it really forces accountability across the board. We always hear complaints about the process, that it’s too bureaucratic, that people are waiting too long… electronic permitting will ensure accountability because it’s all accessible by key stroke. The other thing I want to focus on is rolling out the trolleys for Saturdays. Our downtown has been hit pretty hard [by the pandemic] and I think that expanding the trolley service to Saturday will send a real clear message that we are open for business and that we support our business community.
Q: WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FACING THE CITY RIGHT NOW?
A: The biggest issues that we have right now are financial issues, after Covid. Fortunately, we have been very prudent. We have not had to lay off any employees, we haven’t had to furlough employees. But right now, we need to be very fiscally conservative. That has always been at the core of my principles.
We need to be very thoughtful and very methodical over the next two years to ensure that we don’t compromise services on any front [because] I will not raise taxes.
The second thing that we really need to address, which we are working on, is traffic calming. This is very near and dear to my heart. I passed the legislation that lowered the speed limit to 25 miles an hour, and I was able to get a blanket approval from the county on certain issues like speed humps and traffic circles… What we need to do is slow people down, and make sure they respect our neighborhoods.
Q: OF ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE PASSED OR ADVOCATED IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
A: I’m really proud of the Underline, that it is being paid for by developer impact fees and not from tax-payer dollars. This is going to be a transformational project, a linear park through three miles of the City of Coral Gables… It’s going to increase quality of life, it’s going to increase property values, and it’s going to change how this community is defined, all for the positive. We have to give credit to Meg Daly for all her work and commitment to accomplish this incredible goal.
Second would be my sustainability initiatives across the board, everything from solar panels to LEED business ordinances, to a $20 million funding strategy to buy existing private pieces of property and make them into public parks… There is a nexus between quality of life, property values and open space. Without open space, and without parks, green spaces, and a beautiful canopy, you wouldn’t see our property values… it’s at the core of George Merrick’s vision for the city.
Q: YOU VOTED AGAINST THE RE-ZONING OF MIRACLE MILE, WHICH WAS RECENTLY APPROVED TO LIMIT HEIGHTS TO THREE STORIES WITH A FOURTH STORY SET BACK 10 FEET. AT THE TIME, YOU SAID IT NEEDED TO BE EVEN STRICTER. YOUR THOUGHTS NOW?
A: I fought for a [lower density] that would have forced the fourth floor to be significantly set back, allowing for outdoor dining. I am a big believer in rooftop activation. Those types of dining experiences will only benefit this community. But 10 feet is not a real opportunity to activate the fourth floor… [at this point] I want to see how it plays out, and who takes advantage of this opportunity, and what is brought before us.
This [re-zoning] all started three years ago when a massive project came before us to put a nine-story building on the corner of Miracle Mile and Ponce [de Leon Boulevard]. I was adamantly opposed and so were more than 2,000 residents who signed a petition opposing it… [Nonetheless] we need to offer business owners an opportunity to redevelop their properties. And I see no issue with that. But there have to be limitations and we cannot forget our identity. I am opposed to having massive buildings built on our main drag, which is Miracle Mile.
I am not against development. Development is important to our community, especially as we invite more people to come to this community. But the projects, when we approve them, have to be within the Coral Gables standards. If you are going to step outside of the zoning code, and you are going to have an increase in density or height, there has to be a significant public benefit and public buy-in.
Q: LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CORAL GABLES ANNEXING HIGH PINES/DAVIS AND LITTLE GABLES?
A: I am in favor of it, and I think my colleagues are as well… But we need a two-step process, to start with Ponce/Davis and High Pines… That area looks exactly like Coral Gables. It’s a beautiful neighborhood, and we can offer them significant amenities in regard to public safety, and maybe some green space. It will be a great, symbiotic relationship. Then we can move on to Little Gables, which I am still a proponent of bringing into the fold. I think at the end of the day it would help us [with crime] on 8th Street.