Residents Electrified over Ugly FPL Boxes, Property Rights, and Misinformation

Miami Springs residents had a lot to say to FPL at Monday’s City Council Meeting.  The main issue was FPL’s demand to put the “Ugly Green Boxes” (aka the ground transformers) in the front yards of homes instead of in the alley.  Let’s be clear.  Everyone was in favor of FPL’s efforts to move power lines underground, but residents are not happy with the “Ugly Green Boxes” in the front yard…especially when, unlike other municipalities, we have a big beautiful alleyway.

Why don’t residents want the “Ugly Green Boxes” in the front yard?

• They look horrible.
• One resident described it as a Commercial Box in our residential neighborhood.
• The boxes have bright labeling on them that make them unappealing.
• They don’t match the aesthetic of “Beautiful Miami Springs.”
• You can’t hide the boxes with foliage.
• Homeowners are giving up about 100 square feet of usable property to FPL.
• It limits the homeowners ability to use their own property.
• It adds a liability to the homeowner should they hit the box with a vehicle or other equipment on their own property.
• Unlike other cities, Miami Springs has a great alleyway system.  As such, Residents would prefer these transformers in the alley.
• Other homes have the “Ugly Green Boxes” in the alley?  Why do some get it, but others don’t?
• Your home becomes less desirable for resale.  A home with an “Ugly Green Box” in the front is less desirable than a home without an “Ugly Green Box.”

NOTE:  You DO NOT have to give up your property rights!

Why else were residents upset?

• Residents who spoke out at Monday’s meeting explained that they felt they were misled by the FPL subcontractor.
• Councilman Jorge Santin declared that many residents had received misinformation by the FPL subcontractor.
• Residents claimed the subcontractor told residents you either agree to the transformer or you’ll get a concrete pole in your front yard.  (This is false.)
• Some residents wanted to withdraw their agreement with FPL, which FPL reluctantly agreed to withdraw the agreements if residents alerted them right away.

Residents overwhelmingly prefer to install the “Ugly Green Boxes” aka ground transformers in the backyard alleyway.

Why does it have to be on our property?  Why can’t it be placed on the public swale?

• According to FPL, they never install transformers on public rights of ways including swales.
• They claimed that if future projects including road widening, draining, etcetera were to happen, FPL would be forced to move all the transformers.  The swale as an option was a non-starter for FPL.
• Mayor Fajet presented an option to basically guarantee FPL a permanent use of the swale, and FPL declined it as unacceptable.

Why does FPL want to install in the front yard instead of the alleyway?

• According to FPL, they prefer to install in the front yard for a couple of reasons:
  • Front yards tend to be more accessible than alleyways after a hurricane or strong storm.
  • They have more space to bring in and use equipment in the front yard versus a backyard.
  • Faster restoration.
• FPL initially installed in some alleyways, and then FPL corporate dictated to the local team to push the “Ugly Green Boxes” to the front yard.
• (Opinion:  It sounds like FPL is saying it’s cheaper to install the green boxes in the front yards than in the alleyways.)

Will FPL consider installing the “Ugly Green Boxes” in the alley?

Maybe, but they really don’t appear to want to do it.

• According to an FPL spokesperson, FPL corporate dictated to the local team to push the “Ugly Green Boxes” to the front yard.
• Frankly, that is not acceptable if FPL wants a partnership with the residents of Miami Springs.
• FPL spokeswoman and Dade County Outreach Manager, Zulema Chavez, said “there is some consideration…case by case scenarios in some laterals that we might have a hard time putting transformers in the front.”
  • They would still need a 10′ by 10′ easement in the rear of the yard.
  • The fence would need to be notched out for the installation of the transformers in the alley.
• Adis Correlis, FPL External Affairs FPL, contradicted Zulema Chavez’ statement when she said “The alley is NOT an option…It’s a decision that was made from corporate.”  She explained that during the pilot program, the initial installations were done in the alleyway.  Then, corporate decided to move the transformers to the front yard instead of the alleywas.

FPL:  You have 2 choices…

1. Underground with transformers in the front.
2. Power Pole Hardening in the alleyway (not in the front yard)

KEY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS:

Can the City of Miami Springs Require the Alleyway Installations by Permit?

Can the City of Miami Springs by ordinance say that FPL can only install a transformer in the front yard if all efforts to install in the alleyway have failed?

Can the City of Miami Springs do more to protect the aesthetics of our community so that FPL truly partners with our community and embrace the uniqueness of Miami Springs’ wonderful alleyway system.

Why does FPL need 10′ x 10′?

Ten feet by ten feet is 100 square feet.  That’s the size of a typical kids bedroom.  Why does FPL need so much space?  Can’t they just use a 4′ x 4′ area in the alleyway?  It’s a lot easier for FPL to convince residents to give up 16 square feet than it is to give up 100 square feet of land.

Look at the installation above.  That’s about 4 feet x 4 feet.  That take up far less space than the ten feet x ten feet or 100 total square feet FPL is asking for.

Who are the FPL Decision Makers?

As Adis Corelis stated, “If it was up to me, I’d put it in the alleyways.  But it’s not up to me.”  

While we appreciate FPL’s willingness to communicate with us, a true partner listens to the community’s needs.  What I heard at Monday’s Meeting was take it or leave it.  You get underground in the front yard or concrete poles in the alleyway.

A true partnership requires a dialogue with the decision makers which were clearly not present at Monday’s fiasco of a meeting.

So who at FPL is making this decision?  Why isn’t that individual willing to come to a City Council Meeting or talk to the residents of the City of Miami Springs?

To be clear, the FPL representatives did a great job listening and attempting to address the concerns of the residents.  We are grateful and thankful to their professionalism, transparency, and genuine desire to work with the city.  But again, not one was a decision maker from corporate.

It’s Up to You

Mayor Fajet indicated he didn’t care where FPL would place a transformer on his property.  And as property owner’s, that’s your right.  If you want to give up your rights to 100 square feet of your land and make your home less desirable than your neighbors, go for it.  That’s your right….

...But you DO NOT have to give up your PROPERTY RIGHTS!

OPINION

After listening to the presentation from FPL, I’m more upset than I was before.  FPL corporate wants to treat Miami Springs like any other community that doesn’t have an alleyway.  Frankly, that’s unacceptable.

And FPL should be ashamed of the pressure tactics, reported by Miami Springs residents, by the FPL subcontractor.

Councilman Perez-Crespo stated, “A company that earned $4.5 Billion in Net Profits last year…I would think they would have another creative way to about this…I firmly believe that the alleyways, if you have them, that’s your solution.  That’s why they’re there…You have to go a step further, especially in this community.”

For a company with an outstanding reputation of positive public relations, this was a disastrous meeting.  And not because of the staff that was there.  They did a great job.  All four of the FPL employees were professional and responsive.  But frankly, not a single FPL representative present was a decision maker.  Miami Springs was apparently not important enough for a corporate decision maker to show face at a City Council Meeting.

FUTURE WORKSHOP

Residents who had spoken up to place the “Ugly Green Boxes” aka transformers in the alleyways were visibly and audibly upset with Florida Power and Light.  There was a demand to have a more direct Q&A session with the FPL officials.

Councilman Dion proposed the option of hosting a workshop.  Mayor Fajet proposed offering the Senior Center as a venue for a Q&A session / FPL Town Hall.

FPL agreed to the idea of participating in an FPL Town Hall meeting.  We appreciate the willingness from the FPL officials present to listen to the residents and participate in a future FPL Town Hall.  Hopefully, a corporate decision maker will make themselves available and reconsider the option of placing the transformers in the alleyways.