Palmetto Bay’s Village Council has teed up a big decision for voters, signing off Monday night on a charter amendment that would bake "safe streets" into the village’s rulebook and steer transportation dollars toward sidewalks, bike lanes and golf cart routes.
If approved on November 3, Proposal 6 would make pedestrian, bicycle and golf cart facilities the default in village roadway projects and create a dedicated Transportation Fund for mobility, safety and accessibility upgrades. The idea is to lock these priorities into the village charter so future councils could change them only by going back to the voters. Supporters say that shift would push the village to focus on connections to parks, schools and transit stops.
Paul J. Schwiep serves on the village’s Charter Revision Commission, and the commission roster lists him as an appointee of Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer. The commission is charged with reviewing the Village Charter and recommending amendments for inclusion on the November 2026 ballot, according to the Village of Palmetto Bay.
What the Amendment Would Do
According to Miami's Community Newspapers, Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer co authored the amendment with Schwiep, and the Village Council voted Monday to send the measure to the ballot.
The proposal would make pedestrian, bicycling and golf cart facilities the default in village roadway improvement projects and would create a Transportation Fund that limits existing transportation revenues to projects that improve mobility, safety and accessibility. Within that, priority would go to links that connect residents to parks, schools and transit stops. It is listed as Proposal 6 and would need a majority vote on November 3 to take effect.
Supporters' Pitch
"Streets that only work well for cars don’t work as well for drivers, either," Merwitzer said, arguing the charter change will leave the village more connected and easier to navigate without a car.
Schwiep called the proposal the product of the commission’s work and said it would "improve quality of life for all Village residents by providing safe infrastructure for walking, bike riding and golf carts," as reported by Miami's Community Newspapers.
How This Fits With National Practice
Across the country, many cities adopt "complete streets" policies through ordinances or municipal codes rather than by writing them into their charters. That approach typically makes it easier for elected councils to tweak or replace the rules as conditions change.
Model guidance from the National Complete Streets Coalition at Smart Growth America, along with the Village Charter’s own rules on amendments, helps illustrate the gap between an ordinance level policy and a charter amendment that must go to the electorate. For background, see Smart Growth America and the Village Charter.
What Comes Next
Proposal 6 will appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot and needs only a simple majority to pass.
Voters looking for official timelines and ballot materials can check in with the Miami Dade elections office; the county calendar is available through the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections.
