Highland Beach unveils public priorities dashboard; commissioners press for e‑bike limits and beach‑safety steps

Town staff on April 7 demonstrated a new public dashboard designed to track the Town of Highland Beach’s strategic priorities and selected capital projects, and commissioners used the presentation to press for faster work on e‑bike safety, ask about Milani Park and check in on the Marine Dock timetable.

Madison Noonan (manager’s office) said the dashboard — posted on the town website and updated quarterly — provides a color‑coded snapshot of priorities (green=in progress; red=delayed; yellow=no progress; blue=complete) and filters CIP projects with budgets over $100,000. "We plan to update this on a quarterly basis," she said, noting two projects have gone out to bid with proposals due at the end of April.

Commission discussion shifted quickly to e‑bikes and shared pathways after a commissioner reported a near‑miss on a walk path. Town Manager Marshall Labadie outlined an approach to define non‑motorized joint‑use pathways and exclude motorized devices through ordinance language and FDOT coordination. Labadie told the Commission that prohibiting devices "under a motor" from such pathways could get them off sidewalks and into enforcement by police while staff works with FDOT on design and wording.

No immediate ordinance was adopted; commissioners asked staff to pursue FDOT feedback, evaluate enforcement and launch an education campaign including battery‑charging safety and public outreach.

Staff also briefed commissioners on project timelines: - Milani Park: compliance and permit applications expected within weeks, with a goal to break ground end of May or early June and coordinated public‑safety planning with police and fire for park operations. - Marine Dock: staff said permitting and grant processes are back on track; if permits and FIND grant decisions align, construction could be bid and begin in late fall/winter depending on contractor selection.

Town Manager Labadie also announced the recent loss of a resident in a swimming incident in rough conditions and outlined an immediate outreach plan: install marine‑condition flags at north/south town entries and at the fire station, post conditions on the town app and website, and coordinate flagging with county lifeguards and the volunteer marine program.

Commissioners praised the dashboard’s clarity and recommended larger print and outreach to increase resident use. Staff said they will make adjustments and return with FDOT coordination and possible ordinance language to address e‑bikes and shared‑pathway safety.