Grassroots to Government

By Peggy Bell

Peggy Bell has played a big role in shaping the Town of Cutler Bay. As part of the Cutler Ridge Steering Committee, she helped push for the Town’s incorporation. She was elected to serve on the first Town Council in 2006, re-elected in 2010, and elected as the Town’s first female Mayor in 2014, reaching her term limits in 2018.

The beginning of my Cutler Bay story started 23 years ago with pushing my then three year old toddler over rocks on a field of dirt that was designated to be a park in our neighborhood. Though Lennar, the developer, donated 50 acres of land, it was raw land—definitely no park. But we dreamed of what it could be as we navigated that rocky soil.

In 1998 when my boy was 5 we discovered there was to be an Enron power plant built behind our neighborhood. This was our first foray into grassroots politics. My husband and I made flyers and signs and walked to many homes, dragging our five year old activist along. The poor kid. As it turned out, our flyers were distributed by others far and wide and partnering with the Sierra Club paid off. There would be no power plant next to Lakes by the Bay.

Around this time, I joined other like-minded residents and served as secretary on the board of the Cutler Ridge Steering Committee to research and promote the incorporation of our area. Along with another member, I started a Political Action Committee to promote the name “Cutler Bay.” An election was held and the rest is history.

I was encouraged to run for the first Council and I did, becoming the first elected official of our new Town in February 2006. I served two terms as council member and one as Mayor before being termed out in November 2018, a total of 13 consecutive years.

We hired attorneys, a manager, and other experts to help us set the foundation for the new town—a town residents could be most proud of.

When asked what I have accomplished during my service I believe I took a strong role in getting our Lakes by the Bay Park, the park we were promised so many years before. When it sounded like we weren’t going to get it, I took a picture of my then 16 year old son in a suit sitting on his baby rocking horse to each of the 13 Commissioners and begged them to give us this park, along with the millions to develop it. I told them it was too late for my child, but to do it for the young families that could still enjoy it. When the vote to approve the transfer passed, they posted the picture on the jumbo screen and commented they did it for the new families.

I was the first Council Liaison for Parks and Recreation, Youth Council and created the Economic Growth Committee. I sponsored the sign ordinance, insuring our Town would have views of the sky and trees instead of unsightly pole signs. I felt strongly about allowing golf carts on most streets, dogs (on leash) allowed in our parks, and persuaded our manager to greatly increase our tree planting budget. We completely remodeled Old Cutler Road and Caribbean Boulevard. I spoke to developers to make sure they understood we were not a dumping ground for substandard or mediocre buildings or homes. I sponsored an ordinance requiring the Town keep a high balance for savings, for rainy days or capital improvements. Responding to resident’s requests, we created a local high school—Cutler Bay Senior High.

We identified a few large land parcels that residents desired. For a year I met with and was successful in getting the process started with the owner of the “potato field,” as it is known. At my last meeting I presented the letter of intent to purchase and the Council approved it. I am overjoyed that just a few months later the current council approved the final agreement and the Town now owns 16 acres of prime land on Old Cutler Road. It is a dream come true and I greatly appreciate the Mayor and Council for following through
with it.

I will be forever grateful to the residents, Council Members and employees I had the privilege of representing and working alongside. My hope is that, along with many others, I helped to create a lasting community that serves its family of residents well for generations to come.