“I offer my years of experience in leading our community with civility, knowledge and the communication skills to enhance debate and public participation and to earn confidence in our government. I will continue to do my utmost to bring out the best in our Council and our community as we work together for a resilient environment and local economy in support of our distinctive way of life.”
Stimulate public participation, outreach and engagement on resilience work
Reinforce good order, financial prudence and progress for the Village
Implement action items and advance strategic priorities
Advance inter-local strategies for Across the Bridge influence
Cultivate and help emerging leaders
Communicate. Listen. Repeat. Then. Decide. Explain. Adjust. Repeat.
I will continue to do my utmost to advance effective collaboration on our Council, with the Administration and with our residents.
Bringing extensive knowledge sharpened by experience and study, with thoughtful analysis, critical reasoning and good judgment, with skillful communication for effective advocacy, and always with civility, I will continue ongoing work:
Franklin Caplan was appointed by the Miami-Dade County League of Cities to serve as their representative on the SFRPC
Balance is important for someone like Frank, who has dedicated much of his life to civic service while also maintaining
There are many reasons the community
is thankful for Mayor Frank Caplan, a longtime volunteer who first assumed the
Frank maintains an excellent personal comportment, featuring patient, courteous engagement with others, whether in agreement or in opposition. His time & topic-tested experience, leadership style, and communication and advocacy skills have over the years improved the deliberative process on Council.
His continuing service on Council will continue to lift Council’s potential and effectiveness, supporting new councilmembers in the process, and advancing these overarching goals and more:
doing “more with less”
Constant attention to improving traffic congestion and conflict points, improving pedestrian and bike safety in the process
Sustained, improved maintenance protecting and enhancing our public assets and investments
Effective implementation of resilience work, emphasizing cost-management, efficiencies and effective results, while retaining green space and aesthetic quality
Top-of-mind attention to public safety
Improved regular communications with residents, emphasizing greater give-and-take and timely responses to community questions and concerns
Enhanced and expanded parks, green space and landscaping
Increased high-priority diligence in pursuing needed recreational facilities
Continued activation of citizen engagement for healthy public participation
Continued strong support for local programs, institutions and traditions, drawing on and leveraging grass-roots elements of Island Paradise
Continued engagement in regional alliances to influence public-public partnerships, to advance our interests on the Causeway, in Crandon Park, on Virginia Key and beyond
Continued support for a vibrant and sustainable local economy
Sharpened focus on cost of living considerations affecting residents
Continued promotion of Key Biscayne nationally and internationally to support property values and our positive reputation
Home High School and Middle School at MAST Academy / Cambridge STEM & Global Studies
Dedicated lighted field at MAST
Extensive K-8 Renovations
Support for Community Groups and Local School Programming, including cultivating “Next Gen” leaders
Planning and Zoning Leadership, including periodic code review and refinements
Neighborhood-compatible site plan and density reduction for Oceana, settling development disputes with Holiday Colony
Effective engagement to guide decision-making relative to a re-developed Silver Sands
Leadership on Causeway and extra-jurisdictional concerns, locally, regionally and state-wide
Leadership in analysis and debate on the dais, helping Council clarify points of consensus and possibilities for compromise to drive best outcomes
Prudent pension reform, improving the Village fiscal commitment, mindful of First Responder interests, recruitment and retention, succession planning and maintenance of excellent public safety standards
Championed, adopted and implemented “Green Plan” strategies for local and regional adaptability to flood, storm and water quality concerns, focusing too on resource management and waste reduction, supporting and informing ongoing resiliency and sustainability planning
Championed energy efficient transit alternatives, to reduce traffic and parking demands
Championed permeability standards for improved stormwater management
Championed equity and good sense in rate-setting for enterprise funds and municipal services
Championed bike safety, reducing conflicts between bikes and cars, improving Causeway and Crandon use
Championed boater safety and nuisance abatement at Nixon Beach and Mashta
Achieved the long-desired Dog Park discretely within the Village Green, preserving other green space and protecting adjacent properties
Championed improved design and maintenance within local parks
Intervened with Miami-Dade Library avoiding threatened curtailments and ensuing improved services, resulting in agreement for a new state-of-art library building
Personal continuing sweat-equity investments with the League of Cities, the Regional Planning Council, other Regional Councils and the Statewide Planning Council Association
Active strategy support in response to State preemptions (e.g. Live Local, transient rentals, texting while driving, landscape and leaf blower restrictions; micro-mobility)
Led policy decisions on multiple legislative initiatives
Sustained engagement with City of Miami leadership to advance interlocal ideas for improved conditions on Virginia Key and better protections for VKB interests
Championed more comprehensible less obscure budget presentation, with improved insight into how budgets are developed
Endless efforts to improve relations across the Bridge
An “ear” and sounding board for ideas from any source
An author to capture ideas, explain potentials, and help move aspirations into actions
Champion civility to achieve excellence and as an intrinsic positive value for its own sake
Chaired pre-and-post incorporation Master Plan Committees
2020 Vision Committee/ Chaired Evaluation and Appraisal Report functions
Principal draftsman – 2020 Vision Statement and Vision Plan
Chaired Zoning Ordinance Review Committee (beginning 2006)
First Chair for Land Acquisition Committee (for green space and recreational space)
Council Liaison & Volunteer – Zoning and Planning Review (resilience oriented)
Key Biscayne Film Festival Organizing Committee
Key Biscayne Poetry Share Organizing Committee
Board Member – Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center
Council Liaison & Former Member – Art in Public Places Board
Council Liaison & Former President – Key Biscayne Historical and Heritage Society
Former President – Key Biscayne Youth Council
Former Board Member and Advocacy Chair – Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce
School Board Chair – St. Christopher’s By-the-Sea Montessori School
Former Publisher – Key News
Current Councilmember and Former Chair – South Florida Regional Planning Council (Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties)
Former Co-Chair; Current Member: South Florida and Treasure Coast Joint Council Collaborations
Current delegee from South Florida – Florida Regional Councils Association
Former Board Member – Miami-Dade League of Cities
Former Member – Coastal Oceans Task Force (Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties)
Co-Founder-Citizens Scientist Program with University of Miami and KBCF
Leadership – Citizens Engagement Academy, with KBCF
Leadership – Liberty City Sister Cities Program with KBCF and Chief Press Foundation
Leadership – Village of Empathy, with KBCF and ADL
Initiated VKB role with and leadership within Miami-Dade League of Cities for greater regional leverage
Co-Founder Key Biscayne Philosophical Society
Yearly Honorary Community Menorah Lighter
Yearly Speaker at MAST on Civics – Commission on Ethics
Early Childhood Reading – Miami-Dade Public Library
Volunteer at the Beach Club
Public Speaking in support of local institutions
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Franklin H. Caplan for Key Biscayne Village Council.
Powered by SitesByKaren.com
Proven Leadership & Experience
