Sunny Isles Beach commissioners have taken the first steps toward approving a $20 million loan agreement with Bank of America that would provide funding for land acquisition and park development.

The 20-year loan carries an interest rate of 4.03 percent. The repayment schedule calls for quarterly payments, totaling $1.4 million per year, beginning Oct. 1.

The loan agreement and rate lock were unanimously approved by commissioners May 21. A public hearing is scheduled for June 5.

In surveying the lengthy proposed May 21 agenda during a workshop session earlier in the week, Mayor Norman Edelcup had joked that the meeting could take four hours. It didn't even come close. 

The commission spent 20 minutes paying tribute to local citizens, then Edelcup quick-stepped the commission through 24 resolutions and eight ordinances in 50 minutes without a dissenting vote.

Among a host of legal tweaks and housekeeping measures were steps that would:

* Mandate the kind of paint utilities use to mark pavement during construction and hold the utilities responsible for cleanup within 10 days of completion of any work. Commissioner Rosyln Brezin and Edelcup each referred to utility spray painting practices as "graffiti."

* Extend for two years a non-binding agreement with Dezer Development on a joint venture with the city for a conference center and office complex that would include a car museum near the Government Center. Financing issues were cited in explaining the delay. The commissioners approved a related measure to negotiate a lease on adjacent land for parking.

* Apply for two grants under federal stimulus programs. One would seek $456,640 for improvements to the Collins Avenue streetscape. The other would ask $202,000 for two buses. Both expenditures were originally in the city's budget but the availability of federal funds would allow the city to redirect its money to other projects, city staff explained. 

* Name the beach access area at 165th Street and Collins Avenue as "Oceania Park."

* Purchase two Luke Master Meters for installation in parking lots at Pier Park and EWynne Beach Access.

* Give the city more leverage in assuring that residential furnishing and property that could become  projectiles in a hurricane are secured or take in before a storm. 

The spray paint and hurricane measures require a second reading, likely June 18.

Those honored are:

* Eugenia Kaye, who at 89 has written and illustrated a children's book entitled 'Shelly's Sunburn.' Commissioner Brezin explained that Kaye had written the book some 30 years ago for her grandchild but had recently completed the illustrations allowing publication.

* Five Barry University students -- Shahzad Chevalwala, Maikel Couto, Zoe Doble, Louis Pierre and Peggy Rios -- for their efforts in educating residents about sun safety and ultraviolet rays.

* George Newman and Lee Liebman for their efforts in helping the young city develop. A park bench in Town Center Park will be named for Newman. A park bench will be named for Liebman and placed in the Pelican complex, then moved to Heritage Park when it is finished.