The following is the prepared text of Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago’s 2025 State of the City address, delivered at the Biltmore Hotel on Sept. 18.

Good morning.

As I begin my third term as your mayor, I’m reminded of a moment shared by two of the most successful business figures in modern history, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. When asked to write down the one word that defined their success, they both wrote: focus.

That word is at the heart of everything I’ve done in office — and everything I intend to continue doing on behalf of our residents and businesses. Focus is how we protect what makes Coral Gables special, and how we pursue bold improvements for the future.

That focus has already delivered meaningful results.

We’ve rescinded the unjustified 101 percent commissioner salary increases. We’re holding an election this coming April to ask our residents about moving our municipal elections to November to expand voter participation, because all voices matter. We’ve added a safeguard requiring a 4/5 commission vote before we can spend from city reserves—preserving our long-term financial health. And most importantly for our residents and businesses, we’ve maintained the millage rate for more than 10 years. And may I add, it is the second lowest for a full-service city in our community.

I want to thank Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Richard Lara for being here this morning and for standing with me to make those reforms possible. Their support and leadership helped turn these long-standing goals — one the prior commission failed to embrace — into reality.  

I also want to recognize the dedicated members of our leadership team who keep the City Beautiful running at its best: City Manager Peter Iglesias—thank you for agreeing to return to ensure we move boldly and with focus into our second century; City Attorney Cristina Suarez; City Clerk Billy Urquia; Deputy City Manager Joe Gomez; and Assistant City Manager Carolina Vester and all our Department Directors. Your expertise and commitment are invaluable.

Our achievements are not isolated. They reflect a focused commitment to delivering world-class results. Whether it’s maintaining one of the highest credit ratings in the state, modernizing our infrastructure, or ensuring top-tier public safety, we are raising the bar in every category that matters.

That same focus is why Coral Gables continues to be recognized globally as a leader in smart city innovation—not just for a city our size, but for any city in the world. We were once again named one of the top seven Smart Cities globally by the Intelligent Community Forum. Why? Because we’re investing in infrastructure that delivers real-time data to enhance safety, mobility, and quality of life. Our deployment of smart poles—many of which are modular, AI-powered, and designed in partnership with industry leaders like Ekin and Pininfarina—is helping us monitor traffic, air quality, and pedestrian flow in real time. We’ve completed over 50 fiber optic broadband segments with 25 more underway, connecting city facilities and public spaces to support high-speed communication and public Wi-Fi access.

These achievements wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of our Innovation and Technology Director, Raimundo Rodulfo. Raimundo’s forward-thinking approach has positioned Coral Gables at the forefront of smart city design, and we’re grateful for his vision. As we continue to evolve, our smart infrastructure will remain a key driver of economic development and public safety, helping businesses thrive and our residents stay connected.

Another key area where we are focused is raising the bar in the customer experience, especially within Development Services. We know how important it is for residents and businesses to have a predictable, efficient, and transparent permitting process. That’s why, under the leadership of City Manager Peter Iglesias, we’ve been steadily improving operations: from creating a one-stop shop for permitting, to launching online plan submissions, to fully digitizing our building plans. Now, we are taking the next bold step. We are in the process of hiring 20 new positions to improve plan reviews, expedite inspections, and support timely buildouts. This is a direct investment in delivering world-class results. And while you may see costs increasing, don’t be alarmed—our Building Department is an enterprise fund, which means it pays for itself without impacting the general fund or property taxes. And speaking of bold steps, we recently approved the Permitting Assistance Program. This program, originally created by the Economic Development Department and this Chamber, helps businesses open their doors faster by providing concierge-level permitting assistance, inter-departmental coordination, and technical support. By formalizing it last month, we are strengthening our economic development toolkit and sending a clear message that Coral Gables is committed to being business friendly. The program minimizes costly delays, enhances predictability, and supports both new-to-market and expanding companies. It also drives job creation, capital investment, and reinforces our competitiveness as a premier destination for innovation and enterprise. I know it will make a real difference in attracting and retaining businesses.   This is especially good news for our business community, which brings vibrancy, energy, and innovation to our city. Businesses contribute nearly 27% of our ad valorem tax base while they represent just 8% of our properties and help nearly double our population each day as thousands of workers come to Coral Gables. We are focused on delivering the kind of service everyone expects from a world-class city.

This year, Coral Gables celebrated 100 years since our founding—and so will our Chamber of Commerce. Together we reflect on a shared legacy of excellence, innovation, and civic leadership.

On that note, it feels surreal to deliver my fifth State of the City address without my dear friend Mark Trowbridge, the Chamber’s long-time CEO. Mark’s passion and guidance shaped both this organization and our city, and his absence is felt profoundly. To honor his legacy, I proposed naming one of our new downtown parks after him — a symbolic gesture to recognize his extraordinary impact. We will work with the Chamber and his family to identify a fitting location among the many new public spaces coming online. Mark wasn’t just a business leader — he was a selfless, compassionate friend whose mission was service. One day, I hope my daughters will walk past that park and ask, “Who was Mark Trowbridge?”—and the answer will be, someone who helped shape the heart of our city.

We welcome the Chamber’s new CEO, my friend Jorge Arrizurieta — who has big shoes to fill, both literally and figuratively, but I have no doubt he will leave his own important “Mark,” no pun intended on our city. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Jorge and your new chair, Maria in support of our business community.

I also want to recognize my friend Addys Kuryla for her steady leadership as Chair of the Chamber during an extraordinarily difficult year. Her commitment ensured that the Chamber remained strong and focused through a period of transition. I am grateful for her partnership and the Chamber’s continued collaboration with the city as we celebrate this Centennial year.

I would also like to congratulate Maria Garcia of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton on becoming the Chamber’s new chair. Maria, I look forward to working with you as the city’s ex officio member of your board.

George Merrick, our city’s—and this Chamber’s—founder, believed that a truly great city needed a world-class university and a vibrant business community. Today, we are proud to say we have both.

The University of Miami remains a cornerstone of our identity and growth. And Coral Gables now hosts more than 8,000 businesses and over 140 multinational corporations. Institutions like Ryder, Apple and City National have chosen to grow here—not just because of our location, but because of our leadership, our planning, and our focus on quality of life.

George Merrick understood that a flourishing business community was essential to the vitality of the City Beautiful. That’s why, from the very beginning, he envisioned a Chamber of Commerce that would serve as an advocate, connector, and catalyst for growth. Today, that vision remains as relevant as ever. Our Chamber plays a vital role in supporting local businesses, attracting investment, and promoting Coral Gables as a premier destination for innovation and enterprise. As we look ahead to the next 100 years, the partnership between the city and the Chamber will remain a cornerstone of our economic and civic success.

As we enter our second century, we do so with clarity of purpose. I will continue to lead with civility and transparency. I introduced an additional reform to strengthen trust in city government — a referendum that will appear on the ballot to allow an independent Inspector General in the city. This will ensure an additional layer of accountability and oversight to safeguard taxpayer dollars and maintain the highest ethical standards. And, I will remain vigilant in protecting your dollars, your neighborhoods, your businesses, and your voice at City Hall.

The residents of Coral Gables have made it clear: they expect more than business as usual. They want leadership that respects the public trust, engages the community, and delivers results without compromising our identity.

We are not just celebrating 100 years—we are building the foundation for the next hundred. So let us move forward—together—with the same ambition and focus that built the City Beautiful to begin with.

Thank you for the honor of continuing to serve you.

Finally, I would like to call Addys to join me on stage. It is not often that I present a Key to the City. In fact, I reserve it for those truly special moments when someone has made an extraordinary contribution to Coral Gables. Today is one of those moments.

Over the past year, Addys Kuryla has led the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce during a particularly challenging time. Our longtime President and CEO’s illness and passing meant the role of Chair became more demanding than ever. She carried that responsibility with grace, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to both the business community and our city.

This chamber and Addys were also instrumental in helping us launch a new program to assist businesses with the permitting process, the program that I referred to in my remarks. Her steady leadership has left a lasting mark.

Addys is not only the immediate past Chamber Chair; she is also a proud resident of Coral Gables and serves as Manager of External Affairs for FPL. Through her role, and through FPL’s partnership with the city, we have been moving forward on the important undergrounding project that will strengthen and safeguard our community for generations to come.

But beyond her professional accomplishments, Addys is a friend, a neighbor, and someone who cares deeply about the City Beautiful.

For her leadership, her grace under pressure, and her devotion to this community, it is my honor to present the Key to the City to Addys Kuryla.