Media Center - Division of Public Information

Communications Manager - Village PIO

Bill Kress is Palmetto Bay’s Communications Manager/PIO, reporting to the Office of the Village Manager. Since 2008, Kress has served as the communications liaison between Village Hall and the news media, private and public organizations, and community groups. He also serves as Village PIO liaison to Miami-Dade County Police, County Fire & Rescue/Emergency Management, and the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment, among other local and county agencies. Contact Bill Kress at Palmetto Bay Village Hall at 305-259-1234 or via e-mail at bkress@palmettobay-fl.gov. Kress's responsibilities include:

  • Researching and writing,
  • Video production/distribution (see library below)
  • Management of Gov't Access TV station, WBAY.
  • Photography,
  • Internal/external publication production,
  • Electronic media, including e-newsletters, the Village website, and social media (see links below),
  • Management of live-streaming video/on-demand coverage of public meetings,
  • Promotional Village map production,
  • Major event coordination support of top-tier Village events/programs,
  • Utilization of all available communications channels to promote all Village events/programs.

Kress earned his BA degree in English/Journalism from The State University of New York. He is former Board Member/general member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-Miami Chapter) and is a member of the Florida Government Communicators Association (FGCA). He is also a member of the Palmetto Bay Business Association, the Economic Development Council of South Dade, and Chamber South.

Social Media

The Village uses Social Media channels to keep you informed of fast-breaking news and information:

                 

*View recent "Insights" regarding the Village Facebook. Demographics and audience-behavior data is helpful because it allows us to track the performance of our pages, to optimize how we publish to our audience so residents will tell their "Friends" about the Village, to stimulate economic development which has a positive impact on property values, and to ultimately better serve our audience/resident needs. (Below: a snapshot of weekly traffic during July 2012 on the Village Facebook.)

Photo Gallery

Starting in early 2010, Palmetto Bay Began using Facebook to share photos of Village events. Photographs of earlier events are still available on this website, in the Photo Gallery.

Film & Entertainment Fees / Information

  • STEP 1: If you are planning to shoot stills, film, or video within the boundaries of the Village of Palmetto Bay, STEP 1 is to contact the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment. This County office provides the basics required (County permitting, liability, etc.) to do production work across many municipalities -- including palmetto Bay -- in the metropolitan area.
  • STEP 2: Contact the Village Communications Office and or the Parks Department if your production may potentially impact public roadways. Also, if you are shooting in a Village Park, you MUST contact the Village to apply for a permit and pay applicable Village fees -- over and above any Miami-Dade County requirements.
  • STEP 3: Review, complete, submit the following forms as required:

    ►PERMIT (FACILITY RENTAL AGREEMENT) APPLICATION
    ►VILLAGE (PARKS) LOCATION FEES
    ►CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM

FILM & VIDEO PRODUCTION CONTACTS:
► Sandy Lighterman, Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment (305-375-3288)
► Bill Kress, Village Communications Manager/PIO (305-259-1234)
► Mary Fernandez, Village Program & Events Coordinator (305-234-6383)

Video Features Library

The Village offers a wide range of video features:

Communications Standards/Guidelines

COMMENT POLICY
With the advent of two-way social communications such as Facebook and Twitter, the Village has found it necessary and prudent to share a policy as it relates to public comment on official Palmetto Bay communications channels. Please review this policy.

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS
When completed, you will find here information on communications standards and guidelines as they pertain to approved and proper use of the Village seal, and other graphic representations of the Village image (i.e., typeface, appropriate colors, etc.).

Press Releases

With the advent of electronic communications (e-newsletters, websites, Facebook, etc.), the Village has curtailed the distribution of formal press releases. For reference/research, please feel free to view our 2008-10 press release library (below):

Editorials / Open Letters / Speeches

Your Village Council remains committed to ensuring that all residents are aware and informed of issues that concern our community. To that end, please review any of the following editorials, open letters, and speeches offering the positions of our Mayor, Council, and staff on various topics: