Council - Regular Meeting

Peter, go ahead.

Yeah, you're good.

Okay. Convenience call to order. I mean, I would, but we got another one back to back. Schedule at 5.30. 5.30, 6 o'clock? Yeah, we got a 5.30, then we have a 6 o'clock, and then we have 6.30.

Anyway, I'm going to proceed.

We can't do the ranger run because Judy's not here. She's the chair of the ranger run committee. So I'm calling the meeting in order. Time is 537. Roll call. Chair is present. Vice chair is present. Secretary, he's not part of the subcommittee. Judy's not part of the subcommittee. Beto's present. Mr. James is present. Member of the subcommittee, Yasser Vahderama. He's present. Well, I'm going to do some stuff for a minute. And I think we're expecting also to be a member is Marilyn Rondo, correct?

Yeah, there's several people to be here, but I told her to be 545.

Well, and who else did you expect, Larry?

Some people thought that was 545 because Gary told me that.

Yeah, I was told 545.

545, that's what I think.

Gary's supposed to be here. Steve Walker's supposed to be here. John, John Barron's on his way over, and I spoke.

John Barron. Oh, that's fine. Hello. Hello. We can fill him in after we get through, just so I don't push against the other meeting, although we can do that. All right. Okay. So, Why don't we stand up and pledge allegiance and moment of silence. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Moment of silence. So let me review the project. I'm pretty sure everyone here knows what we're trying to build. There it is. Before we get started, I'd like to go around the horn and have everybody introduce themselves, tell people who you are for the subcommittee. Who are you? What do you do?

My name is Larry Borman. I'm the vice chair of the committee. I've been involved with this project since its inception on October of 2021. We have a community support. We have all the approved concept and funds that were already raised. Our next responsibility is to turn to mind the defined project. It's a confirmed location, complete plans, reliable cost and estimates, assign responsibilities,

Larry, we're just doing introductions, Larry. Thank you. All right. Yes, please.

Hi, my name is Olivia Shock. I'm the Grants and Governmental Affairs Manager for the town here. So I was told to show up today. Welcome. I'm a member of American Legion Post 1044.

We

Jill, thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone. Jill Cavanaugh-Green, also a member of the POST 144 and the American Legion Auxiliary. And again, I was invited via Larry. Yeah.

Hi, my name is Yasser Guadalajara. I'm here to support the veterans. We're trying to fundraise some money to go back into the projects and to the Veterans POST 144.

Carl. Hi, everybody. Carl Zandrez. I'm actually the Chair of Public Safety Larry and I are neighbors, and he told me, show up today and see how I can help out. And I always say, anything for the veterans. So I'm here to support anyway.

Can we go our new?

Yeah, my name is Jen Alvarado. I'm the new committee liaison. I began as an intern and then I've now been a committee liaison for three weeks. This is my third week meeting. So yeah, nice to meet you guys. Hi, I'm Isle Medina. I'm going to use on a lot of this year does this with anything.

I mean if you're going to be 11 years with the various committee.

So the engine of some of them have been snowed.

And so we're introducing ourselves and you are. And John Baron resident money lakes and Larry's and I'm trying to arrange a way to get there. And And I'm Bill Perez. I'm the chair of the Veterans Committee. Welcome to everybody. All right. So let's go over where the project stands right now. Obviously, this is a rendering that was done. We had recently graduated.

Excuse me. Just want to make sure we have a secretary for the meeting.

Oh, that's a good point. We need a secretary, and it can't be me. You want to be secretary, Larry? Yeah. Well, we're kind of limited.

We do need a secretary to move on with the meeting.

I don't think the meeting is being recorded on YouTube. I wouldn't go ahead and go off minutes from that.

I need to make sure that there is a secretary.

I'll assume. Thank you, Larry. OK, so Larry.

This rendering was done by Julio Brea, who is an architect, recent graduate University of Miami. And he basically did several renderings, you know, different views, et cetera. And this is the full review of it. They did initial cost estimate by the town and they said to build would be about 400,000. But that's been our target as far as fundraising and stuff like that. Where do we stand right now at fundraising? Roughly, I think in the money from the reindeer run, we roughly have about 50,000 total, because this year, or last year and the year before, we used reindeer run proceeds to fund this. We have about 50,000. We have a commitment of 35,000 from one donor, so that gives us the 85,000. And then we have about 5,000 or so from the American Legion, So we're about 90,000. So our Delta is free. Last week or the week before the military third board This is the monument one.

Wow.

Yeah. It was at 445, right?

I mean, 545. No worries. You're right on time. So far we've raised roughly about 90,000.

The reindeer run about 50 and 35,000 from one donor and 5,000 from the Veterans of the American Nation poster. So, and then about a week or two ago, the Military Affairs Board from Miami-Dade County passed a resolution. And the resolution was to endorse and recommend that the commission, Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioner and the mayor appropriate $200,000 for our Miami-Dade. So they passed that unanimously. It was pretty much, well, I'm a member of the board, so it's part of my resolution, part of my letter that got passed. So, you know, that's the way it works. So I'm going to find out when they're going in front of the county. I am cautiously optimistic that will pass because each veteran is a representative from each district in the county. And hey, Gary. There he is. So I'm cautiously optimistic that that will pass. And if it does, then our delta is basically 103,000. I plan to meet with, I plan to meet, or this is mine. I plan to meet next Wednesday with Senator Avila, the state senator, and I'm going to give him a briefing package to request the, probably another $200,000. And I'll meet with Tom Fabrizio and do the same thing. That way we can, the county level, the state level, And I already spoke to Congressman Mara Billard and Olivia, you sent a request for a grant, correct?

Federal appropriations for the project. It was not accepted at the time that we heard.

Okay. Who's the decision maker on that?

Congress. Unfortunately, it goes before the appropriations committee. Okay. And then, so it kind of just depends on.

Who sponsored it?

Maurya Aguilar. Okay. Can you send something to Brian? And don't reach it. They say they both want to help. I really see it. They all say yes.

Yeah, absolutely. So that was going to be, I mean, not to jump in on my portion of it, but that was going to be what I was going to. Yeah, I wanted to hear how much money you guys had continued to fundraise. Um, the next step for me was, I was going to include this in our state appropriations requests to council. We'll start that meeting. Um, it'll be in September. It'll be a sunshine meeting where usually a representative from Mr. Fabrizio and Dr. Avila's offices come in addition to our council members to discuss what our legislative priorities for the upcoming fiscal year should be. So I was going to include this in that as well. If you do have meetings with those representatives, that obviously helps us in advance for them to support these projects or again, provide letters of support. I mean, they're the ones that sponsor them. So their letter of support is like, you know, only go so far, but them supporting and pushing for these projects, if you continue to advocate, obviously helps this. As long as council accepts it as one of our legislative priorities, we can request funding through that mechanism.

I've got a question. Yes. Would it be helpful if we were supplying areas, we've got a site tracking on, we're seeing innovation. We have a survey. It's going to be a survey, site tracking, park where it's going to be. Um, even though we have an artist wondering, but actually blueprints and an estimate of what the cost would be. Would you want to us all front before that? Never?

That never hurts. Any additional documentation I have doesn't hurt at this time, especially when I'm putting estimates in at this stage, though, we don't particularly need the plans or anything to be ready like that. The survey or anything like that, that will be included in our initial request package. Um, And when I do the presentation to council, I'll just include the rendering. But anything you guys have in front of documentation, never hurts to send it to me. And then I can always, I have a folder for you guys. So if we ever need it in the future, then I don't have to ask for it. So anything you guys have, I'll take, but not needed at this exact phase. Of course.

We've got our way ahead to deal with this. All right. Okay. While we're talking about fundraising, It's like a future fundraising events. What are we looking at? I know you're asking, you're trying to do something with the chamber.

Yeah, I'm trying to put together a fishing tournament for the veterans. This is going to be an offshore fishing, so it's not like off a canal. So I want to have as much participants within the Miami Lakes business committee to join this event. So every boat, they're going to pay a fee. as also a lot of, I just went blank right now. So I'm trying to put this event together. I already spoke to Ray Palacio for his approval. He says that whatever you do with the chamber, he'll do it. Trying to at least bring in within this first year, these $50,000 within this event. Like I said, that's what sponsored money and entrance, right? Correct. Yeah. That's what sponsored money, you know, um, the sponsor is going to have, you know, you know, they're advertising. So I'm trying to bring in all the businesses for my next together. You understand? So within this event, first price is going to be a trophy, which is a traveling trophy. This trophy is that, um, this year I won. I didn't take a trophy. Everybody knows that, you know, uh, knowledge in Miami dates that I have the trophy next year, whoever wins gets that to bring that trophy to their business. And there'd be, there'd be a knowledge that, you know, that they're the winner for that year. So just trying to make something fun, um, big, you know, so it's a tradition where every year this fishing tournament is going to be about, it's going to be brought upon.

That's great. And the, the committee already approved the fishing tournament and council has already approved.

All the funds is going straight to the veterans. Okay. Um, Everybody that's going to be, you know, registering and stuff like all that money is going straight to, to the veterans.

Yeah. And then we'll do some of that or whatever. Yeah. Also, yeah. But whatever they decide.

Also, we're, yeah. So also we're, we're contracting from, we're, my company is Water and Fire Contracting. I told Bill that, you know, at cost, we could go ahead and, you know, help out with a monument to build it at the park.

It's a general contract. So that's another thing. So that gets us to the construction. Well, before we stop the fundraising aspect, there's another resolution that's going to be passed by the Military Affairs Board of Dade County. They have about $170,000, $200,000 basically they get every year as a military affairs board. And one of the issues they were having was how do we spend this money? And so we had someone who came from a nonprofit, you know, ask us for money. And one of the things that we all concluded is we're not very good at vetting a nonprofit, a local nonprofit. So yeah. And so the problem, so we just, so when I proposed to them and we're going to vote on it next month or, you know, actually September, but then they meet quarterly is that we become a the Military Affairs Board for Dade County becomes a funding source for all 34 municipality Veterans Affairs Committees. So there's 34 municipalities in Dade County, I don't know, Lake's is one, Haleah is one, you know, all the different cities and towns. And they're in a better position, I told my board members and county board members, they're in a better position to vet those local organizations. So my hope is that this process gets approved. And if it does get approved, then the Veterans Committee of Miami Lakes is going to request $10,000 to put up the maximum request per event from the Military Affairs Board to do the fishing trends if it is approved. And we'll see what they do. And so we'll see what happens here at the Veterans Committee so we can draft up that thing. And I know a member of the Military Affairs Board that he was committed to. It works well. That's where we are as far as funding. So if that amount from the military affairs board that gets approved by the commissioners and mayor comes through, that's $200,000. And then we'll ask for another $200,000 from the state. And then we should be there.

Do you know when you'll have a decision about the county funding?

I do not know. We just put that in and it just got passed. I just contacted the county liaison or the director for the military affairs board. to ask them when's the meeting, when's it going to be on the agenda, and so I can go and talk on it.

Yeah. If you could provide that to me whenever you get a chance, because when we submit for state appropriations, one of the things that we supply is any local matching funding that we're able to provide. So if that funding is guaranteed, then at that time where we know it'll be guaranteed, then I can include that as a local match, which would be very strong in terms of an application to show community support. So let me know when you have a date for when that will be uploaded.

There are any- It'll be great if we get it from folks. All right, so moving to the construction side of the house, I have to fundraise. Any more issues, any more discussion on fundraising? I'd like to thank everyone here for helping us on the fundraising duty. Without duty and the reindeer run, this will be nowhere. Pedro, Yasser, you know, you guys, you know, without you guys, we would be having dreams and nothing getting done. Okay, so we're seeing from Jeremy, Olivia, we're done with you. You need to go home. Thank you so much. Keep working.

If you guys have any other questions that come up, I mean, I'll be upstairs, so Jalen can call me, but I did not bring one with me. I know you have my contact information, but I could also go grab one and run them back out there. Oh, yeah, yeah. OK, I'll drop off currently. Hi, guys.

Thank you.

I'll let you come up with questions. I just brought that more out.

Oh, I gave you mine.

I got it for me.

Thank you. Thank you.

We have a site survey. It's kind of long, but it's okay. I already sent this to the architect. The architect is a high school friend of mine. Unfortunately, he's in the hospital with heart surgery right now. But he has it. He received it. And he says he's going to take a look at it on Monday. And then he'll probably have more questions. And what I'm hoping is, you know, we haven't really talked about pricing, but I figured, you know, I've known him for 15 years. So you better be able to do the projects. So, you know, and I'm hoping that we get the architect plans and stuff discounted, at least less than the 40,000 that that was quoted. And then the engineering plans as well. And I know I have a friend of mine who I went to high school as a civil engineer, too. So I mean, and he's a professional engineer, so you can get it done as well. You can sign off on it. And then once we get that done, Yes, sir, has already offered to help build it.

You know, that cost, you know, durable properties, something they make some money, but almost that cost.

So that's where we are as far as the construction. Are there any questions?

I think I can help anyway with my number of retired generals connected in the State Department. He's got all the connections still with me. Janet Callahan- This thing's done. Janet Callahan- Yeah, okay.

Janet Callahan- Nice name the hammer on him. He was waiting for the Department of Veterans Affairs, right.

Janet Callahan- Don't be some afraid of balance. Well, are you tired. I mean, Janet Callahan- Yeah.

All right.

Janet Callahan- I just need to get something. So, you know, essentially, yeah.

Yeah.

What I could do is Janet Callahan- Ask letter prepared it can be given to people that know what to do with things like that. I guess a briefing would be asked.

That's a little motion.

Okay. Thank you.

How's that? Someone, okay?

Yeah.

Well, I mean, this is the letter, this is the package I put together to, uh, for the, I mean, no fair, fair board. I can, I can rechange it to him.

Oh, just, just send me that.

Okay. Okay.

And I'll put this with it.

All right. But it had all the pictures and everything. That's great. Awesome. It's better. And it's free to have an executive summit, which is, I know, again, on the 11th and 12th. So, okay. Thank you.

That's awesome.

I was going to get in the helicopter.

I wanted to say something. No, go ahead. I want to compliment you. This is the most that I've seen in five years for this project. We've been picking the ball down the road. You know, this one promised money to the Congress. The Councilman promised money coming in. We're going to have this. We're going to have that. This is the first time in all these years I've ever heard anything solved that things were actual in the planning. And I want to thank everyone who came out to help us with this. This came as a surprise to me because I had no idea that Bill Perez had brought this this far along. I really want to commend him for that. And I think that we still need the help. We still need the help. We still need the support of you guys. And I don't know exactly what responsibilities we can delegate or where we can get. But the very fact that you're here supporting us, getting this done, it means an awful lot.

And I need to thank you for that. I think, Larry, you bringing them here is fantastic. Sir, we didn't get a chance to meet who you are. Everybody else, please introduce. My name is Steve Blanco. I've lived in Miami Lakes for 30 years. And I have a great respect for the veterans. Thank you. Throughout my career, I worked very closely as a journalist. And I just have a great respect for everything that the military stands for. So I'm here. I really appreciate you being here, sir. And Larry, I really am thankful that you brought your folks because, look, we don't know whether or not this resolution is going to be approved by the commission or the mayor. They may say, I approve it when funding becomes available, and funding never becomes available. There's a lot of, you know, we have to have backup funding plans. And so what I'm hoping is that you could reach out to your network of folks who want to support um you know this this project and you know have them donate whatever amount we are we do have a little gofundme page you know and uh they can donate through that or they can donate directly to the american legion post so they can avoid the gofundme fee um and basically that'll be the best help you can do so um i would ask that you find you know folks who want to support And, you know, have them create, you know, write checks to the American Legion Post 144, put down Veterans Monument. If they need Zelle, let me know. Reach out. I can send you the Zelle information. $5, $10, $2, we don't care. You know, everything helps. You know, $35,000, that would really be it. And actually, those large donors, You know, if you donate, thank you so much. If you donate $2,500 and above, your name will be going on a plaque somewhere around the monument. Not on the wall, but somewhere on the monument. There is a permanent recognition for those who donate $2,500 a month. on the mind as well. Right.

Another question.

Yes. If you don't mind, Mr. Chair.

Oh, Carlos, no. Good night. Especially the support of public safety over here. Just out of curiosity, because I'm always thinking of a way to get cute with things. I guess that's the accounting move. But when we're applying for grants, we're applying for a veteran's monitor. But what about if we're applying for a grant for arts and public basis for something park related. Is there other programs that we can try to apply for that way we throw as much as we can against the wall and see what sticks?

You know, and I think that's Olivia's wheelhouse, but I'll tell you, I think that's what she did. That's what she did. She's applying for arts and education. I think veterans' mindsets fall underneath that. But one of the things that I do want to do is approach the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and director of that because if we get his support then we'll probably get money from florida you know right um but we'll see but that's a great idea i'm gonna i'm gonna email her and say hey you know is there a different way to you know get get funds you know you had a good idea yeah and the other thing that i was thinking about too is that we have some local artists uh like um ramil is a very popular influencer of medium

I don't know, just maybe like a comedy show at Veterans Park. Maybe he might agree to and split the proceeds with the veterans. You know, we have Casey and the Sunshine Band, maybe something like that, that, you know, do a concert at the park.

Wow. That would be... Do you know him?

um i know people that know him um but you know i don't know maybe he's a veteran some of the uh the ogs here though i'd like to say from miami lakes um but um uh and then the last one is that there's no reason why we can't take advantage of the miami lakes social media page i would push hard on the social media page uh to make it promoted leading to veterans uh you know uh parade right so that way you're telling the pounds they're putting it out there you got 6 000 followers whatever it is 6 500 and they're just circulating it and uh you know and maybe putting some goals in mind maybe make it kind of fun hey guys we're trying to reach this you know uh leading to the veterans parade and right and get some movement that way

And I'm on the Island of Miami Lakes group.

Yeah, you have Facebook. I know Larry did.

Yeah, I know I posted it on the Island of Miami Lakes group, and I posted the GoFundMe on several of the Miami Lakes ones. I do not know. I'm assuming there's probably rules about fundraiser on the official Miami Lakes government page.

Well, we'll post anything that's a town-related thing. So it sounds like you guys have various ideas. Whatever event the committee wants to I guess partner on or, you know, officially bring about. As you know, bring it to town council. As soon as they approve it, we can move forward with my thing. Okay.

Well, they already approved the fishing tournament.

Do you, I just want to make sure Damon's, you know, going off of references. I tried looking for it now and I don't see it. Do you guys know when this was approved?

The fishing tournament was approved last council meeting. Last council meeting.

Oh, okay. You said last year, so I couldn't find it.

Yeah. Bill stepped out and they approved the new event. Okay.

So, but do we have info on it? It's also important that we have, like, details on the event. If we don't have details, we have nothing to market.

Yeah. Is it? Well, it's going to be next year. Yeah, it's going to be for 2027. Okay. We have it here. We just have to make a copy. Okay.

Yeah. Send it to us. We can go off of that.

Perfect.

Yeah, we can create a flyer if you want.

Yeah.

Let me do that.

Yeah. We're going to do a webpage as well. And I had an idea for what you were saying about that. Maybe the biggest donor. for the project could be, you know, the veterans parade, you know, up in the, you know, up in the carousel that's going to be, you know, going up there. You know, the carousel that goes around on the parade. Right. Like the biggest donor for the monument could, you know, actually stand up there. Oh, I see. I see. I see. Oh, my God. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yes, by spotting the veterans float for the parade.

A little bit more information on the event. Is there going to be like private boats?

No, people are going to have their own boat. It's their own boat. They're taking out their own boat. So pretty much a lot of people in here, maybe some in the community, they own boats. So a lot of them have businesses. So they want to, you know, pretty much promote themselves and, and, um, and be a part of this. Because, you know, it's fishing. They're going to be out there having fun. Right. Yeah. So it's not like, it's, you know, depending on the industry.

Depending on the industry, you'll be in the tournament.

Correct. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Like a Marlin tournament. Exactly. It's the same thing, you know. Instead of, you know, any cash out prices, it's pretty much, you know, trophies and things that people are going to be, they're going to donate as sponsors and stuff. So, yeah. Those are going to be the prices, so it's not going to be any cash out or anything.

Yeah. Carlos, I'm just going back to you. Yes, sir. There you go. The one thing with them is that you have a lot of restriction and the money that they put into it, it's not like that. We were restricted by 80-some thousand dollars. Okay. It was very much so. We were

And that was through what? That was through federal or state? State.

State.

There you go. All right.

Well, if there's nothing further for this subcommittee meeting, I'd like to call this subcommittee meeting.

Before we call it, can we set a date for the next subcommittee meeting?

Oh, good idea. It'll be at 530 before the next veterans committee meeting. So... Okay. That meeting is called. The time now is 6 o'clock. The meeting is adjourned. Let's start our next subcommittee meeting. Thank you so much.

I recommend a two-minute break.

The committee meeting for the reindeer run.

And we have a secretary, right?

And we have a secretary. Sorry. Sorry, you don't want to be a secretary for this one. Why not? Yeah, why not? I'm going to do a roll call. Chair is present. Vice chair is present. That is not part of this committee, but Judy is present. Eddie Faber is present. Mr. James is present. And we have a guest. Mr. Goddard. Yes, sir. While they're off. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance among the sons. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Right, and share this and Well, I don't have anything to add or how much to to to cover unless somebody has some updates on the date. I think somebody was gonna look at it at a better price for a DJ.

Yeah, the unique issue we have is a generator. I may be able to go to DJs have done cost turn box.

You need a generator.

Yeah.

Oh, I'll bring one of my generator. So it's a Honda 77500 which is a big generator society generator that should be powered up doesn't make noise. It's fine. It's one of the newer ones.

Oh, what time is set up here. We have is like I would get here at 7712

December 12th.

December 12th. December 12th. This weekend. Yeah. Reindeer Run, December 12th. Yes. And Veterans Farm. Okay.

So now let the... Do you think we can also borrow that for the Mental Health Task Force Festival in October?

All right. You're the best. Okay. Thank you. Update I have. is I spoke to the Marine Corps Reserve Unit, and they're going to get us the tactical vehicle to be a static display. That will be next to your little tiny cars.

The smart car.

The smart car. A few years ago, we had like a big Humvee and a bunch of Marines, and then we had a little tiny smart car from headquarters Toyota with the public thing, which is hilarious. And there's a guy who does a, what's his name? Yeah, he is so.

He's great.

He's a puppeteer. He's a really good actor. He's great.

So I did talk to the vendor about t-shirts, and I sent that update to Iowa. We have until November 13th, I think, for the shirts, bags. That's the deadline for those.

So is the understanding that we're getting the same benefits as last week?

Yeah. He's not sure if he's going to be able to sponsor the bags. So we might have to just have a bag sponsor.

So that's the full cost in case he doesn't sponsor. Yes. Okay.

He said he was going to be able to match prices. He thought he would be able to. He's like right in transition right now. His company was bought. So I don't have more information. But for deadlines, they're still going to be the same. November 13th, I think, was the deadline for shirts and bags. And the metal. We're going to give that think the last week of October, we've got to get that order to make sure it's not going to be like my view of the camp with camouflage shirts. That was to put the name on the metal strap.

No, no idea what we do with the way we did last year, or you don't suggest we do the same thing. But instead of having the cast chain on the side. Just use a little chain on the side. We'll give it more effect. We'll give it more dimension.

Those little big chains that are like key chains that you look and it goes on it.

Yeah, but I'll be able to labor into it. This will probably do it.

People do it. Volunteer situations can handle that.

Yeah, they could.

We need to anyways because the bags, the way they are when they come, it's like it's a madhouse because they all come wrapped in. Yeah.

It'll make the metal unique.

That way you just got, you basically got regular holes like they're dog tags and then you get the little chain. Right. Cool.

Cool. I think when you got an example from it.

Yeah. When you show the pictures of a lot of a lot of these waters. They go for the metal. Right.

I like that. Okay, so we're gonna update the design. Well, I just want to make a motion to the committee to change the design to that.

Yeah. So take that a little bit. Please change. Second.

Once we have the formal Veterans Committee meeting, which will probably take about five minutes.

Thank you. Yes. Are you still using your personnel something, me and company on something else with artwork?

Yes, we'll still use them too. Okay, yes. Just want to make sure, so yes. So in terms of, you guys were talking about shirts, right?

Yes, design.

Okay, what Yeah, sure. What did we say last week. Last time we had like No, we're doing Kathy green this year.

Right. I'll agree. Yeah, I'll agree. Yes. Yeah. That would be nice with a dog. Oh, yeah.

So they'll create Yes. Okay.

And I think that the shirts can stay basically the same because the metals only going to change. It's still going to look a little bit of the same. It's just going to have a loose chain instead of kind of the, I guess, the cast chain that's part of the metal.

So are you changing the look? Are you guys talking about changing the look of the event logo?

No.

Not event logo? Yeah.

I think that's fine.

Yeah. Now we start getting brand recognition. Yeah. I mean.

Good.

I think it's important for those people below.

I don't know exactly what brand.

I asked him to map prices from last year, which are like five minutes older. But it should be fine. The only thing we may not get is the bags for free this year. We might have to reach out and get a bag sponsor for $30,000.

We got several. We laid out the sponsor levels. Did you give that to I already?

Yes, and I have given you some feedback on that. Let me pull it up. This was two weeks ago. Yeah. Okay. Now I want to make sure you, I don't know if you have a chance to go.

I'm in a traveling vendor right now, so.

Okay. Let me turn it up so that we.

Is it? Are the age groups going to be the same as they were last time?

It worked out good last time.

I barely made it last time in the winning circle. I just got a little older. Yeah.

This was the feedback. Propose new sponsor levels. If we're doing specific sponsor levels for medals, shirts, and bags, then that sponsor would need to be the only logo on those items. I want to make sure we're clear on how to be that way. Well, then what are we doing different than before? You get me? Because right now we include high-level sponsors. We include you in all these different things. So what's the difference? Like there is no differentiation unless that's how we're doing it. Because I think your suggestion was let's do like new sponsor levels that are just specifically metal, just shirts and then bags. And then here, let me give you my feedback and then you guys can go.

What we could do is make them larger on the shirt. You know what I mean? A more prominent position.

That's just an additional... But everybody else gets it. Like, what makes it so special?

Yeah, but I mean, if you're a larger print and you're more prominent.

But then that doesn't make sense in a sense. It doesn't make sense in, like, if we're talking about it being uniform. For example, Headquarters Toyota is the title sponsor. They tend to be the bigger one in things. So why are we now all of a sudden in a little, in this one item, now we're just going to reverse the roles and this logo is going to be like that.

No, no. We always make Headquarters Toyota the biggest.

Exactly. So then you're not promising that. So what is the sell for them being that sponsored?

We like them.

I think my recommendation, I mean, ultimately up to you guys, I personally, based on how we've done events, don't think it makes sense. I don't think a shirt sponsor makes sense because logo recognition is something, is an added benefit that we give the entire tier sponsor. So now you're taking that away from them. If we're just going to give that logo recognition.

Yeah.

What are you giving them? Now you're taking away assets. I think we can certainly do so for the metal strap and for the bags branding, because that's not something we normally offer to the other sponsors to begin with. Does Headquarter Traders still get to be on a visit with the title sponsor? So I was going to say, other than the title sponsor for the metal strap. So you're the only one we include in those metal straps. Right. The straps do seem pretty loaded with graphics. Yes. Keep that in mind. So we may need to rethink that design. We may need to remove either the military branches, which I don't think we're going to want to do, or... the reindeer one name on them to make space for the new sponsor logo. I think we can remove the reindeer name because it's already on the medal anyway.

Yeah, we can do that.

Like at that point it's repetitive.

And we probably have the...

The headquarter and then the medal sponsor.

Pretty much the same as last year which has headquarter and military branches and then that medal.

Okay. So that one I think it makes sense. That makes sense.

And then that new one would look something like the medal sponsor And I detailed it out here. Sixth runner registrations, sponsor acknowledgement, blah, blah, blah. Their additional thing is that they get local recognition on the metal ribbons. And then for the back sponsor, what I was referring to is normally we don't give that to anybody else. Head portal to it, I think, tends to be on it, but we don't give that specifically stated.

The back was safeguarded last year, so safeguarded.

Because they paid for it. Yeah. But normally it's not a... No, it's nobody else.

It's never anybody else. Exactly.

So I think that gives you an opportunity for a new level. Okay. Because it's... Then you do the logo printed on the goodie bag, distribute it at Packet Picker. Okay. So I think those are the two new levels that would make sense.

Okay. So bag and mail. Yes. That's good.

Should we put that to the vote or do we not need to do that?

Just make sure that the committee...

Okay. We'll make sure. Make a motion. But I already have the... Make a motion at the Veterans Committee. That's the one to approve it.

But yeah, I already have a detail that I just... About 10 minutes. We're on station.

yeah yeah that's good thank you that's great thanks isle hey uh jalen um for our next meeting can i please get a map of the run route did you do any talks with the police again not yet i got to meet with them okay um and but i want to email me the run route map please because i want to talk to them after looking at the run route then keep him okay just because i'm hearing you guys say this

I want to be very clear. It's the same, you know, it's the same as it's been the last few years. This is a certified route. So if we make any changes, give yourselves time and we don't have a lot of time.

We're not changing the route.

Okay.

What we're doing is we're seeing what amount of police coverage we need minimum as opposed to having over half the police force.

I'm going to be honest with you. I don't think this is a max amount. I think they're giving us what needs to be because that's what we requested. But go ahead and reconfirm.

Who's the oversight for that?

It's like police and we can't determine how much we need at the event, especially when you're talking about streets being who have often people on them.

Yeah, but you can count streets.

Well, I'm not.

I'm pretty confident on me from my experience developing a street plan.

Just want to make sure we weren't changing their off because now we are now that's like a whole certification.

Now we're just making sure we don't. They want to say that you know okay any other issues concerns anything else chair.

I want to highlight the fact that i'm. The deadline, that's why I wanted to ask you for the deadline. You know that we added our own sponsorship package. Can we please, every year, the day of the deadline, we're here scrambling, adding people that we don't have payment for. I want to emphasize, guys, please, if we don't have payment, we're not adding them. I can't be any more clear. It's on the package to say sign off on it. Okay. We need to get that in order. So finish the packet, put the deadlines that we have.

Yeah. And then I'll update the deadline. I'll start getting sponsors now. So it'll be way early.

I wanted to, I have a few sponsors I want to send stuff, not just spring year one, like other events.

I want to send that to Baptist too, because I have the package for them to go meet them in person. And she's still there, the same person that.

I mean, she's the latest contact we had for like an event.

Okay. She's over at the.

I don't know where she is. I'll find her.

I'll find her.

But that's her contact. Okay. Yeah, I'll go out. I'll go out and give you the information. And then the only update I have, which I shared with you, is that I reached out to two hydrations, or not hydrations, just sponsors that would make sense, like athletic stuff. It was Pure Green and Celsius. I haven't heard back from Pure Green. Celsius responded saying that they received a request and that they sent it to their local marketing person and that they were viewing. So hopefully...

Pure Green? Doesn't it make a cleaning product?

Am I saying that correctly? They're here in unincorporated days where in front of Americans and them.

Okay.

They're like a smoothie bowl place, yeah.

Okay.

And I sent the invite. Did you ask the same people again that you always ask? No, but I will. I'll get started on that. Okay.

As of right now, those are the only two I sent.

Yeah, and I'm going to go see Chick-fil-A and see if he's going to do his fruit, his cow, and all that stuff. Absolutely.

Yeah. And the only other change from last year, because we keep having this issue with the step and repeat, we're going to have to invest in a more extensive step and repeat. Because the one we have is just not in order. So we need like a really, it's like something that uses like five wood and a base.

So just anything that's an extra cost.

Who's going to cure that down or what?

There is no procurement when it comes to events. I'll go with the same vendor we've been using. If you guys have any other vendor you want to use, feel free to bring a quote in.

Can a general contractor perhaps build a little frame that will, out of two by fours, that it can be stable and not fall?

But I need specs. I can't just go off of, you know, like you're going to have to give me specs.

Yeah, we need specs.

This is for what again? With the generator, we need a structure that will hold the step and repeat. It won't blow over.

Oh, it's basically first place, second place, third place, you know, the steps.

Oh, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha, yeah.

The repeat, the big screen. The background, the backdrop.

Yeah, we also need that, and we need new steps, too.

What's wrong with those steps?

They're very shaky.

They're not steps. Those are like boxes.

Those are caution crossfits. Yeah, they are. They're crossfits.

I think they'll only jump on.

It may have to do something with being on the grass. They jump on them in the studio.

I'm sure they're pretty stable. It's just the ground they're going on. They're very stable.

If we can build it out of wood, it'll be a lot more stable. It's going to be a bigger structure instead of being piece by piece. Once you have piece by piece, that's not enough to hold the balance of somebody on there. So on the grass, if it's on a flat surface, yeah. Right. But when it's on the grass, you know, if it's just leveled off a little bit like this, you know, it'll tilt over.

Are you in our committee now? Huh?

Are you in our committee now? No. I'm going to leave you in contact with him. Yeah, we'll talk about it.

So, yeah, and we'll get to specs because I would like to have a step as well, maybe one or two steps to get onto those platforms because I'm not worried about the age group of 18 and 12 until about 35. It's everybody at 40 and above that I worry about.

I think if anyone is capable of winning a medal is certainly physically fit enough to jump up on a box. I would take the

Okay. I'm going to call this meeting adjourned.

Anything else? No. Yes.

All right. The subcommittee at 631. Now we have the normal veteran committee meeting.

Is there another agenda for that? Yes, there is.

Here we go. That should be very brief, because I mean, they're going to be playing.

Yeah, we have four of them. We couldn't have a passion event. It's easy, right?

On this, we don't have that, I think. That's the only one we're missing, Ben.

We're not bothering you, huh?

Again. You win. Yeah, we're good. How small is it?

For me, it's only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

So we got five. What happened?

All right. The veteran committee meeting is being called to order. Okay. Time now is 631. Roll call. Chair is present. Vice chair is present. Yeah. Ed finds excused absence. Judy is present. Pedro is present. James is present. We have four of them. Please stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.

We just did it twice.

Never hurts to be the Kate Robert Fitzgerald.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Please stay to see. We have to make up for all the communists and pagans.

I just want to make sure you don't forget what we did.

Yeah, I know. We did it.

All right, public comments. My recommendation, I need you guys to get on the veterans parade and for nothing. So I just want to make sure it's being talked about. I know we've had this discussion, Bill. We have great volunteers in the town who are happy to pretty much execute it. So we're good. I reconfirmed a couple of them. I can tell you, I've been in contact with Kathy. They're more than willing to do it again. However, they did have a request that if you guys are not going to be as involved in the planning of it, if you guys could at least help us confirm adult volunteers that we can count on for day of, just to execute things as they come. Okay. in the moment that you guys may be going on the floor and we can't be pulling you guys.

Okay. Do you have a job sheet, like a task sheet?

I don't have that right now. We'll develop it. But I just need people that are willing to come to the meetings, a couple of them, so they know what's going on and going to be on the ground deal. I can tell you I have a couple of people confirmed. Ms. Ana Soto, she helped us last year. Carlos Andres, Mario Pineda, and the entire Gonzales family. The one that screams in the air. Her daughter. She's so cute.

What we did last year is we made a checklist and we went over everything that needed to be done for the parade. And then when we had subcommittee meetings, we went down the checklist and we assigned whatever wasn't done, it was assigned to a person. So we had someone that was basically in charge of every detail. And then at the last subcommittee meeting, we just checked them all to make sure everything was taken care of. It worked out pretty good.

Um, Kathy is pretty good at, uh, passing out the, she, she, she'll both initiate pathogen. We'll work on it with her. Um, but I will ask you guys as the veterans committee, if you can confirm us two additional adult volunteers.

I'll be on it. I'll be on it.

Outside of yourself, maybe two people. It's better to have more people in tonight. I think you guys know that from how crazy that morning gets. So just that, let me know what they are and I'll be right there.

Well, he was, he was the, he was the, um, the recall. Yeah. Okay.

So, yeah. So yeah, I can help. Um, I was telling them that, um, I also drive my vehicle down the parade myself. So, you know, so I don't know if it's, that's going to interfere. Am I going to be setting up the cars?

Then we'll just make sure to use you for the before and after.

Yeah. Yeah.

If you want to, if you have a business, I'll include you and stuff.

There you go. Now you just need one more.

The other thing for the parade. Details I want to make clear. Are we, the folding of the flag, the last two years, American High has just been doing it for us in advance. We're going to keep that. Just want to make sure. We're no longer doing the ceremony.

We didn't do the folding of the flag last year.

Correct. That's what I'm making sure that we're not changing that.

Yeah, I don't think we're not going to do the folding of the flag. That's what I'm asking. Yeah, we're not.

Okay.

We still do the flag presentation.

Correct. yeah because yeah we'll find one grand marshall i want to be as transparent as possible i want you guys to be as transparent as possible i feel like in the previous years we always say we're going to go with applications we come back with applications and you guys already have somebody in mind that has nothing to do with applications i would ask you to not make us go through that if you already know who you're going to choose just let's do it now and we can bypass that if you if that's what you wish to do anyways. Because I feel bad why are we making people do that if we're not even.

Well, let me ask. Is there any member of the Veterans Committee who's a veteran who hasn't been a Grand? Larry? Have you been a Grand Marshal? No. Larry, you're the Grand Marshal. I was going to ask you this. I was going to tell you. I got to make a motion that Larry's the Grand Marshal. Exactly. Larry, you're the Grand Marshal.

Wow.

You're welcome. I'll probably have a heart attack before that. Oh, come on, Larry.

You've got a lot of work. Now you've got to prepare your speech.

You're available at 8. Yeah.

I have it for Sunday, November 8th.

Okay, Sunday, November 8th.

Don't tell me next month.

So take his bus. I'm going to wait. Everybody requested that he provide us a tactical vehicle so they don't be provided.

While we're on that subject. All of you guys who have wonderful contacts, if you can bring cool cars, cool vehicles, that's great. I think I copied you on the request. I already sent out an invite to last year's participants. Yes, to last year's participants that participated in the parade. I already sent them an invite. Keep in mind, these are the people who actually registered online. If somebody showed up, I don't have their info.

And I'll give a contact In fact, I just talked to him. Perfect. And then. Because we have one guy now that's over all of them.

Yes.

So it's a nice job. As many as possible. So it'd be easy just to talk to him, and then he can just say something. Larry. That's the car. Yeah.

So we can see that.

I was going to say.

And then my last. Hold on, I'm not going to talk. My last request to you guys. Okay, elected officials. I know you guys always want certain elected officials to come. Obviously, Mayor and Council is invited. It's already on the calendar. I'll follow up with them. Any external elected officials, I don't want to assume that you guys think I'm reaching out to them. Please give me a list, and that will have the Mayor's office officially reach out to them and send them in by for the parade, if that's what you wish.

Yeah, ask... Some people aren't through yet.

If anybody's running, I'll use that as a reminder, political season, if anybody is running, we are not going to take them as sponsors, unless they're like an incumbent, right? If somebody who's already there, that's different. But any new position they're running for, you know, it's a conflict of interest, we do not take it. And you guys know that.

I'll say invite Congressman Mario Villalba. Send me a list, please.

Send me a list.

Email me.

Fabrizio says he's coming.

And the reason I asked, one, I want to make sure we document so that we make sure we're inviting whoever you guys are requesting. Secondly, I want to get an official confirmation from the office because last year I kept hearing from random people, this person's coming from whoever, and this person's coming, and then I'm so sorry, but I'm not a magician, so I did not have on the decals ready for them. And if we want to have the decals ready for them, I need confirmation from the office that they're coming, so we know to make it. And so that we can reserve a vehicle for them. Otherwise, I cannot promise that.

What about vehicles?

Has anybody talked to Fred? If not, I will ask him.

No? I'll talk to him. Yeah. I was waiting to meet with you guys before the team. Yeah.

I think that's the main point for you, Bernie.

If we invited them to officials and to have feedback, do you like a chief staff in their office or no? They've done it in the past.

Yeah, they usually send a representative. They'll send a representative. And we're okay with that. And we're okay with it.

Okay.

And some of them don't want to be at the ending ceremony. Or that, yeah. Rick Scott, I mean, for sure.

National Anthem.

I'm going off the top of my head here.

Food.

Food. Every year we go back and forth about the food. Who do we want? Bring me a Coke, please.

We got it. I got it. We always have it.

I know we always have it, but I'm just wondering, do we want to keep the same? Do we want to do something different?

I think they were good. What was it? The Surgils, no? Yes. Where were they at? It's a secret.

We have a lot of restaurants around that help us.

Okay, no, but I'm saying, like, um, it's like a special lunch and after the veterans.

Oh, gotcha. The luncheon over there. Okay.

I thought you had it. We do it here for the veterans.

Gotcha.

Okay.

After the ceremony.

Yeah, we feed veterans and whoever else. We just need to prove that.

And any ideas you guys have for making the parade grander and bigger?

How about the band we had, the army band we had for...

They invited them.

That's basically all I got. I mean, the parade is already big, you know, especially when we get to the really ballpark.

Is that the only marching band?

I don't know. I think they are. I think every band should be. Every army band.

How many people do you think we should have the food for?

150. 150?

Do any of you guys have a connection with a Apache helicopter or something that could, you know, hover around or something? Yeah, we thought about that. Fortunately, somebody right there. Yeah, we're here. One time we had the helicopter come through.

Yeah, the Sheriff's Department has a helicopter to be pulled in the parade, and they pull it on the trailer. Okay, okay, but nothing flying in both these things.

One time we had for either Memorial Day or Veterans Day, we had a postcard helicopter.

Angel, Angel, I think Angel.

So that was my only public comment, and I apologize for throwing you back off the agenda and not even following it.

That's okay. We need to fix the agenda and put the Veterans Day parade on there, because it's not even on there.

Yes. And she has to go to try to do order of business. Now that we did public comments, now we'll do order of business. Addition of the federal deletions. I want to add as new business nine, a veterans. Correct. And anybody want to second that motion? All those in favor. All right. Yeah. Let's set the date.

And one of the things that we have it.

When the little units come to perform, you know, they've been up since 5 o'clock in the morning. They want their little 45 seconds of fame. So I try to, you know, move them along as fast as I can. But that's what the parents want. They want them to perform. Yeah, absolutely. And I think it kind of adds to it. I think so. Yeah, I try to not let them stay up for five minutes. Yeah, I do, I do.

On our end, in the registration form per the Gonzales' family, we did a debrief right after the event. And I have the notes. And part of it was that, unfortunately, they do kind of try to, you know, keep it two, three minutes.

It helps us. So we'll try to improve them.

But I put them on, I made them check it off on the form that they will keep their documents.

Yeah. Okay. We did a parade for the various days.

November 8th. Are we going to do walkie-talkies and... Yes.

And is the intention that we're going to have like subcommittee meetings? I mean, I plan on meeting with them anyways. I just want to know. I'll keep you as chair for that then, right? Yes. Okay. So we'll be in copy.

All right. Let's go to the reindeer room. We had two motions we had to approve. First motion was to update the metal design with a loop change. I make a motion to update the metal design with a loop change. Second. Seconded by Mr. Piazza. All those in favor? Aye. And was there another motion we had made?

For the veterans, for the strap, the metal. Yes. For the metal sponsor, we're going to take off the veterans, the Ranger Run logo from that, and we're going to add the metal sponsor to that.

Okay. It's new categories, essentially. The metal one and the bag one, I think you said. Metal and bag, yeah.

So a motion to add a new category of sponsorship for the bag and for the metal. I need a second. Second. Seconded by Mr. Piagno. All those in favor? Aye. And I'm watching to redesign the metal strap in order to include the metal sponsor and the second on that second. By Mr which will just take off the reindeer run we'll just take off the radio run on board, some of the words and not the one taxi emblems of the milk or headquarters or headquarters favor I. Motion passes. Anything other motions that we need to pass in the veterans committee?

We have the olive green already approved by the committee. Maybe we just put that in there to change the shirt color to olive green. Can I?

Yeah. Motion by Judy. Second. Olive green, right? Olive green. Seconded by Mr. Piaio. All those in favor? Aye. Anything else?

No. We already found out, we do not quickly kind of minor things 25th year that's out right that's it'll be done that that's done.

You think for the monuments of committee that we need to be Sebastian and you'll be there Wednesday. When you go there once it would be on. The lunch was it was number of phones yeah we're at the chamber of commerce lives and the hotel hotel yeah.

I guess one time?

Yeah, one time. 1130. Yeah, please. You can bring that poster.

Do we need to buy a ticket or something for that?

Yeah, yeah. Well, when you go in, you'll pay for the practice. Yeah, yeah. I don't know. Sometimes they do something. It all depends. Once you're 1130, I'll be there. Anything else?

So the frequency of updating of the flyer when we get sponsors? Weekly? One final week? Okay. Okay.

I think with all the, with all the fundraising that the Chamber's already doing with the book break and everything else, I don't think it's necessary to ask anything in addition.

No, no, but they help us. See now, Alaska just received $200,000 from the Chamber of Commerce. from Senator Brian Avila. You think they might pass a little? I don't know. Ah, why not? I say you cry. Let me cry and they got the milk.

Let me talk to, I'll talk to Ray.

Okay.

Did you guys get the contract signed by? I am waiting on.

Oh, you're the Grand Marshal, so he wants it.

It's in our department for me to, I know it's on our end, right?

Yeah, you cure the car, Grand Marshal's car with a negative stone. Sure.

Oh, okay. I'm pretty sure I'll copy you when I sign it to him.

So we have the, we make a motion to approve the grand Marshall. I know that was public comments. I don't think we did. Yeah. Make a motion to nominate. Okay. Judy makes the motion to nominate second.

I'll say, I'll say, I'll say seconded by Mr. James.

All those in favor.

Okay.

All those in favor? Aye. Motion passes. Any other issues? Any other concerns? Just for all of that, I want to encourage you guys to, we need sponsors for the reindeer run, for the parade.

If you guys could all commit to bringing in a sponsor, it would greatly help us.

And you just gave me a very good idea. Because when I talk to all these people and tell them whatever money you're going to use on your campaign, donate it to us.

Are you this B2B or B2B resident?

Alex Sanchez told me.

Yes, I know.

He called me. They got to donate to a 5163. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, motion adjourned. Seconded. Meeting's over. 648. Good day. Three meetings in an hour and ten minutes. I had no idea.