Town Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the session with the library board meeting, starting at 5.44 p.m. today. Ethan, would you like to give us a little call?

Good evening, everybody. I'm taking a little call, starting with Vivian Levy.

Here.

Henry Hassan.

Here.

I'm here. Nabila Santana. Present. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Miami Lakes United Soccer Club Inclusive Adaptive Sports Program.

Under new business? Under new business. 7B.

7B? Okay, so do I make a motion? Mm-hmm. I make a motion to add the Miami Lakes United Soccer Club Inclusive Adaptive Sports Initiative under new business 7B. I second.

all those in favor all right all right so uh and the other actually i have an addition um uh yes seven secrets I make a motion to add better and see. Right now. To discuss advertising for the martial arts program.

Second second all those in favor aye.

PB, Lupita D Montoya, Okay, any other additions solutions. PB, Lupita D Montoya, So we're not to public comments. Okay. PB, Lupita D Montoya, I guess we agreed to have Mr. Allen go first and then you guys since I guess the kind of the dates and again.

PB, Lupita D Montoya, All right, let's find out. PB, Lupita D Montoya, Your welcome element. All right, everybody. Thank you guys for having me here this evening. My name is Alvin Murray. Originally from the UK, been in the United States, well, I've been in the Miami Lakes area for probably over, say, 18 years. I'm going to age myself. I'll go back on four so they kind of get me with the accent and stuff. I am, I'm trying to. with a chameleon, but I've been with Miami Lynx United, you know, since I've been here. I'm a graduate of St. I went into the soccer. I played at St. Thomas. I was a solid athlete there for two years. And then, you know, in the club, started with rec, travelled, you know, different teams, taking kids to England, the whole nine. And in the past, say, eight, nine years, you know, presided in the club. So I'm definitely, you know, thankful for that and thankful for the town, you know, for allowing me to continue And then just kind of, you know, bringing the right people and making sure that our youth are growing and being, you know, you know, positive members of society. So in all that, why we are here is what I wanted to do. And we've had a program in the past. where we started similar many, many years ago. I think I remember your face. Yes, definitely. And yes, yes.

I was going to say, yeah.

So, you know, so being about neurodiversity, trying to push this program, you know, but as you know, it's just people you need, you know, you need the right people, you know, just anybody. and as much as I can say I can do it all you know if something pulls me and it doesn't go all the way it's supposed to put them in trouble you know so it's all about just kind of having the right people communicating with them you know with Miss Tammy in regards to hey you know just through you know contacts and I was like man I want to do this forever you know I've got a program I already you know just collecting dust and i was like man can we do this what can we do you know i think it's the right time you know we're just coming off the summer you know ready for a new season and it's really what what are we able to do together you know as i said we've got the fields you know me myself i am going to be the person that's going to lead in the program and i do have U19s, U18s, U17 teens, where I could call as a buddy system, one to four ratio, you know, whether they like it or not, you know, they ain't got no choice in this matter here. And really just trying to galvanize this program and not just not a one, you know, one stock shop and then that's it. I wanted to do something where if we're going to start this, let's think of what our continuation will look like now. So when I'm in it, I know what that long road looks like. Yes, I am at the suburb, but I am also, I oversee ALM sports, which we do like after school programs and summer camp programs, not only in South Florida or whole of Florida, you know, Georgia, Connecticut. So a lot of the summer I'm in and out, just doing different programs. And we've also got another program called United. And the same as Miami Lakes United, but I can't always do it. North Miami and say, hey, we're Miami Lakes United. So we've just basically taken up the Miami Lakes on the end of the night and just kind of give an opportunity for those that don't necessarily have, if it's the financial or the logistics, to be able to participate in programs that we offer here in the town. So it's not just soccer. We do all sports, soccer, basketball, chess, we do dance, football, whatever we feel we need. we can pull the team together to make it happen. The only thing that changes is just that if it's a soccer ball or it's a basketball, the same training still remains the same. So in regards to this particular program here, and please stop me if you've got any questions, but this particular program, this initiative is, okay, we know that Mondays is pretty light at Royal Oaks Park in regards to build space. Parking is always an issue on any given day. You know, so that's why I proposed Monday. I've got another thing I haven't brought to Tammy, but, you know, I'll be speaking with American High and they're open to us running a program. But that's a whole different thing. We have to go through Dade County Public Schools for the facilities. We can do it. Everything's all doable. And that could be a future advantage. artificial fields yeah so it's nice yes so there's backups there's backups there's backups yeah um but we've um we've got the mondays which i feel is gonna be a better day uh not only for the usage of the field and the park but even it's myself making sure that i'm able to be there and making sure i call one day and be that lead and this particular program is going to be a 10-week program It's going to be every single Monday. Obviously, weather permitting. We've got just different... My apologies. Okay, my apologies. We'll do a six-week program. I think we've added an extra week internally, just in case.

Yeah, just in case there's a rain out.

A couple of rain outs, and we're not able to take it. It will go for that seventh week. do it and trying to finish before the thanksgiving holiday i think that's um that's what we're trying to do so yeah the six months um we're looking to start in um in october so beginning of october i believe october 5th okay yeah yeah yeah over and it's this program will be a free program And so it'll be a program where, you know, everyone can just kind of reach out to contact and really just trying to let everybody know that this is a program that we'd like to do, like to start, like to continue. Obviously beforehand, we'll get the registrations in just so we can understand each individual um participant you know that kind of gets us prepared you know on the day what we've done is on the day nobody knows what's going on and what could seem like a good idea in the beginning we don't want it to fall flat on its face as we start yeah so um but we're always in communication right up until um start date um it'll be something real i think the turn on the minor lakes involved i understand where part of the town's off so it'll be something that you know all of us together hand in hand it could be something like a town of miami lakes program hosted by you know miami lakes united in conjunction with you know the special council advisory partnership with us but no hey all the better at the end of the day it's all about the youth it's all about our um yeah our participants yeah so every monday every monday six weeks they're saying six uh my finger was like um six o'clock till 6 45 know that 45 minutes um we've got a way of doing it we can explain a little bit more into it but you know the actual structure of it is uh you know i have like a circle of parents you know but i'll i'll mark it out you know we get right enough just in case um everybody you know even when a couple are coaching and we're doing our thing we're on the outside just kind of keeping an extra eye um whoever the parents are on the outside yeah um will be like that one to four ratio. That's what we're looking at. But again, measurable is different. So it just depends on the particular participant and what's the need. And then we can identify that. And even in the registration, we can kind of see, okay, we're going to need a more smaller ratio on a particular participant. But all that information will just kind of be subbed in and then we kind of roll it out. So yeah, everything's going to be there. like a communication method like a group me or something maybe you handle we have it really doesn't matter but more so you know any information to the parents boom here it is or you know if it's a rain out rained out way before time because you know people are people we've got plans and yes you see it pouring down or sometimes parents want to know it is cancelled just so that you can move on to the next um thing you know trust me i've got parents coming out it's pouring down and they're like

You didn't tell me it's not.

You know, but yeah, communication is vital. And we're just always in communication on that. And then after a successful six week, the idea would be, you know, going into the spring and yes, we can continue this program. If this is something that the parents and the participants want, or we also can do soccer, we can do the basketball, you know, we can do basketball, we can do all different track, whatever we want to do or, our participants need or want, we'll get the people together and we'll make it happen.

What are the different sports?

You said basketball? Yeah, so basketball.

It can be, like, these are good starts. Like, very simple starts, sports that are friendly to most of our children, like them and then whatever the parents think they want. And this is what he does, so, like, he can create a program of any kind of sport.

No, I'm fine with that. So other programs, would you say four to one ratio? So you allow them also to have their therapist with them, or like this is just more like a free sport?

So this is the communication between us. If the parent or yourselves feel that the therapist is necessary to be on the field with the child, as long as the child's able to play, right? It's not restricted, oh, I can't go over for a visit, then they go here, oh, I can't play, it's run, run. I want them to be, you know, to be able to participate active. Yeah. So I'm not against it, you know, but if you've got 10 kids and 10 therapists, then it might get a little lucky. I think that's good. That's a good question. Well, that's good.

Then the other question that I have, so I know, I mean, for example, soccer more for, but you also have females. So are you doing females and males together or are there going to be different groups for girls?

I think the initial, the initial, is we have it as COVID. Unless, again, you say to me, hey, Alvin, you know, look, I've had experience doing this. Coming from the UK, I was doing special needs programming, right? And obviously, as I said, the amount of years I've been, you guys are in this day in, day out. So this is where I'll take your feedback and then I'll make sure that it applies to the program. So what you're asking me is we can do If you don't like it, we don't have to do it. If you love it, let's do it. You like it, I love it. You get what I'm saying? It's that type of thing. Until we get it right, until we said, wait a minute, this program right here needs to now be replicated.

Yeah, and all our sports with Special Olympics, they are co-ed. So we don't divvy them up like male, female. It's more based on skill level.

Fun. Is there a need? It might be here.

So that's another thing, too. We're trying to see who comes at first. We want to see what participants are coming and where the need is. And based on that, if we see that there's an influx of younger kids between this age or older kids between this age, maybe then that's when we start splitting them up. But the first initial thing is to get them there. How are you going to find the participants? that's another reason why he's coming to partner with us to get like a blast out there. So like us be part of a flyer and trying to like, they'll spread the word their way. And then if we can be, if our town can promote it as well and get it into the community that way as well. And how many participants?

So as I said, it's been like four to one ratio. We're looking at about having at least you know, four to five of our, of our staff, you know, not including myself. Um, so we're looking at, you know, five times four. Um, as you said, we're going to leave it open, but what we will do is because we're looking to start in October. Say, for example, next week or even the week after we start the promo, once the registration is coming, we can start to see what those ages look like. You get what I'm saying? And then once we start seeing it, say, for example, five-year-old, five-year-old, five-year-olds, okay, 13, 14, 15, we might have to come back to the table and say, you know, there might be two days or two different, we might need something, but I don't know if it's going to work, you know, with the ages. There's something where we'll look, or I might say, you know, I'm going to have these staff you know, just with a four or five-year-old, and then I've got these staff, and then I can coordinate it that way. So I don't want to put any restriction on the age, honestly. What's the oldest, you think?

I guess 17, because it's for children.

In the past, I've never put an age on special needs programs, but you let me know if you feel that the need is more on the younger age group. And if we've got more of a following on a younger age group, you know, then we can go with that.

I was thinking from, you know, our little ones to 25. That was my mentality. But it also, like, again, it depends on who comes, you know, because Dojo is from six to 22, 23, and they're all together. And I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I've got a few questions. So let's say you have six five-year-olds, eight 14-year-olds, whatever the difference is, my math is off right now. How do you decide which group and will there be enough room to have two separate groups at the same time?

Okay, so to answer your last question first, we've got enough space. answer your your first part would be um in regards to the um that you know if you've got five of this and six of that age group it's just basically we'll just look at it and go okay then even though i said it's four to one but if you've got seven i'll still have two coaches with the seven and split that up yeah because you can't have the fifth the five-year-olds with the 12-year-olds that's right no no no that is because it's a four to one ratio i always try to keep the age group with that one you get what i'm saying So yeah.

And how do they sign up? How would they be signing up?

So what we'll do is we could do like a drop form or an email me form. And that could be part of any kind of advertisement through our phone. And that'll be something where, you know, the parents will put out the information that we ask. You know, we might want special information, you know, and you might say, hey, make sure we find out. I don't know. What's their favorite sport, even in the software registration.

So bottom line, you handle registration and we just put it on the flyer.

Yes, I can. Or if you wanted to, you can, but we can't do it.

We don't want to. Yeah, we don't have to. I was going to mention, because you had mentioned before, when it comes to communication, how would be better?

The way they do it in the other programs we have is,

Like a WhatsApp chat. Yeah. We have a group as well.

Yeah. Do you think, Mr. Murray, and I'm just thinking out loud here, right? You know, Elisa said something earlier now where I think things in groups are determined by the skill level, right? I think, yeah, I don't think it'll be good, right? Like, let's say you got, back to the lady's point, right? You have, you know, 15 five-year-olds and then you got one 20-year-old, right? Are you going to turn away that 20-year-old, right? So it's like, I think instead of breaking it out by eight, maybe by...

Right, well, here's what's going to happen. And I think where I'm looking at is I'm looking at first day. See, prior to the first day, we don't know who can do a bicycle kick and who's not going to kick a ball. We don't know. But on that first day, I think if we're able to what would make sense would be, I'm going to do it by age group first. At least, specifically, by looking at it, our parents are going to see their 22-year-old with their five-year-old and be like, oh, that don't look good. Regardless of if they're both the same skill, right? But what we'd have to do is we'd have to take a look at everything on that first day. And I'm pretty good at it. This is what I do, right? So I'll do different things I'm able to do.

USS.

USS. And then I'm like, okay, everybody come in.

Okay, so one, two, three. And I just wanted to add on the registration piece. If this is a program directly through us, then we need to have that. information that would be a terence question i don't want to speak out of turn but when it comes to like a registration form or something like that we obviously have that all built out that has like the medicals and all of that information that's required so again we need to check with the sports team or development but that is something that we could easily provide you guys like the registration forms the other question that i had pertained to

which you just brought up. Do we need a waiver? Do we need medical consent? And you would provide all that.

Yeah, so on the bill down, so thank you for being able to offer that. We do offer it. It's just I was asking, I don't know, maybe you wanted to do it because of the council. I can go out there in my shorts and stuff and be like, I can do that stuff. I'll tell you that. yeah well we can do we can we can do the whole gamut before we even send anything out as well you know this would be great you just say don't say that okay actually i have a question for jaylen yeah um so would they have to go through parks and run

Do you use the town's parks?

Yeah, so we're in contract with the town in regards to soccer programming for the youth, right? So maybe with a youth thing, maybe if it's above 17, maybe it might be an issue. Because if something was to happen to a 20-year-old and we come back to the town, just worst case scenario, right? They could come back and say, well, then you wasn't supposed to, you know, work with 20-year-olds.

I would say because the two other programs that we have, They have contracts with the town. I know you already have a contract with the town, but it's for a different program.

I would say that just, you know, to save this bet, just keep parts of everything.

But we're going to need to because we need to know the dates.

Yeah, because we need to request for it. Like if we're going to do Mondays, we need to know the dates.

Obviously, our contract is with the town, so I'm with Parks and Rec all day long. In the past, I've mentioned I want to do it, I want to do it, I want to do it. Go and do it, go and do it. It's always been that. Now it's like, there it is, it's on a Monday, it's going to be, you know.

Who do you normally come in and take with?

I'm among many people, so it's... Right, sorry. Yeah, we go with Manny, but I go with Jeremy. Jeremy.

Jeremy, Jeremy.

Jeremy, and if I have to go any higher, it's Lopez. And if it's any higher, you know?

No.

Well, you know, if it's... I don't think they're going to say no because it's for our youth, you know, and it's a programme that's probably, well, not probably, it's well needed. I think what they're going to say is, Are you equipped for it? Make sure that, you know, on that standpoint. And my second would be is, okay, just make sure that the parking spaces are, you know, open to us. I'm going to make sure it's very limited on our side, you know, so we're going to be like that. But as I said, I've done it before. And it's been really good. You know, I've got kids on and off. I've seen them grow and they're doing variety and everything. It might be the same. I'm like, oh, wow. It's been brilliant. But yeah.

I'm sorry, we're getting tight on time. Equipment provided by you.

Yeah, so we'll have like the balls and the cones and the stuff like that. We might ask parents, hey, bring your soccer ball because sometimes they'll have their own soccer balls.

Special Olympics will be provided as well.

We can help you guys with it. Perfect, that'd be great.

Yeah.

What am I going to teach them?

It's a holiday, it's just Columbus Day, and that's one of your days.

Okay, no problem. So we can look at that. If we need to change it, we can change it.

But they can do it. And remember, it's for the town. The town isn't open, but the programs can continue running.

Right, but the lack of people showing up, it's a three-day weekend.

Yeah, but schools are still open.

whatever yeah i just thought i'd bring it up yeah because you know this thing now is more just government it's not that school indigenous thing sorry so great question in regards to the uniforms oh both of you are the same at the same time give credit to both of you well what um as i said we can provide the pills we can provide ourselves an actual culture in it um the body system that's gonna help with um equipment in regards to t-shirts um that might be something that will be it would be a cost for us to be able to perfect so if that's something where we all can reduce, you know? That's something that I haven't really... We can definitely... Yeah, absolutely.

We can make that happen. Exactly.

So, like, we would need to know how many uniforms we need to buy, the cost of it, and then the risk. So they can see the dollars attached.

So with the registration form, obviously, I'm going to say the shirt size and stuff like that. And what I'm also going to do is I'm going to give you guys access. We usually do it via Google Sheets, so you can... Everyone has access to it, so we click it and you can see it in real time. on who's registered and the sizes you can give it to me and then i'll give it to them okay yeah once the program starts going with me as the shirts i think we need to start all the i think yeah however if you've got them in stock already then yeah yeah i'm just trying to think everything all depends i've got i've got shirts but i can't guarantee sizes and stuff yeah

We respectfully request endorsement and community support. That does mean for us to promote it. Correct.

So any word of now?

So besides location, time, shirts, what else do you need from us? Anything else you might need from us? Well, we were the location at the time.

He has the location.

No, I said besides. Oh, so. What?

Besides that, it's, you know, as I said, I think, yeah, besides that, I feel As I said, I'm going to be looking at getting the staffing, you know, but any additional that you have, any volunteers that you have, I'd also be helpful. Why I say that, as I said to you, as I said in the beginning, I'm going to have my U19s, 18, 17, 16, 17, 18 year olds. All right, yeah, my new community service hours. Yeah, let's do it.

You know, I want to do everything I can.

But if you've got, hey man, I know a couple of volunteers that this is what they do. I'd love to bring them up. You know, that doesn't mean I'm going to take away what I've got, but I want them to learn, you know, and build them up. The next program, they know, I know exactly what we need to do. And that's something what I want to do in the club, just to kind of let you guys know, you know, I want to build a different, I want to build them. So I want to go scholarships and go far in soccer, but I also want to want them to understand, you know, not everybody has the same opportunities as they have in the physically and the mental and even just financially, you know, because it is a cost, you know, on our program. And I just got to understand that not everybody has, but let's be appreciative of what we've got. You know, so, yeah.

Thank you. Yeah. Thank you so much. Would you mind maybe like writing down your email that way you will stop?

I'll give it to you, Julie. Yeah, yeah. Perfect. I'll talk to Clarissa and Jeremy about it probably tomorrow. Yeah, I got you.

I do have a summer camp program, but let's talk about that in December. Yeah, we've got enough time. Likewise. Say bye to everybody. Thank you very much.

Nice meeting you. Thank you. Okay, perfect.

I've been working with the Special Olympics since I was the council president of the city of Hialeah and we were able to work on many different initiatives and projects within the city. We were able to also find space throughout our parks department and our different facilities to have the Special Olympics come and participate on our ground. So we've done a lot of great things. been very, very active with our special population center, Edgar J. Hall, and the different ASD programs throughout the schools in Hialeah. And so when I transitioned out of elected office, I called Elisa and I called the team. And so I'm currently on their committee for their big race that they have at the end of the year, right? And so, and I'll let Elisa speak a little bit more on the races that they have throughout the state of Florida. But pretty much every region in the state has a big race, and then it ends in Miami. So it's my job to make it a big bang, right? And that's fine. And it's a good thing, and we're doing a great job. So I reached out to Mayor Diaz to see if there was a way that we can partner up for an event that I like to do here in the town, right? And I know that I've always heard that this board is very, very active, and And one of the best boards in the state of Florida is what the mayor tells me. And so he told me, hey, you got to speak to Vivian, speak to the board. And so just wanted to run something by you guys to see if there's an appetite for it. The race is, what is it?

December 12th.

It's December 12th. And so what I'd like to do is at some point in November, Preferably a weekend. We had thought about maybe November 14th. I don't know if that's available for you guys, but to find a park where we can have an event. We could call it a family event, a family picnic event where, you know, we'd like to showcase what Special Olympics does, right? Like what they've done in the city of Hialeah. I'd like them to give us a, at least I kind of, you know, she's the brains behind the operation. But I wanted to have a family event So, you know, surrounded by the Special Olympics and obviously involved the town, involved the board, and also to raise awareness for the race, right? You know, maybe have a stand. If people want to participate and join us for the race in December, More than happy to go ahead and register. But that would be the idea, right? I know that there's a couple council members in the city of Hialeah that are also interested in offering resources, whatever it is that we may need. And yeah, I mean, that's pretty much the deal. I don't know if, you know, any questions or maybe.

And I'll add on a little bit more. So as I just mentioned, he has repointed our committee and I am very thankful for him because he is amazing. And so our race for champions is our statewide campaign. We have races that go all the way from Johnsonville through the end of the state with our final one being Miami on the 12th. And so essentially what we were thinking of doing is making like a community event day here in Miami lakes. where we can showcase like all that Special Olympics does. I mean, you know, we're a very familiar brand. Everybody knows that we do sports and competitions, but a lot of people don't know that we are the number one provider for health screenings of people with special needs. And we provide that all for free at our competitions. We also offer athlete leadership where we train them to be global messengers. They're the ones that normally will come to the room and present to sponsors with me as well. So they host their own meetings and they kind of want to show what athlete leadership is. And unified, the name is great, United. So we also have what we call our unified program. And that's where we pair people with normal abilities and disabilities together and they compete on their team. So we have an inner Miami unified team where it's high school kids from all around Miami can participate and then play. But like the players from inner Miami will come out and we have a ton of our soccer athletes that play. And actually our Miami Dade soccer team just went to Minnesota and I have goosebumps on my ears. They just came back with the gold medal. I just, yes. And so I love this energy with everything that Alvin's trying to do, whatever you guys need. Again, we're not the sports department, but I know that Terrence can facilitate a lot of those sort of simpler things that you guys need. So more than happy to help with that. But yeah, just kind of like inform Miami Lakes community about all the different things that we do. Get to know the athletes, get to know the families, the parents, and everyone that kind of rallies behind. And the best part about it is that our community engagement manager lives in Miami Lakes. So we're going to make Gio come out and do all the things as well. So that was kind of our idea. we're more than willing to get feedback. If you guys think like another form of event would be better to showcase this all years. But that was just kind of what we were thinking.

Yeah. One of the other things that we like initially were thinking during the thought of the event is we kind of passed by the idea of making it more of a resource fair, but then we kind of pivoted to this idea because it would really help showcase more of what Special Olympics offers. There's a resource fair. We've tabled at them. I've gone to a couple now since I started at Special Olympics. And what I've seen is there's so much information I want to share with these families. And sometimes it's hard to show it. So showing all the scope of what we can offer with our unified teams, just multiple different little sports activations, like a cornhole area, a soccer area. And then on top of that, have our health programs being able to talk and show the information.

and make it more of what do we offer the families that are in miami lakes and what we could bring for the families in miami lakes question for you guys because we know that to make an event to set up an event is complicated have you guys thought of partnering up with and i know that's what you're trying to do with the committee but with events that are already happening like You have some work fest coming up from the cultural fairs.

When I saw that you guys had like the mental, like a mental resource fair kind of coming up.

The fall fest, they're going to be there at the fall festival. Yeah, they're going to be at the fall festival.

Yeah, they are.

Yeah, yeah. No, no, no, not them. I'm saying like they, she was looking at the notes of minutes from last meeting that there's going to be a mental health awareness that's like, that's the part of the fall festival.

Yeah, you can part with the mental health committee and That's coming up. You got Sabor Fest, Acellos. This is huge. The Mayor's Garden. That's, you know, our event, the Mayor's Garden.

This would be like an outdoor though, because it's to have sports, like sporting events, right? Is that at least a place?

Well, the thought was, yeah, to set up like sort of little unified areas, right? So you can play like Unified Corn Bowl, do like a little Unified three-on-three, like not a serious game, but just kind of like... Similar to what you do at schools. Exactly.

because it's because of the scope of how hard it is to get to that point yeah and and you know the time frame is actually very very very small for for events you know the mental health is what is that what is that event oh I think it's October 24th where is it No, but. Because if we can like that is that an outdoor event yeah it's at one of our biggest part is to know if I can have my go to the area.

Both that inside because it's a fair and then.

yeah all the vendors are with um like 10 by 10 they're the stage it's here and um and there's um yeah like the field they take them to the field by calling it picnic is yeah yeah but we have something

We haven't chosen a date yet, but we have something with UM-CART. Yes, we work with them as well. We actually have on the agenda the UM-CART picnic, but we haven't chosen a date yet.

I'm with you on that. What do you think? Who's going to speak on that? I was going to. Okay, we have to discuss. Yeah, we did. So we were going to get back to you. The day of the...

The mental health.

Oh, the mental health, but then it's conflicting.

They booked it first.

They booked it first. But wait a moment. Wait a moment. Why don't we just do it the same day? Can we do the same day? Or would it... I don't know if that would be something that would be possible, because if we could just do it all together. If not, I get it, but maybe that's why not. I got to the mental health thing for that picnic.

We're trying to.

But we can have, like, different sides. Like, let's say, like, the way that the mental health did it, did they do it, like, this side of the park? Because we can always do, like, the other side of the park, and then...

They take over the, like, the feet part, and they're trying to make it a little smaller, so it looks like there's more.

Yeah, squishing it together.

Yeah, they're trying to squish it together. But when you do have... There is a stage... You know, so, I mean, it's as big as that one of the expanded to, I would say, as quick as possible or they're meeting to see because they, it is coming up.

When is it?

So we're 24, 24.

Yeah, it's kind of close. Yeah. We're going to be more important.

Yeah, 24%. No, no, no.

Yeah, so, but if you guys can't, like, link the picnic and the mental health, maybe we can split the UM card and Special Olympics and make that, like, the picnic.

I don't know what you guys have working with UM cards, but that might be... That's my first thought. I'm just... I mean, that's just, like, something else. But I think first, I guess let's try to do our own thing. Because, I mean, we did have this already.

But I guess you guys have like, I mean, could it be November?

Yeah, we got November 14th.

Yeah. So we the only. time that we're not available is going to be that weekend the week of the 21st yeah we have an event in Broward that weekend and that's right before Thanksgiving yeah but that's kind of the only thing that we have in November and then with the race being December 12th in Miami but that doesn't mean you know that we can't do something after the race I know that gets close to the holidays yeah but yeah

Yeah, so we're open. Preferably before the race.

Yeah, just the week of November 16th, we were available. That's the only week that really worked.

On November 14th, she just mentioned, it's Cars for Heroes.

I love that event. I've actually come to that event. Yeah, so love it. It's amazing.

Yeah. The only thing that does take place, I believe, towards the evening.

Yeah, and it's over here. Yeah.

when you've done this type of event on other cities how do you promote it like who so we definitely rely on the city to get the word out but then we put it out through all of our channels too right so like all of our socials we hit like all of the south region you know all of miami-dade counties and then whoever is available to come so we hit it kind of on both ends yeah because you have a pre-made flyer like describing from previous or another place that you might have know that i can get one into the inbox in the next two days she will make one very fast i mean we've got plenty of other like event flyers because then you but yeah we just have a viable shirt we'll give us the information yeah what it is what we're doing well that was kind of like the brainstorm piece of it if not we would have brought one it's just like what do you guys want to see like we're more than happy to you know excuse me if i'm wrong to to join one of these events and then kind of showcase Special Olympics in that way since we are tied on time. Like, that works.

So would it be, like, would it sound okay to you guys to say showcase? Would that be the, like, What would be good, good wording for it? Like, so just so we can, once we discuss it, I know, cause we, we wouldn't make him a flyer if that's something that we're able to do.

What I don't want to do is take away from any other event. Yeah. Right.

So take away anything. If like you guys have talked through with you on card about, you're going to do all these things for the picnic and then we're just like, Hey, we're here too. I definitely don't want it to be that, but it's something that.

Yeah. Yeah. I like it when it's one of our events.

Yeah. Because that way... I agree.

Yeah, you guys already have the word out. Yeah.

It all coincides together.

Yeah, and it coincides.

I like the showcase, too. All three? I don't know.

I think that maybe... Now you're getting big. I would like for the...

for the special Olympics team to, to maybe do like a walkthrough of wherever you decide that we're going to have this event, do a walkthrough to see how much space we would need for the, you know, we can easily adapt to whatever the space is.

Right. So if we have a smaller space, then it's something like, okay, we'll have information.

Oh, it's a big space. If we were to do, if we were to do with the mental health, we'd have to see what space they pick up. because the park itself is big that's where we host our fourth of july okay so it's a big park it's a big field so for that i wouldn't be too concerned with i guess it's more a matter of because yeah that that's why i was thinking because of the people like the people there are you know the more i see the one gets out that's why i was thinking with them at all but i yeah again we would have to discuss and see what, what I am.

I'm very, you're very open to timing. So.

And timing actually mentioned it because I had brought something up and I was like, well,

um the special olympics they you have to have a intellectual disability yes so that's still yeah so you have to so to in order to participate in special olympics you have to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability regardless of where on the on the spectrum does not matter okay that's the only requirement because on the flyers it said it like it's physical disabilities and intellectual It is, but we definitely have the physical disabilities, right? But we just focus more on the mental health side of things. So if anybody comes that is just an amputee, then we wouldn't take them type of thing.

They have to have- That would be paralympics.

Exactly. Yeah, that's different. Exactly. That would be the paralympics.

So I was eating, right? Mm-hmm. All right. Cause I gave wrong information.

No, it's probably one of the most like, no, but I get from people outside things.

They're like, Oh, so like the Paralympic. No. Yeah. Yeah. Especially if they're not in the world to like distinguish the difference. Yeah.

I have my son, my son is, is a wheelchair, but he doesn't have an intellectual disability. So I had wanted to put him when he was little. So I was like, it's my understanding. They have to have intellectual disability too. But then, so I was talking to the assistant of the mayor of Miami-Dade County and I was like, I think it changed. So yeah.

And we're talking to them all the time too. So if you get some bad information, you're totally good. Oh my gosh. I feel so bad. You're so good. Don't even worry.

And I was so past that. Oh, by the way. It's dumb. I just wanted to clarify that because I do remember that with my son. Yep.

Okay.

So for him, it's different. So if you were to compete in anything, it would be Paralympics because it doesn't have an intellectual disability.

What it could be is what we consider a unified partner of ours. That's where our unified teams come in. That they don't have to have an intellectual disability and then they have it for every sport.

Can you expand on that?

Yeah, so we have a whole section of our sports programs that we call our unified sports. So that includes our inner Miami team where high school kids can try out Also, we have what we call our unified champion schools, and that is programs that we work with directly the public schools throughout Florida that they have their own Special Olympics programming within the schools. So from two to eight, we consider them our little elites. And then from then on is when we start giving them up based on skills. So with that, even in the college campuses, we have a ton like UF is a huge Special Olympics unified school. And they're so good that the basketball team, again, they're a unified basketball team that includes everybody, intellectual disability, no intellectual disability. They got to go to Berlin and compete in world games because they were so good. And the unified partners are all paid for through Special Olympics. That's the thing with Special Olympics. All of our athletes, our unified partners never have to pay for for anything until they no longer want to participate. You know, we get the kids, the kids a lot. We still have athletes in their eighties that compete in bowling and stuff like that. So it's forever long. So that unified you know, and that's kind of what we want to showcase more too with this event.

Is that like, I don't know about this. I didn't know.

Like you could be a bowling partner, like whoever you want. Like I used to go on. And that's where we have a lot of like the parents and their children will be unified partners together and bocce and bowling and different things like that.

Yeah.

So your son can definitely still participate just at the unified partner, which would be super cool. He's over here. No, but that's great.

That's great information.

Like that's kind of the whole like idea behind us. Like, you know, that we offer so much more than sports and competition.

People are very often unaware of the scope of what we do. Yes, absolutely.

Okay, awesome. Thank you guys so much. Thank you guys so much for having us. It was so nice to meet you all.

I'm going to get your information.

Yeah, definitely, because we're going to be discussing that further.

Great, perfect.

Thank you so much.

It was nice meeting you guys.

So nice to meet you. Thank you guys. Excuse me, do you guys mind me writing down your information?

Yeah, of course. If you have a card. I also have two other copies of my part here. All right, so let's move on to the approval of the minutes.

You guys have a chance to let them over.

Yes. Thank you. Make a motion to approve the minutes. August the 5th. August the 5th, 2026. You can keep it. The second. Okay, so. It leads online. First on old business, let's have a little discussion.

recap about the IEP workshop.

I'm here. There you go. Oh, that's low. Okay.

You're up. Welcome. Hola, guys. Sorry, I couldn't make it today.

No worries. We hear you.

Oh, did you guys want me to do a recap? I mean, I was gonna say a little something.

And then if you want to chime in, or if anybody else, yeah. Unfortunately, the turnout was not what we expected or had hoped for. So basically, I just want to have a little discussion about how, you know, we can improve what

changes can we make what can we do so that yeah one thing like and i would love the input like like do you think that it wasn't Like, it may be the topic or like, what do you think it was that like people didn't want to come out for? Because, I mean, I was posting it nonstop. I had tagged everybody, you know, from the town that I know like shares it. You know, we had a bunch of people sharing it. There were definitely a lot of eyes on it. I know the town did a story, but the town didn't do like an actual post post. Like, I don't know. I don't know what...

the date or the topic or the rain i really don't know you know i think there was like a few factors of you know all those you mentioned i mean me i was discussing it with jv the mayor's assistant because he was there and he was you know when i showed him the flyer and he was like oh you know like you can't really tell what this is from the flyer it's not like very you know detailed maybe for someone like not in our world yeah i i mean for someone not in our world they wouldn't know what an iep is maybe like autism parents i've i felt that i was pretty that's what i told him um i don't know maybe this is the first time we've ever had uh a workshop on a saturday usually we do them like during the week in the evenings you know, maybe, you know, that was one thing that didn't work. You know, people, you know, it was a rainy morning. I'm sure half the people who signed up were like, you know, I'm staying in, I'm not going out. That usually, you know, during the week, people are already out, they're working, you know, and even though, you know, we've had to cancel workshops because nobody even signed up. So I don't know, it's tough. It's tough to stay with these workshops. Yes, Tana.

Is there a way that maybe in the future when we try this again, that we have a video like logging in on their computer option? Because that might be easier. Maybe they don't have childcare. Maybe they just can't leave. So even if they did get rained out, they can still log in. You mean live stream? Yeah, like stream it. kind of like a Zoom, like have a Zoom option.

I don't think it was live stream, but it was recorded. So that's a good thing. You know, we can share it. yeah send it out and see how many views that i get i was gonna ask like are we able to collect data from that like yeah see who see who watches it so then we can kind of log that and see like okay like even if they didn't show up we still had people watch it exactly yeah okay i'm hoping for that would be really good yeah live stream maybe next time and um yeah because we had a workshop during covid oh okay and uh it was you know on yeah and you know it got like over 200 views oh wow so they are able to track it. So once they have the video ready, I know Ivan from YoungCard, he asked me to send it to him so he can share it.

yeah and since the town uploads all of these like meetings and everything if they could if they upload it obviously to share it so we could save it and so Ivan and Danielle can save it but if they post it on the town's YouTube channel then that's that way it's all in one place and we can you know track all the views much easier and we can share it and you know but otherwise you know I'll skip it

It was a great event. It was sad that people didn't come, but a few people came. It's just hard.

I don't want to hear anyone complaining about IEPs ever again, because ever, like, don't do that.

That's awesome.

You know, I just hope like the vendors that were there didn't get like discouraged and like, you know, next time we have an event, that they want to participate. I mean, I did feel bad, especially for the library, because they had like three people there. I'm taking care of them. But otherwise, you know, it was a nice event. It looked really cool.

And maybe like in the flyer next time saying we have activities for your children. So, cause some people might not bring their child to like sit down and like have a, like, you know, cause my kid will start throwing things and run around. Yeah, like maybe three or four kids. And the library was there, right? They had stuff, right? They had stuff. Which was awesome. Yeah. Like if I, like, if I knew that, that I would, you know, if I was able to go and I would bring Dean and I'd be like, okay, that's good. But sometimes it's a deterrent, but I think it looked really nice. And hopefully the few people that came, they got something out of it. So it was worth it anyway.

Yeah.

Right, right.

Okay. Anybody else? Anything? No? So moving on. All right. Arts for Autism. I have an update. They're going to be presenting at the next town council meeting. It's September 15th. Oh, that's right. September 15th? Yeah.

It's the second or third Tuesday.

Third Tuesday. You all don't have to attend. I'm going to come with Miss Audrey. You're welcome to come, but you don't have to. I mean, you can watch it. Nice. So, yeah. So that's the update with Arts for Autism. Okay, Pickleball Clinic.

I'm sorry, back to art. Is that what we're going to be calling it now? Or are we changing it?

It's still in the presentations.

Okay. Pickleball.

Okay, so pickleball. I looked at a couple of dates. Which one did I say?

It was the 16th and the 30th of January.

Okay.

I spoke to Jeremy about it today before our meeting. He said just get a little bit more information on the event. And that way he can kind of help us because they don't really do like reservations of the courts. It's kind of just like first come, first serve. And if we needed a reservation, it'd be kind of like a special events permit. But he said he could try and help us out. But you need to know like how many courts would we need, like if we have... All of them. All of them?

Yeah.

Yeah, but I don't understand. The town not own though. They do, but they people don't reserve them. Like there's no reservation for the courts. You just show up. You just show up. And if they needed to close down the courts, they would need a special defense. A special defense. So I think that's what we would say, but.

But I don't think that it would work.

yeah so he kind of just wanted to know like what the whole event is like how many people you expect to go that way he knows like wait okay i'll need to have them come back i'll send him an email i'll send him an email and i mean what do you guys think which are you guys good with any of those dates can you repeat the date i've only heard the 6th january 16th or 30th that was saturday

Well, the 16th is not a good day because that's a three-day weekend. Martha Lusikini is on the 18th.

30th?

We've got to get a hold of the pickleball and have them go back in or give us more information.

We already know all the information.

Okay. I had questions.

Do you remember when you had that meeting? June or July?

No, it wasn't July. That's too soon.

Okay.

Yeah, maybe June.

It was either May or June. We wanted to do it during the summer. Yeah. I think it was May.

Because we wanted to start June and we're like, let's do it soon.

Okay, yeah. So it was May. What about April? Maybe it was April.

The questions that I have are about the equipment, the shirts. Who keeps the equipment? What it pertains to? How do we sign them up? The same questions I asked this gentleman.

It's all up to us. How do we sign up? The shirt?

Yeah, but how are we going to order the shirts without knowing who's going to show up?

When they register, they have to put

So we order, whoever registers on Eventbrite, they're going to get a shirt.

Yeah. Yeah. And then if someone doesn't show up, then you get a shirt. You get a shirt.

Okay. Okay. All right. So I need to send you. Okay.

So then you want car picnic. Okay, let's go. Let's discuss this idea of doing it the same day. Okay, the reason I'm saying that because I'm afraid that Since we don't have a dance class anymore. A lot everyone from the dance class went to the picnic right after dance. Yes. Now we don't have it.

I remember that. And there wasn't that big of a turnout. No.

Mostly the dance class.

No, what is the turnout?

I don't want to have either. Same with the event they want to have. It's like, who's going to show? Look at our last event. Five people came. I feel bad if they are doing this thing and we spend all this money with a picnic with you on card also. Even the mental health fair.

I'm in agreeance. I think it should be the same thing. That's a valid point.

Because of that. Because of the people. And also, one of the things that they spoke about at the chair meeting was that we have a lot of events. So in that case, we would be joining with them. Now, what I was thinking, though, so that there is, like, a separation, even though what will more than likely happen is people... My concern maybe would be more the food. Right. More than anything else. But then the way that Ivan did, I remember when they would register, they would get a ticket for the food. So that would be maybe my main concern with that because they're going to have food trucks, but then we're going to have food. So... Either we put the food somewhere like kind of hidden so that it's not like, oh, everyone just come and eat.

No, it's outside though.

No, of course. But like behind, like Mary Collins, you know what I mean? Like maybe back there where the rest of the people aren't really seeing it. Not where we had it last year.

They use the picnic tables between the pavilion and Mary Collins. Is there another table out there?

I don't know.

I mean we could always just get like pizzas and just throw it inside Mary Collins like our food because if people see that barbecue back there they're gonna go they're gonna try and go we can definitely then yeah we're competing with the food trucks yeah then would would they get confused then like whoever's coming to they get confused because they see all that other stuff going on outside and then if we have special Olympics from all these

We have special Olympics to come to that. Give me one second.

Yeah. But I'm thinking, and this is, I don't know how the mental health do it. That's what I was thinking. If they do like, let's say this side of the park, then maybe we're on this side of the park. Or I don't know if they use the community center, then we use the community center. You get it? Like trying to use something separate from them. But because everyone's there together, I think maybe we'll get more people.

Amador says it's all outside.

It's all outside and it's been getting more traction every day. Yeah, now you have a stage. And there's a stage and they have a... like a laser tag thing that's super, like the kids all want to come.

Well, their meeting is September 16th. Maybe somebody should go to that meeting and then claim the collaboration.

No, my only concern would be for promotion, like promoting it, because usually, you know, we should have at least a month and a half, two months, if even, you know what I mean?

That would be almost two months if we start soon.

No, because there's October 24th.

September 2nd. No.

October 24th is a fall festival.

But we're in September 2nd. That's a month and a half.

No, but if we go to the meeting, that's September 16th. And if we agree to be part of that, then that's when we would start. Who's the chairperson? Her name is Lindsay.

My chairperson would have to check with Ivan, too.

Also, the promotion of it, because... It's not going to give too much time for promotion because if their meeting is September 16 and we go to that and they say, yes, okay, it's a go. I don't know if that would be enough time.

And sunshine comes into play because we're discussing an event again.

Yes. If this is already an existing event, they would have to change all the flags for everything to add you guys or just Unless you did your own event? Correct.

Yeah, it wasn't our own event, but we would want to know how they do it in the sense that, like I was saying, if they use this side of the park, so we know, okay, we have access to this part and then the community center or just the community center.

I mean, last time, all we used was the community center. Right.

And then the outside, the back side or the thingamajig. the food right next to the community center yeah and what you want to know is if that's okay with them correct it would be more that like knowing him but then my concern what would be then that would it be enough time to to promote with you know because let's say agon says yes or if that day would even be feasible for him too that's the other i mean he had said yes to this date oh to october 24th oh yeah he had said yes but then when i came here last uh

meeting then this one will fall back i don't think they are good it's definitely easier if you like integrate into a mental health like us like they have their values and stuff then to have something separate and all the times you know say well they never allow two events at the same time and then that's kind of like two events because it's in the same place yeah but we're collaborating they have the outside we have to get to together like a fourth of july we have the sensory room And then culture first, like go with all the stuff with the flyers and all that. It's just another aspect of the event. You know, you guys are just collaborating right together, but not, not to say, oh, we want to do this event with, no, we want to just be part of your event with this. Right. Bringing this on like everybody else, like everybody else, like everybody has their own little, you know, they asked if they wanted to do that, which we're bringing.

there wasn't anyone saying they want to know we want to collaborate with them which is related to mental health yes i don't know if we've ever had we want to hit that that yeah it's getting a good attraction but it's yeah it's on it's not literally on the mind i don't need to that pun but it is in everyone's face it's it's something that's talked about a lot now so that's good and our parents and our families need need that support as well. So I think that would be a good lab, but I think navigating it, making sure we, we have like signage to where our stuff is going to be, or even if we have us like say, Hey, if you're here for this, you go this way. And then where are we going to put special Olympics if we add them to that? Special Olympics all outside. Yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying. Because we'll have the rest of our stuff inside, but then you say, hey, if you want, let's go and see what Special Olympics is showcasing. So I think that's more like maybe dotting whatever we're going to do that day, kind of organizing it. Because I think what Amador said is right. At least being there together. Yeah. We can always put up the

the sensory area of signs and set up like a little bring out some of the sensory stuff that we have in there yeah yeah and that could get people over there too how's the parking

The real thing there is that it doesn't matter. Because, you know, you have all the buildings.

Nothing gets blocked off like 4th of July. That's like 4th of July, right? No.

4th of July is thousands. You know the AI picture they took two years ago? It was 10,000 people at the moment. What? 10,000 people. What? Yes. For 4th of July. 4th of July is 10,000.

And not years ago. This year, two years ago. Two years ago. A lot of other cities and towns did not have one. So we picked up a lot of people.

I would tell you maybe eight this year. It's so full. And people to walk. Everybody parks. You know, because you have all the buildings around there.

Yeah, that are closed for the weekend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the people at the restaurants too. But, okay, yeah. Do you want to do that? We just have to talk to Ivan?

What about special events? They seem like they're down for it.

They only said November 21st and someday in November. This is still October. And they like the idea of October 24th.

So we have to get the mental health committee to ask for it.

I can send... Is there someone here that would like to go to that meeting? That way I can send you... September 16th. Yeah, September 16th. Let me find the time. That way I can send you the chair's email. Maybe they include you in the public comment section.

September 16th. They meet at 4 p.m. Oh, they meet at 4. I'm out. I'm out for work.

I have a faculty meeting tomorrow.

um i'll be lucky about the other done my concern is clubs already started very bad time and john signed up for like 20 of them yeah dude's starting he's gonna do part of the photography girl why girl yeah um i mean i can leave work early i can try to leave work early on wednesday and 16th um and make it to that meeting if we can just have kind of like a breakdown of like what You said you too? Okay, great. Yeah. You too? Yes. Okay, cool. It'll be my first time, like, sitting with another committee.

Okay, perfect. I can, you know, I'm just in the local committee that you call the chair. Yes, ma'am. Committee. Okay. That way you guys never know, like, hey, we'd like to read some public comments during the meeting. Okay.

Good plan. Can we communicate? Yeah. Can we communicate? I'm thinking sunshine law. What can we communicate with him?

It's going to be a sunshine maybe.

I believe, okay. I believe I have Ivan's email from the IEP workshop. I can include him in it. Maybe let him know like, hey, like this is what.

No, I'm talking mental health.

If we're in the meeting.

It's a sunshine. Yeah.

Right. But she sent us her email. to all of us what are we going to discuss with her email no no we're just going to have the information when the meeting is the only thing that would be said is if you'd like to leave a public comment like to be added to the agenda I don't believe that breaks no we don't need to email her directly I'm trying to avoid emailing her directly I'm asking it that's a good point if you want just put Vivian just to be safe just in case because I don't know if you put everyone if that would be

requesting for us to be public. I don't think it is.

We're not discussing anything, but I don't know. Just a snap. Just in case. I don't want, you know, you and the group to be in the, you know. That's a good point. I'll make sure I'll keep you guys updated. Yeah. Okay.

And let Mr. Miller know that we were requesting.

Okay, so we're waiting discussion on not torturing for the mental health community.

we should talk right now what's going to be spoken there kind of to have like a little feel for it so when you guys go or you just discuss it right there at the moment I mean we're going to ask if we can share part of the event and like making sure like what they use what we can use I'm going to try.

So contact Dave or Noah. Maybe Noah may contact the chair. The chair goes, oh, they don't have to show up.

That's fine with that. Just give me details.

And then Noah goes, you, you tell us.

Yeah, I know. Yeah, because if you were to write back to that email and there's like certain information that will discuss at the meeting, that could be very special.

Especially if you're discussing events. Correct. That's a great point. I'll

So, yeah, we're basically going to ask them, you know, I mean, the first step here is for me to ask Ivan if he's still okay with this date. And if, you know, he's okay with, which I'm sure, I don't see why he wouldn't be. It's just more people that are going to have access.

Now, thinking outside, if He were to say that date no longer works because there's another event or whatever the case may be. What other date, just so we can look to see what's available, just in case so we can ask him, okay, if not this one. This would be, I think, the preferred one for sure. Right. But if for whatever reason he's not able to.

Didn't he give us dates? Okay, so number one.

Definitely not the 31st.

Number one, we have to check with Ivan. Because we're still on 6D. Ivan says no. Then we have to ask him for dates. Or we decide on dates. And we decide on dates. And then ask him for those dates.

Would you like to use the Mary Collins Community Center? Yeah. Yes.

For sure. Well, we actually did one with him before. Oh, okay.

But we need to know what dates are available.

So, after the 24th would be November 7th.

The special Olympics match on the 14th?

November.

November 4th. Okay, the cars per hero, so I don't know. Okay, that's in the evening.

That's at 4 o'clock, but that's in Main Street. But that's still something like the council, I don't know. My understanding from my other committee, like, we can't or we shouldn't, not that we can't, But don't expect a good turnout. Like we did Mrs. Claus Weeks to the Kids. Ours was a 12th, but it was a reindeer run in the morning.

So nobody...

It depends on what it is. Depends what it is. Cars for Heroes, if I remember correctly, there's cars and people and you walk around and stuff like that.

Getting freebies.

There's a Mayor's Gallantry.

October 23rd.

Are you in the right year? No, but originally it was going to be that day. October 23rd. Is November 7th available?

No, I'm looking now. They have the room booked from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Okay, so dispatch November 7th.

November 14th.

November 14th is the crash for heroes.

They have the room. I'm looking just at Mary Collins. They have the room booked from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. And November 14th too? Yeah, and then another event from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. That's on the 8th.

So there's two Saturdays in a row. And that November 21st is not going to work.

No, the 28th is Thanksgiving weekend.

December 5th is available. Hanukkah.

Hanukkah. This is during the day. Isn't Hanukkah Sunday? Well, no. Hanukkah starts in seven days.

I know. December 5th? Yeah, it's on the backup day.

Yeah. No, you imagine.

And then it's like, yes, November 24th. It's like we spend all this time trying to figure it out. You know me. I copy people.

Okay. I love you. 705.

Yes. So we're done with the picnic. But what are we talking about mental health? Do you have that handle for the meaning of what it is we're asking them to do? Or asking us to collaborate? And we're also going to include Special Olympics? Next.

Communication boards.

Did Jeremy ever answer? So we actually got an update just this morning that they are going to be shipped on September 17th. And they said they should take seven days to be delivered. So hopefully we get them on the 24th of this month.

Awesome. Thank you. All right. Specialty safety program.

Because they're on my door. I mean, I need a deputy.

Well, I am very happy to say that. We got five more. We got, well, we got two more.

That's 100% improvement. Yeah. We got some traction.

Yeah. And even better uses Tammy as one of our...

I never did it, guys, but now I finally did it. No, it's OK. We're proud of you. We did it. I did it. I did it. Yes. Yes. Yes. I understand. I wasn't like that for a while, though. Yeah, I finally did it. Yes.

We're in the system. Yay. Yeah, this is . Great. This is my students.

They live in Miami Lakes.

So is that all? Animation class.

Yeah, that's all I have.

Animation class is going to be starting off

All the Saturdays for Mary Collins are booked up for the animation.

That's hard too. That's why. It's from 12 p.m. to 5.30. And we're looking at the graduation date to be November 21st.

We're waiting to start.

It looks like it starts on September 26th. Yeah.

Through November 21st.

November 21st is the last day. Will be the graduation.

Will be here.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Is the chambers available that day, November 21st?

Will there be, it shows that like there'll be, is this like a class?

Graduation.

Right, but like there is like an arts for animation number on the 21st. So the last day, the 14th? No. Yes. Yes.

Okay. Because they don't use that last day. They usually graduate here.

Okay.

But don't delete it yet until we verify.

Make sure that it's not done the 21st. So I don't think the graduation of the 28th. No, it's not the date of the 21st.

I have a lot of chambers is available on the 21st.

So I, I, yeah. No, I don't think it's 10, 10 minutes.

Oh no, we're reserving for the, uh, set up and then

Look up custodians. So it'd be 10 to 2.

Yeah, 11 to 11. Yeah, because it starts at 11.

Yeah, the event starts at 11, but it's 10 to 2.

Uh-huh, exactly. The event is 11 to 1. Then we need like two hours to anchor the event. All right. So that's it for animation class. The Hope for Autism fashion show is October 17th. You know, I'll take care of ordering the food like we always do. We already allocated the money?

Yeah. Okay.

We do it all in one. It's $1,500 per party.

That's right. I actually know that by now. Yes, you did.

I'm getting the same we always get the rice, pizza, chicken tenders for the kids, popcorn chicken. So that's that. Veterans Day parade.

Kimberly has a text that she wanted to add. She said motion to add 7B to new business ice sensory center.

And I'm confused with this Zoom. I know she can't vote. It only comes for attendance. And she motions.

I'll motion for that.

Okay, go ahead. That's why I didn't do it because I wasn't sure if I could.

Let me... We'll come back to it. Let's finish the whole business and then we'll open up the... The Veterans Day Parade. I think, like, that's on email. Do we have to, like, sign up? Do we have to... For the parade? Yeah, for us to participate. Are they having committees? Like, cars assigned to committees like they usually do? Do you know anything?

So that is... Isla has been putting that together. I can ask her. I'm not sure.

When is it again? Sunday, November 8th. Sunday, November 8th.

I'll let you guys know next meeting.

I should be good. I will be participating. I would love to.

To be in the car?

Yeah. It all depends how many want to do it and then I think it was necessary was no golf carts.

I could be guessing. I think you would just have to register a car for the event.

We don't have our own vehicle.

Hi.

That's what I'm not sure about.

We have to notify Iowa for securing vehicles, either a vehicle or a golf cart. They're also looking for adult volunteers. So can you email Isla?

I guess it's you letting her know that we want to participate.

Yes.

Participate in the parade or participate as volunteers? Oh, as a parade. Yeah, okay. What time? It's 10 a.m.

It says 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Okay.

To 1 p.m.? You would need to be available day of event from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We have to go be there early. It doesn't start until 10. It doesn't start until 10. Wow, wonderful. You can't get there at 10. Oh, yeah. And the parking and setting it up. Yeah, I can probably walk too.

It's not that short.

No, but from my house. I live in New Barn. Oh, yeah. I don't need to drive anywhere. I can just walk from my apartment.

Because I can hear it from my balcony. I can hear it from my balcony. It usually starts right here at the beginning of Main Street. And then it goes around and ends right here, right?

yeah where's the meeting okay so jalen and people find out when we get closer we'll let you know they don't know yet how many people are allowed they gotta find out which vehicle goes first right okay we'll just walk that's a great no you got it give me some flags all right yeah so No, no. Okay. So I move to open the order of business. Second. All those in favor. Aye. I make a motion to add, uh, seven D, uh, sensory staff to new business.

Second.

All those in favor. Aye. Motion passes.

Close order of business.

I move to close the order of business. Second. All those in favor. Aye.

We're trying, we're trying. We're doing good.

Well, Special Olympics, they already presented during.

Soccer also. We talked about soccer too, but I was just going to tell you guys for a second about the camp. Summer camp. So as he has this broken down for the sports programming, so the free at first and then extending it in the springtime, right? And then in the summertime, he already runs ALM sports. So he already runs that summer camp and he wants to run a special needs summer camp. So that is also in this breakdown here. So it has everything from field trips to lunch, breakfast and lunch included. So the price will vary. It can be anywhere from like $130 to $150, but he wants to kind of see like where people are at. It's not necessarily about the money, but he wants to kind of get a feel, right? And then he also wants to know if parents would rather everyone be together or them be separated. So again, these are like trials. And while we're doing our sports program, we're having these conversations with parents and seeing what their preferences are. But he already has everything in motion and he does this regularly. So like he has ALM here in PSN, he has stuff in Doral, he has stuff in Kendall, he has stuff everywhere. So he has ALM in Miami Lakes. He has PSN in PSN.

He doesn't have it here.

He doesn't have it here in Miami Lakes technically, but he can run one in Miami Lakes.

So it would be in one of our community centers.

It can be in one of our community centers.

Well, not the center, but the fields. Yeah, so like Royal Oaks. Yeah, because it's sports. You really don't do sports inside.

Yeah, but they still have camps. They do arts and crafts. He has a breakdown of the day. So it has a breakdown of the day. It has the like And we'll even be able to choose whether we want to do field trips every day or once a week. So there'll be indoor stuff and outdoor stuff. So the camp is for 10 weeks? That's his base. So remember that these are all a base. So it just depends on what people are wanting. He can run it for the whole summer, but this is just kind of like an idea. So 130 would be approximately per week?

Yes.

It includes the breakfast and lunch, and I'm thinking it also includes the field trips. So, but again, these are things, these are, this is the basis. Yeah, this is the basis of, like, he already has this in motion in other areas, but this would be specifically for special needs children. Everyone would be specifically trained, and he would have, allow RBTs to come. for the day with their children. So that's a big thing. Especially because there's field trips involved.

Well, not just that. The big thing is Miami Lakes has summer camps all over.

Yes, but they don't have special needs summer camps.

I'm thinking of location.

Yeah, but they don't have a summer camp in Royal Oaks. Where's Royal Oaks?

No. Is it YMCA? Is it YMCA?

i can't remember where else is i think no no no optimist is something that you want to do want to do i think is an optimist i forgot where it is where's mario oaks again um the they have because the they have because the

Elving Affairs doesn't do any bingos or anything because they're booked for camps.

So I can get with him to ask him specifically where, but he assured me that he'll find a spot. Like wherever it's going to be, it's going to be in Miami Lakes and he'll find a spot for us.

I wonder if they use that.

Maybe.

I know they use that. They have a basketball.

They have some things happening. Just so you know. They had a zoo during summer. Summer is hard. I know they've done symbology, which is like a Lego and stuff. That one I know 100%.

But this would be outside.

Outside, inside. It has to be both. They can be outside.

But no, not just that. I'm saying outside. I don't remember any area that you can have something outside. They have basketball courts at the zoo center.

They have a half basketball court.

Oh, yeah. Okay.

That's about it there, though.

Well, we can look into it.

Yeah, these are things that are... What about Optimus? That could be an option, too, but I know that they have Camp Wantedoo or something else. So, like I said, he's well-versed in this, and this is what he does every day, and he's with Parks every day. So, he assured me that this, specifically, he can make it happen. It's just...

I think the important thing would be to find out where there's availability. Like, which... Because I do know that there's a lot of summer programs happening.

So then that would also be... We would also be asking if... No, no, no. Because he can't put his stuff with somebody else's stuff. Like, with another camp program. So, yeah. I'll go ahead and get with him and ask him where specifically. Because the thing is, he wouldn't be able to just only be outside. Right. I mean, it would be too hot.

You know what I mean? Yeah, no, it's not going to be outside.

Is that a rain? Exactly. Oh, that's another thing. So he also runs programs like in different businesses. So for example, his one in Doral, it's a trampoline place that he runs an afterschool program out of. So, and afterschool is also on the table eventually to talk about, to go afterschool into summer camp. So, but these are things that are like in the making. You know, I don't want to bombard us with too many things. I talk about too many things, but yes. So he also has contracts and communicates with people that have businesses that he has, he'll have like an indoor area with them and then go and do an activity somewhere, somewhere else. So there are a lot of things I'll get all of that information to you guys. Like we're specifically, what would be, and then I'll add it. I'll give you, I'll tell you guys.

Okay. Yeah, I mean, we have more time. Yeah, no, this is...

Exactly.

And you said you would probably come back in December to discuss it.

Yes.

Yes.

So whatever questions we can just... Yeah, so you guys go through this whenever you're sitting down watching TV and you're looking at this and have questions and just write it off. I never watch TV. Yeah. Like this. Yeah, exactly. Exactly like... Yeah, so write down questions and I can talk about it. Okay.

Okay. um so next up is the martial arts class yeah all right i wanted to run this by you guys before i go and get a quote um i think this program is awesome and it's i think more people should know about it and it should have better attendance i think we can improve on the attendance um i would love to do like a little commercial, like film, a little video and have like testimonials from parents, like something similar to the video that we did for the program. We used Yanni for that video. For that video, And I was thinking of if you guys are okay with me getting a call from him to see what, how much he would charge. Um, and just like blasting that video because we didn't allocate it.

And then depending on the quote, then we accept the quote. No, that doesn't make sense. It's okay.

The thing is like, I want to do it all together. Cause then I want to put money into like, promoting it like the sponsored thing like the ad that we had ran for but it's sponsored don't worry about it like the techie stuff the Instagram stuff to like target Kimberly knows to like target that audience and I think you know so they can see and hopefully they can join more people can join because it's

huge yeah it's huge but it's small like the right the what do you call it the benefit is huge but yeah we don't have a lot of people in it yeah i love the idea what about um and i don't know if we're allowed to do this so that's why i'm asking um like i know like him and i and a few other moms are partly inclusive mamas group chat and kristin promotes many many things and she has a huge platform so if partnering with her or maybe i don't know paying her to promote that or things like that for us and she's gonna have a mom's autism mom's night out september 30th in mayor's cafe so i'm gonna buy tickets to go to that to promote to talk to other moms and promote the things that we do like just talk about it. But I think she's a really great person and she's so personable with the hundreds of people in her group chat.

Can I just interject? Listen, I'm just going to give guys my two cents. I think it's a slippery slope when we're paying influencers and things like that, then we always have to pay them. I'm just letting you know that I put it in the group chat twice about the IEP workshop, not one of those ladies or families came to that IEP workshop. And I even ran into Crystal at an event. And I said, Crystal, hey, I didn't see you interact with the with the comment and and and one of her board members michelle was also there and i talked to both of them face to face and i said guys this is a fantastic event i go crystal you've had to hire an attorney be quiet you've had to hire an attorney before to attend your iep meetings you know the importance of this please if you you know help like spread in and and and and she didn't no offense but she didn't so um Now it's like, is she going to do it because we pay her? You know, me as a business owner, I've paid influencers for things and then they don't do it or they say they're going to do it and they don't. I'm just my two cents as a business owner who's been burned by influencers before. I think if it's something that's worthwhile, like I own a business, it has nothing to do with autism, but I share every resource that I can or people that I meet about autism and even though it's my business page, because I care about it. So I think that if someone cares about it, they should be sharing that information and versus paying them. That's just my two cents. I am on the phone.

I thought you just meant for her to share it, to promote it.

I didn't know that you're talking about influence. I don't know. I'm not, I don't think she'll just share it. I don't know because I don't know that she gets paid.

Exactly. That's her business. But she posts, she'll post like normally, but the last two events that we've had, the game night, I asked her to please share, like, please do anything. I wouldn't even accept the tag. And this is like, I know her, like I've known her for years and, you know, and we've done many events together. But lately, any single event that we've done, I've, you know, posted it in the group chat. I've, you know, gone to the Moms Night Outs and promoted it myself. But if it's someone that's not pushing it and it's a great event and it's a free resource and it's good for families, then I don't see why, you know, paying someone would be... Well, if we don't do that, which...

We don't even know how much you charge for that. If I have a flyer or have something and go to one of these things myself and talk to people, it's just boots on the ground at that point. Like sometimes we can, we can utilize the web as much as we can, but sometimes people just scroll past things. Sometimes we need to just be boots on the ground and I'm willing to do that. You know, in person, face to face, even when we have networking things here in the town. And just doing things for at face value, that's better. Because when they see it, they're like, oh, okay, like, I know that crazy girl. Like, yeah, I'm going to go and see what they're about.

I figured we could also, if you could also do the video, it could be shown at the gala.

Oh, yeah.

You know, with parent testimonials and, you know, I think it would be a great thing to show. I think it would be great for something. 100%.

I mean, I go to networking events literally every single week. I would love you, you know, I would love people to join me. I mean, I go to a lot of free ones. Some of them are paid, but most of them are free if you guys are ever available because I share everything.

I share our events.

I share Prologic events. I share, you know, anything that's related to the town and can benefit. You know, I go to BNI, the chamber. I go to all of them. So we should always have like, you know, face to face and people get to know us.

I agree. I'll join you, Kim.

Awesome.

Thank you, Kim. Thank you for your input. That's your world.

I only say it because specifically I'm like, man, I don't understand why like it does it like in my head. It doesn't compute. I go, I gladly share anything that people send me, you know, and then like when people don't share reciprocated like boggles my mind because I'm like, I don't understand. This is your world. But anyways, yeah. And sorry for the noise.

No, you're good. You guys are good with me getting a quote, right?

Yes. I love the video. Video is the future.

Yes, yes. All right. So then the last item, Kim, is the science-free Santa.

This is very quick. It's just an idea that I had. So I said it's going to be very quick, and then I stumble. Maybe you guys will agree with me, but going to visit Santa or get a picture with Santa is always, like, the hardest thing ever. And I know that, you know, with the lights and the sounds and always, like, rushing, like, come on, quick, like, next kid, next kid. I had this, like, funny idea of doing, like, a sensory Santa because last year I actually hired a Santa for an event. and they told me like they followed me and they're actually told me they're like oh we actually do a lot of like you know events with children you know on the spectrum and we do a lot of you know things with like they've worked i think they told me they've worked with gigi's playhouse in the past um so i was like oh that's interesting okay someone who like gets it you know that they could be a little more patient with the kids and then i actually did a separate event at the i think it's called the light studio i forget now the light studio miami um which is here in miami lakes it's the new photo um um no um it's not in main street it's in the new apartments that opened on the other side where like the commerce area is like the bend oh yeah by my house yeah yes the light studio miami it's called and it's just a light studio it's like beautifully beautifully done um there's like four no i'm sorry there's five or six different walls so when i had my event people could take their photos simultaneous simultaneously at different times and then for the holidays they do each wall is like a different setup so i was like oh it'd be kind of nice if we could you know have a sign up and you know let's say you know we can pay for I don't know, like 40. I'm just throwing a number out there like 40 families to sign up and they could get their photo with Santa or they could, you know, do like a sibling, you know, photos we could we all we would have to do is pay for the light studio place and the photographer and the Santa if we'll do a Santa. So that was it. That was just my idea because I was like, oh man, like I even stopped trying every year because one kid likes Santa, the other kid is afraid of him or not even afraid of him. It's just simply like it's too much going on and you're always rushed when you go to the mall or anywhere that has a Santa.

Kim, do you think that you can get some information from the light studio as to like how much charge, like how would it work? You know, for the for the next meeting.

Yeah, I've I've hired them before. So I actually have the pricing. I know that they charge by the hour and it's a two hour minimum. So I want to say I want to say it's 300 an hour. okay so it might be less than that the most that it would be is 300 an hour but it's all like you wouldn't have to come or buy props or anything because it's all all the walls are already decorated and then you could have one wall that has the santa um sitting in a chair or whatever so it's like a very like uh they will come to us i'm sorry they will come to us no because it's a light studio we would go there so we would have our event there and whatever families signed up or however many we decide if it's 25 families and the first 25 that sign up they get the spot and then you know that's it then it's sold out but they use the I mean the pictures are you get what like a digital no so we would hire a photographer so they're just a light studio It's not like, oh, press the button and it takes a picture. It's just like the space that you're using versus going to a park and sweating your butt off or things like it's just a you know a very beautiful having a huge line at the mall exactly it's just like by appointment and exactly so people what they do whether it's their you know wedding photos quinceaneras baby photos whatever it is they will rent out the studio for an hour or however long And they pay for that time. And then they hire their own photographer. Yes. Hi. Yes.

I'm on the phone. Yes. Jalen, could we get the photographer from the town? What are you going to do with the pictures?

How do we do the pictures? Did you already get the pictures? Tammy had her hand up.

And then Santa, would we pay for Santa too?

Yes, we would pay for Santa.

Pay for Santa, pay for the light studio and pay for the photographer.

Yes. I hadn't even thought about the town photographer though. That's a great free point. And before I forget, Jalen, I put in the chat box here of Zoom that the vendor keeps asking for the check. because they had remember it was in the emails it was like oh if you send me the invoice by this date your check will be ready for pickup on Saturday and they're still waiting for payment so they keep asking yeah I believe Gabriela from the finance department that she had already said that the check would be ready by the end of the day by the end of the week this week

Um, I can check with her tomorrow and like respond tomorrow.

Okay. Yeah. I didn't see that response. So thank you.

That was it. That was all I had.

All right. Um, perfect. Now. Okay. Um, announcements. I do have an announcement on September 11, hope for autism, having a burger night at the mayor's cafe. We're going to donate 20% of the proceeds for autism. So if you guys want to come eat for dinner, we're all going to be there. So we'd appreciate it.

I just told Dini about it today.

Smash burgers.

They're amazing. Because he was already like, when are we having another Hope for Autism event? When's the next one? I was like, first of all, relax.

All right. I got an email earlier this week from JV about the mayor's ballot. And it's about contacting, sorry, I'm going to pass this out so that you guys can see me. um it's about contacting some people that i guess gave um stuff for the auction last year oh about like coordinating like if they'll do it again yes there's so organized if these people asked if you could reach out and like see if they will provide the same as last year he also included some people that um he'd like you guys to reach out to to see if they'll Yeah, that's how I do it. And there's also some people that we reached out to already. I didn't even put it here. I'm going to forward you guys this email so that you can see. But I wanted to know if among you guys you could decide who or how many of you would reach out to these people.

I can reach out to Swap Reporting. That's my gym. I can reach out to Celia Skin Studio. And I could also do other Outback steakhouse too. Speak to Vince.

You said, you said spec 440?

Yeah, that's my gym.

What else? Outback.

Outback.

And... Do you have a contact at Outback? I'll do Outback. I have a contact. Okay. You said the Skims studio?

Yes, because last year I had to go get the suit jackets.

Last year, a lot of these were done through the mayor's office. They reached out with a Massavino or something.

Painting with a twist is not here anymore. Painting with a twist is bye-bye.

It didn't survive. The one that I don't see here is the haircut one. I don't remember signature cuts, I believe it was.

I'm trying to get a haircut now.

So, Ethan, you can reach out to SFR40 and Delia Skin Studio.

SFR40 is a, SFR40 is a certainty. So, Delia Skin Studio, I'm going to do it. But I don't have a contact, but I'll do, but I'm going to call them.