Community Relations Board - Regular Meeting
The Community Relations Board approved plans for a Community Resource Fair and Wishing Tree event on February 22nd, including a "Bullets for Life" activity. They also set a date for their second book club in February and discussed a future bike/scooter safety event.
About this meeting
- Government Body
- Community Relations Board
- Meeting Type
- Community Relations Board
- Location
- Surfside, FL
- Meeting Date
- December 18, 2025
Transcript
523 sections
I appreciate everybody's work all year, so thank you.
Okay, I'm recording.
So you want to call the roll, Angie, please?
Yes, so welcome everyone to the monthly Community Relations Board meeting. Today is December 18th, and it is 4.02 p.m., and I'm going to call the roll. Chair David Karp?
Here.
Board Member Mary Henderson? Here. Board Member Rita Regev-Spector?
Here.
Chair, you have a quorum.
Okay, thank you. All right, so here you have our agenda. And Commissioner, do you have anything about the report? Oh, thank you.
No, I don't think there's anything. I was so focused on the agenda items that I didn't think about my ideas on the report, but I don't think there's anything.
Anybody read over any changes they want to make to the minutes that Angie sent out? Okay, all those in favor of the minutes as published, say aye.
Sorry, someone has to make a motion first. I'll make the motion to approve the minutes of November 13th.
And I need a second. Second. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Motion passed. So we first want to talk about the Singer Fest. Frank, do you want to say anything?
Sure, yeah. I mean, we had the Singer Fest event on the 16th of November, which was a new event for this board and the Resort Tech Sport. And overall, I felt like it went very well. You know, the book club portion was really successful. The room was pretty much packed, so you had about as many people in there as could fit. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for the book club because I was running around with the setup, but I hope that it was a nice... Discussion and you know, it was relatively straightforward. It just got a few flowers and water for the room But you know, it was that was a basic setup. It was really all about the content and the discussion and I think that that Appears like it went well It worked beautifully
people read the stories. I thought the invited speaker, in a way, that part was more successful at the book club than in the lecture. The lecture was hard to hear. If we do something similar in the future, it might make sense to, if there's a talk as part of the evening event, make that also indoors. Think about that. But really, the part that was the book club that was item on Agenda 60E. Rita, did you want to say anything about it?
Yes. I was really very happily surprised. It was standing room only. The people were so engaged. They were so excited. And it was really really wonderful to see that. It was great that Mitch Kinzer spoke, who was the mayor at the time and had a lot of interaction with him. I spoke a little bit because my mom used to meet Isaac Bischoff's singer for coffee at Sheldon's Drugstore. But yeah, it was good. I think that the speaker, though he was very, very knowledgeable, his His speech didn't flow. It's hard to sometimes get somebody who is an expert and is a really good, engaging speaker. I felt like it was kind of choppy, and he was kind of brushed over some things. I don't know. But it was a great idea.
No, I couldn't make it, unfortunately.
Yeah, I thought it was very nice. Isaac, what's his name? Isaac.
Isaac Peck.
that were excellent.
Yeah, it's still up, looks great.
That was good. I thought both events, people really liked the other food too, the klezmer and the kosher foods set up that was out there. It went like about golems and things like that. It was just very hard to hear, but I thought that helped.
Yeah, but we learned a few things for the reception as well. Obviously, we had a few issues with the sound. Unfortunately, the Klezmer band didn't have a wireless mic, so we were hoping that they did. Professor would have used the band's wireless mic, which was more powerful, but then when he didn't, we had to scramble and then try to get the portable, which wasn't strong enough, so then we lost some of our audience. But we have since purchased a very powerful single speaker, so we now have something if we need to again. But I agree with Commissioner in terms of the flow. If we repeat this format in the future, we can... you know, rethink maybe the timing of the talk and the location just to make sure that our audience is engaged, like, the whole time. Yeah.
But it was very good. It really was a good party. A lot of residents talked. They stayed. And it looked really nice out there in the green space. Very nice. Okay. So we should thank who? Was that the tourist board? The tourist board, yes. So thank them in the minutes, too. That was well done. Okay. 6B, community resource. So I asked you all to
today here's Joanna's right through the chair yeah the vice chair she asked me to send these to you to provide these to you guys
Mary, did you have anybody you wanted to share?
I had one that I mentioned before when we first started talking about it. They have not gone back to me initially. So I'm still waiting for just a little email back from them. So once I get them, I'll send them over to them. Send them right to Frank.
I have one more coming to Frank. Community Resource Fair and Wishing Tree. So did we pick a date? I don't think we picked it. Did we pick a date?
I think so. I think it was the 22nd of February. Did we pick a time? Maybe we need a time. Okay.
When did we do the Wishing Tree last year? Was that the morning?
It was, yeah, it was 10 or 11.
It was morning. So that's And then Frank, you'll be, so Frank, is this right? You will be contacting each one to see if they would like to, so what it is, I think it's just a simple table they would need with some brochures and people that walk over to them to ask what group they represent. Is that our idea?
Yes, I guess they just need tables and chairs. I mean, yes, I can contact them. However, if any of you are already, you know, talking with some of them, you can mention it and then I can, you can look me in, you know, and I'll be happy to talk to them.
I'm going to have you call the ones I sent because I didn't know the date or time.
Through the chair? Yes. So board member Azari Garmizo-Kayla, she let me know that she couldn't make this meeting.
Okay.
But she said, I'm still working on getting a hold of the Miami-Dade community resource list from Jackson, as well as putting together volunteer vendor lists. Okay.
Did she send you an email? Yes, an email. Okay. Can you write her that the date will be February 22nd? 10 to noon, Frank?
Yeah, 10 to noon I think is good. Okay.
And give them Frank's contact number.
If possible, if you could give me email addresses so I can send a mass email, I don't have to call each and every person. If possible, that's great. If not, I can follow up with a call.
So is this for the resource fair?
Yeah, for the resource fair.
I think that's a little early. I don't know, just to end at noon, do you think?
Should we do maybe like 11 to 1?
Or later?
11 to 2?
12 to 3? How many hours do you think is short? I think just people might be a little slow to get going on a Sunday morning, 10 AM. I mean, yeah. 11 to 2 has a nice ring to it. Again, I'm tentative here.
I mean, did you also want to do pizza at that? Because then it should straddle maybe lunch a little bit.
Right, then that's another. Again, leave it.
talk about the wishing tree so we want to do that right beside it yeah okay and same as last year everything the same yeah so is there anything we want to change maybe we'll improve like we just need the we needed a little bit of a different paper right yeah we'll work on the paint and maybe like the string color just like we did it so last minute last time but um yeah i think honestly it would be good It attracts people and you can eat it while listening to everyone so it's a little bit more engaging than just walking up to people for pamphlets.
So the way I was envisioning it, so if there's a table here about Hatsala, I would go over to that table. So we just walk over, hi, how are you? What do you do? Oh, you have a magnet. And then they could talk, right? And the same with poison information. Do we want, I was saying, maybe our fire department? Could we ask our fire department and police? We could have. Do the police do anything like safety with bike helmets or anything? Probably. I think so, yeah. I'm not sure there's...
being stolen. I'm seeing on this, I have a group chat, like every day somebody's screaming from the sink.
There is a resident who's working, it's funny, this is sort of a project, my next project after, you know, the gun safety event has passed and it's coming into focus, who wants to do a kind of helmet safety event. And I was asking her whether she might like to combine it with this in some fashion. And this is Michelle Weinberg who... Oh, yeah.
Is she from the ice cream? I don't think so.
She's doing graduate study on this very topic, on helmet safety. And so I'm in dialogue with her. I'm not sure. I'll invite her to participate. I mean, I think we'd love to have her. I think she also envisions a more active event maybe with like...
I've been at one of these years ago and A bike company came and just made sure the seat was the height, filled their tires, put some oil. So that could be a future event. I'd rather, and then give them helmets and locks.
Maybe this could be her kind of like soft watch. Oh, I like that word. Kind of like a soft watch. Yeah, that's actually great.
I think that would be great. The police in Surfside used to also, I don't know, police department, Serial codes.
Yes, that's what they did at the one I was at. Yes, I don't know if that's still something. So do you want one of us to talk to Officer J or the police chief?
Through the chair, Michelle Weinberg, she was at a youth council meeting, so I think she wants to work with them on the helmet event. Not us. Well, maybe it could be multiple boards.
We're community relations. We could do a joint.
You have money, they don't. They could use you.
Alright, so who wants to, should we contact, do you want to be the lead, do you want to talk to her and see if she would do one with us and Youth Council? Youth Council can certainly be the lead and then we'll just come in like we did for the gun violence one because we didn't have to. We didn't have to do anything else.
So apropos to that, I just picked up my bike from servicing JB or JD Bikes on 74th and Collins. Sam Doner, super nice guy. They might want to do that pro bono is to come out and check bikes for, like you said, the height, the oil, air. So it might need to be on a Sunday because they're closed Sunday, I think. Maybe. Could be. I mean, it's a thought. I mean, it's publicity for him just like... Sure. Yeah, yeah.
And do we can, like, we have a little money, like, give them a, like, $250, what do you call it? Not a donation, but... Stipend. Honoraria for helping us out. Do we want to wait until we talk? How should we proceed? Do we want to see if officers, who should, which police person should we contact? Officer J or the Chief?
Yeah, probably, I think Major J would be a good place to start. Major J. Major J.
Okay, I have his number. Do you want me to call him? Yeah. You'll call Michelle and I'll talk to him and...
The Chief was also present at the Youth Council meeting and Michelle spoke to him, so he agreed.
Should we go through the Chief?
Maybe both.
Chief, okay. And then, what's that gentleman's name?
Sam, and I can send you the phone number. I remember one of the block parties a while ago, They had a paint your helmet thing for the kids. And so they had a whole table encouraging helmet awareness. I don't know, I could volunteer with my husband to talk about concussions that he's seen from kids not wearing helmets.
In March, you mean this war?
Yeah, this war. Because if your commission doesn't get voted in or out, then we could be stripped of this too. I don't think we have it.
If it's already planned, though, does that...
Yeah, no, it's already planned. Anything we plan is to open.
I mean, somebody would have to make the move together, but that would be unlikely and unusual.
Okay. Is there a date? Do you have any dates in March? And is there anybody that's doing anything about scooters, like safety? Like, what can you really do? Are there locks for scooters?
No, but the kids aren't wearing helmets. Yeah, I think that.
We have a helmet ordinance that is in between first and second reading, and I want to bring it back in January, and so I was kind of thinking this could also be like an occasion then to have an event.
Maybe parent and child, and also these kids, especially like the under 12 girls, not abiding by street signs and things, just like going through stop signs and And just talking to each other while they're riding. On their phones. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And two people.
Yeah, two on the scooter. So a March event for bike and possibly scooter safety? Yes.
And March is... I think Ms. Weinberg was interested in March because it is a themed month, and I now forget what it was, but it's something like...
It's women's history, but something else. No, but there's something specific to this. It's brain injury awareness.
When's the next youth council?
The next youth council meeting?
January 5th.
after school, like 5-ish, 5.30?
5.30. It's January 7th. 7th.
Okay. All right, so how do you want us to proceed? So you'll talk to Michelle. I will. So Gerardo. Rita, I'd like you to talk to Sam because I find And I'll talk to the police. The tentative date would be in March. March. Is there any times in March? When's Passover Purim Easter? I don't know what Purim is. I'm sorry. I have to Google it.
I think instead of giving, I don't know, this is just a thought, instead of an honorarium to give him, he should be auctioning, you know, like doing a raffle of a helmet or a helmet and lock or something and collect, you know, and get a QR code and collect intel. And that's, you know, for him that's worth a lot more than $250 and then we don't have to pay anything. I'm big on saving money.
Is there a program that
a program that was called Bike 305 that the county had. UM has a bike safety institute that also can participate in it.
I have one.
I can put it on.
It was the fireplace room. The hot chocolate was warm. Yeah, I'm waiting for it.
Are they bringing it in with the donuts? Yeah. Are we sitting in the tub?
I don't think we're really. So quorum is March 2nd and 3rd and Passover is until April 1st. So we're good in March after the 3rd. Easter, when is Easter? In March. So, Angie, can you somehow send our board an invitation to the Youth Council for January 7th?
I can copy you in their agenda. All of us? Yeah, the board.
And then I'll send you a reminder, see if anybody wants to join me, and then I'll talk, I guess, at the public comment or something.
That sounds good. Or would you want an item to ask them to add?
We're not going to know very much. I mean, we're not going to meet before January 7th, this committee, so we can tell them what we're planning to do and we would like to join them, you know, in a small role, possibly. Does that sound good? Rita, does that sound okay? Yeah, it sounds great. Okay. All right, so Yeah. See if they can both meet me. Okay. All right. And March, Frank, did you find the date? Or should we wait for, we should wait for the youth council?
Because I don't know what date you're looking for.
It should be the youth council picking the date, right?
Yeah, I don't know what kind of a date you're looking for. It would be the same day they would.
Well, we should go through, check the calendar for what is already going on in March if there is. Yeah. Like our monthly block party and when's the election? What date? 17th.
17th. Third Thursday is on the 19th. So we could use that. We might have to use that.
So they spoke about having it in either January or February.
But that could change, maybe March. There's no set date yet.
Okay, so January, we need to be ready in case they wanted February. That'd be okay? The Youth Council was thinking February.
That could be fine, I don't think.
So actually, they're meeting January 7th, so they should pick a date already.
Yeah, they should be picking a date.
Okay, and then I can pass you the date. And then I tell Rita, and then I talk to the police.
I'll be at that meeting, too, for another item. Do we need a motion to do this?
Or wait until January after we hear if they want us?
I think so. I don't think you need a motion.
Okay. Are we on six meetings? Not yet. I'm still taking notice.
So we'll have one more month for this community resource. So Frank, we'll have a recap of that for January, okay? For the community resource fair and the wishing tree.
A recap?
Meaning who can attend.
Oh, just the list of the resources? Right. Okay, yeah.
I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. So the... Are we sending organizations to Frank? Yes.
Unless you're already talking to them. I was counting on you. No, that's okay. But if some people already are, then let's not duplicate it.
So Joanna would need to... She has one email.
I took a photo of Joanna, so I have her. So you can get the email.
It might be better to start with the phones. I mean, I have to see what I have in that work because it's a lot of... All right, I'll work on getting the emails.
Yeah, because if it's an email, then I can say, hey, the town is, you know, everything goes centralized from there.
All right, I'll do, I'll get the emails. I just want to mention I also have been in touch with the Wien Center for Memory Diseases at Mount Sinai. And they have an Alzheimer's dementia support group that I have been involved in.
Do you want to call them first and then send it to Frank? They would just set up a table.
If they have some brochures or stickers, they'd have stickers.
Magnets or something? Yeah, they do that sometimes and they all get adopted.
The town has made a donation to them, so they are happy to participate. They participated in our... Earth Day. In Earth Day, and they participated in the other... Was it Family Fun Day? They weren't at that last year.
So they do turn out. Frank, would you contact them? This one would need a motion. We'll need a motion for food to buy, right? So this was one of the ones I sent Frank. This is... They take a bullet and they pound out the powder. And then they attach it here. So it's one less bullet, one more life is their theme. It's for mothers who have lost children to gun violence. I'll pass it around. This is the one I made. So let me tell you what the cost. I've been to two events with them. And people will like, they'll make an extra. $15 to the organization because they like it. So let me tell you, it's a $500 charge. And it's very effective. It really gets you thinking about how much harm these guns can do. How much money do we have left?
You have a lot. Because it only started, 10,000 started in October. So I think what I put, whatever you spent in the, I put in the Singer Fest memo the amount that was spent. So subtract that from 10,000 and that's what's left.
So that should be, this is not in there.
That's the annual budget?
Mm-hmm.
So do we need to vote?
It's at least like 9,500. Okay. All right.
Do we need a motion to hold this event? Which one? The community resource tables and the wishing tree. You can make a motion.
From 11 to? From 11 to 2?
11 to 2? Yeah. Okay. On February 22nd, was that right?
Yeah.
Okay. 11 to 2.
And this is going to be at the community center or the 96 viewpoint?
Community center.
Community center.
There was no parking. Oh, that's right. There was horrible parking for that night. We had it over there. Yeah.
You're not supposed to, you're supposed to walk.
Yeah, but I brought two 90-year-olds. Oh, okay. Alert. Oh, we could have had little rides.
Okay, so is there a second? Second. All those in favor?
Say aye. Aye. Motion approved. Should we do a budget for the food? So we want pizza and water?
Yeah. Okay. Do they pay? Do the vendors pay to get a table?
No. No. Because we want them to come freely.
How much was the pizza last night for the Aria Gray?
Aria Gray, I don't know. That was tourist. No, no, Aria Gray wasn't tourist. The police department. The police did half of it.
I think they did like half of it, right? Or did they do all the pizzas?
They paid for all the pizzas.
Okay, but this would be us. Yeah, of course. How much did we do for the Palm Branch?
For the Palm Branch, it was actually half of them.
Another thought that I had, how many tables can we fit? Because then we may have to fraction down our resources.
I think you can fit a lot. A lot? Yeah. When I was up there for Singer Fest, it is. It would probably take like 40 to fill that up. And did it rain?
I think it was roughly, I think there was one for like $164, then I ordered another one for like $90. Let's do $500. Okay. Just in case.
$500. Okay, so we make a portion for that. And should the pizza just be like... open and available because, I mean, you might, just saying, you might get some, you know, some people who just go straight for the pizza and walk right out.
Gerardo was real good at getting the people last time into the event. We'll have him as the bouncer. Maybe you're good at that.
We'll put it behind one of the tables or something. Yeah, make him an agent. You have to be very shameless.
What's the barrier of entry?
Do they have to show proof of... No, just like they want to go to the beach. Say they just want to walk to the beach. They would just walk through.
Well, since it's at the community center, I mean, they'll have to be residents because otherwise they're not going to let you in.
Some people are just walking through. Oh, my God. They're just like, Yeah, if you're just walking through, they're not checking. Well, they're supposed to.
I'm just going by what they're supposed to.
Usually it's just the people going to the pool and then getting teached there. But if they're just going through, they would go there. Oh, okay.
Well, I mean, that's... Well, yeah, with the wishing tree that last time, I mean, we were pulling people off of the... Yeah, they would come off of the pass.
Mary and Gerardo. Rita is good, I can tell.
So is it...
sure that the fishbowl the roads are open yeah and the just in case it's an event a rain event sure um did we pass that to five hundred dollars no angie i will make okay i'll make a motion to approve five hundred dollars for pizza and water for the community resource fair and wish and tree event and and you want to tie on the ribbons and the um And then the paper for the wishing tree. It's like $50.
And then do you want to do the bracelets as well? Well, I was going to make that another motion. Okay, okay. So then I guess to add on to that motion, it will also be another $50 for biodegradable paper and string for the wishing tree.
Question. Pizza, stand-alone. What about approaching the Grove and seeing if they want to provide pastries or cookies or something like that? I mean, there's a big opportunity there because if you don't ask, the answer's always no. And I think if you ask, like, you know, nine out of the ten restaurants, they would willingly participate. Participate.
pizza from the Grove? Yeah. No, not necessarily the pizza, but I'll say... We eat kosher, too.
Yeah, yeah, kosher. So the pizza, was it... Yeah, yeah. So they're probably, you know, they'd probably be willing to do the pizza, but...
I mean, I personally haven't had great luck getting free stuff from any of our restaurants in the past when I've asked for the Thursdays or whatever. It's been very tough. But if some of you have a relationship with some of the restaurants... Yeah, so there's another Michelle
I don't know if she sold it. She's a former attorney. Jessica. Jessica Weiss. Yeah, Jessica Weiss. And she had a cart at one of our meetings. Yeah, the little ice cream cart. Yeah, a little ice cream cart. So there's a brand new, I just got a coupon today for another, like the 15th ice cream place. You know, my husband wanted to open Carvel's. You know, if any of these other people have cards and they want to...
I mean, we've had serendipity before, but we've paid for it. We've always paid for the card.
I'll be glad to talk them into doing it. And Jessica was on our board.
How much was the card? I don't remember. I mean, it was years ago. But it was at least, like, I want to say at least $300.
Well, why not? So if I could have a formal letter from the town, from you... Or somebody like, you know, thank you for participating in our upcoming event. We could do a boilerplate and just use it for different things. And I'll walk up and down the street. I live in downtown, basically. And just say, here's an opportunity. I did this for Stephanie Trump and I have a dream foundation. And I couldn't believe the stuff people were like, yeah, yeah, here, take, yeah. You know, like... Some people are so willing because they understand the power of marketing. If you give something away, it's going to come back tenfold because people are going to be talking to each other and, hey, did you know that the Grove has these really great pastries, the best rugelach? this is the best ice cream, and especially the new places like Holy Bagel and whoever else is opening up.
I think it'd be great if, yeah, I can get you a letter. I'll draft something up for you. Please. And if, you know, if you're in the district, if you can share that. And then if not, then we have the approved budget as a backup.
Okay, so did we finish the first, did we vote on the five? There was a second. Okay, Rita, you want to make a second? All those in favor say aye. Aye. in case we need to get an ice cream cart from Rita's? Is it Rita's? It could be Rita's.
Do we have a backup? It could be. Well, from a local ice cream shop. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Something easy. I mean, you don't want to bring soft ice cream. Carvel has those, you know, flying saucers. Something that you pull out of the ice cream cart. And also, it's very festive, and the kids get really excited
Say, I want everyone, this person would be our best, but they want $250.
So what if they ask for like how many servings? Because sometimes they'll ask how many people?
We can cap it at 100 or 50 or whatever we're anticipating. We run out, we run out. Yeah, we run out first come first serve.
But should we set a number for 75?
And the same vendor who's going to give us the free ice cream, in my vision, would have coupons. I'm so sorry we ran out, but please accept that as a two-for-one. So that at least they're making some money back and then that two-for-one usually turns into... Something else, yeah. Let's do 75.
Okay, so 75. So did we pass that motion?
Sorry, for 75 people you said? No. Like servings? No.
Well, that's just... Yeah, yeah. For three... The whole event would be for pizza and ice cream for 75 people.
75 people. And also we can offer them another incentive to do for free is we will, you know, special thanks. We'll give them a recognition.
We can put their logo in the flyer if you want, yeah. I'll put their logo in the flyer, all of that.
Exactly, then they can promote on their social media.
We can tag them, all of that.
And do we just find kosher pizza just to make it easier? Yeah, easy.
I think so. I think it's easier if it's just, yeah, otherwise.
What about, are you going to go to Grove to check? I'm going to go to Grove. They all make the pizzas and then you could ask them for a donation of dessert or something. Yeah. Because if we're buying it from Fialikoff's. Right, right. Yeah, right.
Maybe they'd rather do everything. Yeah.
Would that be all right with you?
Yeah. I mean, if you have the contact person at Fialikoff, I could talk to them too. You know, we're trying something out here. You know, it's worked in other communities. I've done this in all kinds of... where I do, at the Miami Beach, at the Michael and Russell JCC, I had a zero budget, and I did like this phenomenal event with like 20,000 people. Zero budget. I got everything donated. Miami Dolphins, Panthers, everything.
So. Well, if you know a sports star, they could come and sit there. Is there a mascot for any of these teams? We need a little pickle All those in favor say aye. Aye.
Any opposed?
No, motion passes. All right, are you interested in this for hands-on?
I think it would be really nice. I think it would also... Pull some people in. Yeah, I mean, it's gorgeous. We're tying with the youth council event last week. Yes, exactly.
Rita?
I think that's great.
to the board. The idea is people participate and then they can take one home. They make it themselves. Yes.
And they'll be, I think they just hit people. I've been in a room where it's done.
Wow. Is there like a YouTube video of somebody doing it? Not sure. Because then they could understand it better.
I mean, I think it's great, but maybe we...
I've been at two events with it. for the, let me get the title on the group.
It's Mothers Without Violence, right?
Bullets for Life.
Bullets for Life.
Is there a motion to approve $500 for Bullets for Life?
Yeah, I'll make the motion to approve $500 for Bullets for Life.
So that's for the materials, and then people come and make the bracelets themselves?
And then we pay the $500, then they can take these.
Oh, okay.
And the idea is there's one less bullet on the street to kill a kid or try a vaccine. And it's a conversation starter.
Yeah.
So while people are making it, they can have a piece of pizza, understand, and maybe get a little quick lesson.
This is quite popular. I've been at two events and we have like three or four tables just for this. Wow.
So the 500 is going to cover all the materials?
I'm thinking maybe this should just be a standalone because it might be too overwhelming.
To the chair, were you trying to add it to a resource there? Yeah.
It's a three-hour event. Yeah. It does help to fill.
Also getting something that you create yourself, it also does draw more attraction to the event itself. Right.
Okay, let's try. All right. So Mary made the motion. Do you want to second, Rita? I'll second. Okay, any discussion on it? Okay, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. All right, so What was this? The Bullets for Life.
Yes.
So, just so I understand, the Community Resource Fair is, what's the theme?
Community resources in our community that can help the community.
Help the community, kind of the global, so mental health and safety.
Wellness, I mean, I think.
Wellness, would that include any of the... physicians on Harding Avenue, the dermatologists. She had a booth at the grand opening. Do you know her? Yeah, yes, Sarah.
Do you want to go to her too? We can walk together and have lunch at Bagel Bus. That's right. Everybody, we'll eat at Bagel Bus after.
First we'll pitch them and then we'll say, hey, we're here for So are the vendors paying for the tables?
No, we'll give them the table and the chair. We provide the space and the venue and they can come out and promote their services. It's a cross promotion.
So it could be a jewelry store?
No, not a jewelry store because that's not a service, a resource.
One of our roles here is to help and care we would call a quick meeting how can we help out by getting some right is that what your vision the vet could be a resource yeah if there was another shooting what should we do to get things out the urgent care they should be involved for sure like the biggest store on Harding they don't take a lot of insurance that's why it's
need something urgently.
Yeah, but if you don't have the insurance to pay for it, you can't. Like I had to take a friend in to explain it to them, and they said, oh, we don't take that insurance. Oh. Okay, so they're a little restricted. They're trying to get other insurance companies, but no.
This particular
Or you can try.
I mean, if they want a table and pass it out, why not? I mean, like services, like home services, like plumbing and AC? No. No, we don't want to get into that? No. It's service, not... It's like something free. It's free to, you know, you call us, we'll help you. Gotcha.
Right, Frank? Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.
Yeah, I'm wondering what the Humane Society sent you, Tony's... bring their pets to hospitals to, you know, to consult patients.
Is this the same group you called Frank for?
No, I, no, I just, uh, I just sent you... Me or Frank? Mrs. Debbie, both of you. I just... Frank is going to do the content. Yeah, Tony, she's with the Humane Society. She's a good resource. And you can just ask her, is there anything else you do?
Yeah, that would be a good fit for this.
Yeah, yeah, um, yeah, emotional support. Okay, um... Do we have a local fire department or are we community-based?
No, it's Miami-Dade.
Is there a liaison person?
I know the PR lady. Okay, yeah.
Would you put them down too? You know, because they can put, like, change your batteries on April, you know, your smoke detectors. Sometimes they give out batteries. Okay.
All right. Or smoke detectors.
So Gerardo, you're going to do what?
Talk to Michelle and work on the helmet giveaway. Okay.
January 7th, because if February is that safety month, they'll pick a date on January 7th.
They should, but you said that you would, that you might attend as well. Yes.
So I'll put out to you what out the date so I can send it to our committee here for what date it is. Yes. Okay. All right. Sorry to digress. Go back first. Okay. Anything else? Okay. I'm looking forward to that. And if you're thinking I think that's what Hillary had to do last time.
We're a municipality and we don't pay right away or something.
I mean, we could make online credit card payments.
Or is our policy wait until after they show up? We don't want to pay and they don't come?
No, it depends. It's different. Because we don't have a contract for these types of events because they're so small. So it really can be whatever you guys want it to be. Okay. So if you're open to paying before, if it needs to secure the organization, we can if you all offer. So I'll be back at the January.
I'll find out if they want the money first. Okay, good. Okay, next item. Lending library for books and TED items. That's Joanna's. Do we wanna defer that? Anybody have, Frank, do you have anything on that?
I mean, I can just give a quick update that the dog park is scheduled to be renovated next year, but it's still early goings. They recently got a, I think, landscaping proposal from one of the companies to do some of the landscaping. But this project will be tied to a potential grant that I think our grant writer is trying to secure. So she's working on that. And I think, you know, the timeline for the project will maybe tie to the specifics of the grant, which are still a little bit up in the air. So, you know, the lending library is something that could definitely be added after the fact. It would be an adopter? Mm-hmm.
Now, is this a book? I can't... I think this was pet items.
Not the book one.
I think it was pet items.
I think we were going to start with the pet items. So did we approve any money for this yet or should we wait?
No, because it's still too early.
Okay, so you'll keep it on your radar?
Yeah, whenever there's an update.
And the landscaping, is that for a bid or did they choose somebody already?
I think Andre told me they only got one. I don't know if there was a bid or how.
I can definitely suggest someone. Well, they have to go through a process. Yeah, yeah.
I can find out from Andre. I can let you know if it's still open. Rita, maybe, you know, they might be looking for another proposal.
So, okay. Should I put this, do we need to talk about this anymore?
I don't think we'll have an update for next one, so I'd probably drop it. But, Rita, I'll find that out. Okay, I'll have to put it on for next one. Okay.
a 60-monthly book club. So this is July.
Yeah, so I did, you know, I talked to Ana Menendez. She's interested, and she says she's around in January. Okay. So I... We just left it at that. I mean, it is getting... You know, we should... in doing it, we should probably propose a date.
So I believe you had proposed a date already, Sunday, January 11th, I believe. I have that written somewhere. But I mean, it can change. That's what you have, yeah. Oh, okay. But you know, you can choose another one, but that was the tentative date.
It is, I mean, oh right, because then it's MLK weekend after that. There are certain other constraints. I would want to make sure people have enough time to read. Yeah, to know about it. And with the holidays.
Maybe February start. I would just note that the community center closes at 6 p.m. during the winter. I don't know when that will change, but I would recommend the book club starts at four, at least two hours before closing. And I spoke to the park staff. I mean, this would have to be a very self-sufficient event. So the board members, you guys would have to set up the room. I mean, whatever it is that you want. Do you just want chairs in a circle, which is very simple? This is what I imagine. Yeah, so just pull up the chairs and just close the room back up so that, you know, the park staff is not really affected. But yeah, they, you know, they don't have any issues as long as, you know, you can set up. They'll be on site though. Yeah, they will be. But they're, you know, they're not really going to assist, but they'll be.
Okay, so what day did we say we wanted?
Sunday, January 11th is what you mentioned at the last meeting. And just to be clear, I will not be there either.
I mean, what do you think? I just think it's a little soon.
After the holidays, I think it's a little...
I was going to ask... Because you have to announce it. Don't you announce the book? Exactly.
I was going to try to see if... It's her novel, The Apartment, which is her recent book. If Books and Books would make an order of it, that it could people there.
If you want to look for a different date that's not a Sunday, there might be more days in the week. Maybe it gives us more of a chance later in the month.
Was there a reason why we ruled out the 25th? Was that the 25th of January?
It's Family Fun Day. It's Family Fun Day. It's Family Fun Day.
Yeah, there was something. So do we want, let's start with, do we want January? Is she available? When is she available?
I believe we just left it at she's available in January.
If we have it after our meeting, then we have one more time to plan it.
Um, but I, you know, ideally I would like to be able to propose a date to her.
Um. Did you want another month or do you want another date in January, another month? Dr. Seuss Day is, like, March 2nd, you know, and a lot of kids are doing that in school. This could be our adult version.
Is this something that you all think should be on a Sunday exclusively, or are you open to more? Because that was nice. That time did work well for the Summerfest, but, like, in theory, you know, you mean as opposed to, like, a weeknight? Yeah, I mean, just sometimes. Or if we have a pizza, a pizza. But remember, community center closes at 6. Right, that's the thing. It's a work day.
9 is only until 6 p.m. 6 is early. I mean, you know.
What about the park? It's cold.
Oh, the park. Inside? It was cold. Parking.
The parking. But people live in surf sides.
There you go again. I mean, for the book club?
I don't know.
I mean, that's a a public place, not people's homes. Yeah. Yeah, that's like a private place. Okay.
I guess I'll make myself.
I would have to ask, because I don't know how the park works, but again, the same would apply, like you would probably have to set it up and break it down, but I'd have to ask, what are the times or the parameters for the park?
I mean, I could see it working Or a Sunday? Let's try the Thursday. That's your recommendation.
I mean, we get a lot of people in the winter for Thursdays. I mean, we get tons of people come out to the events. And I see people at the programming.
And they really like this last one, too.
So then we would be looking at Thursday, the 22nd? Here.
Of January? Or February?
January.
Yeah, it'd be the 22nd.
It'd be the 22nd. Oh, I can't count Hillary's birthday. It's in grade.
How long is her book, her novel?
What is her name again? Adam and Endez. And what's the name of the book? The book is called The Apartment. Yeah, you might...
I don't have to be there. If that's the best day, please.
Just know that we can put everything out digitally, but unfortunately this won't be in the Gazette because it already went to print. Yeah, that's what I was going to ask.
That's my next question. When does the Gazette go to print?
It changes every month, but this deadline has already passed. It's usually early. The beginning of the second week of the month is when our deadline usually is.
Okay. I used to run a magazine so I know that you have to have everything in a certain date and it goes and then there's only days to print it. So do you have a set deadline every month of file material?
No, it's another department. They set a different one every month, but it's usually at the beginning of the second week of the month.
That it's out, it goes out.
No, that's the deadline.
Deadline. Yeah. Okay. So that's, we should work around that for relevance too.
But I mean, you know, we can do other ways, but I know the Gazette is helpful because it goes to everybody.
So if it's, could we, let's see.
So when would we be able to announce the...
So February 22nd is our... January. No, February 22nd. So it could be in the Gazette. Oh, I see. So we could do something early in February. That way it would be able to be put in the Gazette and books could be gathered. Right.
It also gives people a little bit of time to read.
February. Roundhog Day is the second.
The first is full moon.
12th is Lincoln's birthday, so Lincoln was a reader.
President's Day, when is that? That's that weekend of the 16th.
President's Day is the 16th.
About the 12th. Is that our next meeting?
Yeah, the 14th is Valentine's Day. People might be going away for weekends. Yeah, yeah.
except Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
And this is for 96th Street Park, right?
I think so, right? If the community center is strictly closed.
Yeah, 6th is gone.
And the park is open, could stay open until 8 o'clock?
I don't know. We have to ask Parks.
I have no idea.
They did for the one last week.
Okay. Yeah, I think so.
I just don't know if there's staff there that waits until a certain time for the interior parts or if they just leave it open. We were there until what time?
We were there until 7.30, 8. Something like that. But that was a different kind of event. Okay, and then, so we're looking at two hours, six to eight. And do we run a budget? Do we want to put in pizza and water again?
Remember, I'm not going to be there for this event. So if you guys want something like this, you'd have to manage that yourselves.
Do they deliver? Yeah, of course.
Everybody delivers.
But you could order it for us and set up a delivery, right?
I mean, yes, but I'm going to be getting the Uber Eats alerts, like the driver is here, you know, and I'm not on site. So it makes more sense for somebody who's there to do it. I could give you... like the town card number so you could pay for it. Whoever orders it can pay for it that way. Who's efficient that doesn't screw up things?
You two.
I'm like, I'm snoring a lot of stuff already.
With a lot of meal plans. To work it out. Mary, are you going to...
I mean, we had... Do you screw up things? One of the events, we had pastries that they donated from the ex-roller pin. No, that wasn't a... I thought it was a donation. No, it wasn't a... Yeah, we bought them. Wow. That might just be enough.
That was just...
I don't think you need pizza with that.
So how about we want a $500 budget for that?
You know, I'm not going to be speaking out of turn, but... LG, his daughter started making cupcakes. I don't know if she's going to be doing this as a side hustle, but I got a box. Are we allowed to do that? Do a private vendor like that? I think so. Kosher. They're definitely kosher. I mean, tiramisu and caramel.
I mean, you could encourage, like, because I know some people sell some home food because I've seen it on Nextdoor. I mean, maybe people will want to use it as an opportunity to promote, and that could be a way to get some free goodies, local goodies into the mix.
Okay, do you want me to call Apple G? I don't know. I'll speak to them because I just taste them. Tell them I didn't get any.
He called me last night and he's like, they're right out of the oven and I just came home from Phoenix and I was dreaming about cupcakes at home.
Black people again? I don't know. For a book club? No.
Okay, how about 50? Maybe 20 people come, I think.
How many people came for Cinefest today?
I'd say 40?
Yeah. Cinefest was over 50 probably, and there were people coming in. But that was well promoted, it was a long time, and it was a historical event. I mean, I've been part of the book club, so it's not more than 15 people in people's homes.
Yeah. I think we could get a good, you know, I think we could get 40. Yeah. People are going to eat, too.
Yeah.
I mean, we'll... All right, so you'll report on that. I'm going to propose February 5th then to the author. I have that? Yeah. Okay, do you have that? All right, and if she says she can't, do we have a... I might ask her for other dates. Is there a way that we can have a contingency plan if she says she can't?
Well, I'm over that. She can't do that date, I mean. Are you allowed to send Angie an email? She would send us and we could say yes that day. It would be good for me to help.
You could send it to me and I will forward it.
Okay, then yeah, maybe that would be the backup.
Is there a reason why we came to you on the 19th or the 26th? of February, those are both Thursdays as well. So we could also just have those in the back of it. So she says she can't do that.
The 19th is? It's the third Thursday. Oh, OK.
So in the 26th, that could be a contingency date. That's a? Is that PNC? Penny and Tony. Oh. Yeah.
That's OK. We don't.
Well, not for you guys. But I think you.
I would have a conflict then of PNC. Let's stick with that first week of February and see what we can do.
All right. Yeah. We'll say that's our preference. Frank?
So we're going to make this a monthly event?
Or bi-monthly? Yeah. Monthly is a lot of homework. Yeah.
We'd have to start planning the next one. I was thinking I'll reach out to my friend in New York. He might be coming out. It would be much too expensive to fly him down here. He's a Floridian. He's a... I mentioned he's a Harvard professor and he runs the 92nd Street Y program, Dane Rosenbaum, and he wrote a book called How Sweet It Is about 1970s Miami Beach. He's a little controversial at times. He's very controversial.
Yeah, he's, I mean, I don't know. I was in something and some people were just hating it. But he's friends with them. One of my friends is a manatee, too.
So the book club would be every other month more or less? Let's just plan. The parks team did ask me that if you are going to organize one to let them know with at least two weeks in advance. So they did ask for that to be in the motion as well as that the board themselves would take care of setting up and breaking down.
So we have to do the tables and the chairs?
I mean, do you need tables? No. Probably just pulling up the chairs. So that's it. Pulling up the chairs.
Like a campfire. I mean, otherwise? Yeah, let's just see how this one goes.
Yeah, let's see. This would be a nice...
or do we have one for the date for Ana Menendez?
Would you like to make a motion? Are you going to put that with her, what dates she prefers?
Well, I'd rather get a motion to do it that way, once he gets the date. If it's the date we want, then Frank can get in the Gazette. And if it's the other dates, Angie's going to send us an email to see if we can attend. And then we can still get it in the Gazette.
So can somebody save that whole motion with the room thing as well included?
So Frank, state what you want us to say for the motion.
So I think it... What are the dates, Angie? I'll try to say the whole motion. What are the dates that are considered?
February 5th is the one that...
February 5th. Okay, so the board would like to make a motion to hold the first CRB book club. The second CRB book club on February 5th, 2026. with Anna Menendez at 6 p.m. at either 96th Street Park or the Community Center, knowing that the board will take care of setting up and breaking down the room before park staff has to leave.
Who's going to make the motion? I will make the motion. I'll second.
All those in favor, say aye. All right, so then we'll get, and if the date is different, then we'll just see if we can attend, and it'll go back to Angie and Jill Belfranc, and then we can get in the Gazette. Okay. And then the next meeting, we can do the cupcake prices. Yeah. Are there hot water urns anywhere?
Yeah, we just bought an urn for the hot chocolate so we can use it. The different urns all work for tea and water, yeah.
Okay, tea and cupcakes, that'd be great. Unless you want to put brandy in it or whiskey in the tea.
If we had the house over here, can you imagine?
It would be so ideal. There was an old cheers one, they had a book talk in the back and they just had whiskey in the back.
It's like, yeah, you hit a little bit and then all the shots.
New York, they play, young people, they play big guns and take a shot at everybody. Okay, good, good, good, well done.
You should do that after every motion. Yeah, I'll just really quickly, I can tell you that Joanna had asked about the lending library at the tennis center. I did ask the staff and they said, oh, no, there's no way. It can get busy in there. Sometimes a lot of the kids will come in together and you have multiple staff. Yeah, it could be a mess. They said it would be messy.
Is there room at the 96th Street Park? Yeah.
They said no.
They said no.
I did mention at the commission, I had a discussion people had said, oh, wouldn't that be a nice use of the house? And so I mentioned it in passing, but it's part of the idea of the Navy House. So that's, yeah, I just put that out there. There's no promise.
But that room where we had the lecture, where they do yoga and everything, would there be, could they Like when you go to an Airbnb and they have a bunch of books, isn't it like that? See, I think it's going to be, no, this is the London Library of Things. Yeah, that's all.
Appliances and like things. I mean, yeah, like a vacuum cleaner.
You know, it can get bulky probably pretty quick. If we had the 933 house, the garage would be used for things. Right, would be perfect.
But your commission's still running.
Like a leaf blower. Yeah. Okay. My understanding from the manager is that the rental is just ending soon. I'll put this on for the next.
I forgot to put on the walking tools. Do I have to make a motion to do that? Can we just brief on that?
You can make a motion to add the item.
Somebody make a motion to add A discussion on the walking event this Sunday.
I will make a motion to add the walking event this Sunday as 6G.
You can add it under 7A.
I second.
All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Okay, Rita. Okay, do we have flyers?
We do. I didn't print any because I didn't know you wanted them.
Is there another way of printing them? Where would they go? Well, I was going to take them to the restaurants, to Harding, because tomorrow is the only time.
You would have told me because my office is on the other side. Yeah, yeah, because I was out of town. I mean, I sent you the file, though, right? I did, yes.
I couldn't print anything because I was out of town.
Let's leave it. Let's leave it, Emma. because it's so soon, and then next time we'll know how to do it.
How are we going to get the word out? Well, it's been out.
Yeah, it's on the Gazette, it's been on all of our channels. Has anybody responded? Anybody emailed you? I'm not on the chat, so I don't know. Nobody's done the chat because I had to make a new chat.
Well, yeah, because there was too much... We were hacked. No, I made a whole new chat. Yeah, because that happened. They hijacked the chat.
I might have added it to my Surfside updates because I send out emails.
I mean, it's on the billboard, too, when you drive in.
I know. I said what time? 8? 8 a.m. We're at the Turtle. 88th Street. 88th Street.
So south to north so you can end up at the market, right?
Also 88th Street at the beach. at the beach, and we're going to walk down to the Fresh Market.
I wouldn't worry about the coffee right now. I don't think it's, I would just, let's walk.
Yeah, just walk and talk.
Yeah, let's see who shows up.
Walk and talk. So I'm on a group chat of... Surfside Women, I think it's called, and it's like 636 people. I posted on there a few times. I didn't get any response.
Try posting the link directly to join the WhatsApp group, so not just the flyer, but if you look on the listing online, you can copy that link, and that way people can hit it and go directly to the chat.
Is that the old chat?
I updated it with the new one. Yeah, yeah. I put the new one.
Yeah, if we could all do, you know, a little bit, I think that might help just to spark people's, because they're going to, you know, people don't remember.
And I'll send it again Saturday night, like as a standalone, like I did yesterday as a standalone. Like a timer.
Yeah, 6 p.m. Yeah, sounds 6 p.m. Maybe we can all also just throw it up on our next stories.
Is good, yeah. Are you good at that?
I posted one of our runs.
You're good at that. Yeah, talk it up.
If you see anybody in town, talk it up.
And then we'll be better organized.
I think I might have mentioned it in the past. Doing home beautification, a home beautification project for the elderly and maybe disabled people in Surfside that need help with their homes. Repairs, painting, gardening. where we have a crew of volunteers, people, you know, with different expertises, like I already volunteered my husband, and my neighbour who's an inspector, and there's a bunch of handymen, you know, people in the neighbourhood, and sometimes you just see, you know, you drive by or ride by or walk by homes that just look really dishevelled, and you'll see an elderly person come out, and they're like struggling to get things done, and maybe they're, you know, on a tight budget and all that, so to create like a task force of people that would want to, you know, try out, you know, just a few, and maybe the condos as well, you know, whatever's allowed without permits. Why don't we defer to this one next time? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll put it on my agenda for next time.
I think Joanna had, that was, she wanted to get like someone who sews, someone who Repair cafe. Yeah, repair cafe. We're trying to group that together.
I'm happy to bring back information about that. Why don't we tie that together?
Yeah, exactly.
That one's more concrete.
That's more of a single event. Yeah.
clock that goes out I would call this time yeah it was more I'm going no typically we're here it's like you know it's this concept that started in the Netherlands but it's pretty active in the Hudson Valley of New York there's a rotating repair cafe it's like you you have a space it's all volunteer it's sort of like the idea is that it's not a commercial thing but neighbors helping neighbors fix
can even tie it together too. Mary?
I would like to add for next meeting a sponsored by a non-profit that my mom is on the board for. It's called Coast Love. And I would love for us to do a community, the CRB sponsored beach cleanup. I think that would be nice. And we could also, I know there's somebody on next door who involved in doing that would be really nice. So I thought that would be nice.
Would you present that next time? Yes, I'll present it next time. Alright, so here's the agenda. Anything else? Here's what I have for next month. Frank, are you ready?
Angie will capture it.
Bike safety event? We'll have a recap of Community Resource Day.
That would be with the wishing tree or just...
We'll have a discussion on elderlyhelp.com slash repaircafe as well as, what is yours called? Oh, Beach Cleanup.
Beach Cleanup. Anybody else? And if you want anything on the agenda, you send it to Frank after, or you send it to Angie, right, after Angie. And once Angie sends the monthly notice, if you have anything for the agenda, right, then you send it to Angie and she sends it to Frank and myself. That works if you want. Like the first one you called me, Frank, to see if you want. We've just been working it this way. Okay. Okay, so... And everybody has their homework for the...
Right, for the fall. So the two events, the community resources February 22nd
All right, is there a motion to adjourn?
Sorry, we have another item, the next meeting date. And then I have something to ask you guys. January 15th?
I'm okay on that date. January 15th is...
It's the Jewish Film Festival premiere and AIC event. That's Thursday, right? I mean, what time? Same time, like 4 o'clock?
4 p.m. We could move it to 3 if that would help you. Are we allowed to do that, Angie?
Yes. Okay.
What time is the... Yeah, my events are in the evening. Would you like 3 o'clock, Rita?
Yeah, 3 o'clock. Okay, you okay? I'll figure it out.
Frank? Sure. All right, so 3 o'clock on the 15th.
Okay, and then I also have, I sent you guys, the board, an email about the May meeting date, which is scheduled during Shove War. What do we have to do?
Excuse me, sorry, I have a problem. Thursdays, our first one is, I can probably still come to the meeting, but it might be, it's on the 15th, our first one.
Can we do, as a one-off, can we do Wednesday the 14th?
We have to check with Angie.
That should be good Wednesday the 14th.
Would you send that out right away to the whole committee?
And do you still want 3 o'clock, Rita? Sure. Wednesday, January 14th at 3. Gerardo, are you okay on that?
I should be okay. We'll put your agenda item first.
Thank you. Agenda items first. Okay, so everybody can make a note of the walking.
Yes, and everybody come at 8 a.m. and bring your neighbor.
And a lot of just be us. We'll have a good time.
Through the chair, sorry about the May meeting. It's just that we accidentally scheduled it during the Shavuot Jewish holiday, so we just want to change that. It's okay.
What day is it on again?
We have it for May 21st. That's a Thursday. And I was looking to see if we could have them.
There's a holiday? From May 21st to 22nd.
May 21st to 22nd. Okay. Because when I made the agenda deadline dates, I would have to change it.
Shavua, it's May 21st. What date were you looking at?
I was going to ask you if you wanted to change it to the Wednesday, May 20th or Tuesday, May 19th.
Okay.
May 20th is fine for me.
May 20th? Can I have a motion to change that? I'll make a motion to change.
Should I make a motion to change both of them? Because we just changed them to January 14th.
I don't think for the January one.
I'll make a motion to change the May meeting to May 20th. Can I also make a motion to adjourn this meeting? Yes.
Thank you, everybody.
Who seconded this? Thank you.
This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.