Resort Tax Board - Regular Meeting

from this meaningful.

Right? Okay, please call to the order.

Yes, Madam Chair. Chair Gonzalez? Present. Vice Chair Martinez?

Present. Where's my keychain?

Present. Board Member Salsour?

Keychain.

Present. Chair, you have a quorum.

No, that's on, this is me. It's mine.

Okay, don't worry. Okay. Okay. Awesome. I use it every day, see? Agenda, and so it falls apart. Are you ready? Are you there? Yeah, I'm ready.

Yeah, but I'm not, where is the thingy?

I think, what is that?

No, no, I opened, but where is the...

Okay, thank you. Now, agenda and order of business. But I want to say first, thank you. We have our liaison, Vice Mayor Tina Paul. Thank you for coming. Thank you. We have Frank Trigueros, Tourist Director. Thank you for coming. Thank you, Ileana.

Salazar.

Yeah, Ileana Salazar and Judy. And we have absent two members, but they are following us, I guess. Okay, we're going to go to the agenda and order of business. No change to do? Everything's okay? You want to make a change or something? No? It's fine? No? No? Okay. We have a town commission liaison report.

Thank you. I don't believe I have anything to report, but I would like to say thank you for a wonderful 90th anniversary event. It was really beautiful. I had many, many compliments. Residents were really happy with the events we've been putting on lately, the last Thursday event as well. So I want to just congratulate the board for doing a great job.

Thank you. Okay. Public comments? Do we have public comments?

I don't have any speaker cards, Madam Chair.

No? Okay. Then we have approval of minutes from the last meeting. Someone wants to do that.

Excuse me, Chair. If I may, I had just two little corrections for the minutes. Okay. On page six, where I say, I need to say commemorative keychains. So if we could just add the word Commemorative. What is in page six? Yeah, let me see where it is.

Vice Mayor, if you can give me one second so I can put the, get the pages.

Yep. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'm looking for it as well. What is that one? Six. I can't tell what pages are. I, oh, yeah. Page 6.

Vice Mayor, can you please, the first correction?

Yeah, to add the word commemorative before keychains. In which page? It's on page 6, but I can't tell on this iPad.

Or the item number? Yeah. Maybe the item number?

Oh, we were talking about the 90th. It was a long one.

Oh, okay. Which is the item number, 7C or seven something that we can find?

Oh yeah, it's, well over here it says, Vice Mayor Paul spoke about the two different 90th anniversary parties. She suggested giving keychains. It should be commemorative keychains. That's all. And then on page eight, I guess it was... It was the same subject. It's at the top of the page. Vice Mayor Paul asked about rain on the event day. It should be Vice Mayor Paul asked about plans if there is rain on the event day.

Oh, about plans.

That's all. Just to be a little clearer on what I was talking about. To add in that line.

You got it? Yes. Yeah, okay. Thank you. It's good to have some correction. We have to. Okay. And now we're going to see if there is a proposal. Someone want to approve the minutes? Make a...

I make a motion to approve the minutes.

I'll second the motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Okay. Now we are in... Resort Tax Collection and Vacancies Report. Uh, with, uh, yes, thank you, Madam chair.

Unfortunately, I don't have any new numbers from our finance team, um, to show you, you know, resort tax differences. However, I did want to at least share some new developments that we have in the business district. So I have just something up on the screen. Most of these are going to be the same, but a couple of important mentions. As far as vacancies, 9487 and 9489, which is 26 Sushi and Wok, formerly 26 Sushi and Tapas, is leaving town. So fortunately, that's a bit of a big blow because it's a very popular restaurant. I know it generated a lot of resort tax dollars, and they did incredibly well. Not sure where they're going, but I believe the property owner is in touch with a potential new business, but I don't think it is a restaurant. And then as far as new openings, we have had an Italian kosher restaurant open at the location where Specchio's was formerly located, and that is called La Vita e Bella. Is it in there? Yeah, La Vita e Bella. So I encourage...

The other Italian is in that corner, right? In 95 and...

The other Italian, what's the other Italian?

Restaurant.

Ragazzi.

Ragazzi, yes, correct. So they're not too far from Ragazzi, but Specchios was also an Italian there. Exactly. Formerly, so... That's basically it for the business district, but yeah, just wanted to mention those two developments and hopefully we should have new numbers for the July meeting.

What did bagel bar replace bagel boss?

I'm trying to think, because are they where the pet shop was located? Because I know they changed their original location. They were going to be on 95th Street, and then they went to Harding.

No, it's a big space. It looks nice. I can't remember what was there before.

I would have to look up the address. I don't know it off the top of my head, but I think either the pet store that...

I think it was a food store of some sort more recently.

Okay. We'll double check. I just don't know off the top of my head.

Was it the burger place that was going to come up?

Aroxi 9551. Was it? Is it at Aroxi?

I think so. Okay.

Okay. Then that might be it, where Aroxi, which was vacant for many years. So hopefully that is the case.

I think it was something that was more recently occupied. I don't remember what. I can't keep track because they keep closing and opening. The Greek place? I don't think so.

The Greek place was then Coolulu. I don't know. No, that is now Street Bar Tacos. Yeah, so probably a different one.

You have to just look up where it is.

Yeah, it's on our Instagram. We posted it recently.

I'll look it up. Bagel Boss. Okay. I'm just wondering what we lost. It's at 9543 Harding. 9543 Harding. Oh, you don't know? It's like right down from Aurelia's, a couple of doors down from Aurelia's.

Might have been where Laystar was, maybe. Laystar, it was a fabric store towards the very end. I think it might be that one.

I think it was more recently a food place, like another kosher food place that turned into this.

Could be. There's so many. Yeah, it's hard to say. Okay. All right, that's all for their report.

Is Zohar still there?

Zohar's Gelato? Good question. Maybe that's it. Maybe that's it. It might have been Zohar's Gelato. I think that could be it.

Yeah, Zohar's Gelato Cafe. Yes, that's what it was.

Yes, which was only open briefly. Yeah. Okay, yeah, good call.

Okay. I did notice the toy store is closing also.

Okay, I haven't heard from them.

I saw a sign there.

That's unfortunate, I know. He's been there for a little bit, but yeah.

I think it's an issue with rent, that's expensive.

Yeah, the rents are expensive, and the restaurants seem to really do the best. It's harder for some of the service shops or the boutiques and retailers to do as well. Occasionally some do, but it is hard.

Yeah. But then, no more questions?

Anyone?

No? Okay. Then we're going to number seven, discussion items. And we start with a public arts statement piece by Daniel Popper. It's going to be presented by Lucero Herrera, one neighbor who brought Daniel Popper This artist, as he introduced to Frank before, he met the artist and also Tina and me in the second visit, but then she's going to explain us better. I want to give her the opportunity for that because I think she's going to, you have questions, she's going to do a presentation and then you can ask questions. Okay?

Thank you, Madam Chair. We will welcome Luceno to the podium.

Okay, so.

You say your name and address.

Thank you, good afternoon. Thank you for having me here. My name is Lucero Herreria, 9133 Carlisle Avenue. I wanted to share my perspective, proper piece of sculpture that you have already in your profile. I don't have any personal emotional attached with him or with the art, any connection, any interest in artistic or financial in here. It just is my involvement. is simply based on the genuine value that I believe this piece can offer, talking about the cultural, economic, artistic, educational, with community and enrichment. I see clearly the benefit that SORF can have with this piece of art, and this is only the reason why I'm so interested in supporting this project. Let me introduce him. He is Daniel Popper. We have the opportunity to meet him twice this year because he came to do another two projects here in Miami. So we have the opportunity to meet him the first time with Frank and the second time with Tina and with Diana. And they can meet him personally and he can share the ideas that he has too.

I want to make a parenthesis. We couldn't invite Ileana and Judy because the sunshine load, we were told that no, just when people can go, and that is why I was trying to invite that, because sometimes it's good to have that opportunity with them. I would be the next one, I won't go, and you go. I was trying to share with you, but I couldn't.

That's it. OK. Surfside by Surfside masterpiece, we call it like this. This proposal presents the work of this big artist, Daniel Popper. And why do we want a permanent sculpture in Surfside? Because this visionary art offers immersive experience, themes of nature that you will see, connections, and spirituality, and of course, perfectly reflecting what is the spirit of Surfside. Who is Daniel Popper? He is from South Africa, multidisciplinary artist. He blends nature materials. This is the most important thing here because he works with materials that they are bio, they are totally natural. Create immersive, figurative sculptures that invite instructions and connection more with mother nature. Resort tax. This is one of the biggest proposals of the tax board, of course. Bring beauty, grow exponentially, of course, the tourism, and it's looking for creative, committed individuals to help lead the discussion in finding innovative ways to welcome tourists to Surfside. That is our town. That, of course, aligns with tourist board goals, that is, tourist growth. Having this piece here, we are going to have a lot of tourism coming. Have you seen, I don't know if some of you know Tulum in Mexico? This is where he began. I have seen his work there. It is where he began. I'm going to show you later. Beautification, of course, we want something beautiful. We want to bring something that is going to be worth it, value, but beautiful at the same time. It's going to have community program, too, because it's going to be an anchor for events. And it's going to be a brand identity. We need something to promote Surfside as an art and wellness forward destination. community engagement. We can do something like design feedback session like the town did with asking the community to have a gym, and it works perfectly. Educational partnerships. Now you can see Popper that he's asking for volunteers in the last project that he has in Portugal. He's asking for local schools and youth programs to go and volunteer and help him. So it's helping each other. Public events, of course, this is culture as a centerpiece. Will it gather us? And we are going to foster a community pride and connection. We want to be pride of something in our beautiful town. Key highlights, of course, is multidisciplinary expertise. He works with sustainable materials, organic and recycled materials. Signature themes, of course, is nature. This is what I like involved with him. Global recognition. Popper works in all around the world. You can see in the profile that he has all around the world. Burning Man, you know, the festival Burning Man, Boom Festival, Electric Forest, permanent collections all around the world. A Journey Through Popper Vision. I don't know if you have seen, if you have chance to see danielpopper.com. Let me see if I can open.

You can try clicking on the link.

Yes, on the link, maybe.

I visited the Instagram.

Yeah, is there? Oh, it's not there.

Or the Instagram. That looks like a butterfly, but they're leaves, right? Those are leaves. Because I was confused with the one that is here in Collins with the butterfly.

That was a Dombayan Spanish artist. It doesn't matter. All the pieces. I'm suggested also in Doral.

All the pieces that I'm going to show here, they are in the profile that I want to show in danielprobert.com. All of them I'm going to show you here. I have been a witness of his success. The pieces that he has put and built in the towns that I know for sure, I have seen the change of that town. The little town that used to be Tulum, that everybody knows Tulum now, the first time, of course, has a lot of things to share.

Madam Chair, if I may, can I please remind the speaker to speak into the microphone? Sorry. Thank you.

Since 2018, he built a piece that really made a change in Tulum. Tulum grew exponentially, and I have been witness of that. Once, four years ago, I tried to go. As a native person from there, I tried to go to Tulum to see that piece, and I couldn't. I couldn't even get off of my car because it was full of people. That is very impressive for me because I see, oh, This guy is changing even the towns. He's doing something really great. And since then, I say, okay, we need something like this for our town. This is my hometown, and I want the best for Southside. I have seen, too, in Grupo Rosa Negra in Mexico, an increase significantly of their clients. The owner is a friend of mine, and they say that it has been doing a lot of change in the restaurants. And in Fort Lauderdale, who has been in Fort Lauderdale? Who has seen this beautiful piece? Being honest, I think I just went to Fort Lauderdale to see that piece last year. This is the reason why those pieces are so attractive for people. I just went there to have breakfast with one of my friends in the back, I think, because it's a restaurant. But my really reason why I went there is because this piece. And we took a picture, all of the group. There were like 20 women there. And of course, everybody posted in social media. This is another piece. This is a piece that is actually in Tulum. And in the right side is one called Umi. And you know, social media is now the most powerful tool that we have.

Sorry.

Sorry. To connect people and places. Daniel Popper, his philosophy is sacred spaces. I would love for you to know him, really to see who he is and to know the people that he can make this peace in our town. Okay, he managed nature integration, emotional resonance, and universal accessibility. Of course, it doesn't matter the audience that we have with these pieces, no matter the age or the background, they are gonna love this piece. Permanent, why Sorsak should commission Daniel Popper? A permanent Daniel Popper sculpture would offer multifaceted value on Sorsak, culturally, socially, economically, and spiritually. Let me explain why. iconic tourist magnet. I have been witness of his work that really, really works. Establish Short Sight as a world class art and cultural destination. Let me rephrase something that I love to hear from Frank that he said. Can you imagine the people coming from the airport and coming straight to our surf site, our community, to see a piece like this? I'm going to be one of them because I love it. I love it. It's not going to be just a destination for surf site. It's going to be for Miami because people are like, OK, what do I have to do in Miami? This is going to be one of the first sites that they want to see. I mean, like an example, who went to see or to take a picture with the elephants in Arbazel? Oh, yeah. I went. And I was crazy with that. And everybody was posting on Instagram. I was viral. And that was not permanent. Can you imagine what could be the impact of that, something like this here?

We still have one elephant here in town. Yeah.

Yeah.

In one hotel.

In one hotel. Yeah, I have seen it. They bought it one because they were for sale. It's true.

I love it. So can you imagine the impact?

It was a fundraiser for a nonprofit to protect the wildlife. It's not a sculpture for profit, like a private.

No, no, but they did it for India. You are right. As a nonprofit, they helped the animals over there.

Yeah, that's what they did it for. Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

OK, generate extensive media coverage and social media engagement is what I say. Can you imagine how many thousands of people come in here? And of course, if the people come here to visit us, they are going to take a picture. And they want to go around to know about us. And of course, we have some lunch or drinks or whatever. They want to stay here and spend money here. And economically, it's going to help too. Diversity local trends beyond the beach attracting year-round visitors, of course. That is going to happen for sure. community identity, and engagement. Create a landmark, as I said, so people is going to see not just Surfside, it's going to be Miami. What can they see in Miami? And they're going to be here, and we are going to be identified like the cultures, culture that we have. Of course, you're going to have to decide. Foster civic pride and sense of belonging, and serve as a gathering space for events, photos, and moments of reflection. Cultural aesthetic enrichment, of course, transform public space into a living gallery. Can you imagine? I mean, we have here our neighbors in Bay Harbor. Beautiful path, full of art. Why we don't have something like this? We would love to have something that belong to us, too. Encouraging going community, of course. Everybody wants to go there to see it. I enrich a city legacy and cultural capital. Can you imagine the legacy that we are going to give to our children? Because this is going to be forever. Emotional and environmental well-being, of course, it's going to support mental health and emotional wellness and promote ecological awareness through symbolic connection with nature. Always what Popper is looking for is involve Mother Nature with Earth and with the people. Economic strategy value, of course. regarding the financially, cultural engagement, community, the main strategy is going to be economic because it's going to bring us Tourism, that is going to leave the money here, of course. Financially, it's going to be great. But it's going to be a beautification, too, of our town. So it's going to be both benefits at the same time. So it's going to act as a powerful marketing tool in tourism campaigns, increase food traffic, benefiting local business and restaurants, of course, and demonstrate social commitment to visionary public art and cultured investment. Again. redefining Surfside identity. Surfside is a small, quiet community without major tourist attractions, and we value that simplicity. We know, everybody, you know me too, I love my town because it's simple, beautiful, and this is our main attraction. We need something that defines us. While the town was trusty and spotty like, ah, I'm gonna be a referrer here, This is a little personal because we need something that serves to be recognized for something that happened in the past, and we don't want that. I think that it's time to move forward. We are not going to forget our friends and family in the collapse, but unfortunately, we have been remained there by that, with that strategy. So I think that we hope the visitors can see Southside for its resilience and every beautiful and not just the sight of a heartbreaking event that we had. We learned from them, but I think that it's going to bring joy to everybody, to our local community and to our tourism that we have already coming and they are coming in the future. There are some adulations, dialysations that the artist sent us. He doesn't used to come to Miami, of course, to see the site. He made this extension for us. He loved the town. He loved the idea. He is not a person that he is going to make just start whatever they ask for. They love the site. They love the idea. And he made some drafts for us. I mean, he doesn't do that. He doesn't come to the site. He doesn't do any drafts. But he loved it. And he did it for us. So this is one of the idealizations in the site proposed for him for the town. This is another one. This is the one that is already, I don't know if it's in Fort Lauderdale or in Tulum because they are almost the same. But can you imagine that beautiful piece, big piece, and be the backdrop of this ocean in the back? Would be awesome. I mean, if you can fit there like four or five people, a family, posting that beautiful piece in all the social media would be awesome. That is an example. This is daylight. And this is an example. Don't pay attention to the purple color. But it could be like an amber color, of course. And it's going to be turtle friendly, because we want to protect the turtles too. If you decide to be lighting, because it would be great to. And this is another example. This is one piece, the last piece that he built in the main avenue of Las Vegas. But he has so many beautiful pieces that you can see even in the profile. And if you allow me, he gave us a little message that I want for you to hear.

Hi, my name is Daniel Popper. I'm a sculpture artist from Cape Town, South Africa. And it's a pleasure to be out here in Surfside, Florida. And to be chosen to do a sculpture for your town would be an amazing honor. And we've come and found a beautiful location here on the border of Surfside. And we look forward to creating what will become your new tourist attraction and a very beautiful piece that will bring lots of joy and happiness to the community.

This is the site. This is made by the men. It's not in nature that they're doing, so it doesn't interfere with the nature. Of course, it's going to be another process if you approve or if you recommend us with the commission and we go forward with this masterpiece. Do you have some questions?

Are you done now to start with the questions?

Yes, I finished. Thank you. Okay.

Okay, who wants to start doing some questions? I want to say that I was in that place that you mentioned. It's true, I saw in Wynwood that they have one sculpture and the one in Fort Lauderdale, and the one with the open heart, because represent all of these. That is very Las Vegas. The other one with the lights and all of that is more for Las Vegas, but... I think in case that this is something that we want to do, he will create something specific for us. But that idea to see it throughout the sculpture for the ocean, I think is beautiful. That one especially. And I was impressed with the one in Fort Lauderdale that I didn't see before. It's so beautiful too. But yeah, I think I always, one of my complaints is that Val Harbour has always have been recognized because of the pieces of art that they have always. And they have the luxury to change it even. But when we were checking even for the woman that is in the yoga position that they have there, I think the material is bronze or something like that. But then they have always beautiful pieces of art. And I think I will, of course, I would like to have at least one for our time, but that was my impression, okay? But we can open to make comments or to make questions if you want to do comment questions.

Yeah, go ahead, Ileana. So, first of all, thank you for the presentation. Thank you for listening. It was very well presented and thought out. I get very emotional about this, and I don't want to be I don't want to be rude or disrespectful or anything about it, but for me, having spent years to try to get the Champlain Memorial done, I cannot, that has to happen first. Nothing else should be built sculpture-wise in this town until the memorial is done. If Daniel Popper wants to design the memorial, then that's not our, it's not a tourism thing, and he should go do that. So that's the first thing that emotionally I'm like, I can't even, it's okay, let me just finish talking and then you can respond. The second thing is that I really love that Surfside is different from Bell Harbor and other towns. I love our turtle motif. I love that. The art that we did recently was from and of the community. It was kids in Miami designing to put on the turtles. It was beautiful. It was wonderful. They went to the school. It was really about the community. I really am a proponent of community art. I know we have plenty of artists that live in this neighborhood. I'm not about celebrity artists from another country, from even another state to come and build something. If we wanted an opportunity to put some sculptures on our beach path, If we open that up to local artists, to Surfside artists, Miami artists, kids at Dash, kids at New World, that is the Surfside community vibe. I love his sculpture in Fort Lauderdale. I take a picture with that every single time. Fort Lauderdale is a very, very different town. They have a very different budget. They have a very different clientele. We cannot be... You know, the dunes are protected here. So as much as we're going to put pretty pictures of look what would look nice on our dune, you're not allowed to put things on our dune. We have, you know, there's regulations, environmental regulations. So that's not possible. We have the car, Chi, or whatever that big turtle is that we had built. That's beautiful. We have sculptures like that. I do agree we should be doing more art. This is not what I think our community needs because, again, it's not of and for and from the community. I feel like it's more like we're trying to copycat other places. We're a wonderful, amazing, unique town, and I think we should just continue to market that and not try to copy other places. And the other thing that's really a problem for me is the price tag here. This is $350,000 to $1 million. And a great example is you talked about the gym as a great example. The gym situation from my understanding has been a total flop because even though the community voted for a gym, the commission has not moved forward with a gym. We don't have a gym. They're not doing anything with that building. We now have a building that was purchased for upwards of a million dollars. I think it was almost two or three or four million. I don't remember how much they paid for that building. but it is now supposedly going to be a cultural center or something that the community did not vote for. It is not being made into a gym. And if we have $350,000 to spend, we can make a gym. The residents of this town would much prefer a gym 10-foot sculpture, and if you want a bigger one, a 30-foot sculpture, that's over a million dollars. You could do a whole new building, Jim, with that. There's not air conditioning at the school here. There's a lot of issues that need addressing. One of the things that I circulated to the commission were these sculptures that you sink and creates artificial reef. That is a tourist draw that also helps the environment. That is something that I think our town should be doing, because it's not just art, and it's a tourist draw, but it's also good for the environment. And so I think that anything we do should have both, should be serving the environment and serving the residents. And from my perspective, this doesn't serve either. His stuff is great, and I appreciate that, and he's wonderful, but I don't think that this is the right project. For me, it doesn't feel right for our town. Sorry, and again, I think he should design something for the memorial would be amazing to have something special there.

Yeah, thank you. You want to take notes in case that Judy wants to, to make a comment or something?

You can all comment. That was just I was just that was my comment. You guys can have your own obviously your own.

If I may, because I was I met with the artist about two weeks ago. And when we first were talking, because I had looked at his proposal and there was the sculpture with the hands and there was another sculpture that was a tree that was illuminated. And I had thought about it, perhaps he could do something for the memorial. It's still up to the committee because the commission decided it's up to the committee. But when I mentioned to him about the memorial and that it's a little bit complicated, he mentioned that he's been commissioned to do the memorial for the NOVA Festival. So he's sensitive to, you know, what's entailed with the festival and I do want to recommend him to the committee because I don't believe it would delay working. It's just a matter of, you know, moving things around so that you have a centerpiece.

I think that would be a great idea, and I think that the first thing that this town produces as a sculpture should be the memorial. And if he can lend his artistic talent to that, that would be amazing. And that would, you know, that would be all of those things.

Again, that is up to the committee, and I will just, just because you mentioned the gym, and this has nothing to do with the gym, and nothing has been decided. We got the feedback from the community. The commission has not decided on anything. So there's not, you know, It's to be determined.

But we're running out of time, and we would have liked this commission and for the board to have delivered the gym, and we can do that. If we have $350,000 lying around doing nothing in tourism, then we could build a gym. with that, less, half the space.

Well, you know, it's complicated because what was presented as the gym idea is not necessarily what is the right fit for that space. But, you know, it has to be discussed on the commission level, not here. This is about the sculpture, so I don't want to detract from that. No, I only brought it up because you should. Because you brought it up. No, but you said now we're not getting it. That's not true. Nothing's been decided. We got feedback, and now the commission needs to go back and discuss the space. Nothing has been decided for that space. It doesn't mean it's a waste of space. It's valuable land. And we purchased it for 1.5, not higher than that.

I think that the Champlain families, I know from my talking to them, they would be very upset to hear that this town is moving forward with some sort of sculpture that's not

We are moving forward with... No, but I don't want to... In other words, that should be the focus. We are moving forward with their memorial. That is going on. We are moving forward. May I allow to speak? Thank you.

May I allow to speak? Actually, the artist opened his heart to help us with that because he knows that he's going to be... The families are going to be struggling with that. I think you know me. I used to live in the Champlain Towers. I have a lot of friends there that we lost. My baby, he lost his very best friend. We lost a lot of friends that I entered in the hospital because of depression. So believe me, I was fighting for the tapas to be there. I was fighting for that. So nobody wants to forget them at all. And I think that is the reason why we opened with the artist about the monument that you said, the tapas. to remember, and he said, okay, I'm willing, he doesn't do that, but he's willing to do that for us. I totally agree with that. So hopefully the comedy or the families that get together, you know, Raquel, maybe I can connect her with the artists. I totally agree with that. Yeah, because we have the budget for that. I mean, that has... I don't know why they haven't gone forward with that. Maybe because they haven't found some...

It got assigned to a design, not a design firm. It didn't go to the right place. It was rushed, and then they didn't really have the creativity, but it's not too late. I would really recommend getting on top of that because it would be wonderful if we could have something spectacular that is serving as a memorial because that is really important. That is of the community for the community.

Personally, I really feel bad. if something like this will be done before them. Totally agree. Totally agree. Second, we can do, not fundraising, but we can do like a private investment. The town doesn't have to spend that kind of money, but we have another strategies to get, after the memorial, of course, to get something like this. Why? Of course, I totally agree with local people, the community, and you know that because I bring, every time I can, I bring people from our own community. But having Popper is, I don't know Popper. I don't have any relationship with him, anything. I don't have any financial relationship with him, nothing. I don't get any one penny from this project. But he's an international artist, being honest. He's going to bring more than a local project. And they can work with him. But we don't, my point is that we don't need that.

Our town is doing very well. And people are coming here for the beach and for the nature because we look different. What I was suggesting is that Popper connect with the memorial people and design something, you know, if they're open to that, design something there.

Yeah, of course. And I want to say, Ileana, too, you say that you don't need that, but other people think different. I agree. The memorial is something that is a priority, and no one is discussing that. It's completely different. The memorial is the priority. The problem is now they are stuck with a design or a project, whatever. I remember that Tina has a discussion with an artist and he was willing even to do that because he has some amazing ideas. But in addition to that, that is separate. I don't want that we mix this with that because the priority is a memorial, but it's not something that we are solving here right now. It's not something that belongs to us to resolve here.

No, I know. I just don't see this.

And I want to see also about the gene that is not something to resolve here. I hope that the Commission respects that people decision that was a gym, even if they had to transport the house or whatever. But I agree with that point, too. But also, I think we need to be a little open. I love the totals. And actually, I love all the totals idea and all of that, and we have it. But we are not really a town. protecting or doing too much to protect our nest. That is the problem. Did you see that now, the dunes? Because that idea of this, it wasn't in the dunes, actually. It's not to make it in the dunes. It's something that was made for us, for the men.

That picture was in the dune.

No, that is not a dune. That part is not a dune. Right now, Black Harbor, with the reforgement, I don't know if you see, they already disappeared one of the main dunes that we used to have in the middle. They take it out. They didn't care, right? We saw that. And we were walking there. They take it out and no one complained. No one is complaining about that. And they destroy it to put all the tractors and all that.

They're doing their beach renourishment right now. So that's why they had to move it so they can get their trucks in and the new sand.

They destroy it.

But I'm sure they're putting it back afterwards. They have to put it back afterwards. They do it every time to get the stuff in, and then they put it back afterwards. But we're raising our dunes in Surfside right now. And that's important. And I think that any art that we do, like I was suggesting, we have a limited amount of funds. Residents will look at the past two years and say, what did we do? What did we do with the money? I am not going to take a million dollars and bring a South African artist to just make art in our town It feels, like I said, disrespectful to Champlain. It's like if there's an ice cream store that opens and you open one right next door, We're not trying to draw focus away. We need to just put all our energy into getting that memorial done. And then other art, I think art's great, but let's get local artists. Let's get Miami, Florida artists from the community to do stuff because we have plenty of talented people right here. We don't need a celebrity artist to spend a million dollars.

Here's my point of view.

I completely agree that we need art in our town. Every time I walk towards Ball Harbor, I not only see art, but all the green area is very well taken care of. There is a lot of shade. So I think there is a lot of things that need have to be done on our path. And we have to start working on that with common sense. And I think as the same that they have like little some chairs or rest areas, we can create a rest area next to a sculpture, things like that. I would love to have in town. I don't think necessarily this has to be. or I wouldn't relate this with the Champlain Sours at all. It's two completely different things. We should not mix them at all, because we are not having an intention of erasing one to do the other, or doing it at the same time, or be respectful. I think it's two completely different things. I also think if we decide to move, that I think we should decide to move to do some art in the town, we should do a little further investigation because there is many other artists that are doing things here. Like, for example, I saw in the Doral Park, you mentioned the girl with the... It's a metal girl. Yeah, with the flowers. And that artist, I think, is from Spain. I don't know, but he has done many, several things for Val Harbor. And... And I just look around and I don't know about it, so I could not tell how many people is in town. But maybe we should do some research to see what is available around town and as well to participate with schools. That would be amazing. That would be a great thing to do. But I do really appreciate having art in town and do a better embellishment of our past.

Yes, Tina, go ahead. Oh, thank you. So, you know, it's interesting because when Frank had asked me if I was interested to meet the artist, he had first explained the proposal, the concept, and I said the same thing. Oh, well, I'd like to see this more as open to other artists. And then when he told me the name of the artist, I said, oh, yeah, I know his work. You know, and I had, I went to Fort Lauderdale specifically to see that work. Maybe I first heard of him at Art Basel. I'm not really sure.

He has done one exhibition for Art Basel in a hotel in South Beach. The one he has in Instagram, which is like kind of like a face, like kind of like with colors of Fontaine, which is white. I think it's 20, 20 straight or something like that. He, he.

And there is one also in the museum, in the museum in Dania. In Dania Beach, they have a museum too, and they just opened this last morning.

So I just wanted to say, I mean, I think there is value in having somebody who's already recognizable. It's not the same thing as opening, you know, we have the turtle sculptures that are done by local artists. You have The Pablo Acigueri sculpture, he's well-known. Every Art Basel, you see his work in one of the galleries. So it's just another layer of bringing international art to Surfside.

Yeah. And I want to say, like Judy mentioned, I think we shouldn't be mixing one thing with the other, because that is not our intention. I think both things, both ideas are good and great. And I agree with Tina about being open to other stuff that helps also that town. Unfortunately, this kind of sculpture is how it's coming. It's that kind of monumental masterpieces is what the people also is looking for. And it's part of that. You are going to go to Italy, but I want to Italy just to see the big sculptures there that are amazing. And I mean, and I am open to see wherever they are from. I agree with the memorial. I think the memorial is one of our priorities, but that is not really the topic, and we are not against that at all. And I think that what you mentioned here, Ileana, about the prices, right? I think they did a price, this is a general price.

Of course, we can negotiate with the Army. It's just a price that he gave us. We can negotiate, even we can do it in a private initiative.

But it's not this price for us, right? I think you receive another, Frank, you receive something else. Frank, that you can help us

to understand about the price i think is different to this here right well i think the pricing would depend on the final sketch which you know we don't know what the sketch would look like and how tall it would be so those variables would would need to be accounted for yeah but we can have another strategy to get the money the money doesn't have to come from from the town we can do initiative uh strategies we can do another things to have it just just for you to authorize and we can move to another strategy. And yes, I totally agree with local artists, but having an international person already know is going to bring us a lot of pain.

I know, but I take pictures. I love that art in Fort Lauderdale. Take that. No one asks who made it. Like, I go there all the time because I go to the theater. No one asks who made it. No disrespect to the artist. But that's not why people go to take a picture with it because it's his. They go because it's a cool-looking sculpture. Sure. So the name is not really a draw for 99% people, I think, unless you're like an art, you know, I didn't know that Daniel Popper made that.

What? They know the pieces, but maybe know the name of the artist.

Right, but what I was suggesting, and I circulated an article to the rest of the board this week, is Fort Lauderdale is doing a project where they're sinking amazing art off the beach to create coral reefs for the fish and tourists to go look at the art underwater. Inside the ocean? Inside the ocean. It's gorgeous. It's amazing. Doing something like that, would be spectacular for the town, it would be a tourist draw, it's the ocean, it's good for the habitat, it's good for the storms, it's good for the fish.

We are already working on a project. Right, we're doing one, right, we're doing one?

No, we are already working with UM, the University of Miami, to bring even It's not art, it's even better than that. It's about resilience, it's about creating a nice water environment for not only the species, but to protect our property from damage from the ocean. And we apply for a permit so it can be in the swim area so people can really engage and do that. So we are already working on that.

Did you read the article?

I know, because I've approached them before approaching UM. So I've been working in this for more than a year.

So the art that they're doing in Fort Lauderdale is actually art that they're sinking, and it's like sculptures underwater, and that's what I was thinking we could do in Surfside. That would be like Bell Harbor Beach Path, but in the water. It would be a big draw.

Like an artificial reef? But it's art. It's sculptures that they're putting underwater. It doesn't interfere with sculpture outside.

No, no, no. It's in the ocean. And it's art. So you would snorkel and look at the art. And it's also a habitat for fish. And it also protects from storms and all of that. So that's...

Yeah, I'll send you the article.

I can send you the article, yeah.

Last time, you sent the article and we already read the article.

Madam Chair, if you can speak into the microphone, please.

Yes. You were here last meeting. You explained that and other days.

Yeah, yeah, that was a reef. Yeah, it's a single reef. The thing then in Fort Lauderdale that they're doing is an art. It's like all along the coast.

I saw those. I saw also a picture. It's not my favorite, but I saw the picture of that, yeah.

Oh, but this is very different, I think so.

It's different, yeah. I think with the art, nothing is really opposed to other, are different, exactly different perspective, like some people will love this kind of art, some people will love the other art, and to have a variety, is to be open to everything, is what I think. It's not really to say, no, I don't want this, and I hate the art, all this art. No, I know, but it's just at least not to disqualify everything just because we have priorities and we know, and we have other situations too. I think to be open at least to different perspective, I think, I am for that.

I don't know. At least if you cannot agree now or decide now, at least if you allow me to present this to the commission, it would be great. And if the commission say no, of course, I'm going to be totally agree.

You can present anything you want to the commission at any point. You don't need our permission to present anything to the commission. You could go to any meeting and present what you want. I mean, you'd have to get it on the agenda through Tina.

Really? Okay. I didn't know that.

It has nothing to do with us.

Through the chair. Okay. I do want to say. Yeah, go ahead.

I do want to say that typically for an item like this, even though the decision will fully be up to the town commission, but they will want to know if this item came before the board. That is typically what they ask. If it's a downtown thing, they'll ask, did DVAC see this? So I think it would be a relevant question, and that's why we recommend it.

Well, I think what Judy was suggesting is that we entertain other options, and we do pursue finding art, but not necessarily moving forward with this project.

That's fair. That's your decision. But just want you to understand that whatever you entertain, the commission will want to know if it came before you, before it goes to them.

And if I may, just to elaborate on that, the commission would want to know if this board approved it or not. You would approve that you would like it to go to commission or not. And it matters what the board recommends.

I like the idea that recommends, like you mentioned, maybe it's not that we authorize or not, like Ileana mentioned too, but at least personally I think that we can recommend to be open to other options like this, and it's a good recommendation that the Commission can consider, is what I would think. Yes, Frank?

Yeah, I think you could make that recommendation, or you could make a recommendation to just explore further and have this go to the commission, potentially look for other artists, if that's something that the commission would like. Again, we don't have an actual proposed design here, so this is a concept and an idea.

No, we can have another person presenting another art, and we can present together to the commission, and they decide.

I'd like to suggest that maybe we put more thought into what kind of art, what we want to spend, what we're looking to do, where we want to put it, and not jumping and being like, oh, yeah, let's move forward with this. I feel like we need to spend a lot more time, especially if we're talking about all of that money and the other factors that are here. But I do think it's a great idea. I do want us to have more art in town. I just think we do have limited funds and that we have to be thoughtful about how we do it.

That is not a price that you are mentioning. It depends on that.

What if we suggest initiative, private initiative?

What?

Doing a strategy with the hotels? Maybe we present something like that?

No, I'm not, it's not about the, I don't, Unfortunately, we have to move slowly with things because there's a lot of consequences. We can't just be like, sounds great, let's move forward. It's not like our money, right? And it's not our town. And there's residents and there's everything else. So we have to, it's a slow process, government, unfortunately, but it's a great idea. Let's put more art in our town. How we do that is something that we're going to have to take time to figure out. Because we're not going to jump into it and go, yeah, let's just, you know.

Right.

Because, again, that's how people get into hot water with, you know, residents, et cetera. Because there are certain things that they think are important and they prioritize. And we can't just spend the money how we want to spend it.

So at least first. No, but we are no, I want to clarify here, Ileana. We are not recommending to spend money. We are not recommending to authorize this. We are just recommending, if we want to recommend, to see other options. Without thinking about prices.

Sure, but this was an entire presentation about one artist, okay, without putting anything out to bid, without, we're a government agency, without even saying, hey, call for artists, please suggest, we're looking for public art, what do you recommend?

No, we don't have other neighbors interested in that.

No, we do. We do. Trust me. The same way we did it with the turtle thing. You put it out there and you say, we're interested in doing more art on our beach path. Please call for artists. What do you recommend? Because otherwise, it can't be that some famous artist invited some commissioner to a party who invited someone on the board and then they got a million dollars to make a sculpture. The optics aren't good, and it's also not fair to the other artists that would be like, what? I had great ideas, but nobody asked me. We have artists that live in town in Surfside that are probably very talented that also deserve to be included in the discussion if they have an idea. That's all. I agree. I love more art in Surfside. This is a great idea, 100%.

But you're right, too. I mean, we can call the artists, local artists, and we can show all of us. I mean, again, I don't have nothing to do with this or financially anything, but I can expose with everybody else.

Well, for example, we could say as a board, we would like to spend $100,000 this year on public art and say... Please submit your proposal for what you can do, four sculptures at $25,000 each, and we're going to put them on the beach path. That's what we can do as a commission, as a board. And then we can really open it up, and then we can, if we wanted to have residents vote, here are the 10, what would you like to see on the beach path? It's a slower process, but when we include residents in the process, they're happier with the outcome, and they feel like they had some input. Because people were very upset. The wall in the park, I'll give you an example, in 96th Street Park, the spray-painted wall. I was on Parks and Rec at the time when that was done. And that was done because the mayor at the time met the artists at the party and said, yeah, why don't you do the wall for us? And that was it. And then they spray painted the wall. No one knew about it. No one was consulted about it. No one saw a design ahead of time. It was just the mayor and the artists. And now we have this wall. And some people love it and some people hate it. But now we have this wall.

I want to make a motion just to go back to that discussion because we have to move forward anyway. I think... I hear you already, Ileana. Do you want to make a final comment, Judy? You can't make a motion, though. No, no, no. I make a motion just to go back to the point because we are discussing the same, Ileana, in the same point. I mean, I already hear you.

I like the fact that you bring this topic to the table for us because I do really want to see better embellishment of the town, and I think maybe this is a good... start point to do it, but I do think that we should at least have two or three artists, no matter where they are, no matter if they are local, from China, from Singapore, wherever. I don't care about it really. but to have at least two or three options for people to really decide and to see, okay, how much money do we as a tourist board would recommend to invest in art and then work together to really get to where we want to go with our art. But I would love to have art in our town, and I love what he does. Maybe not the biggest, biggest sculpture. I think we are a small town, and to have, like, Maybe the biggest one is not really appropriate, but maybe the 16 feet or 10 feet will be appropriate. But that's how we start narrowing things and start talking and making more sense of what we want for art in our town.

Okay. Frank, do you want to make a comment?

No, I just thank you, Lucero, for putting this together. I think the general consensus is that we like Daniel's work. I think, obviously, his motif of mother nature and all those materials work well with the town. But as others have mentioned, there might be other artists out there that could also propose something beautiful and stunning. Perhaps they could be local. Although I also see the value in having an international artist. You could look at it both ways. There's value in the local, value in the name recognition as well. So we know that some version of this concept might work, but you may want to see others. And we may need to better define the financial parameters around which we want to work. this potential proposal. Again, where it goes from here, all of this would have to be decided by the commission, even the call to artists and the budget around that. But I do thank you for putting this together and perhaps it can still be considered.

Can we get him in contact with the Champlain Memorial people? Because that would be... Maybe a first step. That should be a first step. That would be amazing to combine the two.

That possibility.

And there is a lot of funding for that.

Vice Mayor, he agree. I'm just wondering, I don't want to step off.

Madam Chair, if I may, if I can remind the speaker to speak into the microphone, please.

The artist agree already after talk with Vice Mayor Dina. Just we are waiting for the families to be in contact. I don't want to step off anybody. Just if you agree and I can speak with somebody.

I think, yeah, because always in that town is kind of complicated, unfortunately. will be great when they define or something, and then try to approach him, because Tina, I think, talked to him about it, and he was willing, but until this is really designed, I think is good, but I want, because I don't know when they are going to do that, how they are going to do that, because it's already stocked. Supposed to be the money for that, but it still is stocked up.

Actually, we have this talk before, and we agree, and we said that should be done first, of course. Yeah.

Well, we are, the commission is, we've moved forward with the memorial. They're working on the design phases. I do believe it's a possibility. It would be up to the committee. And right now, Frank is working with the committee planning on the four-year anniversary, so I don't know how much work they're doing on the memorial. So there hasn't been a meeting for me to present this idea to them. I plan to do that when they have a meeting. That would be amazing to be able to combine them.

Thank you, Lucero. Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much for presenting. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, now we're going to move forward to 7B, 5th Thursday, the art affair recap, event recap, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and the team is also going to recap some of Underwater Dreams as well? Okay, yes, so we'll welcome Antonia to the podium. Okay. The video? No. If you send me the link to Vimeo, but it doesn't play off of a PDF, no. You can try it.

Hi. Antonia Morales, 14951 Royal Oaks Lane. Yeah.

Interesting. I don't know why that is stuck on the projector because it's not on the computer anymore.

Hang on one second. I just want to say thank you for giving us the opportunity to do this series of events.

It was really magical for all of us to work as a family, as a team, and to be able to show you what we're capable of, and to bring more ideas in the future, and to see the whole community gather. And we've received very good feedback from all the events. And as the events passed, we received all your feedback. And we tried to improve until I think the last event It was really a successful event. So we have, not sure if... Oh yeah, it's gonna play.

Don Francisco.

Amen.

So yeah, a little bit of how the event went. We had the painting fiesta. A lot of people joined. It was a guided step-by-step party. I don't know if some of you remember, but this is how our company started as an art studio. So we wanted to close this series of events with art, which is our base for all the events that we do. They're very creative, we're really focusing on the detail, even from the tickets, they were handmade with like splashes of paint, so people feel this event is for them, for the community, and it's not just one more event that a city is throwing, but it's really thoughtful and curated and detailed. And we are very happy and pleased that we were able to show that our mood board, whatever we presented at the beginning, we were really able and capable to deliver. So some pictures here. It was amazing to see children, adults, teenager, like the whole community was participating in this type of activity. And as the board was discussing earlier, art is so important and this is, the proof of it and that it brings the community together no matter which religion, which age, which race. This is what we're here for. And I think we were able to deliver it in partnership with the board. We also brought some henna. There were some designs with turtles. Again, bringing back to the meaning of what this surf site, this community, is really about. We brought the screens. We were able to bring them again, and professional artists. And I just want to briefly show a little bit of the previous events so that we can close this series. with the photo booths all handmade. There are different type of artists that we brought, like the bubble artist. Each event had its own logo. So with the visuals, we were really transmitting the magic that we wanted to the community, also using a lot of recycled materials. We were really thoughtful of where are these things going after, and we try to recycle most of them from one event to the other. As well, inviting some organizations like Plastic Fisherman. In the circus, we brought a circus organization that not uses animals and protects. So we try to bring a lot of educational aspects to all of the events that we produced, as well as the details and the whole theme throughout the event. a bit of enchanted forest and how children and adults were enjoying each event. Again, changing the music and each event had its own personality. We brought also games, food, a variety of experiences for for the community. And this was our first event here. Enjoying the magicians, the music, the desserts. And of course the board always present. So yeah, this is our way of saying thank you. We're really happy with the outcome. And this was really fun, creative, and very meaningful for the community. And we really hope that we can continue doing amazing events with Surfside. Anything you need, creative, any type of event, we are here to support you and to partner up. We do have some ideas that maybe on the next meeting we can present as well maybe have a talk with Frank before. But yeah, this is what we wanted to say. So thank you so much.

Okay. Thank you. I want to thank you. I mean, in every event you have, like always, people who say that wasn't great, but people who was in love, right? Loving the events. Thank you for all your work. I mean, it was something different that we were able to bring to the town, something different to what we always are bringing. And I think it was a good decision to have that option.

Thank you so much, Diana.

Someone want to make a comment?

Yes, I would like to make a comment. Thank you for all the effort you put into each event. I know it's a lot of hard work to work outside in Miami. It's hard because it's hot, humid, and long hours. And sometimes people say, with this amount of money, and we think it's a lot of money, but it is not. And you've been very, very creative to achieve what you have achieved. And you heard every recommendation we had from previous recap. So you were in Crescendo, right? You started big with the circus, then there were complaints, whatever, but then you started doing better and better and better, and the last event is what you said, it integrated the community. It was not just an event, but something everyone participated. You could see in the pictures, early in the afternoon there were kids, later a little bit more teenagers, at night there were adults, and everyone was involved drawing the turtles. You know, even if it's only 40 minutes for each of us and we could get stressed instead of relaxed. But we enjoy it. And I see the people, you know, like living with their turtles, going back home with their enjoying their drink or whatever. And the kids eat different age groups and all of them enjoy it around drawing and painting a turtle. And that was beautiful. Congratulations.

Thank you, Judy. Echo what she said.

I thought the events were great, and I really appreciate that you did incorporate the feedback when there were issues. You sort of resolved them. For next year, I'd want to maybe work on the food more so that we don't run out, whether that means we have to put more money in the budget or trade-offs. But they were really spectacular events, and I think the residents were really happy with something new and different and beautiful. They were certainly beautiful. Thank you so much.

See, that is why I always say we need to be open and to be open to all possibilities and be diverse, not the same, the same. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. We're going to...

Through the chair, just wanted to quickly commend Antonia and her team for doing a great job and then specifically for improving on the food element. I know that... A couple of events ago, that was a little bit of a problem. And then for Underwater Dreams, we did much better, but it ran out sooner. So that was the feedback this time around. You doubled the amount of paella and offerings. And I think that it pretty much held up until the end of the event. So props for that.

Thank you so much. OK. See, I'm telling you. No, you never will have everyone happy anyway. But OK. Thank you. At 7C, Palaentopia Evendricap. Frank?

Yeah. Okay, we'll welcome Sarah Liz to the podium. Oh.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, here you go.

Just change the color a little bit. Hi, everyone.

Okay. Sorry, you can look through them. Sarah Liss, 424 91st Street, and we're doing the recap of Paddletopia. So thank you guys for allowing me to do the event, for bringing it back after a couple years of it being on hiatus. And yeah, we were very excited to use the new dock, which was fantastic, and the new park, which is incredible. So again, just reviewing that it was a two-day event. We extended it to 3 p.m., so 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And we had the complimentary paddle boards, the inflatable infrastructure, the fitness demos and classes, eco-friendly brand activations, SPF, healthy food, and mini flea market, live music, and the kids' activities. And so, yeah, that's That's the new doc, which is great, very user-friendly. Just reviewing again, we set these goals and objectives, and I think that we fulfilled them, is promoting Surfside's healthy lifestyle with an event that creates lasting memories. And also just showcasing Surfside as a health and wellness destination for a knack for these kind of creative events and things that no other town is doing. And still, for all the events that we've done, nobody's been able to replicate this event or done it anywhere else in town. So I think we're still the ones who are leading with these kinds of events. And I think we did, you know, attract these visitors, sporty families, first-time paddleboarders, and people who are seasoned paddleboarders, and also, of course, Surfside residents. So reviewing that we had light bites and snack options from our trailer, that is an homage to Sheldon's. And so the refreshments were daily cold brew coffee and pastries, which were very appreciated by everyone. I think having coffee at the park is just something that I've always wanted. So the fact that we could provide that, everybody was really happy about that. There was always some food available for anyone who came by and never ran out, and there was always an option. We tried to keep it healthy and just keeping it light, but these were some of the options we had in the smoothies from the blender bikes, fresh fruit. Sandwiches we did the ice cream even managed to do the ice cream even when it was raining and we had to go under the cover So tried to keep it going despite the weather which on the second day for those of you who were there the weather was Kind of had us move everything under the cover Around one o'clock. I think with the lightning the lightning siren so And then we had round-the-clock fitness and yoga. So some of it we were doing outside, and then some of it we were using the indoor space inside the new pavilion. And we had fitness, boot camp, and then we also did this interactive trivia station, which was this interactive octopus. that the children could or anyone could ask questions, and then it would answer about 1930s sort of information about 1930s trivia, Surfside, underwater information. So it was a very cute thing, and kids really enjoyed talking to it and interacting with it. So it was a really fun thing that we were able to execute and bring to life, which was really almost unbelievable that we could make something like this on a short time frame. But it was really fun. So I think it added a cool element to it. We also had Jordan's Garden, which is a local Miami neighborhood provider, and she did gardening activities. We had Miami Charms doing bracelets, smoothie bikes, the art activities, the community book exchange, and the screen printing event. So there was a lot of things happening throughout the park and spread out throughout the park. So some was happening in the building, some was happening in the tents. It was kind of like a whole activation if you were circling all around. Again, here's some more photos. Again, the octopus and the kids having fun. This is the book exchange we had and the design for the screen printing. And then this is the 90th anniversary design, which we printed on the bags. And then we did a bit of trivia and like the vintage candy just to try to bring the 90th theme to life. So here are some of our partners. This is the couple from Miami Beach Fit Boot Camp. We had Andrea from Yoga for Meditation. Pelican Seabird Harbor was there. We had local businesses like SJI Dermatology doing the skin checks. Rita's was there. We did the Community Relation Board, did the clothing swap, which was fantastic. We had La Salon, Ex-Sale Bell Harbor, Vacation SBF. Yeah, so it was a lot of different tables and things for people to check out as they were walking around. These were the paddle boards. Always, you know, kind of, I think at a certain point, I asked the paddle board person, he said they were always being used. So I think that, you know, the activation at the dock was like definitely, people were always going over there and using the paddle boards until we were told that we couldn't do it anymore because of the lightning siren. So yeah, these are just some media highlights that we got, listings and things that were on social media. I think that's it. Any questions? Feedback?

I cannot make comments because I wasn't there just to hear about the lighting and all of that, but do you want to do some comments, Frank, or someone?

Yeah, I was both days since I was part of the... the market, the clothing swap. No, clothing swap, no, I did the yard sale, which it was fun. Unfortunately, it rained, and I think that was against the event, because many people left early. But anyway, even with the rain, the chiropractor was there working. Right, he was doing his thing, yeah. Doing stuff, trying to gain time to see if it was going to clear or not. Yeah. I don't know if only because of that and also the previous day we had the...

It rained also in the middle of the day.

It rained, but also we had the news about the rabbi vaccine. And so it was kind of slow start and then it gathered more people. But the whole weekend, I don't know why it was kind of like a...

It was an off weekend. It was an off weekend. It was Formula One weekend.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, so maybe next time we have to think more about when we are planning the events, what's going on in town or whatever. Because it fell off. And not because you didn't put effort into it. It was beautiful in there. It was people there. But it wasn't as crowded as it usually was.

Yeah, I know. And the thing is, there was what for people to do and interact with if there was more of a critical mass. But I guess the first day, it looked a little cloudy. And then it rained for like... 15 minutes which turns people off and then it stopped raining right and then we were able to like quickly dry everything off and we were okay and we're like we're still open but that turns people away and then i kept thinking on sunday we'll get the um you know the shabbat observant crowd to come out because they weren't coming on saturday but then sunday there was that the passing of the rabbi and i felt that they they probably felt they They were in mourning and, you know, it was grieving and that kind of thing. So it was just circumstances that were beyond our control for that.

So on that side, I think this is good for next year. Maybe we can put this event before, not in May, because May started, it's like rainy season started. And we were kind of lucky that it didn't rain in the other events because May is really rainy season. So maybe we can do this. In April.

Right.

So, you know, and just let's check around.

And maybe not two days because when you decide to do that two days was too much.

No, I think that the two days is good because I think that there are people who can't go on the Sabbath and people who can. And it didn't cost more to do two days. Because there's so much set up, it's so much slept in that you might as well get the two days out of it. But I do agree that doing it earlier in the year, like April, would be great. The date was not her fault, though, because remember, we had to move things because other stuff moved. And then we said, well, let's rebrand it as the 90th. So it wasn't the ideal time.

And then I was thinking the following weekend was so great. I don't know if you guys, but it was Mother's Day. And I don't mind doing it on Mother's Day, actually. But I know that we don't like to do things at the same time as other things. But it was such a beautiful weekend, following weekend. So, yeah, just from my perspective, the fact that it was Formula One, it was difficult for me to also get vendors and staff. And it was just so many, so many. partners and people I wanted to work with were so occupied with that happening. So, you know, that was also very difficult. Also something to keep in mind if you ever want to do something during like Art Basel or anything like that. So many, so Miami's so small, you know, and there's only so few. So it's sort of like when something giant like that is happening, it's hard to bring people out to do these smaller things.

I think just moving it earlier in the year, like to April, would probably solve A lot of the problems.

Yeah.

I thought it was good. I didn't come till late, obviously, but I liked it the day I was there. Yeah.

And we also just the promotion has to ramp up maybe earlier. And I guess like we were on hiatus for like two years. So then to remind everyone again that this is happening and what's going on with this, we just need to get the word out sooner and just really just keep blasting it out to people. Yeah.

And through the chair, I think something we can also do is to maybe set up some kind of signage on the street or a paddleboard at the front, because I think it gets lost on people that there is like a opportunity to do some free paddleboarding and kayaking. And that's. really like the crux of the event. So I think, you know, for next year we can blast it out earlier, but also do some maybe installations and some specific signage for 96th Street that kind of lets people know when they're driving by because otherwise you're in the residential district. So it's not like, you know, our block party is out here where you're just driving on Collins and Harding and you're going to see it. So if you're maybe, you know, just driving down 96th, I think that those visuals will help.

Yeah.

And I think also that people is getting better with the information that you are sending, getting all the information by email and the promotion that you do also in Instagram.

Yeah, hopefully. You know, like they said, there was Formula One weekend and obviously this is an outdoor positioned event and then the weather was less than ideal. And also we have had a lot of events. So, you know, that may contribute to it. But I think next year will be a different year.

Maybe, yeah. I would like to see we recover the idea that Clara used to have about a great, great event, also that we don't have it yet. But thank you, Sarah. Okay? Okay. Thank you.

Sarah's going to stay on to present Summer Sundays.

Okay.

Maybe I'll do this one. I'll just go to my own Instagram. We're just going to play a video. Friday? Yeah? Oh, I did that one wrong. Just going to start with a video for, again, Sarah List, 424 91st Street. And this was just one of the videos from the last event we did. I don't think we got a chance to play it last time we were up here. So the Beatlemania. Do you think the sound's going to play with it? OK. So let's see. Oh, here.

Thank you.

Same video. Okay.

It's going to be in the folder.

Oh, down here?

Yeah.

So anyway, so that was just last year's Beatlemania. Wait, am I not seeing it?

Towards the middle bottom.

Oh, there we go. Okay. There we go. So last year, we did Beatlemania, and that was really fun. We had a great band that was like a tribute to the Beatles and just gives you the, you know, refreshes your memory on the scale, the size of the event, and all the fun stuff we have going on there. So would love the opportunity to do it again this summer. summer sundays it's just a little background for you guys also just a background on friday beach and what we've been doing but um we started the um first fridays in 2016 so we've grown a lot since then and um i think that uh this summer is poised to be a great summer so um At every event, we always have the live music. Sometimes we'll do the drum circle. These are just some things we've had. Bubble soccer, the book swap, the art activities, the blender bikes. We do the surfing and volleyball, the surfing demos and the volleyball nets. We do the giveaways, cocktails, light bites, and snacks. I think for this time around, I'm open to your feedback. I know that we talked a lot about the food in the past. I think if we just do, you know, if I get some sort of caterer to do just one substantial item, that would be the thing. Like, for example, paella or a pizza maker who can make fresh pizza on the beach. And that will just be the one thing that people get. And we're not bogged down with a bunch of little things that... sometimes can, you know, bog down my staff and can be just, you know, not feel very impressive. So then that would be a better option than having a bunch of little things, just one big plate of food of, you know, whatever it might be. So then people will feel like they got a good substantial thing and, you know, we don't have to worry about running out and hopefully, you know, running out and that sort of thing if we have it more focused. And then we have the dome tents, the shade, the live music, always hydration station, the food station, and fun little moments, decor moments. These are the dates that I'm proposing, obviously open to discussion. We had the event set for 3 to 6 p.m., so July 6, August 10, and September 7. So July 6 is that first Sunday. August 10th is the second Sunday in August because the first Sunday in August is Tisha B'Av, which is a fast day for observant Orthodox Jews. I don't think that anyone's going to come out for that event. They don't go out to the water and that kind of thing. So I think we should push it to the second weekend. And then September 7th would be the first Sunday there in September.

July 6th is not too close to July 4th.

Madame Chair, if we can please speak into the microphone.

It is. It's very close, I think. We've done it in the past like that. But if you, you know, we have done it like that in the past. So it's part of like, that's why I rolled it in sort of the theme. Freedom and flip flops was the theme I came up with. You know, kind of rolled it into this like, you know, grand celebration.

Through the chair, that's fine if you want to consider it. I am not in town for that weekend, just so you know.

I think, because to me, I don't know what you think, but I think it's too close to that one event, a big event. And actually, these summer Sundays, anyway, fill it more with people from the beach, from the town. But it would be better to try to move that day. I suggest that.

Can we do one in June or no? No. Too soon?

We're in June now. It's only the second day of June. Yeah, I don't know. Frank had some ideas.

Yeah, I think we've had too many events lately. And also, it takes a couple of weeks to get a contract ready. And then we've got next weekend, we have two events. Then we have Champlain on the last week. So I think it's too much for this month.

So I would also move July. I mean, maybe the 20th?

Either of the next two weekends, I think. So the second or the third would be fine.

Yeah, like, but if we do it consistently, but the other thing is for August, school starts on the 14th. So a lot of the town won't be back. But people push their vacation, especially with the families, they push it till the last minute they have to come back. But because school starts on the 14th, everyone will be back. So I would, if you want the best turnout, I would do it the 17th instead of the 10th. The 10th, people are still away, and we don't want to have an event where, like, something was off, where's everybody? That's true. So if you do, let's say, July 20th, and then a month later would be August 17th.

Okay, so it's like a third Sunday kind of thing. Yeah. And then we could, for September, you want to push it to the 21st?

July 20th? instead of July 6th. I mean, it's fine.

It's right before.

What did you say about August?

July 20th, August 17th, and then I guess it would be September 20.

I mean, it's the day before Rosh Hashanah, which is. When is Rosh Hashanah?

I know the 10.

The 22nd is Rosh Hashanah, but it's still a fine day to do it. Yeah.

The Plastic Surf Fishing Festival is on the 20th, though? Is that what it is? I don't know. Is Plastic Fishing Festival?

Around the 17th or the 20th, whatever that Sunday is.

I have it here on a Saturday for the 20th, but we don't want to have two events in one weekend, right? So then maybe you want to do it on either the 14th or the 28th.

We always do it on Sunday to be more inclusive. So you want to do it on the 14th then on September?

what what was it so yeah yeah i was saying either either the september 14th yeah so that 14th or the 28th but maybe that's too late so yeah the fourth the 14th is good yeah or 21st so july 20th august 17th is that what it is and then september 14th okay

OK. Well, these are the themes. We can always tweak them. Is there only three? There's not one in? I think you told me to present three.

You guys can decide. I mean, last time you extended it, and then the last two felt a little bit flat. And I know that there are maybe some other ideas you want to consider for the fall.

OK. I think it's enough with three. One per month would be enough.

I can keep in mind we've had a, I mean, last spring was also crazy, but it's been another crazy spring of a lot of events.

Yeah. And Sarah, we have been doing better lately with events that we were doing with cloud about the tickets. You come with something the same. That way will be better for you about the food. Right. Because always the complaints about the food.

Right.

And like I say, we have to feed people, is what she says, give praise. But at least you design something, because it's in the beach. Yeah. And it's complicated. A lot of people come because they are in the beach, right?

Yeah.

You come with a system that is just for the residents and tourists in the hotels would be great, because that way you control better. Okay. It's a suggestion.

So should we do that, like I said, that one substantial, whatever that thing might be. So if we get, you know, whatever it might be. A sandwich at a pizza station.

I would do fruit, for sure.

For everyone. For everyone.

Ice cream. People love the ice cream.

Okay.

And then a food thing.

and what would be the residents would be the food thing the rent the ticket well what's the what's and the hotel guests and the hotel which by the way we had we had a four seasons it was like a four seasons person came and they wanted the ticket quite we don't live that she decided i think we know that the most important thing always in these events are the food You are suggesting that you want food.

I'm saying I don't want there to be just one thing to eat. I think having fruit and having dessert are part of it. People love the ice cream or the acai bowls or whatever it was. There has to be some kind of a dessert, some kind of fruit.

Some kind of savory thing and some kind of sweet thing. So I'm just saying that if I'm getting, for example, a paella or if I'm getting a pizza station, is going to be that's the resident or the ticket, that's the ticket station.

The thing with the pizza station is it takes a long time to make them. It's very slow. There's going to be a long line. Okay. Well, I was thinking about getting the people who are at the farmer's market. It takes forever. The line for that cart is like all the way down the beach path.

Okay. I'm open to suggestions of other, you know, I don't want to bring a truck. We're not bringing a truck, obviously.

Talking about she's suggesting ice cream, try to bring something that you can handle and you are going to keep in good shape. Because ice cream on the, by the beach.

Ice cream has been okay. We've been okay. They had it last time. We keep it in coolers and it seems okay.

Yeah, it's easy to execute. You keep it, I mean, because you are the vendor. Right. We are telling you all the complaints always are about the food. Yeah. And decide what is better. But I think the pizza too, I don't.

Through the cherry, yeah. The savory item is more of the challenge. So again, maybe pizza takes a little too long. Paella worked very well at the last one.

I know, I don't know if it could work on the beach.

Yeah, that's something that Clara has brought up in the past.

It's like setting up the field kitchen on the beach is the issue.

And then there's vegetarian versus not, and the kosher versus not. Right, exactly.

This is complicated. I know. Maybe we just do sandwiches, nice sandwiches.

People don't like sandwiches. Then they hear the mayor complaining about it already.

Okay. We'll make sure to have Prosecco. I know everyone likes Prosecco, right?

How about like chicken wings or something like that?

Maybe we could find... That should be bones all over the beach, literally. And then all the dogs on the beach choking on the bones on the beach.

Yeah, that is... I thought pasta, something pasta. Yeah, we could do that. So I had kind of an Italian...

Because the pasta was really bad.

Remember when Alan, no, who had the pasta night? Remember we had Javier.

Javier did, but I don't know that warm pasta on the beach is like what I would feel like eating at this event. It's really not.

At least a paella even after. But I think it's something that you have to decide. We don't have time for that right now. You can chat GPT, Gemini. Okay.

I mean, I came up with these ideas, but I'm open to discussions. Yeah.

Other

So this one was based on the 4th of July, you know, adjacent event. So we can always tweak this, but freedom and flip-flops, we can change it, obviously. Flip-flops is kind of fun, though, because I thought it would be fun for everyone to design their own flip-flops, and that's just, like, a fun activity. And then, you know, the idea was to do, like, apple pie and corn on the cob and lemonade and have it be an Americana-type thing. So we could still do that. We could still do that. It's July.

The whole month is July.

OK, so corn on the cob, maybe we figure out a way to do that in a way that's savory and substantial with lots of toppings, like elote and that kind of thing. So that will be that. And then this was the sort of Italian-themed idea, pizza on the beach with an 80s tribute band, Prosecco, and that kind of thing. But we can always, of course, tweak it. And I can look into willing caterers and vendors that will set up on the beach They're set up in their situation. And then this was samba on the beach. This will be really fun, kind of a Brazilian-influenced event with Beau Frey, who we have had before, and we'll do a percussion, Brazilian capoeira, Brazilian bites. That's easy to get. We can probably get that. again, with the smoothie bikes and that kind of thing. So that'll just be a fun... And we could switch this one to August and sort of do September as something like... You know, maybe September's like a back... Well, August would be the back to school, but maybe we could play around with a different idea for, you know, the third theme if we're not going to do the pizza idea. I'll figure it out.

You can find a way to make the pizza faster.

Yeah, or maybe I can get a different... No, because... Yeah, I was just going to get them because they were kosher, and so I thought that would...

They have the long... Go on Sunday. Yeah. I mean, you can't anymore. I think that was the last farmer's market, but the line is forever.

Yeah, okay.

What time is summer Sundays? Three to six.

Okay. Okay. When you have the teams decided, could you send it to Frank and then he can send it to us, please?

Yes. And then again, we're just going to do the marketing as we try to outreach to the hotels and the businesses. If we can get them on board, it's always great. These are some of the partners we've had. Again, we've... I'm going to try and get the SPF. The more time I have to plan, so the better, so we can get these partners involved. But we've been great with having these people come by, True Bar, Suja, the Chip City Cookies, and try to get at least one art institution involved. Because when they come, they bring really lovely artists and people to do the activities. And I always enjoy having them. So yeah, just the more notice we have, the more we can get these partners involved. um yeah but that's that's so what were the themes so we have samba on the beach which is really solid and then slice and surf which we can modify to like penne and penne and serve the pizza's fine but you can just get pies people honestly yeah you can just get pies of pizza you want to get mr o1 or you want to right right well well it's just that i felt that the fresh pizza would be received better than pizza that's being delivered to the beach.

We might get cold and... People will stand around and kill each other waiting for their pizza to be ready.

Well, we always used to do the Fyalkovs delivered to the beach, so...

It's not... I don't love, like, a lot of boxes on the beach. That's my thing with it. It just... Alan used to bring it to a lot of events. You see pizza boxes just piled up everywhere. To me, it's a little unsightly, but... I understand it could be a good food option.

Yeah, the residents like... One slide of pizza, people always complain anyway. That is the problem. It's better to have another kind of dish that is better.

Well, give them two slices, real full slices of pizza. I mean, if we have to add money to the budget to get people fed so that they're happy, we'll just give them...

I mean, Fialkow slices would give the full size.

I suggest that just take that suggestion that we're doing think about it and then there's no place. So which one is samba on the beach?

That one is we don't know yet. We can make it in we can make it in August. And we can do the other one.

And I like your 80s one. That was great.

So well, we had that for that would sort of be the Italian that was like the 80 gonna be like sort of the 80s music.

Okay.

The pizza one.

Yeah. Chair, if I may, I had a food suggestion. Because when you said sandwiches and I was like, oh, no. No, because Charlie hates them. No, but it depends on, I'm just, you know, listen, you don't have to take my suggestion, but I'm just saying that, you know, it depends on what. Kind of sandwiches. Like, you know, I love less sandwichery.

Right.

Like a really good, yeah. If you got sandwiches from them, I think that would go over well. With quantity, yeah. The issue is you would need the kosher equivalency as well. And then, you know, cut it up smaller maybe so it lasts.

I can look in to see if they would set up on the beach. You can see.

Okay.

Okay, we'll keep brainstorming, but I think we locked in the dates and, you know, several of the themes. Thank you, Sarah.

Yes, thank you. Okay.

Madam Chair, I do have a request. I know we already had the order of business items, but I would like to get a motion to move up 7F to the next item because 7E and G don't involve any partners that are here. So I think, you know, out of consideration for our partners, we can move that up.

Okay, but then 7F. Motion, right? Motion. Because we didn't do that in the beginning.

Si, exactly.

Sorry, I make a motion to move 7F item before 7E.

Yeah, right now. Yes. Mm-hmm. Indiana? Yeah, okay, yes. Yes, one. No, you had to move second.

Yes, I second that motion.

Okay.

All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

OK. Thank you, Madam Chair. So we are going to first welcome Charlotte, and then Antonia will do a brief recap of her portion of it.

OK.

Relieve the sign.

Yeah, my name is Charlotte El-Sahli, 320 88th Street. Hi, I'm gonna play a video first, but I was, I guess, the main vendor for the 90th anniversary event that we had, and it was such an honor to do so because I've been a resident of this town since 2008. My kids have grown up here, so it was really meaningful for me, and I really appreciated the opportunity and had a lot of fun doing it. Um, so first I'm going to play a video and then I'm going to do the little presentation. So this was the sort of the recap that I did on Instagram.

How do I.

Thank you.

See, the food there was amazing and was warm. Sorry? Sorry. No, the food in the van, everyone was so happy with the food, the meat, the empanadas, everything was really...

Okay, so... Sorry, you might have to help me. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, um, my background also is that I, um, am vice chair of the sustainability committee. Um, so I've been, and I started, um, an eco-friendly, it was mostly started with floristry business last year with my, um, I work with my husband who has a landscaping company and I started recycling his, um, foliage and stuff into bouquets. So that's why it was relief designs. And then I also started doing events. So I did a wedding, I did bat mitzvah, I did like a bunch of things that I was doing events. And as a part of doing events, I was realizing how, you know, how much waste there is in events. And it really bothered me. So, you know, as part of the sustainability committee, one of the things that we've been talking about is, ways that the town could do things that are more eco-friendly and more thoughtful about the planet. So I had a bunch of ideas. I proposed them to Frank. He liked it, and it was a pretty short time frame. But we pulled together a bunch of things, and I think it was a lot of fun doing it, but it turned out really well. Um, so the first one, this is the, that's sort of the mood board is the bottom that I presented to him with. Um, and then this was what we did. We used, um, I went to a local, um, uh, orchid place in Homestead where I got all of the blooms. I never used floral foam, um, which is a big thing there. You like, it's really hard to find a florist in Miami that doesn't use floral foam. Um, when I use when I use cut materials I only use things that are local that are within like a 50 mile radius and that stuff is like really important to me so the the point of this was to do this event and do it in a very eco-friendly way and see that it could be done you can still have elegance and beauty and fun but you don't and you don't have to create all this waste so so We did this 1930s sort of retro theme that I think worked really well and was a lot of fun. So I love lighting. Lighting to me is like the emotion of the event. It sets the stage. So we did chandeliers. We did the marquee lights on the Surfside letters. which we have gifted the town now because they're sort of permanently there. We did the Bistro lighting with the Edison lights. We did lighting over the carving stations. We did lanterns in the trees in the playground. We did votives on the reusable LED votives on the tables, and we had fairy lights under the tables. Um, we tried to create, um, because it was a, you know, this is a big event, you know, like a big anniversary and, uh, um, and it's a cocktail event at a park. So it was, you know, like trying to think how do we, how do we make this into sort of a more elevated experience? Um, so that's why we did, um, cocktail tables. I thought a lot about flow and trying to encourage people to mingle and not form big lines. So that's why, um, we decided to Butler pass to appetizers. So we had really great food vendors, I think. And I tried to really think about how to curate the menu. And personally, I'm a vegetarian. I always go to these events and I don't find things. So that was important to me. The menus that we had, both of the chefs I worked with were amazing. They were like Um, you know, highly recommend working with them again for the town. Um, and we tried to sort of hit everybody like that would, what, what people would like. Um, and we also had the carving stations where people could go if they couldn't, you know, if there wasn't a, if there wasn't somebody coming around. But we hope that, and I think it, you know, I think it worked. I think people got what they wanted. They got to taste lots of things. They got to, you know, we had a full kosher menu as well. The carrot cake was amazing. I don't know if people actually ate it, but it was really good. The star bar was wonderful. This vendor, he has, like, this vintage Streamline trailer. and was totally into it. I gave him the arm garters and the bow tie and the fedora. And he was like, let's do it. And they were wonderful. They also brought their lighting. We put our orchids with them. And also, all of my vendors used compostable utensils, plating, everything. that they had had to be compostable and they had to, I had them like, you know, like I checked it ahead of time to make sure that it was compostable and that it was approved by our compost vendor. The part that was actually like, this was really amazing for me to work on because it's not so much the floristry thing that I'm usually into, but my middle daughter who I moved into when I moved to Surfside, I was pregnant with her. She does film at Dash, like the design and art senior high. So we have been talking about how cool it would be to do a sort of, commemorative film and interview people who are maybe looked over sometimes, maybe not the everyday people, maybe not the people that you see all the time, but people who are around the same age as the town, to sort of capture why we're not just a place on the map, why we're a community. like the diversity that exists in this town. So on the left, you see the names of all the people we interviewed. I worked with Frank to get suggestions, and Tina, and then my daughter. So, you know. like lessons learned how we worked on it. I think it all turned out great. But she's in high school. And I realized that this was like a bigger project than I think I necessarily had understood. So Judy swept in to save the day because she's a producer. So I asked Judy to please help. And she's great with my daughter. Um, so thank God she did because I don't know, um, how we would have done it without her, but, uh, you know, we had the, we had the idea, but, um, but I mean, without Judy, I don't know. I don't know what we would have done. So, um, she, she was amazing. She, you know, helped schedule everybody. It turns out that a lot of elderly people have very difficult schedules, um, that don't necessarily align with high school. Um, so. It was challenging in a short amount of time, but we did it. And I hope you guys all got a chance to see it and that you liked it. Another moment that we created is when we were initially thinking about an anniversary event, we were thinking like, oh, people do fireworks, but they're really, really terrible for the environment. So we talked to a professional special effects guy who suggested these that are eco-friendly and they don't produce odor and very little smoke. They're safe. And he was able to do this coordinated effect that was like a surprise sparkler fountain. And I think people loved it. I was a little nervous. I was like, I'm not going to go off okay. What's going to happen to my orchids? But he did it. It was great. Another thing that's really important to me because, you know, just having kids that have grown up in Surfside, is not only thinking about the history and the elderly people who we highlighted in the film, but also really involving the youth and their leadership, because they have done such an amazing job this year, the Youth Council. The Sustainability Committee, I worked with them a lot, too, on the Biophilic Cities Initiative, and then also prepping them to talk to legislators in Tallahassee. So we had them really introduce the film. We tried to spotlight them as much as possible. And then I designed these seed packets, which if you didn't get one, I brought some. You didn't get one? And they are native wildflowers. So these are flowers that have been in Surfside for a long time. They exist in our dunes. They attract pollinators. They're really wonderful for us. I hope in a few weeks we're going to see them blooming all over Surfside because we gave out so many seeds. And then as a part of that, we did an indigenous land acknowledgement. It's not necessarily by the town. It was by... It was my company. But I worked with the Seminole tribe. And they gave me guidance on the statement. And I think it turned out really well. So we gave away a lot of them. And then I think there's another event coming up where they're going to give them away that somebody took them for. Go ahead.

Yes, through the chair, I think something that the Youth Council might be planning or the Sustainability Committee, but I think the idea is to use the remaining seed packets for that.

Yeah. And then we composted at this event. And I think that for future events, I would probably, I'm so sorry to see a typo. I hate that. But we had a vendor that came and I talked to several. We found a very affordable one who was wonderful. She did a training actually for the youth council. She recorded it, she said she'd be happy to do training for the town for free on composting. And this event, without even doing a lot of education of our residents, we diverted 248 pounds of waste from the landfill. And actually, this company, they were really wonderful to work with, and they also will bring the soil to you. So I think once or twice a year, they will actually bring the soil that your stuff has gone into. And I love these impact reports. They do these impact reports. I mean, I'm not here for this, but if the community were to do this with them, they would send an impact report every few months. And then you see the impact you're having. And I think putting it in real numbers like that really helps people. Um, so this was our, this is our budget and I wanted, you know, like to answer any questions you might have about it. I, um, I put the most money towards food, um, because I know, you know, that that's really important. Um, I know that I, like I would have usually charged a, I should have charged a design fee and I decided not to do that. So it was like a gift to the town. Um, because I wanted this to be really good. Like I really wanted to have a, um, a good experience in like the community that, um, that, that I, you know, that I love that, like what I imagine us to be really. Um, so I don't know if anybody has questions about the budget or anything. And anyway, it was an honor. Thank you so much. I would really encourage you guys, whether you use me or whoever, to think about composting at events. I want the town to consider it. To think about different ways at events that you can make things more sustainable. I can tell you the vendors for the the plates and the utensils and all that stuff, they don't have to be ugly, they can be beautiful. Don't use floral foam, things like that. Okay, but then, yes.

I just want to say that I received this report through the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee and I had asked the clerk to forward it to this committee as well because I had no idea, I was amazed that the event was composted and I would like the list of the environmental, where to get the plates. Because we have been trying to have the town be more sustainable, and we're not there yet, so.

I know. Those items would help, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

But thank you so much for the sustainability element, and everything else, really, everything was really beautiful.

No, yeah, I want to say that, also thank you, that I think was a very good effort, team, teamwork, that everyone working, and I really appreciate that you are presenting your expenses, how you distribute that. I think it's very honest for us to know that. I really appreciate that. I think what's amazing about the food, everyone was so, even the kosher, non-kosher, all you cover completely all, was more the budget, I understand, but was really good decision because everything was in the temperature, everything was very happy. I think the whole event, because different vendors participate, but the main effort, some people have more effort than others. But I think it's amazing. It was a very good team effort between all and everything. I think everything was happy. Even the food was there. It was food extra that was in the tables because they can eat more, right? It was really that charcuterie part was excellent. the kosher meat, everything was really good. And well designed, the design and the environment was amazing. I think it's an excellent teamwork effort, since the planning and everything, and I think, congratulations, Frank.

All that team I forgot I wanted to just mention to we used Daddy's for the for the alcohol like we've got bottles from locally I want to use a local business and we actually we did we did two drinks per person But we got more bottles than that because we wanted to make sure that people were yeah happy and we didn't run out of a yeah, I'll set go Yeah, and we have 30% were kosher

And we try to control them better, also the tickets, just for resins and all of that, because I think that helps the vendors also.

Yeah, I mean, yeah, the tickets was the town. I didn't do that part.

No, no, no, we did it, but we try to help the vendors always with that part, because that is important. We didn't have too many party crushers. We have some, but very few. That is good, but that helps too. Yeah, when you have a lot of people trying to bring tickets from other parties and all of that. You want to say something?

Yeah, that was an amazing event. I didn't get there till the end because I flew back from New York specifically for this event and my flight got delayed, but I got there for like the last hour. The food was amazing. I ate all the steak that was left. It was really beautiful. It was well done. It was great. It was fantastic. I don't know if you're interested in doing more events for the town, but I think it was really, really beautiful and well done. That budget looks great. I have a question about budget for Frank though, because I know we spent 80 grand and she did all that for 43. So I would, you'd have to do it in this meeting, but if you could email me, I'd like to see where the other 37,000 or 40,000 was spent. Because if we can do all of that for 43, I'm just, what was not included in what she did?

I didn't, yeah. I mean, the other thing is like I worked with the other vendors. Like when I came to Frankie, I already had people lined up for some stuff. So, and they were wonderful. Like they were great to work with.

But what else was there? There was music.

Through the chair, there was the stage, the lighting.

I thought she did the lighting.

Not for the stage.

I did the venue.

Right, so for the stage, all the stage production, the audio, the two bands, the step and repeat, that was the rest of the expenses. And yes, I can email.

Yeah, I just want to see that. But that was an amazing event. I don't know if you have ideas for future events for the town, but I would be happy to hear a pitch when we open it up for more stuff for next year.

Yeah, we want to prepare a big, big event like this that we did because that was an idea from one of the board members too. But I think it would be better because instead to be paying here and there for little events, when this is something for the memory and the people is going to remain for a long time. I think in the experience that we have with small events at this big event, Everyone, now that I found our neighbors in the places, that was amazing, the party was incredible, this and that, everyone.

Maybe we could do like a signature Art Basel event, for example, that's something like that.

We don't have to decide right now, and I think just to thank you, because also they had to.

And I'm happy to work with other, like I, you know, they were wonderful. We actually, we incorporated some, the photo props with them, And like it was great, they had like the same vision I do and I think you even, you have a degree in sustainable engineering or something like that. Yeah, so.

I think when it's a team effort because Frank was putting together people from different. Yeah. I think Alan also was working in that. Yes. In the station, all of that and then that.

Yeah, we're looking for a signature, we're trying to come up with ideas for a signature event for the town. So if you have ideas for that, that would be welcome.

Oh, we will let you know, yeah.

And we're trying to come up with something around Art Basel, right? Isn't that what we were talking about? Yeah.

Through the Chair, I mean, I don't want to get sidetracked, but there has been talk of a signature event, maybe for Art Basel, maybe not. I mean, I have a couple of people approach me for a concrete idea more in the springtime, but parallel to that, Art Basel has been brought up, so... We'll see what pans out for next year, but we're welcoming ideas from the different vendors. So if anybody, I know there are already some ideas out there, but if you have ideas for something big and extravagant, I think that's, you know, but amazing and memorable.

Because I think last year we didn't have enough time to put something for Arbazel, so we said we would work towards something for this year.

Yeah. There's a few things that have been thought about.

I would say more time for planning would be great. Because people were thinking that, because we didn't decide to dress like the people who dress. I never talked to you, and you have the same one as me, but in different colors. We're like twins. But yeah, we didn't talk about it, but the people were saying, what's a great idea? Why you don't do like a customs party like that? Everyone needs to be really dressing up for that specific party with that topic.

Like an adult Halloween?

No. Could be. Could be. Halloween is even, but yeah. But I mean, but thank you. It's just think about it, but we would think, we have to decide actually, but we are deciding, thinking is something big. Okay, but thank you so much.

Can I make a comment? Sure. two things I want to comment it's first for me it was an honor to come and work with you with something that I have passion for which is producing so yes to guide the elderly and to just get them I talked to Tina to Gerardo to Frank to many other neighbors and to get these people on the film and it really was like heartwarming. It's something like I cannot express with words what is in my heart from each of them with me. So it was very, it was an honor. It was really an honor. And the second thing I wanted to mention is like I would like to take the good of this planning, like all the composing and all those numbers, to translate it in our next events. As our liaison mentioned, you set up a big bar that, but we should, you know, like we all put a lot of effort into it. And Frank knows it. Cause I talked to him, like I bothered him every other day, like, but we wanted this to be a special because we, we, the board, we didn't, um, We didn't agree with sponsoring the four-season event, not because we didn't like it, but because we wanted, as our board, to do something bigger for the whole town. So I think... For us, it was also, you know, to have on the previous days an event from the fourth season, it was a big bar for us, you know, to come up with something that people who went, the people who went there will compare, you know, we're like, oh my God, this happened in the fourth season and this happened in the park or whatever, but no, non-compete to each other. I think everyone was unique and I'm very grateful that that happened that way because because each one was particularly different, but both very well executed.

Yes, thank you. And I want to mention, just sorry, before I forgot, I really love the young participation, the kids, your son was there, and everyone loves Shona, everyone, I mean, the kids, the girls, the boys, and we are trying to integrate it more, those participants, in the tickets thing and all the checking and all of that. And they are taking very seriously, very responsible. They are learning. Some of them, they are not that ready, but they are learning. And it's really great to have the kids who, like you mentioned, the seeds of the future, to be taking the control, not the control, but I mean, participating more in the town. I think it's amazing to see that they are participating, that they care. They are helping even, frankly, he doesn't need to be worried about the check-in. And it's hard to coordinate kids because they are teenagers, right? Yeah. And have been working very well. And actually, Lucero, who just left, she has been working in that, helping a lot. I want to say that they are not here, but thank you for that effort to put the kids together, the teenagers from the town, and to be participating. Thank you for the mothers and people who have... They can pass that to the others.

Yeah, through the chair, just wanted to say thank you, Charlotte, because it was a really, really beautiful event. You know, there was really a very short window of time to put something so substantial together. And the pressure was definitely on. I think had we not delivered, there would have been a lot of criticism. But, you know, you certainly delivered and. you know, Judy was also amazing. So, you know, definitely thank you to everybody. I think what was really nice is everyone really enjoyed seeing each other in that setting. I mean, I got so much feedback from residents that were really excited to just have that experience with each other. And they were, you know, just mingling with each other. And there was really that community feel. I think that was really, really, really well achieved. And so I want to also thank Alan, who's not here tonight, but Alan and I, you know, he's a he's a resident, and he's done tons of events for us. So I thought that it was important because we haven't worked with him this year. And his expertise is in music and production to bring him into the fold. And you know, he did a great job helping us out. So Thank you, and we look forward to the centennial anniversary in 10 years.

One last comment that I forgot to mention before. I think to pass the food was a great idea because it really elevated the event, and there were no lines. There were no lines at all, so that was something very important so people could do what you wanted. mentioned right now, mingle. Instead of being waiting on a line or whatever, they mingle around the tables, around, you know, enjoy the music. One thing for next... I think maybe the picture, the backdrop, everything, we should bring it closer to integrate it more to the whole event, because it was kind of in the back. And many people, till the end, they didn't realize that was happening. So something to have in consideration, because the park is bigger than we think it is. So we could incorporate more people together And I think that's the only thing.

Yeah, actually, it reminds me, I did have one feedback thing about the party. I don't know who managed the thing, but with the pictures, I think it's much better to have where you can email it to yourself or text it to yourself, because then you can share it. The printed out one, while it was nice to have, and it's nice to have both, it didn't have any repeat value. I couldn't share it with anyone. I couldn't be like, hey, check out the event or post it anywhere. And I think when we're spending so much money and putting so much effort into an amazing party, we want to have the most bang for our buck, so I would, that's something that I, next time, we definitely want to have the ability to have the electronic pictures, you know, maybe in addition to those printed pictures, but that, you know, that would have been good.

And also the photographer, some people were saying that she was taking the picture out of the, no respect, following the framework that you put it, and that some people was taking better with a cell phone, and maybe it's true, You do that like Ileana said, just electronically will be better and less effort, or even for them that they can take their own pictures.

Just through the chair, they're going to come up and recap that, so just you may want to hold those comments until, yeah. Okay, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. And we will welcome Antonia and the cloud team to talk about that.

I didn't know you had separate. They have their own little. Okay, okay, perfect.

Yeah, it's very brief. I know. Here is the video. It's not saying.

You can try it. We have been asking for that, and no one do that.

Antonia Morales, 14951 Royal Oaks Lane. So we just want to do like a very brief recap of the 90th anniversary. It was also to join and be able to participate. A lot of the people in the community recognized us and they were happy that we were there as well. So for the entrance, we wanted to create something that was elegant, that would elevate, and that could be used, appreciated during the day and at night because the feeling was different. All the floor arrangements were natural. And yeah, it really set the tone once you were entering to something special, elegant, changing the vibe of the park. And that was the goal, and we achieved it, and it went really well with what Charlotte had planned. So I'm glad that we were on the same page design-wise. A little bit of some pictures of the arrangements. We had a lot of orchids that weren't very well with the centerpieces that were there already. And yes, from the photo booth, from what we proposed to what we delivered, we also took the feedback that you gave us during that meeting. We wanted to create more art deco and create layers of information. And we grabbed the design of the logo and played with it to create... yeah, colors, layers, textures. So it was not just about taking a picture, but about appreciating the whole design. And the evening was beautiful. So we were able to capture it throughout the night from when it was sunlight until there was night. So we also had some lighting there. And here you can see the orchids and the floral arrangements. We also introduced some palm trees here. And I don't know if we can play. Yeah, I think it's not going to play. Yeah, one thing to improve, definitely the photos could be digital. I do have in the memory card access to the photos, so I'm going to go ahead and download them, edit them a little bit, and then give Frank the link so you all can have access to the pictures. But yeah, a lot of people were very happy taking it with them. And we also had the logo, like a sticker on the frame that was also sustainable. And we brought the photo booth to the last event here for the art affair. So I think it was also great for the people that were not able to experience it there to experience it here now. Yeah.

Yeah, okay. Nice work, yeah. I want to say again, thank you. We know that work. Just a comment where there's some time the photographer didn't take reading to the framework, was taking the whole thing. A bit more, yeah. A bit. But then it's true, just bring it to there. I think everyone was concentrated in the green part of the area, and that is fine. But we were trying to send your people there. But thank you. Thank you for the effort again.

Okay. Thank you.

Well, but then we're going to continue with our agenda. Thank you for coming and now we're going to see the budget discussions and 7E.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. So we did talk, we did present this budget the last time around, and I think the board made a decision to stay to increase or decrease the budget for this year. So I did email out in the agenda packet that proposed budget draft, so you have more time to look at it. But it's gonna be very similar to what we presented the last time. If you want, we can go over it. We talked about some of it last time. If you look at the 4810 and 4811 are really the big accounts. We have the $50,000 for the sustainable reef in case the grant does not come through and we're able to move forward with that project. Of course, that would be a really awesome project. And then more on the event side, we're budgeting $60,000 for a big signature event. Again, we'll entertain different proposals for what that might look like. And then we have a couple of additions. And this I haven't had a chance to really circle back and research, but we talked about maybe doing some live music on Harding Avenue. potentially on a Saturday or a Sunday just to kind of animate the district and invite people to come out and walk around. And then there is the Midnight Madness event that a few of the stores on Harding have independently from us, kind of put together last year. I think they did two of them where they stayed open later and we're inviting people to come in and try stuff. So I think given that that event is already kind of existing and I think we should look to do a little bit more for the Harding Avenue businesses, I think that it might be nice to partner with them in an official capacity and help elevate and enhance those experiences. Besides that, you know, we've got our hallmark events like the Third Thursdays. I did bump that up by 2,000 to 28, since we did, you know, do that increase for the food this year.

I want to make a comment about that before, because the one that you mentioned in the Harding Avenue, to have some I want to suggest, I like the idea to put some music there. I want to suggest that make a variety. Don't pick the same group of people. The same thing, okay. Because that way the people know that someone is going to happen there, but not the same. A surprise element. Okay, yeah. Because if they don't like that.

Madam Chief, you can speak into the microphone.

You pick just one, for example, one group or one solo that you mentioned also. would be surprising what you are going to have new or something. I mean, and then we can recommend you a lot of people or you can maybe find people, but that you can see, like Judith mentioned, as a surprise maybe that you are going to have someone next, someone next. Sure, yeah, I think we can. For that. And for that, I would like to say for the signature event that we are thinking, we really need to think about it before taking decision because it's 60,000, it's a lot of money. And we need to find out something that is going to be really worth it. I think with all the ideas that we have, we need to come with even, we don't know about the company, but something that we can make it really big, happy, all the people.

And all the different event producers that we have worked with this year, I will invite them and let them know that they're welcome to propose something.

I think 60, 60 grand to do that event, if you want a major big event, it's not that really much money. You've seen the amount of money to create something like we've created. So whatever we come up with, I think we have some fear to spend the money we have We should not, because we are very good here in this table. We are always focusing on checking that the money that we ask our, the product we ask our vendors to bring to be quality. So we have to give them the chance to bring us quality, you know? So we, of course, we are never going to prove something that just go for going for money, but we should allow ourselves to think a little bit more of what really are the cost of doing things, you know, for things to happen. As, for example, Charu mentioned, you know, like with $1,700 for that video, no one could have done it. It doesn't matter which vendor it will be because me, myself, I didn't charge money to invest two weeks producing it, which is not just the labor she paid to edit and to the camera and the light and for so many days. It's something that we have to just open ourselves a little bit more up to really have great events like we always said. or some people mentioned in Bell Harbor they do this or that, whatever. So it's just to have that in consideration in the back of our minds.

No, and I agree with you. I don't say that this, what I mean is for this money, we need to come with very, even we can spend more, but just to guarantee that we are going to do a great thing. I am like Ileana. I am exactly like, in that part I agree with her 100%. We need to take care how we spend the money. That's it. That is worth it. $60,000, $80,000, $100,000, but it's really worth it, right? Is what I mean. And like you say, we have been asking the vendors to present how they spend the money, and no one presented. Just she presented, that is why I say thank you, because you are being honest and you are telling us how it is. And I think that way we can learn also.

Mm-hmm.

Right? Yeah. We are giving too much or less money. For me, it's a learning cure that we find in the vendors. We are trying to understand the vendors. That's why we're trying to even to help the vendors with a checking system that we have been doing a great job, I think. Frank, Leslie, because that way that we help them to give food just to the people who they deserve it. And we're trying to, if we do that, just like what I say, we have to be thinking really what event is going to be. It's my only point. Because, not because it's too much, maybe it's not too much, maybe it's too... It's a few amount for what we are expecting. Or maybe the exit of the event was because it was more for adults, and also sometimes the people need events for adults. Instead, all the kids, all the everyone. Because we have already a mix of events for kids and events for... It's the first time that we do something for adults. In fact, some people, they didn't care and they came with the kids anyway, but maybe they didn't have how to... and babysit the kids, right? But it was very few. But most of them, they enjoyed because they were just adults. It was the comments that they were making. And they told me, they tell Frank that why he doesn't do more for adults. I say, yeah, I will pass. But I mean, that is why my participation was because of that.

Yes, I have a question about the budget. I'm not seeing the food truck thing, but I know we don't want to have the food truck. But when he did that Italian event, that was amazing. But I don't see anything in here for that.

Yeah, because that is not the food trucks event. So Javier has some great ideas he wants to bring forward for the next meeting, including maybe doing the Hawaiian theme block party that I think you mentioned. before Ileana, so yeah, we're gonna, right now that would be in the additional events. We're gonna come out of the additional events. So there's enough money to do some new ideas, but we definitely have not forgotten about the success of the Night in Italy.

Yeah, I see that here. Okay, because I want to make sure that we have more of those events. And then my other comment about the budget in general is it's not that I don't want to spend money. A lot of times when we spend large amounts of money, I would like some of our money to be spent on something that adds ongoing value to the town that isn't a one night and had a great time. We can really do... Like the sustainable reef, right? That's amazing. But I'd like to see more of that. Tourists want to, for example, they want to work out. They want to exercise. We should use tourist dollars to have a gym. We can be spending money on those things. And we should. And so that's what I'm seeing. At the end of the year, we have nothing to show. This time we had the plastic fishing guy make a bench, I think, or something, right? More things that we can point to and that have... you know, more quality that you can enjoy over time.

They're not necessarily just events, right? So I think the last couple of years there's been, you know, a big focus on really just using events as a marketing platform, but to your point, there's lots of other things that we could potentially do. You know, if I think of any ideas, I will, of course, bring them to you. So they may not be reflected in this budget, but again, keep in mind that this can all be You're approving the lump amount, and this is sort of a guideline is how we envision the spending to go, but you can really change this at any time.

Like, for example, when we talked about the art before, and we were looking at the numbers, and it was $350 to $1 million, where is that in this? Like, where is that money?

That's not here because, obviously, that's a commission-level project, and I don't want to, like, sound off alarm bells by putting it in the proposed budget, that would require going into the reserves, and so it really requires the commission's approval, so I wanted to keep that entirely.

Right, because something like that would be our entire budget for the whole year. Right, so this is why I'm more hesitant to do this stuff.

Right, and why that needs to be, or something like that, even if it's something else with that kind of a price tag, it wouldn't be part of our regular budget.

Right, well, the other thing is, and again, I'm a broken record about this for 20 years now, I think, already. Fourth of July fireworks. We sit here and we talk about sustainable, sustainable, and we want to compost, and we want to be good for the environment, and then we pollute the environment every year. We should be moving past that, okay? Just because every other town pollutes the environment doesn't mean we should be doing it. We can do the drone show, which was super nice, that doesn't pollute the environment. There are alternatives, and at some point we've got to say, we're going to take that step, and we're going to not do this anymore. Because there's zero, zero good in the fireworks, other than people get 15 minutes of, oh, that was pretty. And the damage that we're doing to the environment is lasting and permanent. And we've got to stop doing it. And I'm going to keep saying this every year. And I don't care if I'm party pooper. But really, we have to walk the walk. We can't be composting and every, oh, sustainable, great, great, great. And we're all clapping. And then we're putting away whatever, $125,000 on polluting the environment. So I'd like to bring that out. Okay. Maybe that's something that Tina, as a commissioner, wants to pilot, but I don't know if you want to fight Nellie on that because she loves fireworks. May I have a comment?

Fireworks are cool.

We do have both, the drone show and the fireworks. I know, but the drone show was much cooler than the fireworks, and people really liked that, and I think we can replace the fireworks with the drone show.

May I? Go ahead. I think... I got to be honest with myself and with you, I love fireworks, even I know they pollute. And yeah, there's got to be a point where I said no to the fireworks. When we were planning this, I really wanted a big firework for the park. And Charu, she started mentioning, no, no, let's do a sustainable. And then we had a little sparkle that made the purpose of having the fun without polluting. So I think if we decided to move forward and doing only, for example, drones, it would have to be drones with something a little bit more spectacular, like a really music enhancement that makes you vibrate the way the fireworks does. For example, if you put a band with the drones, something like that. We go beyond just whatever town does with drones. we can make it happen. It's just, I think we should, each of us should, you know, like engage brainstorming ideas, not only like complaining, but bringing to the table things that we can implement.

I want to say that, could you tell us, Frank, that it's $25,000 for fireworks and then $100,000 for Enhancement. What do you mean by enhancement? What you are going to do?

I think that was, and again, keep in mind this is not my event. It's the Parks and Recreation event, so they don't really give me a full detailed breakdown. They just tell me what we need to approve so that they can spend it. But as far as I understand, the enhancement's a big chunk of that. I don't know if it's I don't think it's the full 100, but I think it might be 50, is the drone show. And then I think for more detail, you have to go to Parks and Rec. And if you have any recommendations, please go to the Parks and Rec committee or reach out to Tim or Adrienne.

The drone show is $50,000. 50,000, yeah. Because also, I think when we are funded, other departments, I think we have the right to receive information about how they are going to spend it. I think it is the best way because I don't know how they spend it, really, the money in all this event. But also, I want to say about, because we're going to go to the part of the things for, maybe out here, the thing that we're going to buy for the town. I agree.

Promotions?

In one of the items, we're going to see about the holiday lighting package. But, for example, for the 90-year event, the screen, I agree with Ileana. We pay for that screen. We shouldn't buy it, and we should have and storage that screen.

That screen costs hundreds of hundreds of dollars. No. It is. You don't know what the quality of that screen was.

No, I mean, I know and I did my own search. And believe me, I think we need to start buying our own stuff and storage. Even organize better the storage because the storage is an nightmare. I noticed that since last year when we were trying to survive with that. with nativity, but I think if we buy, if we spend all this money, we can spend more, but have our own things, Judy.

But let me tell you something, Diana. The screen is not the screen about itself. Do you see... You were not there. I was there that morning. You see how many people came together to set up. So what is really costing is the labor of the people, not only the screen, it's all the technicians that had to be there, the software that has to be implemented. a lot of things, that because I work in production, I know how much it costs. That screen has to be on top of those columns, that it's another amount of money, it's more place to put stuff. We cannot even have a decent place to put our Surfside letters that are in decay right now. And I talked to Fran about it, because when Charu mentioned about putting the lights to the Surfside letters, those letters are... really in very, very bad shape, and the person she hired to put the lights and things, she said, I can help, how do you call? To refurbish. To refurbish the letters and things like that. If we don't really... Have a space event for that then how do we think to acquire more things that we don't know how to care about it? We're not technicians. We will always need people to hire people to do that It's that way those type of stuff people rented for a night and not even the big companies buy them I think we should then compare prices because really me I I was in I have been in these events in Fontainebleau Hotel and

And the company who do exactly the same for them is less than half of the price. Exactly the same thing. I mean, we have to see. We have to check. It's what I suggest. I would like to see, like Ileana mentioned, why we don't have something that is going to be beneficial for the town. And in fact, the screen, you were telling me about the screen. We were all... I think was a wasting of money because we were seeing all the microphones in front of the people, the people who was there, all the big things. We couldn't really appreciate all the work that was there because it was covered with all the instruments and the microphones and all of that.

Through the chair, I mean, I think your point is taken, but Judy's point as well stands. I mean, we don't have the technical expertise or the space or really to buy a screen of that magnitude. Again, we don't have the space or the expertise, but even if we did, it's going to be a lot of money. In terms of the placement and the positioning, could it have been better? Yes, but keep in mind we had the absolute minimal time to put this event together. This was out of my control because I wanted to bring this event for approval in the fall, but because the conversations about the other event that was happening, that prevented me from knowing what the budget was and what I could bring to you. So we really had absolutely zero time. And then also, they added more events and made them more complicated with registration all during those weeks. And also, I was left as the lone person in the department. So keep in mind, a lot of things came together. And sure, hindsight is 20-20. If we had had a lot of months, we could maybe have looked for different vendors. Maybe there is a better price out there. but I think that point is taken, but just know that we really had critically short amount of time here.

I had two more things. I had a question about the museum access program. Is there a way to get feedback on how many people used it this year, if we're actually getting people to, are they going, are they not going?

Yes, I'm going to reach out, and by the way, as part of those museum packages, we have some tours that, again, there's been so much going on, but now that it's going to quiet down, we'll circle back to that, and we'll organize some tours for the community to be able to check out the museums and, you know, take full advantage of those benefits. And we will request some information on the usage to see if it's something we want to keep.

I know, you know, the amounts are relatively low, but we want to... And then the other thing is that, and I know because my older son is on the Parks and Rec Committee, I think it's been very frustrating for him because they've tried to, he's tried to bring events and it hasn't... We used to have pool movies. Remember, they'd show a movie in the pool. We haven't had one of those in like two years, I think. So do we have to do that for the tourist board, or are they going to do it? Because the community is not having them. So I don't care what committee does them, but we need to have those. Because those were a really special thing that's fun for the summer. It's great to do. And now is the time to start doing some of those.

Yeah, I remember those screenings with Parks and Rec. I mean, we can talk to Parks and Rec, see if it's possible for them to do that.

I mean, if they don't want to do it, let's do it. Because it's not fair to the community to not be able to have that.

Yeah.

Would you, Ben?

Pool movies, like they put the screen and you sit in the pool on rafts. They brought rafts and you would hang out on the pool and watch the movie. You know, it was really it was very memorable for everyone.

We have movie under the stars. Yes.

Those are in the park. That's in the park. And we have on the beach. But we used to do ones in the pool. So what I'm saying is let's not lose the things that are fun and easy and also cheap.

Okay, but Parks and Recreation is who used to do it?

They used to do it, but they haven't done it. So if they're not going to do it, if they don't have the capacity to do it, what I'm saying is that we can take the initiative to make them happen, or they can do it.

But not having them is not... I think they have more personnel, more employees than here in...

They definitely have more employees than the one that we have. But I don't know if that fits their vision. But like Eliana said, if for some reason they can't, I think the framework is already there. So they could tell us what needs to be done. It shouldn't be too expensive or complicated. And I think it's also a nice event for the hotels because it's close and that's not an experience that they offer at their hotels. For sure.

It's super fun.

Yeah. Through the chair, if I can. Yes. So I'd like to ask about the turtle sculpture repairs because I noticed the one by the community center. Yesterday, I noticed the one at the community center has got peeled paint.

Usually, that budget is for when something happens. A part of it breaks, but of course we can repaint some of them. If there are some that you think need to be refreshed, just let me know which ones. We do have a budget for it. I don't think it's something we need to bring to the meeting. It's just we want to make sure that the sculptors are looking.

I looked at some of them I think are chipped.

Sure, yeah, maybe we could do a little brush up on that. Yeah, and probably before the fiscal year ends, because we still have that same amount of money for this fiscal year. Right. So we can probably address it with what we have for this year.

Oh, let's do a tour of the turtles.

Yeah, sure. Sure. And more questions about that? Well, we interrupt you. No.

I mean, again, those were really the big highlights and the parks and rec stuff, but know that you can slice this and change it at any time. I mean, you could say, hey, we don't want to do third Thursdays next year. I don't think that'll be the case, but should you decide to go that route, you can make changes at any time.

Yeah. Okay. And then we need to think about the other ones. Okay. And for the farmers market, Javier is going to keep, they're going to stop right now for months, right?

Yes. So they've just stopped and they'll be back in October. But we do have the amount for the police person so that, you know, once a weekend, the Ball Harbor will take care of the other day just to make sure that everything is safe.

But it was my question.

October through May.

Okay, but we don't pay for the police.

No, exactly. No, correct. Just for the market months.

Okay. And the sustainable reef, I have a question about that. We say that we are going to

allocate that money just in case in case yes so they have applied for a grant which would you know make it probably free um well hopefully we would like that to obviously get approved but if it doesn't you know there's an opportunity where we can still do it if we pay but i think you know it would be a worth it investment yeah um because it's a it's a really great maybe we can use it like uh for

for this, and now I'm getting consent with a comment that Ileana did about a gym, that we don't have gym anymore, and we pay for two houses.

No, we pay, okay, if I may. Okay. We pay for one house, we only own one of the houses, we don't own both. When you talk about a gym, I don't think that's a resort tax board initiative, because all the hotels have gyms, so it doesn't serve the tourists, it serves the residents, so that's really more of a commission function.

yeah in my opinion and it's possible to know exactly in the same tone that tina mentioned what kind of things we can do i i was told that like three years ago that we can just do events that the budget our budget is just for events things for tourism for the resident but mainly events is that true because then we can know

do something else yeah it's true i mean if you look at this budget breakdown i mean yeah you've got you know 557 000 for events and 236 so that's definitely where most of the money is going again we don't typically spend all of this money so a lot of it doesn't get used for example 40 000 for promo items we may not spend that much um you know promoted social media we may not spend that much so

But my question is, how we know how we can spend, what kind of things we can spend the money, this money that taxes?

Well, a lot of the things you can spend the money on is marketing and advertising, which we did in the past, but then got criticized for and decided not to. Let's do events because residents can enjoy it.

We can spend money on anything that serves tourists and residents. Anything that enhances the experience of coming to Surfside. So anything that would make it attractive for people to come to Surfside.

Like for example, enhancement to all our walk by the beach because that's something that only the residents but the tourists will appreciate.

Correct, but those type of initiatives, even if they use resort tax dollars, are more for the town commission. Your task is more the events and the marketing and promotion, but enhancements to the walking path, anything permanent?

No, but like we were talking about, maybe put a sculpture there with some benches, that type of nourishment I'm talking about, not like... enhancing the path itself, you know, but giving it life, you know, for tourists.

Exactly, through the chair. I mean, like, you know, this board can recommend to the commission, like, to enhance the lighting on the path, can recommend anything to the commission that you want to support. I would really suggest that this board, you know, to do something lasting for the town, I would recommend the board look at the public art And where you want to place it because, you know, it would come to the commission, but it, you know, if you think about it, I mean, for me, when I returned back to Surfside and I saw the turtles all over town, there were like twice as many. Yeah. And that was done by a resort tax board back in, I think, 2011, 2012. Mm-hmm. And that was a nice enhancement to the town. So things like that definitely can come from this board. I do think this board has done a great job with bringing more culture with the museum program and the films. So I think you have done something different. That's the experience in Surfside.

To make that recommendation, because talking about what Judy mentioned, when you walk here in Southside, you see the big difference when you walk in Bar Harbor. I like ours better.

I like ours better. I do. I think ours is, it looks like those fancy, like if you go up the East Coast, the most expensive neighborhoods are the ones that have the pristine sand with the rope things. Concrete is not nature on the beach. So I am not a fan of that more concrete on the ocean, the way that Hollywood did with its boardwalk or Bell Harbor did with theirs. Our beach path is spectacular.

We're not talking about concrete. We are even talking even the ropes. Been in a really good condition. Have you seen the cans that are on the, for the waste that are on the beach?

Those are the counties. That's why.

But anyway, whatever we can enhance on top of that, we can do. We can recommend. Because it really is not about putting concrete. It's even the shade. We don't have shade walking there.

At all.

At all. Where in other places, there is like paths. I bike from first to 96th Street. I bike a lot, and it's completely, the only part that is kind of desert is our.

Through the chair, if I may, the commission is working on a plan to add more shade trees on the beach path.

Great, great, nice. And just to clarify, we didn't talk about concrete, Ileana. Never we talk about concrete. I know that Miami, they put concrete.

Yes, so I just want to clarify that when you say you want to enhance the beach path, you don't mean pave it or concrete. Okay, great.

We didn't say that at all. We say, but you see the gardening, all of that is beautiful over there. And then even some of the, I think, code enforcement. recommendation coding for me to be doing that work because a lot of buildings that all that they don't cut they don't call correctly what they are doing they are really invading the path with the plants and all of that because they don't they are not cutting last year there was a problem with the beach path where

I don't want to name names but it was a different town manager and a different hotel didn't like the foliage blocking the views from the hotels and they really took out a lot more stuff than they should have and they said that it was infected or we need to do this and we looked into it and it wasn't and it was a whole big thing. So that's what happened was people didn't like that their view was being obstructed by the foliage and they took a hacking job to everything there. So we've been trying to undo that damage.

I think, yeah, it would be a recommendation because our liaison is here and is part of the board, I mean, and the commission. It would be great to have another quality in gardening and all of that to make it beautiful. I think it's very, you see the difference, believe me, not for the concrete, you see the difference, even in the path, walking, I use it also walking, and it's horrible. It's horrible, our site is like a, they were comparing third world countries. We are like that, and then you pass the White Harbor First World. I mean, it's not fair. And it's a question, it's a point of really define beautiful gardening, beautiful things. I mean, it's not that expensive, really.

I did bring your recommendation for the business district to the commission during our budget workshop, and they are looking now again at the sandblasting, which we had looked at. I supported it. Yeah, the sidewalks are disgusting in town. No, I know that. I noticed on my way over a cracked sidewalk. It's right here on the corner.

It's just dirty, too. It's very dirty. Yeah, it's gross.

And also gardens, some of the business places are very dirty. They don't clean, I don't know if that city needs to clean or go to pressure cleaning because someone put the paint, the coloring.

I mean, Bay Harbor has beautiful sidewalks. In Bay Harbor and their business district, the Bay Harbor redid their sidewalks, those are beautiful.