Resort Tax Board - Regular Meeting

Could you call the roll, please?

Yes, Chair. Chair Gonzalez?

Here.

Vice Chair Martinez?

Here.

Board Member Callaway?

Here.

Chair, you have a quorum.

Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Well, then, thank you, everyone, for coming today. We have our meeting. I want to thank you, our acting town manager, Mario Diaz, to be here. And I want to thank you, Fran Trigueros, and welcome him from vacation. Everyone is here. Thank you. Thank you for coming. We're going to try to go to the, there is something to change in the agenda order or something. Someone proposal? No? Everything, we can go. Public comments? I mean, no. Town Commission liaison report? I think she's not here, right? No, public comments? No public comments? No, okay. Approval of minutes. Who want to make a proposal to approve the minutes on November 10, 2025?

You?

I make a motion to approve the minutes for November 10. November 10, okay. I'll second the motion.

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

Okay. Now we're going to the Resort Task Collection and Vacancies Report, and it's going to be Frank.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I did print a copy of the report that is before you, and I emailed it to the other board members. I've got the numbers right here. So this is based off of the same report that we showed last month, which included the months of June and July. Because it is the same set of data, I don't have any new numbers, but I thought we would just look at the month of July on its own. And looking at the categories, you can see that we are performing well on the accommodation side. We are up almost seven percent year over year and 13 and a half versus 2023. That's obviously great numbers. And then on the restaurant side, you'll notice that we are down five point six versus last year. However, as I've mentioned other months, there are a number of outstanding payments from, you know, some of the marquee restaurants that are not input into the Excel sheet. So once those numbers are in, I feel pretty confident that that deficit will be eliminated. So hopefully we'll be catching up on that soon. I know the board has some concerns about the penalties and the frequency. of these late payments and the timing of that. So it has been raised with the finance team, and I will follow up with them. But just to finish that up, you know, comparing to the numbers from two years ago, we would be down 10.2. But again, that's not the full snapshot. And in terms of business openings, I don't think we have much that has opened in the last month or the last two and a half weeks since our last meeting. But I know that there are a few places coming down the pipeline, like the soft serve ice cream shop and a few others.

Okay. Comments? Just I want to mention that we were mentioned before out of the meeting, but it would be maybe that you make a suggestion about that we should increase the penalty or something. to make the people pay on time. Maybe it works, I don't know. But it's just the same comment. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will mention that to the finance team.

Okay, now the Singer Fest reception event recap.

Sure, I will welcome Charlotte, our event vendor, to help us recap, and I'll put a few photos of the event on the screen.

You want to sit here or no? Probably the other one.

No. All right, so we just have a few photos on the screen of the event. Obviously, it was a really, really great night. It was a two-part event. You know, the book club portion, you know, we'll recap that with community relations, but that was very successful. Just about every seat in the room was filled for the book club with Professor Godesman, so that was, you know, very successful. And then, of course, we had the reception portion afterwards. And we can just... We'll talk through that, but Charlotte, feel free to recap from your side.

Charlotte El-Sahly, 328th Street. I actually remembered to do that. Okay, relief designs. I did the reception portion, not the book club portion. part um i loved doing this event it was like so dreamy to me to be able to do something with literature and books and um so you know from my perspective i thought i you know i had a lot of fun doing it i hope people enjoyed it i got a lot of really nice feedback i do um I know that I did go a little over the top on decor, but that was a personal choice. I think if I had even more of a budget, I probably would have you know, it would have been crazy. Um, I think the only, the, the menu was, was, um, I think successful also. I wasn't sure how that was going to turn out. It was a little nervous cause I'm not like Polish food is not my specialty. Um, but we found a really great vendor. I will say the one thing with that is that I had, um, based on, on talking with you all, I had prepared to do Um, non kosher and kosher, I was going to do a pierogi based menu. And then we decided to do all kosher and that made it, uh, that was a really challenging for the budget that we had. It was like, I had to, I went back to a whole bunch of many vendors who were like, um, over double the budget that I had. And then I wound up using somebody who I had to, she couldn't, um, to keep it short. doing it all kosher after I had done the budget was challenging. So like if we're gonna do, if I were to do an event like that in the future, I would recommend that you, or that I know ahead of time that we wanna do it 100% kosher. And the only other issue that I had from my perspective was the composting and I think that's just an issue of I need to talk to Public Works ahead of time and like maybe I'm gonna talk to the, to the youth board about educating people better. Because I think people just didn't know which was which. And the trash got taken away before I could. So I saw everything was compostable, like every single thing. And people were just throwing it in the regular trash. So, you know, like lessons learned. But overall, I thought it was a lot of fun. Did you get the video?

The video?

The second email. Did it come? It might have been too big.

It might have been too big. Is it on your Instagram?

Yeah, it is. We'll release the science answer in a moment.

I don't think it's going to let up.

It's fine, because all of us, we were there. I think we're all there. We were all there. Don't worry. Oh, yeah. OK.

Sorry.

Yeah. Well, OK. I can send it to your, I can send it out again, I guess. But I really enjoyed doing the core. I will just say that. That was a lot of fun for me. So. Do you guys have feedback or questions or things? Yes.

Someone, I want to make the comment that I think everything was really great. We were there. I think was a lot of food because you have a lot of food extra. But it does happen always in this event. We don't know how many people is going to show up. But everything I've seen, people was happy. Everything, all the event was really very well planned. And I, congratulations, I mean, I think everything was perfect. I don't have any doubt about the problems of this or that. Yeah, but everything was good. We were there, don't worry for that. I know what's happened with food. Always, you never know if you have extra or less or more, and the division between kosher and non-kosher is always a same issue here in the town.

Yeah, always. And I had, I mean, I told her 150 people And I think that was a lot more than was there. But we did, I worked with another neighbor to donate the food. Yes, the day after, so it did go, it didn't go in the trash.

Yeah. It was my question, did you do something with the food?

Yes, yes, yes, no, we definitely, we donated, and then we had people taking home, like, tons of, actually, there were actually no pierogies left. That was the one thing that, like, fits totally out, so.

Comments?

Nothing but positive. It was really, really nice. And I learned a lot personally. I didn't know a lot about the author. I really enjoyed it. Yeah. Beautiful.

Yeah. Yeah, I think it was a great cultural, our first 100% cultural event. And I'm very proud it came good. The ambience was to dream for. more than what I imagined when we thought about doing the first event in that space. The only thing that I think it doesn't have to do, but it's internal with us, it's like the audio when we have to say the words and the speaker had to speak out in the garden. That part was, you know, the audio was not too high enough for people to, on one side to enjoy what they were enjoying in the back and our guests speaking and all of us, you know, there was a, I think that was the only issue that we should, I think, talk about to make it better if we need to get another equipment or what we need to do in-house to have a better one would be great.

Yeah.

So I thought the event was spectacular. It was amazing. The food was amazing. The music was amazing. The whole event was great. where I think what I was disappointed in was that there wasn't bigger turnout. And I think there wasn't bigger turnout because we didn't connect with the, let's say, Rabbi Citron initial or the shul chat. They have a lot of chats going on at the shul, at Young Israel, at Rabbi Citron shul, that would have loved to have been there. There were a couple of sort of orthodox people that wandered in and were like, this is amazing. I didn't know this was going on. My mother, who I told about the event, went to the book part and then went home. She didn't understand that there was going to be a party in the back, that there was going to be food in the back, because when you look at the advertisement, it doesn't say free kosher food, klezmer band, join us for dancing. It doesn't say that. It's very, it makes it, you know, it sounds like a book event, which she thought was great, but she didn't stick around and she really missed out on a great event and so did a lot of other people. So when we're going through the trouble of having all kosher food with a Jewish theme, with a Jewish author in a spectacular way. We really want the whole community to participate. And I don't know whether it's because they didn't know or whether there's some sort of, you know, they don't want to go or whatever it is, but that could have had, we could have had really better turnout than we had. We had a good turnout and it was an amazing event. You did a spectacular. The attention to detail was incredible. The way you decorated the tree and you lit the tree and everything and the infographics that I think Isaac made at the beginning, amazing. I mean, the whole thing was amazing top to bottom. I wish more residents were able to see it because that was an incredible event. The audio, as Judy was saying, was a disaster. I would like to make a motion to get our own audio. We're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on events. There's no reason why Surfside cannot own a decent mic system with a speaker, because I couldn't hear at all what they were saying, and neither could anyone else, and that was a missed opportunity. So I would, that's not a you thing, that's a departmental thing, but I would be happy to make that motion tonight, that we set aside funds and we get a decent mic and speaker, because we're gonna need that for other things. That was it, it was very well done, and the food was amazing, it was really tasty.

Yeah, she was great, by the way. I tried to do some advertising for her because she worked with my budget, and she was really wonderful.

And the Klezmer Band was super fun. The Klezmer Band was so fun.

They were so fun.

I mean, I would love to see them again at one of the Third Thursday things. It was as part of whatever we're doing, some kind of culture night thing. It was great. It was nice to have something different and new and live music like that. It was great. Yeah. So well done.

Through the Chair, great job, Charlotte. Wonderful event again. Just to touch on some of the comments made. You know, to your point about the attendance could have been higher. I definitely think so. We did let the show know. So they were aware. But maybe we can do a better way of getting into those chats, maybe through some residents, because oftentimes that word of mouth chat is sometimes the best way to spread the word about that. Well, maybe if we continue this for next year, we'll make the flyer more explicit so it has more information at a glance. We did circulate a blog and kind of talk about the event and the reception portion, but I understand that maybe not everybody gets into that level of detail, and some of that might have been missed. Regarding the audio, so the original plan was to use the audio system, which we have internal, that was set up by Parks and Rec for the band. So the thought is we would use that same mic system for the speaker for Dr. Godesman, but the band came with a mic that was not wireless. So at the last minute, we couldn't use the wired mic because it was in the wrong location. So we had to pivot and go to the mobile one, which was not strong enough. So, you know, we did lose some of our audience and it wasn't loud enough. So I definitely agree with the board on that. I've been doing some research on the best portable mic speakers, like the loudest one we could possibly get so that when we do these smaller events, without having to engage two or three Parks and Rec members, that we have something that is loud enough. So I think I've found something. It sounds like there's consensus on the board. You know, I was planning on purchasing it for this and for other events anyway, so... I think I'll take advantage of the Cyber Monday deals and order it later tonight so that we can have it ready for Sunday for the Christmas tree lighting because it's an asset we'll use year after year for multiple things.

And we already talked about that, that we are going to need it for the event at Christmas because it's outside, and we already talked about that. You have to buy something decent because we have many events outside, and we need to have our own. We don't depend on the others or the van.

Yeah, also for the... Plastic fishing event that is on the beach. Yes. It's hard to get, you know.

It would be a great idea to have it. Exactly. We can use it for the, you know, remembrance events for certain parts of that.

And for that, be careful because of the sun. Be careful when you pick something that is, we can move there also. Yes, yes.

We'll be careful with how we transport it.

And get a waterproof one.

If there is such a thing, yeah.

There is, yeah.

It just has to be very powerful because, you know, it can't be.

And they make beach speakers. Like, that was one of the first people to take their music to the beach.

Okay. Well, thank you so much. We're going to keep now. We don't have more comments. Well, actually, we're in 7B. You are the same. It's no more.

Budget and recap. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to set up the item, this was approved at the last meeting. This is the signature event that will take place over the course of two days of the community center. It's got a lot of wonderful ideas and sand sculptures. But Charlotte presented kind of a range in her presentation. So I think we need to better define what you want that scope to be. Just so you know, from a budget standpoint, we had almost $166,000 available for the signature event and other things and events. So just keep that in mind. $166,000 is what is left for signature event and other new events as well.

And the budget that she presented was arranged between $80,000 81,000 and 150,000, right? 166 that we have to use by December? Eliana, I'm talking, Eliana, please. We can't clarify because otherwise you are going to miss what I'm saying.

But what's the, he said 166. Is that for, we have to spend by when? No. I don't know.

That's what he was saying.

So through the chair, that's for the fiscal year. So that line item has 166,000 until September of 2026. That's the boards to use for this signature event and anything else that you want.

But something that has not been budget.

Correct. That is not like the third Thursdays or paddle till next.

We can use it till September of 2026.

Yes. Till the next fiscal year.

I'm sorry, Frank. And it's in addition to. above, let's say we went to 150, the highest point of this budget, that you still have 160, is that what you're saying?

No, that is what was my question. I don't. That she present a range of 81,000 to 150, but we didn't decide how much will be is what we're going to talk about now. That would be great if she explain us more that we can decide for that is because that budget is what he presented at 166,000. is for different things, not just for this event. That doesn't mean that we're going to spend the whole thing, but if we allow her to present how she's going to spend it, maybe we can decide.

So this got approved at the last meeting that I missed.

We approved her, but we didn't approve the money, the amount. Oh, okay. Because she presented, you see your program? Yeah. She make a range between $81,000 and $150,000.

Right, because I know we spent like $90,000 last year, but that was for the anniversary. It was like a 90th anniversary of the town. Exactly. So I wasn't thinking that we were going to spend $100,000 every year on one party. No.

It's too late. The other one was a three-hour event. Okay.

Yeah, that's why we are not deciding. Eliana, we are going to decide today. I see, okay. We didn't decide the amount of money.

It's until today. Got it.

I don't know if I need to introduce again. Charlotte L. Sethley again, 328th Street. So I went through line by line and updated the budget that I had, and this is the summary. This is where I'm at now. Because I think I mentioned in the last one, the music in particular was too low. And also the kosher vendor got back to me about... Apparently, I think it's meat in general, not just kosher meat, but has really gone up in prices. So right now, the lowest I have is the $90,360, and that's for both the party and the more like festival day. So with the lower, like the lower amount, what would you get? You would still get the big sand sculptures, but less, two of them. We would still have the white party. We'd still, you know, I love doing decor. You'll still get all of that from me. We would still do all of the activities. It's mostly a difference of things like how many musicians we can have in the band, how many sand sculptures we can have. The furniture is expensive. It would be amazing if you guys have sound equipment because then we wouldn't have to keep paying money to rent it. But the furniture and sound, stage, that kind of thing is expensive. So the difference in stages is In the lower end, I have a black stage like we did for the Klezmer band. The higher end, there's a shiny white beautiful stage, things like that. It's just a little more elevated at a higher level. We could, the other things was we could have more live entertainers. We could have more mermaids, more fire dancers, more like, go ahead.

I have a suggestion. My sister was just here visiting from Israel and her first comment was the meat pricing in America is insane. kosher meat is off the chart. I would eliminate that completely and make it dairy, especially because once you have meat, no one can have the desserts. And parved desserts taste like cardboard. And so that way we can have much nicer desserts, dairy desserts, ice creams, all that stuff that people like, if we just make the food dairy. Instead of, it's really a crazy waste of money to make it meat. You'll get very little food for it and it'll be really obscenely expensive. That would be my recommendation. Also, since it's during the day, people don't generally eat like, yeah.

No, this is, okay, the party part, so there's a difference. There's the party, oh, and one other thing I needed to bring to the board is that at the last meeting we discussed moving the party to Saturday night and having the festival part on Sunday, but the kosher vendors cannot we can't make it work for them to be able to come and set up and do everything.

Right, it doesn't work with Sabbath.

Yeah, so it's up to you.

I think Drew is, I mean, last time, sorry, last time I really enjoyed trying that food, the kosher. I mean, it wasn't better for me, right, because I'm not used to it. But I don't know we have, it's good to have some, before we have sometimes some option kosher, but not the whole thing.

But if you're doing it dairy, there's not much of a difference in pricing. Okay. Between, if you do it dairy, there's not much of a difference in pricing between the non-kosher and the kosher. It's maybe a very slight upcharge. The meat is astronomically more expensive, both for non-kosher and kosher. So I don't think that anyone's expecting, you know, the fun, there's so many amazing fun things here, I don't think we need meat when we have great dairy options to serve.

Yeah. I think for what you said, you were using the same vendors that you used for the 90th anniversary, that people was very happy about the food, the kosher food there. It was like really top Argentinian meat and everything, like the empanadas. Everything was like I remember. It's the first time I ate, being not kosher, eating kosher. and I liked that, and also the other provider was good as well. So now, just to understand, The day event will be on Saturday and the party will be on Sunday, right? Yes. So the day event will have no kosher food because it's Saturday. It's Saturday, yeah. So kosher people won't attend anyways.

They can go on Saturday. Why not? I mean, we can have, like, for that one, I was just thinking, like, hot dogs, sliders.

chicken tenders like that kind of like the family yeah like family type food we could do we could make it you know kosher hot dogs and that kind of thing it might not be like what's the what are the activities on saturday i mean people can go on saturday as long as it doesn't involve like activities where they're violating the sabbath like they can go to because remember the temples already have you know luncheons every weekend and stuff where they do stuff it's not like they're not going to show up

So the vision, and I mean, it's open to what you guys want to do, but the idea was to have Saturday be more family-friendly and wellness activities. So in the morning, we were going to do a sand sculpting workshop with the the master sand sculptor that would be for all ages. We were gonna have a discovery mermaiding classes. And why can't the family stuff be on Sunday?

I wasn't clear on why. I know what she's saying, that it's gonna be all these great events, but why can't that be Sunday?

We don't know what she's gonna do on Saturday.

So the so and also just to finish what all we had talked about was also surfing, like a surfing discovery lesson with the local surfing instructors, just like all of the really fun things that make Surfside fun. The reason for me personally was to not do it on Sunday was the transition time I think would be really difficult with the furniture and setup of the stage and all of that to go from those activities during the day to Sunday. And Sunday also, I think we would have to start a little earlier than I would have started on Saturday if it's a night event.

So the Saturday, we can't do the family stuff on Sunday and the party on Saturday night?

No, because of the kosher food. Because of the kosher food. Because they can't get there and prepare and do everything they need to do on Saturday. For the kosher food? For the kosher food, yeah. So the question is what would be better? I feel like what I would love to see, but this isn't me. So this would be something that would be to have to do something like partner with Plastic Fisherman and have him do his event on Sunday, like a cleanup of some sort. So we could incorporate, but that's not part of what I budgeted for, so I don't know. Is the party part also by the beach? Is everything in the same beach area? Yes.

But the activity, oh, where we had the Singer Fest.

Yeah, look here.

I had... Yeah, so there's also, I can go back.

I'm gonna make this full screen. So also in the garden, we were gonna have

activity stations, so like there's food, and then there's also music, a DJ, like a hair braiding station, face painting.

Sorry, because I really got distracted.

Okay.

Sorry. Can you outline again Saturday so we all understand and she can get clarified what's happening on Saturday and what's happening on Sunday, and each activity that is going on so we are all on the same page. And if you go to this page, I think that's it. Everything is here. Okay.

Yeah, what time does it start and I didn't I didn't like actually put times for a schedule I'm thinking like my idea would be like 10 to 12 ish do Do the sand sculpture workshop in the afternoon to the discovery mermaiding also the mermaiding at the pool, surfing on the beach. And then in between them, the garden space, there's food, there's more family style. So there's not going to be butler service. This is going to be more kid-friendly finger foods. veggies and fruit skewers and things like that. So that would be Saturday. And then in the evening, when the and this is actually the full moon, like there will be a almost simply like 90 something 98% full, we would have a yoga and sound bath on the beach. And the difference in pricing for that is just like how much props can we supply people? What are we asking the yoga instructor to bring? I don't know what turnout might look like for some of this. So that's something to think about.

So the food that day for how many people are you?

150 is what I, yeah.

For Saturday?

For Saturday. For Saturday, garden afternoon, yeah.

because it's more beach food and that kind of stuff for everyone yes yeah so and how you put it in the other slide that you put the price that all that that you are putting all the parties i want to understand you say that you have a budget for 90 000 if we do what or if no goes into other amounts so um so what's the difference between one and the other yeah okay

So the differences are, for example, like in each one, there's a little bit of a difference. So sand sculpting workshop would be, the minimum would be for 50 people. If you want to go higher than that, like the higher number of people who could participate, that's that difference. The mermaiding classes, it's just making, adding in more, like I think I have two hours right now, would be three hours. And that would not be all for the same scheduling groups and they could do it in smaller 20 to 30 minute segments. It's just whether more people could participate. There's also the photography. The higher end would have a photo backdrop. Um, like that we, we, we would have somebody designed to like, you know, I'm picturing like live mermaid on a clamshell kind of thing that we could do pictures of, but we can do a photo. I mean, we can also just do like a photo booth kind of thing or photographer. Um, the, let's see. And then with the, with the, um, the snow moon, with the soiree part, um, the, the, um, It's really elevating the furniture. What I would love to see is more like a Tulum-type style on the beach. It's expensive. So the lower end is going to be a little more basic, and the upper end is going to have more. Also, the live entertainers are expensive. So there's just, there would be less of them. There would be like, let me see. For the fire dancers, I did one, like one fire dancer is $650. So, yeah, I mean, they bring a, yeah, they bring a... like a safety person with them. They have their own insurance. So it does like, it includes a lot of stuff for that. Um, and then the mermaids are, I think I, um, the lower end would be for three live mermaids. Um, when people are coming in that they can take pictures with, um, there would be more mermaids, um, maybe also like on the beach I was picturing. So, um, with the music, um, The renting all of the equipment is very expensive. So it's a difference in the stage and also a difference between a five-member band and a six-member band. Let's see. Oh, I was, I took away the, there's a, I was thinking we could give away these solar lanterns that I love for the beach. They're like amazing people. When they see them, they like go crazy and they love them. And we could order them in bulk and do a giveaway with those, but it's expensive. So, you know, if you went like the lower end, we can, you know, have to do that. The upper end would be including that. I have a question.

I'm, yeah. Is there a way, because I'm not the biggest spender, as you guys know. Is there a way to, this is an amazing thing. Is there a way to make this a one-day event that's really great on Sunday? I'm concerned about excluding a large part of the town on a very expensive event when we can do everything. We can make two events for that. for the same money. In other words, we could do like that all day Sunday thing with the events going into a nice thing, keep it closer to like 80 or something, which is a lot for a day, and then have a second event later on that could be more just an upscale night kind of a thing.

Sorry?

No, it doesn't, what I'm saying is instead of spending.

You have to speak here, you are going to speak.

you want to make a comment may i finish eliana with oh so what i was suggesting is that because the numbers are so big and this is very expensive and half of this event is essentially not going to be able to be attended by a large percent of the residents my aside from you know being concerned about spending so much money on one event, even though it is two days, is that it's a lot of money on an event that a lot of people won't be able to attend. I would love, if it's possible, to do Sunday, a one-day amazing event with a lot of the stuff, and then you could also, as part two, we could put on the calendar another event where it's more of that upscale-y, dinner-y, fancy-pantsy thing. So we could have like a two-day for the same money, in other words, we could have everyone participate this time and have everyone participate next time without you having to break down all the stuff and everything else.

So you would do two different weekends? Yeah, completely. In other words, this event, this is just me, I guess I'm one person.

I'm one person, but I'm just seeing, we scale back the budget and we do it in one day on Sunday and we do all of this, as much as you can to make this a really great event that's inclusive for everyone in town. And then another concept would be a different unrelated theme or whatever it is that you pick for a different weekend, again on a Sunday, so that we can have everyone participate. Because we're coming, I don't want to, you know, anyway, those are my thoughts.

Yeah. Sure. I think if I'm not misunderstood, we were planning, a festival weekend, right? So people, tourism, everyone will get to know. This weekend happens in Surfside every year, blah, blah, blah. So if we separate this, it's not a today weekend festival.

But it's not a holiday weekend. It's not a holiday weekend. We're not likely to have tourists coming for that. It's right after. There's a week called Yeshiva Week where everyone comes down from New York. That's two weeks before that. So that weekend of the, you know, that yeshiva week, for example, is the... No, I know, but I'm just saying that's a known vacation time. There's not a vacation time that people, there's not like a three-day weekend there where people level off and they're going to be coming down.

I mean, I would say the counter to that would be that we're not competing with a bunch of other events. Sure, but I don't know that tourists...

It's a great date. I love it. The question... It's season. It's your... end of January through March is busy. Every single weekend.

And then can I ask a question also? So like what parts could people not participate in?

They're not going to be able to go to pretty much anything with music, live music. The live music with electricity, the making sand sculptures they're not allowed to do, they're not allowed to swim, they're not allowed to do anything pretty much. Like anyone who's really observant in the community is not going to do anything there except stand around complaining that why did they have this on Saturday and we can't do it and the kids are going to go, Mom, I want to do it. But that was their choice not to come. And the more inclusive we can be, the more likely they are. If we advertise it properly, I think we would have had a lot better turnout for the Singer Up thing had there been better communication with the different, you know, I didn't even know what to expect. Now we know what to expect. That's just also because of the money, it would also shrink the budget for this one day and then we can do a separate, another one. What if there's a weather issue or whatever it is that weekend, the whole thing sucks as opposed to half of it being bad. Like if we have a cold front and it's 40 out or 50.

Okay, I want to make a comment. I think... PB, Lupita D Montoya, A that's why I was thinking to know what is the 90,000 or 90,000 120,000 that weekend will be. Anyway, if we're going to upscale, will be more money, right, in the same weekend. Because I think to save money, like Eliana mentioned, if we're going to do another event, another time anyway, we're going to spend the money. It's gonna be more expensive. I would like to suggest maybe, because we are not deciding yet, I would like to suggest to do maybe not that many hours instead to increase, the many more hours for school, to be in the left side, because you have a big variety of beautiful activities for everyone, and some people will be doing something, some people will be doing another. I mean, to keep it like we decide before, like in a weekend, in two days, that you don't have to do another day, because I think at the end of the day, we're going to pay more, because we want something nice, is going to be like that. In other way, Ileana, if we do the same that is planned, but with this budget more to the left side than to the big side, right? To the right, more to the 90 than to go to the other one, with less time, I think would be better than instead to divide to do two events. I don't know what you think about it.

May I? Yes. I think today we're voting on the budget, not in changing the event. We already approved the event on the last commission meeting. So I don't know why are we discussing again changing the event that you unfortunately were not here. We're not changing that. No, I know.

That was already approved. So my flight got canceled. Watch the meeting. There were three people here. She voted no. You voted no. Diana. I thought Diana voted no.

I wasn't here.

No, we voted yes for the two days event, and we voted between the 80,000 and 150 in that budget, but we never say that we will be spending the whole money, okay? And that is why it's the clarification. If we stay in the 90 around this budget that we had before, Because it's how we bought that, because we were moving in the right, you were presenting something around $80,000 on something that will depend on all these things, the scope that she's presenting. And we can still discuss that. Let's not change the two days event that is already planned. But at least we can organize this part of the money, I agree, okay? and then everyone is kind of happy. I know she's very professional. She's going to try to do the best.

No, she does a great event. My concern, again, is that we're excluding a large portion of the community at a time when we want to be inclusive as possible, going into, I don't want to say the words, but election season. I just want to be as inclusive as possible.

Well, we did it exactly because we don't want

Through the chair, through the chair. And I think, you know, board members making a good point, and obviously this is all up for your consideration, but just as a counter, I mean, I would mention that the idea behind this signature event, and I think, you know, this was board member Clara's idea, and I think the impetus behind it was to really establish a weekend that would be a signature weekend in Surfside, and that's to the public, you know, to tourists at large and the broader So I think, you know, to the extent that every single event that we do has to, you know, work perfectly for every side of the community, you know, that's something for you to think about. But the idea behind this was to really, you know, create this magnificent big two-day weekend festival that over time, you know, the hotels and the tourism industry and the local community is going to say, hey, it's that, you know, signature Surfside weekend, the snow moon thing is coming up. and to really establish it. But you know, if you,

Madam Chair, if I may as well. Sure. I believe at the last committee meeting, the ideal in switching the party was to move all the day events into Sunday so that the nighttime party also would be at night on a Saturday because having a nighttime party on Sunday, a lot less people would come out because there's work on Monday. It's not typically seen as a party type of atmosphere. And so having that on a Saturday, sorry, having that on a Saturday, um, kind of aligns a little bit better. It would be nighttime. And I think the idea was a little bit closer to eight or nine o'clock as a start off. So that would give more of the community an opportunity to come out, um, at night and then Sunday, correct me if I'm wrong, because I think you were part of the conversation of how to do on that flip, is to move all of those daytime activities to the Sunday throughout the time, and then the Mermaid classes, because they're broken up in 30 minutes, those who do go to worship on a Sunday, they could plan a different hour um in the day to be able to do so there was that kind of initial conversation after the event was kind of um approved it was just to kind of swap the initial idea of those days to make it more um accessible to the community at large and and i will tell you I've had a conversation on something else with the Four Seasons, and when I brought up that this was being considered, they were ecstatic and were thinking, we'd love to have a sand sculpture with our logo and things like that. And seeing how this can develop into eventually almost them having a... VIP experience that they would do, right? But they first want to see how this kind of grows a little bit. So they're ecstatic for the opportunity as well to start kind of incorporating that and being part of this as well.

Okay, so Sunday, so we're on the same page then. My only feedback was let's keep the events on Sunday and let's find a kosher caterer that can do Saturday night because there are plenty of parties and events that are kosher on Saturday night. It may not be your particular vendor. You may have to find a different vendor. But they have events. Shabbos ends pretty early. In January, I like it. I think 5 o'clock. It's over by 5. So that should be enough time, especially if the party's not starting until, what time did you say, 8 or something?

I mean, it's up to debate.

Okay, 7 or 8. So I think that is a better, I would feel more comfortable with that. That was my only concern, is that I don't, you know, if we can have all the events on Sunday, like I guess originally... And then the party on Saturday night, that also makes more sense for people going to the party.

That would be a compromise. I mean, the night, the party at night, we were thinking more for adults, like the night anniversary, not for kids, not for nothing like that. Because the people really enjoy the night anniversary.

But we did so Saturday night alone with other kids, and I would just caution as we're looking at the budget, the food service, if if this is an adult party in which we're anticipating adult beverages, not having food that can be eaten. may cause a little bit of concern with people drinking too much and not having anything in their stomach and then being intoxicated a lot more. So when you're able to eat and you're able to drink, it kind of slows that process down.

Yeah, we would have both. I definitely have food on whichever night. The party night, there's food. And I changed the menu a little bit because sushi turned out to be so expensive.

Can we do the party on Saturday night and the events on Sunday?

I mean, I, I'm open to it. The, the vendor, I, I have was talking to two different vendors and both of them said no. So I'm a little, I'm an, I'm nervous to commit to it. Um, like without being able to, cause I don't have them, like I can't give people a deposit right now. I'm nervous to commit, um, without having a kosher vendor.

I think there's, for sure, because I go to parties a lot, and my mother does, and my family does, Saturday night is a typical, you'll be able to find a kosher vendor.

I mean, it's up to you, but I, like, this is, so the vendors I talk to, this is based on those numbers, so I just, I don't want to have, I don't want to keep coming back to you with a different budget or whatever, so, you know, I just want to make sure that whatever we're doing, we can move forward, because it's actually two months from today, so. But I'm open to, like, I definitely, I think we should be as inclusive as possible. And that was the reason for switching the days. And then when I talked to the kosher vendors and they were like, no, I was switching it back. So I was trying to...

Through the chair. So, I mean, I think we all agree that ideally, if we could have the party on Saturday night, it would be the best because, you know, if we could find a good kosher caterer, I think, you know, your apprehension is what if I don't find a good kosher? kosher vendor or what if their numbers are prohibitive um and we don't have a lot of time because we're at two months so because these decisions need to be made at public meetings you know i'm nervous that we're gonna give her an assignment that she can't report on until one month from now and then we have a really short window so well i don't think we have to wait for the public meeting if we

She'll be able to find one, or if she can't, then she can let you know right away.

I guess, yeah, we need to talk about what if you can't find a good coaster vendor for that night, or what if the price is prohibitive? What then?

It's going to be the same pricing regardless of what night it is. It's the same food.

No, because vendor...

But they're not the ones...

Okay, we need to, what about if we come with, go Judy, make your comment.

Okay, yeah, my recommendation will be First, to vote on what side of the budget we want to. Our acting town manager, he just mentioned if maybe the hotels would love to engage, because they want really something upscale. I think if we go for the lower budget, when we just have one dancer instead of two dancers, which two dancers is more impressive. If we have two castles instead of three or four castles, then maybe we can get more sponsorship from the hotels and make it better. If we really tighten the budget for something that she cannot create that much, we are kicking that maybe expectancy these big hotels want from us. We should, I think, since this is our first event, we should go for the best, not for the least, especially if we have the money. I mean, we are not a small... town that we are counting our dimes. We don't even have a microphone. So I think we should think that way. When our acting town managers start talking, and then I realized, I said, that's what we wanted since the beginning. So why to go to the lower money, to the lower, if we can create something really big, beautiful, notorious that we can then be proud of. And for the case that in case she doesn't find the vendor, I think we can Or maybe she finds one that is more expensive. I don't know if they charge more because they have to work on Saturday. I don't have an idea. It's not my expertise, but maybe we can give a range for that food if we don't find it. Say, okay, if that's the case, or we change, but she has to come back with us, and then the rest of things, plan them accordingly as we have already scheduled.

I would like to say that, I mean, 90,000 is not cheap budget anyway. I mean, most of the events that we pay is 30,000. We have been paying 30,000 per event, per day, and for hours with food, music, and live, and everything. I mean, 90,000 is not that bad. I mean, the problem is that, remember for the 90th anniversary, we were checking with that time with a budget also was kind of the problem that we have for that. And it was really good what happened with the $90,000 that we spent for that, right? Or we spent less than $90,000. $90,000, no? Or a little bit?

Yeah, a little bit less.

Yeah, a little bit less. But we did really a great, amazing event. And it was just one day. I agree. But at least, I mean, I would like to say all these activities that each is showing here is not that bad. I think it's going to be amazing. It's completely new because we have known that before. And I think we can consider that if we are going to keep for the two days.

Through the Chair, just to get back on track, and I think you were getting there, but I think maybe the easiest thing is for you all to set a number, you know, and not to exceed number for this contract because we do need to start drafting the contract ASAP because she has to do deposits and we can't pay her until all of that is ready. And then we will take your recommendation on the Saturday night party and the food vendor. We will work together this week as much as possible to do all of that outreach. If for some reason we can't, You know, we'll figure it out. I will reach out to you individually or we'll set up a special meeting. You know, I'll talk to our acting manager. We'll think of what to do if we can't find the coaster vendor. But I think that's probably the easiest way to go about it now is to set that not to exceed number, to have us work on the food and hope for the best.

I think Sarah List knows Polykosher Caterers and stuff. I would talk to her. There's got to be. I mean, I've got to so many.

I was asking her about trying to collaborate on the beach furniture, too. So I was trying to think of what is the cheapest thing I could do that is also something that I would be proud of. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I think also through the chair, when you mentioned the other events, this is a completely different event. For example, if I see here just the sand sculptures, how expensive the sand sculptures are because these are art. But we have it done with 90,000. I know, but we have only two sand sculptures or three sand sculptures when two hours is like. No, no, no, no. That's the activity of creating, not the sand sculpture by itself. The sand sculptures are like 2,000 to 3,000. It's two completely different things. One is like the learning experience, but the other is the sculpture itself, which is very expensive. It's almost $30,000 only for the sculpture. You could get those sponsored, though. Those elements with the other events. And that's what is making really important for the hotels, because this thing, like if you travel around the world and you see all over the world, There are festivals for that type of sculptures. I only saw it once here when the Turkish Airlines, I don't know how many years ago, brought them to Key Biscayne and it was like, sponsored by Liqueurs and the airlines, because it's expensive to create that, and it's a very artistic, beautiful thing, and if we want to create something around of what is valuable for us as a town, as tourists, it's the beach. So we are selling our, you know.

I have a question for the manager, for the chair. The re-nourishment of the beach, when is that gonna be over, and how does that impact this at all?

It doesn't impact this event at all. It should be completed by December 23rd.

Okay, great.

And just, I mean, I thought of this idea because my kids loved, in Bell Harbor, they did a commercial like 10 years ago and there was like all of these sand sculptures and they were amazing. Everybody was like, there were so many people, people taking pictures. It was for a commercial. It wasn't even an event. And then there are these sand sculpting festivals all over the world where they, but then you're talking, like, that would be the long-term vision. Like, we start getting sponsors, and then lots of people are coming in, and it takes over, like, a large space. And it's like an open-air art gallery. It's very cool. But for the first one, you know, it's just to kind of see, like, you know, do people love this?

Then we can make it better, yeah. Well, I think that right now we are still with a month, right? With a plan that he proposed.

Yeah, so I'm okay spending money as long as it's, for me, that we have the events on Sunday and the party on Saturday night, because that way we're not excluding anybody. I just don't want the, you know, I just want it to be as, what? Yeah, I don't want the, it's just not worth it for any complaints, and it should be as many people as possible, whether they're tourists or residents or whoever, it should be everyone should be able to come. to do those events. And I think a Saturday night party is more fun too. Listen, the money part of this makes me break out in hives. Okay, but you guys seem to think that those numbers are normal, so I'll just go along with it.

No, no, no, because we didn't vote for the money, right? Well, the bottom end is like 80 grand.

The bottom end is 80 grand, right?

90.

90, okay, so the bottom end is 90, and the high end is 120? No, 121.

They brought that down a lot.

For two days, so...

Yeah. No, it's 150 here. It was in the first one. In the first one, I, because I was, so I, you know, I tried to work with the budget to bring it down, and I mean, yeah, there are things that surprised me as far as how expensive they are, so I hear you, but.

So the high end is 120 and the low end is 90 for two days. Yeah. We don't have pool lights. We don't have a speaker.

Through the Chair, I mean, the request was a wow factor, big, two-day, never-done-before event.

I know, it wasn't my request, but okay. How about we just give cash, just give out cash?

Okay. Okay. Everyone gets 100 bucks, we can give 100. Could you repeat, everyone, what would be the plan that we know? Sure, so I think... It is on Saturday that she mentioned, and then I think, I hope that... You can make it, find it. I think I saw people selling things kosher at night, Saturday night. It's true.

It was just the vendor, like, because we expected to come and, like, set up and do the whole thing.

So I'll just, I'll find, yeah.

We're going to try, yeah, our hardest.

Even if you got, you know, delivered food, like from the kosher restaurants. Yeah.

that's fine well and that's what i ended up doing for singer fest is that they delivered it and we had other people serve right yeah you could do that she had to prep everything like she had to do all that work and i don't know so i just don't know how that i don't know they do it they prep it on friday and then it's even the same food that you present for singer for the kosher people yeah i mean they love it I don't, but the Polish, the pierogi. Yeah, I know. It was filling. Snow moon pierogis.

Okay. Frank, say again, just to clarify, Ileana. He's going to say, and then we decide if we do that or we don't.

So I think we just need the not to exceed number. You know, we're clear on the preference about the date and the party and the food. So it's just the number that you're comfortable not exceeding.

20 bucks? I'm just kidding.

But, okay, the money would be. So from the range, so starting at. Between just 90 or 120. I mean, 100.

No, or you can say 100, you could say 97, just 90.

Right, 100, I'll throw it out there, 100.

No, but. Do you need to do this the right way the first time, and then next time, for next year, we can make, if we're even on the board, can make decisions, you know, make adjustments, but I think if you're gonna do the first time and try and make it nice to be something to build on, I say you go with the top end as the max.

Yeah, 120. Yeah, 120.

121, whatever it has to be.

But you need to tell us.

It's not between 100 and 105 or 91 or 92. Because with 90, we receive this. With 120, we receive that. If we put in 10,000 more or 5,000, you are gonna be telling us what you are going to do, right?

I would, I mean, if you do that, I'll work with Frank to figure out which ones we want to eliminate.

And I guess for me, like the sands filter specifically, it's not, I don't know where it is. It's here very clearly. It's up to 27,000. Yeah. You said maybe three, maybe two. So maybe do one really beautiful sculpture that's going to stay up for the daytime and the evening. And then next year, maybe we can do two. I think those are places where I could see that being, and maybe the Four Seasons wants to do their own. I think so.

Yeah. So we could go to the, because part of this also, I wanted to do little cocktail kits for the hotels to try and get them to promote it, like to promote the little, the signature cocktail. and that we can work with them on that. What's a signature cocktail? So, wait, where is it? We're going to create one. Yeah, we're going to create one. The two ideas that I talked to the vendor we have for the bar, that cute little vintage-looking thing, she worked with me to come up with these. So one is like a Hugo Spritz sort of thing, but we would add the iridescent edible powder so it makes it look like the sort of on theme with the snow moon thing that I was thinking, or we could do a lychee liqueur with Prosecco and have a lychee fruit that looks like a moon kind of garnish, and then also have a mocktail version.

I feel like the hotel should just want to do that. We shouldn't have to pay them to do that. Is that what you're saying? A cocktail kit?

No. I'm just saying, no. I have seen where they have a cute little recipe card, and you give them a few garnishes, and then it gives you an opportunity to go in and talk to them, and then they promote your event. What about the Surfside? It's like Hugo Spritz. They already have that. They'd just be giving them some powder to add to it. There's a drink company that already makes a drink called Surfside.

Yes, I've seen that. Why don't we just have them sponsor this and serve those?

I think we have to work. I talked to Mario about that with Frank. We need to work also with the hotels more because the hotels have some responsibility here, actually. And I talked to Frank, and I told him I attend that Christmas lighting celebration in Val Harbor, and St. Regis gave us a finest champagne and everything that they had there as part of, they were participating, you know? I think they should be doing more of that, We have the budget that they pay the taxes, I understand that, but it's something to promote them. Themselves, yes. To promote themselves. And always, we are really, when we do inside, in-house, we are really very limited with the budget. No, we don't do this, we don't do that. But then, that is why we don't have a good microphone, we don't have a good system, because when we do, remember the Christmas party, we did it with $1,000, guys. And we are here spending $120, you don't have any problem with that.

I have a problem with it.

No, I mean, not for you, okay, sorry. But what I'm trying to say, we need to be more strategic to decide to find a way to do that nice and good and to keep our own stuff that we have at home, at the source site. I have a problem with spending this kind of money, yeah. Okay, so we need to decide finally. Okay, we're going to be in the 90 or in the 120, and we're going to vote for that. I think that we are stuck. Otherwise, we're going to be- So I suggested 100.

Huh? I suggested 100.

No, there is no 100. It's 90 or 120, right? No, I could- I mean- What?

Look, I will work with you with whatever you want to do, and if you do 100, I will do the baseline that we talked about, and then I would, I don't know that we can do another meeting, so I would.

No, we want you to give you the time, because if you wait for other meeting, you are going to have less time. Like she was suggesting, Cynthia was telling me, maybe you can do just this instead of that, or something like that.

But she said if she can do it for 90, she can do it for 100.

Yeah, through the chair, as she mentioned, she can do any budget within that range. So as she said, the difference will come down to entertainment elements like how many fire dancers, how many sculptures, how many live mermaids are around. So say if you approve 90, it might be two mermaids. If you approve 100, it might be three. If you do 120, it might be five. So, you know, if you want to go with $100,000, rest assured you'll get $10,000 worth more stuff than the baseline, and we'll work together in identifying what makes the most sense for that $10,000. Or you can just, you know, keep it at $90,000 or go to $120,000, but you can't do the middle somewhere.

So the $100,000 would give you the $90,000, but with the areas that you need to put more money into, some slush money to make it.

What is the middle between 90, what's the number? 90 and 120.

90 and something, could you put that chart again? Oh, I'm sorry, yeah. Yeah, 90 and 120.

What's the middle? Like 105. 105. Yeah, let's do 105.

And do we need a giveaway? Because that's like an easy cut. Do we need a giveaway? Because to me that's like a very easy.

So the low end was no giveaway. Yeah, but if we make it a one of five, maybe we can bring back the giveaway. Or we can do a limited number, a limited edition. I don't know.

Do you have something for giveaways? Okay.

Okay. We have two propositions, 100 and 105. Okay. whatever, we're going to decide from there, right?

Well, what about $105,000 on giveaway? Yeah. About $105,000 to spend on a nice giveaway.

Mm-hmm.

Can we do that?

Yeah.

Because the giveaway is going to be what they remember.

Yes.

Okay, it's important. More important than a signature cocktail that they won't remember the next morning.

Tell me more about how you, $100,000?

$100,000 and $5,000 to do $100,000.

And $5,000 of a giveaway to buy a nice giveaway.

The laundry that you mentioned that we don't have it in the lower end because they are expensive. With 105, we will have 10,000 for additional that Frank will decide which is better and the giveaway. Right.

The giveaway, we need to be, I mean, sometimes to be giving things that are not worth it that people throw away anyway.

No, no, no. We'll do a nice giveaway.

That giveaway that she mentioned, I think it's fabulous. What did you mention? Again.

I should, maybe I can bring up a picture.

Something you can put in your porch or just like.

Yeah, like a solar, like an eco-friendly solar lantern, like something that people could actually use. It recharges with the sun. And it's a solar.

I was thinking more like something that people can use and take around and promote the town with.

Like the beach bag or the, like a nice one.

Yeah, but the nice one's really, like I love, this thing, I get compliments on this everywhere. Everyone loves this, but no, a nicer bag, like a shoulder bag. A tote, a tote, a tote, yeah. That's gonna have the date on it and the surf site on it.

Well, that is why we need to decide, what about we decide first?

The budget.

The budget, and then we decide the giveaways idea because otherwise we won't stay. We have different opinions about it.

Right.

No, I mean. Yes. Who want to make the proposition for, because I cannot do that.

I'll let Judy go ahead. I'll make a motion to vote for the $105,000 budget with giveaway.

The $5,000 is the giveaway and $100 is the event. I'll second that.

OK. Board Member Callaway?

Yes.

Board Member Salazar? Yes. Last Chair Martinez? Yes. Chair Gonzales? Yes. Motion carries.

If you want help with the hotels, a few of them are my customers. I'm happy to talk to them and pitch. Frank, if there's anyone at the Four Seasons that you've been talking to?

I know the whole team there, but food and beverage, PR.

But something, because she said different things that she knows that people know.

We'll chat. Maybe you know somebody I don't.

And the events will be Sunday and Saturday will be the party. Yes.

We're going to work towards that. I know another kosher caterer as well through the memorial committee, so we'll reach out.

Okay. Tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah. And let us know. You can send us how it's going to be at the end. Yeah. meet together again because we don't have that time.

I'll give you an update via email, yes.

We didn't want to tell you until January and then you have less time. That is why it's in a hurry. It's actually for you.

Actually, everything is going up so you have to secure that.

That is why you have to do that and try to take advantage of all these cyber things.

Cyber sales. It's all shop right now. Yeah, exactly.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Okay, let's go to the 7C, tree lighting ceremony. Yay. See, what I'm telling you is you are going to see what we did with like $1,000, and then you're going to expect a lot of stuff, and then we authorized very cheap money.

You should be doing all the parties.

Huh? You should be doing all the parties. Yeah. No, but believe me. Okay, Frank, go ahead.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. So, you know, we've been working together a little bit on this event, which is Sunday night. We are excited. Obviously, the Christmas tree has been installed, and we will make sure the lighting is good to go for Sunday night. It looks really nice, and they were able to do, you know, install the other areas. By the way, just because we talked about it the last time, we weren't able to get power to the monument sign on 96th Street. There's definitely something... heavy duty going on there that they have to work out with Ball Harbor. And I don't know if it's FPL, but they're going to look into that for next year. We were able to do a workaround to get the palm tree on 96th Street lit up. So that is installed. And then we did do the turtle lighting at 87th and Byron. But the event is shaping up nicely for Sunday. Through Chair Gonzalez's help, we've, I'm pretty sure, been able to secure a choir that performs at Ruth Kay, Ruth Kay Broad. So we are hopeful that we're going to be able to get about 20 of the choir members to come out and perform for us. which should be very nice. So, you know, we'll be setting them up there on the stairs. I did get a couple of requests from board members at Singer Fest to have the big inflatable screen available at this event with maybe like the Nutcracker playing in the back, which is a nice idea. Unfortunately, I asked the Parks and Rec team and that screen cannot be installed on hard surface, so it has to be on grass or something soft. So we can't put it up on the street and in the parking lot, but now we know. So we do have the music covered. We were able to go out and buy some decorations for some holiday things. These are things that we'll be able to keep in-house and use year over year, decorative elements, and we have like a mailbox for Santa's letters and things like that. We've got Santa Claus ready to go as well. So I think it's shaping up nicely. We talked about the speaker. So I'm going to definitely purchase the speaker and the mic so that we can do a nice speech and announcement and wish everybody happy holidays at the event. But essentially, I think we're looking good. We're looking good.

Were we able to secure, sorry, the Santa, the chocolate, all that?

Yes, we bought an urn to do the hot chocolate ourselves. So we're buying everything and we're going to set up a cute station.

That the town can keep that.

Yeah, we'll keep this urn to use year over year and we'll enlist our volunteers, maybe teen volunteers to help distribute that. We're going to set up the nice table full of treats and sweets and goodies.

But the chocolate need to be, you know, the kids, maybe some adults that we are going to find. One of the neighbors say that she can help us, I hope.

I can help.

Oh, okay. Yeah, because the chocolate, I don't know where we're going to find the churros. Some people suggest churros, but I don't know.

Manolos. Manolos?

It's very expensive. Manolos is $2 for each churro.

Because that kind of children that are filled with something. Maybe we can ask them to do the... I'm going to call tomorrow and ask them if they can do the... Yeah, something that's simple.

The simple will be the simple thing. But we're going to have other stuff. Frank did a list of all the things that we did last year. Remember cookies? Well, the chocolate itself is coming with a lot of things, the cream, the chocolate chips, the la-la-la, that people like to the top in the bar, the chocolate bar, the toppings. But I don't know if we will be giving the churros if we don't find a good price for that because it needs to be a lot of churros. But I can ask.

Yeah. If not, that's something I think we could make better next year. Yeah. You know, a better plan for it because it's next week.

And then Chair Gonzalez mentioned that at the Ball Harbour holiday event, there was some kind of a champagne station or something sponsored by one of the hotels. You know, that's something we can ask. You know, we hadn't planned for that. We can reach out to our hotel partners, see if anybody is interested. It is short notice and it is our Basel week, so I just wanna say, I don't know if we're gonna get them to engage this quickly, but it's a nice idea. If you like that approach, we can certainly try the hotel outreach. And then if you are really keen on that as plan B, if we aren't able to secure the hotels, you can decide if you wanna buy some champagne for the adults.

Or at least some prosecco. I wonder if all the members agree, because remember, all the people are always asking for prosecco, some drinks or something, not just everyone wants chocolate. If everyone agrees that we can authorize Frank to buy, if we don't find it with the hotels, at least with...

Okay, I'll make a motion to... talk to the hotels if it's possible to sponsor for some champagne, or if not, to allow the amount of those people?

Thank you, because I'm not the best at estimating drinks. But I think we're 150 is kind of what we're thinking. I think we had about 100 last year. So we're thinking we're going to get more people.

$1,000? Because then some people line up.

I don't know. There's bottles about five or six, six probably per bottle.

Yeah, six per bottle.

And it depends on what you're buying. I mean, Prosecco.

Yeah. Well, Costco has very good price.

Costco has very good price.

I think I saw like $10 on Costco. I mean, there might be more.

Yeah.

Others?

We saw in Costco from $10 Prosecco. I mean, I don't think it's too bad.

It wouldn't be over without, it's like 500 bucks. I don't think you go too far over.

$750.

Yeah, if you can do sparkling like Chandon, it would be nice. It feels like junk.

What about if you change to even until $1,000 in case? Because what I'm telling you, for our in-house events, we are very cheap. And then for the vendors, we are giving up. And also, yeah. OK, let me finish there.

And you'll need glassware, like plastic cups or something. Compost. Tossware.

I'm sorry, not plastic.

Whatever you got.

You can ask shadow for compostable if you don't get it right okay compostable You need to buy also the compostable and for hot chocolate because it's not that white the white material Okay, yeah, I guess I'll make a motion I

to add up to $1,000 to spend on bring this on the holiday Christmas tree events or talk to the hotel, whatever comes best for the event.

Okay.

I'll second the motion.

Board Member McHalloway?

Yes.

Board Member Rosado-Sauer?

Yes.

Vice Chair Martinez? Yes. Chair Gonzales? Yes. Motion carries.

And also about the Christmas lighting, talking about how bad our microphone system is, we decided that the town needs to buy something good that we can use all the events because parks and recreation. He says he's buying it today. He's going to buy it, right? Yes, I'm going to buy it today. We don't have to authorize that? We don't have to authorize for that money?

No, as long as there's consensus. I mean, I am going to get the best, you know, the loudest single speaker, but just to be clear, it's just the single speaker and the mic, so this won't, be like a sound system for music at Third Thursdays. This is for.

That one that's the water resistant. Water resistant, exactly.

Yeah, if I can find it.

And at least three microphones or something, because if you just buy one, I mean, just right now do a good.

You want to sing at the same time?

Yeah, karaoke night. We're going to carol.

You want to harmonize? Okay. We'll get additional mics in case multiple members want to speak.

Through the chair, regarding lighting, I passed, if I don't recall that, I don't know if it was last night or previous night, I was coming from north to south. I think so, yeah. It was coming through Harding and I saw like one of the, there's a turtle there, right? That it was not littered. It was only one litter and the other one was not.

So on the, where like grandsons and CVSs, like on the northern?

Yes.

Okay. Was it the one by grandsons closer to the beach? No. There's one that we always have problems with. The other one. The other one? Okay. All right. We'll reach out to make sure they check it. Thank you.

And also for the food, you're going to buy something salty and all the candies because Santa is bringing the candy.

Candy canes, yes. But we're going to get chocolates, cookies, yes, a lot of treats, and then I think some cheese maybe and charcuterie. Yes.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because people don't want, not everyone wants sweets.

Sweets, yeah, I understand.

I have an idea. Yeah, sure. Tequeños, have you heard about Tequeños? Yes. What? Tequeños, Phil, it's a dough filled with cheese that it serves warm. I know the distributor in 150-something where you can get like a big box of things. Okay.

Okay, maybe we can get that, sure. Yeah, that would be a nice.

Yeah, yeah, but this is gonna be warm. Yeah, yeah, no, it's a sense, like substantial. Yeah. And also, when we were looking for music, I don't know if we want to go upscale, but I find the guys who play violin, I don't know if it's going to be the music. You are going to have the music with the thing that you are buying, right? So music in addition to the choir.

Yeah, so I was thinking for the rest of the time, the choirs and performing, we would just have like holiday music playing through the speaker.

Yeah, okay, because if we want to go, I have a group of... A trio of violinists. A trio that they are playing.

I mean, we could explore that. We won't have, again, like a sound system set up, so if they're loud enough on their own or they have their own thing, I mean, we could explore that, but we would, you know, need to know.

You want, because I was looking for everything, for choir, for music, with everything. I find these guys that are very good, that they are charging $1,500 for an hour for all the playing music. I don't know you want it. What do you think?

Do you want to consider violinist? This is about an hour and a half. I mean, we're not going to kick anybody out, so we don't have to end right at 8. We can go over, but we advertise like 6.30 to 8. I'm fine with that. I'm fine with that. We were going to ask the choir to perform at 7, right, Diana?

Yeah, but they will be singing. 15, 20 minutes, yeah. What time is it? The violinist as well? I think so, we can give it more than six times.

Okay, so if there's consensus, we can book the violinists if they're available.

They are still available.

Yeah, exactly, we'll find out.

Why are we having a violinist?

I thought we have a choir.

Yeah, but the choir is 15 minutes, 20 minutes, the kids.

We're not gonna be playing Christmas music? No?

We're not gonna have a DJ with Christmas music? Yeah, we're going to have that with the kids DJ. No, the kids.

The kids are not going to be playing music, Christmas music?

No, no, they will just sing.

No, but we don't have, if we have a speaker system, why can't we just play Christmas music?

Yeah, we're going to play Christmas music as a background.

So what's the violinist going to do?

Well, it's an addition, it's another addition to the entertainment, to the party.

Another component.

Another component. Okay. Okay. All right, whatever you want. We don't know if they're available.

Okay, I'll make a motion to hire a violets or trio for around $1,500 if available for the Christmas three lighting ceremony.

I'll second the motion.

My apologies, Madam Vice Chair, could you please repeat the amount?

$1,500.

Wait a minute, did we just double the budget from $1,000 to $2,500?

No, no, no, this is for another staff. This is for a group of finance.

No, but what are we spending on this event?

I'll tell you in a second. I'll crunch the numbers. It's not a lot. I'll crunch it for you.

I'm just trying to understand what it is. We are doing everything, saving money.

I just want to know what it is.

Madam Chair, my color roll?

Yes, do a toy drive for sure.

Board Member Calloway?

Do it now. Yes. Board Member Salazar? Hold on, I'm waiting on the numbers. Give me one second.

All right, so right now, probably a couple things I'm not factoring in, but 3,900 is where we're at right now with the violinists included. Yeah, so we're at, and I think you had approved 6,000 maybe last month, so you're still in budget.

Okay, all right. Kids love a violinist. We are keeping everything with us.

I thought this was like a family event.

It's a family event, but why we cannot offer that to the people?

Okay, that's fine. A violinist doesn't really sound like a party to me, but that's fine. Go ahead, yes.

So yes, some well, yes, yes, thank you first year Martinez, yes.

Chair Gonzalez yes motion carries. And then it's that's it nothing else for that OK now we are and I can in there of events.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to put this item on the agenda just as the fiscal year progresses and the event calendar starts to shape up. I just wanted to talk about some of what we have booked and what is coming up and what is still pending. So most of you should have the calendar. If you need a printed copy, let me know. I have extras. But obviously, we have a few things coming up this week, starting with December. Parks does their Winter Wonderland. And obviously, then we have the holidays.

When is the Winter Wonderland?

It's on the 14th.

Oh, December.

December 14th.

The Winter Wonderland. Oh, fun.

And then we move over to January, where we are doing two big events. We're doing our first Thursday of the season.

Is the timing on the Winter Wonderland?

I don't know. It's usually 10 to 1 or 10 to 2.

Are they doing the menorah lighting? Do you know?

The Shoal always does the menorah lighting here outside Town Hall. I think they posted it on the website. I just got back from vacation today, so I don't know it off the top of my head, but I know they responded.

Is Winter Wonderland at the pool or at the park? At the park. At the park, 96th Street Park. No, we had it at the pool one year. Really? Yeah. And is it, well, the park was closed, remember? For a couple years, so we had it at the pool. So now we're back at the park. What time is that run all day?

I think it's 10 to 2.

10 to 1.

Or 10 to 1.

10 to 1. I already saw that in them. We had to read what the time was.

Everything is posted, you know, just like Singer Fest, everything was posted.

And then when is Family Fun Day? Is that January?

Yes, that's in January. So you'll see that in the calendar. That is on the 25th of January, which is... you know, a few weeks apart from our third Thursday, which is good. And then I've, you know, suggested a few dates for the historical walking tours. I'm waiting on the History of Miami Museum to, you know, let me know if those are good, but I figured we would do at least one per month, so I have one in there tentatively. Then if we move ahead to February, which is looking like the busiest month, We've got the second day of Snow Moon Soiree. Again, third Thursdays, you know, the Community Relations Board has an event. Based on the success of last year's film screenings by the ocean, I believe the board wanted to do maybe two film screenings with the Miami Film Festival. And I'm waiting to hear from them, but I floated these dates by them, just trying to hold dates in the calendar so that we don't become too busy.

I have a question. The third Thursday, I don't remember which vendor's doing it.

Javier. Javier's doing it. The night in series. Remember a night in Asia, a night in the Americas.

So that's definitely the 15th. That's, yes. Okay. Yes.

So I have a suggested date there for February. February 15 could be the first film screening. By the way, these could also be done on Saturday nights. I know we prefer Sunday, so I'm putting Sunday. But food for thought, they could be Saturday, maybe, because they're after Shabbat is over. And then I'm suggesting in March a second film screening that could either take place on the 8th or the 15th, again, so that we get two film screenings instead of one. And then we keep our walking tours. Parks has their spring egg hunts. Community Relations Board.

Frank, when they come back, when the Miami Film Festival comes back, confirming the dates, can you also ask them for the movie so we can vote ahead of time? I did, I did.

I said, are these dates good? And please give me a list of film titles so I can bring everything to you at the same time.

Thank you.

And we can pick those because it's also important to advertise the film. That also pulls people in and, you know, the Gazette takes a long time. I have a question.

Sorry, because she was talking about the toy drive. Doesn't the police, the police department does a toy drive, right? Yeah, I believe they do it every year. So why don't, when you send out the reminders about Sunday... for the Christmas thing, can you include in that email to bring a toy for the drive?

Sure, of course, yeah, that's a good tie-in. Yeah, perfect, we'll do. So you can look at what I've suggested here. Then in April, I also held the date for the Miami Jewish Film Festival screening, which was done early in April. So I think maybe April 5th could be that date. And then, of course, we know we're doing the Earth Day Resource Fair and Plastic Fishing Festival on the 19th, right around Earth Day week. And something that's currently kind of hanging that we do need to decide is... When we originally talked about maybe doing Paddletopia combined with something else when we were trying to define what the signature event was going to be, now that we know that's going to be Snow Moon Soiree, we need a date for Paddletopia and Paddle for Plastic, joined with Plastic Fisherman. So my question to you is, would you like to do that in April or in May, which is when we've typically done the Paddletopia? And do you want to do a two-day Paddletopia or a one-day Paddletopia? And then I'll also mention that Vice Mayor Paul mentioned the possibility of doing another anniversary closing event, so I don't know if that's something that you all are interested in, but if so, you know, you have to think of the budget and the dates, so.

I think about the Padultopia, I suggest just one day, because it's too much, two days.

Well, I think the Padultopia, I like it as two days, and it was cheap. She was able to do it for, like, nothing for the two days.

It didn't cost anything else.

What do you mean?

For two days, there are no people who are attending to two days.

Well, through the chair, we're going to combine it with paddle for plastic this year. So just food for thought this year, we'll have another activity, you know, another almost event tied into it. So, you know, that could be the 16th and the 17th of May.

What was the deal with the weather last time? So you wanted to move it earlier? Wasn't that what happened? It was rain and she wanted to move it earlier?

Through the Chair, I think May starts rainy season. Right. So it's due in April. We can still do it on May, but I would rather doing it like the first week of May or the last week of April or first week of May. Maybe the first week because the last week is May 2nd and 3rd.

It's gonna be the spring, yeah. Second and third. May 3rd maybe.

I remember last year was no.

Because we got rained out, that's why.

We have two events. It rained out and also the passing of.

The rabbi.

The rabbi, right. That was the problem. So that was big. Yeah.

So for me, I suggest just one day because we didn't have really, every time is less, less people. And we saw that.

I think we only saw it. We just explained why we saw it. We saw it this year because it rained in the middle of the day. Everyone went home and also the rabbi died that weekend. It was a big deal. It was a once in a lifetime kind of a thing. I think that the budget was super low and she was able to do two days out of it. And we added another tie in with

The plastic fisherman.

The plastic fisherman so that it works for two days.

It wasn't super low, actually. What wasn't super low? It was around $30,000. What? $40,000.

This one is $30,000. $30,000 for... Yeah, $30,000.

Which is fine for the... That's still... Compared to the fact that we just are spending $100,000 on something else, I think the $30,000 is an event that everyone likes. Everyone likes the paddling.

It's something new, but in Topia has been like forever.

But people like it.

Yeah, I know. Well, I wouldn't change it.

Thank you, Cynthia.

Okay. We don't have to decide today.

I disagree, but... Yeah, just food for thought, but it's looking like either the 25th or 26th of April or May 2nd and 3rd.

May 2nd and 3rd is probably better.

If we could keep either of those two, I might be traveling in April, but that would work for me.

For May, we don't have any third Thursday in April.

No, we're doing three this year, January, February, March.

Okay, so what about doing it in April then instead since we don't have anything else in April?

Yeah.

I don't know where Passover is in here and Easter. Where are those days?

Because we have every week event.

We have one event. We have the event on the 19th, Earth Day Resource Fair and Plastic Fishing Festival.

Of April? Yes. No, I have April right here.

19 is Earth Day Resource Fair and Plastic Fishing Festival.

And the film screening on the 5th.

And is that not? The film screening on the 5th. April 5th. Miami Jewish Film Festival screening. We have two events on April. Okay. April 5th. And we don't have events on May, so. Okay, so the first weekend in May? Yes. Okay.

So May 2nd and 3rd. Okay.

I mean, by the way, you can still add some things, you know, if there's money left, you can consider new events, but just trying to, you know, find a place for these events in the calendar.

So May 2nd and 3rd.

May 2nd and 3rd, that works?

Yeah.

Okay. All right.

Okay.

We will plan Paddle for Plastic and Paddletopia May 2nd and 3rd.

We're done with that calendar, right? Yeah, because if we wait too late, it rains all the time. Okay, now go to, we're going to 7E Miami Film Festival. Well, it's related to this, right?

Yeah, I think it's, let me just check.

Yeah, so we basically already talked about it. We'll bring the film titles and confirm dates as soon as possible to the next meeting.

Okay. Okay, and the community center ice machine. I will have to pay now.

Yeah, so this was just a request if we're gonna be doing more events at the community center. It is logistically challenging to have just the one ice machine over here, and I hear it's a little so-so. It doesn't always work great. So for example, for Fourth of July, for Snow Moon Soiree, for Singer Fest, it would be a big help, I'm told, if we could have a good ice machine over on that side. And this is something we can use, you know, for many years. So I figured, you know, maybe we could sponsor it.

Yeah, it's $1,600.

$1,700.

We did shop around for these. So we initially found it for like $2,000. Then we found a much better price.

Probably on sale today.

Probably, yeah.

Put that in the cart.

I can check if it's available. If it's cheaper today, I can buy it today.

Approved.

Yes, yes. Approved. As long as we get out of here before midnight.

to approve midnight in California, by the way. The sales run until Pacific time.

Yeah, but for us, yeah. Okay, but if you can check that, would be great. If you can check that it is something cheaper. Yeah, if there's a... I have new business. Are we up to eight yet? Well, first, excuse me, excuse me. First, why we don't approve that, and then we can... Oh, I thought we just did.

No, I make a motion to approve 7F Community Center Ice Machine.

I second it. Make sure kids can't crawl into it.

Okay, wait, wait.

No.

It's going to be in kind of a staff area. It's not where the whole public is going to be able to use it.

Board Member Salazar? Yes. Vice Chair Martinez? Yes. Chair Gonzalez? Yes. Motion carries.

Okay. Okay, then they will know which place. I mean, I don't think we have to decide what is gonna be. No, we can figure out later, but just make sure kids can't crawl into it.

Yeah, we'll work with the staff and we'll make sure it's safe for kids.

Yeah, because I think we may want the public to be able to use ICE. Okay.

New business.

Okay, I got new business. Madam Chair, I don't have a motion to add any new items.

You have to... Well, it's just under new business, I just want to complain that the new app is horrible. The new Parks and Rec app is a disaster for tourists and for residents. And we need to... It's awful.

Well, why we don't leave it in the nine board member comments?

Sure, we can leave it to board member comments.

Okay, new business, no new business? No new business, ma'am, sure. Now in nine board member comments. Go, Eliana.

Okay, so I already came to the meeting and talked about this. There seems to be a lot, because there's new everything, there's a new manager, there's new parks and rec, there's a new whatever it is, so everyone's kind of taking the approach of it was here when we got here, but it literally was implemented on like the first of whatever, December 1st, like it's when it started. I think you know, right? It is the worst thing I've ever used. I use apps across the country at many gyms, This is like something, some sort of program from 1980 that they couldn't sell. Somebody needs to fix this. It's a really bad reflection on the town because if I showed it to you, you would laugh. There's 10 different steps you have to go through to book a lane. It then produces a receipt as if you've made a major purchase. You have to put it in your cart. You have to confirm that you want to check out. My mother can't work it at all. People give up. Normal people can't work it. I can't work it. It is so frustrating. And it's a, like I said, we spend so much money making this town be like this amazing place. We can't let that be the interface for people trying to use the community. And it says, in the silliest thing, it says court reservation because they, whoever designed this is just as lazy as for tennis lanes instead of swim lanes. This, they had a system, Tim had a great system. It was the SCADA system. It was two seconds, quick, quick, and you could book a thing. Now it's, Insane. So I don't know who I'm supposed to talk to, but since the community, since the tourist board money funds the community center money and the money that's being spent on this stuff, somebody needs to take ownership of it and go, okay, this is a problem and we're going to fix it. So I don't know whether that's the manager, whether that's, it's clearly not the new parks and rec director since he's just like,

Have you mentioned this at the Parks Committee?

I've mentioned this everywhere to Sunday.

I'm working with the Parks Department, taking a look. Typically, anytime you have anything new, there is an adjustment period where people have to get used to how that kind of works. I know that he has also reached out to the app. So we are taking a look and seeing and evaluating, is this something that we can fix or do we need to scrap? But I'm not comfortable just saying we're going to scrap it a couple weeks in. So we are doing that evaluation so that we can make that recommendation whether we need to go back or moving forward. It is one of the most popular apps and brands in the nation for parks and recreation. And so we need to take a look, is there an implementation that we did wrong? Like you mentioned, for tennis courts, yeah, appropriately labeled, but how, and sometimes it's the data that you put in is the data that you get out, right? So we are working through that.

It works well if you were buying or enrolling in a course. It makes sense. There's all of these checks and balances, right? Is it in your cart? Do you want it? You sure you want it? You're ready to check out now. But for booking a swim lane, It's there's 10 steps to it. Yeah, right.

It's and it's no, I understand. Yeah again. It's just. Did we set that up correctly is is that initial question and that evaluation? Um, it might be 10 steps right now, but. Again, when we look at it, it's like, no, you guys should have just done A and B, and then it would have been a one-step process for you. It's like, oh, why didn't we think of that?

The at people can probably, I'm assuming they can, but it's been a month, and I've been trying to meet with the Parks and Rec director, trying to sit down and show them, I'm the user. The people in my family are the users. My friends are the users. They all come to me and complain, because I don't know why.

I would like to add that I hear, very bad comments about that app, it's true. I hear a lot of comments about that. And we supposed to be doing easy, the process for the neighbors, but we are not doing that. Also to register the place with a new system, I don't know why they changed because the stamp used to be very helpful and everyone knew it was a card from the town. And now we don't know if it's a card of the town because just the police know if the parking in front of your house is from the town or not because they changed completely the system too. And it's not safe for the town. Is there another comment about that? That the way that now we are controlled?

And that's with the same map?

No, it's another thing where they thought they were doing something to make it more modern. And instead, they created the system where no one can work it.

And you have to do that online too. And then many people complain because many people don't know how to do that. or they don't want to do that because they feel not safe to be putting their personal information, and they did also that change, wonderful changes. I mean, most of the world work with that, and everyone know your car is there, or it's not your car, but you know it belongs to a neighbor, and now there's cars parking all over, and we don't know.

Right, there used to be, it's a small town, and we have this small community feel, And sometimes technology is not designed for small towns. It's designed for big giant areas where it's okay to feel anonymous. But when you try to make this town, this like modern thing where you don't even know whether the car, like when we had the stickers in the car, was it a pain in the neck to get a sticker once a year? Maybe for two seconds, but then you knew that the car in front of your house that was parking there for three days was somebody who lived here because they had the sticker. Now you don't know because you don't have access to the license plate or whatever. You don't know who these people are. So it's the same thing even with the swim lanes, which is silly, but you used to see who was swimming when. And you'd be like, hey, I'm going to come swim with you. And you'd see and you'd book it. And it made more of a community feel. Now there's like this, you can't see who's swimming or when. And the end result, because it's such a complicated system and people don't even know how to cancel, is the lanes are empty half the time. Because once you book it three days in advance, there's nowhere to check again to see what you have booked. You don't even remember. So the people are not showing up. The lanes are empty. The whole system is just, it took something that was really nice and cozy and working well And just because they probably got upsold by someone going, hey, I've got some technology for your town. But it's not right for our town. Surfside really is a community. That kind of system works in Miami Beach, right? But we're a small community. So we lose something. when we start doing stuff that's like that, high tech. Even when you had to come get your sticker, it was a way to say hi to people downstairs, right? That is why we like to live here. Yeah, I agree with that.

Okay, but then the comment is over? That's it, that's right. Okay, someone want to propose to adjourn?

Madam Chair, item 10A, next meeting date.

Sorry, the next meeting is January 5th. You want to make a comment? Okay, sorry. Then we're not done with the comments. Sorry, Judith, sorry. Go ahead. Another comment.

Yes, I think I've mentioned this before, and it's also, I think it has to, it's related why maybe we didn't have the amount of people we expected for the Isaac Bashevis Festival, and it's like people is not getting the message, right? So I mentioned to Frank, like Bay Harbor has a system where you get in your phone a text message, reminder, the event. Because I have an apartment there and I receive messages all the time, this is happening, or be careful, there's going to be a line closure because this event is happening. There's traffic because of blah, but you receive a lot of messages and you are completely aware of what's going on in the town, So I don't know if we can be part of that type of messaging system that can remind the people, not only like the tourism events, but all the events that are going in the town. And you receive it on your phone. So it's like really a constant reminder because not many people might follow the Instagram account or the other Facebook account or whatever accounts, you know, the social media. But a text message gets to your phone.

Yeah, we can totally set up a system. There's software that you can create a text messaging service where people can sign up for. Something I just always say as a caution, all of these lists and all the information on these lists is public record. so anytime someone wants to come in and use it for their own thing they just make that record and your phone number is then given away um just like your emails and stuff like that so um but yeah i can i can um get a proposal and they're fairly cheap to to do it's not that big i think we already have it for the red yeah code system through the chair we do have one already everbridge that communications uses for like the lane closures or

reminder for you know elections etc so perhaps we can just amplify via that yeah if that's okay i mean i don't mind pushing out event reminders for all of our stuff like this is really silly but

Just putting it in the Jewish scoop.

Maybe we'll come. We'll start it with Midnight Madness and the holiday partnership.

And the Christmas. Yeah, because I received some messages from the town, actually. You're right. And when I was living in Barnes Harbor, they had the same system because I was still receiving that communication. And also, an alarm system. Like, we're going to close 94 and Collins. Be careful with this and that. Maybe we are part of that already.

We'll start it this weekend. We'll test it out. I know there's a limit, you know, so the message might be kind of brief, you know, just the basics, but I think that's fine.

And sometimes, Eliana, I want to say that people really don't, they receive them, the Gazette, because in the Gazette are the events. Also, they are sending every, like every day or every two days.

But for example, Singer Fest, the whole reception with the klezmer, that was an article that went to every resident in the Gazette.

Afterwards.

No, no, it went before. It was in the month before. So when people say, oh, I had no idea. I'm like, well, you didn't read the article that was in the Gazette. It was there, and it went out.

They went here free food.

Most of it was there, just to be clear.

Yeah, but it's a lot of information, but maybe we have to use more.