Public Safety Committee votes to hold “Coffee at Station 64” open house Aug. 16

The Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee voted to hold “Coffee at Station 64/ Open House” on Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., approving a motion to calendar the event and begin coordination with town staff and sponsors.

The vote came after committee member Darwin Ray reported that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Captain Kelly Hall had offered two Saturday dates for an open house and public education demonstration. Ray said the captain supplied July and August options and recommended Aug. 16 because July was imminent. “I think August 16, I think probably,” Ray said when members discussed timing.

Committee members discussed logistics, publicity and safety details, including that demonstrations and vehicle access would likely be staged in the apparatus bay for liability reasons. Ray said public education staff would handle demonstrations and that the event could include truck displays, firefighter gear for children to try on and public education materials. “Due to liability reasons, it’s gotta be done basically in the bay,” Ray said, describing a recommendation he relayed from fire staff.

Members also discussed sponsor support for coffee and refreshments and the need to supply communications with artwork and sponsor logos. The committee agreed to place prime sponsorship locations near the vehicle displays and to work with Main Street merchants for vendor participation. Vida Customs agreed to sponsor trophies for a different summer event and volunteered creative support for outreach materials.

A motion by Darwin Ray, seconded by Nancy Rogers, to hold “Coffee at Station 64/ Open House” on Aug. 16, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., carried after members voted in the affirmative. Committee members directed staff to add the event to the town calendar, work with the communications department on an outreach flyer and follow up on sponsorship and insurance/hold-harmless requirements.

The committee also noted operational details the town will confirm before the event: exact staging locations, whether the fire apparatus will occupy multiple parking spots, access for vendors, porta-potty hookups and whether any alcohol or vendor arrangements require additional approvals. Members asked for a communications-ready flyer by mid‑August and for town management to confirm logistical approvals.

Next steps identified were: town staff to calendar the Aug. 16 date, communications to prepare outreach materials and the committee to continue sponsorship and vendor recruitment ahead of the event.