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Coconut Creek approves local fabrication of Holocaust remembrance sculpture to be placed at City Hall
Summary
The commission authorized a contract with EES Design Studio to fabricate and install a Holocaust remembrance sculpture based on a design by Israeli artist Merit Meisler. The work will be locally fabricated to meet cost and timeline constraints; funding will come from the city's public art fund.
The Coconut Creek City Commission on Sept. 11 authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with EES Design Studio LLC to fabricate, engineer and install a Holocaust remembrance sculpture — a project the commission previously endorsed in concept.
Why it matters: The sculpture will be a permanent public-art installation at City Hall and is scheduled to be unveiled on Jan. 29, 2026 to coincide with the city’s Holocaust remembrance activities. The commission and staff emphasized that the project is funded from the public art fund, which is supported by fees collected from development and redevelopment projects rather than from general tax revenues.
Staff presentation and background: Bernadette Hughes, government affairs manager, said the commission had previously given consensus to proceed with a unique design by artist Merit Meisler titled “Generations.” Rising fabrication and shipping costs, including steel tariffs and international instability, made overseas fabrication cost-prohibitive. Staff therefore proposed purchasing design rights and contracting a local firm to fabricate and install the piece.
Costs and funding: Hughes said the local fabrication and installation contract with EES Design Studio will not exceed $85,000 and will be paid from the city’s public art fund, which she said has an approximate balance of $656,000. She explained the public art fund is supported by development fees — businesses may either provide artwork equal to $0.50 per square foot of gross floor area or pay $0.40 per square foot into the fund.
Commissioner and community remarks: Commissioners praised the project as a memorial and emphasized the importance of public education about funding sources. Vice Mayor Wasserman called it “the first memorial here in Northwest Broward,” and Commissioner Brody urged care in how future memorial requests are handled to ensure appropriate focus. Commissioner Rangel and others stressed the project’s role in remembrance and said the installation honors victims and reinforces the commission’s commitment to diversity and memory.
Vote and next steps: The commission voted in favor on roll call. Staff will coordinate fabrication, installation and related remembrance activities; Linda Whitman was named as the staff coordinator for the agreement with EES Design Studio. The city plans to unveil the piece on Jan. 29, 2026 to align with Holocaust remembrance programming.
Ending: The resolution authorizes local fabrication and installation, preserves the city’s public-art funding policy and directs staff to proceed with coordination and scheduling for installation and related educational programming.
