An unnamed speaker who identified themself as a member of the Coral Gables City Commission told the commission that Coral Gables’ community recreation department and youth center are the city’s “soul,” describing a childhood in the city and decades of coaching at the youth center.

“Honestly, there is no community in South Florida like Coral Gables. It's not only now, but historically in the tradition of Coral Gables, it's family first,” the speaker said, recounting being born in 1962 and growing up in the city.

The speaker said their parents chose Coral Gables to raise a family, and recalled the neighborhood where they were raised and early participation in youth sports. “I played baseball, soccer, football, you name it,” the speaker said, adding that they played organized sports for “probably, you know, 14, 15 years as a kid.” The speaker said they then spent “the next 30, 40 years as a coach.”

The speaker attributed the city’s civic strength to places and programs where families and children gather, saying the recreation department “provides the platform for everyone in the community to come together. And that's the soul of our city.” The speaker contrasted that civic value with commercial attractions, saying, “The soul is not buildings. It's not Miracle Mile. The soul is the opportunities that we provide and the opportunities we take advantage of to come together as families and as friends and as neighbors.”

Toward the end of the remarks, the speaker said that, as a member of the commission, they now have “the opportunity to present legislation and support projects that are in line with what I grew up thinking was right and what was best.” The speaker did not specify particular ordinances, budget items or the timeline for any proposals.

No formal motions or votes were recorded in the provided transcript segment. The remarks were personal testimony in support of the city’s recreation programs and youth center and did not include detailed policy proposals, funding requests or formal directives to staff.