Miami Lakes committee approves $1,200 petting zoo and $1,000 documentary for 25th-anniversary event

MIAMI LAKES '1 (not specified) '025 ' The Miami Lakes anniversary planning committee on Wednesday approved a $1,200 petting-zoo option for the town's 25th-anniversary celebration and voted to commission a short documentary for $1,000 covering the community's history.

The committee heard a presentation about two vendor packages: a $1,200 option in which guests pay for certain interactions and a fuller $3,800 package that would include all activities and cover credit-card fees. The committee approved the lower-cost, invoice-backed option after members confirmed the invoice line items would include two cows, goats, ducks and other animals as listed by the vendor. The motion passed with members present voting in favor.

The documentary vendor presented two price options: $1,000 for a short documentary that would include interviews with longtime residents and local leaders, and a $400 day-of recording package that would produce a recap. The committee approved the $1,000 documentary and asked staff to finalize the scope, identify interview subjects and coordinate scheduling.

Committee members reviewed the event budget and sponsorships. Presenters reported two confirmed sponsors totaling $3,000 (listed as "Grama," $2,500, and Poplar Bank, $500). Security costs were discussed based on prior events; staff provided an estimate that covered multiple officers and varied by hours of coverage. Using past invoices as a guide, the committee calculated a security estimate in the low thousands (committee notes list an estimate of roughly $3,300 for posted coverage), and asked staff to obtain final quotes from the appropriate department or vendor.

Organizers worked through a detailed run-of-show and site logistics. The planned sequence includes a procession by a Scottish band from Mary Collins, welcome remarks, color guard and Boy Scout pledge, the national anthem, a multi-faith invocation, sponsor acknowledgements, short guest-speaker slots, live performances (including a salsa act and two dance groups) and a ceremonial cake-cutting followed by fireworks. The committee set short time limits for dignitary remarks (two to three minutes recommended) and asked staff to provide a park layout to confirm booth and truck placement, unloading paths and a separate staging area for the petting zoo.

The committee also set operational requirements for the petting zoo: the vendor must be able to unload and reload through an identified access route and agreed to clear the site before the fireworks (the committee requested the vendor vacate by 7:00 p.m. to avoid conflicts with the finale). Committee members discussed, and then rejected, a planned golf-cart shuttle because of cost, logistical complexity and limited ability to guarantee arrival times for multiple dignitaries.

On vendors and revenue, the committee confirmed that standard non-food vendor tables are priced at $100 and must submit the required town vendor form and insurance/COI documentation before being accepted. Staff were directed to follow up with vendors who had verbally committed but not yet submitted paperwork.

The committee set a follow-up meeting (noted on the calendar for Nov. 19) and directed staff to provide a final vendor list, a park layout, confirmed security quotes and a documentary interview schedule prior to that meeting.

Actions recorded - Motion to approve a $1,200 petting-zoo invoice (approved). Motion text: "to approve the $1,200 petting zoo" (no mover/second named in the transcript). Included animals per invoice: two cows, goats, ducks, and additional listed species; vendor must clear the site before fireworks. Outcome: approved. - Motion to approve $1,000 for a short documentary about Miami Lakes (approved). Motion text: "to approve the thousand dollar investment or invoice for a documentary, a short documentary" (no mover/second named). Outcome: approved.

Notes and next steps - Sponsors reported: Grama: $2,500; Poplar Bank: $500 (total confirmed $3,000). Committee asked staff to reconcile confirmed payments with line-item expenses. - Security: committee asked staff to secure written quotes from law-enforcement detail vendors; an internal estimate referenced prior charges of approximately $1,900 for three officers at a similar event but committee-wide planning used a working estimate near $3,300 depending on hours posted. - Vendors: staff to compile and circulate confirmed vendor list, proof of COI/insurance and finalize the list of food trucks and $100 table vendors. - Site plan: staff to circulate a park layout showing stage, booths, petting-zoo area, unload routes and emergency access. - Documentary: staff to produce a list of interview subjects (longtime residents and founding figures were suggested) and circulate to the committee for approval.

The committee adjourned after confirming those follow-ups and scheduling the next planning meeting.