Sunny Isles Beach — The City Commission on Nov. 20 authorized the city manager to negotiate a donation agreement for a sculpture offered by Joseph Milton but repeatedly instructed staff to return with a drafted agreement that spells out insurance, maintenance and location terms.

City staff described the intake process and said the donor had contacted the city to offer a work sited at Collins Avenue and 163rd Street. Donor counsel Carlos Diaz told the commission the donor and the donor’s representative, Luis Mata of Joseph Milton & Associates, wished to donate “a piece of art that’s very iconic” and asked the city to authorize negotiations so staff and counsel could draft the agreement.

Commissioners pressed for specifics before accepting the gift. One commissioner asked directly, “How much do you know how much it costs to ensure that sculpture?” and several members raised similar concerns about hurricane and windstorm protection, ongoing maintenance and potential liability if the city takes possession. City staff and donor counsel said valuation, insurance and maintenance responsibilities would be written into the agreement and provided at the next meeting.

The commission voted in favor of authorizing the city manager to negotiate terms and return a draft to the commission in January. Staff said the draft will address insurance valuation, maintenance responsibility and whether a licensing or relocation protocol is necessary should the city later move the piece.

What was not decided: The commission did not accept the sculpture outright; it only authorized negotiations. No insurance valuation, maintenance cost estimate or final location was approved at the Nov. 20 meeting.

Who to watch: City Manager and City Attorney — they will negotiate the draft agreement with donor counsel and return terms to the commission in January for final acceptance or rejection.

Source: Nov. 20, 2025 City Commission meeting transcript for the City of Sunny Isles Beach.