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Sunny Isles Beach commissioners debate holiday-light budget and whether nativity displays are permissible
Summary
Commissioners weighed resident preferences, a $279,180 baseline cost and legal advice about religious symbols; the city attorney cautioned that nativity scenes have triggered constitutional litigation, and commissioners asked staff to set clear design guidelines and a budget cap for the bid.
Commission discussion over 2026 holiday lighting focused on design, cost and legal risk after resident feedback about the absence of a large nativity display this past season.
Commissioners described mixed resident reactions and urged staff to provide clearer design parameters for the request for proposals. One commissioner said the city spent $279,180 on lights this year; commissioners offered a broad budget range for the next bid, with several suggesting a target at or below that figure and one…
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