2016-1020 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting October 20,2016 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida 11. MOTIONS 11A. A Discussion/Motion regarding a Request by Social Citizens of Southeast Florida for Use of City Facilities. Action: City Manager Russo said since we had the previous organization of Social Seniors he has had a couple of meetings with their Treasurer, Finance Director Harvey Busch, and the last meeting was with Harvey and Dennis Stubbolo over this. They have now reconstituted themselves as the Social Citizens of Southeast Florida. They informed us they will no longer need the funding from the City, and they have ensured us that they still have the majority of their membership from Sunny Isles Beach. They are not asking for any financial support of the organization,however,they are asking as for the use of certain City facilities for meeting space. They have given us the following dates for use of Pelican Community Center on January 15,2017 from 5:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m. for a Holiday Party,and February 9, 2017 at Samson Oceanfront Park for a festival from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If this is approved by the Commission, they would work it out with Cultural and Community Services Director Susan Simpson for these events. We are looking for direction from the Commission on this. Just like the previous structure of their organization, they are a 501(c)(3) not for profit still, and whether or not they are asking for a waiver of fees associated with that or just for the use of the building, that is what comes to mind initially with this. Public Speakers: Harvey Busch Commissioner Aelion asked about the date of February 9,2017,regarding the completion of Samson Park,are we going to have the ribbon cutting by that date? City Manager Russo said he does not think so in terms of ribbon cutting but again we can still work with them on the dates. Commissioner Aelion said he does not have an issue but he thinks that Harvey should come before us and state the position of the organization regarding what the City Manager voiced now with the extra fees that may or may not be incurred by the City regarding whether it is security, or whatever. Harvey Busch said the organization would very much appreciate the opportunity for these two dates to use the facilities. The Vice Mayor was at one of our meetings today, and he thinks she enjoyed it. We are doing as much as we can for the citizens of our City and it is just to entertain them, and for their enjoyment. They really would appreciate anything the Commission would allow them to do on those two particular dates where they have a special show, a special band, and for a celebration. Vice Mayor Gatto asked if we have to get over the 501(c)(3) before we can further this discussion? City Manager Russo said he is just going by what our practice has been. There are two things, we should have on file a record of their new status, perhaps an insurance certificate, and the other item which is similar to what we have done with the Rabbi for example, they will pay the out of pocket expenses that we have where in this case it is custodial services, a staff person, an operations worker that needs to be on duty when something is going on, and waive any costs for the use of the facility. Commissioner Aelion said what he wanted to suggest is, in light of the fact that most if not all of the seniors who are participating in the program when the City was actually monetarily 13