[music] I've been thinking about doing some improvements in my house, but before I start, [music] do I need a permit? Great question. There are quite a few things you can do without a permit [music] from the city of Homestead. You don't need a permit for crown molding and baseboards,
applying epoxy to your garage floor, [music] installing gutters on a residential building, changing kitchen tiles, replacing interior [music] doors, cosmetic light fixture covers as long as no electrical work is involved, painting your [music] home inside or
out, landscape maintenance, planting trees, and adding plastic sheds [music] for storage up to 7 by7 ft, just to name a few. >> H, that's good to know. But what about everything [music] else? When do I need a permit? >> Anytime you make improvements that
involve safety systems, electrical, plumbing, or [music] structural changes, you'll likely need a permit. >> Sounds like I need a permit for a lot of things. >> Well, permits [music] help us ensure life safety, energy efficiency, and water conservation. They're in place to
prevent problems before [music] they happen. The good news is we recently launched an expedited permit process that allows small residential permits to [music] be issued in just 2 to 3 days. These include meter repairs, tree removals, air conditioning [music] unit
replacements, and fence installations among many others. We also offer a homeowner and small business concierge service to help you navigate permitting, [music] zoning, and licensing. Visit homesteadfl.gov/conurge GV/coniierge to learn more or email [music]
dsdass assisted.gov. We usually reply within 2 to three business days. And if you're ever unsure, just ask us. The city of Homestead's [music] development services department is here to help. Call us at 305224-4500. [music] We're open Monday through Friday, 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 [music] p.m. and we're here to help. I'm always looking for creative ways to save money. But one place I know I never have to worry about is with my HPS energy bill. Homestead Public Service offers some
[music] of the lowest rates in all of Florida. We pay an average of $15 less than those who use FPL. [music] Now that's what I call savings. My name is Chef Alden Chance. I'm from Tropos. Tropos [music]
is a fusion of cultures blend together to make one cuisine. We represent out of many one cuisine. Represent Haiti, Dominican Republic, [music] Jamaica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. We're the industry's first and only fully cooked Caribbean sushi joint. We [music]
have any everything ranging from jerk chicken sushi roll, grio sushi roll, eligib where you have mangu, quesoprito, the spicy chiso, the vodka frittita. I think being out here in Homestead at this event, the winter wonderland, I think
it's a great experience [music] because we we bridge the gap. We're able to bridge the gap amongst the community and bring everyone together under one roof. And it's our job as vendors to really bring the community out and bring everyone together. >> Troppy Rolls is participating in the
city's Discover Homestead Winter Wonderland Experience [music] seasonal event. If you're interested in becoming a vendor, email us at special events@ homesteadfl.gov. [music] >> Need a permit? We are here to help you and faster than you [music] think. At the City of Homestead's development
services department, we offer a new expedited permit service for selected permit types and you can get approved in [music] just 72 hours. Expedited permits include in [music] electrical safety inspections, temp for test, meter
repairs, temp for construction [music] and sub permits. in plumbing, water heater [music] replacements, cosmetic plumbing fixture upgrades, and toilet replacements. [music] In mechanical, air conditioning unit replacements. Also,
tree removals, commercial [music] building painting, fence installations, and resurfacing of floors or slabs, and we'll be adding more to the expedited list soon. We're committed to making the permitting process simple, efficient, and friendly for both residents and
businesses. [music] And the city of Homestead has an exciting new update to enhance how residents, contractors, and businesses track projects [music] in the development services department with our new Homestead's enterprise permitting [music] and licensing system. Soon
you'll be able to apply, upload, pay, and [music] track your project entirely online. Visit homesteadfl.gov/expedited [music] permit or stop by city hall to get started today. We're open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 [music] p.m.
Got questions? Call us at 305224-450. If you're looking for a rewarding, hands-on job. Come join our team here at the city of Homestead. You won't regret it. [music] >> What we do here is vital. We keep the power on and help [music] restore the infrastructure after natural disasters.
>> It's more than a job. It's an exciting career with real [music] impact. We're hiring experienced professionals in several positions ready [music] to take on big challenges. >> You're just not fixing things. You're building the future of this community. >> We offer full-time positions, great
[music] benefits, health insurance, and a solid retirement plan. Be part of a team working hard to make Homestead [music] shine. >> Apply today and start your rewarding career at Homestead Public Service. Meet Jorge and Lupe Lugo, recipients of
the Homestead CRA residential grant. Well, [music] they fixed up that they put a new roof, which we're very glad because it was too old. And they also fixed the garage door, which [music] it we couldn't. I mean, it has to be hold
by stack, otherwise it will fall on us. It was very dangerous. And we have a new one, which is great. >> [music] [music] >> Thank to Malika that help us, you know, [music] with the program and we're so
happy now about her. Thank you to the CR Homestead. We're very pleased [music] and we're so happy and I really thank them. >> [music] >> If you're interested in the residential facade program, [music] contact the
Homestead CRA by emailing CRA grants at homesteadfl.gov or [music] call 3052244486 to learn more. With summer here, be sure you're prepared for extreme heat. What is extreme heat? It's a period of high heat
and humidity with temperatures above 90° for at least 2 [music] to 3 days posing significant health risks. Among vulnerable groups are older adults, young children, [music] and those with chronic conditions. A few ways that you can beat the heat are keeping cool in
air conditioned spaces, [music] avoiding direct sunlight, reducing outdoor activities, and staying hydrated by reducing [music] your coffee and alcohol intake while drinking plenty of water. For more tips on how you can beat the heat, visit homesteadfl.gov/heat.
>> Looking for your next opportunity? [music] The city of Homestead is hiring and you can be part of a great team. Whether you're starting out or looking to grow your career, [music] we have part-time and full-time positions available across multiple departments. [music] Enjoy great benefits, a
supportive team, and the chance to make a difference right here in the South Florida [music] community. From development services to finance and budget, from parks to police, there's a place for everyone at the city of Homestead. We're hiring for everything from entry-level [music]
roles to leadership positions. Ready to join the team? Head to homestead.gov/job [music] and apply today. >> Well, good afternoon everyone and welcome to welcome you to the city of Homestead council presentation ceremony
for the month of uh March. Again, we welcome you all here. We have a uh fairly short uh agenda, very few presentations this evening, but that is certainly not to diminish the importance
of of either one of those. So, you know, later this evening, Councilwoman Bailey will recognize some of the women who who work here in city hall and throughout the city. Uh March
is a month that we also recognize a group of folks who work almost anonymously and aren't high-profile uh in this building and that's our procurement department. And uh if I could have all of our procurement folks
who are here come up and join me. So, these are the folks that we can thank for helping keep, you know, the expenditure of public money on the up and up. And if we need to blame them for taking too long or getting something out, we can we can do that, too. They've
got got broad shoulders. But, uh, again, typically the month of March nationally is National Procurement Month. So we have prepared a proclamation. Whereas public procurement professionals, professionals, key word here,
professionals play a crucial role in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, transparently, and in a manner that promotes fairness, efficiency, and accountability in government operations. And whereas procurement professionals
are responsible for acquiring the goods, services and infrastructure nec necessary to support essential public services including public safety, transportation, public works and community development. And during times of economic uncertainty, supply chain
disruption. Doesn't that seem like it was a lifetime ago? Supply chain disruption and rapidly evolving technology. Procurement professionals demonstrate leadership and innovation in identifying solutions that support continuity of government operations
while maintaining fiscal responsibility. And whereas the month of March is recognized nationally as National Procurement Month. It's a time to acknowledge the dedication, professionalism, and expertise of our procurement officials who serve
communities across the nation. The city of Homestead joins in recognizing the invaluable contributions of its own procurement professionals who work diligently to ensure the city obtains the highest value for its residents while maintaining transparency, ethical
conduct, and compliance with applicable laws and res and regulations. Now therefore, I, Steven Lawson, by virtue of the authority vested in me as a mayor of city Homestead, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as National
Procurement Month in Homestead. [applause] Please feel free. Just just want to say thank you very much to the mayor and council and the manager's office. Um they are we are all very hardworking individuals and we're proud to serve this community. So thank you very much.
Thank you [applause] all. But now, if I could have our own chief of police, Mario Knap, and Officer Daniel Cello, join me. Uh, we have a very special presentation this evening in recognition of truly one of our many
of Homestead's finest. Chief, >> thank you, Mayor. Mayor, Council, and City Manager, tonight I have the privilege of recognizing an act that represents the very best of this profession and the very best of your Homestead Police
Department. On January 19th of this year, one of your police officers, Officer Daniel Chella, Cella, sorry, he has an uncle on a on another department that I used to work for, and he went by Daniel or or Dominic Chella. So, I don't know what the what the discrepancy is,
but Officer Cello responded to what was dispatched as a possible suicide in progress. Now, if you know anything about police work, you know that you're not always uh confronted with what the call represents, at least or how it's dispatched. In this case,
what he was encountered with was not just a call. It was a life literally hanging on a thread. As he approached, officer Cella observed a young man hanging motionless inside of the residence. He was hanging himself off of a staircase. Without hesitation and looking through
the window, and without waiting and without backup, he very unselfishly made a decision to act. He shattered a front window, crawled through the window of the home, and physically interveneed to save that boy's life. And when I say boy, I say that because I have a a kid
that's nearly that age. and watching the video was pretty uh graphic and uh very heart-wrenching. When he couldn't free the fabric by hand, he improvised and he received a tool. So, if you look at the bodywn
camera footage, you can see him trying to hold the young man's body up to release some of the tension from his neck. I can see how he was looking and he was looking all over the house looking for a solution to be able to cut him down. And what he ended up doing was he ended up finding a nearby table,
dragged the table over under him and tried to reposition uh this young man's body in a way to relieve some of the pressure and relieve some of the airway. And he did that quickly and then quickly ran across and grabbed a butcher's block that had knives and scissors, grabbed
the scissor and started to cut him down. The victim had no meaningful signs of life at the time. Officer Sulla made efforts to maintain an open airway and brought him back slowly. You can see his life slowly coming back to him. On that day when that young man who found
himself in what we can only imagine or only categorized as a helpless situation that caused him to make a decision to end his life, Officer Cella, your Homestead police officer, and his actions caused this young man's life to to to
continue. Um, this is not a this is not routine police work. This is not courage or I'm sorry, this is not routine police work. This was courage. This was decip decisiveness under pressure. And this was a refusal to stand by when seconds mattered. At your Homestead Police
Department, we often talk about professionalism, compassion, and service above self. But every once in a while, an officer reminds us that or what that truly looks like in real life. And that's what Officer Cell did. He didn't just respond to a call. He changed
outcomes of not only a human life, but an outcome for an entire family. So, on behalf of this city and this department, I want to present you not only with a commendation for your actions and this public recognition, but also the Homestead Police Department's life-saving award.
Congratulations. [applause] >> [applause] >> Oh, wait. Thank you very much. I wasn't prepared for a speech, but uh I want to say thank you to the to the city and the department for giving me a chance to come work for this amazing department and giving me the opportunity
to succeed in my life and career. Thank you again. Appreciate it everybody. >> [applause] >> truly incredible and and just really inspiring. And I'm sure those scenarios repeat themselves every day almost
throughout our city and and this community. And as we sit here cool and comfortable this evening, it's a reminder that you never know what someone's going the darkness that occurs in in people's lives every day. and we were there to uh to help bring back that
light. So that concludes this presentation ceremony. We have some time before we need to convene the monthly council meeting. So anyone like to come and take some more family photos with the officer or some of the procurement
folks, please feel free. Thank you all. I'd like to call the Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 council meeting to order. It is now 6 pm. This evening, we'll have the invocation by Reverend Howard Harden, senior pastor of the First
Baptist Church of Homestead, followed by the pledge of allegiance with the Homestead Police Explorers. Could you please rise? Thank you, Pastor Harden. It's on the side there. Let us pray.
We thank you, oh God, for who you are. You are almighty in power and perfect and wisdom. And yet your love for us is just as great. And we thank you because you give to us the freedoms that we
enjoy. You bestow upon us the rights that we possess. In your wisdom, you created the governing authorities that are over us so that we might by them enjoy peace and prosperity in the land. And now, having received all of these
things from you, we pray that you give us the grace to govern ourselves. We pray for our mayor and our vice mayor and our council that you would give them wisdom and discernment in every decision that is made and help them to honor you
even in the way those decisions are made. I pray that you would help us as citizens to be more patient and understanding with our elected leaders and not only when we agree with them but especially when we don't. And finally, God, we pray for all of our first
responders. We lift up those who are charged with protecting us, those who are in harm's way, be it at home or abroad. Watch over them, oh Lord. I pray these things in Christ's name. Amen. >> Thank you.
Please forward. left right left left left right left left left right. Right face.
Breathe in. Please join with me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. arms left face forward. March left, left, left, right, left left left right.
Thank you. Please be seated. So, Madame Clerk, could you call the role please? >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> here. >> Councilman Cannibal >> here. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> here. >> Councilman Roth, Councilman Fletcher, >> here. >> Vice Mayor Bailey >> here. >> Mayor Lawson
>> here. Thank you. We have a quorum. All right. This is the section of the agenda where I will call for public comments from folks first in the audience. Uh first who have have signed up and second those online
uh with respect to any matter if you're here to speak on a land use item a zoning so to speak. You'll have the opportunity then but uh any other issue um we'll open the floor now. Uh the
first uh individual who signed up is uh Regginal Joseph. You're still here. Not here yet. Okay. Miss Miss Hudach, you signed up, but we're going to get to your presentation in uh in just a moment. All right. Is
there anyone online wishing to make a public comment? Okay. So, last chance. Speak now and forever. Hold your peace public. Yes. Please come to the podium.
>> Good evening. Welcome. >> Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, honor. Mayor Steve Rossman, Vice Mayor Jennifer Eli, esteemed members of the Homestead Council, and distinguished guests. I
feel privileged to attend tonight's meeting as a praise of the Homestead Asian Pastor Association. This organization unites churches of various denominations and represent a collective congregation of more than 2,000 members
in our belove city since 1997. It is both an honor and a profound responsibility to stand before you this evening on behalf of our pastors congregations and board the Haitian-American community to express our deep appreciation
and unwanted support for the city of Homestead acknowledgement and celebration of Haitian flag day celebration flag day. Allow me first to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you, Mayor Rosner, Vice Mayor Benifer uh By
and the entire city council for your support, for your consistent dedication to inclusivity, cultural recognition, and civic unity, your continual engagement with the Haitian community, and your commitment
to ensuring that all cultures are represented and respected within the are noble examples of leadership responsive to the diverse fabric of our community. The celebration of Haitian flag day is not merely an act of
cultural commemoration. It is a profound affirmation of freedom, resilience, and unity. The Haitian flag occupies a secret place in our history. It stands as a global emblem of liberation
symbolizing the enduring triumph of justice and human dignity. It reminds us that Haiti was the first independent black republic in the world born from the struggle against oppression and injustice. The values of body and that flag freedom, perseverance and equality
resonate deeply with the ideals that define the American spirit and the mission of the city of Homestead. and homestead Asian flag day is more than a remembrance of history. It is a bridge connecting generations and
communities. It allows our children and young people many of whom were born and raised here to celebrate their heritage proudly with rec recognizing their war within the both the American narrative. By commemorating this day, our city is
not only celebrating Haitian culture, but also affirming his commitment to unity and diversity, civic inclusion, and mutual respect within the Homestead Haitian Pastor Association. We see this
recognition as an opportunity to to strengthen our partnership with the city through faith-based leadership, community service, and shared values. Our organization seeks to contribute positively to Homestead social,
cultural, and spiritual growth. We believe that the acknowledgement of Haitian flag day reflects the city forward thinking vision, one that invites every culture to share its story for the advancement of all. As we
prepare for the accommodation flag day celebration, we are eager to continue working collaboratively with the city to ensure that this evening highlights the vibrancy of our community and fosters greater inter intercultural
understanding. We envision a celebration that not only honors our history but also promotes civic engagement, education, and fellowship among all Homestead residents. In closing, allow me once again to extend our sincession
to you, Mayor Rosner, and to you, Vice Mayor, for all your dedication and for each member of the council for voting and accepting this uh great event to take place. To the entire homestead city council, we
thank you for creating environment where every community feels seen, valued and empowered to contribute to the collective good of our city. It is through the spirit of collaboration that set continue to thrive becoming a model
of unity, respect and cultural richness. May God bless each one of you, bless our great city, and bless the ongoing partnership between the city of Homestead and the Asian community, specifically the Pastor Association. Thank you. Thank you.
Right. Is there anyone else in the audience? Is there anyone online? All right. We will now close the public comment section of the agenda. If there are no objections, I'd like to jump to
tab 17 regarding the uh FIFA presentation. Uh Mr. Manager, while Miss Hudach is coming forward, do you want to tee this up for us? >> Yes. Uh Mr. Mayor, council, and members of the public. Um this item is being put
together by the city administration in collaboration with Councilman Sean Fletcher. Uh we've done some preliminary homework in terms of local activation of the city of Homestead in collaboration with the FIFA World Cup 2026 local
organizing committee headed by Miss Alina Huz Hudachak. Uh Alina is someone who is very special for those who don't know her. She is the first and only county manager for Miami date county female county manager for Miami date
county. previously city manager of city of Miami Beach and now leading one of the elite groups that is going to oversee the successful hosting of FIFA World Cup in the local South Florida area. Uh FIFA World Cup 2026 is going to
be hosted in 16 locations across North America, Mexico, United States and Canada. Alina is a leader of all seasons. She come well prepared to lead us in the conversation this evening. Uh the city intends to roll out a robust
local activation uh that will be thrilling and exciting for not just city residents but all the entire south deep Miami date. Uh before we get into the details of what the city intend to roll out uh I would like Alina Alina Hud to
lead us in her presentation. She has a brief, I believe two or three minutes uh video as well as she's going to be speaking as well on the final details. Then I will invite uh Councilman Sean Fletcher with his opening remarks. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. Welcome to
Homestead and welcome to our city hall. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and honorable council women and and men and Mr. Manager. It's an honor to be here tonight and I want to just um commend you because in my 42 years of public service, I don't think I've ever been in such a beautiful city hall and council
chamber. So, it's an honor and a pleasure to be here. Um and thank you, Mr. Manager, for your kind words. We've been peers and colleagues for many years and again I'm here in in you know at your invitation and really looking forward to participating and collaborating and looking for ways that
you know we can bring the World Cup to um Homestead and and obviously to the southern part of our county that we all love so much. Uh a little bit about um who we are and what we're charged with. We are the Miami Host Committee. We operate under the FIFA regulatory
umbrella and framework because of the contractual relationship that um was executed um probably four years ago when the World Cup bid was accepted by our community. That bid was led by Miami Date County as a regional government on
behalf of the community together with the Miami um visitors and convention bureau and other local and and elected leadership. Um what that means is that the host committee is a private nonprofit created here locally. Many people think we are FIFA because we are
branded under that again regulatory framework but we are a separate entity. We're actually housed and and have been housed in Coral Gables and proono space. Everything we do we you know we partner with the community and with our board members and um where our offices are
actually across the street. FIFA the organization um is headquartered the World Cup operations is actually headquartered in Miami in Coral Gables. Originally um they started with about 400 to 500 employees. They're growing very quickly in preparation for the implementation of
the World Cup and right now they have over a thousand employees housed here in South Florida. There are 16 host cities in the North American continent. It is a brand new business model that FIFA is implementing. Miami is one of 11 host cities in the United States and it is
the largest World Cup in the history of the World Cup. As a host city, we are charged with making sure that we are prepared to host the the World Cup and the seven matches that are happening here. We are responsible for raising all the funds related to the operational requirements. Those operational
requirements include everything from um public safety to transportation to fan activations to a fan festival which we are proud to be able to host in downtown Miami through a partnership with the city of Miami. We have received not only
financial support but in kind support from three um government and obviously agencies Miami, Miami Beach and Miami Dade County. And through those public relationships um we have been able to
establish um the core of what it is that that we have to implement. We're in the process actually and have been together with our partners throughout the country very active in accessing federal funding which um just today actually the grant award was finalized and we were notified
of that grant award to be able to reimburse the public safety agencies that will be supporting the seven matches at the stadium. So all good news for us today. Um we are working with commercial partners and again we are limited in our commercial partnerships
as part of the regulatory framework. FIFA has their traditional partners that many of you know all too well. Companies like Adidas, companies like um um Visa, companies like McDonald's, Home Depot are the official commercial partners of FIFA. What that means to a local host
committee like ourselves is that we are not actually allowed to pursue any partners that are competitors in that industry. So every host committee has a very local market of opportunity for purposes of private fundraising and we are proud to partner. Our first
supporter was Royal Caribbean and we are in the process of actually finalizing several of those types of commercial partnerships. So I tell you all of that as a frame of reference for the operating environment that I'm charged with operating under. I have a very small staff made up of about 20 people.
We're probably one deep in every type of professional category. We have a CFO that doubles as the HR director, the procurement director, the chief administrative officer. We have a chief operating officer. Many of us are um former public safety um people. We have
a retired police chief. We have several public safety professionals on our team um as well as another former city manager. Again, all of us doing all that we can to make sure that the Miami is prepared to host the World Cup. Seven
matches. You will be proud and happy to know that the um match happening in Miami on June 27th, Portugal and Colombia is the single most soughta ticket in the world. um more soughtafter than the kickoff um in Mexico or the
final in New York. We have another match Brazil and Scotland also probably top five um it's it's probably top 10 right now sought after tickets. So what we know is that Miami while we're not hosting the opener or the final is a
very popular destination and a a place where people want to come to be involved in our matches. The fan festival as I described to you will be 23 days in Bayfront Park. We made a very conscious decision to kick off our fan festival on the front end of the tournament and have
a continuous fan festival. Every city again is operating under different parameters. Some cities have chosen to have dark days and activate during very specific matches. We chose again as an opportunity not only for our residents but for our visiting public to be able
to have as much activation as possible. at the beginning part of the tournament, you have the most viewing opportunities because the matches happen three, four times a day. And so we want to make sure that we offer our residents and the visiting public as much opportunity. So we will be operating our FanFest from
June um 13th through July 5th. And following that period, we're working on collaborations such as hopefully what will be the outcome of our conversation tonight, not only with regions and with cities, but we will be hosting um different viewing opportunities
postfanfest to be able to bring the World Cup to different sections of the community. We have as part of uh our mission, not required in our contractual relationship, but as part of our mission, a very real interest in bringing soccer to communities that don't haven't had the exposure. And we
believe very much in the passion for the game in South Florida. And so we're working together with the county commission. Again, the county commission was our most significant funer. And we're rolling out, we started two weeks ago and we're rolling out a community clinics program that will roll out to 16
different jurisdictions and areas and districts throughout the county. This Friday we're doing one at Oakrove Park and um through Commissioner McGee, we're working with the city as well to roll one out in Homestead. Um and these are clinics, opportunities for the youth to come and participate in a clinic, but
also soccer education together with the the day we bring um services to that day. And so again, something that we're very committed to a legacy program um that doesn't just speak to infrastructure because infrastructure, you know, you need a commercial partner
to be able to do infrastructure improvements, but we wanted very much before the World Cup to be able to bring those types of opportunities to the community. because the logos that you see in all of your scarves are tied to the intellectual property that FIFA
owns. Um, we've tried to be creative in creating a campaign that we will be able to use without the restrictions that the commercial brand has. And so we've created a campaign that we just started to roll out this weekend that we call one game, one passion. And before I
conclude my comments, I'm going to close out hopefully with a one one minute um reel that we just rolled out this weekend to really just highlight for you what we believe is the passion of the game that exists here in South Florida and the spirit that we hope that you
know we can see in the collaborations with cities like Homestead and throughout not only Miami Day County but Broward as well. I will be um actually participating and speaking to Broward next week and Palm Beach County. Teams will be all over the South Florida region. There's actually a base camp
that's going to be headquartered in Tampa. There'll be bass camps in Palm Beach. The team hotels will be in different destinations. So, the World Cup will be all over the state of Florida. And we're very excited and grateful um to all of you for the opportunity to be here. If we could roll
that video and I'm happy to stay for any questions that you may have. Do you feel it? That moment before everything begins. Before the first whistle, time slows
down. Because in that moment, everything else fades away. In Miami, football is not just played, it's carried from homes we left, from families we missed, and from dreams that
brought us here. Every match >> is a way back. >> Every goal is a memory. And every whistle makes us one. >> It's not just a game.
>> It's to remember who we are >> and who we become when we stand together. The truth is the world can feel divided. But this game reminds us that we are one. >> One game,
>> one passion. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you, Miss Hudach, for that presentation. And uh let me start by saying I played soccer or football when I was a youth and and and like the the young man doing the back flip trying to kick the ball in the goal. I tried that many times. Uh
was never quite successful at it, but I tried. Um but uh I enjoyed uh growing up in the soccer world up until about 12 and then I decided golf was a better fit for me. But uh always a fan. Uh, Brazil
is probably my favorite team because I was always a PLE fan. Sorry, that's who I'm going to be voting for. But, uh, uh, some of the ideas that we kind of came up with and I was just doing some, uh, talking around the table with the assistant city manager and and the city
manager. Um, so, Vice Chair McGee with the county commission uh, has reached out to the city to host a youth soccer clinic on May 30th. Uh so we need to try and work with them to try and emphasize the importance of that and and make that
uh come to fruition. And uh also looking at the city of Homestead uh hosting a fan zone experience as part of our July 4th uh celebration. Uh and then something downtown in the lawn area maybe between uh July 9th through the
19th with a big activation on the last day uh where we can maybe look at closing down Chrome Avenue and and creating a big environment for that uh uh celebration basically. Um this gives us a regional leadership opportunity
with the city uh and it helps us play a leadership role in organizing the entire South Dade uh participation and activities surrounding the the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Uh as Miss Hudac stated, there will be seven matches that will occur at the Hard Rock Stadium and our
goal should be to ensure that our communities are actively engaged in the regional celebration. As [clears throat] part of that celebration, you know, uh we would like to position the city of Homestead as a regional hub for our World Cup fan engagement that includes neighboring municipalities throughout South Dade.
So, not just Homestead, Florida City, but we want to reach all the way up into South Miami uh and create a a great event for for the whole South area. >> [clears throat] >> One of the things that I recommend uh that we do is a letter from the city of Homestead City Manager to the South Dade
city managers encouraging the collaboration. Uh request that the mayor also reach out through the uh South Dade Mayor's Council to explore a regional initiative. [clears throat] uh look to uh explore opportunities and partner with the Homestead Miami
Speedway as a potential host location for large-scale fan activations and uh watch parties uh during the the tournament. Again, we have to look at how we do that with the overall FIFA sponsorship, but we'll work through those details as we
we get closer to it. >> [clears throat] >> uh also look to uh engage uh the additional professional sports teams here in South Florida uh you know uh including appearances from team mascots like the Miami Heat, the Miami Dolphins,
uh Inter Miami, the Florida Panthers and Miami Marlins. You you kind of engage everybody and get them all included uh during this big event. uh also looking to do an uh entertainment entertainment and media activation uh during this time. Maybe
sponsorship or media partnership with Siri SiriusXM or local DJM dot to help energize our fans here in South. Uh another part that we discussed was looking at local universities to engage them to support programming, volunteers
and cultural activations to include uh University of Miami, Florida International, Miami Day College, St. Thomas Barry, uh, all the all the locals. And ultimately, this is going to be a tremendous, uh, community impact for South Dade and will capitalize the
global attention surrounding the World Cup. And, uh, you know, being with the the recent approval of our soontobe football stadium uh, for uh, Miami FC, uh, this is just a tremendous kickoff uh, to get us ready for that in the
future. And again, these are just all suggestions hoping to look at the council for looking at different funding opportunities that we might be able to do to help make this become a reality for South Date and Homestead because the future is here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Manager,
anything to add? >> Yeah, I think uh if time permits, let me ask the deputy city manager to walk us through a quick highle timeline and some of the exciting opportunities you want to roll out in in Salade. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you,
Councilwoman Fletcher. Um, at a very high level, I will provide the the game plan, pun on word, game plan, uh, in three prongs. Um, as Councilman Fletcher referenced, uh, the city has received a
request from Vice Chair McGee to facilitate a youth soccer clinic. Um the thought is that we would utilize should council approve it, we would utilize that opportunity as the official kickoff. Um in speaking with uh Mrs.
Hudach um yesterday, uh that would be an official FIFA Miami team event. So they would bring all of the um a activi activations
um from a coordination perspective with the city. we would need to work with uh PH, the sports performance hub. Um they have identified Homestead Regional Park as the ideal location. Um so we would need to look to them to to get the green light for that activation to take place.
Um the second part of the the game plan would look at and this is this this piece uh requires some fine-tuning having learned about the um stringent uh regulations surrounding FIFA on how we
engage the commercial business side. So the initial plan was to look to our restaurants um regionally and engage them with a partnership. I think we are um at the direction of the manager with
consultation from um um Mrs. Hudach and her team. We're going to look at rightsizing that um primarily because we do not the city would not want to be in a in a situation where we partner with a restaurant and they don't follow the
FIFA rules and then there is exposure to the city. Right? So, um there is some right sizing that needs to needs to be considered in that regard. So, that's part two. Um on July 4th, we know it's going to be a race to the fourth event.
Um we are looking to merge there is a game on July 4th. So, we are looking to create a a fan experience as a part of our July 4th celebration. So, we know that the big picture is America 250, the
patriotic celebration. However, we intend or the the the the game plan is that we would do a smaller activation that uh persons can experience and watch the game um should they want to. And
then we would round out the the season or or the the the celebration. So from July 9th through 19th, that would constitute the official I I would say than experience in downtown Homestead.
Or as um Councilman Fletcher said, if if the council decides to take a more regional approach, um we could certainly look to um you know, another site location uh that would facilitate a
larger gathering for South Dade. So that is direction that we would look for council to opine on. And then if we decide that Lzner Park is the location that we we we gain consensus on on the World Cup game, yes, it will not be here
in um South Florida, but the recommendation would be that we close down uh Chrome. We invite the food trucks and just truly have um an outdoor watch party where we're celebrating the
entire um experience and and the the the journey of the World Cup. Again, for purposes as we've gotten guidance from the uh World Cup FIFA World Cup Miami team, we will uh stay away from FIFA references, World Cup references. We
will align um our marketing engagement plan with the one game one passion subbrand. Right? So that is that. So following this discussion if we gain consensus to continue planning you will
see a shift where we will no longer reference it as FIFA or World Cup. We will go with the uh I think the the manager says 2026 big soccer game uh aka the one game one uh passion uh marketing
model. So that that that is what you will hear and see um if council if council uh gives direction to proceed. So that's at a very high level the plan um and we look forward to any additional guidance or questions that we may answer.
Thank you, Deputy Manager. Council, any initial questions or or comments? Councilwoman, >> thank you, Mayor. This is very exciting. Um, I did have a question for clarification. The car uh report says June 11th to June to July 19th or are we
considering July 9th like? The entire fan than experience will be June 11th because that is the beginning of the big game big soccer game season uh through July 19th which is the I have to say this one
the World Cup game right it's the it's the end so that is why we have captured the entire uh period the downtown or what we are calling downtown homestead piece of it where the city would activate would be from July 9th
through the 19th. Having learned about the uh fan experience that um will happen in Bayfront Park that will run until July 5th, I think it it's a good complement uh to what the Miami host
team is planning. >> Thank you. And um with regards to the budget that we have here, the fan zone of 30,000, is there an opportunity for us to reach out to the South Date Chamber of Commerce and invite them to
participate in um setting up in the fan zone. So the the that's that that uh that preliminary budget that you have um outlined, Councilwoman, uh does also look to us identifying
sponsors. So yes, we would have to we would have to reach out to the anchor employers um to to make it happen. >> Would there be a restriction on which businesses due to the commercial uh
conflict or with the different branding approach? We wouldn't have an issue. >> We we would have we would want to take guidance from um the host committee. >> So So before Alina steps to the podium, we asked her for a special favor and she agreed yesterday. Once we finalize a
plan, run it by each council member, we'll run it by her office for legal sufficiency guidance. They do have the licensing from FIFA. We don't want to expose the city and of course with the advice of city attorney's office, we reach out to Alina's office to provide
us guidance what is doable, the dos and don'ts, and she graciously accepted to guide us. >> Yeah. >> And again, thank you. this when we had this discussion, it was before we had actually had the meeting with the folks from the Miami team. Um, again, this is
big picture idea, you know, to try and put a a face on Homestead and South Dade uh with the assistance that we can with the with the team. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do Do you want me to address Yeah. Okay. Um, well, and thank you all for your leadership, which is amazing. I
wish I had, you know, 34 of you. Um the the public viewing guidelines are tricky because there are they're defined by FIFA in different categories. There's public viewing over a certain number of spectators. There's a public viewing below that and then there's commercial when there's a cost associated with
attending the actual viewing. Um the the rights are tied to the two broadcast partners, Fox and Telmundo. And again that the process requires a licensing fee. Um and I've committed to CD Mr. manager that we would be your partner in
that and we would actually perhaps even access the feed on your behalf to keep the cost down. Um but with that comes all of the restrictions that are associated with the commercial partners. Now that again I I don't see where that would impact your very local businesses
and your local um restaurants and certainly I think that you know obviously there's lots of opportunity at a microlo level to be able to raise the kind of money that you would have to raise to do something like this. >> Thank you. And and the you know those questions are are important to me
because um you know I would really like the opportunity to help with spreading the news on the opportunity to try to offset the cost. It is a it is a large sum of money for us to invest. Um and if there's also ways we can bring in tourism funds. Do we have an account
under our tourism committee that we could also use towards this? >> Yeah, we do have some tourism funding. I think there's 10,000 in that. And look, I think this the 30,000 number that we're that's just kind of shot in the dark. I think it could be much more than that, you know, depending on on where we
want to go with this. Again, this is just an overall big idea. Let's let's figure out what the details need to be, but this is trying to gain some consensus among each of us so we can move forward for a big event. That's all. And and if we're able to do it, I think it's going to be extremely exciting for the city of Homestead.
>> Thank you. I >> I agree. I think um is the Lner Park the ideal location that you have in mind or did you also consider if it's even available this the the racetrack? So we looked at two different things you know for you know initially was uh of course
the the event with Chairman McGee the kickoff on May 30th but July 4th being a big expansion of that to include our neighboring cities and then ultimately it would be to activate downtown but if it's bigger than what we think then we have to look at other venues and I think
again we're at the we're at the baby steps portion of this where we're not even crawling yet we're we're right there but we have we have a little homework to do over the next couple of weeks to get this thing moving. Will this will this be coming back to us for another decision or I think this is direction to give you guys our
>> you give us direction today to move on with the planning stage of this once the budget and the plan is finalized vetted by the respective stakeholders we will come back to council for approval of the final budget in the interim we'll be looking at reaching out to all the
specific stakeholders PH Baptist hospital BJS and the rest for funding and sponsorship in terms of money and uh there is a reason why we want to concentrate on lawn park. We don't know yet how the weather condition is going
to be towards that date. So it gives us a two-step approach. You can have an indoor activation in seminal theater as well as outdoors. So the elderly folks and young kids that need seating areas can stay inside the law inside the
seminar theater and the rest can be outdoors. as in the attraction I see. >> Well, overall I think it's a a great opportunity to shine the light on city of Homestead and to incorporate the businesses to participate and uh I'd be
looking forward to supporting the item. Thank you, >> Councilman Cannibal. >> Yes, this time I will talk. Okay, this is the biggest party in the world. Okay, it's a privilege having the hosting committee over here and yes, I will be
gladly to approve