A key topic of discussion was the role of the Main Street Merchants group and its involvement in town events and marketing efforts. The committee members debated the group’s existence and functions, with some expressing surprise at its supposed activities. The need for better coordination with the property manager to clarify the group’s role was emphasized, and a suggestion to host a meeting with Main Street merchants, the property manager, and the city was made to facilitate a conversation about utilizing town resources and marketing funds effectively.

The committee also highlighted the challenges faced by local businesses, especially in the retail sector, and the necessity for robust advertising and promotion efforts for Main Street. The importance of generating foot traffic and promoting events to attract people to the area was discussed at length. To address these issues, the members suggested creating campaigns and coordinating efforts to draw visitors from outside Miami Lakes. In addition, the potential for a grant for lighting on Main Street was mentioned, though there was some uncertainty about its realization.

Moving forward, the committee considered the possibility of moving events to town properties to simplify the process of creating activities. The town’s requirements for permits and insurances were scrutinized, with a discussion on streamlining these procedures to allow for more frequent and larger events. Concerns about the impact of closing Main Street for the Farmers Market on local merchants were raised, as some members opposed the idea.

Moreover, the committee discussed the possibility of establishing a subcommittee for the 2024 EDC event and setting up future meeting dates. They proposed collaborating with Ana G Mendes for career development events and mock interviews and discussed potential speakers for the event, including local attorneys and a professor from Ana G Mendes.

Additionally, there was a conversation about the potential involvement of the chamber in organizing an official business networking social. The committee agreed to hold the event on April 24th, coinciding with Administrative Professionals Day. This date sparked a brief debate over whether the event should be scheduled before or after the committee’s meeting, with the committee ultimately agreeing to the date.

The committee also touched on the potential to obtain a beverage license for beer and wine for an upcoming event and planned to review the budget in the next meeting to ensure they were on track for the year. The need to verify expenditures and income was noted during the approval of minutes from the previous meeting. Concerns were voiced regarding the delay in receiving pull-up banners and pins from NY Graphics and dissatisfaction with the final tagline of the EDC promotional video, with discussions on the need for potential revisions.

Furthermore, the absence of Officer Amador was discussed, who had communicated that he felt his presence at the meetings was not necessary. The committee also considered having an Advertiser tent in the Farmers Market to attract more foot traffic to local businesses and planned to report on networking events, collaborating with other committees to rejuvenate Main Street.