The Vision Zero initiative was presented as a priority to address the troubling trend of increasing traffic crashes in Miami Lakes. The plan, funded by a federal grant as part of the Safe Streets for All program, focuses on creating a comprehensive safety action plan that aligns with existing transportation frameworks. The initiative emphasizes a data-driven approach, utilizing crash data from 2016 to 2024, which identified local roads like Lutland, 57th, and 154th as accident hotspots.

The town introduced a new dashboard tool for residents to access crash data, encouraging public engagement through a comment map and a survey available in both English and Spanish. This aims to gather community feedback on road improvements and pedestrian safety enhancements. A council member raised concerns about the safety of heavily trafficked pedestrian areas, which the initiative aims to address by correlating traffic data with pedestrian infrastructure.

Further analysis using Placer AI software highlighted significant pedestrian traffic in downtown Miami Lakes, with approximately 67,000 pedestrian movements along Main Street. The goal is to incorporate resident feedback into shaping the town’s traffic safety initiatives.

In addition to the road safety discussion, the council also focused on planning the upcoming Reindeer Run, approving the use of a vendor for event merchandise, which includes t-shirts, medals, and bags. The event will feature the new Miami Lakes 25-year logo on merchandise, and a motion was passed to secure a vendor to provide bags at no cost by placing their logo on them. The council maintained the same award categories for the race.

The timeline for the Reindeer Run was outlined, with bag stuffing events scheduled for December 8 and 9, and package pickup set for December 21. A $2,000 budget for social media promotion was approved, with an interest in using some funds for advertising on paid running websites to enhance the event’s reach.

Sponsorship remains an aspect of the Reindeer Run, with current sponsors including Headquarter Toyota and Humana. The council urged members to seek additional sponsors and participants, particularly since early bird registration discounts were soon to expire. The urgency of launching the event website to facilitate runner registration was emphasized.

The meeting also touched on plans for a veterans golf tournament, set for February 20, 2026. Discussions revolved around sponsorship levels, player costs, and the potential for additional revenue through auctions and event contributions. The council identified the importance of securing sponsors to ensure the event’s success, drawing from past experiences where sponsorship played a role in financial outcomes.

Further discussions included the development plan for a Veterans Wall and Veterans Park, with ongoing work to determine the overall cost before finalizing the design of the monument. The council also addressed the Veterans Casino Night at Pace, progressing with plans for a cash bar and cigar bar.