Miami Beach City Commission Honors Community Leaders and Organizations on May 6, 2026
Miami Beach City Commission Meeting – May 6, 2026
The Miami Beach City Commission held a ceremonial meeting on May 6, 2026, to recognize outstanding residents, businesses, and community initiatives through a series of proclamations and certificates of appreciation. The meeting featured heartfelt tributes, personal stories, and expressions of gratitude for contributions in areas such as civic leadership, historic preservation, public safety, education, arts, and culture.
Neighborhood Leadership Academy Graduates
- The Commission recognized the latest graduating class of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, a multi-week civic initiative designed to educate residents on city government operations. Graduates were encouraged to become active advocates for their neighborhoods.
Proclamation: John Stewart Day
- Commissioner Bott presented a proclamation declaring May 6, 2026 as John Stewart Day. Stewart was honored for his decades of service on the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board (2014–2020, later as chair), his role as distinguished university professor at FIU, and leadership in the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and Biscayne Bay Shoreline Development Review Committee.
Proclamation: Francine Lee Hand Day
- Commissioner Monica Matheos Salinas presented a proclamation for Francine Lee Hand, a lifelong Miami Beach resident, poet, author, and patron of the arts. Hand has served on the Historic Preservation Board, Human Rights Committee, and Commission for Women, and her vintage home garden was featured in the Miami Herald.
Certificate of Recognition: Loredana Pasariello – 2026 International Pizza Challenge Winner
- Loredana Pasariello, owner of La Legenda on Espanola Way, was recognized for winning the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas. She was noted as the first woman to win the competition. The recognition coincided with National Small Business Week.
Certificates of Recognition: “Names Not Numbers” Documentary Film Project
- Students and teachers from Miami Beach Senior High, Feinberg Fisher K-8, Hebrew Academy, and Nautilus Middle School were honored for producing documentary films on Holocaust survivors. Holocaust survivor Alan Hall spoke, and Commissioner Bott praised the program for teaching oral history and compassion.
Proclamation: Assistant Chief Daniel Morgallo Day
- Commissioner Bott announced that Assistant Chief Morgallo will leave the Miami Beach Police Department after 27 years to become chief of police in Deerfield Beach. Morgallo was recognized for his leadership in operations, body-worn camera programs, drone deployment, autism awareness training, and community service with the Friendship Circle. Mayor Minor and Police Chief Wayne Jones expressed gratitude.
Proclamation: Dr. Gershon Fink Day
- Dr. Fink was honored for his volunteer service as a CERT member, Stop the Bleed instructor, and flight physician for Hatzolah Air. He was praised for his tireless work in community preparedness, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proclamation: Sid Daniels Day
- Sid Daniels, an artist known for vibrant, Art Deco–inspired paintings and illustrations, was recognized for his contributions to Miami Beach’s cultural identity. His exhibition at the Jewish Museum of South Florida (301 Washington Avenue) runs through August 30, 2026.
Proclamation: Tim Carr Day
- Tim Carr, a West Avenue neighborhood leader and fitness competitor, was honored for his civic advocacy and athletic achievements. He has qualified six times for the Hyrox World Championship, finishing on the podium four times, and is a leading voice in the Blue Zones initiative.
Certificate of Recognition: Miami Beach Senior High Academic World Quest Team
- Teacher Russ Rywell and students Vander Lee, Chase Goldberg, Jonathan Toledo, and Lyndon Bruni were recognized for placing first in Miami-Dade and second in the nation in the Academic World Quest competition. Students spoke about their commitment to winning the national title next year.
Proclamation: Katana Day
- Katana, a Japanese restaurant in North Beach operating since 1993, was proclaimed for its iconic sushi boat experience and 33 years of service. The owner’s daughter accepted, noting that a second location is opening to accommodate demand.
Proclamation: Dolly and Oz Presents Day
- Felicia Fraser, owner of the Dolly and Oz Presents art gallery and literary agency on Fifth Street, was recognized for creating a community hub featuring curated exhibitions and weekly “Window Sunday” salons. The gallery was praised as a model for blue zones–style community building.
Proclamation: Hector Santos – Restoration of Royal Palm Barber Shop
- Hector Santos was honored for taking over the Royal Palm Barber Shop in 2019 and maintaining its legacy as a community gathering space since 1969. The proclamation was presented bilingually by Commissioner Fernandez.
Certificates of Appreciation: City Aides for Rainbow Crosswalk Project
- Aides Luis Atensio, Kara Petrella, and Sarah Morilla received certificates for their work coordinating the installation of a rainbow sidewalk, benches, bike racks, and an interpretive plaque in Lummus Park. The project replaced the crosswalk pavers removed by state order in October 2025 and was completed in time for Pride Weekend.
Key Outcomes
- All proclamations and certificates were adopted unanimously with no formal votes recorded. The meeting adjourned without any other business.
Meeting Transcript
Please take your seats. The meeting is about to begin. Remember to speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded for public record. Please stand by. Uh it does not go based on uh on the uh the awards. Certainly, everybody here is uh is worthy. So appreciate everyone being here. Do we have any announcements? It's really Regis, I think this is the first time I've seen you in that seat of the city clerk. It is so uh I just have a brief announcement, Ms. Mayor. Uh the City Commission is physically present in the commission chamber at Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, third floor. Members of the public are invited to attend either in person or virtually. If you wish to join us virtually, you can log in using the Zoom app or visit Zoom.us in your browser. You can also call 305-224-1968 or toll free at 888-475-4499. The webinar ID is 813-928-576-71 pound. The Zoom link webinar ID and uh phone numbers remain the same for every commission meeting. Great. So now's the time I get to surprise someone to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And I'm gonna ask our assistant police chief, Daniel Margalo to lead us. I figured you oh sing it. That's true. You can sing it very good. Okay, here we go. Please rise. Place your right hand over your heart. 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. Great job. We are going to call PA2. PA2, Certificates of Recognition, Neighborhood Leadership Academy graduates. All right. So we're going to uh recognize the latest graduating class of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy. In case you're not familiar with that, I'll explain it briefly. It's a multi-week civic initiative designed to give our residents an in-depth look at inner workings of the municipal government. And over the course of the academy, participants meet with city leaders, department heads, uh studying everything about our city, city budgets planning to public safety and infrastructure. Um by the end of the program, they're better equipped to serve as informed advocates for their respective neighborhoods. And uh we have some neighborhood leaders here. Um I'm trying to see a few. I see Ray Breslin, I see uh Tim Carr. Oh wow, there you go. The front there you go, Commissioner Bott, and and so it works. It really works. Over the years, many of the individuals walked through this program and have gone on to become dedicated city staff members and even elected officials, as we just heard, and uh mayors of their specific neighborhoods. It is truly the starting point for those who want to become have an active role in shaping the future of Miami Beach. So I'm just gonna read some of the names of the graduates. Um I don't think anyone is here, but Stephen Atlas, Alex Bichel, Gustavo Briand, J.R. Bolt. Oh, excellent. Right here.
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