Issue Statement: South Florida Food and Wine, Inc. (SFFW) has been providing event management services to the City of Oakland Park since 2015.  Currently, the contractor provides services for the City's largest events, which range from one to three days in length. 

The current agreement was awarded on June 16, 2021 (R-2021-071), for an initial period of three (3) years with options to renew for two (2) additional 2-year periods.  The agreement was renewed for the first two-year term in 2024, and is due to expire on September 30, 2026, after which one two-year renewal remains.      

Staff is satisfied with the contractor's performance and wishes to renew the agreement for the second and final two-year term.  Under this renewal, the preset event fee schedule will remain the same; however, there is a proposed increase to the hourly rate for other as-needed consulting services from $47/hour to $50/hour.    

Recommended Action: The City Commission adopt a resolution authorizing the proper City official to enter into the second and final two-year renewal term with South Florida Food and Wine, Inc. for Event Management Services, for the period October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028.

Ms. Christine Najac is the managing director of South Florida Food and Wine, Inc.  A member of Florida Festivals and Events Association, Ms. Najac assists in developing, planning, and executing events for the City.

The City has contracted with South Florida Food and Wine, Inc. since January of 2015 to assist in creating specialized events that promote the City of Oakland Park and the culinary activity in the Culinary Arts District. Ms. Najac has worked with City staff to grow events and has been pivotal in the success of events such as Taste of Oakland Park, Oktoberfest, Holiday Village, Dancing in the Street, Soul Fest, Latin Fest, and many others.

Ms. Najac's annual event fee structure will remain the same at $103,000 for the final two years.  An increase in her hourly rate from $47/hour to $50/hour for additional consulting services is proposed.

The annual cost of the contract with South Florida Food and Wine, Inc. will remain at $103,000 for the events listed in Exhibit A. Funding for these events is included in the Proposed FY 2027 budget and will become available when City Commission approves the budget in September.

Services unrelated to the events listed in Exhibit A will be billed at an hourly rate of $50 and provided only to the extent that budgeted funds are available.