Sunny Isles Beach has taken another step toward satisfying the need for park land in the southern portion of the city.

Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 17 to spend $4.5 million to acquire a small retail center at 16050 Collins Ave. Plans call for creating a park and open space. The center has two tenants, one of which will move out in December, reported City Attorney Hans Ottinot, who negotiated the deal with Ari Properties.

The property acquisition was a late addition to the agenda that included several other park-related matters:

• Commissioners unanimously approved a $23,450 contract with Kor Kat Inc. for the installation of artificial turf on the infield at Pelican Community Park. Commissioner Roslyn Brezin and Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler expressed concerns about the safety of youngsters playing on the surface but voted for the installation as a test of the product. City staff recommended the contract, saying the turf would reduce maintenance problems and costs and allow the evaluation of the product which ultimately could be used in other parks.
• The commission also approved a $65,000 contract with Logistics Management Group for staging the city’s second Jazz Festival. The event is schedule for Oct. 16-18 at Samson Park. Logistics Management Group will receive a $5,000 fee for arranging the festival. The rest of the funds go for security and staging costs, Cultural & Human Services Director Susan Simpson told commissioners.
• A $152,400 contract was approved with Tally Engineering Inc. for “threshold inspection services” at the new heritage Park Parking Garage.
• A $99,530.05 contract was approved with Tenex Enterprise Inc. for Collins Avenue streetscape improvements.
• An $11,424 contract was approved with Trane for air conditioning maintenance and repair at Pelican Community Park.
• A $24,500 contract was approved with R.C. Systems Inc. for software to be used in managing recreation programs at Pelican Community Park. The deal includes a $4,500 annual maintenance fee.
• City staff was authorized to apply for a $200,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Grant in connection with the acquisition of land at 488 Sunny Isles Blvd., adjacent to Bella Vista Bay Park.