2011-27777 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2011 -27777
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A
DONATED GREEN BUTTONWOOD TREE FROM THE BETSY HOTEL; SAID
DONATION MADE TO THE CITY IN SUPPORT OF THE YOKO ONO WISH
TREE PROJECT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS
DESIGNEE TO INSTALL SAID TREE, WITH A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE,
IN LUMMUS PARK, AT 14 STREET.
WHEREAS, a wish tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position
or appearance, which is used as an object of wishes and offerings; and
WHEREAS, Yoko Ono's interactive artwork WISH TREE (1981) has been integral to
many of her exhibitions around the world in museums and cultural centers, where people
have been invited to write their personal wishes for peace and tie them to a tree branch; and
WHEREAS, the Betsy Hotel approached the City recently to bring the Yoko Ono Wish
Tree Project to Miami Beach, as a celebration of diversity, by creating a gathering place for
people to share their dreams for a better world, and has offered to donate to the City a Green
Buttonwood tree, which will be planted in Lummus Park, at approximately 14 Street; and
WHEREAS, Green Buttonwood trees are native to South Florida and perform well in our
environment, and installation will be coordinated with the City's Parks and Recreation
Department and the Betsy Hotel's landscape specialist; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the donation, the Betsy Hotel will also install, at its sole
cost and expense, a plaque recognizing the donation and project, which must meet the City
standards and specifications.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize the acceptance of a green buttonwood tree from the Betsy Hotel;
said doantion made to the City in support of the Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project; and authorizing
the City Manager or his designee to install said tree, with a commemorative plaque, in Lummus
Park, at 14 S treet.
PASSED and ADOPTED this / f)/4 day of OC4&r , 2011.
1 , ,, 8 + 1
il i I ...'' Niii, ::.....-.<__ ;
,�'" sL� MA O R
1 '
' 4� f:A APPROVED AS TO
y U0 / CITY CLERK FORM & LANGUAGE
#4 _ 1 6 & FltA EXECUTION
s.../...
iti 1 , 5 Dd•:11 \ 10 -19 -11 \Wish Treet Donation Acceptance Reso.doc i - 4 - - 4,' /f '
. - I T ' ttorney v a t
,,,_\.,
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of a green buttonwood tree from the Betsy Hotel made to the City in support of the
Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project and authorizing the installation of said donation and a commemorative plaque in Lummus
Park at 14 Street.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Increase community ratings of cultural activities.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): The 2009 Community Satisfaction Survey reported more than one -
fifth of all resident respondents feel there are "too few" family friendly activities (24.6 %) and cultural activities (24.1%).
Additionally, on average, residents attended 10.61 cultural activities per year and 7.19 family friendly activities per year.
Issue:
Should the City accept the donation of a Green Buttonwood tree as part of the Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project from the Betsy Hotel? I
Item Summary /Recommendation:
A wish tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position or appearance, which is used as an object of
wishes and offerings. By tradition, believers make votive offerings in order to gain fulfillment of a wish. Yoko Ono's
interactive artwork WISH TREE (1981) has been integral to many of her exhibitions around the world in museums and
cultural centers where people have been invited to write their personal wishes for peace and tie them to a tree branch.
Since the 1990s the Wish Tree has played a significant part in many of Yoko Ono's exhibitions. Ono's Wish Tree, installed
in the Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Modern Art, New York in July 2010, has become very popular, with contributions
from all over the world. Her Wish Tree for Washington, DC is in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Yoko Ono
has collected all the wishes, currently totaling over a million, and they are housed at the site of the Imagine Peace Tower.
Exhibit A provides photographs of the Wish Tree in other locations for your reference.
The Betsy Hotel approached the City recently to bring the Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project to Miami Beach as a celebration of
diversity by creating a gathering place for people to share their dreams for a better world. The Betsy Hotel has offered to
donate to the City a Green Buttonwood tree, which will be planted in Lummus Park at approximately 14 Street. The tree is
native to South Florida and performs well in our environment. Installation would be coordinated with the City's Parks and
Recreation Department and the Betsy Hotel's landscape specialist. The Betsy Hotel has also met with Parks and
Recreation, who has approved the tree and location. Visitors and residents of the City will be invited to decorate the tree
and write their wishes. Wishes will be collected by the Betsy Hotel and will be sent to the Lennon Peace Tower in Iceland
and saved in perpetuity.
The project will begin on Sleepless Night, November 5, 2011, and will continue through the holiday season to January 2,
2012. The project will be spearheaded by The Betsy Hotel as part of its 2011 Season of Gratitude Program, under the
supervision of the Vice President for Philanthropy and the General Manager, and at no cost to the City of Miami
Beach. In conjunction with the donation, the Betsy Hotel would like to also install a plaque recognizing the donation and
project. The plaque will meet the City's standards and specifications.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
N/A
Financial Information:
Source of Funds: Amount Account
1
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary:
N/A
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Max Sklar, Tourism and Cultural Development Director
Sign -O ; s:
Depart ent Director A si. tant Cit Manager City Manager
- .
•"'ENDA 411 \10 -19 -11 \Wish Treet Donatio Acceptance summ.doc
J
MIMAIBEACH AGENDA ITEM C7 T
DATE Iv --iq- //
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: October 19, 2011
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GREEN
BUTTONWOOD TREE FROM THE BETSY HOTEL MADE TO THE CITY IN
SUPPORT OF THE YOKO ONO WISH TREE PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING
THE INSTALLATION OF SAID DONATION AND A COMMEMORATIVE
PLAQUE IN LUMMUS PARK AT 14 STREET.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution.
BACKGROUND
A wish tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position or appearance, which is
used as an object of wishes and offerings. Such trees are identified as possessing a special spiritual
value. By tradition, believers make votive offerings in order to gain fulfillment of a wish.
Yoko Ono's interactive artwork "WISH TREE" (1981) has been integral to many of her
exhibitions around the world in museums and cultural centers. As part of the artwork, people
have been invited to write their personal wishes for peace and tie them to a tree branch. Since the
1990's, the Wish Tree has played a significant part in many of Yoko Ono's exhibitions. Ono's Wish
Tree, installed in the Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Modern Art, New York in July 2010, has
become very popular, with contributions from all over the world. Her Wish Tree for Washington, DC
is in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Yoko Ono has collected all the wishes, currently
totaling over a million, and they are housed at the site of the Imagine Peace Tower. Exhibit A
provides photographs of the Wish Tree in other locations for your reference.
ANALYSIS
The Betsy Hotel approached the City recently to bring the Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project to Miami
Beach as a celebration of diversity, by creating a gathering place for people to share their dreams
for a better world. The Betsy Hotel has offered to donate to the City a Green Buttonwood tree, which
would be planted in Lummus Park at approximately 14 Street. The tree is native to South Florida
and performs well in our environment. Installation would be coordinated with the City's Parks and
Recreation Department and the Betsy Hotel's landscape specialist. The Betty Hotel has also met
with Parks and Recreation, who has approved the tree and location.
Visitors and residents of the City will be invited to decorate the tree and write their wishes. Wishes
will be collected by the Betsy Hotel and will be sent to the Lennon Peace Tower in Iceland and
saved in perpetuity.
The project would begin on Sleepless Night, November 5, 2011, and will continue through the
holiday season to January 2, 2012. The project would be spearheaded by The Betsy Hotel as part
Wish Tree Project Donation
October 19, 2011
Page 2 of 3
of its 2011 Season of Gratitude Program, under the supervision of the Vice President for
Philanthropy and the General Manager, and at no cost to the City of Miami Beach.
In conjunction with the donation, the Betsy Hotel would like to also install, at its sole cost and
expense, a plaque recognizing the donation and project. The plaque must meet the following City
standards and specifications:
1. Material: 1/4 inch thick 316 gauge marine grade stainless steel;
2. Font: Futura Standard;
3. Copy (verbiage): Black etched copy with a protective clear coat finish;
4. Beveled edges at a 45 degree angle;
5. Blind installation onto surface with studs and adhesive;
6. The following specifications shall also be applied:
• First Line: 48 Points
• Second Line: 60 Points BOLD
• Third & Fourth Line: 48 Points
• Middle Sentence: 36 Points
• Final Sentence: 42 Points
7. Size of the plaque to be appropriate to the location
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends the adoption of the attached Resolution authorizing the acceptance
of the donation from the Betsy Hotel made to the city in support of the Yoko Ono Wish Tree Project,
and authorizing the installation of the donated tree, as well as a commemorative plaque, in Lummus
Park at 14 Street.
J M G/H M F /MAS /G F
T:\AGENDA\2011 \10 -19 -11 \Wish Treet Donation Acceptance Memo.doc
Wish Tree Project Donation
October 19, 2011
Page 3 of 3
EXHIBIT A
., 1 ,ti
w
,
a..
s n 4
,
w y a ', m { .
t:f a “ i 7 . i;,,
,
414.: , . •
..,
t ,.. . .
. 4,...„ 4, 4..,..: r''' \ '
k
I to.:4:,: 4
t
'