Rick’s Steakhouse & Lounge, the new restaurant presented by adult nightclub Scarlett’s Cabaret, has offered the town of Pembroke Park the lowest price to host a taxpayer-funded luncheon for dozens of local government workers.
The town scooped up the offer, agreeing to pay $3,750 so that 75 people with the town can celebrate their annual holiday luncheon there for about three hours on Dec. 8. The town’s invoice lists a delicious lineup, complete with prime rib, salmon, ginger pork belly, salmon, chicken, vegetables and a dessert spread.
While Rick’s shares the same building as Scarlett’s, at 2920 SW 30th Ave., the restaurant has its own entrance and there’s no nudity. In addition, Scarlett’s management says it will be closed next door during the town’s luncheon at Rick’s.
The town’s celebration is among many planned by many local governments across South Florida, raising the question about whether thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds should be devoted toward holiday events for employees. A review by the South Florida Sun Sentinel shows some municipalities don’t plan to spend on employee holiday bashes, while several communities will devote as much as $7,000 to $19,000 toward the employee celebrations.
“I don’t want to come off sounding like Scrooge. But as a taxpayer, I would question that: My money, essentially, to entertain public employees,” said Ben Wilcox, research director for Integrity Florida, a nonpartisan government watchdog. “These are people in public service.”
Picking Rick’s for lunch
In the southern part of Broward, Pembroke Park is a small town with a population of about 6,000, which rises during the winter each year when the snowbirds arrive.
Pembroke Park town leaders say choosing Rick’s this year is a financial improvement over last year’s budget, when the town dropped $11,250 on a private boat charter, sailing more than two hours up and down the Intracoastal with food and a DJ.
Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs, who organized last year’s town event, was the lone vote against having this year’s holiday luncheon at Rick’s. “I have no problem with the business whatsoever, but it’s not an appropriate place for tax dollars to be used,” Jacobs said.
In advance of the town’s luncheon, Jacobs said he took his wife there for dinner to try it out, calling the food “phenomenal.” Still, he likened it to “being on South Beach” with a nightclub ambiance, noting its affiliation with Scarlett’s.
Ed Anakar, Rick’s director of operations, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that on the day of the town’s luncheon, Scarlett’s won’t open at all until an hour after the town event has ended. “There is no entertainment (to) avoid any issues whatsoever,” he said.
The other town commissioners supported having the luncheon at Rick’s. This year, a town staffer made the arrangements after getting quotes from three businesses. Officials said their special rate — $3,750 — came in much lower than quotes from two other steakhouses, both in Hollywood, at $4,462.50 and $4,834.50. And eating at Rick’s would support a local business, town officials said.
“The food is supposed to be good,” Vice Mayor Eric Morrissette said. “You wouldn’t treat your good workers to junk food. I think it’s a fine establishment.”
South Florida communities’ spending
Some cities, such as Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, say they have no annual employee holiday luncheon or party.
Hollywood taxpayers don’t pay for a party, but some directors personally pay to treat their staff to lunch, according to a city spokeswoman.
In Pembroke Pines, each department arranges its own holiday party, financed by the directors, although the city spends $7,000 on its annual appreciation event in late November where 300 employees will be treated to hot chocolate, cookies and a “token gift” of a tumbler with the city’s logo on it.
And in North Lauderdale, the city hosts a holiday luncheon for its 143 full-time and 24 permanent part-time staff members.
The meal is catered and held at the city recreation center. This year’s fest is still in the planning stages and although budgeted at $25,000, it’s expected to cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
That includes $5,000 for food, an estimated $1,000 on raffle prizes, $1,000 for a painting contest, another $1,000 for contest prizes, and more for decorations and sweaters for an ugly sweater contest.
That’s in line with the budget for Boynton Beach, which has set aside $10,000 for its holiday party for its 900 employees.
Tamarac has set aside $8,000 for its employees luncheon at the Tamarac Community Center.
Delray Beach, too, has budgeted $7,000 for its upcoming employee luncheon.
Pompano Beach has among the largest events, budgeting $19,000 for its holiday dinner-dance party, held at a country club for its employees who pay for tickets. The ticket prices help offset the cost of DJ, prizes, centerpieces, photos and food, according to a city spokeswoman. Spouses are welcome, children are not.
Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin said it’s a chance to show workers how appreciated they are.
“The core of your city who deliver the services for the residents are the employees,” he said. “Without them the city doesn’t amount to much, we do have tremendous employees. It’s an opportunity to say thank you beyond their regular pay.
“They work hard day in and day out,” Hardin said.
But such spending for celebrations could raise issues, said Karen Woodall, the co-founder of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy/Florida People’s Advocacy Center in Tallahassee.
“I don’t see a problem with recognizing and supporting your employee, (but) there’s a lot of different ways to do that that don’t require spending taxpayer dollars that in most communities are needed for other things,” Woodall said.
“I don’t know that there is a right or wrong answer. But it might be prudent to be creative on how you appreciate your employees and their families that doesn’t involve using taxpayer dollars that are to be spent on the broader community.”
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash