01-22-2004 Workshop
The City of MINUTES
Aventura COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
-&- JANUARY 22, 2004
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Aventur. Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, Fle,;da 33180
The meeting was caned to order at 9:25 a.m. by Mayor Jeffrey M. Perlow. Present were
Commissioners Zev Auerbach, Ken Cohen, Bob Diamond, Manny Grossman, Harry
Holzberg, Vice Mayor Jay R. Beskin, Mayor Perlow, City Manager Eric M. Soroka, City
Clerk Teresa M. Soroka, and City Attorney David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was
determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
1. FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES RESOLUTION: Commission discussed revision of
the proposed resolution as deferred from the January 6th Commission meeting.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: Consensus to amend resolution to eliminate
Section 1(e) and amend Section 1 (d) to include provision that the subject
modification would be to protect municipal funding to enhance and benefit
municipalities and include all other provisions as presented.
2. MEDIAN SIGNS: City Manager requested direction from the Commission to a)
eliminate median signs; or b) unify the median signs throughout the City.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: Consensus that administration review the various
signs and provide Commission with a proposed plan for consolidation, elimination,
and unification. City Manager to send reminder letters to condominiums regarding
conformance with sign code ordinance.
3. NAMING OF 31sT AVENUE PARK: City Manager requested input as to the
selection of a name for 31st Avenue Park.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus that Commission submit names to City
Manager for further discussion at February Workshop meeting. In addition,
Commission to discuss at a future meeting the name selection process for
Waterways Park and any future park.
5. BISCAYNE COVE CONDO MEETING MATTER Nice Mavor Beskin): (Taken out
of order) Vice Mayor Beskin expressed concern regarding this meeting and whether
or not the appropriate City procedures were followed.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: No action necessary.
4. CITIZEN'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Commissioner Diamond): Arthur Berger
addressed the Commission with a proposal to establish a Citizen's Education Center
whereby he would educate residents about the City's government structure, etc.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus that Mr. Berger prepare a curriculum and
present to the Commission for approval.
6. PROPOSED ETHICS PROVISIONS (Commissioner Diamond): Commissioner
Diamond requested Commission approval to authorize the City Attorney to draft a
proposed amendment to the City's ethics ordinance which would be more strict than
existing city, county and state ethics provisions, including establishing provisions
designed to ensure that even the appearance of any conflict of interest is avoided in
relation to any municipal transaction or matter.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: Consensus to direct City Attorney to amend City's
current ethics ordinance to provide for more stringent provisions incorporating
certain provisions outlined in the January 2004 report of the Miami-Dade County
Ethics Commission and other concerns expressed by the Commission.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come b re the Commission
at this time, after motion made, seconde and unanimously assed, the meeting
adjourned at 11 :25 a.m.
Approved by the Commission on February 3, 2004.
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at a
meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim
record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be
based.
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