01-19-2012 Workshopof
City Commission
Workshop Meeting
January 19, 2012
�.
Immediately following 9 am Special Commission meeting
es
19200 West Cnnntry Club Drive Aventnra_ FT.
Executive Conference Room
AGENDA
1. Key to City Recommendation (Commissioner Diamond)*
Future Action Required: Resolution
2. Aventura Government 101 - A Citizen's Academy (City
Manager) *
3. Right Turn -lane @ 34th Avenue and Country Club Drive (City
Manager)*
4. Lehman Causeway /Biscayne Blvd Traffic Safety Camera
5. Recommendation to Increase Enrollment at ACES (City
Manager) *
Future Action Required: Resolution
6. NALEO Conference (Commissioner Weinberg)
7. Adjournment
* Back -up Information Exists
This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are
disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the Office
of the City Clerk, 305- 466 -8901, not later than two days prior to such proceeding.
MEMO TO ERIC SOROKA, CITY MANAGER
KINDLY PLACE ON NEXT WORKSHOP AGENDA
FROM: Commissioner Bob Diamond
TO: Aventura City Commission
DATED: December 12, 2011
RE: Key to City of Aventura
On October 11, 2005, the Aventura Commission adopted a Resolution (No. 2005 -62) establishing criteria
for the award of Keys to the City of Aventura. The Key shall be awarded (among other criteria) to those persons
who have distinguished themselves for public recognition and appreciation for their achievements or
accomplishments, by activities, which include but are not limited to "rendering of service to the public."
I know of no one more deserving of the honor than Victor Cynamon, Vice President and Chairman of the
Holocaust Survivors Committee of the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center (ATJC). It is critically important that
the world continue to be aware of the horror of what took place in World War II when Hitler and his henchmen
killed millions of innocent people, including 6,000,000 Jews. The Aventura area, outside of Israel, has one of
the largest number of Holocaust survivors, of which, Victor continues to serve for many years as their
Chairman.
On Sunday, January 29, 2012, Victor and the Holocaust Survivors will be honored at ATJC with a testimonial
dinner, entitled "A Celebration of Life 67 Years After Liberation." If approved by our Mayor and City
Commission, presentation at that time of the Keys to the City of Aventura to Victor would be an unforgettable
event. I submit the following:
1. Victor has spoken before numerous young groups, including several hundred junior and senior students
at Krop High School and other local schools, to educate them as to the horror of the Holocaust, so that
young people can learn about prejudice and what took place before they were born. He has also had the
honor to speak and enlighten the FBI about prejudice. In addition, Victor also teaches students enrolled
in Holocaust Education classes at the University of Miami and speaks at their graduation luncheon each
year.
2. Victor's importance for distinguishing himself for public recognition and rendering a service to the
public is well illustrated by the attached letter sent to Victor on June 1, 2011 from Zach Rutta, from Los
Angeles, a former student of Victor at the University of Miami. According to his letter, Victor's stories
"have inspired to never lose hope and always have faith.... Again, thank you for all that you have done
to change my life."
3. On a personal level, a few years ago, I was called in by a large company in Aventura as to a serious anti -
Semitic incident that took place. I shall leave out the name of the company. I then brought in the
Regional Director of the ADL, and together with officials from the company, we decided to ask Victor
Cynamon to speak to the entire staff of the company and tell them about prejudice, anti - Semitism, his
past history and the Holocaust. There was not a dry eye in the large room as Victor spoke. His message
will never be forgotten by the employees. I don't believe that an anti- Semitic incident will ever occur
again at that company.
4. With the aging population of the "survivors," some are rushed to Aventura Hospital with serious,
emergent problems. Some are without spouses or nearby family. Victor, I and CEO Heather Rowan
have an arrangement wherein Victor will call me immediately with the name of the "survivor" who is in
the hospital and I then call Heather, who then goes immediately to see the patient, provide every
possible care, concern and help, including speaking with the doctors, nurses and family. According to
Victor, "It is like a blessing from God. The `survivors' have spread the word how wonderful it is to live
in the City of Aventura." Praise goes to Victor and Heather.
5. Victor and his wife Celia were married 65 years ago in Germany at a displaced persons camp by an
American army chaplain. They have been major contributors and fund- raisers of the Aventura
Turnberry Jewish Center for the last 20 years. His tireless dedication to the Federation was recognized
with an outstanding service award in 1997. In 1994, Victor was appointed to chair, plan and organize
the building of the Holocaust Memorial at ATJC. Almost single - handedly, Victor raised the necessary
funds to design and build the Memorial at the ATJC. He motivated hundreds of survivors to support the
project of the Shoah Memorial. After completion of this moving memorial, Victor was recognized with
a letter from the Hon. Itzchak Shamir, former Prime Minister of Israel. Eventually, the museum with a
video of the history of the Shoa was visited by scores of children and adults to learn about the
Holocaust. In 2006, Victor hosted a visit from Mrs. Linda Cooper, the Principal of the school that
created the 6 million paperclips project, which became a Holocaust museum in a small town in
Tennessee which had no Jews. Victor could never have accomplished this without the love and support
of Celia. Victor honored his 50th wedding anniversary to Celia by donating 300 new books and tapes
that created the Holocaust Library at ATJC.
6. Victor brings honor and prestige to our City of Aventura. His remarkable bio includes Founding
President of the ATJC Men's Club. He has received numerous accolades, including active participation
in the Friends of Israel Defense Forces, National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.,
the Anti- Defamation League, Women's Ort and AIPAC, where Victor co- chaired the dinner hosting
Congressman Tom Lantos. Victor and Celia are charter members of "WAGRO" (the Warsaw Ghetto
Resistance Organization). In addition, Victor also serves as chairman of the State of Israel Bonds
Miami -Dade Division since 1995, was honored for this service in 1998 and again in 2003 when he
received the L'Chaim Award from the world -wide president of Israel Bonds the Hon. Joshua Matza
and in 2008, the Menachim Begin Award. He co- chaired an evening for fundraising for the City of Ariel
in Israel.
Respectfully,
Aventura Commissioner Bob Diamond
Avent Keys VC 121011
Dec 12 2011 4:30PM Robert Diamond 3059324131 page 2
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Mr. Cynamon,
From the bottom of my heart, l want to sincerely thank you for spending the last
semester sharing your life stories with me. l have grown exponential amounts in
the five meetings we had over the past few months. When I was first introduced to
the program at the and of last fall, I truly did not know what to expect and to be
honest, I did not know how to approach this new experience. You immediately
were so kind to me during our first phone call and I knew this would truly become
the most meaningful experience I would have in my four years of college. Your
stories have_ inspired to never lose hope and always have faith. I have learned to
trust my instincts and listen to those around you when one needs them most.
Your stories have motivated me to live every day to Its fullest. Even though I have
attended a Jewish bay School for the first 18 years of my life and have been
surrounded by a great deal of Holocaust awareness and stories, the time I spent
with you has truly taught me the most. You have provided me with such a better
understanding of the Holocatist and have given me a greater compassion to those
affected. I look forward to going back home to Los Angeles and to share your
stories with my family and friends, You're stories are truly remarkable and I am
proud to be able to have heard them from you. Your experience will never be
forgotten and i Wil share your stories as your father once requested of you. You
are a mentor, mentch, and a great friend. Again, thank you for all that you have
done to change my life. I am now a better and wiser person because of you.
Sincerely
zach Ruts
Overview
Aventura Government 101
A Citizen's Academy
2012
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The purpose of Aventura Government 101 - A Citizen's Academy is to provide a
learning forum for citizens to become more familiar with City of Aventura Government,
improve communications between citizens and government. as well as foster citizen
involvement.
The Academy is provided free of charge by the City Administration as a service to the
community and to be held at the various City facilities. Applications will be accepted
during a set period of time and participants will be selected on a first —come first - served
basis. The Class will be limited to 30 participants and is open to residents only. Each
Session will be for two to three hours. On completion of the Academy the graduates will
be recognized at a City Commission meeting.
Course Outline
Week 1 — Overview of Academy
• Description of the City of Aventura
• Form of government
• Constitutional Officers —City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney
• Duties of Mayor and Commissioners
Week 2 — Where: Police Department Community Room
• Police Department
• Tour of Police Department
Week 3 -- Where: Aventura Community Recreation Center
• Community Services Department
2
• Aventura's "Go Green Program"
• Tour of Community Center
Week 4 -- Where: Police Department Community Room
• Tour of Government Center
• Community Development Department
• Planning
• Building
• Overview of future development projects
Week 5 -- Where: Police Department Community Room
• Finance Department
• Budget
• Capital Improvement Program
• Information Technology Department
• Public Communications- Web Page, Public Access Cable Channel,
Radio Channel etc.
Week 6 -- Where: Aventura City of Excellence School Cafeteria
• Charter School
• Tour of Charter School
Week 7 — Where: Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
• Arts & Cultural Center Department
Week 8 -- Where: Aventura Government Center Commission Chambers
• Graduation
CITY OF "ENTURA
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Commission
FROM: Eric M. Soroka, ICMA -CM, Cit anag r
DATE: January 9, 2012
SUBJECT: Right Turn Lane — N.E. 34th Avenue and Country Club Drive
In order to improve traffic flow at the intersection of N.E. 34th Avenue and Country Club
Drive, for a number of years the City has requested the County to allow a right hand
turn at this intersection. The County has denied this request in the past due to the
impact on bus stop at that location.
Recently, the County has agreed to review the request, provided that the City prepares
a traffic operational study to evaluate the benefits and the impacts of the proposed
improvement. The cost of the study is $4,350. The estimated cost of the turning lane,
including design costs, is $130,000 and could be included in next year's Capital
Improvement Program.
The City Administration is requesting the City Commission's approval to proceed as
outlined above.
EMS /act
CCO1764 -12
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT
CITY OF "ENTURA
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
City Commission
Eric M. Soroka, ICMA -CM,
January 10, 2012
Recommendation to Inci
City of Excellence School
RECOMMENDATION
t Enrollment at the Aventura
It is recommended that the City Commission acting in its capacity as the Governing
Board of Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) authorized the enrollment of the
school to be increased from 972 to 984 students.
BACKGROUND
As previously advised last year, ACES qualified as a high - performing charter school
under sections 1002.331 and 1002.332 of the Florida Statues. A high - performing
charter school is defined as a school that has met each of the following criteria:
1. Received at least two school grades of "A" and no school grade below "B" for
the last three years.
2. Received an unqualified opinion on each annual audit in the most recent three
years for which such audits are available.
3. Did not receive a financial audit that revealed one or more of the financial
emergency conditions set forth in s. 218.503, F.S., in the most three recent
fiscal years for which audits are available.
The following is the benefits for ACES to be recognized as a high - performing charter
school:
• Increase its student enrollment once per school year by up to 15% more than
the capacity identified in the charter without School Board approval.
• Submit quarterly rather than monthly financial statements to the sponsor.
Based on recent discussions with ACES Principal and careful consideration, it was
determined that it is in best interest of the school and its educational programs to
increase the fourth grade by twelve (12) students beginning in the 2012/13 school year.
For the 2012 — 2013 school year ACES will request that the capacity enrollment be
increased from 972 to 984. The additional students will increase the enrollment at fourth
grade from 108 to 120 students. The revenue generated by the additional students
Memo to City Commission
Page 2
would be approximately $72,000. This amount would offset the cost one additional
teacher and supplies for the students.
This additional teacher will make it possible to departmentalize the fourth grade team.
Departmentalizing allows teachers to focus on one to two content areas with
specialization. This enables them to become experts in their content area rather than
generalist teaching all subjects. The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards being
assessed this year in reading, math and science require an increased depth of
knowledge. Additionally next year the FCAT Writes for fourth grade will require students
to meet additional standards. Specific scoring rubrics are being developed by the
Florida Department of Education. The rubrics will be customized to evaluate the writer's
skill in responding to the writing task.
ACES will still meet class size requirements with the increased capacity. It should be
noted that the additional students will not have had the benefit of ACES academic
program in previous years. They will require close monitoring and possibly additional
support to ensure their success and for ACES to maintain the current level of
performance on the FCAT at fourth grade.
In order to take advantage of increasing the student enrollment for 2012/13 the
Governing Board of ACES must adopt a Resolution approving the change in enrollment
by March 15, 2012.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
EMS/