09-17-2015 Workshop The 'City of CITY COMMISSION
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Aventura Government Center
Ventura SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 19200 W.Country Club Drive
Aventura, Florida 33180
_ FOLLOWING THE 9:00 A.M.
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 9:14 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor
Enbar Cohen, Commissioner Teri Holzberg, Commissioner Denise Landman,
Commissioner Marc Narotsky, Commissioner Robert Shelley, Commissioner Howard
Weinberg, City Manager Eric M. Soroka, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney
David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
1. BIKE SHARE SERVICE/SHUTTLE BUS ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS (City
Manager):
Bike Share Service: Mr. Soroka reviewed a PowerPoint presentation
highlighting the Bike-Share Service for Aventura including: seven proposed locations for
the bike share services with five to ten bikes at each location, and the need for the City
to subsidize the program with the amount to be determined as part of the RFP process.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission for the
Manager to move forward with an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a one-year pilot
program.
Shuttle Bus Route Improvements: Mr. Soroka reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation highlighting the Peak Season Shuttle Bus Route Improvements including:
adding a silver route for a trial period from October 19, 2015 through February 12, 2016,
at a cost of $54,000 based on 1,000 service hours.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission to proceed
with the improvements as presented.
2. UPDATE ON CITY PRECINCT CHANGES (City Clerk): Mrs. Horvath provided
an overview of the reprecincting changes implemented by the Miami-Dade County
Elections Department, in preparation for the 2016 election including: the addition of two
new precincts and voting locations (99 — Northeast Aventura Branch Library and 114 —
Williams Island Club House) affecting 3,504 of the 19,860 registered voters in the City.
City Manager Summary: No action.
3. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES (City Manager): Mr. Soroka
reviewed the proposed list of legislation, for the City to endorse and support for 2016, as
well as seeking financial assistance for stormwater drainage improvements (NE 29th
Place South and NE 191 Street).
Commissioner Weinberg discussed Legislative Item 9 (Amend Safe Harbor provisions)
and requested consensus for him to contact the sponsors, to ensure the residents are
protected from any adverse language that may be considered.
Aventura City Commission
Workshop Meeting Minutes— September 17, 2015
Page 2
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for a
resolution to be placed on the October Commission Meeting Agenda adopting the 2016
Legislative Program and Priorities with the items listed, and for Commissioner Weinberg
to contact the sponsors of the specified legislation.
4. DISCUSSION ON CITY SPECIAL EVENTS (City Commission):
• Movie Night Format: The Commission discussed the possibility of an outside
movie venue in the fall for adults, with food trucks and live music.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission for this
item to be referred to the Community Services Advisory Board for recommendations, to
make it more of an event.
• Fourth of July Parade: The Commission discussed the possibility of a
parade or a cookout, with the focus to do something additional to the fireworks display
on Independence Day. Mr. Soroka discussed issues with closing down Country Club
Drive, getting groups during the summer, etc.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission for this
item to be referred to the Community Services Advisory Board for recommendations, to
offer something additional to the fireworks display on Independence Day.
• Arts Festival: The Commission discussed having an Arts Festival tied in with
Art Basel.
Vice Mayor Cohen offered to contact the Chair of Art Basel.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission for Vice
Mayor Cohen to speak to the Chair of Art Basel.
5. DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES ACCOUNT (Vice Mayor Cohen):
Vice Mayor Cohen suggested that the Legislative Expenses Account for the
Commission members be increased and that the pre-approved travel expenses policy
concerning conferences be revised to include Dade Days.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission to provide a
resolution at the next Workshop Meeting adding Dade Days and NALEO to the list of
pre-approved conferences and seminars. It was also the consensus of the City
Commission for an Ordinance to be placed on the October Commission Meeting
Agenda, to increase the Legislative Expense Account by $2,000 for each member of the
Commission.
Aventura City Commission
Workshop Meeting Minutes — September 17, 2015
Page 3
6. DISCUSSION ON USE OF GOVERNMENT CENTER BY CONGRESSWOMAN
(Commissioner Shelley): Commissioner Shelley discussed the use of an office at
Government Center by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and whether or
not that space should continue to be offered.
It was noted that the space had been historically provided for residents to have easy
access to their Congressional Representatives, which was also common in other
municipalities.
Laurie Flink, Deputy District Director for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz,
discussed the importance of the use of the space, to meet with local constituents.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the Commission to continue
providing a legislative space at Government Center for the City's Congressional
Representatives, provided that those representatives using the space provided a town
hall meeting once a year.
7. DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO BAN STYROFOAM (Mayor
Weisman): Mayor Weisman withdrew this item from the agenda.
City Manager Summary: No action.
8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner Shelley, seconded by
Vice Mayor Cohen, and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 11:47 a.m.
.4 L/LL Aga
Ellisa L. Horvath, MM , City Clerk
Approved by the Commission on October 6, 2015.