11-09-2015 �
1 he CitAventura y of CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION Aventura Government Center
MEETING MINUTES 19200 W.Country Club Drive
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 Aventura, Florida 33180
'..".'1",ININI ..."_ 4:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Billy Joel,
Chair at 4:02 p.m. The following members were present: Billy Joel, Stuart Altman,
Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Stanley B. Price, and Luz Weinberg. Also present were 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.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was offered by Mr. Altman, seconded by
Mr. Price, and unanimously passed to approve the revised minutes.
3. REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED REVISIONS:
Mr. Wolpin reviewed the proposed amendment language for Section 2.03(c) Limitations
on lengths of service, to decrease the "Break in Service" provision from four years to
two years.
After discussion, a motion was offered by Mr. Price, seconded by Ms. Weinberg, and
unanimously passed to recommend the following Charter amendment change for
Section 2.03(c):
Section 2.03.- Election and term of office.
(c)
Limitations on lengths of service. No person shall serve as Mayor for more than two consecutive elected
terms. No person may serve on the Commission for more than two consecutive terms. No person may
serve as a combination of Mayor and Commissioner for more than eight consecutive years, except for the
additional length of service as Mayor and/or Commissioner described in paragraph (a) above, which
results from the extension of the term of office of Mayor and/or Commissioner as produced by the
election date change provided by Charter Section 5.01 (c)(ii). Service shall be deemed to be consecutive
unless there is an intervening few two-year period during which the individual does not serve as a
Commissioner or Mayor (the "Break in Service"). Any person serving the maximum amount of time as
Mayor must have a few two year Break in Service before serving as a Commissioner. Any person serving
the maximum amount of time as a Commissioner must have a few two year Break in Service before
serving as Mayor. Any person serving the maximum amount of time as a combination of Mayor and
Commissioner must have a few two year Break in Service before serving as Mayor or Commissioner.
This Break in Service requirement shall be applicable only prospectively and shall apply to any person
who after the effective date of this Break in Service provision reaches the maximum limitation on length
of service which is provided herein. No candidate may run for either the office of Mayor or
Commissioner when, if elected, the person would exceed the limitations on service set forth in this
paragraph by any length of time taking into account the full regular term for the office sought.
Mr. Wolpin reviewed the proposed amendment language for Section 2.05(b)(ii)
Forfeiture by absence, to decrease the amount of meetings that could be missed to
four, pertaining to both calendar year and consecutive meetings, applicable to the
Commissioners and Mayor.
Aventura Charter Revision Commission
Meeting Minutes—November 9, 2015
After discussion, a motion was offered by Ms. Weinberg, seconded by Ms. Fishman
Lipsey, and unanimously passed to recommend the following Charter amendment
change for Section 2.05(b)(ii):
Section 2.05.-Vacancies; forfeiture of office; filling of vacancies.
***
(b)
Forfeiture of office.
***
(ii)
Forfeiture by absence. A Commissioner shall be subject to forfeiture of his/her office, in the discretion of
the remaining Commissioners, if s/he is absent without good cause from any six four regular meetings of
the Commission during any calendar year, or if s/he is absent without good cause from any four,or three
as to the Mayor, consecutive regular meetings of the Commission, whether or not during the same
calendar year.
(iii)
Procedures. The Commission shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of its members and shall hear
all questions relating to forfeiture of a Commissioner's office, including whether or not good cause for
absence has been or may be established. The burden of establishing good cause shall be on the
Commissioner in question; provided, however, that any Commissioner may at any time during any duly
held meeting move to establish good cause for the absence of himself or any other Commissioner, from
any past, present or future meeting(s), which motion, if carried, shall be conclusive. A Commissioner
whose qualifications are in question or who is otherwise subject to forfeiture of his/her office shall not
vote on any such matters. The Commissioner in question shall be entitled to a public hearing(s)on request
regarding an alleged forfeiture of office. If a public hearing is requested, notice thereof shall be published
in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the City at least one week in advance of the hearing.
Any final determination by the Commission that a Commissioner has forfeited his/her office shall be
made by resolution. All votes and other acts of the Commissioner in question prior to the effective date of
such resolution shall be valid regardless of the grounds of forfeiture.
Mr. Wolpin reviewed Resolution 2011-17, which the Commission had requested at the
prior meeting for discussion purposes, regarding a proposed term limit amendment for
Charter Section 2.03(c). He noted that the Charter Amendment was presented on April
12, 2011, but was rejected by the voters.
After discussion, no action was taken.
4. MEETING SCHEDULE: The next meeting, for the public hearing, was scheduled
for December 7, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., in the Commission Chamber.
5. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, a motion to adjourn was offered by Ms. Fishman Lipsey, seconded by Mr.
Price, and unanimously approved; thereby adjourning the meeting at 4:18 p.m.
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Aventura Charter Revision Commission
Meeting Minutes—November 9,2015
., 1- 4,e_ 7):
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Ellisa L. Horvath, t MC ity Clerk
Approved by the Commission on December 7, 2015.
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