January 17, 2019 Minutes - Aventura City Commission Workshop Meeting
CITY COMMISSION
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
JANUARY 17, 2019
Aventura, Florida 33180
9:00 A.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 9:00 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor
Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi,
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Commissioner Marc Narotsky, Commissioner Robert Shelley, Commissioner Howard
Weinberg, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City
Attorney David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting
commenced.
Per consensus of the City Commission, the following agenda item was taken out of
order:
4. LANDSCAPING OVERVIEW OF AVENTURA (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson
distributed an Existing Conditions Shrub Plan for the City of Aventura, in response to
direction received from the City Commission.
Joseph Kroll, Public Works & Transportation Director, reviewed the plans and explained
the selection of the plantings used in the medians and other areas based on irrigation
and saline conditions, in addition to other criteria.
Kathy O’Leary, Landscape Architect - O’Leary Richards Design Associates, Inc.,
additionally explained the selection of the vegetation used.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission that a
proposed cohesive plan be prepared to provide continuity throughout the City, as well
as a report on the possibility of an improvement process for perimeter control of other
properties.
2. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES (City Manager):
a. Discussion of Upcoming Session (Ron Book):
City Lobbyist Ron Book
provided an update on Tallahassee and discussed the upcoming legislative session. He
additionally discussed scheduling appointments for those members of the Commission
traveling to Tallahassee.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed Legislative Program and Priorities for 2019.
Mr. Wolpin will look into drone regulations regarding school security and monitor the
status of the State’s pre-emption of cigarette smoking regulations. He provided an
update on the City’s red light camera safety program and status of litigation.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for a
Resolution to be placed on the February Commission Meeting Agenda to adopt the
2019 Legislative Program and Priorities as presented.
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Commissioner Narotsky left the meeting following the discussion of Item 8.
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Commissioner Shelley left the meeting during the discussion of Item 3.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes – January 17, 2019
3. UPDATE: AVENTURA FINANCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY (City Manager):
Mr.
Wasson provided introductory remarks and requested Brian Raducci, Finance Director,
to review the following items from the PowerPoint presentation: Portfolio Summary –
12/31/2018, TD Bank, and NA Transition.
David Witthohn, CFA, CIPM, Senior Portfolio Specialist - Insight Investment, distributed
and reviewed the City of Aventura Investment Management Program Review dated
January 2019 including the following: Portfolio Performance Review, Market
Environment & Strategies, Investment Policy Review, and Important Disclosures. He
additionally discussed ways to provide enhanced performance, with slightly increased
risk. The proposed changes to the Investment Objectives and Parameters, as provided
in the agenda, were reviewed.
Mr. Witthohn will provide another update in six months, unless requested sooner.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for a
Resolution to be placed on the February Commission Meeting Agenda to adopt the
proposed changes to the Investment Objectives and Parameters as presented, as well
as the following changes:
Section V(M) Listing of Authorized Investments – Israel Bonds: increase the
maximum amount in Israeli bonds from $150,000.00 in par value to $300,000.00 in par
value.
Section XVI Prohibited Investments – add the following language: “The City may
not invest in companies that are included in the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott
Israel List as provided by Sec. 215.4725, Florida Statutes, which is used by the State
Board of Administration, unless an exception provided in that statute is applicable.”
5. DISCUSSION OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRIORITIES
(Mayor Weisman):
Mayor Weisman clarified that this was not her item and noted that
the Miami-Dade County School Board should be invited to a meeting, if it is determined
that they would like to discuss their legislative priorities.
City Manager Summary:
No action - this item was provided for informational
purposes.
6. DISCUSSION OF IMPACT OF RECENT MIAMI-DADE REFERENDUM FOR
TEACHER SALARIES AND SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS (Vice Mayor Dr.
Marks):
Vice Mayor Dr. Marks discussed the recently approved referendum and the
lack of a distribution to the City for its Charter school(s). Mr. Wolpin discussed the prior
letter sent from the City to the Miami-Dade County School Board members voicing the
City’s expectation to receive its share of the funding.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for an
additional letter to be sent to the Miami-Dade County School Board, for Dr. Karp (Miami-
Dade County School Board Vice-Chair) to be invited to attend the next meeting, and for
John Hage (Charter Schools USA) to provide an update at the next workshop on the
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes – January 17, 2019
item. Additionally, in an effort to be more proactive, the City should educate the
community on pertinent issues such as this in the future.
Commissioner Landman disclosed that she works for the Miami-Dade County Public
School Board, but was on maternity leave during discussions.
Mr. Wolpin will look into the possibility of litigation and whether or not the School Board
received a legal opinion that they are able to exclude charter schools from the funding.
The meeting briefly adjourned from 11:43 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.
It was the consensus of the City Commission that congratulatory and offer of assistance
letters be sent to the following: Florida Supreme Court Justice Robert Luck, Miami-Dade
County Commission Chair Audrey Edmonson, and Miami-Dade County Commission
Vice-Chair Rebeca Sosa.
7. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM
ACTS BY AIRBNB (Commissioner Narotsky):
Mr. Wolpin reviewed a draft Resolution
condemning anti-Semitism acts by Airbnb, as provided in the agenda.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
proposed Resolution as presented to be placed on the February Commission Meeting
Agenda, with the following change: delete the words “or any other attribute” in the last
WHEREAS clause.
8. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING SALE AND
MARKETING OF E-CIGARETTES TO MINORS (Commissioner Weinberg):
Mr.
Wolpin reviewed a draft Ordinance providing for regulations regarding the sale and use
of electronic cigarettes in the City of Aventura, in response to Commission direction.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
proposed Ordinance, as presented, to be placed on the February Commission Meeting
Agenda for first reading.
9. ARTS IN PUBLIC PLACES ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENTS (City
Manager):
Mr. Wasson recommended that the current Arts in Public Places Advisory
Board members be re-appointed for another two-year term, to allow them to review
future anticipated applications.
City Manager Summary:
It was the consensus of the City Commission for a
Resolution to be placed on the February Commission Meeting Agenda to re-appoint the
following members to the Arts in Public Places Advisory Board: Adriana Lerner Adelson,
Marina Kessler, Dr. Miles Kuttler, and Marina Wecksler.
10. DISCUSSION TO AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 2015-66 PROCEDURES FOR
COMMISSION TRAVEL AND EXPENSES (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson recommended
that Resolution No. 2015-66 be amended to allow for the Mayor and City Commission
members to travel to Tallahassee, the state of Florida’s capital, for lobbying on behalf of
the City of Aventura.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—January 17, 2019
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for a
Resolution to be placed on the February Commission Meeting Agenda to amend
Resolution No. 2015-66 by adding "Tallahassee, the state of Florida's capital, for
lobbying on behalf of the City of Aventura" to Section 1.
11. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:05 p.m.
Cry o6 5,
aerEllisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on February 7, 2019.
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