March 21, 2019 Minutes - Aventura City Commission Workshop Meeting The city of CITY COMMISSION
y �}- �yea� WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Aventura Government Center
�Y ��lL�J1 cel MARCH 21, 2019 19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, Florida 33180
__ 9:00 A.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 9:04 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor
Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi,
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.
2. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NEWLY
RECOGNIZED PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA (Commissioner Mezrahi):
Commissioner Mezrahi requested that the Commission consider adopting a resolution
supporting Venezuela. The Commission reviewed the resolution provided in the agenda
and provided direction for amendments.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with a resolution, with the following amendments as discussed: remove
references to an interim president's name and provide support of a democratic process
and humanitarian aid.
3. DISCUSSION OF "DREAMING TREE" PILOT PROJECT AT FOUNDERS
PARK (City Manager): Mr. Wasson provided introductory remarks and Community
Services Director Kimberly Merchant explained the proposed pilot program for a
"Dreaming Tree" at Founders Park. As indicated in the agenda memorandum, the
Community Services Advisory Board provided a recommendation for the pilot program.
Mrs. Merchant reported that Luke's Landscaping would donate a tree for the program, if
consensus was received to proceed.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with the pilot program for a "Dreaming Tree" at Founders Park as discussed, to
be re-evaluated in six months.
4. PROPOSED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS USA
FOR DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL (Eric M. Soroka — CMCS
Consulting Services LLC): Mr. Wasson provided introductory remarks and Mr. Soroka
reviewed the proposed Management Agreement, as provided in the agenda.
John Hage, Charter Schools USA, provided comments on the agreement and also
provided input on Commission discussion regarding the lack of shared referendum
money, as it related to charter schools.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with placing a resolution on the April Commission Meeting Agenda, with the
following revisions as discussed: Section 5.1.1 — replace the word "City" with the word
"State," Section 5.2.11.3 - correct "ACES" to read "High School," and Section 9.1 -
correct wording from "two hundred dollars" to read "two hundred thousand dollars."
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—March 21, 2019
5. TRANSPORTATION POLICY FOR DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL
(City Manager): Mr. Wasson distributed and reviewed information on transportation
including the following: traffic survey for 213th Street, 213th Street hourly vehicle count,
ACES private bus service, and students within the two-mile radius to the high school.
Mr. Soroka provided a map showing the location and number of students within and
beyond the two-mile radius.
The Commission discussed the information provided, as well as the cost for providing
additional buses, process for the City to charge for busing, and transportation provisions
at ACES.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission not to
provide busing for students within the two-mile radius for the upcoming school year and
to monitor for discussion the following year. Additionally, for Mr. Wasson to research
options for student parking in the future.
The following additional items were discussed:
Commissioner Mezrahi discussed an internship available through Sheba Hospital in
Israel for 11th and 12th graders. It was the consensus of the Commission for that
decision to be made by the High School Principal and not the City Commission.
Commissioner Mezrahi will provide information to Mr. Wasson to relay to the High
School Principal.
Commissioner Landman reported that she would be attending the NALEO Conference
in Miami in June. She will provide the program information to Mr. Wasson to distribute to
members of the Commission who may want to attend.
In response to the prior discussion under item 4, and following discussion regarding the
City receiving its fair share of referendum dollars for charter schools within the City, it
was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr. Wolpin to research the options the
City has regarding legal action against the County and report back.
The following items were requested for the next workshop meeting: a representative
from the U.S. Census Bureau to provide information on the next census, a
representative from the County to discuss the traffic light signalization within the City,
and to provide a report from the Finance Department regarding available investment
alternatives.
Mr. Wasson reported that a table was purchased for the Citizens Interested in Arts 2019
Champion of the Arts Award Gala honoring Mayor Weisman on April 7, 2019, at
Turnberry Isle Resort.
Following discussion regarding seating on the dais in the Commission Chamber, it was
the consensus of the Commission for the Vice Mayor to be seated next to the Mayor
and to authorize the City Manager to determine seating for the rest of the Commission.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11:29 a.m.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—March 21, 2019
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Ellisa L. Horvath, Mity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on April 2, 2019.
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