April 11, 2019 Minutes - Aventura City Commission Workshop Meeting The City of CITY COMMISSION
Aventura WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
APRIL 11, 2019 Aventura, Florida 33180
Following 9:00 A.M. Commission Meeting
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 10:15 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor
Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi,
Commissioner Marc Narotskyl, Commissioner Robert Shelley, Commissioner Howard
Weinberg, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City
Attorneys David M. Wolpin and Matthew H. Mandel. As a quorum was determined to be
present, the meeting commenced.
2. PRESENTATION BY US CENSUS 2020 PARTNERSHIP SPECIALIST (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson explained that Mr. Portilla was invited to provide a presentation,
in response to the Commission's request at the last workshop meeting.
Rafael D. de la Portilla, Partnership Specialist - US Census Bureau, provided historical
information on the census and preliminary plans for the 24th census to be conducted in
2020. The importance of the census count was highlighted, since those numbers would
be used to determine the distribution of funding as well as districting.
Joanne Carr, Community Development Director, explained the process historically
followed by the City, including a complete count committee as well as community
outreach efforts. It was reported that the City had already provided its local update of
addresses to be used for the Bureau's database.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to provide a breakdown of the prior process followed by the City at the May
Commission Workshop, including the community outreach plan.
3. DISCUSSION OF EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE FROM MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD'S NOVEMBER 6, 2018 TAX REFERENDUM FOR
THE CITY'S CHARTER SCHOOLS (City Attorney): Mr. Wolpin reviewed the
memorandum and attachments as provided in the agenda.
The Commission discussed the pending state legislation regarding equitable sharing of
the revenue with charter schools, as well as exploring other options available.
Commissioner Shelley requested authorization from the Commission to schedule and
attend a meeting with Miami-Dade County School Board Member Dr. Martin Karp and
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, along with
Aventura City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, to discuss the City's position in receiving its
fair share of the funding.
Mr. Mandel explained the process that would need to be followed to initiate Chapter 164
(Governmental Disputes) proceedings, should the Commission decide to proceed with
other options available.
' Commissioner Narotsky left the meeting at 12:02 p.m., during the discussion of additional items.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—April 11, 2019
Commissioner Landman disclosed that she is employed by Miami-Dade County Public
Schools. Mr. Wolpin, as a result of conferring with Robert Meyers, Esq., informed
Commissioner Landman that she could participate in the discussions and vote on the
item since her employer was a public entity; however, if she felt that there was an
appearance of a conflict then she could abstain from participation and voting.
Following discussion, Representative Geller and Senator Pizzo were contacted via
telephone speakerphone regarding their positions on the pending state legislation for
the item.
Representative Joseph Geller explained his opposition to sharing the funds with those
charter schools owned and operated by private corporations and his support of an
exception for charter schools owned by municipalities, such as Aventura.2
Senator Jason Pizzo voiced his support for an exception for charter schools owned by
municipalities, provided those schools did not encourage opposition for the approval of
the referendum, and noted his probable opposition should the vote not include such an
exception. Following review by Mr. Wolpin of the City's correspondence with the
MDCPS Board and Superintendent, which expressed the City Commission's support of
the school referendum and the expectation to receive an equitable distribution should it
pass, Senator Pizzo supported all efforts to carve out an exception for the City's charter
schools.3
The following members of the public provided comments: Frida Lapidot (20953 NE 30
Court, Aventura).
The Commission discussed the possibility of traveling to Tallahassee.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
City Attorney to draft letters to State Representative Jose R. Oliva (Speaker), State
Representative Bryan Avila, State Representative Joseph Geller, State Senator Jason
Pizzo, and City Lobbyist Ronald Book, regarding the City's position. Additionally, Mr.
Wolpin will provide written notification to the MDCPS Board Attorney that the City is
exploring its options. Finally, consensus was given for Commissioner Shelley to
schedule and attend the meeting he requested, along with the City Manager. An item
may be placed on the May 7, 2019 or other Commission meeting agenda, should a
resolution need to be considered to initiate dispute proceedings.
The following additional items were discussed:
Following discussion and consensus of the City Commission, the dinner recognizing the
City's volunteers was changed from May 5, 2019 to June 5, 2019, to be held at the
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.
Mr. Wasson provided information on a Meet & Greet scheduled for June 9, 2019 at
noon, for the Don Soffer Aventura High School. He reported that the request for
Representative Geller attended the meeting via telephone briefly, solely to provide his comments.
3 Senator Pizzo attended the meeting via telephone briefly, solely to provide his comments.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—April 11, 2019
applications for the School Advisory Board had been posted, which will be provided to
the Commission.
Vice Mayor Dr. Marks provided an update on the high school staffing process.
Consensus was given to suggest that the high school provide a part-time college
counselor, at an hourly rate, in addition to the guidance counselor hired.
4. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:06 p.m.
fly off{
Ellisa L. Horvath, , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on May 7, 2019.
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