October 14, 2019 Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Minutes 0
The City of CITY COMMISSION Aventura Government Center
Aventura SPECAL MEETINGAventura, Florida 33180
OCTOBER 14, 2019
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 roll was called and the following were present: Mayor Enid
Weisman, Vice Mayor Denise Landman, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks, 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. RESOLUTION: The following resolution title was read by Mr. Wolpin:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA,
FLORIDA, APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY
AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CONCERNING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
OF A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE FOR THE PROPOSED VIRGIN TRAINS PASSENGER
RAIL STATION; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND TO
TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Wolpin reviewed the proposed Interlocal Agreement with Miami-Dade County
regarding a pedestrian bridge for a Virgin Trains passenger rail station.
Mr. Wasson explained the request from Miami-Dade County for an Interlocal Agreement
regarding the money pledged as part of the Tripartite Transportation Agreement from
Seritage and Aventura Mall Venture, to be collected by Aventura and then provided to
the County for the construction of a pedestrian bridge.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman provided information on the rapid
transit plan for the northeast corridor and the land for a station, which was approved by
the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) and Board of County
Commissioners in October.
Mayor Weisman reported on the CITT and Board of County Commissioners meetings,
with the rapid transit initiative to address traffic in the northeast corridor in Miami-Dade
County.
Jose Gonzalez, Virgin Trains USA — Florida East Coast Industries LLC Executive Vice
President, Business Development, reviewed the concept for a station on property in
unincorporated Miami-Dade County, but named the Aventura station, with a pedestrian
bridge (around 197th and Biscayne Boulevard) connecting Aventura to the station.
Mr. Wolpin explained the proposed Interlocal Agreement on the agenda, as well as the
Tripartite Transportation Contribution Agreement between the City of Aventura,
Aventura Mall Venture, TB Carpenter Parcel LLC, and Seritage SRC Finance LLC.
Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2019
Frank Guyamier, Miami-Dade County Deputy Director Engineering, provided
information on the station construction timeline with trains anticipated in 2020 and the
bridge provided after that.
The Commission briefly adjourned at 9:45 a.m. and reconvened at 9:53 a.m., to allow
for individual review of the agreement.
Mr. Guyamier clarified that Florida East Coast Industries would be the owner of the
bridge (not the County), the bridge would be open to the public, and naming rights
would be under the owner's authority. It was pointed out that any closure of the bridge
would be under the authority of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
The Commission discussed the need for a separate agreement between the City and
Virgin Trains USA, to address important items such as timely construction, naming
rights, closure of the bridge, security, hurricane emergency evacuation plans, and
preservation of landscaping.
Mr. Gonzalez explained the need for Virgin Trains to provide the County with plans for a
transit oriented development agreement.
Jackie Soffer, Aventura Mall, provided comments regarding traffic impact, hurricane
emergency evacuation plans, and the importance of the bridge closure during non-
operating hours.
Following discussion, the Commission requested the following revisions to the
agreement:
• Section 1.1 — clarify that the funds will only be disbursed to the County once
there is a contract for the physical construction of the bridge. Additionally, if the
County fails to construct the bridge then the money will be refunded to the City.
• Add a section that approval of the agreement with Miami-Dade County is subject
to the approval of an agreement with Virgin Trains.
• Section 2.1 — provide language referring to the Virgin Trains/County agreement
regarding construction of the bridge.
• Section 2.2 — add language that communication from the County to the City
Manager should also include a copy to the City Clerk. Additionally, change the
amount of days for the City to provide comments to the County from seven (7)
business days to ten (10) business days. Finally, add language that provides for
the design and construction of the bridge to be subject to reasonable approval of
the Aventura Mall.
• Add a section for the County to work with Virgin Trains and FDOT to assure that
the bridge will be closed during the train station's non-operating hours for public
safety and security.
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Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2019
A Special Commission Workshop meeting will be scheduled to discuss an agreement
with Virgin Trains USA.
Chief Pegues will review the County's traffic impact studies to determine any effect on
police personnel, in response to the additional vehicles that will be parked at the mall for
drivers to access the pedestrian bridge.
Mr. Wasson reviewed several items not in the contract with the County that could be
added to the agreement with Virgin Trains USA including input on design and
aesthetics, as well as security.
Neisen Kasdin, Esq. (Akerman LLP, 98 S.E. 7th Street, Suite 1100, Miami) provided
comments on behalf of Turnberry Transactions LLC (Aventura Mall).
The Commission discussed the obligation of all parties involved to actively pursue the
closure of the pedestrian bridge, during the closure of the transit station, for security
reasons. Mr. Wasson will contact other city managers to ascertain any issues they have
encountered with pedestrian bridges within their cities.
Mayor Weisman opened the public hearing.
The following members of the public provided comments: Mark Robson (18365 NE 30
Place).
There being no additional speakers, the public hearing was closed.
A motion for approval of the resolution, amended with the requested revisions as
discussed and noted above, subject to a City of Aventura agreement with Virgin Trains
USA, and authorizing the City Manager to make any changes deemed necessary in
consultation with Commission members, was offered by Commissioner Shelley and
seconded by Vice Mayor Landman.
The motion for approval of the resolution passed unanimously, by roll call vote, and
Resolution No. 2019-56 was adopted.
3. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:45 a.m.
(Iv
ice.
* '' * Ellisa L. Horvath, M 'l'ity Clerk
.
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Approved by the City Commission on November 5, 2019.
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