November 21, 2019 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes The City of CITY COMMISSION
AAventura WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Aventura Government Center
`y 19200 W.Country Club Drive
NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Aventura, Florida 33180
9:00 A.M.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call: The meeting was called to order by Vice Mayor
Narotsky at 9:00 a.m. The following were present: Vice Mayor Marc Narotsky,
Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Gladys
Mezrahi, Commissioner Robert Shelley, Commissioner Howard Weinberg, City
Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney David M.
Wolpin. Mayor Enid Weisman was absent. As a quorum was determined to be present,
the meeting commenced.
2. Appointment of the Don Soffer Aventura High School Foundation Board
Members (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the seven names submitted for the
Commission's consideration for appointment to the Board of Directors.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place
a Resolution on the January 2020 Commission Meeting Agenda appointing the
following members to the Don Soffer Aventura High School Foundation, Inc. Board of
Directors: Amit Bloom, Alan L. Frent, Rachel W. Friedland, Michelle Leon, Cindy
Orlinsky, Raquel Rothman, and Brett Storch.
3. 2020 Commission Meeting Schedule (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed
the tentative schedule for the 2020 Commission meetings.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to accept
the proposed 2020 Commission Meeting Schedule, with the following changes: move
the January Workshop meeting to January 23rd, move the April Commission Meeting to
April 6th, and move the September Commission Meeting to September 2nd
4. Charter Schools USA Grant Policy (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the
red-lined version of the Charter School Program Grant Policies & Procedures Manual,
as provided in the agenda.
Commissioner Dr. Marks was recognized for her diligent efforts in reviewing the
document.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with consideration of the resolution approving the Grant Policies & Procedures
Manual at the November 21, 2019 Special Commission Meeting, with the following
changes: add language that the City of Aventura will conduct the necessary ethics
training (page 4) and remove the paragraph pertaining to bonds (page 17).
5. Discussion of Dining and Entertainment Promotion (Vice Mayor Narotsky):
Vice Mayor Narotsky discussed the new restaurants opening in Aventura and discussed
the possibility of the City assisting in promoting them.
City Manager Summary: Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City
Commission for Mr. Wasson to reach out to the Aventura Marketing Council, the
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—November 21, 2019
Community Services Advisory Board, and the Arts & Cultural Center regarding
suggestions to promote dining and entertainment in the City.
Former Commissioner Luz Weinberg was recognized, who was in attendance.
6. Discussion of the City Parks/Tot Lot (Commissioner Dr. Marks):
Commissioner Dr. Marks noted that due to security related to the high school, the tot lot
at the park next to the school is closed during school hours. She requested that the
Commission consider moving the existing tot lot to the other side of the current park and
providing a separate entrance, or moving it to another location in the north end of the
City.
City Manager Summary: Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City
Commission for Mr. Wasson to look into possible locations, as well as associated costs,
to relocate the tot lot at the current park site or to another site at the north end of the
City.
7. Discussion of Electric Shuttle (Commissioner Weinberg): Commissioner
Weinberg requested that the Commission consider the addition of electric shuttles as an
amenity in the City, which would provide on-demand shuffles via phone application.
City Manager Summary: Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City
Commission for Mr. Wasson to look into the costs, etc. associated with providing on-
demand electric shuttles.
8. Discussion of Resolution Combatting Human Trafficking in Preparation of
Miami-Dade County's Hosting of Super Bowl LIV (Commissioner Mezrahi):
Commissioner Mezrahi requested Commission consideration of a resolution, as drafted
in the agenda, in support of the State Attorney's initiative to create awareness regarding
human trafficking.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to add
the Resolution, as provided in the agenda, to the November 21, 2019 Special
Commission Meeting Agenda, due to time constraints.
9. Discussion of Expectation Management of State Testing Grades for Don
Soffer Aventura High School (Commissioner Dr. Marks): Commissioner Dr. Marks
reviewed the discussion at the last Commission Liaison Meeting and the possibility of
the school's testing grades being impacted, due to the limited number of students at the
school.
Rachel Windler-Freitag, Charter Schools USA Vice President of Education, discussed
the components the school would be graded on and the possibility of that not being a
top rating.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to work with Charter Schools USA on a public relations campaign to include a
fact sheet and video with one directed to the community and one directed to the
school's parents.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—November 21, 2019
10. City Manager Annual Review: Following discussion, Mr. Wasson agreed to
postpone his review until January, when Mayor Weisman is in attendance.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to table
this item until the January Workshop Meeting.
11. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Commission,
the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:05 a.m.
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Ellisa L. Horvath, MI, , ' ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on January 7, 2020.
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