09-15-2005 - Workshop
 Tœ ç1ty of City Commission
~ntura Workshop Meeting
.. September 15, 2005
10 A.M.
"'..,,;.-' Executive Conference Room
19200 West C"unIN Cluh Orive Avenh.", FL
AGENDA
1. Gulfstream Park DRI Update (City Manager)
2. Procedures for Issuing Keys to the City*
Future Action Required: Resolution
3. Mayor on the Move (Mayor Gottlieb)
4. Request Regarding County Police for Haulover Park*
Future Action Required: Resolution
5. Shuttle Bus City (Commissioner Auerbach)*
6. Aventura Mall Expansion Issues
7. Adjournment
* Back-up Information Exists
This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are
disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the
Office of the City Clerk, 305-466-8901, not later than two days prior to such proceeding.
RESOLUTION NO. 2005--
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING
CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD OF KEYS TO THE CITY OF
A VENTURA; APPROVING PROTOTYPE KEY TO THE
CITY OF A VENTURA; PROVIDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, from time to time, it is appropriate for the Mayor and the City Commission
of the City of Aventura to award or present keys to the City of Aventura (the "City Key") to
individuals who are worthy of special recognition by the City because of their actions or
accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to establish criteria for the award and
presentation of the City Key, as described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF A VENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
adopted.
Recitals.
That the above stated recitals are hereby confirmed and
Section 2. Citv Kev Prototvue. That the prototype or sample of the City Key,
which is depicted on Exhibit "A" attached hereto, is hereby approved for use as the City Key
pursuant to the provisions and procedures provided herein.
Section 3. Award of Citv Kev. That the City Key shall be awarded to those persons
who have distinguished themselves for public recognition and appreciation by their
achievements or accomplishments, by activities which include but are not limited to, the
following:
a.
making of a valuable contribution in the fields of art, science or
public health for the betterment of the lives of others;
contributions to the enhancement of the quality of life in the City
of Aventura, county, region, state or nation;
b.
Resolution No. 2005-
Page 2
d.
e.
f.
contributions to the economic development of the City of
Aventura;
acts of heroism for which recognition is appropriate;
rendering of service to the public;
activities which otherwise warrant recognition by award of the
City Key.
c.
Section 4. Procedure. That the procedure for the award of the City Key shall be
that nominees for receipt of the City Key may be suggested by the Mayor or any Commissioner
and be placed on the Agenda of a Commission Workshop meeting for consideration by the City
Commission. Final approval shall be at a regular Commission meeting. Additionally, the Mayor
may, in her discretion, from time to time, award the City Key to dignitaries of Florida local and
state government, and to foreign dignitaries who are recognized as valuable allies of the United
States of America, under those circumstances in which time does not permit presentation of a
nomination to the City Commission at a Workshop or regular meeting.
Section 5. Implementation. That the City Manager is authorized to provide for
the implementation of the policies which are provided for herein and to arrange for the supply
and purchase of the City Keys in accordance with appropriations made within the municipal
budget.
Section 6. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall become effective immediately
upon adoption hereof.
The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner
, who
moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
, and
upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Bob Diamond
Commissioner Harry Holzberg
Commissioner Billy Joel
Commissioner Michael Stem
Commissioner Luz Urbàez Weinberg
Vice Mayor Zev Auerbach
Mayor Susan Gottlieb
2
Resolution No. 2005--
Page 3
PASSED AND ADOPTED this - day of September, 2005.
Susan Gottlieb, Mayor
Attest:
Teresa M. Soroka, MMC
City Clerk
Approved as to Form and Legal Sufficiency:
City Attorney
3
September 1" 2005
nn
SOUTH.FLORIDA
To:
City of Aventura
Susan Gottlieb, Mayor
Harry Holzberg
Michael Stein
Bob Diamond
Billy Joel
lev Auerbach
Luz Weinberg
FREE BEACHES
FLORIDA NATURIST ASSOCIATION
POST OFFICE BOX 530306
MIAMI SHORES FL33153
From: Richard Mason, President
South Florida Free Beaches, Inc
Friends of Haul over Beach Park
Subiect: The ReQuest For Your Support In The Budl!etÌDI! ofUnüormed
Miami-Dade Countv Police Officers in Haulover Beach Park & In The
Placement of County Funds In The Budl!et For the Year 200512006 and
Other Issues.
Attached, please find a copy of our letter to county commissioner Sally Heyman.
Identical letters have been sent to each county commissioner and to Mayor Carlos
Alvarez. A read of this letter will reveal all the issues concerning our request for a
uniformed police presence in Haulover Beach Park by the Miami-Dade County
Police Department.
In previous years our requests for police and other activities as well as
infrastructure improvements have been both denied and ignored. Weare now
appealing for your assistance in these matters, because these issues have a serious
impact on the health, safety and welfare of your citizens, too!
Haulover Beach Park is a "donor Park" to the Miami-Dade County's Park &
Recreation Department. In excess of$1 million dollars in parking revenues alone
goes to a "General Account" within the Park & Recreation Department, while
Haulover Beach Park is neglected in both infra-structure, personnel and in
programmed activities for our youth.
While the county has Park & Recreation Dept. funds to support the NASDAQ
Tennis Tournament, the Summer of Love Festival and etc., as well as other funds
to bailout the Parrot Jungle, it has no funds to support the safety of City od
A ventura citizens, its tourist visitors and other visitors to Haulover Beach Park.
Further, Haulover Beach has a golf course, tennis courts and an area where the
increasing number of youth from communities like Aventura could play. Soccer
and even camp outs should be available.. However, there are no youth programs
in the park sponsored by the county park department.
Naturist
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Affiliated with The Naturist Society' Naturist Action Committee' Naturist Education Foundation
DESIGNATED CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEACHES - GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
Page 2
Haulover Beach Park.
As the park is currently managed, its north parking lot and its foliage areas have become
hangouts and trolling areas for perverts. Strange people loiter in the park evenings and
there are even people living in the park and a few sleeping there on a regular basis. Feral
cats roam about, creating further problems. Wheelchair access to the beach, tom up over
10 months ago, has yet to be replaced. Requests for replacement ramps are ignored.
All county and city sexual predator ordinances have no enforcement in Haulover, because
there is no uniformed police stationed there. Yet, we all know that parks are where the
children play and an attractant to child molesters.
In addition, the county has further commercialized the park by granting a concession to a
company that has portable units on the beach and also allowing them to sell alcoholic
beverages too. Adding to the potential for problems.
I and others have been in this park both daily and weekly for over 14 years including
doing "Crime Watch" patrols evenings and nights. We know the problems and solutions.
The start of the solution is with uniformed police being budgeted into the budget of the
Park Department.
Having Miami-Dade Police on the beachside will enable them to be of assistance in
traffic accidents and other vehicle related issues, which are caused by the increased
visitors to Haulover Beach Park as well as prevent the continuous automobile breakin-is .
Please review the attached letter carefully. It has all the issues that need to be addressed
spelled out. We are available to meet with you to answer any questions.
Your support on this issue is solicited and respectfully requested.
Please call Commissioner Sally Heyman today and tell her you want uniformed Miami-
Dade Police stationed in Haulover Beach Park. Phone: 305 375 5128.
Thank you.
Richard Mason, President
South Florida Free Beaches
Friends of Haul over Beach Park
PO Box 530306
Miami Shores, FL 33153
Phone: 305 893 8838
Cell: 305 283 3633
Naturist
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Affiliated with The Naturist Society' Naturist Action Committee' Naturist Education Foundation
DESIGNATED CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEACHES - GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
FAXCOM
August 28, 2005 Pages: 3
TO:
Sally Heyman, Commissioner
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
III N.W. First Street, Suite 220
Miami, FL 33128
Fax: 305-372-6179 -and- 305-787-5998
SOUTH'FLORIDA
FREE BEACHES
FLORIDA NATURIST ASSOCIATION
POST OFFICE BOX 530306
MIAMI SHORES FL33153
FR:
Richard Mason, President
Tel: 305.893.8838 / Fax: 305 893 8823 / Cell: 305283.3633
SUBJ: Haulover Beach Park Departmental Budget, Year 2005/2006
REQUEST: Placement of $240,000 into Park Department Budget to pay for the assignment of two
full time Miami-Dade County Police Officers in Haulover Beach Park, a Regional Park of Miami-
Dade County, for the Budget Year of 200512006
The Honorable Sally Heyman:
The purpose of this letter is to seek your support for the above referenced budget item.
Backl!round: There are presently no M-D Police assigned to Haulover Beach Park. A uniform police
officer does drive through the park on each daily shift. On various occasions, police are stationed at the
park, but not on a permanent basis.
Haulover Beach Park currently, as a facility, has the highest attendance of any facility in Miami-Dade.
Over 1.3 million visitors annually. And it is probablv the onlv profit fleneratinfl facilitv in Miami-Dade
COllntv flovernment.
FinanciaIs: Haulover Beach Park has parking revenues in excess of $1 million dollars annually. It is the
only donor park/facility in Miami-Dade County. This money goes downtown to a General Purpose
Account. There is no financially sound reason for Haulover Beach Park to not have budgeted police
protection.
Comparatives: The NASDAQ Tennis Tournament/ZO05, a 12 day event, cost $213,000 of Park &
Recreation Department funds to pay for Miami-Dade Police services. Further, the NASDAQ cost the
Park & Recreation Department another $452,200 ofP&R Department Expenses.
NASDAQ: 12 Days. Police Expenses $213,000
Park Department Expenses (non-reimbursed) $452,200. Total $662,000
Haulover Beach Park: 365 Days. Police ExpensesÆxtra Expenses -0-
Detail: We have Haulover Beach Park donating over $1 million dollars in parking revenues to a general
account, which may be used to support the NASDAQ, a private corporately sponsored event's police
Naturist
SociE:ty
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Affiliated with The Naturist Society' Naturist Action Committee' Naturist Education Foundation
DESIGNATED CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEACHES - GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
Comm. Sally Heyman 2005/2006 Budget Haulover Beach Park
Page 2
protection, and other costs while Haulover Beach Park gets, zip, nada, zero, no budgeted police
protection. What's wrong with this situation?
We recognize the importance of the NASDAQ to South Florida. However, we object to the lack of
budgeted funds to support police at Haulover Beach Park. A facility with a larger economic impact.
Geography: Haulover Beach Park is approximately 5 miles from District 6, Intracoastal Police Station.
It is an isolated parcel that has no other county land contiguous to it Thus, police not presently in the
park must travel over 5 miles, through dense traffic to respond to a call for assistance. Haulover Beach
Park is a 2 mile long park with SR A lA running through it, creating traffic and parking problems. It
contains a boat ramp, marina, restaurants, charter fishing boats, picnic areas, a golf course and tennis
center as well as two miles of pristine beach.
Demographics: Haulover Beach Park lies between the communities ofBa1 Harbour and Sunny Isles
Beach. Both communities have under construction or planned over 5000 luxury condominiums in
addition to the thousands that presently exist. These communities also have resort hotels that cater to
tourists. Haulover Beach Park is their regional park, and as it now exists, without a police presence, not
a safe place. Haulover as a regional park, also serves the communities Bay Harbor Islands, North Miami,
North Miami Beach, Aventura and Golden Beach as well as all of Miami-Dade County.
Visitors to the l/4-mile Naturist family beach exceed 1 million annually. Over 60 % of these visitors
come from outside of Miami-Dade County. Many tourists come from all over the world. They stay at
hotels, eat at restaurants and pay their sales and resort taxes. The economic impact ofthe Naturist
beach may exceed $500 million dollars annually.
Many of the present visitors from the condos and hotels, plus those new residents are in high-income
brackets and will be targets for criminals that seek opportunities where there is no uniformed police
presence.
The present situation reeks ofrnisfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance and should anyone get hurt in
this park, exposes Miami.Dade County to extensive financial damages.
Existing situation: We presently see a non-beach crowd arriving shortly before the lifeguards leave.
They appear to have several different agendas, all inappropriate. The isolated location of the park, its
easy access to buses and parking, and its foliage, its lack of uniform police all make it an attractive
destination for adult sexual predators wanting to meet other adults sexual deviants. Those that expose
themselves in public show up too. These agendas are criminal and a public health issue. While we
realize that there are sexual perverts visiting all the parks, we can and will not tolerate them at Haulover
Present Code Enforcement Personnel: Don't get the personnel classified as "guards" confused with
real uniformed police presence. Guards cannot enforce criminal law. They can't write summons or arrest
anyone for criminal behavior. Another level person, that the P&R Dept. classifY as ranger, that covers
several parks, can write an incident report, which gets filed and no action is taken. They also cannot
write a summons or arrest anyone.
Naturist
Socidy
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7-..~."" £J..m."
Affiliated with The Naturist Society' Naturist Action Committee' Naturist Education Foundation
DESIGNATED CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEACHES - GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
Comm. Sally Heyman 2005/2006 Budget Haulover Beach Park
Page 3
Sexual Predators and Public Parks: Public parks are where children play. Child molesters love public
parks that have no uniformed police. The counties new sexual predator laws will have no enforcement
without the presence of uniform police officers
Commentary: South Florida Free Beaches has for the past 14 years, been responsible for maintaining a
Beach Ambassador Program that is located at the northern 1/4 mile of the beach at Haulover Beach
Park. We have had Crime Watch training and patrol the Naturist beach. We have also on occasion,
conducted Crime Watch patrols in the evening and at night. We know the park and we know the
problems.
The only solution is the assignment of uniformed police officers of Miami-Dade County through the
process of placing the cost of the police presence in the budget of the Park & Recreation Department.
The present personnel at Haulover Beach Park are professional and do a good job with the limited tools
and authority that they are given. But they are undermanned and under budgeted for a park of this size
and with these visitor counts. Haulover has approximately 2 miles of open access by land and 2 miles by
water.
The M-D police personnel that visit Haulover Beach are also very professional. However, they often
cannot stay because of the demands for police on the mainland.
My personal experience has been when you call for a policeman, if they are not in the park you can wait
30 minutes or longer for a response. If the police responding is not familiar with the park, they can get
lost in the park and cannot locate you because they are not familiar with the landmarks and location
identifiers. Myself and other Beach Ambassadors have been physically pushed and threatened with no
police back up to support our crime watch efforts, because they are not in the park.
Recommendation: It is beinl! recommended. for the safetv of park visitors. that the Miami-Dade
County Commission approve the inclusion ÌD the 2005/06 budl!et of the Park & Recreation
Department. the sum of $240.000 for the cost of stationinl! two (2) Miami-Dade Police Officers in
Haulover Beach Park. a RCI!ional Countv Park. We believe that a portion of these funds should
come from the Tourist Development Fund.
We respectfully request your support.
Regards,
Richard Mason
President
South Florida Free Beaches, Inc.
Miami Shores, FL 33153
Phone: 305 893 8838
Fax: 305 893 8823 Cell: 305 283 3633
Naturist
SociE:ty
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Affiliated with The Naturist Society' Naturist Action Committee' Naturist Education Foundation
DESIGNATED CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEACHES - GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
CITY OF AVENTURA
OFFICE OF THE CITY COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Eric M. Soroka, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM:
lev Auerbach, Commissioner
DATE:
September 8, 2005
SUBJECT:
Making Aventura a Shuttle Community
My purpose for putting "MAKING AVENTURA A SHUTTLE COMMUNITY" on the
Agenda is to initiate a conversation that would leverage our capabilities
of providing and facilitating shuttle service in Aventura.
The goal is very simple: to expand the service, perfect the service and heighten
the awareness of Aventura shuttles to the point that taking the shuttle becomes a
REAL viable alternative to using your car for local Aventura travel.
I hope that the Commission can provide and/or facilitate convenient shuttle
usage among our residents to key destinations where peak period usage or
excessive usage contribute to traffic congestion.
AVENTURA MALL
TAUBER ACADEMY
AVENTURA HOSPITAL DISTRICT
CHARTER SCHOOL (VIA PARENT ASSOCIATION)
I know that in some cases "private usage" would have to activate the program,
however, even in these cases the Commission can help facilitate the
arrangement.
ZAJact
CCO1413-05
WI
BERcaw & RADELL
ZONING. LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
DIRECT LINE: 305-377-6220
E-MAIL: jbercow@brzoninglaw.com
VIA FACSIMLE AND E-MAIL
September 14, 2005
Mr. Eric Soroka
City Manager
City of Aventura
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, Florida 33180
Re:
Landscape and Parking Issues with Aventura Mall Expansion
Dear Mr. Soroka:
Thank you for meeting with Aventura Mall representatives on September
12, 2005, to discuss the proposed mall expansion for the Nordstrom department
store. During the course of the meeting, we identified two primary concerns.
Specifically, the City's landscaped open space and parking requirements are
unduly restrictive for an existing regional mall, as compared to other
jurisdictions throughout Miami-Dade County. We believe that these restrictions
would put the mall in an uncompetitive position. Aventura Mall is a super
regional mall and can only attract Nordstrom and other high profile businesses
into the City, with land development regulations that allow viable
improvements.
As you know, the current landscape open space requirement was
introduced by a 2001 City ordinance imposing new standards for structured
parking. The purpose of these standards was to encourage increased height and
landscaped open space throughout the City. Although this may have made
sense for office developments, it is inappropriate for lower scale retail
development, especially regional malls such as the Aventura Mall. It is also
important to note that prior to the 2001 ordinance, there were no landscaped
open space requirements for the business district.
WACHOVIA FINANCIAL CENTER. 200 SOUTH BISCAYNE BOULEVARD. SUITE 850' MIAMI. FLORIDA 33131
PHONE. 305.374.5300' FAX. 30S.377.a222
Mr. Eric Soroka
September 14, 2005
Page 2
Additionally, we have reviewed the landscaped open space requirements
for other jurisdictions throughout the County, and this analysis clearly shows
how Aventura is out of line with the standard requirements. While the
landscaped open space requirements are typically between 10 - 18% of total
square footage, the City of Aventura's requirement is for 36% as applied to the
mall. This puts Aventura's requirements at more than double what they would
be in other municipalities.
The parking requirements of the City are also too restrictive as applied to
Aventura Mall. A similar analysis of the requirements of other municipalities
with regional malls shows that the City's requirements are unduly burdensome.
The City requires 1 parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area. By
contrast, Miami-Dade County's requirements which apply to Dadeland Mall, the
Falls and Dolphin Mall, provide for 1 space for each 350 square feet (with the
exception of theaters and restaurants) and the Bal Harbour Village Code, which
applies to Bal Harbour Shops, requires 4 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of
gross leasable floor area (or 1 space for every 250 square feet). Hence, the City
currently requires more parking than Bal Harbour.
Additionally, Aventura's LDR's require 1 parking space for each 225
square feet of gross floor area in shopping centers with less than 200,000 square
feet of gross leasable area; yet require 1 parking space for each 200 square feet of
gross floor area in shopping centers with 200,000 square feet or more of gross
leasable area. In other words, the LDR's require proportionately more parking
for larger centers than small centers. This is unusual because typically codes
require less parking per square foot as the size of the center increases, based on
the theory that there is more opportunity for shared parking as size increases.
Taken together, the current LDR's would force the grandfathered
A ventura Mall to add parking garages and eliminate large portions of the
existing surface areas in order to accommodate the Nordstrom expansion. In
order to avoid such inappropriate construction, we discussed considering the
standards previously applied to the mall for landscaped open space and
allowing pedestrian areas or public amenities to be calculated toward the
landscaped open space requirement. With regard to the parking, a change in the
requirement to be in line with local governments would still maintain the intent
of the land development regulations and allow Aventura Mall to remain
competitive.
Although we did speak generally about the potential remedies, we would
like to address these issues at tomorrow's City Commission workshop so that we
BERCOW ¡s. RADELL
'ON'NO. "^NO u.. ^NO "NU'RONMoNm "^-
Mr. Eric Soroka
September 14, 2005
Page 3
can move forward with the expansion. We would like the City Commission to
direct the City Administration to work with us to craft an ordinance that would
help alleviate these concerns but still maintain the intent of the City's land
development regulations.
Should you have any questions,
information, please do not hesitate to phon
or require additional
at (305) 377-6220.
cc:
Mr. Ken Bernstein
Mr. George Berlin
Jodi Siegel, Esq.
Ms. Joanne Carr
Ms. Teresa Soroka
David Wolpin, Esq.
Michael J. Marrero, Esq.
~~"~~Y!"~"~¡;~~
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Open Space Landscape Requirement for Business/Commercial Zonin!! Districts
JURISDICTION
lONING DISTRICT
LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT
Aventura
Community Business District (B2)
36%
Bal Harbour
Business District (B)
No requirement
Coral Gables
COUse Districts
5% « 4 stories)
10% (4 or more stories)
Key Biscayne
Commercial District
must submit landscape plan to be approved
by planning department
I tree per 1,800 sq ft
Miami
Commercial District-l (C-I)
10%
Miami Beach
Commercial High-Intensity District (CD-3)
No requirement
Miami-Dade
Special Business District (BU-2)
12-18% (depending on acreage)
Miami Lakes
Special Business District (BU-2)
14%
Pinecrest
General Business District (BU-1A)
12-22.5% (depending on acreage)
Sunny Isles
Beach
Neighborhood Business District (B-1)
20%
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