September 23, 2021 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Following 9:00 a.m. LPA Meeting and City Commission Special Meeting
Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
1. Call to Order/Roll Call: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid Weisman
at 10:30 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor Dr. Linda
Marks, Commissioner Jonathan Evans, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland',
Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Marc Narotsky, Commissioner Robert
Shelley, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney
Robert Meyers. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
Per Mayor Weisman's request and consensus of the Commission, the following item was
added to the agenda:
2021-2022 Florida Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP): Mayor Weisman
discussed the ICP for both Charter Schools due on September 30th and noted that since
the Governing Boards would meet on September 30th, the Commission could provide
comments at this time on the plans that were emailed to them.
Rachel Windler-Freitag, South Florida Deputy Director Charter Schools USA, briefly
reviewed the ICP for both the Aventura City of Excellence School and the Don Soffer
Aventura High School, regarding plans for mobile learning should there be another shut
down or if a student needs to stay home.
No comments were provided by the Commission.
2. Presentation: Belmont Village Senior Living Community Proposal for Vacant
Parcel at Yacht Club Way and E. Country Club Drive (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
and Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, briefly reviewed the proposed
project at Turnberry.
Michael Marrero, Esq. — Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes PLLC (200 S.
Biscayne Blvd. Suite 300, Miami, FL), Albert Coroveso, President - Corwil Architects
(4210 Laguna St., Coral Gables, FL), and David Lederman, Esq., Vice President,
Acquisitions and Investment— Belmont Village (770 Claughton Island Drive, Suite #1614,
Miami, FL) reviewed plans titled Belmont Village Senior Living Turnberry.
1 Participated via virtual communications media technology, arrived at the beginning of Item 2, and left prior to Item
4.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—September 23, 2021
The Commission discussed the following items: property line, density, foliage in the
rendering between the project and the neighboring property, the concept of the property
as a month to month rental, long-term economic development, impact of an assisted living
facility, and traffic.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
project to proceed through the process.
3. Presentation: Condominium Communications App. (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson explained the concept of the application to work with the residential community
to assist the City with enhanced communication to residents within the condominium
buildings.
Carlos Guzman Laserna, Co-founder & CEO, and Alan Gucovschi, Co-Founder, ONR
Applications (370 NE 75th Street, Suite 127, Miami FL) provided information on the
application, with an annual cost to the condominiums and no cost to the City.
The Commission provided comments on the subscription fee to the condominiums and
the possible need for more condominiums to participate in order for it to be effective for
the City.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the City's support of a private corporation.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes, with
future updates to be provided.
4. Discussion: Communications (Vice Mayor Dr. Marks): Vice Mayor Dr. Marks
discussed the need for enhanced communications between the City and the Commission,
as well as the City and its residents.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the various avenues used to communicate with residents and
discussed the newly created Communications Manager position, as well as a part-time
assistant, which had been tasked with improving communication efforts.
The Commission discussed text messaging, the importance of media contacts,
addressing the way information is distributed, communicate with more people and
someone to oversee that process, and presenting a formal strategic plan for overall
communication.
Mrs. Horvath read a statement by Commissioner Friedland into the record suggesting that
Evan Ross provide a communications plan for the City for the upcoming year, to be
presented at the next meeting, as well as the cost for his firm to implement the plan.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson and Evan Ross (Public Communicators Group LLC) to present communication
plans at the next meeting.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—September 23, 2021
5. Update: COVID-19 Vaccinations (Vice Mayor Dr. Marks): Vice Mayor Dr. Marks
discussed the need for enhanced efforts to better mitigate COVID-19 and what the City's
responsibilities should be regarding its employees, as well as suggestions to local
businesses.
The Commission discussed possible incentives for vaccinated employees, requiring
testing for unvaccinated employees, etc.
Mr. Wasson discussed the current policy of encouragement for employees to be
vaccinated and the large percentage of those that had been vaccinated thus far.
Mr. Meyers provided legal information on the federal and state levels regarding vaccine
mandates and agreed with the City Manager's current approach.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes, with
future updates to be provided.
6. Discussion: Vacancies on the (a) Arts & Cultural Center Advisory Board, (b)
Don Soffer Aventura High School Foundation, and (c) Don Soffer Aventura High
School Advisory Board (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the vacancies on the
Arts & Cultural Center Advisory Board, vacancies and one resume received for the
Foundation, and applications received for the normal appointment for the DSAHS
Advisory Board.
Mr. Wasson discussed advertising the vacancies and also suggested the possibility of
combining the Art in Public Places Advisory Board with the Arts & Cultural Center
Advisory Board.
The Commission discussed the Boards and requested that the City Manager send the
information on the Board member criteria, duties, etc. to the Commission for further
review.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to review
the duties for these Boards, as well as the Art in Public Places Advisory Board, and the
Foundation. No additional action was taken on this item.
7. Discussion: Ordinance Amending Chapter 36 of the City Code Pertaining to
the Police Pension Plan and Trust Fund (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the
proposed Ordinance providing amendments to allow members to buy-back service credits
as outlined, with no cost to the City, and recommended proceeding.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place
the proposed Ordinance on the October 5, 2021 agenda for first reading.
8. Review: Interlocal Agreement Between the City and Miami-Dade County for
Construction of the Pedestrian Bridge Along the Northeast Corridor (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the agreement to provide for the disbursement of funds
to the County received from Aventura Mall Venture and Seritage SRC Finance, LLC, for
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—September 23, 2021
Brightline to design and construct the pedestrian bridge along the northeast corridor (at
or around N.E. 19711 Street).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place
a Resolution on the October 5, 2021 agenda for the agreement as presented.
9. Discussion: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Funding (City Manager):
Mayor Weisman discussed the$19 million in funds that the City will receive and requested
Commision input on what the money should be used for.
Mr. Wasson will provide information on the restricted uses of the funds, with the
assistance of Mr. Meyers.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Meyers discussed the upcoming annual ethics training for the Commission to be
scheduled following the Commission Workshops on October 21 st and November 4th. Any
members not able to attend can participate in training online.
Mayor Weisman discussed the Brightline and the County's proposed special taxing
district. Community Development Director Keven Klopp provided comments.
Mayor Weisman discussed the County task forces regarding the Champlain Towers
(Town of Surfside) and encouraged the Commission to be aware of items that the County
is looking at.
10. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Commission,
the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 1:11 p.m.
U- m
` Elli�a F orvath, ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on October 5, 2021 .
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