February 17, 2022 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2022
9:00 a.m.
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 9:04 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor Rachel S.
Friedland', Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks,
Commissioner Marc Narotsky2, 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 the request of Mr. Wasson and consensus of the City Commission, Items 3 and 4
were taken out order:
3. Discussion: Governing Boards Meeting Schedule (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson reviewed the current schedule for the ACES and DSAHS Governing Boards and
requested direction for future meetings.
The Commission discussed holding separate meetings, additional meetings, and training.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule Governing Board meetings for April 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. The remainder of the
scheduled meetings will remain the same, but will be scheduled following the Commission
Workshops instead of prior to them. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
4. Discussion: Renewal of FDOT Landscape Maintenance Contract for
Biscayne Boulevard (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed second
renewal of the contract with the Florida Department of Transportation and reported on the
cost to maintain the medians.
The Commission discussed the contract and the possibility of increasing the foliage in
that area.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of a Resolution on the March 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda
for the item as presented.
1 Arrived during discussion of the Governing Board Meeting Schedules.
Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—February 17, 2022
2. Presentation: Two Turnberry Mixed-Use Office Building (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson introduced the item and provided a brief overview of the project on Biscayne
Boulevard.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, reviewed the item that will be presented
for conditional use approval at the March 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting.
Michael Marrero, Esq. — Bercow, Radell, Fernandez, Larkin & Tapanes (200 S. Biscayne
Blvd. Suite 300, Miami), reviewed the timeline for the project encompassing some
movement of transit and the request for conditional use approval of the City's Land
Development Regulations, relating to height and stories, as well as floor area ratio, for
the development of an office and retail building.
Fidel Zabik, Vice President — Arquitectonica (2900 Oak Avenue, Miami), reviewed the
following items: site context, rendering se corner ground level, rendering ne corner ground
level, rendering ne corner bird's eye view, site plan, floor plan level 01 , floor plan level 02,
floor plan level 05 (typical garage), floor plan level 07 (amenity deck), floor plan level 14
(office level), east elevation, west elevation, north & south elevations, building section,
and building materials.
The Commission discussed the project, including the overpass from the Brightline station
to the proposed building, parking, Nordstrom garage, and crossing Abigail Road.
Andy Lugo, EVP of Development and Construction — Turnberry and Rock Soffer,
President, Special Project Division at Turnberry Associates (19501 Biscayne Blvd. Suite
400, Aventura) provided comments.
Tim Plummer, PE, President — David Plummer & Associates (1750 Ponce de Leon
Boulevard, Coral Gables) reviewed the parking occupancy data.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of a Resolution on the March 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda
for the item as presented.
5. Discussion: Approval to Re-roof the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center
(AACC) as an Emergency Expenditure (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the
proposed project to provide repairs to the existing roof at the Arts & Cultural Center.
The Commission discussed the item including the following: age of the roof, warranty on
the current roof, providing a full roof replacement in lieu of repairs, speaking with the City's
insurance broker, solar initiative, and the use of American Rescue Plan funds.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to look at providing a new roof at the Arts & Cultural Center in lieu of repairing
the existing roof, due to the age of the roof.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—February 17, 2022
The following additional items were discussed:
Community Recreation Center Gymnasium Roof: Mr. Wasson also discussed
the need to repair the roof for the gymnasium at the Community Recreation Center.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to also look at providing a new roof at the Community Recreation Center
Gymnasium in lieu of repairing the existing roof, due to the age of the roof.
Title VI Program Update: Mr. Wasson discussed the requirement of the Miami-
Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Office of Civil Rights and
Labor Relations, for the City to update the Title VI/Non-Discrimination Policy and Plan
and other related documents through the adoption of a resolution confirming compliance
with the updated Title VI Program.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of a Resolution on the March 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda
for the item as presented.
6. Discussion: Defibrillators (Vice Mayor Friedland): This item was removed from
the agenda by Vice Mayor Friedland.
City Manager Summary: None.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Wasson will provide monthly updates on the American Rescue Plan funds showing
the money spent, as well as the associated dates.
Mr. Wasson will provide the Commission with a monthly calendar of events and birthdays.
Freebee Program: Mr. Wasson provided an update on the Freebee program,
while Evan Ross, Communications Consultant — Public Communicators Group, LLC,
reviewed the plans for educating the public as well as the marketing campaign.
Former Commissioner Michael Stern provided comments.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to come back with a comprehensive plan on how the Freebee program will
proceed including addressing users to/from the high school and the circulator bus. He will
also provide the Commission with the circulator bus rider data.
Dog Park: Following Commission discussion, Mr. Wasson will provide a temporary
fence at the dog park before permanently dividing the park into areas for large and small
dogs.
Safra Project: The Commission discussed the road lane and sidewalk closures
for the Safra project and its effect on vehicular and pedestrian traffic, as well as the
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Meeting Minutes—February 17, 2022
possibility of receiving compensation for the inconvenience of losing the use of those
items. Mr. Wasson will report back to the Commission on the approvals that were given
to the project regarding those items.
Former Commissioner Howard Weinberg provided comments.
Special Election: Mayor Weisman discussed the recent loss of Commissioner
Jonathan Evans and the need to hold an election for his seat. It was discussed that the
flag flown at half-staff at Government Center will be given to his wife Jo-An and future
arrangements will be relayed to the Commission.
Mr. Meyers provided information on the City's Charter and Code regarding a special
election to fill a vacated seat, as well as recent discussions with the Miami-Dade County
Elections Department to hold the special election in conjunction with their county-wide
primary election on August 23, 2022.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with the placement of a Resolution on the March 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting
Agenda calling for a Special Election on August 23, 2022, with the qualifying dates from
March 7, 2022 through March 11 , 2022.
The Commission discussed traffic, 2071h Street going west, and the possibility of providing
police officers at certain merge points during peak hours. Mr. Wasson will invite Miami-
Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman to attend the next Workshop.
7. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Commission,
the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 :11 a.m.
•
• Ellisa L. Horvath, U16tt,ICity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on March 1, 2022.
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