January 31, 2022 Youth Advisory Board Meeting Minutes •
YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 31, 2022
6:00 P.M.
Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
The meeting was held in the Commission Chamber at the Aventura Government Center.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Mrs.
Horvath, with an introduction of the elected officials and city staff in attendance. The
following were present:
Members: Valentina Baredes
Chloe Freitas
Tomas Lado
Taryn Shein
Jade Stein
Carolina Wesley
Alternates: Ethan Bazak
Michael Briskin
Tomas Della Torre'
Lea Goldenberg
Constance Pimentel
Megan Shein
Absent: Lev Avidan
Catherine Bello (Alternate)
Isabella Koopman (Alternate)
Others: Mayor Enid Weisman
Vice Mayor Rachel S. Friedland
Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks
Ronald J. Wasson, City Manager
Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, City Clerk
Ian Combrinck-Graham, YAB Project Coordinator
Bryan Pegues, Assistant City Manager
Arleen Llanes, Assistant to the City Clerk
i Served as a voting member during this meeting.
2 Attended via Zoom and left during Discussion of Project.
City of Aventura Youth Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
January 31, 2022
2. Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson: Mrs. Horvath explained the
process to select a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson and offered recommendations,
based on those who served on the Board the prior year.
A motion to select Carolina Wesley to serve as Chairperson was offered by Ms. Freitas,
seconded by Ms. Taryn Shein, and unanimously passed.
A motion to select Taryn Shein to serve as Vice-Chairperson was offered by Mr. Della
Torre, seconded by Ms. Baredes, and unanimously passed.
3. Review of Rules of Procedure and Sunshine Law: Mrs. Horvath reviewed the
rules of procedure, as well as the Sunshine Law.
4. Overview and Mission of the Board: Mrs. Horvath distributed and reviewed the
duties of the Board, as outlined in the enacting Ordinance (No. 2017-03).
5. Discussion of Participation in City Events and Meetings: Mrs. Horvath
encouraged Board members to attend and participate in Commission Meetings. Board
members will also be provided with volunteer opportunities available through the City via
email.
6. Discussion of Project: Mr. Wasson welcomed the Board members and
introduced Commissioner Dr. Marks to present a project, as discussed by the City
Commission.
Commissioner Dr. Marks discussed the idea of an "Aventura Strong" community project,
as a mental health initiative, with the use of strength stones as a first step. The Board
viewed a video on glassribbons.com displaying the concept of strength stones and the
process used to make them.
The Board discussed the use of the stones with uplifting messages and various ideas for
distribution and community outreach.
Mayor Weisman provided comments on the importance of communication efforts. The
Board members discussed various ways they receive communications regarding events,
etc.
Mr. Combrinck reviewed the following areas discussed by the Board: virtual
communication, physical communication, creating events, and identifying vendors. An
email survey will be sent out for members to select an area they would like to focus on.
No public comments were provided.
7. Other Business: Mrs. Horvath reviewed the Council2College Scholarship
available through the Florida League of Cities that was sent to the high school senior
members of the Board. It was noted that former Board Chair Gabriela Sartan won the
scholarship last year.
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City of Aventura Youth Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
January 31, 2022
Board members provided brief introductions of themselves.
Mr. Combrinck will provide an email survey for members to select future potential meeting
dates/times.
8. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Board, a
motion to adjourn the meeting was offered by Ms. Taryn Shein, seconded by Ms. Freitas,
and unanimously passed; thus, adjourning the meeting at 6.25 p.m.
•
• Ellisa L. Horvath, M C, City Clerk
a
Approved by the Youth Advisory Board on March 3, 2022.
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