June 23, 2022 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
JUNE 23, 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 9:05 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Enid Weisman, Vice Mayor Denise
Landman, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner
Dr. Linda Marks', Commissioner Marc Narotsky2, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City
Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers. Commissioner Robert Shelley
was absent. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Review: Capital Improvement Program (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed
the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the fiscal period October 1 , 2022 through
September 30, 2027.
The Commission provided positive comments and discussed various items including
improvements to the building department, upgrading the phone system, funding for park
bathrooms, an employee dedicated to answering the phones, relocating the tot lot at
Waterways Park, and removing police office renovations.
Mr. Wasson will review providing an employee dedicated to answering the phones as
discussed.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing a resolution on the July Commission Meeting Agenda, accepting and
adopting the Capital Improvement Program for 2022/2023-2026/2027, with the removal
of the police office renovations as discussed.
3. Discussion: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment 22-01 ER (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item and provided a brief overview.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, reviewed the comments provided from
the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and discussed the proposed changes
to be presented on second reading at the next Commission Meeting.
'Participated via virtual communications media technology. Left the meeting at 12:13 p.m.
2 Participated via virtual communications media technology. Left the meeting at 11:30 a.m. during the discussion of
Item 10.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—June 23, 2022
The Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing an ordinance for second reading on the July Commission Meeting Agenda.
4. Discussion: Resolution Awarding Contract to the Lowest Bidder for N.E. 34t"
Avenue Drainage (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the item and recommended
that the item proceed with awarding the contract to Basile USA, LLC, the lowest
responsive bidder.
The Commission expressed optimism in receiving ten bids for the item and discussed the
difference in the amounts received.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing a resolution on the July Commission Meeting Agenda awarding the bid to
Basile USA, LLC.
5. Discussion: Proposed Ordinance Requiring Building Owners to Maintain
Exterior Building Surfaces Every Ten Years and Submit an Annual Certificate of
Maintenance (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item and provided a brief
overview.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, reviewed the proposed changes to the
Code to require building owners to paint and/or waterproof the building exterior surfaces
at least every ten years and to submit annual certification of maintenance of all building
components impacting structural integrity, as outlined in the draft ordinance.
The Commission discussed the 10-year paint warranty, concrete restoration, allowing
extensions, color palettes, and permitting requirements. An item will be placed on the next
workshop agenda for the discussion of color palettes.
Oscar Guerrero, Building Official, provided comments on requiring a 10-year warranty.
The following members of the public provided comments: Steve Weisman.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the draft ordinance and noted that language could be
added to allow for an extension to be applied for. Mr. Wasson discussed the notice of
violation fines, etc.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with an ordinance for the item as discussed.
6. Discussion: Youth Advisory Board (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the
item.
Mr. Meyers reviewed the discussion and direction at the prior workshop to amend the
ordinances for the advisory boards. He suggested, due to issues with the Charter in doing
so, that the advisory boards remain the same, with the exception of the Youth Advisory
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—June 23, 2022
Board. He outlined that the Youth Advisory Board could be changed by repealing the
current ordinance and a new Youth Council could be created by resolution with members
reporting directly to the City Manager.
The Commission discussed the item and requested that the resolution provide that the
Youth Council meet within 30 days of selection.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with an ordinance repealing the current Youth Advisory Board and a resolution creating
a new Youth Council.
7. Discussion: Proposed Ordinance Reestablishing a Residency Policy for
Utilization of Aventura Founders Park (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the
item.
Mr. Meyers explained the current policy at Founders Park and suggested that it be
expanded to include the entirety of Founders Park (both north and south).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing an ordinance on the July Commission Meeting Agenda reestablishing the
residency policy for the entirety of Aventura Founders Park.
8. Discussion: Reconstruction Agreement Between the City and Outfront
Media LLC (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the request from Outfront Media, LLC
to remove an existing billboard sign and to reconstruct a replacement sign that meets
current engineering and wind-load requirements.
Joanna Johnson, Communications Manager, provided positive comments on the use of
the sign for public announcements.
The Commission discussed the ability to utilize the sign for public service announcements
and requested that the City negotiate as much time as possible.
Evan Ross, City Consultant - Public Communicators Group LLC, provided comments on
public announcements and spoke in favor of using the sign for that purpose.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing a resolution on the July Commission Meetng Agenda, negotiating as much
time as possible for the use by the City for public announcements.
9. Update: RTZ (Rapid Transit Zone) (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the
item and provided brief remarks.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, provided an update on the recent Miami-
Dade County meeting and the items that the City has to address including new zoning
regulations focused on FAR and mixed-use requirements within the metropolitan urban
center.
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Regular Workshop Minutes—June 23, 2022
The Commission discussed Ives Dairy Road, staying abreast of upcoming County
meetings discussing the item, adding transportation to the City's legislative agenda,
lobbying the Governor for funds, and the possibility of hiring a lobbying firm specializing
in transportation.
City Manager Summary: This item was for informational purposes.
The following additional items were discussed:
CS/HB 105 — Regulation of Smoking: Mr. Wasson explained the recent bill that
was passed allowing municipalities to now prohibit smoking in parks. Mr. Meyers provided
additional information on areas that could be included.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with an ordinance prohibiting smoking in City parks, as allowed by the bill.
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Mr. Wasson
explained the need to enter into a new interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County for
professional services, as a co-permittee in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES). The permit regulations require testing at all discharge location points
for all municipalities which are performed by Miami-Dade County per the agreement.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the interlocal agreement.
10. Review: Six-Month Review of Communication Consulting Services of Public
Communications Group (City Manager): Mr. Wasson provided a six-month review of
the services thus far and recommended that the agreement continue.
The Commission discussed the organization chart, overlapping of duties, reporting,
communications plan, City Manager review of the plan, providing the plan at the next
workshop, public bid for the position, hiring of the communications manager, enhanced
communications that have been provided, honing in on strengths, providing a texting plan,
proofreading items sent out, recent meeting with the property managers, recent town hall
meeting with Senator Pizzo, the importance of having one person in charge of
communications, interviewing Commission members for their input, reaching those
residents not on social media via mailings, printed monthly newsletter, and improving
communications with the Commission regarding City events.
Joanna Johnson, Communications Manager, provided comments on communications
meetings, communications outreach, and working in tandem with Mr. Ross.
Evan Ross, City Consultant - Public Communicators Group LLC, provided comments on
his items and noted that the next meeting with the property managers was scheduled for
September 141h at 9 a.m.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission that the
items discussed be addressed.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—June 23, 2022
The following additional items were discussed:
Per a request by Commissioner Landman and consensus of the City Commission, the
July 12th City Commission Regular Meeting was changed to July 19th
Mr. Wasson provided an update on the Freebee program and working on recent delays
at certain properties due to the guest lines at the gates.
Mr. Wasson was requested to recommend that the police department educate incoming
personnel on the importance of participating in the pension. He was also requested to
schedule a Commission Liaison Meeting and to look into the possibility of providing
resident access to the ACES basketball courts outside of school hours.
The Commission discussed whether or not preferential consideration should be given for
the admittance of the children of consulates, ambassadors, and religious leaders in the
community at the City's schools. This item will be discussed at a future Governing Board
Meeting.
11. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Commission,
the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:15 p.m.
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Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on July 19, 2022.
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