September 22, 2022 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
Following 9:00 a.m. 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 11 :31 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 Narotsky, Commissioner Robert Shelley, Assistant
City Manager Bryan Pegues, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert
Meyers. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Update: Freebee On-Demand Car Service (City Manager): Mr. Pegues
explained the next stage for the Freebee program and provided data on the program, as
well as the reduction of the circulator bus program.
The City Commission discussed the following items: training program for Freebee drivers,
decreasing average wait times with a goal of no more than 15-20 minutes, request for
reports from the Public Works Department on the circulator bus ridership for August and
September, circulator buses parked at Government Center that should be moved, a new
circulator bus vendor, the addition of two Tesla vehicles instead of vans, promoting that
the vehicles are 100% electric through the placement of bumper stickers on the vehicles,
communicating that the wait times may be extended during the holiday months, a
presentation by Freebee at the October Workshop, and ordering more vehicles with
available CITT (Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust) half-penny sales
surtax money.
Mr. Meyers discussed the interlocal agreement with the County for CITT funds.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to be
provided with the amount available in the CITT reserves, as well as the projected
roadwork through the end of the calendar year, in order to determine if additional vehicles
can be ordered.
3. Discussion: Re-Appointment of Special Masters for Code Enforcement
Process (City Manager): Mr. Meyers explained the role of the Special Masters and the
upcoming code enforcement hearings scheduled for items other than red light cameras,
as well as the current ordinance in place regarding short term vacation rentals.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—September 22, 2022
The City Commission discussed the item including the existing ordinance and upcoming
hearings.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing the re-appointment of Special Masters Barbara Buxton and Daniel Naim on
the October 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting Agenda.
4. Request for Use of Federal Forfeiture Funds (City Manager): Mr. Pegues
reviewed the request from Chief Bentolila to use federal forfeiture funds for software for
the police officers.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing the item on the October 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting Agenda.
5. Discussion: Ethics Training Dates for City Commission (City Attorney): Mr.
Meyers discussed the need to schedule the annual ethics training for four hours for
Commissioner Friedland and Commissioner Dr. Marks before the end of the year. The
training for newly elected Commission members will be scheduled after they are sworn
into office in November.
City Manager Summary: Mr. Meyers will schedule a 2-hour training session for
the two seated Commissioners in October and will schedule the other 2-hour training
session in conjunction with the training for the newly elected Commission members.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mrs. Horvath reviewed the calendar for City Commission Meetings for the rest of the
calendar year. The Commission discussed the possibility of postponing the Commission
Workshop scheduled for November 3, 2022 until after the newly elected Commission
members are seated. Mr. Pegues will discuss the Workshop date with Mr. Wasson, for
further discussion at the October Workshop.
Mrs. Horvath noted that the Commission Inauguration Ceremony was scheduled for
November 15, 2022 as directed by the City Commission and consensus was given to hold
the ceremony at 7:00 p.m. as had been done in the past.
Mr. Pegues noted that the outgoing Commission members should invite their family and
friends to attend the November 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting, since they would be
recognized at that time.
Mr. Pegues reported that there had been discussion at a prior Workshop regarding
allowing the children of any ambassador or consulate living in Aventura to have priority
seating to attend the charter schools. Mr. Meyers provided comments.
The Commission discussed the item, with no consensus given at this time. The item will
be placed on the October Workshop for further discussion.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—September 22, 2022
6. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Commission,
the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:41 p.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath C, City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on October 3, 2022.
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