October 20, 2022 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
OCTOBER 20, 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 9:03 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 Shelley2, 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.
2. Presentation: Freebee (City Manager): Mr. Wasson provided opening remarks
and introduced Jason Spiegel, Freebee Co-Founder and Managing Partner.
Mr. Spiegel reviewed information on the Freebee program including the following: recent
ventures, making vehicles smarter, update on the first 15 months of service, Aventura
being the highest in demand program in South Florida, history of service, ridership growth
and demographics, challenge/opportunities, and an appropriate level of service that the
City deems satisfactory.
The City Commission discussed the following items: sending positive messages
regarding ride requests, wait times, number of people in vans versus Tesla cars, handling
negativity created by wait times, communication of the Freebee program as a choice with
a minimum wait of 30 minutes, review of data, use as an amenity not an Uber, number of
trips to the Aventura Mall, great service, meeting with Jackie Soffer regarding a
partnership with the mall for the program, and adding vehicles during peak hours to meet
demand.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place a
Resolution on the November 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting Agenda amending the
contract by adding two more Tesla cars. Mr. Wasson was also directed to meet with the
local businesses within two weeks that may be interested in becoming partners in the
program by adding their own Freebee vehicles.
'Left the meeting at 11:38 a.m. during additional items discussed.
2 Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 20, 2022
3. Presentation: Veterans Days/Founders Day (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
introduced Maria Leiva, Community Program Manager — Community Service
Department, to provide the presentation.
Ms. Leiva reviewed the program for the Veterans Day Ceremony scheduled for November
11 , 2022 at 10.00 a.m. at Aventura Government Center. Evan Ross, Public
Communicators Group LLC, provided information on marketing and community outreach
via emails and social media.
The City Commission provided feedback on ways to improve the distribution of
information regarding the event and discussed a car parade.
Ms. Leiva reviewed the plans for the 27th Annual Founders Day scheduled for November
13, 2022 from noon to 5 p.m. at Founders Park including the following: Activities &
Attractions, Community Stage Schedule of Acts, Map of Park, and Transportation &
Parking Plan.
The City Commission provided positive feedback on the items scheduled for children, but
discussed the possibility of adding entertainment geared more towards adults at 5 p.m.
Additional comments included having bigger rides, placing the item on the Commission
Workshop in the summer for further review for the next event, providing a fast-pass
system, adding a dunk tank, and the possibility of restricting access to Aventura residents.
Commissioner-Elect Michael Stern provided information on prior concerts held and a
system used by the Community Services Department Director similar to the fast-pass
concept.
Evan Ross, Public Communicators Group LLC, reviewed the Marketing Plan including
videos to be filmed and attracting media attention.
The City Commission requested that the poster for the event be more vibrant.
Commissioner-Elect Michael Stern provided information on the upcoming trunk-or-treat
event through the Police Panel working with the City and benefitting the Police
Foundation.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to provide information within five business days addressing the City
Commission's comments for Founders Day.
4. Discussion: City's Legislative Program and Priorities for Upcoming Session
(City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed Legislative Program and Priorities
for 2023.
The Commission discussed the items listed on the Program and Priorities, as well as the
addition of items relating to insurance prices, legislation impacting condominiums,
increasing the amount requested for new seawalls and prioritizing the list.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 20, 2022
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the item as discussed and presented, with the addition of the following
to the document: listing the items in order of priority, adding items for the State to get
involved with setting insurance prices for buildings/individuals and for legislation
impacting condominiums, as well as increasing the amount requested for financial
assistance for the seawall project listed.
5. Discussion: Revision of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Spending-
Plan for the City's Human Resources, Non-Departmental, Public Works, Parks and
Recreation, and Police Departments (City Manager): Mr. Wasson discussed the ARPA
money allocated to the City in the amount of $18,525,074 and reviewed the summary of
recommended changes to the ARPA spending plan as outlined in the agenda.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the item on the November 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting Agenda
for the revision to the ARPA Spending Plan as outlined.
6. Discussion: Termination of Existing Shuttle Bus Service with RTW (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson discussed the need to terminate the contract with RTW
Management due to the inability to negotiate costs for the reduced shuttle service needed.
A reduced service contract with the second lowest bidder (Bid No. 20-10-17-3),
Limousines of South Florida, was recommended.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the item on the November 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting Agenda
for the contract with Limousines of South Florida as outlined.
7. Discussion: Date Change for the November 3, 2022 Commission Workshop
(City Manager): Mr. Wasson suggested, based on prior discussions, that the November
Commission Workshop be changed to a later date.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to change
the November 3rd Commission Workshop to November 17, 2022 at 2.00 p.m.
8. Discussion: Work Authorization No. 2022-043508139-001 Don Soffer
Aventura High School Weight Room Workshops (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
discussed the need for a weight room at the high school and the opportunity to provide
that, as well as additional space for the high school and the parks and recreation
department, through the construction of a new building in place of the existing one at
Waterways Park.
The City Commission provided positive feedback for a new building with three stories if
possible, presenting options to the next City Commission, providing a cohesive plan for
the school system, and using an architect that specializes in schools.
Amit Bloom, Aventura resident, provided comments.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 20, 2022
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with looking at expanding with a three-story building.
9. Discussion: Placement of Items on Commission Agendas (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson discussed the prior procedures adopted for Commission Agendas and a
recent issue on whether or not consensus was required at a Workshop for an item to
proceed for placement on a Commission Regular Agenda.
The City Commission suggested that such procedures be reviewed every 5-10 years.
Mr. Meyers suggested that any future resolution also include a process for Commission
Workshop agendas.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
new City Commission to review the item.
10. Discussion: Establishing the Position of Aventura Chaplain (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson reported that most municipalities had a City Chaplain and suggested that the
position be created at the City of Aventura.
The City Commission discussed the creation of a City Chaplain, appointing Rabbi Guido
Cohen as the first Chaplain, and whether or not enrollment preference should be provided
for the designated Chaplain's children to attend the City's schools.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the creation of the position, without the designation of
a certain religion.
Mayor-Elect Howard Weinberg and Commissioner-Elect Michael Stern provided
comments on their experiences with the lottery for ACES.
Mayor Weisman requested that the item move forward as two separate resolutions to the
November 1 , 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda for a vote.
City Manager Summary: Mr. Meyers will provide two resolutions (1 . a resolution
creating the Chaplain position and appointing Rabbi Guido Cohen to the position and 2.
a resolution providing an enrollment preference to the children of the person serving as
the City Chaplain to attend the City's schools) for the City Commission's consideration at
the November 1 , 2022 City Commission Meeting.
11. City Clerk's Annual Review: The City Commission discussed the City Clerk's
performance during the past year.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
Mrs. Horvath with a 2% salary adjustment and an annual performance bonus of$8,000.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 20, 2022
The following additional items were discussed:
Bernardo Rieber, Architect — Arquitectonica, discussed the 1212 Aventura project and
suggested that 2141h Street be renamed Uptown Street.
The City Commission discussed renaming the street and the possibility of renaming the
area "Uptown Aventura."
Mr. Wasson provided the process to follow to rename the area (Aventura approval) and
to rename the street (Aventura and Miami-Dade County approval).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with renaming the area "Uptown Aventura" and the street "Uptown Street."
Mr. Wasson reported on the placement of the item regarding a color palate for City
buildings on the next Commission Workshop and re-scheduling the Special Workshop on
current zoning and development. He also provided updates on the pickleball courts, new
programs starting for seniors, and land for a third school at Gulfstream. He will look into
providing continuity for the City's signs and the timing for the light at 30th and 207th.
Mr. Meyers reported on a challenge to a recent Aventura Special Magistrate ruling
regarding a short term rental and the upcoming mandatory mediation regarding it. An
update will be provided in November or December.
12. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 :52 a.m.
•
Ellisa C Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on November 1 , 2022.
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