January 19, 2023 Aventura City Commission Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
JANUARY 19, 2023
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 Howard S.
Weinberg at 9.09 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice
Mayor Billy Joel, Commissioner Amit Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland,
Commissioner Paul A. Kruss, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks', Commissioner Michael
Stern, 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.
The Pledge was led by Vice Mayor Joel.
Former Mayor Enid Weisman, who was in attendance, was congratulated on recently
being honored by the Miami-Dade County School Board.
2. Discussion: Approval of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Purchase of
911 Video Wall for the City's Police Department (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
reviewed the need for an update to the video wall for the Police Department's 911 system.
The City Commission discussed the item including the recruiting process and the need
for the salaries for 911 operators to be competitive.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of the item as a resolution on the February Commission Meeting
Agenda.
3. Discussion: Adoption of IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
(Commissioner Kruss): Commissioner Kruss recommended that the definition be
considered as an ordinance in lieu of a resolution, based on what had been done in other
municipalities and the State.
Mr. Meyers discussed the benefit of the permanency of an ordinance as a policy/law.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of the item as an ordinance on the February Commission Meeting
'Participated via virtual communications media teclmology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—January 19, 2023
Agenda.
4. Discussion: Police Pension Board of Trustees Vacancy (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson explained the vacancy on the Board due to the resignation of Vice Mayor Joel
and recommended the appointment of former Mayor Enid Weisman.
The City Commission reviewed the three resumes received.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the placement of a resolution on the February Commission Meeting Agenda
appointing Enid Weisman to the Board. Additionally, Mr. Wasson was directed to see if
the other interested applicants could serve in other capacities.
5. Follow-up Discussion: Color Palette for Building Code (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson and Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, reviewed the
recommended color palette based on feedback at the last workshop and the addition of
more colors.
The City Commission reviewed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item as an ordinance on the February Commission Meeting Agenda.
6. Follow-up Discussion: Annual Building Maintenance Report Requirement
(City Manager): Mr. Wasson and Keven Klopp, Community Development Director,
reviewed the recommendation to create an annual certification of structural maintenance
as part of the City's Code.
The City Commission discussed the item including the addition of language to Section
14-3(a) to include a designee.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item, with the added language, as an ordinance on the February Commission
Meeting Agenda.
7. Discussion: Proposed "Aventura Food Hall" — 2777 N.E. 185 St. (City
Manager): Prior to the discussion of the item, the following announcement was made:
Commissioner Kruss announced that due to the appearance of a conflict, because he has
a restaurant next to the property, he would leave the meeting.
Mr. Wasson and Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, provided a brief
overview of the proposed project and recommended approval to proceed with the notation
for the need to review the traffic circulation in detail.
Brian Adler, Esq. — Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP (1450 Brickell Avenue,
23rd Floor, Miami), on behalf of Aventura Corporate Center LLLP, provided information
on the proposed food hall to house 10 restaurants.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—January 19, 2023
The following were also in attendance on behalf of the owners and provided comments:
Cara Kronengold, Esq. - Kronengold Law, Maxine Lambert — Arquitectonica, Fidel Zabik
—Arquitectonica, and Leonel Vasquez - Aventura Corporate Center, LLLP.
The City Commission discussed the proposal including the number of restaurants,
possible entertainment, seating capacity, parking and overflow parking after hours,
variance for parking relief, traffic, and adding a level of parking,
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with working on the project, while addressing the concerns voiced regarding traffic and
parking.
Commissioner Kruss returned to the meeting.
8. Discussion: Hilton Uplighting and Sign Variance Proposal (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson and Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, reviewed the request
by PMG Asset Services representing Aventura Hospitality for the Hilton for a sign
variance facing the William Lehman Causeway and the addition of exterior accent lighting.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item.
9. Discussion: Renaming of Marina Del Rev Boulevard to Hidden Bay Drive
(City Manager): Mayor Weinberg explained the request from residents to rename the
street back to Hidden Bay Drive, which would require a resolution from the City to Miami-
Dade County requesting to do so.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the resolution on the February Commission Meeting Agenda.
10. Discussion: Government Center Parking (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg
discussed the issue of the parking mostly in front of Government Center being misused
by overnight parkers, neighboring buildings, etc. and his request that a policy be
established.
Mr. Wasson reported on the signage that had been added excluding overnight parking
unless authorized by the City Manager, as well as other items that had been addressed.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with establishing a policy for the parking at Government Center.
11. Discussion: Commission Meetings Dress Code (Vice Mayor Billy Joel): Vice
Mayor Joel recommended that the men on the City Commission be required to wear ties
at the regular Commission Meetings to convey a more professional meeting.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—January 19, 2023
The City Commission discussed the item including the allowance for members to be
provided with shirts and blazers with the Aventura logo.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
encourage, but not mandate, members to dress as professional as possible.
12. Discussion: Automated External Defibrillators (AED) (Commissioner
Friedland): Commissioner Friedland recommended that restaurants with over 100 seats
be required to have an AED and a stop bleed kit.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: concerns with training
personnel including employee turnover, burden and costs, restaurants under 100 seats,
and annual inspections.
Mr. Meyers discussed the Florida statute, potential liability, the obligations of employers
to train staff, etc.
Mr. Wasson and Chief Bentolila provided comments including the need to review the item
further.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
item to be researched further with the goal to save lives while also protecting businesses
from cost and liability.
13. Discussion: Allowance of Diplomatic Children into Aventura Schools (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson removed this item from the agenda.
The following item was added by the City Manager, since it was inadvertently not placed
on the agenda as requested by Commissioner Bloom:
Newsletter (Commissioner Bloom): Commissioner Bloom reviewed her
background in publication and recommended that if the desire was to still have a version
of a printed newsletter that it be done on an 8 '/2 by 11 or smaller sized postcard, in lieu
of the current eight page newsletter, focused on pertinent information such as save the
dates and events as a more cost effective and efficient way to provide printed material.
Mr. Wasson provided comments on the current cost of the newsletter and improving it.
The City Commission discussed the newsletter including the current high cost, providing
it quarterly instead of monthly, focusing on social media and texting while respecting
those needing printed items, providing a condensed version in a smaller format, and
improving the timeliness.
Evan Ross, Director of Communications (Public Communicators Group), discussed the
digital newsletter, texting, promotion videos, and Facebook and Instagram.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
printed newsletter to be reworked and for Commissioner Bloom to work with Mr. Wasson
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—January 19, 2023
for the right blend.
The meeting was paused at 11 .37 a.m. by consensus of the City Commission in order to
convene the meetings for the school governing boards.
The meeting was reconvened by Mayor Howard S. Weinberg at 3.12 p.m. The following
were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Billy Joel, Commissioner Amit
Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Paul Kruss, Commissioner
Michael Stern, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City
Attorney Robert Meyers. Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks was absent. As a quorum was
determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
14. City Manager's Annual Review (Vice Mayor Billy Joel): Vice Mayor Joel
recommended that Mr. Wasson be provided with a 5% bonus based on his current salary,
following a review and discussion with Mr. Wasson.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
Mr. Wasson with a 5% bonus based on his current salary.
15. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 3.17 p.m.
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Ellisa L. Horvath, Mgff, aity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on February 7, 2023.
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