March 16, 2023 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 16, 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 Weinberg at
9:04 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.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weinberg.
3. Presentation: State of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson introduced the item.
Jeff Kiltie, General Manager - Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, reviewed a presentation
titled Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Commission Presentation dated March 16, 2023
including the following items: Mission Statement, Objectives, Broward Center
Management, Celebrating 13 Years of Performances 2010-2023, Celebrating 13 Years
of Partner Success 2010-2023, Current Season to Date, 2022-2023 Season — Average
Attendance by Genre, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida's Sensory Inclusive Nutcracker,
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Demographics, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Zip Code
Analysis, Marketing Highlights, Social Media Overview, Projected Performances &
Activity 2023-2024, and 2023-2024 Season Programming.
Matt McNeil, Vice President of Programming & Marketing - Broward Center for the
Performing Arts, provided comments on the ticketing process.
The City Commission discussed the item including rental costs, types of rentals,
Ticketmaster prices, additional revenue per ticket, and having a conversation in the future
regarding the resale of tickets.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
4. Food Freshness Dates (Commissioner Dr. Marks): Commissioner Dr. Marks
requested that the City educate the residents about food freshness dates at grocery
stores.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—March 16, 2023
The City Commission discussed the item focused on food at retail grocery stores.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the rules/law regarding expiration dates on food.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
newsletter/website to include language informing residents about food freshness dates
focused on reminding residents to check the dates, to be reviewed by Commissioner Dr.
Marks.
5. Follow-up Discussion: Health Insurance for Elected Officials (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson explained that the item was placed on the agenda as a follow-up to a prior
discussion on the topic to allow the City to pay for health insurance premiums for elected
officials during their term(s) of office.
The City Commission discussed the item including insurance coverage being a standard
practice for elected officials in other municipalities.
Adrian Gonzalez, District Aide to Florida Representative Fabian Basabe, provided
comments on what state representatives received.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the ability for elected officials to receive such a benefit,
since health insurance premiums were considered an exemption from the compensation
language and could be approved via resolution.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a Resolution on the April City Commission Meeting Agenda for the City to pay for
health insurance coverage for elected officials and to offer dependent coverage similar to
that offered to general employees.
6. Discussion: City Advisory Boards (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the
current advisory boards.
The City Commission reviewed the item including changing all member terms to two years
except for the Don Soffer Aventura High School Advisory Board, allowing the City
Manager to automatically remove a member after missing two meetings in a calendar
year without an excused absence, and allowing for alternates to be appointed.
Mr. Meyers clarified the changes.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with an ordinance to standardize certain aspects of the advisory boards as discussed.
7. Discussion: Don Soffer Aventura High School Graduation Parade
(Commissioner Dr. Marks): Commissioner Dr. Marks reported on inquiries regarding a
parade for the first graduating class from the high school.
Mr. Wasson discussed the parade that was started during the COVID-19 pandemic for all
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—March 16, 2023
high school seniors within the City graduating during the pandemic and the decreased
attendance by the third year.
The City Commission discussed the item including the prior Commission ending the
parade based on low attendance, the safety issues related to a parade, and whether or
not a parade should be done for the first Soffer High School graduating class.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to continue
with the prior Commission's decision not to have a graduation car parade.
8. Discussion: Land Lease for Additional Space at Veterans Park (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson requested direction on land available through a long-term lease
from the Peninsula, to allow for a basketball court/soccer field at Veterans Park, with the
requests from the building including a dedicated entrance and usage time.
The City Commission discussed the item including the lease amount, finding out the
purchase price in lieu of a lease, cost to upgrade the land, and the programming to be
confirmed.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
City Manager to proceed.
9. Discussion: Approval of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Purchase of
Audio-Visual Upgrades and Lectern for the Executive Conference Room (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the recommendation of the use of ARPA funds for
upgrades to the 5th Floor Executive Conference Room.
The City Commission discussed the item focused on enhancing the audio visual
equipment and a lectern.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed.
10. Discussion: Drone Show (City Manager): Commissioner Stern discussed the
concept of a drone show and suggested that a test be done at the April movie night in
anticipation of using the drones as part of or in place of the annual Fireworks display.
Mr. Wasson provided information on the cost ranges. Mr. Meyers provided information on
another municipality's (Bal Harbour) use of the drones as part of their Fireworks display.
The City Commission discussed the item including the goal to possibly use the drone
show as a blended part of the Fireworks display in July.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the drone show demonstration at the April movie night.
11. Discussion: Condominium Ombudsman (Commissioner Dr. Marks):
Commissioner Dr. Marks discussed the emails received regarding condominium building
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Regular Workshop Minutes—March 16, 2023
items and discussed the concept of an Ombudsman for people to be directed to for
various questions or to provide them with information on who to contact.
Mr. Wasson reported on the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(DBPR) offices available in Sunny Isles Beach and Fort Lauderdale and explained the
current process followed by the City.
The City Commission discussed the item including condo board elections, resident
concerns, re-certification, etc.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the ability for a person to direct them to the appropriate
person.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
information on the City's website, etc. with information on various referral entities to
contact for certain items.
12. Discussion: Founders Park South Project Bid (Pickleball and Tennis Courts)
(City Manager): Mr. Wasson distributed and reviewed information on the bids received
for the Founders Park South Facility (Bid No. 23-02-27-3) and recommended that the bid
be awarded to Bejar Construction, with a $400,000 grant to be applied to the cost of the
project.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a Resolution on the April 41h City Commission Meeting Agenda awarding the bid to
Bejar Construction.
Mayor Weinberg explained the Commission Workshop process to those members of the
public in attendance and the opportunity for them to provide comments on the item at the
April 4, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
Mr. Wasson will meet with anyone wishing to review the design drawings prior to the April
meeting.
13. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10.43 a.m.
�. Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on April 4, 2023.
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