July 20, 2023 Aventura City Commission Meeting (Budget Review) Minutes &`?i
AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
JULY 20, 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 9.05 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor Howard
S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Amit Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner
Billy Joel, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Michael Stern, City Manager
Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers.
Commissioner Paul A. Kruss was absent. As a quorum was determined to be present,
the meeting commenced.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weinberg.
3. OVERVIEW AND REVIEW OF PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024: Mr. Wasson reviewed highlights of the
proposed budget.
The Commission reviewed the budget with discussions focused on the following: ARPA
funds left to designate, number of police officers, possible addition of Veterans Day
parade or other option with figures requested for next workshop, providing misters at
parks (in ARPA), use of money saved by decreased printed communications (applied to
digital subscriptions), publications/mailings, increasing the COLA to 4% or 5% for general
employees, general employee bonus amounts, adding a dedicated full-time marine patrol
officer and participating in joint operations with surrounding communities, and adding
police officers as development is added.
It was the consensus of the City Commission to amend the proposed budget by adding a
dedicated full-time marine patrol officer and to participate in joint operations with
surrounding communities.
It was the consensus of the City Commission to amend the proposed budget by increasing
the COLA to 4% for general employees.
The Department Directors responded to questions as needed.
Aventura City Commission Meeting (Budget Review) Minutes
July 20, 2023
A motion for approval to proceed with the proposed budget as presented, with the
amendments as provided by consensus, was offered by Commissioner Friedland and
seconded by Vice Mayor Bloom.
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weinberg closed the item for public input.
The motion passed unanimously, by roll call vote.
4. MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH TENTATIVE MILLAGE
RATE: Mrs. Horvath read the following Resolution title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,
ESTABLISHING A PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE 2023/2024 FISCAL YEAR;
PROVIDING FOR THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
A motion for approval of the Resolution was offered by Commissioner Friedland and
seconded by Commissioner Joel.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the item including the proposed millage rate of 1 .7261 mills and the
dates/times for the budget public hearings.
Following Commission discussion, the budget hearings were set for September 5, 2023
at 6:00 p.m. (First Budget Public Hearing) and September 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. (Second
Budget Public Hearing).
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weinberg closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval of the Resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote and
Resolution No. 2023-37 was adopted.
5. MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: A motion for approval of the Interlocal
Agreement with Miami-Dade County was offered by Commissioner Dr. Marks and
seconded by Commissioner Joel.
Mr. Wasson explained the Miami-Dade County Commission approval of an
amended interlocal agreement with the municipalities throughout Miami-Dade County
to reestablish the distribution of proceeds of the six-cent local option gas tax for a 30-year
period (January 1, 2024 through December 31 , 2053). It was noted that the tax allows the
City to fund public transportation operations and public works functions and the interlocal
agreement must be submitted by August 31st to the County in order for Aventura to
receive its share of proceeds.
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Aventura City Commission Meeting (Budget Review) Minutes
July 20, 2023
Mr. Meyers reported that at least 50% of all the municipalities have to approve the item
for it to be funded.
The City Commission discussed the item.
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weinberg closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval passed unanimously by roll call vote.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner Friedland, seconded by
Commissioner Joel, and unanimously approved; thus, adjourning the meeting at 9.58
a.m.
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== Ellisa L. Horvath, M C, City Clerk
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Approved by the City Commission on September 5, 2023.
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