July 20, 2023 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes ry a� x
AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP 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
9:58 a.m. 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 already done at the City Commission
Meeting.
The following items were taken out of order:
4. Discussion: Sister City Between Aventura and Manama, Bahrain (Mayor
Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
Maor Elbaz-Starinsky (Consul General of Israel in Miami and Aventura resident)
explained the request from Manama to become a sister city with Aventura and spoke in
favor of doing so. He also offered to coordinate a meeting with the Commission and the
City's schools with the group that the consulate is hosting in September.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
Commissioner Kruss to explore a sister city relationship further and to provide information
including the other cities that Manama has a relationship with.
5. Update: Sister City Between Aventura and Modi'in Maccabim Re'ut (Mayor
Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
Commissioner Friedland reported on her recent visit to Modi'in including her meeting with
their Mayor and spoke in favor of a sister city arrangement.
The City Commission discussed the item.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—July 20, 2023
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
discussions to continue for a sister city relationship.
The regular order of the agenda was followed.
3. Discussion: HERO Housing Program Guidelines (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
reviewed the guidelines, which included the Commission's prior recommendations, and
requested approval for item #29 that was added.
The City Commission discussed the item.
Mr. Meyers explained the difference between the guidelines as rules to be applied (such
as 50% rent) and the ordinance (designating 15% for hero housing).
Jeffrey Bercow, Esq. (Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes PLLC -
200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 300, Miami)- ICON project, provided comments on the
guidelines which he will provide to Mr. Wasson in writing, including a request that the
percentage be 30% instead of 50%.
Isaac Teledano, Developer (BH Group - 2999 NE 191 Street, PH 2, Aventura) — ICON
project, also provided comments.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
negotiations to continue for the item and for Mr. Wasson to meet with Mr. Bercow.
4. Discussion: Sister City Between Aventura and Manama, Bahrain (Mayor
Weinberg): This item was already discussed.
5. Update: Sister City Between Aventura and Modi'in Maccabim Re'ut (Mayor
Weinberg): This item was already discussed.
6. Discussion: Outdoor Digital Message Board Kiosks (Mayor Weinberg):
Mayor Weinberg introduced the item, Mr. Wasson provided positive comments, and Mr.
Pegues introduced the IKE Smart City representatives.
Anna Baerman, Senior Development Director- IKE (Interactive Kiosk Experience) Smart
City, reviewed a PowerPoint presentation for interactive digital kiosks for Aventura
including a financial proposal.
The City Commission discussed the item.
Mr. Meyers noted that the City could sole source the item without the need to go through
competitive bidding or can piggyback on an existing contract if the material term is the
same.
Police Chief Michael Bentolila spoke against the inclusion of a police call button.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to move forward with the item.
Page 2 of 3
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—July 20, 2023
7. Discussion: Scheduling Annual Ethics Training Sessions (City Attorney): Mr.
Meyers requested that the annual training be scheduled following the October and
November Commission Workshops, to include the review of Form 6.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the first session for October 19th (2 hours) and the second session for November
16th (2 hours), with both sessions following the Commission Workshops.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Meyers requested an executive session for the City Commission to provide guidance
on the Aventura Marina litigation. It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the session for August 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
Mayor Weinberg reported on the need to waive a rule for the Governing Board Members
to attend the Charter Schools USA celebration in Orlando in November.
Mr. Meyers reported on the County Ethics Code and the need for the Commission to
approve a waiver by 2/3 vote to accept the gift to attend, with the reporting requirement
still applicable if the gift is over $100. It was the consensus of the City Commission to
provide the waiver on the September agenda (not on the Consent Agenda) for a vote.
The City Commission discussed the newsletter (value, content, delay, etc.), better flyers
needed, the portion of the public that doesn't read digital items, the importance of sending
the digital newsletter to the property managers, the need to promote and inform the
residents, the possibility of the Community Services Advisory Board having a pop-up
event to make people smile (giant ducks in the water, flamingo/duck painted by artists,
etc.), and an update for the informational screens in the building mailrooms.
8. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 :45 a.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on September 5, 2023.
Page 3 of 3