October 19, 2023 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes w
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
OCTOBER 19, 2023
Following 9:00 a.m. City Commission Special Meeting
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
9:54 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Amit
Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland', Commissioner Billy Joel, 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 already done at the Local Planning
Agency Meeting.
3. Update: Founders Day Celebration (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the
item for this year's Founders Day scheduled for November 12, 2023 at Gulfstream Park,
due to work at Founders Park.
Community Services Director Kimberly Merchant provided an overview of the plans,
approved by the Community Services Advisory Board, for Founders Day including the
following: event layout, activities and attractions, community stage, residents/guest
registration, transportation and parking plan, and marketing plan.
Evan Ross, City Consultant— Public Communicators Group LLC, provided comments on
the marketing plan.
The City Commission discussed the item including the marketing plan, providing the
buildings with flyers, registration process, photos, and the ability for an organization such
as Aventura Cares to accept donations in support of Israel.
Mr. Meyers noted the need for Gulfstream to approve the use of the land, since it was not
City property.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
Commissioner Friedland to work with Mr. Wasson and Mr. Meyers on the possibility of
certain charities accepting donations.
'Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 19, 2023
4. Discussion: Proposed Padel Park at Cardone Capital —Conditional Use (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item for a Padel Park on top of the parking garage
at 18851 NE 29 Avenue.
The following provided input on the conceptual design for a Padel Park including locker
rooms, juice bar, and parking area on behalf of Padel Park Aventura: Michael Marrero,
Esq. (Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes PLLC, 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite
300, Miami), Jean Francois Gervais, Architect (Idea Architect LLC 3323 NE 163 Street,
Suite 200, North Miami Beach), and Virgilio Namnum (Padel Park Aventura LLC).
The City Commission discussed the item including parking, height of glass walls to
prevent balls from leaving the courts, time for development, providing mechanism for
noise cancellation, removal of walls during a hurricane, enclosing the area, and hours of
operation.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
item to proceed with conditions for noise, lighting, and hours of operation.
RECESS AND RECONVENE: The meeting was briefly recessed at 10.40 a.m., for a
break, and reconvened at 10.50 a.m.
5. Discussion: Waterways Townhomes Variance to Allow for Gated Entry (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item.
Community Development Director Keven Klopp provided comments on the item.
The following provided input on behalf of AIR Waterways Village, LLC: Ethan
Wasserman, Esq. (Greenberg Traurig, 333 SE 2nd Avenue, 44th Floor, Miami).
The City Commission discussed the item including the number of units, parking, and
location of the gated entry.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the item for the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
6. Discussion: Public Storage on Biscayne Boulevard — Conditional Use and
Variances for Expansion (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item for the Public
Storage facility located at 21280-21288 Biscayne Boulevard.
The following provided information on the project including increased landscaping,
providing replacement more modern buildings, addressing drainage on the site, burying
powerlines, and requiring conditional use and variance for Public Storage: Brian Adler,
Esq. (Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, 1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300,
Miami) and Patrick Hart, Manager— Development (Public Storage).
The City Commission discussed the item including discussions with the neighboring
assisted living building regarding the project, the developer providing storage for the City,
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 19, 2023
not allowing bright orange colored buildings, and looking into the possibility of pickleball
courts on the roof.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the item for the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
7. Discussion: Minimum Zoning Code Revisions to Comply with Rapid Transit
Zone (RTZ) Requirements (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item and the
concept to review the analysis done by the City of Miami Beach for compliance with the
County requirements and the City providing a similar review with associated revisions to
the Aventura Code.
Community Development Director Keven Klopp reviewed the proposed amendments.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the item for the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
8. Discussion: Live Local Act (State Preemption of Local Zoning for Affordable
Housing) (City Manager): Mr. Wasson introduced the item.
Community Development Director Keven Klopp reviewed the new State law for affordable
housing projects that would be administrative and require a resolution to provide notice.
Mr. Meyers provided comments regarding other municipalities.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the item for the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
9. Discussion: Approval Request for Proposed Ordinance Amendment —
SECURE 2.0 Act Compliance (City Manager): Mr. Wasson explained the item required
to comply with the Act with changes to the IRS Code and without a financial impact.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule the item for the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting.
10. Discussion: Israel Solidarity Resolution (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg
discussed other resolutions adopted by neighboring municipalities and requested that the
City of Aventura also consider adopting a resolution.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
Commissioner Kruss to work with Mr. Meyers on a resolution for the November 7, 2023
City Commission Meeting, with signature lines for all members of the City Commission.
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Regular Workshop Minutes—October 19, 2023
The following additional item was discussed:
Additional Support for Israel: Commissioner Kruss also suggested additional
support for Israel in a meaningful way through an increase in Israeli bonds and the
purchase of an ambulance.
Mr. Wasson provided information on the current amount in Israeli bonds per the City's
Investment Policy and the ability to provide a charitable donation with a minimum of 6
affirmative votes per the City Charter.
Mr. Meyers discussed the options available to the City Commission with ample
justification for this particular donation.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
resolutions for consideration at the November 7, 2023 City Commission Meeting for 1 .)
the donation of an ambulance to Israel and 2.) changing the policy to increase the
investment in Israeli bonds up to $500,000.00.
11. City Clerk's Annual Review: The City Commission provided positive feedback
on 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 5% salary adjustment and an annual performance bonus of$15,000.
The following additional items were discussed.
Commissioner Billy Joel will work with Mr. Wasson and Ms. Horvath on their annual
reviews in the future.
Social Media: Commissioner Friedland reported on the need for a more robust
social media presence.
Mr. Wasson provided information on the interview process for a new social media
specialist, new content forthcoming, and the upcoming television channel.
The City Commission discussed the item including writing, newsletter, social media, and
understanding the City's culture.
Evan Ross, City Consultant — Public Communicators Group LLC, provided positive
comments on the current Communications Manager who has been handling items until a
new person is hired.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission that the
position be hired as an upgrade to what was done before and the need for a good working
relationship.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—October 19, 2023
12. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:37 p.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath MM ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on November 7, 2023.
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