November 17, 2023 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes w
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
NOVEMBER 17, 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
9:03 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Paul A.
Kruss, Commissioner 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. As a
quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weinberg.
Mayor Weinberg reported on the Mayor's conference he attended to combat anti-
Semitism and thanked Vice Mayor Kruss, Commissioner Bloom, and Commissioner
Friedland for their involvement in certain anti-Semitism efforts
Mayor Weinberg also reported on his and Commissioner Friedland's attendance at the
Charter Schools USA Conference.
3. Presentation: Investment Manager — Insight Investment (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson introduced the item.
Dave Witthohn, Insight Investments, provided an overview of the City's investments and
recommended changes to the distribution of funds into longer bonds.
The City Commission discussed the item including: how the benchmark is derived,
thoughts on possible recession and its effect on the portfolio, outstanding debt, federal
government spending, performance and investments, strategy in relation to interest rates,
terms of bonds bought during the COVID pandemic, and conservative investment
allocation.
Finance Director Melissa Cruz provided information on the City's reserves.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—November 17, 2023
4. Presentation: Revision of TAIL Project to Include Hotel Use (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson introduced the item for an updated version of the TAL project.
The following provided a conceptual presentation for the project including a condominium
and upscale hotel at 2785 NE 183 Street on behalf of Got 183 LLC: Matt Rosenblatt
(owner) and Brian Adler, Esq. (Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP). Mr. Adler
additionally reviewed the conditional uses to be modified.
The City Commission discussed the item including: a combination of a condominium and
hotel with shared amenities, parking spaces, providing a shuttle bus, traffic study, and
traffic mitigation plan.
Community Development Director Keven Klopp discussed the Code requirements
regarding transportation.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
item to proceed through the process.
5. Discussion: Negotiations with Gulfstream Park Regarding Land for a School
(Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg reported on the offer from Gulfstream Park to
donate three acres of land next to the current high school, for the City to build a new
school (a new high school with the preliminary vision to turn the current high school into
a new middle school).
Mr. Wasson reported on the Letter of Intent that was being worked on with Gulfstream
that would address everything and introduced their attorney that was in attendance.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: the possibility of
obtaining four acres instead of three (and if not donated then purchasing the additional
acre), number of students that could be added, success of the current schools, work that
would be needed to turn the current high school into a middle school, consulting with
experts on what a good school building should include, and changes that could be made
to the ACES building if it is turned into a K-5 school instead of K-8.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr.
Wasson to move forward with the item and to continue his discussions with Gulfstream
Park.
6. Discussion: 2024 Proposed City Commission Meeting Schedule (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed schedule for meetings and workshops for
2024.
Mrs. Horvath also pointed out that the Commission Inauguration Ceremony needed to be
scheduled in November and recommended the following: Inauguration Ceremony
November 121h, City Commission Regular Meeting November 191h, and City Commission
Workshop November 22nd
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—November 17, 2023
The City Commission discussed the schedule with the following changes: February 15th
moved to February 20th and the November meetings and ceremony on the dates as
recommended by Mrs. Horvath.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
establish the schedule as provided with the changes as discussed.
7. Discussion: City's Legislative Programs and Priorities for Upcoming
Session (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed Legislative Program and
Priorities for 2024, as well as plans to go to Tallahassee December 11-12, 2023.
The Commission discussed the items listed on the Program and Priorities, as well as the
need to include an item relating to insurance prices. Drainage issues throughout the City
on private property were also discussed with the need for enforcement of the City's
ordinance.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the item as discussed and presented, with the addition of insurance
relief for increased premiums as item 3.
8. Discussion: Proposed Biennial Business Tax Increase (City Manager): Mr.
Wasson reported on the proposal to increase the fees by 5% for business tax receipts as
allowed by law and reviewed the list of current fees of neighboring municipalities.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item for a 5% increase for the January City Commission Meeting.
9. Discussion: Awarding City Key to Clifford A. Schulman (Mayor Weinberg):
Mayor Weinberg suggested that Mr. Schulman be awarded with a key to the City as he
met the criteria required to do so.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution to award the key at the January City Commission Meeting.
10. Discussion: Water Taxi (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg encouraged the
use of a water taxi service in Aventura as another means for traffic mitigation.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for
companies to be encouraged to provide a water taxi service in Aventura.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—November 17, 2023
The following additional item was discussed:
City Commission Legislative Expense: Mr. Wasson suggested that the
Legislative Expense amount be increased $500 per month for all members of the City
Commission, due to the increase in activities attended.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution to increase the legislative expense amount by $500 monthly on the
January City Commission Meeting Agenda.
11. City Manager's Annual Review: As directed by the City Commission at the
October Workshop, Commissioner Joel reported on his suggestion after discussion with
the City Manager regarding his review. The City Commission provided positive feedback
on the City Manager's performance during the past year.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
Mr. Wasson with a 5% salary adjustment and a 6% bonus as recommended by
Commissioner Joel.
The following additional items were discussed:
Code enforcement for the appearance of shopping centers to be placed on the January
Workshop, the possibility of wrapping utility boxes, adding trash cans on Country Club
Drive, and starting preparations for Founders Day earlier.
Mayor Weinberg provided approval to issue proclamations for Shlomi Ezra and Cliff
Schulman to be presented at the January Commission Meeting.
Mr. Meyers reported on the recent hearing related to the Promenade code violation and
the expectation for the Special Master to make a recommendation in January 2024.
12. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 :34 a.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on January 9, 2024.
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