February 20, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
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
11 :08 a.m.' The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Paul A.
Kruss2, 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 done at the Local Planning Agency
Meeting.
3. Discussion: Alcoholic Beverage Approval for Gaby by Call Me Gaby at
Aventura Mall (City Manager): Mr. Wasson explained the request for Conditional Use
Approval to Allow the Sale and Service of Alcoholic Beverages at the Indoor Cocktail
Bar/Lounge Area within Gaby by Call Me Gaby Restaurant in the Aventura Mall.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item on the March 51h City Commission Meeting Agenda.
4. Discussion: Outdoor Basketball Courts (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg
and Mr. Wasson reported on the plans and cost estimate to modify the basketball courts
at the Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) for use by the public, as detailed in the
agenda.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
5. Discussion: Prosecution Staffing Crisis (Commissioner Dr. Marks):
Commissioner Dr. Marks discussed the email letter received from State Attorney
Katherine Fernandez Rundle regarding the retention and recruitment crisis for the State
Attorney's Office, as provided in the agenda, and suggested the City voice its concern to
the legislators by advocating for salary increases as requested.
The City Commission discussed the item including the City's hero housing.
1 The meeting started following the Local Planning Agency Meeting and the City Commission Special Meeting.
2 Arrived during Item 5 and participated via virtual communications media teclmology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—February 20, 2024
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a Resolution showing support on the March 51h City Commission Meeting Agenda.
6. Discussion: New School (Commissioner Dr. Marks): Commissioner Dr. Marks
suggested that discussions begin regarding plans for the new school on the land to be
acquired from Gulfstream, including an overview of the number of students that each of
the City's schools could accommodate (elementary, middle, and high school) and starting
with the number of students that could be increased for K-1 on the first floor at the current
Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) building, etc.
Mayor Weinberg and Mr. Wasson reported on the agreement still being finalized with
Gulfstream for three acres of land and their acceptance for a new Letter of Intent to
include the changes that the City requested
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: selling the land where
the Aventura City of Excellence School is and moving that school in order to have an
educational campus on 2131h Street with the other schools (middle school and high
school), the possibility of obtaining more than three acres of land at Gulfstream, and
including Charter Schools USA in the discussions.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
item to be placed on a workshop agenda once the development agreement with
Gulfstream was done.
7. Discussion: 213th Street Pocket Park (Commissioner Friedland):
Commissioner Friedland reviewed the history of the playground at Waterways Park, as
well as the history of the land that had been selected for the Pocket Park on 2131h Street
to move that playground to, with a current discrepancy on that land being deeded to the
City.
Mr. Wasson clarified the history of the deed for the property selected for the Pocket Park,
the recording issues that had recently been determined by the County, and the history of
the City maintaining that property for 25 years.
Mr. Meyers noted the importance that the City had maintained the property for 25 years
and its right to that parcel of land.
Mr. Wasson reported on the presentation to the Board at the Pointe and a meeting with
their attorneys to review the facts.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: looking at possible other
locations for the park and figuring out legally which association was correct (Waterways
Association or Master Association) for deeding purposes.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes with
an update to be provided by the City Manager.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—February 20, 2024
8. Update: 2024 Legislative (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers distributed and reviewed
a Legislative Summary report dated February 16, 2024 regarding the bills being
considered by the State legislature in Tallahassee.
The City Commission provided comments in response to the various items reviewed.
Mr. Meyers additionally reported on the notice of appeal filed by the Promenade in
response to the recommendation of the Special Magistrate regarding the code violation
related to vacation rentals
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
9. Update: Form 6 Litigation (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers discussed the claims filed
as part of the litigation in response to the new requirement for Commission members to
file an annual financial disclosure Form 6 (Full and Public Disclosure of Financial
Interests) in lieu of Form 1 (Statement of Financial Interests). He also reported that 26
municipalities had joined the litigation and over 70 elected officials had joined individually.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Wasson announced his personal decision to retire in November 2024. The City
Commission commended Mr. Wasson on his performance as the City Manager.
Mayor Weinberg reported on the members of the City Commission attending the
upcoming Israel Day in Tallahassee.
Mr. Wasson explained the process for requested marches in the City including applicable
permits, etc.
10. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12:05 p.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath, MM City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on March 5, 2024.
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