March 21, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 21, 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
9:05 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 Sterne, 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.
3. Discussion: Designation of Director and Alternate Director to the Miami-
Dade County Leagues of Cities (MDCLC for the Period of One Year) (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson explained the request from the League to provide the name of a director and
alternate to represent the City on the MDCLC Board for one year.
The City Commission discussed the wonderful job that the current director, Commissioner
Friedland, as well as the alternate director, Commissioner Stern, were doing.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
designate Commissioner Friedland as the Director and Commissioner Stern as the
Alternate Director for the City.
4. Discussion: Arts & Cultural Center Advisory Board Vacancy and
Reappointment of Board Members (City Manager): Mr. Wasson recommended that
the following current members be reappointed to the Board for two-year terms: Joyce R.
Forchion, Becky Franco-Freifeld, Lisa Horwitz, Merridy Robinson Kotler, Judy Scott
Lotwin, Rita Regev, Edna Schenkel, and Judith Weinberg. He additionally reported on
plans to advertise the current vacancy on the Board due to the resignation of Ellen Elias,
who moved out of the City.
The City Commission discussed the reappointments and the ability for members to
continuously serve.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a Resolution to reappoint the recommended members, with the ninth member to be
'Participated via virtual communications media technology.
2 Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—March 21, 2024
considered once applicants were received.
Art in Public Places Advisory Board: Mr. Wasson recommended that the Art in
Public Places Advisory Board be disbanded since it had not been active in some time and
any future art could be determined by the City Commission.
The City Commission discussed the item and additionally discussed the possibility of
having an art festival in Aventura.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with an Ordinance disbanding the Art in Public Places Advisory Board on the May
Commission Meeting Agenda. Discussion of an art festival in Aventura will be placed on
the next Commission Workshop Agenda.
5. Discussion: Requirement for Construction Dumpsters to be Covered at
Times When Not in Use (City Manager): Mr. Wasson suggested that a requirement be
established to require that construction dumpsters be covered at all times when not in
use.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, additionally distributed and reviewed
various recommended "clean-up" items in the Code.
The City Commission provided input on the items.
Mrs. Horvath reported that the Charter Revision Commission would be reviewing the
Charter in 2025 and could also suggest additional Code revisions at that time.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
proceed with an Ordinance for the recommended "clean-up" items on the May
Commission Meeting Agenda, including the requirement for dumpsters to be covered.
6. Update: Commission Liaison Meeting (Commissioner Dr. Marks):
Commissioner Dr. Marks reported on the Commission Liaison Meeting held on February
29, 2024 including the following items: concept of a new school, the existing ACES
building, hiring a Dean of Students, additional office space needed, and 2024 graduation
ceremony.
The City Commission discussed the item including options and locations for the schools,
closing the deals with Gulfstream first, requesting Charter Schools USA to provide
potential options for the City's schools, and bringing in additional experts on schools.
Mr. Wasson reported on the concept of using mobile offices at the high school and the
costs to do so.
City Manager Summary: Approval of the plan for the specials at ACES will be
placed on the April Governing Board Meeting Agenda. Charter Schools USA will also
provide a presentation with potential options at the April Commission Workshop.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—March 21, 2024
7. Discussion: City Email Policy (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers discussed the City's
current email policy for elected officials allowing them to either receive their emails directly
or for the emails to go through the City Clerk who would then forward them to the
appropriate elected officials. He recommended that the policy be changed to require
elected officials to receive their emails directly in lieu of going through the City Clerk, since
some items they receive may be confidential.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to change
the email policy to require elected officials to receive their emails directly.
8. Discussion: Final Legislative Summary (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers reviewed
the Final Legislative Summary dated March 14, 2024, as provided in the agenda. He also
reported that 30 municipalities had joined the Form 6 (Financial Disclosure) litigation.
The City Commission provided input throughout the review.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
Discussion of school chaplains will be placed on the April Commission Workshop if there
is an update on the bill.
US Supreme Court Decision — Social Media: Mr. Meyers distributed and
reviewed a memorandum regarding an Analysis of US Supreme Court Decision on Social
Media Communications.
The City Commission provided comments on the item related to whether or not a public
official may block a commenter on social media.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
The following additional items were discussed:
Next City Manager: Mayor Weinberg noted that the City was not required to
conduct a City Manager search due to the impending retirement of Mr. Wasson and
requested input on Deputy City Manager Bryan Pegues to be selected as the next City
Manager.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to appoint
Bryan Pegues as the next City Manager and for Mr. Pegues to negotiate a contract with
Commissioner Joel and Mr. Meyers to be presented to the City Commission.
9. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Com�miss�ion, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:40 a.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, WltTity Clerk
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App`fE�e6. %'yy the City Commission on April 2, 2024.
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