April 18, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
APRIL 18, 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 :37 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 done at the Governing Board Meeting.
Items 4 and 5 were taken out of order as follows:
Item 4 - Discussion: Requested Variance from Rivian (City Manager) and
Item 5 - Discussion: Proposed Zoning Code Amendment - New Vehicles Sales (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson explained the request for a variance from Rivian Automotive, Inc.
for a vehicle showroom at the Aventura Mall, similar to and near the current one for Tesla,
with a positive recommendation from staff.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, also provided a recommendation to
amend the City's zoning regulations pertaining to new vehicle sales and reviewed the
proposed amendment.
Michael Marrero, Esq. —Turnberry Associates, reviewed the variance application request
for Rivian.
The City Commission discussed the item including the location at the mall and the parking
spaces that would be needed for the showroom test vehicles.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with placing the variance request on the May City Commission Meeting Agenda.
Additionally, it was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed with placing the
proposed Code amendment for first reading on the June City Commission Meeting
Agenda or at a later date.
3. Presentation: Charter Schools USA (City Manager): Mr. Wasson discussed the
two current separate management agreements with Charter Schools USA for 1 .) the
'Participated via virtual communications media teclmology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—April 18, 2024
Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) and 2.) the Don Soffer Aventura High School
(DSAHS). He suggested that the agreements be unified into one management agreement
with Charter Schools USA to encompass both schools for a cohesive K-12 school system.
The City Commission discussed the item including the thought to have a full-time
superintendent or similar position once the City established three schools (K-5, middle
school, and high school), having one management agreement modeled similar to the
current one with the high school, and for the Governing Board and City Manager to have
input on the selection of the Principals at the schools as part of the new combined
agreement.
Jon Hage (CEO — CSUSA), accompanied by Rachel Windler-Freitag (Area 2 Florida
Deputy Director - CSUSA), reviewed a presentation titled City of Aventura Commission
Workshop dated April 18, 2024 highlighting the following: National Trends in Education,
School Choice Market in Florida, CSUSA's Highlights, National College/University
Admissions Trends, 2023 Don Soffer College Admission Data, DSAHS Data, Don Soffer
Academic Highlights, Don Soffer SAT 2023 Data, ACES Data, ACES Math Historical Data
Alignment to High School Model, ACES Middle School Acceleration, Future Expansion
and Development, Option A, Option B, Preliminary Site Plan — Alt A (Red Apple
Development, LLC), Option C, Ariel View of ACES, and Summary.
Scott Woodrey (President — Red Apple Development), distributed and reviewed a
program analysis including preliminary site plans and elevations for the options.
Mr. Hage and Mr. Woodrey recommended Option C, which included building a new K-5
school and not renovating the current one.
The City Commission discussed the item including finalizing the agreement for the three
acres at Gulfstream before any decisions are made, having all schools at one campus
versus different locations, tour of other CSUSA schools, future plans of Gulfstream, K-5
at the current location with renovations or a new building, renovating the recreation
center, selling a portion of the ACES property, potential State money available, flipping
ACES and the recreation center, and a preliminary budget.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with one management agreement with Charter Schools USA for both schools.
Additionally, it was the consensus for Charter Schools USA to come back with a needs
assessment and demand data.
4. Discussion: Requested Variance from Rivian (City Manager): This item was
taken out of order earlier in the meeting.
5. Discussion: Proposed Zoning Code Amendment - New Vehicles Sales (City
Manager): This item was taken out of order earlier in the meeting.
6. Discussion: Red Speed School Zone Cameras (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
reported on the plans to piggyback on the contract that Miami-Dade County signed with
RedSpeed for the installation of school zone cameras for speed detection and ticketing
within school zones .
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Regular Workshop Minutes—April 18, 2024
Mr. Meyers disclosed that the Weiss Serota law firm represents RedSpeed.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
7. Discussion: Billboard Approval 203 Total Wine Parking Lot (City Manager):
Mr. Wasson explained the request from Clear Channel to move a billboard (located at
Biscayne Blvd. and N.E. 203 Street) to the other side of the street, due to its removal after
the expansion of the Brightline tracks, which also resulted in the loss of revenue to the
City.
The City Commission discussed the item including the assurance of a good termination
clause in the contract, looking for other strategic locations for possible additional
billboards, and using the billboards to promote the City as allowed by the current
contracts.
Evan Ross, Communications Director, provided input on the City items that were posted
on the billboards. Mr. Meyers will provide guidance on items placed on the billboard.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to allow
the billboard to be moved to the other side of the street.
8. Discussion: Sister City with Modi'in (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg
reported that a City Commission Special Meeting would tentatively be scheduled for May
24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. for the resolution approving the sister city agreement with Modi'in,
including a signing ceremony, and dedication of the ambulance to be donated by the City.
Mr. Meyers, Mr. Wasson, and Mr. Ross reported on the items that they were working on
for the ceremony.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Meyers provided an update on the upcoming April 22, 2024 hearing for injunctive
relief for the litigation regarding Form 6 for members of the City Commission.
Mr. Meyers reported on the upcoming MDCLC Webinar to be held on May 14, 2024.
Mayor Weinberg reported on complaints received regarding the use of E-bikes and
scooters on sidewalks causing accidents and the need for enforcement to address that.
Mr. Meyers discussed the legal issues regarding jurisdiction, the response from Key
Biscayne due to a fatality, the County passing an ordinance allowing cities to enter into
an interlocal agreement to enable them to pass something for a County road, and the
ability for the City to enforce the Soffer Trail since it is a City road.
Michael Bentolila, Police Chief, discussed the enforcement blitzes that were being
conducted and the resulting citations, arrests, and confiscated scooters.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—April 18, 2024
The City Commission discussed the item and the need for an educational process
including signs, flyers, and a video on social media.
Chief Bentolila reported on the police presence at 185th Street in response to complaints
about speeders. He will also address the report of the reduction of turning lanes at 199th
Street going south on Biscayne Boulevard.
Mr. Wasson will look into including a battle of local bands as part of the concert series.
The following member of the public provided comments: Debbie Lazar (Aventura).
9. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 1 .53 p.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
C� 6
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Approved by the City Commission on May 7, 2024.
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