May 24, 2024 Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Minutes &`?i
AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MAY 24, 2024
10:00 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 10:23 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor Howard
S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Amit Bloom, Commissioner
Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner Paul Kruss, City Manager
Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers.
Commissioner Michael Stern was absent. As a quorum was determined to be present,
the meeting commenced.
The Aventura Police Department Honor Guard presented and posted the colors.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Don Soffer Aventura High School (DSAHS) student
Regina Wolf led the pledge.
Hadas Gold performed the U.S. National Anthem followed by the Israeli National Anthem.
Rabbi Guido Cohen provided an invocation.
The dignitaries in attendance were recognized.
3. RESOLUTION: Mrs. Horvath read the following Resolution title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,
ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH MODI'IN MACCABIM RE'UT,
ISRAEL, TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC
EXCHANGES; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
A motion for approval of the Resolution was offered by Commissioner Joel and seconded
by Commissioner Bloom.
Mayor Weinberg reviewed the item and City Commission members provided comments.
The Commission recognized Commissioner Stern who could not be in attendance.
The following dignitaries provided remarks: U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Modi'in Maccabim
Re'ut Mayor Haim Bibas, Consul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky (Consulate General of
Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2024
Israel in Miami), Florida Representative Randy Fine, former Bal Harbour Mayor Gabe
Groisman, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (via letter).
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weinberg closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval of the Resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote and
Resolution No. 2024-30 was adopted.
A signing ceremony was conducted.
Mayor Weinberg presented Mayor Bibas with a Key to the City and a Mayor's Key Fob.
Mayor Bibas presented Mayor Weinberg with a menorah.
DSAHS Student Regina Wolf presented Mayor Bibas with her artwork commemorating
the occasion.
4. DEDICATION OF AMBULANCE: Mayor Weinberg reported on the City's donation
of an ambulance, which would be dedicated outside following the meeting.
Senator Jason Pizzo provided remarks.
Pastor Mark Hattabaugh provided a benediction.
Jessica Nessim and Ido Rosenblat provided remarks on behalf of Magen David Adom.
Andre Roitman provided remarks on behalf of Hatzalah of South Florida.
5. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner Bloom, seconded by Vice
Mayor Dr. Marks, and unanimously approved; thus, adjourning the meeting at 11 .53 a.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on June 4, 2024.
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