May 16, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
MAY 16, 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
10:13 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Dr. Linda
Marks, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner Paul
A. Kruss, Commissioner Michael Stern', City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk
Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers. Commissioner Amit Bloom was
absent. As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge was done at the City Commission Special
Meeting.
Item 5 was taken out of order as follows:
Item 5 - Discussion: Term Sheet Gulfstream (Deputy City Manager): Mr.
Wasson reported on the terms for the agreement with Gulfstream that were being worked
on and the anticipation of the item to be on the June City Commission Meeting Agenda.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, provided a summary of the term sheet
including the exchange of land from Gulfstream for certain development rights.
Ashok Sampath, Marlin Engineering (City's representative) and Mr. Klopp provided
comments on the traffic impact study including the mitigation that would be needed for
intersections. It was noted that when the site plan was presented that the
modifications/alternatives would be looked at.
Chris Hagen — Kimley Horn & Associates (Gulfstream's representative) provided
comments on the traffic impact study.
Michael Marrero, Esq. (Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes PLLC) provided
comments on behalf Gulfstream.
The City Commission discussed the item including addressing who would pay for
changes to traffic items, having a development at the end of 2131h Street, ways traffic may
be impacted, and also providing mitigation for 341h Street.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place
Participated via virtual communications media teclmology.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—May 16, 2024
the item on the June 4, 2024 City Commission Meeting Agenda.
3. Discussion: Clear Channel Billboard Follow-up (City Manager): Mr. Wasson
reported on negotiations with Clear Channel on prices for more billboards and the
conditional use process in the Code.
Mr. Meyers provided comments on the existing default provision thereby alleviating the
need for a termination clause.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the item.
4. Update: Art Festival (Deputy City Manager): Mr. Wasson reported on his
meeting with the company that handles the festival for Bay Harbor and suggested that
the City's art festival be held in February at Gulfstream, at a cost of approximately
$125,000-$170,000.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: obtaining sponsors,
partnering with Hallandale Beach, stress put on City staff, being as cost neutral as
possible, the importance of art to the community, positive attention for the City, obtaining
sponsors for any new event, and proper planning.
Commissioner Kruss disclosed that the person who runs the company is a close friend of
his.
Evan Ross, Communication Director (PCG - Public Communicators Group), reported on
working with Community Services Department Director Kimberly Merchant on a
sponsorship package.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to move
forward with working towards an event for February and requiring the vendor to also
obtain sponsors.
5. Discussion: Term Sheet Gulfstream (Deputy City Manager): This item was
taken out of order earlier in the meeting.
6. Discussion: Communications (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reported on the
completion of the communications contract with PCG in October and suggested that a
Request for Proposals be done to follow the normal bidding process. Mr. Meyers reported
on the state law, procurement code, and purchasing code regarding the bidding process
and exceptions listed.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: positive aspects of
PCG's knowledge of the community, history and satisfaction with PCG, best interest of
the City as an exception, the importance of following the bid process for transparency,
reviewing the cost of similar services at other cities, the current contract cost, requiring a
RFQ in lieu of an RFP, and bidding done for other contracts/services.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—May 16, 2024
Evan Ross, Communication Director (PCG - Public Communicators Group), provided
positive comments regarding the services he has provided and willingness to go through
the process.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for communications.
The following additional items were discussed:
City Manager Purchasing Authority (Commissioner Joel): Commissioner Joel
suggested that the purchasing authority of the City Manager be raised from $50,000 to
$100,000.
The City Commission discussed the item including providing a survey of other
municipalities.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to place
an Ordinance on the June agenda raising the purchasing authority of the City Manager
from $50,000 to $100,000.
Life of Senator Joel Lieberman Event (Commissioner Kruss): Commissioner
Kruss requested that the City help sponsor the Life of Senator Joel Lieberman event at
the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on October 30, 2024 at a cost of $1 ,500.
The City Commission discussed the item.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
$1 ,500 as a sponsor to the event.
7. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 .29 a.m.
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Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on June 4, 2024.
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