September 19, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 19, 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
10:56 a.m. 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 A. Kruss, 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 Aventura Governing Board
Meeting.
3. Discussion: Women Driving Global Change Initiative — Miami Art Week
Inflatable Art Activation (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg requested that the
Commission consider an art installation throughout the City by artist Luli Sulichin during
Miami Art Week (December 2-8, 2024) at no cost to the City.
Luli Sulichin provided information on six inflatable sculptures that would be placed in six
different locations throughout the City.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: space needed, areas
identified, partnerships, sponsors, possible vandalism, police monitoring, traffic created
by people visiting the sculptures, and having a combination of some sculptures on public
property and some on private property.
Mr. Meyers reported on a resolution that would need to be adopted inclusive of an
agreement with the artist.
The following member of the public provided comments: Gustavo Blachman (Aventura).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
a resolution inclusive of the agreement with the artwork and locations outlined at a City
Commission Special Meeting to be scheduled for October 17, 2024 prior to the
Commission Workshop.
The following additional items were discussed:
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—September 19, 2024
October City Commission Regular Meeting: Mayor Weinberg requested that
the October Meeting be moved from October 8, 2024 to October 1 , 2024.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to move
the October City Commission Regular Meeting from October 8, 2024 to October 1 , 2024.
Art Festival: Mr. Wasson reported on an art festival scheduled for February 22-
23, 2025 at Gulfstream, with a budget of $50,000.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: unsuccessful prior art
festivals, no consensus provided to proceed with the festival and only consensus provided
to look into it, concerns paying a vendor instead of sponsors covering the costs, and
looking at other companies that would not charge but would provide sponsors.
The following member of the public provided comments: former Mayor Enid Weisman
(Aventura).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with plans for the art festival.
4. Discussion: Re-Appointment and Appointment of Special Masters for Code
Enforcement Process (City Manager): Mr. Wasson requested ratification of his re-
appointment of existing special masters Barbara Buxton, Esq. and Daniel Naim, as well
as the new appointment of Clifford Schulman, Esq., as volunteers for the City's code
enforcement and red light/speed zone camera hearings.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a motion to ratify the City Manager's re-appointments/appointment at the October
City Commission Meeting.
5. Discussion: Approval of Construction Agreement with Island Construction
Group, Inc., The Government Center, Mezzanine Level Deck Replacement (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson reported on the immediate need to fix the leaks affecting the
Police Department as outlined in the agenda, with the firm selected that specialized in the
work that needed to be done.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement, to be ratified via resolution at the
October City Commission Meeting.
6. Discussion: Approval of Owner's Representative Services with HPF
Associates, Inc., The Government Center, Mezzanine Level Deck Replacement (City
Manager): Mr. Wasson reported on the need for an owner's representative for the City to
have to oversee the work conducted by Island Construction as it was a specialized
project.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement to be ratified via resolution at the
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—September 19, 2024
October City Commission Meeting.
7. Discussion: Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting the City from Conducting
Business with any Company which is Boycotting Israel (Commissioner Friedland):
Commissioner Friedland requested that the Commission consider an ordinance outlining
the City's prohibition of conducting business with companies that boycott Israel.
Mr. Meyers reported that an ordinance could mirror the State language.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
an ordinance that mirrored the State language at the October City Commission Meeting.
The following additional item was discussed:
Resolution Supporting Peace and Security: Mr. Meyers distributed a resolution
drafted for Bal Harbour Village supporting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians
for the Commission's consideration.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to provide
a resolution mirroring the Bal Harbour Village drafted resolution at the October City
Commission Meeting.
8. Discussion: 2024 Ethics Training Dates (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers reported
on the ethics training requirements for 2024 and requested availability for scheduling two
sessions with 4 hours required for seated Commissioners and 2 hours required for newly
elected Commissioners.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
schedule ethics training for October 17, 2024 following the Commission Workshop (2
hours) and for November 22, 2024 following the Commission Workshop (2 hours).
The following additional items were discussed:
Vice Mayor Dr. Marks offered to help as a former educator with input for the new schools
after her term ended on the City Commission. The plans for the new schools were briefly
discussed with her offer to be taken under consideration.
Commissioner Kruss invited the Commission members to attend the movie screening for
"Centered: Joel Lieberman" on October 30th at 6 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural
Center, which was by invitation only.
Commissioner Bloom reported on the annual "Share the Road" bike event to be held on
October 22, 2024 at 9 a.m. and the ACES/Aventura Police Department "Trunk or Treat"
event on October 24, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Mayor Weinberg announced that the annual State of the City address would be provided
at the Aventura Marketing Council Breakfast on September 20th at 7:30 a.m.
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes—September 19, 2024
Mr. Meyers reported on the anticipation of a finalized purchasing agreement with
Gulfstream with the possibility of a closing date in February 2025.
9. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 12.09 p.m.
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Ellisa L. Horvath, M City Clerk
q
Approved by the City Commission on October 1, 2024.
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