November 22, 2024 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes��.
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES
NOVEMBER 22, 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 Rachel S.
Friedland, Commissioner Cliff Ain, Commissioner Gustavo Blachman, Commissioner
Amit Bloom, Commissioner Paul A. Kruss, Commissioner Cindy Orlinsky, City Manager
Bryan Pegues, 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: City of Aventura 2025 Legislative Program and Priorities for
Upcoming Session (City Manager): Mr. Pegues reviewed the proposed Legislative
Program and Priorities for 2025 and discussed the importance of going to Tallahassee to
discuss funding for the City's projects.
Mayor Weinberg discussed past visits to Tallahassee, live local and home rule.
Mr. Meyers explained home rule and supporting it to give authority back to municipalities.
The Commission discussed the items listed on the Program and Priorities as well as
following: emphasizing to the City's Representative the importance of protecting home
rule, adding language to item 2 for electronic voting that "the association shall provide an
option to conduct elections" etc. as outlined in the list, amending the language for item 4
exemptions to add "or a density of x per square mile" and changing that to the first item
listed, amending the language in item 13 to focus on maintaining the current caps and not
supporting legislation to raise caps, amending the language for item 16 "to study the
automobile no-fault law and exploring other options".
Rana Brown, Government Consultant — City Lobbyist Ronald L. Book, provided
comments on the items, the upcoming session in Tallahassee, and her resume.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a resolution for the item as discussed and presented, with amendments to items 2,
4, 13, and 16 as outlined.
Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes — November 22, 2024
4. Discussion: Attending Israel Day at the Capitol (Commissioner Bloom):
Commissioner Bloom explained the upcoming Israel Day at the Capitol, which will be held
March 25-26 in Tallahassee.
City Manager Summary: This was provided as an informational item.
5. Discussion: Pickleball Court Hours (Mayor Weinberg): Mayor Weinberg
suggested that the operating hours for the pickleball and tennis courts be extended at
night at Founders Park South.
Mr. Pegues suggested that the time be extended for the courts from the current time of 7
p.m. to 9 p.m. and explained the need to add lighting in order to do so.
The City Commission discussed the item including reviewing the basketball courts for
extended hours and lighting for the walkways/pathways that would be needed in order to
provide that.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to extend
the hours of the courts at Founders Park South to 10.00 p.m. as a trial with the last
reservation at 9.00 p.m. with Mr. Pegues to provide updates on the item as well as the
ability to extend the hours for the basketball courts.
6. Discussion: Commissioning an Art Piece for the Aventura Art Festival
(Commissioner Kruss): Commissioner Kruss requested a progress report for the
upcoming Art Festival.
Derek Hodes, President — Momentum Marketing Group, provided background on the
company and plans for the Aventura Arts Festival at Gulfstream Park on February 22-23,
2025 including soliciting more artists, working with the Don Soffer Aventura High School
art teacher, and the possibility of having Romero Britto involved in some way.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: filling the large space at
Gulfstream, including antique cars, providing large planters to create better ambiance,
providing children activities including interactive art, serving alcohol, sending out
communications to local artists, involving students at the Aventura City of Excellence
School, and advising Mr. Britto that it is a Commission approved festival.
City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes.
7. Discussion: New City of Aventura Welcome Signs (City Manager): Mr. Pegues
presented the proposed new illuminated welcome signs for Biscayne Boulevard, at a price
of $32,000 plus demolition and electrical costs.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with the signs as presented (first one on the document provided).
8. Discussion: 2025 Proposed City Commission Meeting Schedule (City
Manager): Mr. Pegues reviewed the proposed schedule for meetings and workshops for
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Aventura City Commission
Regular Workshop Minutes — November 22, 2024
2025.
The City Commission discussed the schedule with the following changes: scheduling the
June Commission Workshop for June 12, scheduling the September Commission
Meeting for September 2, and changing the October 7 Commission Meeting to October
8.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
establish the schedule as provided with the changes as discussed.
The following additional item was discussed:
Mr. Meyers reported on the Promenade short-term vacation rentals, which are banned by
the City, and the history of the litigation and mediator agreeing with the City. He briefly
reviewed the compliance agreement to be approved by the City's Special Magistrate
outlining that no more short-term vacation rentals would be on the property after
December 31, 2024 that will run with the land.
9. Discussion: New Eleventh Circuit Opinion Regarding Public Comment at
Local Government Meetings (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers reported on the recent
opinion and recommended that the City amend its resolution regarding meeting decorum
to allow for personally directed comments. He additionally reviewed other items involving
obscenity and profanity.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to revise
the resolution regarding meeting decorum as recommended by Mr. Meyers to allow for
personally directed comments.
The following additional item was discussed:
Mr. Meyers reported on the inactivity thus far regarding the filing of Form 6 for elected
officials.
10. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11:13 a.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on January 14, 2025.
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