08-08-2025 City Commission Special Meeting AgendaCITY OF AVENTURA
Aventura Government Center
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
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CITY COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
August 8, 2 0 2 5
9:00 a.m.
Aventura Government Center
5th Floor Executive Conference Room
City Commission
Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Esq.
Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky
Commissioner Clifford B. Ain
Commissioner Gustavo Blachman
Commissioner Amit Bloom
Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Esq.
Commissioner Paul A. Kruss
City Manager Bryan Pegues
City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC
City Attorney Robert Meyers
Aventura City Commission Special Meeting Agenda
August 8, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. RESOLUTION/PUBLIC INPUT:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,
APPROVING THE FINAL RANKING OF FIRMS IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR
QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2025-04 FOR PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL AND
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE PROPOSED AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
HIGHEST -RANKED PROPOSER; PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATE NEGOTIATIONS IF
NECESSARY; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
4. ADJOURNMENT
This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are
disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact
the Office of the City Clerk, (305) 466-8901 or cityclerk@cityofaventura.com, not later than two days prior to such
proceedings. One or more members of the City of Aventura Advisory Boards may participate in the meeting. Anyone
wishing to appeal any decision made by the Aventura City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such
meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim
record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be
based. Agenda items are available online at cityofaventura.com for viewing and printing, or may be requested through
the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 466-8901 or cityclerk@cityofaventura.com.
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CITY OF AVENTURA
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bryan Pegues, City Manager / f
DATE: August 1, 2025
SUBJECT: Approval of Final Ranking — RFQ No. 2025-04: Architectural and
Engineering Services for Proposed Aventura High School
August 8, 2025 City Commission Special Meeting Agenda
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Commission approve the final ranking established by the
Evaluation Committee and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an
agreement with the highest -ranked proposer, Currie Sowards Aguila Architects, Inc.
If negotiations with Currie Sowards Aguila Architects, Inc. do not result in a finalized
agreement, the City Manager is further authorized to proceed, in order of ranking, with
the next highest -ranked proposer(s) until an agreement that serves the best interest of
the City is achieved.
BACKGROUND
On May 27, 2025, the City of Aventura ("City") issued RFQ No. 2025-04 for Professional
Architectural and Engineering Services for the Proposed Aventura High School. A non -
mandatory pre -proposal meeting was conducted on June 11, 2025, providing an overview
of the solicitation and responding to proposer inquiries.
To be considered for award, proposers were required to:
i. Hold a valid license to practice in the State of Florida;
ii. Maintain a resident office within Miami -Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County;
iii. Demonstrate a minimum of ten (10) years of continuous experience in projects of
comparable scope, size, and complexity.
By the submittal deadline of July 1, 2025, the City received twelve (12) proposals from
the following firms (listed alphabetically):
1. Arquitectonica
2. Currie Sowards Aguila Architects
3. Harvard Jolly, Inc.
4. M.C. Harry & Associates, Inc.
5. PGAL
6. R.E. Chisholm Architects, Inc.
7. Rams + Pupo Architecture, Inc.
8. Rodriguez Architects, Inc.
9. Song + Associates, Inc.
10.The Tamara Peacock Company Architects
11. Wannemacher Jensen Architects
12.Zyscovich Architects
Following a comprehensive due diligence review, all proposals were deemed responsive,
with no material defects or disqualifying conditions.
The Evaluation Committee, appointed by the City Manager, consisted of the following
voting members:
City of Aventura Committee Members:
Bryan Pegues, City Manager
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director
Kimberly Merchant, Community Services Director
Melissa Cruz, Finance Director
External Committee Members:
Franklin H. Caplan, Esq., Berger Singerman LLP
Paul T. Abbott, HPF Associates, Inc.
Rachel Windler-Freitag, Charter Schools USA
On July 18, 2025, the Committee convened to evaluate, score, and rank the proposals.
Initial rankings were as follows:
Rank
Firm Name
1
Harvard Jolly, Inc.
2
Zyscovich Architects
3
Currie Sowards Aguila Architects
4
Wannemacher Jensen Architects
5
Song + Associates, Inc.
6 (tie)
Arquitectonica / PGAL
8
The Tamara Peacock Company Architects
9 (tie)
M.C. Harry & Associates, Inc. / Rodriguez Architects, Inc.
11
R.E. Chisholm Architects, Inc.
12
Rams + Pupo Architecture, Inc.
The five highest -ranked firms were invited to deliver oral presentations on July 29, 2025.
Based on the presentations and final evaluations, the Committee established the
following final rankings:
Final Rank Firm Name
1 Currie Sowards Aguila Architects
2 Wannemacher Jensen Architects
3 Zyscovich Architects
4 Harvard Jolly, Inc.
5 Song + Associates, Inc.
This recommendation reflects the comprehensive evaluation process conducted in
accordance with the City's procurement policies and the requirements of the Consultants'
Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA), Florida Statutes §287.055. The Evaluation
Committee's final ranking and recommendation ensure transparency, fairness, and strict
adherence to statutory guidelines. Approval by the City Commission and authorization to
negotiate with the highest -ranked proposer will allow the City to advance the Proposed
Aventura High School initiative with professionalism, strategic oversight, and in alignment
with the best interests of the Aventura community.
CITY OF AVENTURA RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
AVENTURA, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE FINAL RANKING OF FIRMS
IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO.2025-04 FOR
PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES
FOR THE PROPOSED AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
HIGHEST -RANKED PROPOSER; PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATE
NEGOTIATIONS IF NECESSARY; PROVIDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on May 27, 2025, the City of Aventura ("City") issued Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2025-04 seeking qualified firms to provide professional
architectural and engineering services for the proposed Aventura High School; and
WHEREAS, twelve (12) proposals were received and deemed responsive through
a thorough due diligence review; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee ("Committee"), duly appointed by the City
Manager and comprised of both internal and external voting members, convened to
review, score, and rank the submissions; and
WHEREAS, the Committee established a final ranking based on written proposals
and oral presentations, identifying Currie Sowards Aguila Architects, Inc. as the highest -
ranked firm; and
WHEREAS, this process was conducted in full accordance with the City's
procurement policies and the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act , Florida Statutes
§287.055; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended that the final ranking be
approved, as set forth in the Staff Memorandum supporting this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to approve the final ranking and
authorize the City Manager to negotiate an agreement with the highest -ranked proposer;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that this Resolution is in the best interest
and welfare of the residents of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That each of the above -stated recitals are hereby adopted, confirmed,
and incorporated herein.
City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-
Section 2. That the City Commission hereby approves the ranking.
Section 3. That the City Commission hereby authorizes the City Manager to
negotiate an agreement with the highest -ranked proposer, subject to the City Attorney's
approval of form, content, and legal sufficiency. If an agreement cannot be reached with
the highest -ranked proposer, the City Manager is authorized to negotiate with the next
highest -ranked firm, in order of ranking, as provided in the Staff Memorandum supporting
this Resolution, until an acceptable agreement is reached in the best interest of the City.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its
adoption.
The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner who moved its
adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner and upon being put to
a vote, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Clifford B. Ain
Commissioner Gustavo Blachman
Commissioner Amit Bloom
Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland
Commissioner Paul A. Kruss
Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky
Mayor Howard S. Weinberg
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 8t" day of August, 2025.
HOWARD S. WEINBERG, ESQ.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
ELLISA L. HORVATH, MMC
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
ROBERT MEYERS
CITY ATTORNEY
WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE + BIERMAN, P.L.
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