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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 19, 2026 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop MinutesAVENTURA CITY COMMISSION REGULAR WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 19, 2026 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 9:13 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Amit Bloom, Commissioner Clifford B. Ain, Commissioner Gustavo Blachman, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, 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 already done at the City Commission Special Meeting. 3. Proposed KLA Academy at 2740 NE 208 Terrace (City Manager): Mr. Pegues, accompanied by Community Development Director Keven Klopp, introduced the item for a K-5 private school with 600 students in the hospital district area, with the grades to be phased in. Michael Marrero, Esq. (Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes PLLC - 200 S. Biscayne Blvd. Suite 300, Miami, FL), Rolando Llanes (Principal - Civica Architecture), and Roberto Ortega (President & CEO - KLA Academy & KLA Schools) provided information on the project including the following: Site Plan/1st Floor Plan (Traffic Flow Dropoff/Pickup), 2nd & 3rd Floor Plans, 4th & 5th Floor Plans, 6th & Roof Floor Plans, Rendered Elevations (North, South, East, & West), Site Plan Aerial, Renderings, and Pictures. The need for conditional use and variance approvals was discussed. The City Commission discussed the item including the following: pro -education and providing options for parents, tuition, KLA meaning, shade canopy on the roof top, positive design with natural light, traffic flow on streets, Brickell KLA Academy location, classroom sizes/students, teacher ratio to students, positive Uptown Aventura addition, Montessori - type school, positive comments on the roof activation, possibly providing additional 1 This item was presented and discussed following Item 10. Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes — February 19, 2026 shade, plans for on -site security, KLA Academy growth throughout the State, and superintendent. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the item to be placed on the March City Commission Meeting Agenda as presented. 4. Proposed New Plan for Aventura Corporate Center by FLOW at 20801 Biscayne Blvd. (City Manager): Mr. Pegues reported that the applicant had requested the item to be moved to the March City Commission Workshop Agenda. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to move the item to the March City Commission Workshop Agenda. 5. Proposed Biennial Business Tax Receipt Increase (City Manager): Mr. Pegues reviewed the item and recommended a 5% increase, as allowed by Florida statute. He also provided an update on the bill being considered by the Florida Legislature to ban local business tax receipts that may not be eliminated this year. The City Commission discussed the item. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed with the item as presented via an Ordinance on the March City Commission Meeting Agenda. 6. Annual Selection of Aventura Director and Alternate Director to the Miami - Dade County League of Cities Board for May 2026 - May 2027 (City Clerk): Mayor Weinberg reported on the need to select the next Director and Alternate Director to serve on the MDCLC Board. Ms. Horvath clarified that the selection would be for the period of May 2026-May 2027. The City Commission discussed the item, with Commissioner Friedland offering to allow another Commissioner to serve as the Alternate Director. The City Commission also discussed the incoming MDCLC President, North Miami Beach Commissioner Fortuna Smukler, and the possibility of purchasing a table at the event to show support. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to select Commissioner Amit Bloom to continue serving as the Director and for Commissioner Clifford B. Ain to serve as the Alternate Director. Consensus was also provided to place an ad in the MDCLC program congratulating Commissioner Smukler. No consensus was provided to purchase a table. 7. Appointment of Charter Revision Commission Members (City Manager): Mr. Pegues reported on the interview process for the Charter Revision Commission, with the goal to provide names for appointment at the March 3, 2026 City Commission Meeting. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr. Page 2 of 4 Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes — February 19, 2026 Pegues to provide a Resolution with the recommended names of the members to be appointed to the Charter Revision Commission on the March City Commission Meeting Agenda. 8. Arts in Aventura Board Members (City Manager): Mr. Pegues reported on the interview process for the Arts in Aventura Board and provided information on some of the applicants being considered. The City Commission discussed the item including the following: number of members, residents and non-residents, possibly changing the parameters for the Board including the number of members and selecting the best qualified applicants without exclusions. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr. Pegues to come back with recommended names with a possible change to the existing Ordinance. 9. Resolution Supporting Proposed Florida House and Senate Legislation Addressing Anti-Semitism, Enhancing Security Grant Funding, and Strengthening Protections Against Discrimination (Vice Mayor Bloom): Vice Mayor Bloom discussed the attendance of the City Commission at Israel Days in Tallahassee and requested that the City Commission officially show support of the legislative resolution. The City Commission discussed the item. City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed with the placement of a Resolution on the March City Commission Meeting Agenda showing support of the legislative resolution. 10. Legislative Update (City Attorney): Mr. Meyers distributed and reviewed a Legislative Update prepared on February 17, 2026 covering the following: Business Tax Receipts HB 103, Sovereign Immunity Caps S131366, Property Tax Relief HJR203, Emergencies S13840, Enforcement Action Challenges H13105, Public Records H13437, Lobbyist Expenditures H131251, Impact Fees H131139, Private School S131264, Body Cameras S13504, and Public Records Exemption. The City Commission provided comments with Mr. Meyers responding to questions. City Manager Summary: This item was provided for informational purposes. The following additional items were discussed: It was noted that City Commission members requesting the consideration of specific resolutions sent from other municipalities should provide the resolution(s) to the City Manager for placement on the Workshop Agenda for discussion. 11. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:13 a.m. Page 3 of 4 C,r;y q F,xc Aventura City Commission Regular Workshop Minutes — February 19, 2026 .4 .4�a) -L4� Ellisa L. Horvath, MM ity Clerk Approved by the City Commission on March 3, 2026. Page 4 of 4