09-13-2001 MINUTES
COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 9 AM
Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, Florida 33180
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Mayor Jeffrey M. Perlow. Present were
Commissioners Arthur Berger, Jay R. Beskin, Manny Grossman, Harry Holzberg, Patricia
Rogers-Libert, Vice Mayor Ken Cohen, Mayor Perlow, City Manager Eric M. Soroka, City Clerk
Teresa M. Soroka, and City Attorney David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was determined to be
present, the meeting commenced.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD APPLICANTS: Commission discussed
13 applications received.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus to select Davide Carbone, Ray Leightman and
Bruce Perry, and interview Alfred Golden, Ron Rodriguez, Arthur Barr, Leonard Brenner,
Paula Berliner, David Arnovitz, Leo Zern and Robert Lieberman. City Manager to notify
those appointed as of this date and explain in detail requirements for service, including
financial disclosure.
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COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD APPLICANTS: Commission discussed 16
applications submitted.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus to select Phillip Sturtz, Manuel Grife, Stephanie
Trump, and interview Deborah Carr, Melissa Garey, Morton Deutsch, Seymour London,
Larry Orenstein, Madeiine Zern, Joni Braunstein, Ted Cohen, and Miles Kuttler. City
Manager to notify those appointed as of this date and explain in detail requirements for
service, including financial disclosure.
4. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - 2002: City's Lobbyist, Ron Book, provided update of
legislative progress last year and status to date and discussed proposed priorities for 2002.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus that proposed 2002 legislative program, as
presented, be placed on 0c{0ber 2n~ agenda for approval. Commission to discuss in the
future a program to assist the elderly.
3. AVENTURA CULTURAL CENTER FOUNDATION: Revised Articles of Incorporation
distributed to Commission for review, with sample similar documents.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: Consensus to defer to October Workshop meeting.
5. TRAVEL EXPENSES (Vice Mayor Cohen): Vice Mayor Cohen discussed amendment to
travel expenses policy to provide that Commission members who are serving on local, state
and national league committees be provided travel, hotel and related expenses to fulfill
service on such committees.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus to amend resolution to raise travel expenditure to
$4,000 beginning fiscal year 2001 and provide additional travel-related expenses for
Commissioners to fulfill their service, if any, on local, state, and national league committees
or other municipal-related committees, as approved by Commission. Consensus that
Commissioners now appointed to committees are approved and approval to be ratified at
October Commission meeting.
7. DELEGATE TO NLC (Mayor Perlow): Discussion ensued as to appointment of delegates to
league conferences.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Policy established by Mayor as follows: Mayor to be
designee if he is attending, in his absence, Vice Mayor to be delegate, or if neither
attending, Mayor to appoint delegate. As to this year's NLC Conference, Commissioner
Rogers-Libert delegate, alternates Commissioners Holzberg and Cohen.
CAMPAIGN FINANCING REFORM (Vice Mayor Cohen): Vice Mayor Cohen requested
City Attorney's opinion as to City's position on campaign financing reform. City Attorney's
opinion that campaign financing is pre-empted and addressed by state statute and advised
against City establishing its own legislation. Commission discussed adding campaign
donations to current disclosure ordinance.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: City Attorney to draft resolution to submit to state urging
campaign finance reform. Commissioners serving on league Committees to discuss the
issue with those committees. Issue to be considered as a legislative priority for 2003. City
Attorney to research process whereby Tucson, Arizona was able to enact campaign
financing limitations.
CITY CHORUS (Commissioner Ber,qer): Commissioner Berger updated Commission on his
recent meetings regarding City orchestra (report to be deferred to a later workshop) and
chorus.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus that City Manager research other cities who have
such a program and report back to Commission.
City Manager updated Commission on progress of charter school process.
City Manager discussed City's plans for security during high holy days.
City Attorney to amend termite ordinance to address at future meeting.
City Manager announced next Workshop Meeting for October 18, 2001.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before ~he Commission at this
time, after motion made, seconded and unanimously passed, t~3~ m~/~ing adjourned at 2:00
Approved by the Commission on October 2, ~lla M. Sor~__.~CMC] City Clerk
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at a
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.
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