10-18-2001 MINUTES
COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 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, Ken Cohen, Manny Grossman, Harry Holzberg,
Vice Mayor Patricia Rogers-Libert, 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.
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD INTERVIEWS: The Commission
interviewed the following individuals for consideration for appointment to this Board: Al
Golden, Arthur Barr, Len Brenner, Paula Berliner, Leo Zern, Robert Lieberman. Ron
Rodriguez and David Arnowitz were out of town.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus to appoint Paula Berliner, Arthur Barr, Len
Brenner, and Joni Braunstein. Stuart Warner, Robert Lieberman, and Leo Zern,
respectively, to be considered for appointment should there be a vacancy in the future.
2. COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD INTERVIEWS: The Commission
interviewed the following individuals for consideration for appointment to this Board:
Deborah Carr, Seymour London, Larry Orenstein, Madeline Zern, Joni Braunstein and Ted
Cohen. Melissa Garey was out of town.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus to appoint Deborah Carr, Madeline Zern and
Ted Cohen. Larry Orenstein and Randi Rapp, respectively, to be considered for
appointment should there be a vacancy in the future.
5. STERLING SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM: Aventura resident Ginger Grossman, Carleen
Payton, Alliance for Aging and Ethel Warshafsky, Sterling Center, addressed the
Commission to discuss a program for senior citizens and proposed it as a sub-Committee of
the Community Services Board.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: To be deferred for discussion by Community Services
Advisory Board.
3. CITY MANAGER UPDATE: City Manager discussed Government Center Dedication,
Library renovations being considered by Miami-Dade County, charter school visit;
Gulfstream Property, Community/Recreation Center update, increased police enforcement
at Aventura Mall, holiday sign for Government Center and Founders Day.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMARY: Consensus to have dedication of Government Center
combined with Veterans Day ceremony; delay naming of new park in conjunction with
memorial proposed for World Trade Center as suggested by Mayor Perlow; proceed with
proposal for purchase of Gulfstream properb/; not to proceed with running track at
Community Center; proceed with holiday flag/seasons greetings sign for Government
Center.
4. AVENTURA CULTURAL CENTER FOUNDATION: Deferred.
6. ADVOCACY PROGRAM (Commissioner Berger) Commissioner Berger provided advocacy
tips for municipal officials as discussed at Florida League of Cities Conference.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: No action necessary.
7. DISCOVER AVENTURA (Commissioner Beskin) Commissioner Beskin expressed his
concern at a recent article in Discover Aventura magazine regarding Biscayne Lake
Gardens and suggested that the City cease doing business with this magazine and that
Michael Stern, its Director of Marketing and Sales, not be appointed to an advisory board of
the City.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY: Consensus that City Manager discuss concern with Discover
Aventura Magazine relative to its Survey in the September/October issue and request that
they print an apology to the residents of Biscayne Lake Gardens in the next edition.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission at this
time, after motion made, seconded and unanimously passed, the meeting adjourned at 3:30
p.m.
T~s~ M. Sorok~C, C,~ Clerk
Approved by the Commission on November 6, 2001.
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at a
meeting or heedng 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.
2