10-21-1997 Council Meeting MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2'1, '1997 6:00 P.M.
COLUMBIA AVENTURA MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING
2'1 '1 '10 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD SUITE '10'1
AVENTURA, FLOR/IDA
'1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by
Mayor Arthur I. Snyder. Present were Councilmembers Arthur Berger, Jay R.
Beskin, Ken Cohen, Harry Holzberg, Patricia Rogers-Libert, Vice Mayor Jeffrey M.
Perlow, Mayor Snyder, City Manager Eric M. Soroka, City Clerk Teresa M. Smith,
and City Attorneys Stephen J. Helfman and David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was
determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: George Berlin led the pledge of allegiance.
3. ZONING HEARINGS - SPECIALLY SET BY COUNCIL FOR 6 P.M.
Ex-parte communications by Council, if any, were disclosed and filed with the City
Clerk in accordance with Ordinance 96-09. All witnesses giving testimony in these
hearing were sworn in by the City Clerk.
A. APPLICANT: MAGEN DAVID CONGREGATION OF FLORIDA, INC.
A motion to defer this matter until November 4, 1997 was offered by Councilmember
Rogers-Libert, seconded by Councilmember Berger and unanimously passed.
B. APPLICANT: AVENTURA MALL VENTURE
Mr. Helfman read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA DENYING A SIGN
VARIANCE TO PERMIT OFF-PREMISE WALL
SIGNS ON THE PARKING GARAGE ADJACENT
TO BLOOMINGDALE'S AT THE AVENTURA MALL
LOCATED AT '1950'1 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Snyder opened the public hearing. The following individuals addressed Council:
Jaye M. Epstein, Community Development Director; Phil Ward and George Berlin,
representatives of the applicant; and Lionel Socolov, 3530 Mystic Point Drive. There
being no further speakers, the public headng was closed. A motion to deny the request
was offered by Vice Mayor Pedow, seconded by Councilmember Cohen, and
unanimously passed.
Mr. Helfman read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CiTY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA GRANTING A
SIGN VARIANCE TO PERMIT A FOURTH WALL
SIGN, NO GREATER THAN 53 SQUARE FEET IN
AREA, WHERE THREE (3) WALL SIGNS ARE
PERMITTED, ON THE BLOOMINGDALE'S
BUILDING AT THE AVENTURA MALL LOCATED
AT 19501 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Snyder opened the public hearing. The following individuals addressed
Council: Mr. Epstein; Mr. Ward; and Mr. Berlin. There being no further speakers, the
public hearing was closed. A motion for approval was offered by Councilmember
Berger, seconded by Councilmember Holzberg, unanimously passed, and Resolution
No. 97-73 was adopted.
C. APPLICANT: AVENTURA SHOPS, INC.
Mr. Helfman read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA GRANTING
APPROVAL OF MULTI-TENANT CENTER SIGN
GRAPHICS FOR FACADE SlGNAGE FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3001-3025 AVENTURA
BOULEVARD; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Mayor Snyder opened the public hearing. The following individuals addressed Council:
Mr. Epstein; and Ira Segai, 8320 SW 92nd Terrace. There being no further speakers, the
public hearing was closed. A motion for approval was offered by Councilmember
Beskin and seconded by Mayor Snyder. A motion to place this matter on the agenda
for the November 10, 1997 Workshop meeting and defer the public hearing until
November 18, 1997 was offered by Councilmember Cohen, seconded by
Councilmember Rogers-Libert and unanimously passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion to approve the minutes of the October 6,
1997 Council Workshop Meeting and October 7, 1997 Council Meeting, with the
2
correction of the spelling of Mr. Wolofsky was offered by Councilmember Rogers-
Libert, seconded by Councilmember Berger and unanimously passed.
5. AGENDA: REQUESTS FOR DELETIONS/EMERGENCY ADDITIONS:
Mayor Snyder requested that item 6 be addressed prior to item 10 and that item 9 be
addressed prior to item 6. Councilmember Beskin requested removal of items B and
C from the Consent Agenda.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Mr. Helfman read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING
PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 74,
FLA. STAT. TO PROVIDE FOR ACQUISITION BY
QUICK TAKING IN ADVANCE OF FINAL
JUDGMENT OF THAT CERTAIN 3.3_+ ACRE
PARCEL OF VACANT PROPERTY LOCATED AT
THE WEST SIDE OF COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE,
SOUTH OF THE WILLIAM LEHMAN CAUSEWAY IN
AVENTURA, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO
DETERMINATION MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL
IN RESOLUTION NO. 97-33 THAT THE
ACOUISITION OF SUCH PARCEL CONSTITUTES
A PUBLIC NECESSITY IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A
LOCATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER
FACILITY; CONFiRMiNG COMPLIANCE WITH ALL
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEPOSIT
OF FUNDS INTO THE COURT REGISTRY, AS THE
CITY'S GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE OF THE FAIR
MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY;
CONFIRMING AND RATIFYING FINDINGS OF
RESOLUTION 97-33 OF THE CiTY COUNCIL;
PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Snyder opened the public hearing. City Attomey Joseph H. Serota addressed
Council. There being no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. A motion for
approval was offered by Councilmember Beskin, seconded by Councilmember Cohen,
and passed by roll cell vote, with the following amendments: the Memorandum to
include the purchase price of the Winn Dixie site; to provide that the letter of intent was
signed by the City and the property owner; and to include that this parcel is the only
available parcel for purchase feasible for utilization as a Government Center;
3
amendment to the Resolution to define Government Center as set forth in Resolution
97-33. Thus, Resolution No. 97-74 was adopted.
7. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UPDATE: GRADE SEPARATION - BISCAYNE VII PROJECT
Mayor Snyder turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor Perlow. Mr. Soroka introduced
Jose Abreu and John Martinez who spoke on behalf of the Florida Department of
Transportation. The following individuals spoke: Ruby Steiner, 20301 W. Country
Club Drive; Ginger Grossman, 20100 W. Country Club Drive; Mildred Hassack,
Biscayne Lakes Gardens; Jack Strick, Tumberry Towers; Charlotte Everett, 20100
W. Country Club Drive; Sidney Calloway, Esq., Fort Lauderdale, representing Pita
Plus; Jill Rosenstein, 20505 E. Country Club Drive; George Feffer, Admirals Port;
Manny Grossman, 20335 W. Country Club Drive; Stanley Goldberger, Biscayne
Lakes Gardens; Bernard Schoenfeld, Country Club Drive; Henry Steckler, 20400 W.
Country Club Drive; June Stevens, NE Del Vista Coud; and Donna Dorney, 2791 NE
214th Terrace. The City Manager was directed to place this matter on the next
Workshop Agenda for further discussion.
8. CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Soroka explained each item on the Consent Agenda. A
motion for approval was offered by Councilmember Rogers-Libert, seconded by
Councilmember Cohen and unanimously passed, thus the following action was
taken:
A. Mr. Helfman read the following ordinance by title which was approved on
first reading:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 97-25, WHICH ORDINANCE
ADOPTED A BUDGET FOR THE 1997/98 FISCAL
YEAR BY REVISING THE 1997/98 FISCAL YEAR
OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET AS
OUTLINED IN EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHED HERETO;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO ALL
THINGS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE AIMS
OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
D. Mr. Helfman read the following motion which was approved:
MOTION AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF
UP TO $19,600 FOR RADIO EQUIPMENT,
CAMERA EQUIPMENT AND COMPUTER
UPGRADES FROM THE POLICE FORFEITURE
4
FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY
MANAGER'S MEMORANDUM.
The following items were removed from the Consent Agenda and addressed
separately:
B. Mr. Helfman read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA AWARDING AND
LETTING A BID/CONTRACT FOR BID NO. 97-9-30-
2, AVENTURA BOULEVARD STREETSCAPE AND
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD NORTHERN MEDIAN, TO
VILA & SON LANDSCAPING CORPORATION AT
THE BID PRICE OF $1,347,985.45 AS CONTAINED
IN EXHIBIT "A"; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE ASSOCIATED
CONTRACTS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO TAKE NECESSARY AND
EXPEDIENT ACTION TO CARRY OUT THE AIMS
OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR THE
APPROPRIATION AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
FOR SAID BID AWARD; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Feffer; Mr. Socolov; Robert Jordan, Commodore Plaza; and William O'Leary spoke
relative to this issue. A motion for approval wes offered by Councilmember Rogers-
Libert, seconded by Councilmember Beskin, unanimously approved, thus Resolution
No. 97-75 was adopted. (Mayor Snyder left the meeting during this discussion prior to
the vote).
C. Mr. Helfman read the following ordinance by title:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA,
FLORIDA REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 96-33
WHICH PROVIDED FOR THE CREATION OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA PLANNING ADVISORY
BOARD; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
A motion for approval was offered by Councilmember Rogers-Libert, seconded by
Councilmember Berger and passed (4-2) with Councilmembers Berger and Beskin
voting no.
10. RESOLUTIONS: None
5
6. APPOINTMENT OF VICE MAYOR: A motion to appoint Councilmember Beskin as
Vice Mayor was offered by Councilmember Rogers-Libert and seconded by
Councilmember Holzberg. A motion to appoint Councilmember Cohen as Vice
Mayor was offered by Councilmember Berger and seconded by Councilmember
Cohen. The motion to appoint Councilmember Beskin as Vice Mayor passed 4-2,
with Councilmembers Berger and Cohen voting no.
11. OTHER BUSINESS:
MOTION TO APPROVE POLICY FOR TOWN HALL
MEETINGS AS OUTLINED IN CITY MANAGER'S
MEMORANDUM DATED OCTOBER 1, 1997
A motion for approval was offered by Councilmember Rogers-Libert, seconded by
Councilmember Berger and unanimously passed.
12. REPORTS
13. PUBMC COMMENTS: None
14. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business to come before Council at this
time, after motion made, seconded and unanimously passed, the meeting adjourned
at 10:15 p.m.
Teresa M. Smith, CMC, City C~erk
Approved by Council on November 4, 1997.
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision mede by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at a
meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, m ay need to ensure that a
verbatim record of the proceedings if made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which
the appeal is to be based.
6