05-07-1996 Council Meeting MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1996 - 7 P.M.
AVENTURA HOSPITAL MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING
21110 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD SUITE 101
AVENTURA, FLORIDA
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Snyder
at 7:00 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Arthur Berger, Jay Beskin, Ken Cohen, Harry
Holzberg, Jeffrey Perlow, Vice Mayor Patricia Rogers-Libert and Mayor Arthur Snyder. Also
present were City Attorney Richard Jay Weiss and Acting City Clerk Teresa M. Smith. As a
quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Grossman led the pledge of allegiance.
At this time, Mayor Snyder designated the following individuals to be members of the to-
be-formed Planning and Zoning Board, as follows: Jan Brooks, Roy Cohen, A1 Epstein, Frank
Seidman, Sol Natman, Leonard Brenner and Bill Landa. A motion to approve these appointments
was offered by Vice Mayor Rogers-Libert and seconded by Councilmember Berger. The motion
passed unanimously.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made by Vice Mayor Rogers-Libert and
seconded by Conncilmember Holzberg that the minutes of the meeting of April 30, 1996 be
approved, with the following amendments: addition to the Vice Mayor's report that she
suggested publishing the City's office address and telephone number in the Aventura News;
correction of the spelling of Eileen Seidman; addition of Councilmember Holzberg to attend the
dinner meeting of the Dade County League of Cities Board of Directors meeting; addition to end
of sentence regarding Councilmember Beskin's potential conflict of interest in item 11 B "and
the name of the law firm is to appear on one or more of the requested signs." The motion
passed unanimously by voice vote and the minutes were approved, as amended.
4. AGENDA: The following items were added to the Council agenda: Councilmember
Cohen to discuss lease negotiations for the proposed City Hall under his report; and item 3 from
the Council Workshop of May 7, 1996 "Consideration of Extension Of City Attorney Contract"
under agenda item 15. There were no objections to the additions to the agenda.
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
7. ORDINANCES: First Reading: None
9. ORDINANCES: SECOND READING:
Mr. Weiss read the following ordinance, by title:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA,
FLORIDA, IMPLEMENTING THE UTILITY TAX
AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 166.231, ET. SEQ., FLORIDA
STATUTES, TO LEVY AND IMPOSE UTILITY TAX UPON
THE PURCHASE WITHIN THE CITY OF AVENTURA OF
ELECTRICITY, WATER, METERED GAS, BOTTLED GAS,
COAL, FUEL OIL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Snyder opened the public hearing. The following individuals addressed Council
relative to this ordinance: Daniel McGrady, 3640 Yacht Club Drive; George Feffer, 2851 NE
183rd Street; and Frank Seidman, 3600 Yacht Club Drive. Mayor Snyder closed the public
hearing. A motion was offered by Councilmember Beskin and seconded by Councilmember
Cohen to approve the ordinance on second reading. The motion passed unanimously by roll call
vote and Ordinance No. 96-03 was enacted.
10. RESOLUTIONS:
Mr. Weiss read the following resolution by title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT
OF INTERIM EXPENSES AND APPROPRIATION OF
FUNDS FOR SUCH PAYMENT; PROVIDING FOR
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Councilmember Beskin provided Council with a Statement of Cash Flow and discussion
followed. Upon completion of discussion, a motion to adopt the resolution was made by Vice
Mayor Rogers-Libert and seconded by Councilmember Cohen. The motion passed unanimously
by voice vote and Resolution No. 96-14 was adopted. Mayor Snyder directed that no further
funds be expended without the prior approval of Mr. Soroka.
11. ZONING ITEMS REMANDED FROM DADE COUNTY:
(Deferred until the advertised time of 9 p.m.)
it was the consensus of Council to schedule zoning hearings to be heard at 6 p.m. prior
to regularly scheduled Council meetings, which would begin at 7 p.m.
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12. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Mayor Snyder announced that all committees previously established, with the
exception of the Beautification Committee and Planning and Zoning Committee, are no longer
necessary and that Council Committees would be appointed on June 18, 1996. The City Attorney
was directed to prepare the appropriate legislation to create the Planning and Zoning Board.
Vice Mayor Rogers-Libert discussed the requirements for committees and provided
Council with proposed general criteria, framework and structure.
Councilmember Berger advised Council of an additional training session scheduled
for May 10, 1996, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Kovens Conference Center on the campus of Florida
International University. Councilmember Berger also brought to Council's attention his concerns
and those of residents with respect to Williams Island Boulevard. Mr. Dan Eichmann,
Commodore Plaza, and Mr. George Feffer, spoke to Council relative to this issue. After
discussion by Council, a motion was offered by Councilmember Berger and seconded by
Councilmember Beskin approving a feasibility study of the dedication of Williams Island
Boulevard to the City. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Snyder appointed
Councilmembers Perlow, Holzberg and Berger to research this issue. Lastly, Councilmember
Berger suggested that a notice be published in the Aventura News requesting suggestions and
volunteers to the Beautification Committee.
Councilmember Beskin reported to Council on the status of the proposed budget,
increased insurance coverage and expenditures.
Councilmember Cohen discussed the lease negotiations with Great Western Bank
and the need for an informational session on zoning. Mayor Snyder requested that
Councilmember Berger schedule a zoning seminar for Council.
Councilmember Holzberg discussed the start-up of the police department and
hurricane disaster preparedness.
Councilmember Perlow discussed the proposed Planning and Zoning Board. He
requested and received from Council authorization for the City Attorney to attend the first
meeting of the Committee to discuss guidelines, criteria, responsibilities and financial disclosure.
B. CITY MANAGER
C. CITY CLERK
D. CITY ATTORNEY
Mr. Weiss updated Council as to the Master Transition Agreement, utility tax
collection, sales tax distribution eligibility and franchise fees.
14. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mr. George Berlin, 1940 NE 194th Drive, North Miami Beach,
addressed Council relative to zoning plat approval. After lengthy discussion, a motion was
offered by Vice Mayor Rogers-Libert and seconded by Councilmember Perlow to request
Metropolitan Dade County to continue the platting functions for the City of Aventura until
notified otherwise by the City and that they provide Cotmcil with copies of the plat
approvals/denials for information purposes. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Lionel Sokolov, 3530 Mystic Point Drive, addressed Council.
15. GENERAL DISCUSSION~OTIiER BUSINESS:
A motion was offered by Councilmember Cohen and seconded by Councilmember
Holzberg that a vote of confidence be extended to the law firm of Weiss Scrota & Helfman and
that the City continue their agreement for legal services with Weiss Scrota & Helfman. The
motion passed 6-1, with Councilmember Beskin voting no.
A motion was offered by Vice-Mayor Rogers-Libert and seconded by Councilmember
Cohen to defer the zoning hearing request of Jiffy Lube International to May 21, 1996 at 6 p.m.
with the cost of re-advertising to be solely the responsibility of the applicant. The motion passed
unanimously.
17. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before Council, after motion
made, seconded and unanimously passed, the meeting adjourned.
Approved by Council on the Respectfully submitted:
21st day of May, 199~
Arthur I. Snyder, iMayor[ Teresa M. Smith, CMC
Acting City Clerk
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made 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, 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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