City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Let's call the Aventura City Commission regular meeting of March 3rd, 2026 to order. And have a roll call, please.

Thank you. I see some competitive dancers. Would you young ladies come forward and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Come right up here to this microphone. Don't be shy. And wait one second. We have honor students from Don Sofer taking up the background. Why do you kids sit in the back? Student government, come on up, please. Come on up. We can never have enough students. We're so proud of all of our kids. Come on up and help lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. So those who are able, please stand. You guys, work it amongst yourselves to start and we'll all join in. Thank you so much. Okay, so

Okay. Any commission reports? Commissioners? Yes.

Okay, so special presentations. First up, we are honored to have County Commissioner, Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Miki Steinberg here, a very, very good friend of Everture. Miki, how many cities do you represent? Okay, so again, just like I say to the County Mayor, she cannot acknowledge it, do not ask her, but ladies and gentlemen, 13 cities she represents and we are her favorite. We know we're first in the alphabet, but we're also first in her heart. And she has a special presentation. And this is all good for us. And I'll tell you why after she speaks. You want to say a few words and th

Thank you so much. We're gonna come down and take a picture with you with that check. I just want everyone to know that, first of all, this is greatly appreciated. So the public tells us what they need, what they want, and we do what we can with, with our funds and we look for partners like you. You've been a great friend. You're always a great friend. I don't know if I'm allowed, we, at least I'm speaking out for myself. I support your reelection and you will be reelected in my opinion. So I said it. So I want you to know we, a few years ago, due to public request, we built pickleball courts.

So in Aventura, we always had dance classes in our recreation center and they were wonderful, but some of our incredible teachers recognize that there was talent in the city. and they didn't wanna lose these dancers. So this year they invited six students, they selected them, to create the first ever Aventura competitive dance team called the Aventura Gems. And I'm honored to say in our first competition this past weekend called the Star Power Competition with students from all over the state of Florida, the Aventura Gems swept every one of the categories they entered. from their group dances,

And then we'll take a group picture after they all receive their certificates.

Stand over there, stand over there. How many is it? Eva Rose Scharchman.

And the girls are all wearing their costumes. Tell them what dance you're wearing. What is this costume from? Which dance? Money, money, money, money. I got first place.

Okay, next I want to invite back, back to the lectern, the Student Government Association, the students from Don Silver High School Student Government Association to tell us about the upcoming Night of Excellence event. Come on up, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, students. Thank you, dancers and coaches. Okay. Moving on. This month is colorectal cancer awareness month. And before we go any further, I want to turn things over to Vice Mayor Bloom.

Tonight, we once again recognize Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we do so a year and a half after the passing of Commissioner Michael Stern.

Okay. Last March was about grief and gratitude. This year is about legacy. Michael transformed his diagnosis into purpose. For five years, as he battled, he used his voice to encourage screenings, remove stigma, and remind people that a simple colonoscopy can save a life. Through his work with Fight CRC and the support of this commission, his message continues to reach families who may never even have met him, but may very well be saved because of him. We are grateful to the Stern family, Randy, Michael's wife, his children, Jordan and Ryan, and his mother Roz for continuing to share Michael w

So whereas colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States among men and women combined and Whereas screening for colorectal cancer can lead to earlier detection and save lives by allowing for the prevention and treatment of this disease and

Whereas although colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented by timely screening, it is estimated that only one in three people who are eligible for screening are doing so.

and their combined efforts to increase awareness and offer education on the importance of early detection and screening of colorectal cancer and whereas the city of Aventura Commission is committed to carrying on the legacy of Commissioner Michael Stern by continuing to use colorectal cancer awareness month to inform the public on the importance of prevention and treatment.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Howard Weinberg, as mayor, and on behalf of the City Commission of the City of Aventura, in honor of our friend and colleague, Commissioner Michael Stern, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Aventura. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The Stern family want to come up?

I'm going to entertain a motion to recess the commission meeting so that we can do some work as the local planning agency. So moved by Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Commissioner Alinsky. Can we call the roll on that?

OK. We're adjourned as a commission. We'll be back shortly.

OK. Let's call to order. the lpa on this march 3rd 2026 and i need a roll call mayor weinberg here vice mayor bloom here commissioner ayn here commissioner botchman commissioner friedland here commissioner cruz commissioner olenski here mr biggies here mr myers you have a quorum motion to approve the minutes of september 2nd 2025 uh commissioner ayn second by commissioner cruz Roll call, please.

Okay. Item four is a motion recommending adoption of item 4A and 4B, which will be quasi-judicial. So I will ask the city attorney to provide those procedures.

Madam Clerk, can you swear on anyone wishing to offer testimony?

Thank you. Any applicant questions, comments?

Thank you. Thank you very much. Let me open for public comment. Any member of the public wish to speak on this item, 4A, come forward now. Seeing none. You gotta be quick.

Any other members of the public Okay, then I will close public comment and ask anyone on the dais, any Commission comments or questions? Seeing none, let's close and vote, please.

Thank you. Could I have a motion to adopt the resolution? Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Commissioner Friedland. Kevin, anything to say about this project, as Mr. Shearer would say? Okay. Any public comment? Seeing none, I'll close. Anything from the commission? Seeing none, we'll close and vote.

Thank you. Can I have a motion to approve, adopt the ordinance? Commissioner Freeland, seconded by Vice Mayor Bloom. Kevin.

Thank you. Thanks. Let me see first if any member of the public wishes to comment on this item.

Any other members of the public wish to speak? Okay, let me close public and open for commission comment and ask Kevin about that. What we just heard, what's your feeling about Mr. Perkhouse request.

Okay. So we can still pass on first reading. We may or may not have to have a first reading down the road, depending on legal advice. And at this time we have a motion on the table and we have, so now I'm asking for any commission comment or questions. Seeing none, I'll close and we'll vote on this motion as is. But I'll let Mr. Bercow come forward.

I need a motion to adjourn the LPA. Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Vice Mayor Blum. All those in favor, say aye. Any opposed? We are adjourned. All right, let's go back to call to order the commission regular meeting. And we'll call the roll.

Any member of the commission or the manager need to remove an item from the consent agenda? Seeing none, I'll ask for a motion to approve consent agenda. Vice Mayor Bloom, seconded by Commissioner Orlinsky. And let's vote on that.

Any member of the commission wish to comment on any item that was just approved? Yes, Commissioner Ayne.

I want to make a comment relative to the resolution of the procurement of a payroll management system for those residents that may not know the city in the last year has changed all the software. And this is part of doing that. And by doing this, there'll be an additional savings integrates with the software. The change of the software is significant in that we're paperless. They've been all these changes and this is a continuation. And I think it's to be noted that with the changes being made, there's still an additional savings over the huge investment made by this. Great to hear, and thank

Item 7A and 7B are quasi-judicial. So Mr. Attorney, will you tell the good people of Aventura what that means?

Thank you, Mr. Attorney. Anyone have any disclosures? Go ahead.

I would like to disclose that I was contacted by one of the developers for the KLA school project.

I was also contacted by one of the developers of the KLA project.

Mr. Attorney, just for clarification, Disclosure is if you had any conversation, right, on this issue. Does it matter if you were contacted? It matters if you had a discussion, am I correct?

Thank you for the clarification. Okay. Anyone else? Okay, then I'll ask the clerk to swear, and anyone wishing to offer testimony?

Yes, if that's OK with the city attorney. That's fine. OK, please.

Mr. Attorney, can I entertain a motion for 7a and 7b or?

Okay, I need a motion to approve the resolutions 7a and 7b. Vice Mayor Bloom and seconded by Commissioner Ayne. Mr. Community Development Director.

So incorporated. Applicant, any additional comments?

Thank you. Any member of the public wish to speak on 7A or 7B? Seeing none, I'll close for public and ask the Commission if there are comments or questions. Seeing none, I think we're prepared to vote.

First reading is An ordinance on first reading is 7C. Madam Clerk.

Thank you. I need a motion to approve. Commissioner Cruz, I need a second. Vice Mayor Bloom.

I thought your presentation was stunning. Fantastic. Don't beat yourself up. Any member of the public?

Any other members of the public? Seeing none, I will close it and ask for my commission. Any comments, questions? Seeing none, we'll close and vote.

Motion to approve. Vice Mayor Blum, seconded by Commissioner Orlinsky.

Thank you. I need a motion to approve. Do I have a motion yet? I have a motion. Yes. Yes, thank you. Let me open for public comment on eight. Come on forward. Seeing none, I'll close it and ask my commission. Seeing none, let's close it and vote.

OK. Any staff reports? Mr. Manager, City Attorney, Clerk? No report. OK. Public comments. Before the City Attorney describes the rules, is there any member of the public that wishes to take up to three minutes and tell us what's on your mind? Yes, sir, come on up. No one wants to tell us how good we are, how much we suck this month? Okay, I see one gentleman that's dying to do it, but okay, I will close. for public comment. And is there any other business? Seeing none, I need a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Ayne was quick on that one. And seconded by Vice Mayor Bloom. All those in favor say