City Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay, good evening. Let's call the City Commission regular meeting June 2nd, 2026 to order. And we'll have a roll call, please.

Thank you if we could rise for the pledge of allegiance, please. Okay. Mr. Manager, any deletions or additions to the agenda? No, Mayor. Okay. Any reports from any commissioners? Yes.

Thank you. Any other reports. Special presentations. Mr. Manager, you have representatives here from the Charter Revision Commission?

Okay. So we, every how many years? Five?

Every six years, We form a charter revision commission. They look at our existing charter and they volunteer their time. These individuals make recommendations and their recommendations by law, basically, we don't have a choice here in the commission. They make their recommendations. Those go on the ballot at our next regularly scheduled election. And the people of Aventura get to vote and decide whether or not the recommendations of that commission should become part of our should become part of our charter. So we thank the people who served, Denise Landman, Michael Davis, Dr. Mark Dorn, Sand

Thank you for your service, Sandra. Continuing on Mister manager we have. We want to recognize a couple of very special police officers detectives.

In here use that so they have it on the people at home we have about 2 million people watching on average.

And any commissioner that wants to comment can certainly do so. But I just want to point out that everyone with a condo board at some point thinks that their board is stealing from them or taking money under the table. I've never been in a condominium where somebody didn't make that allegation. It's a very thankless job, kind of like being a commissioner. you'll hear people say, oh, the police can't do anything about it. So in our city, thank you both so much for your work. In our city, we tell you, take your concerns to the police department. We have a specialized detective bureau. It's not w

So I don't know who would say just a couple words and then we're going to play the video if that's okay. Okay. So Eli, which Steve didn't talk about, was Steve's son and my son's best friend. So Eli was one of those people who made everyone around him feel like they mattered. For our family, he wasn't just a friend. He was part of us. He and my son Carson shared the kind of friendship that you just don't forget, kind of shape you for life, and the kind that stays with you long after someone is gone. Losing Eli has been one of the hardest things that our family and friends and, of course, the S

And that's what we're going to do with the high school.

Thank you. And that's the goal of the foundation, right, to get everyone tested?

Correct, to early detection, so that at all ages, doesn't matter how young,

So you want to say again when the event will be happening here?

So for high, it'll be July 28th, held at the school. And they'll also have ACES is going to be participating. I don't know if they'll be attending at the high school, but they'll also have it either on campus. And Dr. Beck is here. She's been working closely with her team to work with the Silvermans to make that happen on campus for them as well.

Okay, so on a personal note, I just want to let you know that whatever we can do here, and if there's ever an additional need to get the message out here in this chambers, you don't have to ask, you just tell us. You're always welcome to come here. I want to tell you that I attended the funeral And it's so clear to me how special your son was to so many people. And to see so many young people speak. And each one of them started speaking by saying, Eli was my best friend. I never saw someone, I never heard of someone with so many best friends. I was personally very, very struck by it. It's very

Okay, so we are recessed at, 625 PM. Okay. Moving on. Now we're going to act in our capacity as a local planning agency at 625 PM. And let's call that meeting the LPA to order. With a roll call.

OK. I need a motion to approve the minutes of May 5, 2026. Commissioner Walensky, seconded by Commissioner Blatchman. Roll call, please.

Okay. Item four, motion recommending adoption of the following. But first, we're going to, this is going to be a quasi-judicial procedure, so I'm going to ask the city attorney to provide those procedures for everyone here.

Okay. And if anyone wants to disclose, let's do that now. Anyone? Okay. Go ahead, Commissioner Friedland.

Yes, I would like to say that I've spoken to the applicant.

Anyone else? I also had a meeting with the applicant.

Yes, several, I guess several weeks ago I looked at renderings potential renderings that were shown to me by the applicant.

I had some brief discussions from the applicant.

Okay. Madam Clerk, would you like to swear in those offering testimony?

Okay, Madam Clerk, if you could continue by reading 4A.

Okay. Can I have a motion recommending adoption? Commissioner Friedland, seconded by Commissioner Cruz. Okay. Okay, I need a motion to recommend adoption. Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Commissioner Blum.

Any questions for the development director? Seeing none, let me open for public comment. Anyone wishing to speak on this item? Oh, OK. Well, the attorney can speak if you'd like.

I think so. OK. I'll let any commissioner ask any questions. I do want to first say, because it's open now, any member of the public wish to speak on this issue? OK. Seeing none, I'm closing it for public comment. Any commission questions of the director or the applicant's attorney? OK. Any comments at all by the commission? OK. So then let's vote.

Thank you. Could I have a motion to recommend adoption of the resolution? Commissioner Orlinsky, seconded by. Commissioner Bloom. Kevin.

Okay, thanks. Any questions or comments from the Commission? Okay, I have a couple of, I have a few comments. I want to just address the, this This is often the case because, as I've said from this seat many times, the people that own property in Aventura have development rights that predate the incorporation of our city. The rights come from the county more than 30 years ago. We're only in our 31st year. So when a project comes before us, I often hear, just say no or enough is enough or we don't need it. So I would venture to say that if that was a real possibility, probably everyone up here

Thank you. And again, it's easy... I could say no, and then I can go tell everyone that I voted no, because it's not the right thing to do for the people of Aventura. That's just grandstanding, because be careful what you ask. I say no, and he says live local. We lose. Anyone else, comments? And then I'll open it to, okay, sure.

Okay. Members of the public, anyone that wants to speak on this particular issue, step up. No? Okay. I will close it then for public. No other Commission comment, in which case we'll vote.

Okay, I need a motion to adjourn the LPA. Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Commissioner Friedland. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? We're adjourned. Okay, we're gonna return to the commission meeting. And it is 6.54. Let's call the roll, make sure we're all still here.

Okay. Anything, any item need to be removed for discussion from the consent agenda? Seeing none, I'll have, I'm asking for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Bloom, seconded by Vice Mayor Ayne. Vice Mayor, you like that? Let's vote on the consent agenda.

OK. Item 7, this is quasi-judicial. Mr. City Attorney, will you repeat yourself?

Okay, thank you. Now, I'll ask the clerk to swear on anyone that may be giving testimony.

Thank you. Could I have a motion to... Recommending adoption. Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Vice Mayor Ayne. Kevin.

Thank you. Everything from the LPA is on the record here now. Same thing with the applicant. Okay. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on this item, 7a? Seeing none, I'll close it for public comment and ask if the Commission has any questions or comments. Seeing none, we'll vote.

Thank you. Motion to approve adoption of the ordinance. Commissioner Orlinsky, seconded by Commissioner Blanchman. Kevin.

Yes, those changes are noted and part of the record and part of any approval. Any questions? Any member of the public want to speak on this item 7B? I'll close it for public comment. Yes, did you want an applicant to have a comment?

Understood. I'd like to see people move to our city without cars. That would be wonderful. Okay. Again, any member of the public wish to speak on this item? Yes, I have one. Come on up. Name and address.

Can you answer that? Sorry, sorry. Comment to us. I'm not asking questions of the attorney.

I'll answer it. Thank you. Are you done? Okay, thank you. And I'll ask if he wants to answer it for you.

And to your question, Marge, if somebody is interested in purchasing a condominium there, and they say, where is my parking space? And they say, you don't have a parking space, and that person is probably not the right fit to purchase a condominium there. And that's the idea. Someone who doesn't own a car, doesn't feel they need a car, for example, My children don't have cars. They live in an urban area. They don't own an automobile. It's a tremendous relief to them that they don't need a car. They use rideshare or public transportation. So someone who says, where do I park my car? Where is my

Thank you. Okay, any other member of the public? Okay, then I'll close it for public comment. Any commission comment on 7B?

Ms. So while I'm trying to keep silent, I do have to agree with the resident that spoke up. I think that it is 949 spaces less than what is required under our code. And I do have a lot of issues with the project. I did listen very carefully, and I'm very unfortunately familiar with Live Local, and that makes a lot of my decision, but I'm not going to tell you that this is necessarily the perfect project for our city. It just may be better than some other options. So I do hear our residents and their concerns, and I just want to put that on the record too. Councillor Neill.

Any other comments by the commission? Okay, if not, let's vote.

Motion to approve. Commissioner Friedland, seconded by Commissioner Blanchman. Mr. Manager.

Okay. Any member of the public wish to comment on item eight? Seeing none, I'll close with public comment. Any member of the commission have a question or a comment on this?

Yes, Vice Mayor. I'd like to point out that when you can do online registration is that will require less people driving to City Hall in order to spend their time registering, which is another example of traffic being decreased. And I can also say that the county and the city are looking at trying to modernize the lights using different vehicles of AI, et cetera. And I think that as we go forward with this project and other stuff, there's a concerted effort to be doing that. Also, I just wanted to bring up that on the other side of Biscayne Boulevard, with all the development, and understand t

Thank you. Any other comment? Okay. Let's vote.

Motion to approve. Commissioner Cruz, seconded by Commissioner Friedland. Mr. Manager.

Thank you. Any member of the public wish to speak on item nine? Seeing none, I'll close for public comment. Any commission comments? Seeing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote.

Thank you. Could I have a motion to approve? Commissioner Orlinsky, seconded by Vice Mayor Ng.

Just something doesn't seem to make sense to me, I guess, as an attorney. So this commission here, the elected body, has no discretion because the Charter Revision Committee chose two items to put on the charter, to revise the charter, to put on the ballot. So we can't say no, we don't want those on there, correct? But at the same time, we have to vote to adopt a resolution to put those on the ballot.

OK. So just so the record is clear, no one here is asking for a raise, but it's going to be on the ballot. and we can't say no, don't put it on the ballot. That's correct. Fascinating. Although I do want to point out there's been no raise for 25 years, which it's pretty reasonable.

Just so everyone understands, we're not asking for anything, but we can't say no.

Yes, Vice Mayor. I have a question for you. As you know, we're up for order selection this year. Right now, we're in the middle of it. And I think the language is going to say that those auditors that do get selected would be part of the extension of the process to seven. That's correct. Yes.

Okay. At this time, I guess, well, I... I will ask the public if they have any comments on this. Seeing none, I'll close it. I see a member of the commission there. The Charter Revision Commission, I'm referring to. Okay, so the commission has no comments, no questions. Let's vote on that.

Any staff reports, manager, clerk, attorney? Seeing none, I will ask at this time if any member of the public would like to speak on an item that's not on the agenda tonight for three minutes. Once again, I will ask that you can come forward. You could tell us we're great. You could tell us we suck. If you want to come forward, don't all come up at once. Anyone? Okay, so now, come on up, but now I'm going to have the city attorney read the rules while you're coming up.

Hi. So thank you for coming. I want you to know that everyone up here shares your concern. That's why we have a new ordinance. I probably call the manager three times a week on this specific issue. Today, I just sent him the Sunny Isles ordinance that just started on June 1. I'm a walker. It's a huge problem. It's a very dangerous problem. There was a head-on collision on the Queensborough Bridge in New York two days ago where an e-bike and a bicyclist in the bike lane had a head-on collision. They were both killed. It's my worst nightmare, and I am actually in the middle of writing the script

So again, in your gated communities, your condominium or homeowners association can make your own rules with regard to that.

I'm just telling you that legally, you can do it. You can make rules that are more restrictive than we might be able to in your private community with your association.

Your streets are your streets inside your community. Okay. Anyway, outside of that, we continue to work on it. I am so frustrated when I walk and they come up behind me. I can't hear them. And I feel the breeze where if they hit me, we're both going to get hurt. And they're young enough to not make good decisions. We all agree with you. Any other commissioner who wants to comment, you're more than welcome to.

I live in Williams Island, and the whole island has been addressing it big time. We're all over it as well, and it's a problem. So we've been addressing it in our community.

I just want to add, I live in the point, and I'm very familiar with Aventura Lakes, and I have four kids, and they all want to ride on their friends' motor scooters with electric bikes. But the mayor is correct. Within the Aventura Lakes community, your HOA can make their own restrictive laws. In the point, we have a speed limit that's 15 miles per hour. That's not the same as the speed limit outside the community. And they just put up signs. They are fining people for going above the speed limit. They have their own speed cameras in our community. So I would highly encourage Aventura Lakes co

But I'm not familiar with any Aventura location actually selling these in our city. Even if you just like.

you'd have to tell him specifically what you're referring to.

Meet with the manager, he and their police chief, one or the other, they are on this. We know this is a huge issue. So however they can educate you and then you can educate the others. And when you see my video, please spread it on social media because it's really, at the end of the day, It's on the parents. We can have all the laws we want. They're going to give these things to their kids. Those kids are going to jump on them. They're not looking at the ordinance. They're looking at how to get to their friend's house or how to get to Lowman's Plaza. By the way, I just put our manager with the

Agreed. Again, Tallahassee, we've been saying it all night. They need to do their job and make it better. The Department of Motor Vehicles, they should be classified as motorcycles, which means you have to have a license, which means You have to be 16, period. Okay, thank you so much.

Any other member of the public wishing to speak? Yes, sir. Come on up.

Terrific. Thank you very much. We're all for empowering women. So send the emails to us so we know what's happening. Thank you very much. Any other member of the public? Okay. Then... If there's no other business, I'm going to entertain a motion to adjourn. Vice Mayor Ains, seconded by Commissioner Bloom. All those in favor, say aye. Any opposed? We are adjourned. Thank you, everyone.