City Commission Meetings

CITY OF AVENTURA Aventura Government Center 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 V r. e4 q CITY COMMISSION SECOND BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA September 16, 2025 5: 01 p.m. Aventura Government Center Commission Chambers City Commission Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Esq. Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Commissioner Amit Bloom Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Esq. Commissioner Paul A. Kruss City Manager Bryan Pegues City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC City Attorney Robert Meyers Aventura City Commission Second Budget Public Hearing Agenda September 16, 2025 CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS: ORDINANCES - SECOND READING - 2025/ 2026 BUDGET: A. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING THE CITY OF AVENTURAAD VALOREM TAX OPERATING MILLAGE LEVY RATE AT 1. 7261 MILLS PER THOUSAND DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE, WHICH AS A PERCENT (%) CHANGE OF ROLLED - BACK RATE OF 1. 6365 MILLS IS 5. 48% ABOVE THE ROLLED - BACK RATE COMPUTED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW, FOR THE 2025 TAX YEAR; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. B. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ATTACHED TENTATIVE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET, AS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AT THE REVIEW MEETING HELD ON JULY 24, 2025 AS THE CITY OF AVENTURA FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2025/ 2026 FISCAL YEAR, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4. 05 OF THE CITY CHARTER; AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR BUDGETARY CONTROL; PROVIDING FOR PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATION; PROVIDING FOR GIFTS AND GRANTS; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS; PROVIDING FOR PROCEDURES REGARDING ENCUMBRANCES AND THE RE - APPROPRIATION OF UNEXPENDED CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS; ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCE FOR CAPITAL RESERVE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 4. ADJOURNMENT This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the Office of the City Clerk, ( 305) 466- 8901 or cityclerk@cityofaventura. com, not later than two days prior to such proceedings. One or more members of the City of Aventura Advisory Boards may participate in the meeting. Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the Aventura City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such 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. Agenda items are available online at cityofaventura. com for viewing and printing, or may be requested through the Office of the City Clerk at ( 305) 466- 8901 or cityclerk@cityofaventura. com. Page 1 of 1  Item 3A CITY OF AVENTURA OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM TO: City Commission FROM: Bryan Pegues, City Manager r `- BY: Melissa Cruz, Finance Director DATE: September 5, 2025 SUBJECT: Ordinance Adopting Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2025/26 September 9, 2025 City Commission First Budget Public Hearing Agenda First Reading) Item 3A September 16, 2025 City Commission Second Budget Public Hearing Agenda Second Hearing) Attached for your approval is an Ordinance adopting the ad valorem tax rate for fiscal year 2025/ 26. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Commission adopt a millage rate of 1. 7261 for fiscal year 2025/ 26. This rate includes no increase over the prior year and will generate 23, 266, 685 based on an assessed value of $ 14, 188, 776, 396. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Attachment  CITY OF AVENTURA ORDINANCE NO. 2025- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING THE CITY OF AVENTURA AD VALOREM TAX OPERATING MILLAGE LEVY RATE AT 1. 7261 MILLS PER THOUSAND DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE, WHICH AS A PERCENT (%) CHANGE OF ROLLED - BACK RATE OF 1. 6365 MILLS IS 5. 48% ABOVE THE ROLLED - BACK RATE COMPUTED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW, FOR THE 2025 TAX YEAR; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade County Property Appraiser has certified a Tax Assessment Roll for the year 2025, which includes the assessment for the City of Aventura; and WHEREAS, the City Commission and the City Manager of the City of Aventura have reviewed the 2025/2026 fiscal year budget for the various operating departments of the City and the means of financing said budget; and WHEREAS, the City Commission has considered an estimate of the necessary expenditures contemplated for the fiscal year ensuing, and has determined that the levy set forth herein below shall provide a portion of the necessary funds for said expenditures. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS, THAT: Section 1. The City Commission does hereby establish and adopt the City of Aventura Ad Valorem Tax Operating Millage Levy Rate of 1. 7261 mills for the 2025 tax year, or $ 1. 7261 per thousand dollars of taxable assessed property value. Said rate as a percent (%) change of rolled - back rate of 1. 6365 mills is 5. 48% above the rolled - back rate. Section 2. The Miami -Dade County Tax Collector is hereby directed to proceed with the collection and enforcement of the taxes levied herein as authorized by State and County law. Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances, resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. Section 4. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable and if any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this Ordinance but they shall City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- remain in effect, it being the legislative intent that this Ordinance shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part. Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption on second reading. The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner Kruss, who moved its adoption on first reading. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Blachman, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Yes Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Yes Commissioner Amit Bloom Yes Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Yes Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Yes Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Yes Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Yes The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner , who moved its adoption on second reading. This motion was seconded by Commissioner and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Commissioner Amit Bloom Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Page 2 of 3 City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- PASSED on first reading this 9t" day of September, 2025. PASSED AND ADOPTED on second reading this 16t" day of September, 2025. HOWARD S. WEINBERG, ESQ. MAYOR ATTEST: ELLISA L. HORVATH, MMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: ROBERT MEYERS CITY ATTORNEY WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE + BIERMAN, P. L. Page 3 of 3  Item 3B CITY OF AVENTURA OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM TO- City Commission FROM- Bryan Pegues, City Manager s BY- Melissa Cruz, Finance Director DATE- September 5, 2025 SUBJECT- Ordinance Adopting 2025/ 2026 Operating and Capital Budget September 9, 2025 City Commission First Budget Public Hearing Agenda First Reading) Item 3B September16, 2025 City Commission Second Budget Public Hearing Agenda Second Reading) Attached for your consideration is an Ordinance, that adopts the tentative Operating and Capital Budget for fiscal year 2025/ 2026 that was originally reviewed by the City Commission at the July 24, 2025 budget review meeting and modified as presented below. Updated health insurance premiums to reflect negotiated amounts, resulting in savings of approximately $ 800, 000 as the rates will now remain flat instead of a 25% increase. Removal of one ( 1) Multimedia Specialist in the City Manager' s Department, totaling approximately $ 102, 000. Increasing the Social Media line item in the City Manager' s Department by $ 85, 000 to $ 300, 000. Savings of $ 50, 000 were found in the Police Department R& M — Equipment line item, which is now budgeted at $ 277, 530. Savings of $ 40, 000 were found in the Police Department Computer Subscriptions line item, which is now budgeted at $ 610, 000. Memo to City Commission Page 2 Salary and allocation adjustments for Community Development staff resulting in a decrease in the Community Development General Fund by approximately $ 7, 670 and an increase in the Building Fund by approximately $ 18, 525. A net change of approximately $ 10, 855. The health insurance premium adjustment was considered as flat in the calculation. Updated CIP reserves in the necessary funds based on above changes. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Attachment  CITY OF AVENTURA ORDINANCE NO. 2025- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ATTACHED TENTATIVE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET, AS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AT THE REVIEW MEETING HELD ON JULY 24, 2025 AS THE CITY OF AVENTURA FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2025/ 2026 FISCAL YEAR, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4. 05 OF THE CITY CHARTER; AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR BUDGETARY CONTROL; PROVIDING FOR PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATION; PROVIDING FOR GIFTS AND GRANTS; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS; PROVIDING FOR PROCEDURES REGARDING ENCUMBRANCES AND THE RE - APPROPRIATION OF UNEXPENDED CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS; ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCE FOR CAPITAL RESERVE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Budget Adopted. The tentative 2025/ 2026 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budget, reviewed and approved with modifications made as requested by the City Commission on July 24, 2025, a copy of said budget being attached hereto and made a part hereof as specifically as if set forth at length herein, be and the same is hereby established and adopted as the City of Aventura' s final budget for the 2025/ 2026 fiscal year. The tentative budget adopted hereby may be amended or adjusted by a motion approved by a majority vote of the City Commission at the public hearings in accordance with State Statutes. Section 2. Expenditure of Funds Appropriated in the Budget Authorized. Funds appropriated in the Budget may be expended by and with the approval of the City Manager in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter and applicable law. Funds of the City shall be expended in accordance with the appropriations provided in the Budget adopted by this Ordinance and shall constitute an appropriation of the amounts specified City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- therein. Supplemental appropriations or the reduction of appropriations, if any, shall be made in accordance with Section 4. 07 of the City Charter. Section 3. Budgetary Control. The 2025/ 2026 Operating and Capital Outlay Budget establishes a limitation on expenditures by department total. Said limitation requires that the total sum allocated to each department for operating and capital expenses may not be increased or decreased without specific authorization by a duly -enacted Resolution affecting such amendment or transfer. Therefore, the City Manager may authorize transfers from one individual line item account to another, so long as the line item accounts are within the same department and fund. Section 4. Personnel Authorization. The " Personnel Allocation Summary" included within each department budget enumerates all authorized budgeted positions for appointment by the City Manager. All personnel filling said authorized positions shall be paid pursuant to the City' s Budget, Personnel Policies and/ or collective bargaining agreements. Section 5. Grants and Gifts. When the City of Aventura receives monies from any source, be it private or governmental, by Grant, Gift, or otherwise, to which there is attached as a condition of acceptance any limitation regarding the use or expenditures of the monies received, the funds so received need not be shown in the Operating Budget nor shall said budget be subject to amendment of expenditures as a result of the receipt of said monies, but said monies shall only be disbursed and applied toward the purposes for which the said funds were received. To ensure the integrity of the Operating Budget, and the integrity of the monies received by the City under Grants or Gifts, all monies received as contemplated above must, upon receipt, be segregated and accounted for based upon generally accepted accounting principles and where appropriate, placed into separate and individual trust Page 2 of 5 City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- and/ or escrow accounts from which any money drawn may only be disbursed and applied within the limitations placed upon the Gift or Grant as aforesaid. Section 6. Amendments. Upon the passage and adoption of the 2025/2026 fiscal year Budget for the City of Aventura, if the City Manager determines that an Operating Department Total or a Capital Outlay Line Item will exceed its original appropriation, the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to prepare such Resolutions as may be necessary and proper to modify any line item from the Budget hereby. Section 7. Encumbrances. 1. All outstanding encumbrances for operating expenditures at September 30, 2025 shall lapse at that time; and, 2. All outstanding encumbrances for Capital Expenditures as of September 30, 2025 shall lapse at that time; and, that all unexpended Capital appropriations, including outstanding encumbrances, may be added, at the City Manager's discretion, to the corresponding 2024/2025 available balances and be simultaneously re -appropriated for capital expenditures, as previously approved in the 2024/2025 fiscal year; and, 3. It is contemplated and acknowledged that the possible addition of available Capital balances in the General Fund and other Funds and their simultaneous re - appropriation, at the City Manager's discretion, under this Section shall not be interpreted or construed as an increase in revenues available for appropriation under Section 4. 07 of the City Charter or as a variation of the total budget under Section 6 of the City' s Original Budget Ordinance. Section 8. Committed Fund Balance. The Capital Reserve, as established in the 2025/ 2026 Budget is $ 1, 563, 864. This amount is to be added to the Committed Fund Balance to be utilized for the Capital Reserve, ( effective September 30, 2025). Section 9. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable and if any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this Ordinance but they shall Page 3 of 5 City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- remain in effect, it being the legislative intent that this Ordinance shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part. Section 10. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption on second reading. The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner Bloom, who moved its adoption on first reading. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ain, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Yes Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Yes Commissioner Amit Bloom Yes Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Yes Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Yes Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Yes Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Yes The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner , who moved its adoption on second reading. This motion was seconded by Commissioner , and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Commissioner Amit Bloom Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Page 4 of 5 City of Aventura Ordinance No. 2025- PASSED on first reading this 9t" day of September, 2025. PASSED AND ADOPTED on second reading this 16t" day of September, 2025. HOWARD S. WEINBERG, ESQ. MAYOR ATTEST: ELLISA L. HORVATH, MMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: ROBERT MEYERS CITY ATTORNEY WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE + BIERMAN, P. L. Page 5 of 5