the
AVENTURA
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
the
AVENTURA MAYOR Enid Weisman
COMMISSIONERS Denise Landman Dr. Linda Marks Gladys Mezrahi Marc Narotsky Robert Shelley Howard Weinberg CITY MANAGER Ronald J. Wasson CITY CLERK Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC
© 2019 City of Aventura. TheAventura was produced by City of Aventura Communications/Technical Project Specialist Annette Gonzalez and Information Technology Director Karen J. Lanke
Photography provided by: Andrew Goldstein Photography Roxanne Lilibean Photography
Annual Report 2018 City Commission . . . . . . . . Office of the Mayor . . . . . . Office of the City Manager . City Organizational Chart .
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Aventura Arts & Cultural Center (AACC) . Arts in Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AACC Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Box Office FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Aventura BCycle 30
City Commission Enid Weisman Mayor
Our mission is to join with our community to make Aventura a city of the highest quality and a city of excellence. We do this by providing responsive, cost effective and innovative local government services.
Dr. Linda Marks
Denise Landman
Howard Weinberg
Commissioner, Seat 1
Commissioner, Seat 2
Commissioner, Seat 3
Robert Shelley
Gladys Mezrahi
Commissioner, Seat 4
Commissioner, Seat 5
Marc Narotsky Commissioner, Seat 6
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Annual Report 2018
Office of the Mayor 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180
Dear City of Aventura Resident: Once again, it is my pleasure as your Mayor to present the City of Aventura’s Annual Report for 2018. This past year has been a truly exciting one for our city. We have so many accomplishments to be proud of and going forward, so much to look forward to. Before I begin, I would first like to recognize my fellow Commissioners, Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks, Gladys Mezrahi, Robert Shelley, Denise Landman, Marc Narotsky and Howard Weinberg for all of their tireless efforts in working together to make our city, Aventura, the “City of Excellence”. Five years ago during my first campaign for Mayor, a high school for Aventura became a pivotal issue. It took far longer than I thought it would to find a suitable location for this school. A little over two years ago we bought the property on the north side of 213 St. and now this endeavor is coming to fruition. Don Soffer Aventura High School (DSAHS) is nearing completion and is getting ready to open August 2019. This project further strengthened the esprit d’corp within our municipal departments and has become a herculean effort for both the Commission and most of our city’s departments. I would like to extend my appreciation to our Police Department who worked for months to ensure that this school will be one of the safest in the country. In four short months Aventura will have a brand new school that will offer our high school age students a world class high education. The high school will be staffed with excellent teachers and will offer the newest instructional technology in an environment that will encourage and guide our students to become the next generation’s leaders. We are all excited to see the first class of 200 students begin their journey in August 2019. Our existing Aventura City of Excellence School (“ACES”) is one of the highest ranked Charter K-8 schools in the State. The addition of our high school offers Aventura students a seamless educational experience. So many elected officials in other municipalities have asked me how we were able to support projects like the addition of a new high school and capital improvements including the milling and repaving of streets, installing new LED street lights, rebuilding seawalls, landscaping and park improvements and maintaining all of our municipal buildings. The answer is simple. It is because of our continued dedication to strategic planning and the priority of conducting the City’s financial operations in a fiscally responsible manner. The City of Aventura is a careful steward of the tax dollars it collects and ensures those funds are spent wisely and for projects that benefit all residents. It should be noted that our City is regularly recognized as one of the best financially managed cities in Florida. Additionally, we all should be reminded that we have the lowest property tax millage rate in South Florida - 1.72 mills and we have not raised this rate in 23 years. I don’t believe that there is another municipality that can boast this accomplishment.
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Annual Report 2018 Another area we are proud of is the strong economic development occurring throughout our community. New residential, commercial and retail projects are under construction and will continue to enhance the City’s strong financial position into the future, allowing us to provide the best services for everyone who lives, works or maintains a business here. The expansion of the Aventura Mall and the new Esplanade Open Air Plaza will offer great new dining and entertainment venues as well as first class business office space. The Aventura Hospital New Patient Wing on Biscayne Boulevard is under construction. The Turnberry Conference Center, scheduled to open this April is joined by the addition of over a dozen new restaurants located throughout the City. These are just some examples of the many new projects in our City. We have kept our Chamber of Commerce, the Aventura Marketing Council busy with all of the new businesses and restaurants and proof that we are a great community to invest in. In bringing you this message about Aventura, I need to again, mention the outstanding work of our Police Department. We are truly blessed in our city to have the finest officers, making the Aventura Police Department the premier police organization in Miami-Dade County. They are one of the best reasons to live in our city. Every day these fine men and women put our residents first and go the extra mile to ensure the safety of those who live, work and conduct business here. In addition to crime fighting, the Police Department interacts with residents by attending regular condominium board meetings, working on school safety and reducing trafficrelated accidents. I am happy to report that in 2018 the City experienced its lowest number of vehicular accidents in 5 years with no traffic-related fatalities. It is also important to recognize that the Aventura Police Department is fully accredited and has been for the last seven years which an amazing accomplishment considering all the new innovations to police practices, training and tactics that must be updated every year. I would also like to mention our Public Works Department and the excellent work they do on a daily basis. Often they are our forgotten heroes who make sure our streets are clean, our landscaping is always in pristine condition and when something needs to be fixed or repaired, they respond in a moment’s notice. This year is especially important because for our Department of Public Works
was officially recognized and Accredited by the American Public Works Association National Committee. There are over 29,000 departments across the USA and Canada and we are only the 152nd Public Works Department to receive this distinction through our dedicated staff and drive to make Aventura a City of Excellence. In keeping with our mission to make Aventura the City of Excellence, we continue to provide services which enhance the lives of all of our residents. The Citywide shuttle bus service and BCycle Bike Share Program ridership continues to increase, hopefully this will help to ameliorate some of our traffic congestion. Our outdoor events such as Movie Nights, Earth Day/Arbor Day Program, July 4th Fireworks, Halloween, Founders Day and Veterans Day Celebration and Ride with the Police bike events are just some of the activities residents have come to enjoy. As always, our Arts and Cultural Center offers a great variety of entertainment options for everyone. The new 2019-2020 season will include theater, music, comedy and special programs for our ACES K-8 School. I would be remiss if I did not mention our Information Technology Department which runs the backbone of our core communication systems we rely on every day. From contacting the city with e-mails, tracking building department permits and applications, upgrading our computer software, implementing the IT development for ACES and our new DSAHS and even overseeing the replacement and installation of the new Police Department 911 Reporting Communication Center. In closing, I want to thank Ron Wasson, our new City Manager. He hit the streets running in November and has not slowed down. He is compassionate and caring and is an asset to our City. I also want to thank all the members of our community for the trust that they have placed in me by electing me Mayor and for the valuable support and input you have provided in helping to make the City of Aventura the best place to live. The future looks bright and I know that because of all of you, Aventura will be ready to address all future challenges and opportunities. Sincerely,
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Office of the City Manager 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180
The City of Aventura, as established within its charter, has a Commission-Manager form of government. The City Manager is appointed by the City Commission and serves as the City’s Chief Executive Officer. The City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the City and implementation of the policies established by the City Commission.
Duties The duties of the City Manager are outlined in Charter Section 3.03 and include: The duties of the City Manager are outlined in Charter Section 3.03, and include: • Be responsible for the hiring, supervision and removal of all City employees; • Direct and supervise the administration of all departments and office but not City boards or agencies, unless so directed by the Commission from time to time; • Attend all Commission Meetings and have the right to take part in discussion but not the right to vote; • Ensure that all laws, provision of the this Charter and acts of the Commission, subject to enforcement and/or administration by him/ her or by officers subject to his/her direction and supervision, are faithfully executed; • Prepare and submit to the Commission a proposed annual budget and capital program; • Submit to the Commission and make available to the public an annual report on the finances and administrative activities of the City as of the end of each fiscal year; • Prepare such other reports as the Commission may require concerning the operations of City departments, offices, boards and agencies; • Keep the Commission fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the City and make such recommendations to the Commission concerning the affairs of the City as s/he deems to be in the best interests of the City; • Execute contracts, deeds and other documents on behalf of the City as authorized by the Commission; • Perform such other duties as are specified in this Charter or as may be required by the Commission.
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Operatonal Modes The City of Aventura chooses to provide services to its residents and businesses by utilizing a combination of public employees and private sector contracts. The City currently has 173 full-time employees. Of the total, 120 work in the Police Department. Services Provided by Contract The following services are provided by contract: • Arts and Cultural Center • Building Inspection and Plan Review • Building Maintenance • Charter School • Engineering • Park Maintenance • Public Works • Recreation and Athletic Programs • Right-of Way and Landscape Maintenance • Special Events Support Services Provided by Miami-Dade County The following services are provided by Miami-Dade County: • Fire Rescue • Library Services Provided by Companies The following services are provided by Companies that have been issued a Franchise to operate in the City: • Cable TV • Solid Waste
Contact the Office of the City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Manager rwasson@cityofaventura.com
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CITY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Residents
City Commission
City Clerk
City Manager
City Attorney
Departments
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Police
Community Services
Finance
Community Development
Information Technology
Arts & Cultural Center
Public Works / Transportation
Charter Schools
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CITY
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2018 City
Aventura Police Department 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 Non-Emergencies: 305-466-8989 Emergencies: 911 Twitter @aventurapolice
The City of Aventura Police Department (APD) is committed to its mission and recognized as an outstanding police department within the law enforcement community of Miami-Dade County. APD’s mission is to protect and serve the citizens of Aventura with courage, leadership and professionalism. The Department’s vision is to be the benchmark of excellence for public safety by strengthening community partnerships, embracing innovation and technology, and investing in future leaders.
Mission & Vision Highlights In 2018, the Aventura Police Department: • Successfully improved service call responsiveness, which benefits the delivery of efficient and professional public safety service to the community. • Implemented a Text-to-911 system in the Aventura 911 Call Center, which provides the capability to receive a 911 text message from persons in an emergency situation. • Inaugurated the Police Explorer Program, a career oriented program where young adults ages 14 to 21 have the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working closely with the men and women of the Department. • Expanded the School Resource Officer Program to better serve students, staff and support the new Don Soffer Aventura High School in the fall of 2019. • Started a wellness program for employees to improve their health, well-being, reduce injuries, and improve job performance. • Trained Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) teachers and staff with procedures to deal with active threat situations. The training focused on student and teacher safety, threat awareness, and security measure protocols. In addition, the Department enhanced security at both ACES and the new Don Soffer Aventura High School. • Prepared officers and staff with extensive training to meet the demands of evolving threat situations and respond in a strong, decisive and sensitive manner. • Reduced the homeless population in Aventura as well as provided the homeless with service and assistance. In partnership with the City of Miami Homeless Veterans Program, officers have found temporary and permanent housing to over 30 homeless individuals. • Attended over 30 separate community HOA (Home Owners Association) meetings and attended over 12 events as part of the Community Engagement Project. • Continued its active presence on Twitter @aventurapolice with relative information from street closures, tips and accolades to emergencies.
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Accreditation and Awards The Aventura Police Department is accredited by the prestigious Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) with their Gold Standard and is recognized as one of their flagship organizations. The coveted award, by a nationally recognized and independent organization, symbolizes professionalism and distinction. The Department continues the process of reaccreditation by staying in compliance with the high standards set forth by the CALEA commission and assures excellence in service to the community. The Law Enforcement Officer’s Charitable Foundation (LEO Awards) program recognizes the outstanding efforts of both sworn and civilian personnel that serve in law enforcement. APD nominees have won several awards since the program’s inception. This year the agency has 9 nominees including 2 for the prestigious Miami Dade County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.
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Out in Force Community Outreach Programs The Aventura Police Department (APD) provides a variety of community programs focused on crime prevention, drug education and prevention, emergency preparedness, public safety, and community partnerships. • The Drug Abuse Resistance and Education (DARE) program provides the life skills children and teens need to avoid involvement with drugs, gangs and violence. • By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events sponsored by APD, the young people of Aventura pledge to live drug-free lives during the annual Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program. • The National Night Out program promotes the City of Aventura neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in the fight for a safer nation. • The Aventura Safe Kids program teaches online safety to children and brings awareness to parents and teachers about children’s online activities, trends and behaviors. • In conjunction with various nonprofit community partners such as the Salvation Army and the Aventura Marketing Council, an annual holiday toy drive is conducted supplying over 250 toys to underprivileged children. • The Citizens Police Academy is a series of sessions designed to include an overview of police operations as well as hands-on training to individuals interested in learning about the Department.
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• The inaugural Aventura Police Security Symposium provides members of the community with informational sessions covering active threat training, community outreach, auto burglary prevention, fraud and identity theft prevention, and an overview of the Department’s 911 Call Center. • The Department’s Operations and Specialized Services Divisions enhance community policing by volunteering to take on additional duties assisting persons with non-crime related matters, patrolling various areas of the City on bicycles using bike patrol methods and tactics, working with the City’s Code Compliance Division to respond to community issues, and working in partnership with the Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management to help prepare the community for large-scale emergency events. • The Community Engagement Project assigns engagement officers to communities and businesses serving as liaisons between the community and the Department to offer advice, assistance and resolution to problems the community may be experiencing. The Business Engagement Program is a subsidiary of this project and shares crime information with representatives of all businesses within the city to help solve crimes. Seminars are conducted to include topics from hurricane preparedness to safety and security. • The Department’s Homeless Initiative reduces the homeless population in Aventura and provides the homeless with much needed service and assistance. Shift officers complete nightly checks of all known homeless encampment locations, and work in partnership with the City of Miami Homeless Veterans Program to find temporary and permanent housing for homeless individuals.
Annual Report 2018 City
Bike Safety et! Always wear a bike helm Ring your bicy cle to alert others bell of your presence.
les of u r e h t w o l Fol the road.
Make eye contact with moto rists.
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Aventura City of Excellence School 3333 NE 188 Street Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-1499 aventuracharter.org
Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) was the first municipally-run charter school in Miami-Dade County and serves 1,020 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. ACES’s well-rounded formula for success has led it to remain one of the top schools in the state by providing a safe-learning environment, a talented teaching staff dedicated to best practices, and a responsive leadership team fostering a school wide culture of excellence.
A Whole Child Approach With the support of both parents and teachers, ACES leads the way in educational excellence. Students at ACES encounter a challenging core curriculum and environment which fully supports their interests. In 2017/2018, students explored their interests and talents through a variety of unique programs.
Elementary Elementary students: • Attended an assortment of special classes including art, music, physical education, media, STEAM, and Spanish. • Had an opportunity to enroll in student interest clubs including jazz dance, table tennis, kickball, baton, travel club, police academy, Middle Eastern dance, disco dance, and much more. • Attended a variety of field trips focused on arts, culture and the environment. Middle School
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Middle School At the middle school level, students had the opportunity to participate in: • Gifted classes, high school courses, and choose from a group of elective courses including art, drama, dance, keyboarding, and physical education/health. • Intramural sports including volleyball and basketball. • Coding club, debate club, cheerleading and ACE-itude, ACES’s dance team. • Competitive sports including boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, flag football, and volleyball. • Student Government Association, National Junior Honor Society, and in the City of Aventura’s special events including Founders Day, Veterans Day, and Arbor Day.
2018 Achievement Highlights Aventura City of Excellence School continues to reach new heights in academic achievement and community involvement creating a foundation for success and an unparalleled experience for its students. • The State of Florida recognized ACES as one of the state’s highest performing charter schools. • ACES students outperformed all area middle and high schools in algebra, geometry, civics and biology, as measured by end-of course exams. • ACES conducted and hosted Spark Conference, an on-campus mini conference for teachers designed to encourage innovation. One-hour learning sessions were organized focusing on relevant issues in education and topics teachers had an in interest to learn about. • ACES implemented Cloud 9 World, a social emotional learning program for students that integrates literacy as the vehicle for teaching character strengths. Through the Cloud 9 World program, students may expect growth in their capacity to make wise choices for a wellrounded life and a thriving society. • All teachers and students in fifth through eighth grade use Google Applications for Education (GAFE). The GAFE platform enables students to virtually collaborate
with their teachers and peers. • ACES continues to expand the use of instructional technology at all grade levels. Each student in fifth and sixth grade have a school issued Chrome Book that they use throughout the school day. • ACES students participated in district level STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competitions including science fairs, robotics, and rocket competitions through SECME, the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering. SECME is committed to engage and prepare more minorities and girls for college and careers in STEM. • ACES students produced daily live morning announcements using state-ofthe-art broadcasting equipment, including a green screen. • ACES implemented Coffee Connection, monthly meetings to engage families with the school’s principal. Parents learn about what their children are learning as well as ways they can support the school.
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Annual Report 2018 City
Spe c
ia l
Ele
ctio n
Office of the City Clerk 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8901
The City Clerk is a constitutional officer appointed by and reporting to the City Commission. The City Clerk serves as the City of Aventura’s corporate secretary and is the official records keeper and custodian of the City seal.
2018 Annual Activity Highlights In 2018, the City Clerk’s Office: prepared 40 agendas, 50 sets of minutes and 23 meeting recaps; posted 30 public notices; published 22 legal advertisements; drafted 18 ordinances and 96 resolutions; scripted 28 proclamations; responded to 1,657 lien requests; and provided 175 welcome letters to new residents. The City Clerk also served as the Supervisor of Elections for the City’s Special Election held on August 28, 2018 for a Charter Amendment, as well as for the City’s Municipal General Election scheduled for November 6, 2018. Additionally, the City Clerk served as a member of the Florida Association of City Clerks Resolutions Committee for 2017/2018 and was again appointed to serve on that Committee for 2018/2019 as Vice Chair.
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Responsibilities
• Responding to public records requests and lien searches.
Responsibilities of the City Clerk include:
• Providing administrative support to Commissioners and assisting the City Manager with special projects.
• Recording the meeting minutes and all official actions of the City Commission and its Advisory Boards. • Attesting to and maintaining custody of all records of the City including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, etc. • Publishing and distributing public notices and legal advertising, as required by law. • Administering the publication and supplementation of the City Code of Ordinances. • Serving as the municipal Supervisor of Elections, conducting all City elections in accordance with City, County and State laws.
• Administering oaths of office. • Serving as the Financial Disclosure Liaison. • Preparing proclamations and certificates of appreciation, appointment, and attendance. Residents are encouraged to attend City Commission meetings, which are held in the Government Center Commission Chamber on the plaza level at 19200 West Country Club Drive. To confirm all meeting dates, times and locations, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 305-466-8901, or visit cityofaventura.com.
• Establishing and coordinating the City’s records management program in compliance with State law.
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Finance 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8920
The City of Aventura’s Finance Department’s central responsibility is to provide the City’s operating departments with administrative support to better serve its employees, residents and businesses in a cost-efficient/effective manner. Finance, accounting, risk management, purchasing, and personnel are the essential support services provided. Finance establishes and maintains a network of effective internal controls that are designed to both safeguard the City’s assets and preserve its strong financial condition by conducting the City’s business in a fiscally prudent manner. Additionally, Finance provides accurate and timely financial information to the City Manager, operating departments, elected officials, external auditors, citizens, and federal, state and local oversight agencies.
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Annual Report 2018 City
AVENTURA
CITY OF EXCELLENC
E SCHOOL A Special Reve nue Fund of th e City of Aventura , Florida
Special Purpos e Financial Repo rt For the Fiscal Ye ar Ended
June 30, 2018
Core Responsibilities
• Overseeing the treasury and debt management functions.
The Department’s core responsibilities include:
• Participating in the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Providing administrative, operational and financial assistance to the City Manager and operating departments. • Providing accounting, payroll, procurement, accounts payable, budget, grant monitoring, and revenue collection functions.
• Recruiting, hiring, training, and maintaining high-quality employees. • Reviewing, creating and ensuring compliance with the City’s administrative policies and procedures.
• Monitoring and projecting the City’s fund balances. • Providing analysis, preparation and assistance with the production of all financial reports including the City’s Capital Improvement Program, Annual Budget, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and the Aventura City of Excellence School Budget and Special Purpose Financial Report. • Monitoring and developing financial strategies to ensure fiscal solvency and financial statement integrity by maintaining a network of effective internal controls. • Monitoring and implementing reporting requirements recommended by the State’s Auditor General, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. • Safeguarding the City’s assets by analyzing and mitigating risk factors as well as through the effective administration of the City’s risk management, insurance and safety programs.
Awards and Acknowledgements The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Aventura for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. This was the 22nd consecutive year that the City has achieved this prestigious award. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, a government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized, comprehensive, annual financial report. The report must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements. The City continually strives to meet the Certificate of Achievement Program’s requirements and has submitted the current year CAFR to the GFOA in order to be considered for this distinct recognition.
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Information Technology 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8900
The City of Aventura’s Information Technology (IT) Department provides a secure, stable and high-tech computing environment which includes software, hardware, network infrastructure, telephone systems, and 24/7 help desk support for City staff. Additionally, IT is responsible for the City’s external and internal communications.
Ensure Reliable Service IT ensures City departments and staff are able to deliver reliable services by: • Identifying, selecting and implementing cost-effective technology solutions. • Providing software support and maintenance for specialized business applications as well as email with spam control. Throughout 2018, the City of Aventura continued using computer and network innovations to increase operational effectiveness. Upgrades were made to existing software applications and computer equipment incorporating new technology where appropriate.
City Communications IT uses both current and traditional channels to reach the City’s community by managing City related websites, online services, social media, mobile app, and digital and printed publications.
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Information Technology Projects & Support in 2018
Information Technology (IT) manages projects for and provides support to the City of Aventura, the Aventura Police Department, the Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES), and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. In 2018, IT completed the following major projects: City • Upgraded the network infrastructure including servers, storage, and switches. • Implemented additional network security measures. • Completed the configuration and deployment of 33 computers and 20 laptops.
Support City-wide
175 102 10 59 3,731
Desktop Computers Laptops Touch-screen Tablets Servers Completed Service Tickets
• Deployed additional cameras on the Closed Circuit (CCTV) camera system. • Migrated City email to a new hosted platform. • Replaced the phone system used throughout the City.
ACES • Upgraded the wireless network in the Elementary Building. • Completed the configuration and deployment of six mobile computing labs which included 125 Chromebooks for 1:1 program. • Completed the configuration and deployment of 60 replacement computers and 64 laptops.
ACES
295 572 90 6 1,246
Desktop Computers Laptops & Chromebooks Touch-screen Tablets Servers Completed Service Tickets
• Deployed additional cameras on the Closed Circuit (CCTV) camera system. • Migrated ACES email to a new hosted platform.
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City Communications Stay Connected with Aventura
The City of Aventura supports a highly accessible government that shares information using both current and traditional channels to reach its community and encourage engagement.
Online cityofaventura.com The official website for the City of Aventura is home to all City related information regarding its government, resources, forms, and eGovernment services. aventuracharter.org The official website for the Aventura City of Excellence School. aventuracenter.org The official website for the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.
Conduct Business Online Services for Speed and Convenience The City of Aventura is committed to provide innovative and efficient delivery of eGovernment services to its community. Online Registration System (ORS) The ORS is the official schedule and registration system for the City’s recreational activities, classes and programs. The ORS also facilitates tennis court and park shelter reservations. ePermits The ePermits system allows a user to schedule inspection requests as well as check the status of those requests and/or building permits. Customer Service Requests Submit City service requests via a simple online form. Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) Find answers to common City-related questions. Public Records The public records section houses the City’s public document repository.
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Purchase Show Tickets Tickets can be purchased for Aventura Arts & Cultural Center shows and events at aventuracenter.org. Jobs The City uses a system which allows users to review available City jobs and submit online applications. Financial Transparency Tool The tool is a portal providing the community with an interactive way to learn more about the City’s finances. CodeRED The emergency notification system allows the City to deliver critical messages and alerts to the community.
Subscribe Sign up and receive e-Notifications sent directly to your inbox. MyAventura Receive City of Aventura email notifications about news, events, emergency notifications, and Commission Meeting agendas. Visit cityofaventura.com. Aventura City of Excellence School Receive Aventura City of Excellence School news and important messages for parents and students. Visit aventuracharter.org. Aventura Arts & Cultural Center The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Account Manager, powered by Ticketmaster ®, allows patrons to purchase tickets to performances and special events; get eNewsletters with event news, updates and information before the show; and review ticket purchases. Visit aventuracenter.org.
Get Social Social media is used as an additional resource to disseminate information about City news and events as well as foster community. Twitter @cityofaventura The official Twitter handle for the City of Aventura. @aventurapolice The official Twitter handle for the City of Aventura Police Department. @aventuracenter The official Twitter handle for the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Facebook @cityofaventura The official Facebook profile name for the City of Aventura. @aventuracharter The official Facebook profile name for the Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES). @aventuracenter The official Facebook profile name for the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Instagram @cityofaventura The official Instagram handle for the City of Aventura. @aventuracharter The official Instagram handle for the Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES).
On the Go Track all Aventura Express buses in real-time and approximate arrival times to stops along every route with the Aventura Express app. Search for and download Aventura Express and start tracking! Digital street signs located at the north entrance of Aventura Mall on Biscayne Boulevard and at the intersection of NE 188th Street and NE 29th Avenue are used to provide information about upcoming shows at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, and both City of Aventura and Aventura City of Excellence School events.
In Print The City produces several print publications including: the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) award winning The Aventura Annual Report, Aventura Update newsletters, and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center calendar of events booklet. In addition, the City produces its own marketing materials including promotional flyers, posters, and outdoor banners.
@aventuracenter The official Instagram handle for the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. LinkedIn The City of Aventura’s LinkedIn profile anticipates strengthening its brand and facilitating registered members to establish and develop professional networks.
YouTube The City provides an archive of its Commission Meetings, as well as fun events and programming videos.
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Public Works / Transportation 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8970
The City of Aventura Public Works / Transportation Department provides responsive and professional support to the City’s infrastructure and delivers quality service to the City’s residents, local businesses and visitors.
Responsibilities Public Works / Transportation is responsible for: • Maintaining all public property including streets, facilities, rightof-ways and medians within the City limits. • Stormwater maintenance.
• Issuing permits for all utility work within the public right-of-way in the City. • Fleet maintenance. • Reviewing engineering plans and coordinating with the County on all traffic matters. • Flood Plain Management.
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Annual Report 2018 City
2018 Highlights
• Completion of NE 190 Street drainage project with the addition of new drainage wells, curbing and pavement overlay.
The purpose of the accreditation program is to provide a means of formally verifying and recognizing public works agencies for compliance with the recommended practices set forth in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. It is a voluntary, self-motivated approach to objectively evaluate, verify and recognize compliance with the recommended management practices.
• Completion of the NE 213 Street seawall project as well as seawall rehabilitation on NE 183 Street and NE 188 Street.
Emergency Preparedness:
Stormwater:
Sustainability: The three phase project to replace the City’s 954 street lights to LED fixtures is in progress and anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2019. The energy usage to keep the streets safe and well lit will be reduced by 60%. This reduction in energy cost pays for the completion of the project in seven years. Accreditation: On December 18, 2018 the Public Works/Transportation Department was awarded full accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). The Department became the 152nd out of 29,000 agencies within the United States and the 14th in the state of Florida to achieve accreditation. The accreditation process started in February of 2017. The lengthy process covers the Department’s policies and procedures of operation.
The Department stays current with new emergency management policies and procedures by meeting and consulting with Miami-Dade County. Before the annual hurricane season begins, the Department meets with the Aventura Police Department, contractors (debris removers and maintenance) and staff to review the City’s procedures and expectations for the upcoming season.
Aventura Express Shuttle Service The Aventura Express, the City’s free bus service, provides the community with transportation within Aventura. In 2018, a study was conducted to observe the bus system’s schedule, driver courtesy, route deficiencies/efficiencies, and customer feedback. The study returned results with few deficiencies and valuable feedback, so some routes and times have been adjusted to meet the needs of the City’s ridership.
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FREE
AVENTURA EXPRESS Getting Around the City of Excellence View and/or download the Aventura Express Shuttle Bus service schedule, which includes all bus stop locations at cityofaventura.com.
Track the Bus Track all Aventura Express buses in real-time and approximate arrival times to stops along every route. Search for and download the Aventura Express app and start tracking!
Schedule Service schedule for the Blue, Green, Red, Silver, Purple, and Yellow routes. MONDAY - FRIDAY Blue
6:45 AM - 7:30 PM
Green
6:45 AM - 7:30 PM
Red
6:45 AM - 7:30 PM
Silver
6:45 AM - 7:30 PM
Purple 6:45 AM - 7:30 PM Yellow 7:45 AM - 7:30 PM SATURDAY All routes 6:45 AM - 9:45 PM SUNDAY No service on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Connection Hub Aventura Mall Transit Terminal 19501 Biscayne Blvd Aventura, FL 33180 The terminal is located next to Nordstrom and JCPenney and contains an Aventura Express Shuttle Bus stop. • Connect with county buses: Connection with MiamiDade and Broward County buses can be made at the terminal. • Connect with shuttle buses: Connection to all Aventura Express Shuttle Buses can be made at the terminal. • Aventura Express Shuttle Bus frequency: Each Express Shuttle Bus stops at the mall every hour. For example, the Yellow bus starts its route from the mall on weekdays at 7:45 AM and returns to the mall at 8:45 AM.
Bus Stop Drop-off/Pick-up Bus stops are located throughout the City of Aventura and are all for drop-off and pick-up. How do I know which route stops near my home? The routes cover the following areas: The routes cover the following areas: Blue route g northern Aventura Green, Red and Silver routes g central Aventura Purple and Yellow routes g southern Aventura
LIVING
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2018 Living
Community Services 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8930
The City of Aventura Community Services Department is dedicated to provide its community with quality service, parks, facilities, events, programs, and activities.
Parks Community Services operates and maintains the Arthur I. Snyder Park, Founders Park, Founders Park SplashPad, Founders Park South, Peace Park, Veterans Park, Waterways Park, and Waterways Dog Park. City parks provide Aventura residents with a wide variety of amenities and outdoor recreation opportunities to refresh, relax and recharge including: athletic fields, playgrounds, an interactive water playground, picnic and exercise areas, a community garden, and tennis courts. In an effort to keep parks and amenities in outstanding condition, parks and playgrounds are continuously maintained. In 2018, the Har-Tru tennis courts were resurfaced, the dugout roofs were replaced, and new interactive water features were installed in the SplashPad at Founders Park, 16 new trees were added along the walking path to create a shade canopy at Veterans Park, new expressive swings were installed at Waterways Park and Founders Park and the shade canopies were replaced at various parks. For convenience, park shelters and tennis courts can be reserved online at cityofaventura.com/ors, the City’s Online Registration System (ORS).
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Annual Report 2018 Living Arthur I. Snyder Park 3375 NE 188 Street Named after the City of Aventura’s first mayor, Arthur I. Snyder Park is a beautifully landscaped waterfront park adjacent to the Community Recreation Center. The park features covered areas and an outdoor plaza with an open quadrangle play area adorned with trees providing plenty of shade. Don Soffer Exercise Trail 19999 W Country Club Drive The 3.1 mile Don Soffer Exercise Trail consists of a 10-foot wide paved path circling the Turnberry Isle Resort Golf Course along Country Club Drive. The trail is a popular location to walk, run, jog, skate, and bike. Founders Park 3105 NE 190 Street The City’s largest park is the 11-acre Founders Park. Founders Park is home to a multipurpose athletic field, tennis courts, the SplashPad, playground, and exercise trail. The park’s SplashPad is a popular and interactive water feature playground for children. Situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, Founders Park South is home to the Aventura Community Green Garden featuring garden planters for residents to grow produce, flowers, plants, and herbs. Peace Park 3200 NE 188 Street The 1.5 acre park is located adjacent to the waterfront promenade andincludes an open play area, one covered playgrounds and an exercise area for adults. Veterans Park 18375 NE 31 Avenue The two-acre Veterans Park has an open play field and a covered playground.
Founders Park
Waterways Park 3301 NE 213 Street On the City’s north side is the seven-acre Waterways Park. The park has a covered playground, fitness trail with exercise stations, an outdoor basketball court and multipurpose lighted athletic fields.
Waterways Dog Park 3401 NE 213 Street Just east of Waterways Park is the Waterways Dog Park, a 1.5-acre waterfront park offering open space for dogs and their owners to socialize and exercise.
Community Recreation Center 3375 NE 188 Street Community Services operates and maintains the City of Aventura Community Recreation Center (CRC), which offers a complete and balanced program of recreational activities, fitness classes, youth programs, after school programs, social activities, and seasonal camps. Participants of all ages enjoy activities such as arts and crafts; music; dance; science; aerobics; yoga; spring, summer and winter camps; and Teacher Planning Day programs. The Center is a wonderful gathering place bringing Aventura neighbors together.
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Founders Day
Movie Night
Share the Road Bike Ride
Halloween Movie Night
Special Events The City hosted an array of exciting events for the entire family to enjoy throughout the year. • For its 23rd consecutive year, the City was named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation and was recognized for this honor at the City of Aventura Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration. • 4th of July was celebrated with a special aerial display of fireworks easily viewed along Country Club Drive.
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• Over 6,000 children and their parents enjoyed seasonal activities in a safe environment at the annual Halloween celebration. • The 23rd annual City of Aventura Founders Day celebration featured food trucks, entertainment, and plenty of outdoor activities. • Friends, families, and neighbors attended a series of four fun, family-friendly movie nights at Founders Park. • The City honored those who served and serve at the annual Veterans Day ceremony.
Annual Report 2018 Living
Community Green Garden The Aventura Community Green Garden at Founders Park South features 4’x12’ garden planters filled with sterilized topsoil for residents to grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, and other plants. The garden improves health by allowing gardeners to enjoy fresh food right from their garden planter to their dinner table; encourages outdoor exercise; and reduces the environmental impact by growing food without harmful pesticides and herbicides. The garden contains a compost tumbler used to create plant fertilizer and soil from decayed organic material such as leaves and egg shells, as well as fruit and vegetable scraps. Since its opening, the garden has flourished and expanded from 20 to 46 planters.
Green City
Aventura BCycle Bike Share The City of Aventura’s bike share program offers a way to expand the City’s transportation options, alleviate traffic, boost public health with exercise, and enhance the City’s Go Green initiative by replacing a portion of trips that would otherwise be made by car with pollution-free bike trips. Aventura BCycle Bike Share opened on September 8, 2016. There are a total of 129 members and approximately 6,098 total trips have been taken on the new bikes since the grand opening.
The City of Aventura is committed to reducing its carbon footprint on the environment and is a Florida Green Local Government, which meets the sustainability standards established in the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Local Government 5-year recertification. The City of Aventura’s Go Green campaign encourages all City departments and the community to practice environmental sustainability by maintaining green standards including: recycling; replacing light bulbs for energy efficient bulbs; using HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems and technologies promoting the conservancy of water and energy; the use of native landscaping and natural light to create resources for heat reduction on rooftops as well as energy generation for solar panels; and reducing invasive plant growth to protect natural wildlife.
How does the bike share program work? Bikes are parked at docking stations around the city with self-serve, solar-powered kiosks. Riders can take bikes from any station and return them to the same or any other station for convenience. Where are the bike share docking stations located? There are six biking stations within the City of Aventura which include: • Williams Island • NE 34th Street • Aventura Mall • Founders Park • Community Recreation Center • Yacht Club Way/East Country Club Drive
Community Green Garden cityofaventura.com
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Get in the Game A quick drive around Aventura shows this is a community with a zest for sports.
Youth Sports Aventura’s team sports follow the National Standards for Youth Sports to raise awareness through leadership and education conducive to teaching skills, physical fitness and positive selfesteem. In 2017, over 1,300 children participated in the City of Aventura’s Youth Sports. • From fall to spring, children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of athletic sports including: recreational and travel basketball, recreational and travel girls’ and boys’ soccer, and tennis. • Throughout the year, young athletes can participate in special sport skills training sessions including soccer, and strength and conditioning. Private sports and wellness coaching are also available. • Tennis classes are available for different age groups: ages 3&4, ages 5-10, junior tennis for ages 8-12, and adult clinics. Private tennis lessons are also available.
Adult Sports Adults can get in on the sports by joining a softball league, playing in a social round-robin tennis match, participating in adult tennis clinics which provide instruction about all aspects of the game, or enrolling in a high-energy, cardio tennis workout. For details, visit cityofaventura.com/ors, or contact the Community Recreation Center at 305-466-3883, Founders Park at 305-4660183, or Waterways Park at 305-466-8008.
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City of Aventura
Community Services 2018 Attendance Summary
Facilities Founders Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192,952 Founders Park SplashPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,651 Waterways Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,589 Waterways Dog Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,399 Community Recreation Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98,262 Facilities Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414,853
Events Arbor Day & Earth Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468 4th of July Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Estimated 18,000 Halloween . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,138 Veterans Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Founders Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,614 Ride with the Aventura Police ������������������������������������������������������ 507 Share the Road Bike Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 Movie Night Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,831 Taste of Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 596 Events Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,799
Programs Youth Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,349 Adult Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510 Spring Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Winter Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Summer Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 754 Senior Trips & Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Teacher Planning Day Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Afterschool Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Programs Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,320
Aventura BCycle Bike Share Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Total Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,343
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Community Services 2019 Highlights April 13 Movie Night
September 30 Teacher Planning Day
April 25 Earth Day/Arbor Day
October 6 Share the Road Bike Event
May 4 Movie Night
October 9 Teacher Planning Day
May 22 Trips & Tours: Doubt
October 25 Teacher Planning Day
June 3 Summer Recreational Classes and Programs Begin
October 26 Halloween November 3 24th Annual Founders Day
June 10 Summer Camps Begin
November 4 Teacher Planning Day
June 19 Trips & Tours: Bronx Tale July 4 Fireworks Show Along East and West Country Club Drives August 16 Summer Camp Ends
November 11 Veterans Day November 27 Teacher Planning Day December 23 Winter Camp Begins
August 26 Fall Recreational Classes, Programs, and Sports Begin
For a complete listing of events visit cityofaventura.com. Dates and times are subject to change.
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ARTS & CULTURE
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2018 Arts & Culture
The Tamburitzans
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center 3385 NE 188 Street Aventura, FL 33180 Tickets 877-311-SHOW(7469) Groups 954-660-6307 aventuracenter.org @aventuracenter
Information 305-466-8002
In 2018, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center (AACC) celebrated its ninth fantastic season of arts and entertainment in the City of Excellence. The AACC hosted one of the most diverse seasons to date with more than 160 events and performances in its elegant, state-of-the-art, waterfront theater conveniently located in the heart of the City of Aventura. Each performance was thoughtfully selected to provide relevant cultural programming for audiences of all ages and enhance the quality of life for all residents. The AACC continued to not only fill seats but attracted a growing social media following with almost 1,800 fans on Facebook and nearly 600 followers on Instagram and Twitter.
Max von Essen 36 The Aventura
Andrea McArdle cityofaventura.com
Josu de Solaun
Annual Report 2018 Arts & Culture Nestor Torres
Robert Klein
Mandy Gonzalez
Yamandu
Arts Ballet Theatre
New this season
Musicals
A partnership between the City of Aventura and the Nova Southeastern University Lifelong Learning Institute launched a new educational speaker series with prominent experts discussing thought provoking topics.
The multiple Carbonell Award-winning Slow Burn Theatre Company returned with Disaster! The Musical and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Plus, the long-running, national touring production Menopause the Musical delighted audiences.
Sold-out performances
Broadway Stars
Back by popular demand was Debbie Taylor’s Top of the World-A Carpenters Tribute. Also drawing huge crowds were The Edwards Twins from Las Vegas; Main Event Entertainment’s Streisand & Sinatra: Memories; Night Fever: the Music of the Bee Gees, Robert Klein, A Temptations Revue featuring Barrington “Bo” Henderson and Captain Sandy from Bravo’s Below Deck: Mediterranean.
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center’s 2018 Broadway Concert Series featured headliners Chris Mann, Santino Fontana, Mandy Gonzalez, Andrea McArdle, Donna McKechnie and Max von Essen.
Classical Music This genre remained extremely popular with the Miami International Piano Festival presenting classically trained pianists from Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Croatia and Italy.
Comedy Black Box Productions’ Stand-Up Comedy Series presented Emilio Lovera’s sold-out Spanish language comedy show and headliners such as Vic DiBitetto, Wendy Liebman, Bruce Vilanch, Bobby Collins and Sarge’s Chanukah Chutzpah Tour...Kiss My Mezuzah. Other comedic highlights included The Second City: Look Both Ways Before Talking and Steve Solomon’s Cannoli, Latkes, and Guilt and My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, & I’m Home for the Holidays.
Dance A diversity of dance performances were enjoyed, including Carolyn Dorfman Dance presents Dance That Connects; Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida presented several programs including Harlequinade, Le Corsaire, Firebird, and their annual Nutcracker; Dance NOW! Miami’s The Book of Psalms; and the New World Dance Ensemble.
Cross-cultural exchanges Multicultural connections were fostered through the Aventura International Film Series and performances by Nestor Torres; Cultural Square’s presentation of The Tamburitzans; SCA Oplenac Rep Ensemble’s A Serbian Story; BB MusikGroup’s presentation of Venezuelan artist Yordano; Brazilian virtuoso guitarist, Yamandu Costa; Cirque Zuma Zuma and Dudu Fisher Celebrates JerUSAlem.
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Arts in Education Studies have shown that students involved in the arts improve academic skills and develop the social skills and creativity needed to succeed later in life. Star of Broadway’s Hamilton, Mandy Gonzalez, featured 30 chorus students from Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School and from the Broward Center’s Education Center singing onstage with her to her new song composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. A free Jerry Herman Master Class Workshop with renowned Broadway performers Scott Coulter and John Boswell was held and 15 local high-school singers were given the opportunity to perform on stage -- two were chosen to perform at the Jerry Herman Tribute concert. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts continued to provide management services and presented multiple family-friendly shows featuring the finest in children’s literary theater including: Charlotte’s Web; Go, Dog, Go!; The Rainbow Fish; and Giggle, Giggle, Quack. The City of Aventura presented several school-day educational performances including: The Cat in the Hat, Cirque Zuma Zuma, The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, and The Nutcracker. The AACC hosted 21 events for the students and parents of the Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES). In addition to the opportunity to learn firsthand about technical production and the entertainment industry, students attending ACES participated in numerous events on the stage including spelling bees, lectures, the annual Winter Showcase, spring Talent Show, theatrical productions and class graduations.
Summer Theater Camp When school was out, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Performance Project School of the Arts presented two sessions of age-appropriate summer theater camps at the AACC for children ages 6 to 18 that served as an introduction to all facets of the performing arts. Every camper experienced the joy of performing onstage in a Broadway-style show as they gained self-confidence and learned important team-building skills. Under the direction of artistic professional and teaching veteran Nina Felice, campers gained hands-on experience in musical theater, acting, dance, voice, and technical production. Session 1: June 24 - July 21, 2019 Session 2: July 22 - August 16, 2019 For more information about upcoming family theater performances and summer camp, visit aventuracenter.org/education.
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2019
AVENTURA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER
March 1, 2019 Siudy Flamenco Intimo March 6, 2019 Broadway Concert Series: Jeremy Jordan March 10, 2019 Capitol Steps March 14–17, 2019 You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown March 20, 2019 Broadway Concert Series: John Lloyd Young
Golden Dtragon Acrobats
March 29, 2019 Love is a Rose: Celebrating the Music of Linda Ronstadt April 5, 2019 Direct From Las Vegas! A Salute to Frank Sinatra April 7, 2019 The Barricade Boys
Celebrating Linda Ronstadt April 27, 2019 Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida: Spring Gala April 28, 2019 Golden Dragon Acrobats
Summer Theater Camp 2019
Arts Ballet Theatre
June 24 - July 21, 2019 Session 1 July 22 - August 16, 2019 Session 2 Box Office Information Box Office is open Tuesday - Saturday, Noon - 5 PM and 1½ hours prior to performances.
Jeremy Jordan
Valet parking and self parking are available for all events.
John Lloyd Young
Box Office 877.311.7469 (SHOW) Groups 954.660.6307
3385 NE 188 Street | Aventura, FL 33180 | 877.311.7469 aventuracenter.org @aventuracenter
Annual Report 2018 Arts & Culture
Box Office FAQs
Box Office Hours When is the box office open? The box office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 12 PM – 5 PM and 1½ hours prior to the start of a performance.
Can’t Attend Show I purchased tickets to an event, but now I cannot attend. What do I do? All ticket sales are final. Once a sale is completed, there are no refunds or exchanges for ticketed events. However, we are happy to work with you so that someone else such as a friend or family member may use your tickets. For more information, please contact Ticketmaster customer service at 800-653-8000 to speak with a friendly customer service representative.
Disability Access I am in a wheelchair or have difficulty with steps. Where will my seats be located? The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is fully compliant with ADA rules and regulations. We have wheelchair accessible seating available in all price levels. Tickets for these locations are available at the box office, on the website at aventuracenter. org or can be reserved by contacting the Ticketmaster call center at 877-311-7469.
Ticketmaster, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Box Office, Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office, AventuraCenter.org, and BrowardCenter.orgare the only OFFICIAL TICKETING PROVIDERS for events at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Know who you are buying from when you purchase tickets. Tickets obtained from unauthorized sources may be inflated in price, stolen, counterfeit, or invalid and maynot be honored. We CANNOT PROVIDE REFUNDS OR CUSTOMER SERVICE for tickets purchased from unauthorized sites, brokers or secondary ticket sellers.
Tickets Didn’t Arrive When I placed my ticket order, I requested for my tickets to arrive by mail, but they did not arrive. What should I do? If you believe your tickets were mailed and you did not receive them, please call Ticketmaster customer service at 800-6538000. We will be happy to arrange a lost ticket voucher for you. To pick up your voucher, present a valid ID or the credit card used to purchase the tickets at the box office window 1½ hours prior to show time.
Group Sales Box Office 877.311.7469 (SHOW) OR 954.462.0222 Groups 954.660.6307
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Is there a Group rate? Yes, most events offer a group discount for parties of ten or more! You may contact the Group Sales Department directly at 954.660.6307 or groups@browardcenter.org. Our group sales representative will contact you back within 2 business days.
WORKING
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2018 Working
Park Square
Community Development 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 305-466-8940
Striving to provide the highest quality of customer service in a centralized location to City of Aventura residents, business owners, developers and contractors alike, the Community Development Department is comprised of four divisions working together.
Building The Building Division enforces the Florida Building Code by reviewing and issuing permits and inspecting all new construction and renovations in the City of Aventura. In 2018, the Building Division issued 6,330 building permits and performed 14,236 inspections. Building permits generated approximately $5,534,599 in revenue. Inspection requests and results are available to the public via the ePermits section of the City’s website at cityofaventura.com.
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Privé Regency Centers
Don Soffer Aventura High School
Aventura Mall
Local Business Tax Receipt The Local Business Tax Receipt Division issues local business tax receipts for businesses and home occupations, and conducts inspections to ensure all businesses have obtained their business tax receipts. During 2018, the Division issued 2,704 local business tax receipts which generated approximately $850,910 in revenue.
Planning and Zoning The Planning and Zoning Division processes all land development applications including site plans, re-zonings, variances, conditional uses, and comprehensive plan amendments. The City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations provide a cohesive blueprint for development and redevelopment of the City. The blueprint addresses strategies to accommodate growth while maintaining neighborhood integrity, ensuring appropriate height, transitions and linkages, limiting the intensity of future development and redevelopment in a manner that is consistent with current development patterns, and minimizes further negative impacts to the City’s infrastructure and quality of life. The goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan, also referred to as the Master Plan or General Plan, are restated as specific planning and zoning regulations in the City’s Land Development Regulations. The plans are updated frequently to reflect current community goals. In 2018, there were 30 land development applications reviewed and processed by the Planning and Zoning Division.
Code Compliance The Code Compliance Division ensures businesses are legally operating with local business tax receipts and necessary building permits are being obtained for construction at residences and businesses. Code Compliance officers enforce City codes such as the property maintenance ordinance, noise, and signage regulations. The Code Compliance Division issued 119 warnings and violations last year and collected approximately 2,382 in fines. In addition, the Division also coordinates the Special Master Hearings for the City’s Traffic Intersection Safety Program. In 2018, a total of 690 hearings were conducted.
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Building Permits When is a permit required? In accordance with Section 105.1 of the Florida Building Code, a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any building or structure, including: tile, wood flooring and marble, any electrical work, installation of ceiling fans, replacement of an air conditioner unit (heat load calculations required), installation of a water heater, changing or connecting a toilet or sink, shower or bathtub fixture. Are the building permit forms available online? All City of Aventura building permit forms are available in the Document Center section of cityofaventura.com. May I schedule inspections and check the status of my permit online? Yes. The ePermits system on the City’s website is available to schedule inspections and to check the status of permit applications. Do I need to file a Notice of Commencement? Yes. A Notice of Commencement is required to be recorded by the owner in the Miami-Dade County Court if the value of the project exceeds $2,500. How can I expedite review of my permit? Reviews may be expedited by submitting the following: • A completed application, including notarized signatures of the owner and qualifier. • Two (2) sets of plans drawn to scale and signed and sealed by a professional, when required. • Two (2) surveys, as required for some types of review. • Two (2) sets of calculations as required by Code - these include energy calculations, heating/cooling load calculations, and/or structural load calculations. • Two (2) sets of Product Approvals as required by Code - these include roofs, utility sheds, windows, exterior doors, awnings, shutters, skylights, and trusses, among others. • If applicable, a letter from the condominium association approving work being done on a unit. • A letter from contractor requesting expedited review and agreeing to pay any additional costs associated with the expedited review. I just received a Notice of Violation from the City of Aventura for an open building permit, what should I do? • Notice of Violations are sent out to both contractors and homeowners for open permits with the City. The only way to close out this Violation would be to renew the permit and call in any final inspections pending. • If you are the homeowner, please contact your contractor and advise them of the open permit. • Permit information may be viewed online on the ePermits system on the City’s website, cityofaventura.com. When does my permit expire? All permits are active 180 days from the date of issuance or last approved inspection.
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cityofaventura.com
What type of payment is accepted for building permit fees? Check, cash or money orders are acceptable forms of payment. Is an upfront fee required at the time of permit submittal? Yes. The upfront fee is $130 and will be credited towards your total permit fee at the time the permit is issued. How do I register a contractor? The contractor registration form is available in the Document Center section of cityofaventura.com.
Local Business Tax Receipt Any person, firm, association, or corporation maintaining a business location or branch office within the City of Aventura’s city limits for the privilege of engaging in or managing a business, profession, or occupation within the City is required to have a Certificate of Use and file a Local Business Tax Receipt application (formerly known as the Occupational License). The tax receipts are required to be renewed annually before October 1. Fees for these filings are determined by the type of business or profession. All new Business Tax Receipt applicants require a DERM (Department of Environmental Resource Management) and a Water and Sewer Notice of Compliance per Miami-Dade County. For more information visit: miamidade.gov/derm. Business Filing Requirements Include: • Certificate of Use and Occupancy (home-based businesses excluded). • Declaration of Use (home-based businesses excluded). • Legal description of property (home-based businesses excluded). • Federal Employer Identification or Social Security Number. • Proof of current Fictitious Name Registration from the State Division of Corporations. For more information, call 850-487-6058. • Proof of Articles of Incorporation. For more information, visit sunbiz.org. Additional Requirements May Include: • Professions regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation must submit a current state license. For more information, call 850-487-1395. • Retail and wholesale merchants must complete and file an Affidavit of Merchants Inventory, indicating average value of inventory maintained by the business. • Restaurant owners must file a current state license with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. For more information, call 305-470-5680. Penalty For Operating A Business Without Filing Operating a business without a current local business tax receipt filing starts with a fine of $250, but can escalate to closure of the business and imprisonment.
FUTURE
2018 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2018 Future
2018/2019
Budget Priorities/Goals & Highlights The following represents the pre-established priorities and goals that provided a framework for the preparation of the 2018/19 Budget Plan. • Maintain current service levels and programs. • Add one (1) new School Resource Officer for the new Aventura High School to be opened in August 2019. • Continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the opening of the Aventura Charter High School by August 2019 including the funding of the upfront construction costs. • Continue to implement recommendations included in the Unfiled Master Plan for Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity. • Continue to implement strategies and recommendations included in the City’s Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan. • Continue to provide funding in order to maintain a high quality maintenance program of the City’s landscaped areas, facilities and infrastructure. • Continue to adopt Go Green initiatives to include the continued retrofitting of street lights to LED fixtures, in order to save energy, conserve precious natural resources and reduce our impact on climate change.
Budget Highlights The chart below outlines the percentage that each department of the City derives from the total budget. Police 37.7%
Information Technology 2.2%
Community Development 4.8%
Community Services 4.6% Public Works / Transportation 5.9%
Finance 2%
City Clerk Office .6% Arts & Cultural Center 1.5% Legal .6% Non-Departmental 2.8% Office of the City Manager 1.2%
City Commission .3%
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Capital Outlay 30.6%
Transfers 5.1%
cityofaventura.com
OPENING AUGUST 2019 aventuracharterhs.org
AVENTURA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER AVENTURA, FLORIDA The City of Excellence
3385 NE 188 Street Aventura, FL 33180 877.311.SHOW (7469)
aventuracenter.org @aventuracenter
