City Manager Briefing Report October 2014 Eric M. Soroka, ICMA-CM City Manager This report is prepared in order to inform the City Commission of the status of major projects and ongoing matters. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Aventura City of Excellence School Highlights Words have enormous power and in a school setting, what we speak and write can uplift or tear down impressionable students. As part of our 2014-2015 theme of Cultivating Community, ACES has incorporated the "Words Count" workshops to help students, parents and teachers make smart choices when communicating. ACES Girls Volleyball team has made it to the playoffs. The playoffs begin October 20, 2014. ACES Flag Football team is currently 5-2 and continues to work toward the goal of taking the league championship. It is full STEAM ahead for ACES Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math interdisciplinary activities. Kindergarten students created their own uniquely designed musical instruments using all recycled materials. Third grade students engineered cars powered by air from balloons after receiving tips via a skype interview from former NASCAR driver, Geoff Bodine. Winter Chorus practice is underway with over 95 participants from second through fifth grade. This year due to overwhelming demand the AACC will host three performances ACES is offering free typing tutoring for fourth and fifth grade students utilizing Typing Pal and other online typing programs. The annual Bazaar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2014. City Manager Briefing Report
Newsletter Complete The newsletter for Fall was distributed to the community. City Clerk Transition New City Clerk, Ellisa Horvath began work on October 20, 2014. Police Department Statistics & Highlights Ebola Training Session - The training unit provided an informational session on Ebola for our first responders. Monthly Crime Overview Crimes from August 2014 to September 2014 that remained the same: Aggravated Assault; Aggravated Stalking. Crimes from August 2014 to September 2014 that increased: Burglary up by 4. Crimes from August 2014 to September 2014 that decreased: Robbery down by 3; Simple Assault down by 3; Larceny down by 48; Theft- Auto down by 1. City Manager Briefing Report 2
Calls for service for September 2013 compared to September 2014 increased by 63. Officer Troy Vezina was selected as Officer of the Month. Founders Day Preparation is underway for the annual Founders Day weekend events. City Manager Briefing Report 3
Arts in Public Places Advisory Board The City received 7 responds to the RFP for the call for artists to provide public art on the exterior grounds of the Government Center. The Arts in Public Places Advisory Board met on August 14, 2014 to select finalists. Petra Liebi-Osborne and Beth Nybeck were named as finalists and were interviewed on October 28, 2014. The Board decided not to accept the proposals and will issue another call to artists early next year. Arts & Cultural Center The following represents the programming for the month: Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Activity Report 2014/15 October Date Event Time Attendance 11 Oct The Choreographers' Ball 7PM 294 12 Oct XII Annual Andes Folkloric Festival of Dance and Mus 6PM 230 18 Oct Tribute to Diaghilev 7PM 150 19 Oct Tribute to Diaghilev 3PM 182 23 Oct Sticks and Stones Smart Stage Matinee Series 10AM 264 25 Oct Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse 11AM 200 25 Oct Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse 2PM 84 29 Oct New World School of the Arts Repertory 10AM 65 29 Oct New World School of the Arts Repertory 8PM 122 1591 Community Garden All 23 planters are leased. Pending Development Projects Submitted for Review Puerto Aventura Residential Condominium, NE 185 Street (Terzetto north lot) Aventura Condo, NE 34 Avenue at North Country Club Drive Aventura View, Office Building Parking Lot Expansion, 2999 NE 191 Street Retail Building, vacant lot at 18560 Biscayne Boulevard Helistop at Gulfstream Park, NE 213 Street Aventura Mall 3-level, 288,000 square foot expansion, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard Prive at Island Estates, Site Plan Approval Application AC Hotel, NE 207 Street at NE 30 Avenue (Aventura Corporate Center site) Aventura Chabad Redevelopment, 21001 Biscayne Boulevard El Dorado Towers Entrance Feature, 3625-3675 N. Country Club Drive Del Prado Entrance Feature, 18071 Biscayne Boulevard PDQ Restaurant, NE 191 Street City Manager Briefing Report 4
Shuttle Bus Service Monthly Ridership Summary Blue Route 2,674 12.93% Red Route 2,083 10.07% Green Route 3,724 18.00% Purple Route 3,395 16.41% Yellow Route 3,852 18.62% Monthly Ridership 20,686 Top 10 Viewed Pages www.cityofaventura.com September 2014 1. Home 2. Jobs 3. Building Permits 4. Search 5. Online Services 6. Aventura Express Shuttle Bus 7. 2014 Municipal Election Candidate Information 8. Contact Us 9. Jobs : Support/Project Specialist 10. Agendas & Recaps There are 4,124 Twitter followers for the City. The City website had 36,000 viewers, Charter School Website had 20,000 viewers and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Website had 15,000 viewers. Major Capital Improvement Projects Status Report Design of NE 188th Street Park The firm of Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. was selected to perform park design and engineering services. The Phase I Work Authorization was approved at the October Commission Meeting. Biscayne Lake Gardens Road Resurfacing City Manager Briefing Report 5
NE 30 th Avenue Street Lighting Project (NE 203 rd Street to NE 207 th Street) NE 29 th Avenue Street Improvements NE 207th Street Road Resurfacing NE 185th Street/Biscayne Boulevard Median Channelizing Modification Design and permitting of lengthening the WB left turn lane storage length has commenced. Construction of the turn lane extension and placement of the Quick Curb Delineators are to be done concurrently. The project should begin in spring of 2015. The budget will be amended to include this project. Traffic Video monitoring System The first phase of this projects which involves updating and repairing the current system is underway. Special Events Swearing In Ceremony - Government Center, November 6, 2014 Veterans Day Ceremony Government Center, November 11, 2014 @ 10AM Founders Day Events Founders Park, November 9, 2014 Movie Night Founders Park, November 15, 2014 @ 6:15PM City Manager Briefing Report 6