City Manager Briefing Report October 2013 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. FDOT Construction: William Lehman Causeway from Biscayne Blvd to Collins Avenue The upcoming construction project will start on the William Lehman Causeway on January 13, 2014. The construction project limits will be on the Lehman Causeway, from Biscayne Boulevard to Collins Avenue. FDOT is set to start in January and are scheduled to finish around October 2014, weather permitting. The bulk of work on the project includes: repaving and restriping the roadway, extension of bike lanes and bike rail installation, curb and gutter work, and signalization improvement. Aventura City of Excellence School Highlights Fifty seventh grade students traveled to Sanibel Island. The purpose of the trip was to expose students to Florida's various ecosystems and environments. They visited a wildlife rescue center, conducted water testing and camped overnight. Each year, ACES takes time to appreciate the contributions Hispanic and Latino Americans have made to the U.S. During Hispanic Heritage month students learned about Hispanic culture including: different foods, dances, traditions and people. Students in sixth through eighth grade were selected to participate in a Cyberally training to spread awareness about online bullying. The Anti-Defamation League provides an interactive program that allows students to explore what they can do to spot and stop online bullying. City Manager Briefing Report
ACES families donated 672 boxes filled with supplies for children in underprivileged countries. This is the tenth year that ACES families have generously donated to the Samaritan s Purse Project. Six elementary students were selected as winners of the Poetic Power Poetry Contest. Their work was published in a Celebration of Poets 2013 edition. Proposed Town Center Neighborhood District TC3 Complete. The Ordinance amending the Land Development Code was adopted at the October Commission Meeting. Newsletter Complete The newsletter for Fall was distributed to the community. Police Department Statistics & Highlights Monthly Crime Overview Crimes from August 2013 to September 2013 that decreased: Simple Assault down by 5; Aggravated Assault down by 2; Burglary down by 4; Larceny down by 25; Theft-Auto down by 3; Aggravated Assault down by 1. Crimes from August 2013 to September 2013 that remained the same: Robbery. City Manager Briefing Report 2
Calls for service for September 2012 compared to September 2013 decreased by 73. Officer Edilberto Ocasio was named officers of the month. Founders Day Preparation is underway for the annual Founders Day weekend events. City Manager Briefing Report 3
Community Garden The Community Services Advisory Board has agreed to pursue this project. At this point they are asking for interested residents to assist with overseeing the Garden. A booth will be placed at Founders Day to disseminate information. Arts & Cultural Center The following represents the programming for the month: October Date Event Time Attendance 4-Oct Steinway Selection Event 12PM 50 11-Oct Miss Brasil USA 8PM 210 12-Oct The Ugly Duckling & Tortoise and the Hare 11AM 291 12-Oct The Ugly Duckling & Tortoise and the Hare 1PM 275 19-Oct Pentimento and Firebird 7PM 222 20-Oct Pentimento and Firebird 3PM 200 26-Oct The Choreographers' Ball 7PM 307 30-Oct New World School of the Arts Repertory Dance 10AM 248 30-Oct MDC City Clerk's Luncheon 12PM 30 30-Oct New World School of the Arts Repertory Dance 8PM 118 1951 Pending Development Projects Submitted for Review Turnberry Isle Hotel Expansion, 19999 West Country Club Drive Puerto Aventura Residential Condominium, NE 185 Street (Terzetto north lot) Turnberry Plaza Hotel, (Embassy Suites), 2975 NE 191 Street Aventura Condo, NE 34 Avenue at North Country Club Drive Aventura Retail Plaza Expansion, Aventura Boulevard & Biscayne Boulevard Aventura View, Office Building Parking Lot Expansion, 2999 NE 191 Street Medical Office Building, vacant lot at 18560 Biscayne Boulevard New Building for Pollo Tropical Restaurant, former Burger King location in Promenade Shops, Biscayne Boulevard and NE 203 Street Shuttle Bus Service Sep 2013 Monthly Ridership Summary Blue Route 4,439 20.09% Red Route 3,616 16.36% Green Route 4,650 21.04% Purple Route 4,827 21.84% Yellow Route 4,565 20.66% Monthly Ridership 22,097 City Manager Briefing Report 4
Arts & Cultural Center Advisory Board The City Commission, at the September Workshop meeting, agreed to re-appoint those members who requested reappointment and to advertise in the upcoming newsletter to request interested residents to apply for the vacant position. Arts in Public Places Advisory Board A Resolution to name the three resident members of this Board is scheduled for the November Commission Meeting. NE 29th Place Safety Improvements The City Commission adopted a Resolution authorizing the action to convert NE 29th Place to a public street and prepare plans to implement safety, lighting and landscape improvements. The surveying work and plan preparation is underway. Website Information Top 10 Viewed Pages www.cityofaventura.com September 2013 1. Home 2. Jobs 3. Building Permits 4. Search 5. Aventura Express Shuttle Bus 6. Jobs: Support/Project Specialist 7. Online Services 8. Contact Us 9. Police 10. Aventura Activities Magazine www.cityofaventura.com 60,000 50,000 Number of Pages Viewed 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 City Manager Briefing Report 5
There are 3,657 Twitter followers for the City. aventuracharter.org had over 20,000 visitors a month. 45,000 Total Page Views www.aventuracharter.org 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 aventuracenter.org had over 20,000 visitors a month. 45,000 Total Page Views www.aventuracenter.org 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 City Manager Briefing Report 6
Biscayne Boulevard City Property The Sale and Purchase Agreement to sell the City owned property previously declared surplus to the City was finalized at the March Commission Meeting and closing is expected in 60 days. Major Capital Improvement Projects Status Report Government Center Parking Expansion Complete Admiral s Port Crosswalk Safety Improvements Complete. Biscayne Boulevard Decorative Street Lighting Phase III & IV In Process. All street light poles for Phases 3 & 4 have been delivered. The project is delayed due to permit approval for FDOT. Once this obstacle is overcome the project will commence construction. Once Phase 3 and 4 are complete, the Biscayne Decorative Street Lighting project will be complete with installs from the Oleta River Bridge north to NE 213th Street. Aventura Park Facilities Improvements The Founder s Park site work portion of the project will begin on November 4, 2013 and be completed per contract on February 3, 2014. The Veteran s Park site work portion of the project will begin on January 6, 2014 and be completed per contract on January 27, 2014. Purchase Orders for shade structures and fencing improvements have been issued. The DERM tree permit was issued as required for relocations of trees in conflict with construction improvements at Founder s Park. Country Club Drive (Southbound) Road Resurfacing The construction drawings are 75% complete. Per the consultant s schedule, a fully permitted set of drawings will be completed no later than January 16, 2014. The project will then be advertised for bids. NE 185th Street/Biscayne Boulevard Median Channelizing Modification Survey work is complete and design has commenced. Per the consultant s schedule, permitted drawings will be completed and construction will commence in February, 2014. City Manager Briefing Report 7