2023-09-05 Minutes1
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 6:30 PM 9900 NE 2ND AVENUE
1) CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Burch called the meeting to order at 8:42 PM.
2) MOMENT OF SILENCE / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3) ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor George Burch
Vice Mayor Jesse Valinsky
Councilmember Jerome Charles
Councilmember Sandra Harris
Councilmember Daniel Marinberg
Also Present:
Village Manager Esmond Scott
Village Attorney Sarah Johnston
Village Clerk Ysabely Rodriguez
4) PRESENTATIONS
4.A ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT AND OVERVIEW OF MIAMI SHORES MARKET PRESENTATION
BY: KEVIN CROWDER, BUSINESS FLARE.
This item was deferred to the September 19, 2023 Village Council Meeting.
5) ORDER OF BUSINESS
Mayor Burch deferred his three discussion items to the September 19, 2023 Village Council Meeting in
the interest of time.
Councilmember Marinberg added a discussion item concerning a change in the voting venue.
Councilmember Marinberg further added a discussion item concerning the comprehensive plan.
2
Councilmember Harris moved to accept the amended order of business and Councilmember Marinberg
seconded the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
6) BOARDS/COMMITTEES REPORT
No Committee reports.
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rosenny Augustin Jean-Louis from Commissioner Hardemon’s Office provided an update concerning
County operations and answered questions posed by the Village Council.
Janet Goodman proposed for Councilmembers to implement a policy which would require the disclosure
of any conflict of interest prior to voting.
8) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
8.A APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 15, 2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORKSHOP MINUTES
(STAFF: VILLAGE CLERK).
Vice Mayor Valinsky moved to approve the minutes and Councilmember Charles seconded the motion
which carried a 3-0 voice vote. Councilmembers Harris and Marinberg abstained from voting as they
were not present at said workshop.
8.B APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 20, 2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORKSHOP MINUTES
(STAFF: VILLAGE CLERK).
Vice Mayor Valinsky moved to approve the minutes and Councilmember Charles seconded the motion
which carried a 3-0 voice vote. Councilmembers Harris and Marinberg abstained from voting as they
were not present at said workshop.
8.C APPROVAL OF THE JULY 11, 2023 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (STAFF:
VILLAGE CLERK).
Councilmember Marinberg moved to approve the minutes and Vice Mayor Valinsky seconded the motion
which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
8.D APPROVAL OF THE JULY 20, 2023 BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES (STAFF: VILLAGE
CLERK).
Councilmember Marinberg moved to approve the minutes and Vice Mayor Valinsky seconded the motion
which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
8.E APPROVAL OF THE JULY 20, 2023 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (STAFF:
VILLAGE CLERK).
Vice Mayor Valinsky moved to approve the minutes and Councilmember Marinberg seconded the motion
which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
3
9) VILLAGE BOARD APPOINTMENTS
9.A APPOINTMENTS TO THE AD HOC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE (5 VACANCIES).
Village Clerk Rodriguez provided opening remarks, detailing the application and selection process.
Councilmember Harris moved to appoint Pilar Rodriguez, Nicole Hedmark, Belkis Varona, Amy Lerma,
and Peter Pietrzkiewicz. Vice Mayor Valinsky seconded the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
9.B APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNTRY CLUB ADVISORY BOARD (4 VACANCIES).
Village Clerk Rodriguez provided opening remarks, detailing the application and selection process.
Following self-introductions by the applicants, paper ballots were voted with the following results:
Scott Maroon, Charles Mennes, E. Thomas Septembre, and Samuel Soriero were appointed to the
Country Club Advisory Board.
9.C APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY COMMITTEE (4
VACANCIES).
Village Clerk Rodriguez provided opening remarks, detailing the application and selection process.
Following self-introductions by the applicants, paper ballots were voted with the following results:
FIRST ROUND BURCH CHARLES HARRIS MARINBERG VALINSKY
ROBIN BURNETTE X X
BILL DIGGS X
WILL ISMAEIL
JUDSON LACAPRA X X
SCOTT MAROON X X X X X
CHARLES MENNES X X X X
THOMAS SEPTEMBRE X X X
SAMUEL SORIERO X X X
4
Patricia Casey, Silvia Kang, Lauren Rangel, and Carol Respondek were appointed to the Sustainability &
Resiliency Committee.
9.D APPOINTMENTS TO THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD (3 VACANCIES).
Village Clerk Rodriguez provided opening remarks, detailing the application and selection process.
Following self-introductions by the applicants, paper ballots were voted with the following results:
Renee O'Connor, Dana Vignale, Mallory Lehroff were appointed to the Education Advisory Board.
10) DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS
10.A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TRASH PICKUP IN THE VILLAGE (SPONSORED
BY: MAYOR GEORGE BURCH).
The item was deferred.
10.B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE CREATION OF AN AD HOC
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE (SPONSORED BY: MAYOR GEORGE BURCH).
The item was deferred.
FIRST ROUND BURCH CHARLES HARRIS MARINBERG VALINSKY
PATRICIA CASEY X X X X X
NANCY GHANEM
KATELYNN HOPPOCK X
EVIE ISLES X
SILVIA KANG X X X X X
LAUREN RANGEL X X X X
CAROL RESPONDEK X X X X
FIRST ROUND BURCH CHARLES HARRIS MARINBERG VALINSKY
JORGE BRITO
SYLVIE DUERKOP X
NANCY GHANEM
EVIE ISLES
MALLORY LEHROFF X X X X X
RENEE O’CONNOR X X X X
DANA VIGNALE X X X X X
5
10.C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON EXPEDITING THE PERMITTING PROCESS
(SPONSORED BY: MAYOR GEORGE BURCH).
The item was deferred.
10.D DISCUSSION REGARDING VILLAGE VOTING VENUE (SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER
DANIEL MARINBERG).
Councilmember Marinberg provided opening remarks, indicating some Village residents may have
received a new voter identification card reflecting a new polling location, which was moved from the
community center to the elementary school in the Village of El Portal. Councilmember Marinberg further
indicated former Councilmember Alice Burch sent a letter to the Miami-Dade County elections
department, asking to move the polling location back to the community center. Councilmember
Marinberg raised concerns regarding the letter using the name of the current mayor in said email.
Although he expressed support for the polling location to remain in the Village, Councilmember
Marinberg spoke in opposition to the prospect of an individual using public office to influence a decision.
Councilmember Marinberg expressed interest in knowing why the polling location change was made.
Mayor Burch indicated the letter derived from him and did not reference the Village Council. The letter
was not submitted in his official capacity, but rather as a private individual.
Councilmember Harris spoke in opposition to any Councilmember speaking on behalf of the Village
Council or using their respective capacity to influence decision.
Village Clerk Rodriguez indicated she received notice from the elections department after the letter on
behalf of Councilmember Burch was sent. Ms. Rodriguez explained the purpose of the change was to
update the precinct line locations in the internal systems of the elections department according to the
Miami-Dade County Elections Department.
Mayor Burch noted the comments made by individual Councilmembers and indicated he would be
mindful of such communications moving forward.
No action was taken.
10.E. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (SPONSORED BY:
COUNCILMEMBER DANIEL MARINBERG).
Councilmember Marinberg provided opening remarks, indicating he does not recall voting for the
September 11, 2023 Comprehensive Plan Special Meeting. Village Clerk Rodriguez indicated
administration provided a tentative meeting date and she proceeded to contact individual
Councilmembers regarding their availability on such date and time.
Councilmember Marinberg noted he does not recall First Reading of the latest version of the
comprehensive plan. Councilmember Marinberg indicated he is trying to understand, given how the
public has asked for opportunities to be heard, how the revised ordinance advanced to Second
Reading. Responding to Councilmember Marinberg, Village Attorney Johnston indicated the Village
Attorneys conducted an analysis of all the recommended changes and the version that went to DEO
and it was determined that the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan were not substantive or
material to require it to go back to First Reading.
Responding to Village Attorney Johnston, Councilmember Harris disagreed with the legal analysis.
Councilmember Marinberg asked about the studies that residents have been asking staff to conduct.
6
Vice Mayor Valinsky indicated the more extreme the changes you're trying to make, the more scrutiny
people would want to apply to it. Vice Mayor Valinsky further indicated if the Council is reducing the
original intensity of changes, it's reasonable for there to be less interest in studies.
Discussion ensued regarding the revised ordinance progressing to Second Reading.
Mayor Burch deferred three items in the interest of time.
Mayor Burch moved to adjourn the meeting and Councilmember Charles seconded the motion which
carried a unanimous vote.
11) MANAGER'S REPORT
No comments.
12) ATTORNEY'S REPORT
No comments.
13) ANNOUNCEMENTS
No comments.
14) VILLAGE COUNCIL COMMENTS
No comments.
15) ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Village Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:58 PM.