THE MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION was formed by the Florida Legislature in 1998  as the official clearinghouse for all public policy and projects related to the Miami River. Its mission is to help ensure that government agencies, businesses and residents speak with one voice on river issues. 

In less than three years, the commission has brought about the river's first dredging in nearly 70 years, and put into motion a Greenways program to reclaim and enhance the river's environs and landscape. It has worked with varied interests to work with common cause to make the river stronger economically and environmentally. The commission seeks to improve every aspect of river life.

The Commission's immediate roots go back more than 20 years, but the deeper causes of the river's challenges today go back to Miami's emergence as an urban center in the 1920s boom. As the area's population exploded, stormwater and untreated sewage flowed into the river and Biscayne Bay. During World War II, the river became a manufacturing center for PT boats for the U.S. Navy. The river took on more of an industrial character from this time.

Public attention turned to the river's environmental health in the 1970s. In 1984, the Miami River Coordinating Committee came into being as a clearinghouse for information and issues relating to the river.

Accomplishments in reducing pollutants did not reverse the river's neglect quickly enough. In 1991, a Grand Jury report called the river a "cesspool" and attacked the civic and political community's neglect of the river. A second report in 1998 was also sharply critical.

THE MIAMI RIVER STUDY COMMISSION was formed to propose a solution to the river's challenges. The first dramatic results took years.

WHILE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE the river gathered strength in the 1990s, the community needed an effective, recognized, and energetic coordinating body with active participation of elected officials with power to get things done. The study group proposed a Miami River Commission to address these priorities: dredging, creating greenways, improving water quality, enforcement, disposing of derelict vessels, and developing adjoining areas in a beneficial way. Answering the Study Commission's Call to Action, the Florida Legislature formed The Miami River Commission (MRC) as the official public clearinghouse for Miami River matters until at least the year 2003. The commission went to work quickly,

FOR THE FIRST TIME in memory, elected officials, businesses, residents and other river stakeholders represented on the MRC are speaking with one voice. Inspired by similar riverfront renovations in Cleveland and Chattanooga, the commission has fostered these efforts:

• The MRC prompted the Army Corps to recommend that the federal government pay for 80 percent of dredging costs, including disposal.
• It help a riverside Greenways program, starting with the Lummus Park/Riverside neighborhood, in alliance with the Trust for Public Land,
• The Commission could not have accomplished its work alone. A dedicated group of non-members were critical to its success and deserve special mention. Dr. Fran Bohnsack of The Miami River Marine Group has done as much as anyone to unite the commission's varied interests in the belief that a vital commercial artery can also become a destination for the public and an asset to the community. Brenda Marshall and Lavinia Freeman of the Trust For Public Land have worked energetically through the Greenways program to turn the river into a showcase. Without these two groups and these three people, the commission simply would not be where it is today.

Chair: ERIC BUERMANN, ESQ.
Chair: South Florida Water Management District

MR. ED SWAKON
Chair of Marine Council Designee: Vice Chair Phil Everingham

Florida Gov. CHARLIE CRIST

State Rep. JUAN C. ZAPATA
Chair, Miami-Dade Delegation Designee: Rep. Luis Garcia

Mayor CARLOS ALVAREZ
Miami-Dade County Mayor Designee: Mr. Robert Villar

Mayor MANUEL A. DIAZ
Mayor of the City of Miami Designee: Mr. Robert Ruano

Commissioner BRUNO BARREIRO
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Designee: Ms. Lubby Navarro

Commissioner JOE SANCHEZ
City of Miami Commissioner Designee: Mr. Steve Wright

KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, Esq.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Designee: Gary Winston, Esq.

Mr. RICHARD DUBIN
Chair, Miami River Marine Group Designee: Captain Beau Payne

Mr. DANA NOTTINGHAM
Executive Director, Downtown Development Authority
Designee: Mr. Adam Lukin

Mr. BARRY JOHNSON
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
Designee: Ms. Megan Kelly

Dr. ERNEST MARTIN
Neighborhood representative appointed by the City of Miami Commission

Ms. SALLYE JUDE
Neighborhood representative appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission Designee: Ms. Jane Caporelli

Ms. SARA C. BABUN
Member at Large appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission Designee: Ms. Elena Licea

Mr. MANNY PRIEGUEZ
Member at Large appointed by the City of Miami Commission

Representative from environmental or civic organization appointed by the governor: To be designated

Member at Large appointed by the governor: To be designated

Ex-Officio Members:
CONGRESSWOMAN ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN
Designee: Ms. Debbie Zimmerman

CAPT. KARL SCHULTZ, USCG
Captain of the Port of Miami

Managing Director MR. BRETT BIBEAU

Assistant Managing Director MS. ASHLEY CHASE

	Eric Buermann Chair, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board
Mr. Buermann was appointed to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board in 2007 by Governor Charles Crist. Subsequently the SFWMD Governing Board elected him as Chair. The Miami River Commission's enabling State Statute, 163.06, appoints the Chair of the SFWMD to serve on the Miami River Commission. The Miami River Commission elected Mr. Buermann to serve as Chair of the Miami River Commission. He is an attorney and Of Counsel with the Miami office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P., specializing in government and regulatory affairs. As Chair of the Miami River Commission, his key initiatives include: finishing the 40% complete Miami River maintenance dredging project, which will restore the designated 15-foot-deep federal navigable channel through removing nearly 1 million contaminated sediments, resulting in significant improvements to the marine industry and the natural environment; development of the Miami River Greenway or publicly accessible riverwalk, which will provide direct access to the waterfront and unite the river's multi-cultural neighborhoods; and, encouraging responsible, eco-friendly development along the Miami River. Mr. Buermann's career highlights include: appointed as the first in-house general counsel for the Republican Party, and is currently the Co-Chair of the Board of Governors of the Republic National Lawyers Association, Florida Division; served as the Head of Governor Charles Crist's Transition Team of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Senior Director of Espirito Santo Bank; former Vice-Chair and Commissioner of the Florida Elections Commission; member of the Audubon Society and the Florida Fairchild Tropical Garden.
Irela Bague Former Chair South Florida Water Management District Governing Board	Robert Parks Former Chair South Florida Water Management District Governing Board

SECTION 5

1. (a) The Miami River Commission is hereby established as the official coordinating clearinghouse for all public policy and projects related to the Miami River to unite all governmental agencies, businesses, and residents in the area to speak with one voice on river issues; to develop coordinated plans, priorities, programs, projects, and budgets that might substantially improve the river area; and to act as the principal advocate and watchdog to ensure that river projects are funded and implemented in a proper and timely manner.
(b) The commission may seek and receive funding to further its coordinating functions regarding river improvement projects of the commission. Nothing in this act affects or supersedes the regulatory authority of any governmental agency or any local government, and any responsibilities of any governmental entity relating to the Miami River shall remain with such respective governmental entity. However, the commission may accept any specifically defined coordinating authority or functions delegated to the commission by any governmental entity, through a memorandum of understanding or other legal instrument. The commission shall use powers of persuasion to achieve its objectives through the process of building a consensus work plan and through widespread publication of regular progress reports.

2. The Miami River Commission shall consist of:
(a) A policy committee comprised of the Governor, the chair of the Dade delegation, the chair of the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District, the Miami-Dade County State Attorney, the Mayor of Miami, the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, a commissioner of the City of Miami Commission, a commissioner of the Miami-Dade County Commission, the chair of the Miami River Marine Group, the chair of the Marine Council, the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority, and the chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; two neighborhood representatives, selected from the Spring Garden Neighborhood Association, the Grove Park Neighborhood Association, and the Miami River Neighborhood Enhancement Corporation, one neighborhood representative to be appointed by the city commission and one neighborhood representative to be appointed by the county commission, each selected from a list of three names submitted by each such organization; one representative from an environmental or civic association, appointed by the Governor; and three members-at-large, who shall be persons who have a demonstrated history of involvement on the Miami River through business, residence, or volunteer activity, one appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the city commission, and one appointed by the county commission. All members shall be voting members. The committee shall also include a member of the United States Congressional delegation and the Captain of the Port of Miami as a representative of the United States Coast Guard, as nonvoting, ex officio members. The policy committee may meet monthly, but shall meet at least quarterly.
(b) A managing director who has the responsibility to implement plans and programs.
(c) A working group consisting of all governmental agencies that have jurisdiction in the Miami River area, as well as representatives from business and civic associations.

3. The policy committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Consolidate existing plans, programs, and proposals into a coordinated strategic plan for improvement of the Miami River and surrounding areas, addressing environmental, economic, social, recreational, and aesthetic issues. The committee shall monitor the progress on each element of such plan and shall revise the plan regularly.
(b) Prepare an integrated financial plan using the different jurisdictional agencies available for projected financial resources. The committee shall monitor the progress on each element of such plan and revise the plan regularly.
(c) Provide technical assistance and political support as needed to help implement each element of the strategic and financial plans.
(d) Accept any specifically defined coordinating authority or function delegated to the committee by any level of government through a memorandum of understanding or other legal instrument
(e) Publicize a semiannual report describing accomplishments of the commission and each member agency, as well as the status of each pending task. The committee shall distribute the report to the city and county commissions and mayors, the Governor, chair of the Dade County delegation, stakeholders, and the local media.
(f) Seek grants from public and private sources and receive grant funds to provide for the enhancement of its coordinating functions and activities and administer contracts that achieve these goals.
(g) Coordinate a joint planning area agreement between the Department of Community Affairs, the city, and the county under the provisions of s. 163.3177(11)(a), (b), and (c).
(h) Provide a forum for exchange of information and facilitate the resolution of conflicts.
(i) Act as a clearinghouse for public information and conduct public education programs.
(j) Establish the Miami River working group, appoint members to the group, and organize subcommittees, delegate tasks, and seek council from members of the working group as necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed in this subsection.
(k) Elect officers and adopt rules of procedure as necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed above and solicit appointing authorities to name replacements for policy committee members who do not participate on a regular basis. Hire the managing director, who shall be authorized to represent the commission and to implement all policies, plans, and programs of the commission. The committee shall employ any additional staff necessary to assist the managing director.

Section 6
(1) No item, motion, directive, or policy position that would impact or in anyway diminish levels of currently permitted commercial activity on the Miami River or riverfront properties shall be adopted by the Miami River Commission unless p-assed by a unanimous vote of the appointed members of the commission then in office.
(2) No item, motion, directive, or policy position suggesting, proposing, or otherwise promoting additional taxes, fees, charges, or any other financial obligation on owners of riverfront property or shipping companies or operators shall be adopted by the Miami River Commission unless passed by a unanimous vote of all appointed members of the commission then in office.

Section 7
The Miami River Commission shall terminate July 1, 2003, unless the Legislature, in a review of the creation, operation, and accomplishments of the Miami River Commission during the 2003 regular Session, determines that the commission should be continued and reenacts provisions providing for its continuation.

Section 8
This act shall take effect upon becoming law.
Approved by the Governor June 10, 1998
Filed in Office Secretary of State June 10, 1998

(1) SHORT TITLE – This section may be cited as the “Miami River Improvement Act”

(2) FINDINGS: PURPOSE:
a. The Miami River Commission was created by Chapter 98.402, Laws of Florida, to be the official coordinating clearinghouse for all public policy and projects related to the Miami River.

b.  The United States Congress has provided funding for an initial federal share of 80 percent for the environmental and navigational improvements to the Miami River. The governments of the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County are coordinating with the Legislature and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to determine how the 20 percent local share will be provided.

c.  Successful revitalizing and sustaining the urban redevelopment of the areas adjacent to the Miami River is dependent on addressing, through an integrated and coordinated intergovernmental plan, a range of varied components essential to a healthy urban environment, including cultural, recreational, economic, and transportation components.

d.  The purpose of this section is to ensure a coordinated federal, state, regional, and local effort to improve the Miami River and adjacent areas.

(3) AGENCY ASSISTANCE – All state and regional agencies shall provide all available assistance to the Miami River Commission in the conduct of its activities. 

(4) PLAN – The Miami River Commission, working with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, shall consider the merits of the following:

a. Development and adoption of an urban infill and redevelopment plan, under ss. 163.2511-163.2526, and participating state and regional agencies shall review the proposed plan for the purposes of consistency with applicable law.

b. Development of a greenway/riverwalk and blueway, where appropriate, as authorized in s.260.101, to provide an attractive and safe connector system of bicycle, pedestrian, and transit routes and water taxis to link jobs, waterfront amenities, and people, and contribute to the comprehensive revitalization of the Miami River.

Section 27. Except as otherwise provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming law.

Approved by the Governor June 2, 2000
Filed in office of Secretary of State June 2, 2000