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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
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Miami, FL 33125  
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e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I & II. Status of Miami River Federal Navigable Channel Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding and Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding – Mr. Luis Perez, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), stated $4.5 million has been earmarked for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project in the Hurricane Wilma supplemental bill, due to the Jacksonville District’s assessed damages caused to the river’s federal navigable channel.  Mr. Eric Buermann, Chair of the MRC’s Dredging Subcommittee, asked if the $4.5 million could be used to award the next Dredging Acceptance Section, and Mr. Perez replied it could not, since it would be distributed throughout the remaining acceptance sections.

Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, distributed copies of the President’s FY ’07 budget submittal, released on February 6, 2006, with a lump sum $180,077,000 for operations and maintenance navigational projects in ACOE region 3, which references the provided ACOE’s FY ’07 project list, which includes a $3.5 million line item for the Miami River. Ms. Chase noted Mr. Bibeau was traveling to Tallahassee on January 16-17 to meet with the Governor’s Office and Legislators to support the County’s appropriation request for the project. 

Mr. Perez noted he had placed the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project as a $30 million line item in the ACOE’s “Capability List.” The “Capability List,” explained Perez, indicates the amount of money the ACOE has the internal ability to spend on a project if appropriated by Congress.  Mr. Buermann thanked Mr. Perez for his continued efforts.

Tim McIntosh, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), stated Mr. Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District, was currently applying for the next Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant for their cost-share of the remaining Acceptance Sections - rounding out their match for the project. The grant application is expected to go before FIND in June, added Mr. McIntosh.

III. Update River Utility Crossings-Mr. Perez informed the DSC of a recent issue involving the Miami Circle , the Florida Department of State and the ACOE.  Mr. Perez noted the FL Dept. of ST. had eventually rescinded their request to extend the 10-foot non-dredging buffer to 25 feet at the Miami Circle .  Though the issue has been resolved, Mr. Perez noted he would continue to keep the DSC in the loop as the dredging project moves forward, and agreed to forward a copy of the Florida Sate Department’s aforementioned request letter to meeting attendees. Mr. Buermann thanked Mr. Perez for his assistance.

IV. Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section- Mr. Buermann stated Mr. Bibeau met with the FDOT, whom is working towards removing the NW 5 ST piers and spans before the end of 2006. V. 

New Business – Ms. Chase informed the DSC that Mr. Bibeau is recommending the MRC renew the Washington DC intergovernmental services provided by Phil Bangert, Patton Boggs.  Mr. Buermann asked if the MRC’s budget could accommodate this request, and Ms. Chase replied yes.  Pursuant to discussion on the item, the DSC concluded that there existed a need to support the ongoing intergovernmental services provided by Patton Boggs, whom, remarked Mr. Buermann, has done a great job in advocating the Senate and House to appropriate $31.15 million thus far.

The Dredging Subcommittee confirmed the next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for March 15, 2006, 10 am, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 Street.

The meeting adjourned.

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