miamirivermeet1

Dick Bunnell opened the meeting and all attendees made self-introductions. The minutes from the February Dredging Working Group meeting was approved. Carlos Espinosa, DERM, stated that the County Manager was going to try and engage the City Manager along with the City of Miami in discussions regarding Tax Increment Financing (TIF). They will determine if a TIF is even a feasible option. Dick Bunnell informed the group that a TIF is the mechanism the City and the County are exploring to pay for the non-federal portion of the dredging project, known as the bank-to-bank project outside the federal navigable channel.

Mr. Bunnell asked Rene Perez, ACOE, to comment on the project status. Mr. Perez stated that at a past meeting, he stated that he had expected the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Headquarters in Washington D.C. to approve the Dredged Materials Management Plan (DMMP) by February 14, 2003. That has still not happened. Rene has tried to ascertain a date of approval from headquarters but he has been unsuccessful up to this point. This has postponed the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP). Jerry Scarborough, ACOE, stated that Headquarters is somewhat concerned about spending $70 million on a project that they feel might not be economically beneficial. Jerry stated that it is our job to convince them that it is necessary to dredge the Miami River. On a positive note, he stated that it seems as though Headquarters is backing down from their original request for an economic analysis of the project. Now they would like to get a basic list of the benefits that can be expected from dredging the Miami River. Jerry stated that anything the MRC could get to ACOE Headquarters that would ease their concerns about spending so much money on one dredging project would be extremely helpful in pushing forward the decision making process. The information they are looking for are costs and benefits. Discussion ensued. Jerry stated that one of the questions that Headquarters wanted answered was why now after 70 years is it necessary to dredge the River. They have been told that this process to get the dredging started has taken about 30 of those 70 years. Jerry estimated that the RFP may not be released until sometime in May. He further stated that the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) is the important piece of the puzzle. It is at Headquarters with the DMMP. Headquarters will not approve the PCA until after they approve the DMMP. As soon as the PCA is approved by Headquarters and signed by both the County and the ACOE, advertisement for the RFP could go out the next day. Jerry stated that there would be a meeting at Headquarters on Friday to review the DMMP.

Carlos Espinosa stated that the County has received about 35% of the consent forms back from the first round of letters that went out to the riparian property owners

He informed the group that a second notice has been prepared and sent to the owners that have yet to respond. The letters also contained copies of the original December letter, a consent form and a postage paid pre-addressed envelope. These letters were sent out yesterday. Carlos asked the MRC to contact the owners that have not yet responded giving them information regarding the dredging project. He stated that he would provide David Miller with a disk containing copies of the letters and a spreadsheet stating where the property was located. Fran Bohnsack, MRMG, stated that the letters should be sent registered mail so that the County knows that the owners did in fact receive the letter. Dick stated that he did not think that the owners should be told that the money for the private share of the dredging would come out of their pockets. Brett Bibeau asked the County to keep the MRC apprised of any responses that they receive from the second letter so that they are not called asking them to respond.

Dick Bunnell stated that there is an April 7, 2003 meeting for River Utility Crossings at 10:30 am at the United Way Ansin Building prior to the MRC meeting. Dick asked Pat Hanson, ACOE, to comment on the utility crossings. She stated that they are moving forward. She introduced Manuel Aguila from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Mr. Aquila stated that they are just finishing the 3^rd relocation and they have three more to go. They anticipate being finished with their relocations by June. David stated that he received a letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The letter stated that all of the permits for utility crossings that were applied for in the Southeastern Office were issued to their knowledge. David also said that the new FDEP water quality certification person in Tallahassee is Stacey Roberts (850-487-4471) and she will be the contact personfor the Miami River Project.

The next Dredging Working Group meeting was scheduled for Wednesday April 16, 2003 at 10 am. The meeting will take place at the Rosenstiel School Library Map Room.


CONTACT US! For more information, contact us via email at mrc@rsmas.miami.edu MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION c/o Rosenstiel School 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, Fl. 33149 305-361-4850 Fax: 305-361-4755 e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu This site prepared and designed by Mark Sell Communications, Inc. Public Relations	MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION DREDGING COMMITTEE MINUTES: Minutes of meeting	Mar. 13, 2003 10:00 AM (THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)
	The Miami River Commission Dredging Working Group meeting was called to order at 10 am at the Rosenstiel Library Map Room, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Miami, FL. The attendee list is attached.
	Dick Bunnell opened the meeting and all attendees made self-introductions. The minutes from the February Dredging Working Group meeting was approved. Carlos Espinosa, DERM, stated that the County Manager was going to try and engage the City Manager along with the City of Miami in discussions regarding Tax Increment Financing (TIF). They will determine if a TIF is even a feasible option. Dick Bunnell informed the group that a TIF is the mechanism the City and the County are exploring to pay for the non-federal portion of the dredging project, known as the bank-to-bank project outside the federal navigable channel. Mr. Bunnell asked Rene Perez, ACOE, to comment on the project status. Mr. Perez stated that at a past meeting, he stated that he had expected the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Headquarters in Washington D.C. to approve the Dredged Materials Management Plan (DMMP) by February 14, 2003. That has still not happened. Rene has tried to ascertain a date of approval from headquarters but he has been unsuccessful up to this point. This has postponed the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP). Jerry Scarborough, ACOE, stated that Headquarters is somewhat concerned about spending $70 million on a project that they feel might not be economically beneficial. Jerry stated that it is our job to convince them that it is necessary to dredge the Miami River. On a positive note, he stated that it seems as though Headquarters is backing down from their original request for an economic analysis of the project. Now they would like to get a basic list of the benefits that can be expected from dredging the Miami River. Jerry stated that anything the MRC could get to ACOE Headquarters that would ease their concerns about spending so much money on one dredging project would be extremely helpful in pushing forward the decision making process. The information they are looking for are costs and benefits. Discussion ensued. Jerry stated that one of the questions that Headquarters wanted answered was why now after 70 years is it necessary to dredge the River. They have been told that this process to get the dredging started has taken about 30 of those 70 years. Jerry estimated that the RFP may not be released until sometime in May. He further stated that the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) is the important piece of the puzzle. It is at Headquarters with the DMMP. Headquarters will not approve the PCA until after they approve the DMMP. As soon as the PCA is approved by Headquarters and signed by both the County and the ACOE, advertisement for the RFP could go out the next day. Jerry stated that there would be a meeting at Headquarters on Friday to review the DMMP. Carlos Espinosa stated that the County has received about 35% of the consent forms back from the first round of letters that went out to the riparian property owners He informed the group that a second notice has been prepared and sent to the owners that have yet to respond. The letters also contained copies of the original December letter, a consent form and a postage paid pre-addressed envelope. These letters were sent out yesterday. Carlos asked the MRC to contact the owners that have not yet responded giving them information regarding the dredging project. He stated that he would provide David Miller with a disk containing copies of the letters and a spreadsheet stating where the property was located. Fran Bohnsack, MRMG, stated that the letters should be sent registered mail so that the County knows that the owners did in fact receive the letter. Dick stated that he did not think that the owners should be told that the money for the private share of the dredging would come out of their pockets. Brett Bibeau asked the County to keep the MRC apprised of any responses that they receive from the second letter so that they are not called asking them to respond. Dick Bunnell stated that there is an April 7, 2003 meeting for River Utility Crossings at 10:30 am at the United Way Ansin Building prior to the MRC meeting. Dick asked Pat Hanson, ACOE, to comment on the utility crossings. She stated that they are moving forward. She introduced Manuel Aguila from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Mr. Aquila stated that they are just finishing the 3^rd relocation and they have three more to go. They anticipate being finished with their relocations by June. David stated that he received a letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The letter stated that all of the permits for utility crossings that were applied for in the Southeastern Office were issued to their knowledge. David also said that the new FDEP water quality certification person in Tallahassee is Stacey Roberts (850-487-4471) and she will be the contact personfor the Miami River Project. The next Dredging Working Group meeting was scheduled for Wednesday April 16, 2003 at 10 am. The meeting will take place at the Rosenstiel School Library Map Room.