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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. Buermann asked Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, to report on his recent trips to Tallahassee and Washington DC.  Mr. Bibeau replied on behalf of the MRC he had traveled to Tallahassee in support of Miami-Dade County ’s “critical priority” appropriation requests for the Miami River maintenance dredging project of $18.4 million from the State and $24 million from Congress.  Mr. Bibeau stated on February 16-7 he and the MRC’s Intergovernmental Affairs consultant Doug Bruce met in Tallahassee with Chris Flack, Governor’s Office, Nanea Marcial-Custin, Senior Legislative Aide for Senator Villalobos, Representative Gus Barreiro, Representative Rene Garcia, and Doug Pile, Miami-Dade County Intergovernmental Affairs.  In addition, Mr. Bibeau reported on March 1-3 he met in DC with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Mel Martinez and his Special Projects staffer Spencer Wayne, Senator Bill Nelson’s Deputy Legislative Director, Bridget Walsh, Matt Leopold, Governor’s Office, Congressman Kendrick Meek (with Chief of Staff John Schelble, Legislative Assistants Joyce Postell & Preeti Chaudhari), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Chief of Staff Steve Paikowsky & Legislative Assistant Ian Rayder, Alice Ancona, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart’s Legislative Director, Charles Cooper GMCC Director of Advocacy, Jay Carmichael, Chair of the GMCC’s Advocacy Committee, Michael Klosterman, Army Corps of Engineers, MRC Intergovernmental Affairs consultant Phil Bangert, Patton, Boggs and Sean McGraw, Weston Solutions.   

Mr. Perez noted the Miami River maintenance dredging project is 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.

III. Update River Utility Crossings - Mr. Perez updated the Dredging subcommittee regarding the recent issue involving the Miami Circle , the Florida Department of State and the ACOE.  Mr. Perez stated the FL Dept. of ST. sent the ACOE a letter reporting they will make the new Miami Circle sea-wall deeper, therefore the current 10 foot dredging setback is sufficient.

IV. Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section- Mr. Perez stated the FDOT, has been communicating with the ACOE, regarding expediting the removal of the NW 5 ST Bridge, which is built into the Federal Navigable Channel.  FDOT is attempting to remove the bridge prior to the dredging arriving in that area. 

V. New Business – Mr. McIntosh stated Rocky Lorenzo, owner of the “Taxi Meter” business adjacent to the County owned property being provided to the ACOE for use during the project, recently contacted him about the fence around the 8 acre site having recently broken, creating access to the area, which may attract illegal dumping.  Mr. Perez replied the contractors are responsible to maintain the site during the project; therefore he would notify them of this issue.

The Dredging subcommittee confirmed the next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for April 19, 2006, 10 am, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 Street.

The meeting adjourned.

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