For more information, contact us via email at
miamiriver@bellsouth.net

MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7 St.,  Suite D
Miami, FL 33125  
  Phone 305-644-0544
Fax 305-642-1136

The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Dredging Working Group met on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 10 AM, at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Miami-Dade Regional Office, Conference Room, 6th Floor.  MRC Chairman Eric Buermann chaired the meeting and the sign in sheet is attached.  The Dredging subcommittee unanimously adopted their March 19, 2008 meeting minutes

I & II. Status of Miami River Federal Navigable Channel Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding and Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding – Mr. Rene Perez, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) project manager for the Miami River maintenance dredging project, reported the ACOE awarded dredging within Acceptance Sections 9-12 on March 20, 2008.  Mr. Perez reported on March 27, 2008 the ACOE received another $4.5 million from the local project sponsors for the project.  Mr. Perez stated the submitted post dredge survey for acceptance section 7 is currently under review, and the ACOE expected to receive the contractors post dredge survey for acceptance section 8 in the near future.  Mr. Perez reported that the contractors have commenced dredging in acceptance section 9.

Ms. Marina Blanco-Pape, Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), noted DERM received and transferred all remaining previously appropriated funding local partners to the Army Corps of Engineers, which included: Florida Inland Navigation District Grants in the amounts of $434,000 and $1,174,000, South Florida Water Management District’s $3 million, and $201,859 from the City of Miami. Ms. Blanco-Pape noted the only money that has yet to be transferred to the ACOE is the County’s final $298,557 payment, which she noted would be sent to the ACOE before July 31, 2008.

Mr. Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District, noted the amendment to their contract with Miami-Dade County, which would allow the forwarding of the SFWMD funds to the ACOE before their July 31, 2008 deadline, in expectation of a $3 million FIND grant award, was approved by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board last week.  Mr. Skornick added the SFWMD Governing Board is seeking assurances from FIND that they will receive the $3 million grant.  Mr. Skornick noted he would present an update of the FIND grant at the SFWMD July Governing Board meeting.  Chair Buermann encouraged Mr. Skornick and Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, to meet with FIND Commissioners.  Mr. Skornick replied as suggested during the recent presentation to the FIND board he has started compiling completed stormwater projects, and will be meeting with Ms. Blanco in the near future to receive an update of the county’s soft and in-kind costs for the project. Upon receipt of this data, Mr. Skornick noted he would combine the city and county’s contract and soft costs, and provide a breakdown of all costs to FIND.  Mr. Skornick added the next FIND presentation is in June, and the FIND votes on all applications in July.

III. Update River Utility Crossings – Mr. Perez noted the ACOE continues to contact utility companies to examine the status of any remaining utility relocations with the final acceptance sections, and added that-to his knowledge-the project remains on course.
 
IV. Status of Removal of NW 5th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptance Section – Mr. Bibeau noted that while in Tallahassee for “Dade Days,” he had spoken to Mr. Gus Pago, Florida Department of Transportation, whom had agreed to follow-up on the status of the removal of the NW 5th Street Bridge. Mr. Bibeau noted FDOT has indicated their understanding that if the remaining 5 ST bridge pilings are removed from the area prior to the dredgers’ arrival at the NW 5 ST bridge, the ACOE dredgers will include the area, yet if the dredgers arrive before the pilings are removed, FDOT will be required to dredge the area as required by their ACOE NW 5 ST bridge permit.  Mr. Perez noted it was necessary for FDOT to make the ACOE aware of the pilings’ location

V. New Business – Mr. Perez stated he did not have an update regarding the permitting process for the repair of the Miami Circle seawall. Mr. Bibeau noted there is currently $2.2 million in the House set aside for the Miami Circle, and $2.5 million in the Senate, which means the necessary $1.75 million, could potentially become available following conference for the construction of a new seawall and removal of the collapsed seawall. Mr. Bibeau noted the funding from the Legislature would not become available until July.  Mr. Valdes, DERM, stated the Department of State (DOS) indicated they are willing to issue an emergency on the contract and DOS anticipated 4 months for the Miami Circle seawall removal and replacement.  Ms. Blanco-Pape noted Mr. Wheeler, DOS, stated he is expecting to receive all seawall replacements permits in June.

The Dredging subcommittee scheduled the next regularly scheduled 3rd Wednesday of the month publicly noticed meeting for May 21, 2008, 10 am, at the South Florida Water Management District, 2121 SW 3rd Avenue, 6th FL.  The meeting adjourned.

  HOME        CALENDARS       ABOUT THE RIVER          ABOUT THE COMMISSION         DREDGING      GREENWAYS   
URBAN INFILL PLANS           STORMWATER RETROFITTING            MINUTES OF MEETINGS      LINKS