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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
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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. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, provided Dredging Working Group attendees with copies of the $4 million in line items for the Miami River maintenance dredging project in the Florida Legislators approved Senate Bill 2700 and the $1.3 million in line items for the project in the approved House Bill 5001.  Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC’s Executive Board agreed to have the MRC Chair write the Dade Delegation to encourage an increase to the potential appropriation during conference, and suggest the project’s stakeholders write them similar letters of support prior to the early May end of the State’s legislative session.

Mr. Bibeau reported on the federal funding efforts, the MRC is working with Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen’s Office on having a Dade Delegation letter sent to the appropriations chairs, supporting the County’s $24 million Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 request.  Mr. Bibeau reported the House and Senate FY ’07 bills are scheduled to be marked up during Summer of 2006, and then proceed to conference.  

Mr. Rene Perez, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), stated they continue to plan on remobilizing their dredging contractors during the fourth quarter of FY ’06 (July-September, 2006) using the available $3.5 million appropriated in FY ’06, and then continue dredging with the funding appropriated in FY ’07.  Mr. Perez noted the contractors would have two months to recommence dredging from the time the ACOE awards the next “acceptance section”.  Mr. Perez reported David Cole resigned, therefore the contractor’s project managers are Jeff McWilliams and Ancil Taylor.  Mr. Perez stated the contractor hasn’t indicated any unwillingness to remobilize as planned.

Mr. Perez stated the $4.5 million in assessed damages caused by Hurricane Wilma has been deposited into the project’s account.  Mr. Perez clarified that this Hurricane supplemental funding must be used over the course of the project on any overruns caused by the Hurricane, including any additional dredging in the completed acceptance sections 1-6 necessary to restore the channel’s 15 foot depth.  In addition, Mr. Perez noted there are currently $400,000 in federal and $2.44 in non-federal leftover funds from acceptance sections 1-6, which may be utilized for future dredging.  Mr. Perez pledged any available funding will be used on the project, and there is no risk of any available funding being reprogrammed to a different project.

Mr. Tim McIntosh, DERM, stated the County is currently planning on including their less than $500,000 cost share balance due in their FY ’07 budget.  Mr. Jorge Martinez Esteve, City of Miami , stated he would inquire about the amount of the City’s FY ’07 appropriation to cover their cost share balance due to complete the project.  Mr. Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), stated they submitted the grant application for the Florida Inland Navigation District’s (FIND) $2.1 million cost share balance due to complete the project.  Mr. Skornick noted the SFWMD will make a presentation on the grant to the FIND board in June, whom will announce the grant awards in July 2006.  Mr. Bibeau and Mr. Buermann thanked everyone for their continued efforts to appropriate the cost share balances due to complete the Miami River maintenance dredging project.

III.  Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section - Mr. Perez stated the Florida Department of Transportation, has been communicating with the ACOE, regarding expediting the removal of the NW 5 ST Bridge, which is built into the Federal Navigable Channel.  The FDOT is attempting to remove the bridge prior to the dredging arriving in that area, which if the funding is made available may be in early-mid 2007. 

IV.  Update on the SFWMD’s Efforts to Dredge the Tamiami Canal from the Confluence of the Miami River to the Salinity Dam – Mr. John Leslie, Ms. Audrey Ordenes, and Mr. Evan Skornick, updated the Dredging Working Group on their efforts to initiate a dredging project in the Tamiami Canal, which the SFWMD owns, from the salinity dam to the Miami River.  Mr. Leslie stated FEMA is providing funding for the project, designed after PBS & J completed an analysis of the area.  Mr. Leslie presented a power point presentation, noting within the subject area dredging to a depth of 18 feet (currently 4-8 feet deep) would take place in two sections, and stop to the west of the Miami River at the Tamiami Swing Bridge.  The dredging subcommittee noted the Miami River is being dredged to 15 feet deep, with an allowable two additional feet (17 feet total) of allowable over dredge.

Mr. Leslie stated the project is being indefinitely postponed due to concerns regarding seawalls and boat dockage.  Mr. Leslie stated although the dredging wouldn’t come within 10-20 feet of any existing sea-wall or structure, and the SFWMD doesn’t have sufficient funding for the project to incorporate any potential seawall repairs.  In addition, Mr. Leslie noted the need to coordinate the temporary relocation of vessels to allow the dredging project within the area.  Ms. Ordenes stated if the project’s risks outweigh its benefits, it may not occur.

The SFWMD asked the dredging subcommittee for their input.  The Dredging subcommittee offered any assistance they may provide the SFWMD for the project.  Mr. Perez noted the Corps requires their contractors to coordinate any temporary vessel relocations necessary for the Miami River maintenance dredging project.  Mr. Diaz, DERM, noted the contractors secured marina spaces to accommodate the temporary relocations, and they notify the vessel owners of the need to relocate their boats a couple months prior to dredging within that particular section.  Mr. Leslie and Ms. Ordenes stated any assistance the dredging subcommittee may provide in coordinating the future temporary movement of any vessels would be appreciated.  Mr. Bibeau noted in seeking the vessel and property owners cooperation, it is important to highlight the benefits the project will provide their area, including improved navigation, flood conveyance capacity, etc.  Regarding the seawalls, Mr. Bibeau noted several years ago the County asked the MRC to send letters to all riverfront property owners, notifying them of the upcoming Miami River dredging project, and suggesting the property owners inspect the condition of their sea-walls, and make any necessary repairs prior to the dredging project’s commencement.  Mr. Bibeau added it was his understanding that the riverfront property owners are responsible for the condition of the sea-walls they own, and similarly the property owners along the Tamiami Canal own and therefore are responsible for the condition of their seawalls, despite the SFWMD’s ownership of the Tamiami Canal .  Mr. McIntosh and Mr. Diaz recommended the SFWMD meet with Mr. Dorian Valdez, DERM, about how seawalls were addressed in the County’s canal dredging program, of which Mr. Valdez was the project manager.

Mr. Bibeau asked the SFWMD to notify the MRC of how they may provide any assistance, and offered to include the item, as requested by the SFWMD, on any future MRC and or Dredging subcommittee meeting agendas.  The Dredging Working Group thanked the SFWMD for the update on their planned Tamiami Canal dredging project.     

V. New Business – The Dredging subcommittee confirmed the next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for May 17, 2006, 10 am, 33 SW 2 Ave, 12^th FL Conference Room.

The meeting adjourned.

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