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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-421-4850
Fax: 305-421-4755
e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I.  Status of Federal Navigable Channel Project and Funding – Mr. Bunnell asked MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau for a report.  Mr. Bibeau stated he had recently spoken with the Miami River Maintenance Dredging contractor’s project manager, David Cole.  Bibeau stated Cole asked to make the following general update at the MRC’s May 2, 2005 meeting, at noon, 1401 NW 7 ST, “New Board Room”:

• The old sediment processing equipment has been dissembled and removed from the upland temporary staging site
• The new sediment processing equipment / plant is currently being shipped from England to the Miami River
• Upon its arrival on May 1, the new plant will take one week to clear Customs, followed by its immediate installation at the upland staging site
• The equipment is expected to be completely installed and running between May 15 & June 1
• The dredging contractors are excited to recommence dredging

Mr. Bunnell asked Bibeau for the status of funding for the Dredging the Federal Navigable Channel.  Bibeau stated the official $17.7 million federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 appropriation request forms have been submitted.  Bibeau stated Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, City Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez and MRC Chairperson Irela Bagué have recently mailed Miami River Maintenance Dredging support letters to Senator Mel Martinez, and the MRC has recommended similar letters be sent from Mayor Alvarez, Mayor Diaz and Commissioner Barreiro. 

Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, asked about the project’s funding timeline. Mr. Bibeau stated that he expected to receive the House and Senate versions of the FY’06 budget in late May 2005, which would be approved no later than September 2005.  Mr. Bunnell noted funding for Acceptance Section 3 would need to be available by July 2005, prior to approval of the FY ’06 funding.  Bibeau replied he was correct, and the Army Corps has indicated they would continue to refund the $28.5 million in previously appropriated federal funding back to the intended Miami River Maintenance Dredging project, which would fund the Federal cost share of the project until their FY ’06 budget is approved.

II.  Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding- Mr. Bibeau stated the executed Miami-Dade County / City of Miami Inter-local agreement provides a cost share for dredging outside the federal navigable channel, (“Bank to Bank” dredging), at 62.5% Miami-Dade County and 37.5% City of Miami.  Bibeau reported Miami-Dade County has requested $2 million from the Florida Legislature in FY ’06 for “Bank-to-Bank” dredging, which would be split between the City and County per their approved cost share formula.  In addition, Miami Dade County requested $1 million from the State in FY ’06, for the final payment of the State of Florida ’s agreed 10% cost share of dredging within the Federal Navigable Channel.  Bibeau stated the total $3 million in requests for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project was approved in the House Budget version, yet omitted from the Senate Budget version.  Bibeau stated Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, City Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez and MRC Chairperson Irela Bagué have sent Miami River Maintenance Dredging support letters to State Senators Garcia, Margolis, Villalobos, and State Representative Juan Zapata, and the MRC has recommended similar letters be sent to the Legislators from Mayor Alvarez, Mayor Diaz and Commissioner Barreiro. 

Mr. Bibeau thanked Ms. Charlene Jacks-Palomino, City of Miami , for attending the meeting, and asked her to provide an update regarding local sponsor funding for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging Project. Ms. Jacks-Palomino stated she has been informed that the City of Miami has sufficient funding available to continue the Miami River Maintenance Dredging Project without any temporary demobilizations, and suggested initiating a meeting between the City, County and the Miami River Commission Dredging Subcommittee to further discuss the details.  Mr. Bibeau thanked Ms. Jacks-Palomino and asked if the City and County would consider providing an update during the next regularly scheduled MRC Dredging Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 , 10 am , University of Miami , and Ms. Jacks-Palomino agreed to the suggestion, subject to availability.

III.  Update River Utility Crossings - Mr. Bibeau stated Florida City Gas is still working on removing their gas line within the completed dredging Acceptance Section 1.  Bibeau stated the Army Corps is holding Florida City Gas responsible to fund dredging of the sediments left behind when the dredging contractors were forced to skip over the gas line, which is currently located in the Federal Navigable Channel.

IV.  Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section - Mr. Gwin Tate, United States Coast Guard, stated the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) submitted a preliminary application to replace the NW 5 ST Bridge, which is built into the Federal Navigable Channel.  Mr. Bunnell stated similar to the Gas Line located within the Federal Navigable Channel, it is his understanding that if FDOT is unable to remove the existing bridge, which is built into the Federal Navigable Channel, before the arrival of the Miami River Maintenance dredger in that vicinity, then FDOT would become responsible to fund dredging of the remaining sediments which are left behind.

V.  New Business- Dr. Bohnsack, MRMG, asked about the status of the Army Corps’ draft Miami River Economic Analysis.  Mr. Bibeau stated he has not received an update, and would follow-up with the Army Corps’ Miami River Maintenance Dredging project manager, Rene Perez. 

The Dredging Subcommittee confirmed their next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for May 18, 2005 , 10 am, University of Miami Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway.

The meeting adjourned.

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