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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
e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I.  Status of Federal Navigable Channel Project and Funding – Mr. Rene Perez, Army Corps of Engineers, stated the new sediment processing equipment would be operating prior to the June 1 target date.

Mr. Bunnell asked Bibeau for the status of funding for the Dredging the Federal Navigable Channel.  Bibeau stated the State’s 2005 Legislative session ended on May 6, 2005 .  In conference the Senate agreed with the House and appropriated $1 million for dredging inside the channel, and $2 million for “Bank-to-Bank” dredging.  Bibeau thanked everyone who wrote letters supporting the appropriations, including Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Mayor Alvarez, City Commission Chairman Sanchez, County Commissioner Barreiro, and Irela Bagué on behalf of the MRC.  Bibeau stated MRC Dredging subcommittee co-chair Scott Mitchell is in Washington DC meeting with Senator Martinez’s and Senator Nelson’s appropriation staffers.  Mr. Perez stated during May he will request reprogram funding in order to award Acceptance Section 3, which is scheduled to commence by July 1, 2005 .  Perez noted that Headquarters has been briefed and wants to avoid any temporary demobilizations of the project.  Perez noted in some respects the River is competing with other projects nationwide in ACOE reprogrammed funding.  Perez stated he requested $13 million in reprogramming for Acceptance Sections 1-5.  Perez stated the Jacksonville District reprogramming funding has been exhausted; therefore future reprogramming would need to come from South Atlantic Division and Headquarters.  Tim McIntosh, DERM, requested the ACOE create an escrow account for the local cost share to be deposited into, and Mr. Perez stated he would follow up on this request.  McIntosh indicated all components of the local cost share are already appropriated through Acceptance Section 7.  Perez asked Mr. Bibeau and the MRC for assistance in coordinating ship movements necessary for the surveys and dredging.

Perez stated the ACOE is re-hiring Kevin Horn, GEC, to collect additional data to further supplement the favorable June 2004 draft Miami River maintenance dredging economic analysis.  Perez noted Col. Carpenter supported simply adopting the June 2004 draft, yet was directed to contract GEC for additional data.  The supplemental analysis is due September 1, 2005 , in order for the Miami River Maintenance dredging project to be eligible for inclusion in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 ACOE budget.   

II.  Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding- Mr. Bibeau stated the Legislature appropriated $2 million for “Bank to Bank” dredging in the State’s FY ’06 budget.  McIntosh stated the local funding for the Bank-to-Bank options are appropriated for Acceptance sections 1-7, and provided a detailed matrix of the appropriated funding, and the plan for final appropriations necessary to complete the project. Mr. Bibeau thanked Mr. McIntosh and the local project sponsors for their continued support and assistance.     

III.  Update River Utility Crossings - Mr. Perez stated the Florida City Gas line has been removed from Acceptance Section 1, and all future utility relocations seem to be on schedule for removal prior to the arrival of the dredger.

IV.  Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) submitted a preliminary application to replace the NW 5 ST Bridge to the U.S. Coast Guard.  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-  The Dredging Subcommittee confirmed their next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for June 15, 2005 , 10 am, University of Miami Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway.

The meeting adjourned.

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