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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
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Miami, Fl. 33149
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e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I. Status of Federal Navigable Channel Project and Pending MOA
II. Status of Bank-to-Bank Project 

Mr. Rene Perez, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, provided the subcommittee with an update on the status of the Miami River Dredging project, and pending Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).  Mr. Perez reported that the interim Notice to Proceed (NTP) has been issued to the contractor, Weston-Bean, to convert the Florida Department of Environmental protection’s (FDEP) issued conceptual Water Quality Certificate into a final certificate.  Mr. Perez stated that under the contract, Weston-Bean has 90 days to obtain the final Water Quality Certificate from the FDEP.  On the status of the local option to conduct additional “bank-to-bank” dredging outside the Federal Navigable Channel, Mr. Perez stated the County has been moving forward.  Mr. Carlos Espinosa, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), stated Tim McIntosh, DERM and Ed Swaykon, ES Engineering, were responsible to obtain all necessary permits for the “bank-to-bank” dredging. Mr. Swaykon noted that all documents were in the process of preparation for FDEP review and they would be submitted with the contractor’s applications for dredging inside the Federal Navigable Channel.  Mr. Espinosa reported the County and Corps attorneys have reached consensus on the pending and required MOA.  The Board of County Commissioner’s Government Operations and Environment subcommittee is scheduled to consider executing the MOA, in addition to the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Miami to fund the additional “bank-to-bank” dredging, on June 15, 2004 .  The Board of County Commissioners will consider the two agenda items on July 13, 2004 .  The Dredging Working group noted the scheduled July 13, 2004 hearing is the second to last Board of County Commissioner’s meeting before their August recess.  The Miami River Dredging project is scheduled to commence in September or October 2004.  Espinosa stated the County staff will be briefing County Commissioners on the project, prior to the June 15, 2004 presentation, and would invite MRC representatives to attend the meetings.  The Corps, County and Contractor’s agreed to make a presentation to the full MRC at there July 12, 2004 publicly noticed meeting.  Espinosa stated the Corps permit for bank-to-bank dredging has been issued, yet requires additional information.  Liz Abbott, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), reminded the Dredging Subcommittee that the SFWMD’s $6,000,000 Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) grant application for dredging the River requires all final permits for the project to be issued prior to September 24, 2004 .  The Dredging Subcommittee outlined all final required permits as follows:

• DERM Permit on Bank-to-Bank dredging was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners, yet requires one final refinement prior to execution by the County Manager

• 2 FDEP Conceptual Water Quality Certificates need to be converted into “final” certificates

• Corps’ final bank-to-bank permit was received and only needs a little more information inserted

• The County, Corps and contractors stated it was feasible to obtain all final permits prior to FIND’s September 24, 2004 grant application deadline.

III.  Update River Utility Crossings – The Dredging Subcommittee conference called Pat Hansen, Army Corps, whom provided the following update on the required utility relocations:

• Florida Power and Light (FPL) - Ms. Hansen noted that they have not removed the old crossings, which they have replaced.  Hansen stated FPL needs the County to provide them with the “as-built” Metro-Rail drawings, in order to plan the necessary removal of the old crossings.  Hansen stated FPL claimed the County has denied this request, and the Dredging subcommittee asked the County representatives to look into the issue.

• Bell South – requested to leave utilities near I-836 and not have the dredging occur in that area, and the Corps is denying the request and restating the utilities must be relocated from the designated Federal Navigable Channel.

• Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department – Submitted permit applications to relocate water lines West of 27th Avenue and at SW 2 Ave.  The application approvals are pending resolution of easement issues with FDEP.

• Miami-Dade County Bridges – Miami Ave utility relocation has a permit, yet needs commencement.  17th Ave Bridge has a FDEP pending permit.  22nd Ave is encountering difficulties and needs assistance.  The County is planning to advertise one contract for all three pending and required bridge utility relocations.  

Mr. Perez noted that the Corps sent letters requesting the removal of all illegally located Miami River utility crossings several years ago.  Ed Swaykon stated he would follow up with the County on their pending relocation projects.  The Dredging subcommittee agreed to incorporate Miami-Dade County ’s bi-monthly utility relocation meetings, with the monthly MRC Dredging subcommittee meetings, and noted the importance of completing all outstanding utility relocation by September 2004.  Mr. Mitchell asked Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, to follow up on the utility relocation issues.

IV.  New Business         

Mr. Bibeau inquired as to the final result of the County’s request for State funding of the Miami River Dredging project during the completed 2004 session.  Mr. Espinosa noted that funds have not been finalized, and may range from $1 million to $300,000.  In regards to funding, the Dredging Working Group agreed the next steps are to continue seeking a Federal Fiscal Year 2005 appropriation, preparing for the state’s 2005 session, seeking grant opportunities, and finalizing the City-County Interlocal to fund the “Bank-to-bank” dredging.

Rene Perez stated the Miami River Dredging projects Economic Analysis has been sent to the Corps headquarters in Washington DC , and is scheduled for approval and release by June or July 2004.  Perez stated the study’s positive cost ratio of $1 cost to - $1.88 benefit has been forwarded to the U.S. Congress.

The next publicly noticed meeting of the MRC’s Dredging subcommittee meeting was scheduled for June 7, 2004 , 10 AM , United Way Ansin Building , 3250 SW 3rd Ave.

The meeting adjourned.

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