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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-47
e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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Scott Mitchell and Dick Bunnell were unable to attend and David Miller chaired the meeting.  All attendees gave self-introductions. 

            The first item of business was the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA).  Roman Gastesi reported that the Miami-Dade Commission unanimously approved the PCA on May 21, 2002 and that the PCA is now with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  John Bearce, USACE representative, advised that the PCA has been forwarded to Corps headquarters for their review and approval.  John also advised the group that the Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) is now in the USACE regional office in Atlanta for their approval.  The regional office must approve the DMMP before the PCA can be approved.  John reports that the timeline for DMMP approval is no later than the end of July and the PCA approval is expected by early August.

            John reported that the USACE has received comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) from the public and agencies and he reports there are no comments that would jeopardize the project.  He did advise the group that the DEIS comment period was to end on May 13, 2002, however, the State of Florida requested an extension until May 30^th.  Unfortunately, the USACE received the State’s comments on June 18^th and this has caused a “slippage” of one month, so the advertisement of the “Request for Proposals” will not go out on July 15, 2002, but is now scheduled for August 15, 2002 and the contract award is expected in late October 2002.

            Carlos Espinosa, MDC DERM, advised the group about the status of the bank to bank project.  Carlos stated that the County Ordinance must be changed in order to facilitate the bank to bank project.  The current ordinance requires each property owner to obtain a dredging permit.  This would be unworkable, so the county is proposing to amend the ordinance to allow the county to obtain the required permit and property owners would provide a letter stating no objection to the dredging on their submerged property.  This is primarily in the upper section of the river, above 27^th Avenue, where some property owners also own submerged lands under the river.  Below 27^th Avenue Bridge, most of the submerged lands are owned by the State and the State leases submerged lands to businesses or individuals that may require docks or wharfs that extend into the natural river.  Discussion ensued, with the end result being unanimous agreement by the dredging working group to support the county’s proposal.  This item is scheduled before the Board of County Commissioners on July 9, 2002.  David Miller will send a letter to all County Commissioners from the Miami River Commission (MRC) recommending approval, provided the MRC Executive Board concurs.

            Discussion ensued concerning the cost of the bank to bank option.  The additional cost for the optional bank to bank project was estimated between $15-$20 million dollars.  The County hopes that a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District will be implemented along the river corridor and the TIF District would generate sufficient funds for the bank to bank project.  The TIF could also fund other infrastructure improvements such as Greenways, road improvements, stormwater improvements and economic incentives for private development.  Roman Gastesi explained that the TIF is not an increase in taxes, but it would be a method for the river corridor (i.e.District) to retain a percentage of tax growth within the district.  In a TIF District, the property tax revenue of the city and county are held at the same level as the year of the district’s establishment, and as property values increase due to new investment in the district, the “increment” is kept in a special fund for that TIF district, which can be used to pay for and issue bonds to facilitate more investment in the district.  All TIF funds must be spent in the district.  Normally, only a portion of the new tax increment is held in the district and this varies from 50-95%.  Also the length of time the increment is established can vary from 20-40 years.  Depending on the increment percentage and length of time established, a TIF district along the river could generate between $133 million and $1.1 billion dollars for improvements within the district, such as the bank to bank dredging option.

The next item for discussion was the status of the utility crossings of the river.  Roman Gastesi reported that from his perspective everything is moving forward and many required permits have been issued by FDEP.  A meeting of the companies and agencies that have utilities that must be relocated is set for 10 am on July 1, 2002 at the Ansin Building at 3250 Southwest Third Avenue (Coral Way).

Under new business, Bill Parkes of Cliff Berry Inc., advised the group that his company can process contaminated water and they are located only several hundred yards from the dredge spoil temporary drying site on North River Drive.

There being no additional business, the next dredging working group meeting was scheduled for July 24, 2002 at the Rosenstiel School Library.

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