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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 & II. Status of Miami River Federal Navigable Channel Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding and Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project  – Mr. Scott Mitchell, MRC, asked Mr. Luis Perez, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), for the status of the dredging project, and Mr. Perez replied the ACOE currently does not have sufficient available funding to award Acceptance Section (AS) 7.  Mr. Perez explained the ACOE currently has $1.6 million of the federal cost share available to award AS 7, whereas the federal cost share of AS 7 is $3.3 million. Mr. Perez added that Mr. Jerry Scarborough, ACOE, was aware of the $1.7 million shortage, and planned to address the issue with ACOE Headquarters (HQ).  Mr. Perez added although HQ wants to avoid any temporary demobilizations of the project, the River is currently competing with other projects nationwide for ACOE reprogrammed funding.  Mr. Perez stated the Miami River Maintenance Dredging Project is currently a $3.5 million line item in the Senate’s approved FY ‘06 budget, and a $1 million line item in the House of Representative’s approved budget.  Mr. Bibeau reported the FY ’06 Energy and Water Budget bill is expected to be adopted by Conference in less than 30 days.  Mr. Perez stated upon adoption of the budget bill, the ACOE may be able to reprogram and use the funding, prior to the several months it takes to transfer the approved funding into the appropriate ACOE bank account.  Mr. Perez indicated due to the austere federal budget, with only $27 million available for the ACOE’s South Atlantic Divisions 7 districts, of which his Jacksonville district requested $25 million, the River dredging project may not receive any funding in the pending FY ‘06 budget.  Mr. Perez reported currently the “Continuing Resolution” (CR) has $1 million available for the project, in addition to $600,000 in leftover funding from AS 1&2.  Mr. Perez stated he estimated an additional $600,000-$700,000 in left over funding may become available after the ACOE accepts AS 3-6.  Mr. Jeff McWilliams, Bean Environmental, and Mr. David Cole, Weston Solutions, stated mass dredging within AS 3-6 is completed; they are working on the final minor spots, and expect the ACOE to accept the completion of AS 3-6 by October 23, 2005 .

Mr. Cole asked if there were any other options to explore in order to avoid demobilization, and Mr. Perez stated he had been approached by the SFWMD in regards to modifying the original contract agreement to include the dredging of the C-4 (Tamiami) Canal. Mr. Perez noted the ACOE had received the specs and 90% completed construction documents for the project, which is fully funded by FEMA. Mr. Perez stated he would discuss the possibility of revising the scope of services within the contract to include the dredging of C-4 Canal, with the ACOE’s contracting officer  In addition, the dredging subcommittee discussed several potential federal supplemental budget bills.

Mr. Perez stated the ACOE’s Miami River Maintenance Dredging Economic Analysis has been approved, which allows the President to include the project in his federal FY ’07

Budget request. Mr. Bibeau thanked everyone who wrote letters to Josh Bolton, Office of Management Budget (OMB) supporting the $26.7 million pledged federal cost share balance due for the project to be included in the President’s FY ’07 Budget request, including Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Mayor Alvarez, City and County Commissioners and State Representatives.

Mr. Buermann noted Governor Jeb Bush recently expressed strong support for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging Project, noting it’s a “priority”, and the Governor desires to avoid demobilization.  Mr. Bibeau stated on behalf of the MRC, he is grateful for Governor Bush and Mr. Buermann’s continued assistance and support for the project.

Mr. Bibeau stated during the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) October 18, 2005 meeting, the Honorable Commissioner Barreiro reported the current lack of federal funding for the project, and both Commissioner Barreiro and the County Manager had vouched their support to avoid demobilization.  Mr. Bibeau discussed with Commissioner Barreiro and the Manager’s Office the concept of advancing the pledged local cost-share funding for the project, in order to avoid a demobilization, which he noted would not affect the current contractual cost-share for the project approved by the BCC in July 2004.  Mr. Bibeau added this possibility would be further addressed and considered during the November 1, 2005 BCC hearing.  Bibeau stated the concept does not increase or decrease the local cost share, including appropriated funding from the State, FIND, City and County, rather uses the funding sooner than later, in order to avoid a costly demobilization.

Mr. Perez stated he had spoken to a legal representative regarding the procedure for advancing local funding. According to Mr. Perez, a detailed letter from the County serving as the project’s official local project sponsor, stating the financial amount pledged, plus a justification for advancement, needed to be approved by ACOE Headquarters. The ACOE would then seek approval from Congressman Hobson, before executing the potential agreement with Miami-Dade County attorneys.  Mr. Perez stated he would provide the MRC and County with the boilerplate “Local Advanced Funding Agreement” via e-mail by October 21, in order to be considered by the BCC during their November 1 hearing.

On behalf of the MRC, Mr. Bibeau and Mr. Buermann thanked the ACOE and local project sponsors for their tremendous efforts and continued support for the project.

III. Update River Utility Crossings –Mr. Bibeau and Mr. Perez stated they were unaware of any utility crossing issues at this time.

IV. Status of Removal of NW 5^th Street Bridge Prior to Dredging within that Acceptable Section – Mr. Bibeau stated the FDOT has agreed to expedite the removal and replacement of the NW 5^th Street Bridge.

V.  New Business – Mr. Bibeau announced the following three public hearings, which are one component of the public process to create the “3^rd Annual Update” to the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan:  

• “ Lower River ” ( Biscayne Bay to the 5^th Street Bridge):
  Wednesday, November 2, 2005 , 6-8 pm
    Jose Marti Park Community Center , 351 SW 4 ST, Miami , FL

•  “ Middle River ” ( 5^th Street Bridge to 22^nd Ave. Bridge):
  Tuesday, November 8, 2005 , 6-8 pm ,
  Miami-Dade County Housing Agency, New Board Room,
  1407 NW 7 Street, Miami , FL

•  “ Upper River ” ( 22^nd Ave. Bridge to the Salinity Dam)
  Wednesday, November 16, 2005 , 6-8 pm
   Curtis Park, Community Center, 1901 NW 24 Ave., Miami , FL  

Mr. Bibeau distributed the three dredging related “Implementation Steps” in the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, noting the MRC will consider any proposed amendments to the Plan. 

The Dredging Subcommittee confirmed the next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for November 16, 2005, 10 am, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 Street.

The meeting adjourned.

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