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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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Dick Bunnell opened the meeting and stated the MRC video about the river and the importance of the dredging project is complete and it was shown to the group.  Members thought the video was great and felt it correctly told the story of the river and why the dredging project was necessary and how it would benefit the community.

Roger Hernstadt then provided an update of county actions.  He advised the group that the focus of the public meeting in Melrose should focus on the importance of the project to both the environment and the economy.  Similar discussion ensued about the scheduled County Commissioner meeting on May 22, 2001 where the Commissioners would review new information about the project and vote to move forward with the project.  A general presentation schedule was discussed with the Corps providing the bulk of the presentation and the MRC showing the video.  Maria Leverant, from Commissioner Morales’ office, suggested that a short fact sheet be provided for the Melrose presentation.  Members agreed this would be beneficial and a fact sheet will be created.  Concern was expressed that internal county issues (such as making a community park out of the drying site after the dredging project) may derail the important point of moving the dredging project forward.  County personnel clearly advised the group that this would not pose a problem.  Discussion continued along these lines and eventually all members became comfortable that we had the best presentation possible for both the Melrose and County Commission presentations.  The Corps emphasized that the exact dredging process will not be finalized until the Corps selects a contractor, however, the presentations will discuss the various different dredging methods that have been discussed by various dredging contractors.

Discussion was initiated about the timeline of the project.  Jerry Scarborough said that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be completed by December 2001.   Jerry stressed that the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) must move forward promptly as it must be signed by both the Corps in Jacksonville and County, then it must be forwarded to Washington for Corps Headquarters approval.  The PCA must be signed and approved before the RFP process can start.  Additionally, the Water Quality Certification from FDEP must be approved or a “letter of intent” issued before the PCA can even be forwarded to the Corps in Washington.  Discussion ensued.  In closing, Jerry Scarborough said he would get a draft PCA to the county for their review as soon as possible.  

 Discussion ensued about how close the Corps can dredge with respect to bridges and seawalls.  Currently, the Corps policy is to come up to 25 feet from bulkheads and bridges unless granted authority by the local sponsor.  The county will look into this issue as the river is narrow and dredging only the areas more than 25 feet from seawalls and bridges would negate the project.  County officials would like to dredge as close as possible to bridges and seawalls.  David Miller also mentioned that some existing piers and docks (notably by the 5^th Street Bridge) are actually built 15-20 feet into the navigable channel and their situations must be reviewed.  These docks and piers will probably have to be removed from the navigable channel.  Several members commented that the property owners probably do not have the required legal permits.

 No new business came before the group and the meeting was adjourned at Noon.

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