I.  Status of Working Waterfront Legislation - Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, provided copies of the 2005 “Working Waterfront Legislation”, House Bill 955, which provides the opportunity to local municipalities and County’s to adopt ordinances to provide economic incentives for existing marine industrial businesses.  Mr. Bibeau distributed copies of the November 2004 “Florida Senate – Working Waterfronts” Interim Summary Report, noting pages 6-8 outlines currently available and proposed tax relief options for existing marine industrial businesses.  In addition,  Mr. Bibeau distributed a November 2005 memorandum authored by County Manager George Burgess to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Chairman Joe Martinez and all members of the Board of County Commissioners, highlighting the tax relief & economic incentives which the Working Waterfronts legislation enabled the County (and City) to consider providing by ordinance.  Mr. Bibeau reported a County intergovernmental affairs staffer informed him the current State legislative session Senate Bill 2104 proposed amendments to last year’s Working Waterfronts, seem to be minor, will not significantly change the existing legislation.  The EDC agreed it would be prudent for the County and City to continue considering adopting the required local ordinances to provide the additional incentives to preserve and maintain the working waterfront, upon conclusion of this years session in early May 2006.   

II.        Status of the “Boat Slip Bank” Resolution – Mr. Bibeau thanked Mr. Lee Hefty for attending the meeting, and distributed copies of the EDC’s November 2005 minutes, containing Mr. Hefty’s previous presentation on the item.  Mr. Hefty provided copies of the “Restrictive Covenant Running With the Land In Favor of Miami-Dade County”.  Mr. Hefty explained the covenant would run in perpetuity with the land, noting the transfer of allowable power boat slips / dockage, including both dry dock and wet slips, from one specific parcel to another.  Mr. Hefty stated the County will not be involved with any negations regarding the potential price to transfer the aforementioned power boat slips, therefore recommends ceasing the use of the “Boat Slip Bank” term when discussing the possibility of transferring power boat slips from one parcel to another via the covenant.  Mr. Hefty noted the covenant requires the Board of County Commissioner’s approval.  Mr. Hefty stated power boat slips on the Miami River may only be relocated to another parcel on the Miami River , and not to other parts of the County.  Mr. Hefty clarified if a boat arrives and departs from a property via trailer, it does not need a permitted slip or dockage.  Hefty stated although the base line number of allowable power boat slips must stay with the property, any additional allowable slips may be transferred via the covenant.  Mr. Hefty explained sail boats are exempt to restrictions.  Mr. Hefty explained the attachment found near the end of the Miami-Dade County Manatee Protection Plan is merely a list of the slips provided for in the Marine Operating Permits (MOP) issued at that time, and is not a firm determination of the number of slips available to each listed property.  Mr. Hefty added DERM is willing to work with interested parties in determining how many slips are available on any given parcel, and would consider any historical pictures showing slips in making any determinations.  Commissioner Barreiro stated he is waiting on the State’s upcoming determination regarding potentially removing the Manatee from the “endangered” list due to their population increase, before considering any potential amendments to the existing policies. 

III.     Status of the Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay Ordinance – The EDC thanked County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro for sponsoring the MRC recommended new Miami-Dade County “Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay” ordinance, which was drafted by the Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Department.  Mr. Bibeau distributed copies of the ordinance, which was unanimously adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at first reading, along with a “Frequently Asked Questions about the Proposed IU-M Marine Industrial Zoning District” document, authored by the Planning and Zoning Department.  Commissioner Barreiro stated the item was scheduled to be heard by the INLUC committee on May 16, and his office is working with the Department of Planning and Zoning on noticing an additional informational public meeting on the ordinance prior to May 16.  Commissioner Barreiro then excused himself from the meeting.

The EDC continued to discuss the ordinance with Joe McManus, Planning and Zoning Department.  Mr. McManus noted the current stage in the process simply creates the Marine Industrial category in unincorporated Miami-Dade County .  The subsequent step in the process would be for the Planning and Zoning Department Director to file an application to the Board of County Commissioners to apply the newly created zoning category to the riverfront properties located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County , which would require an additional set of mandatory notices mailed to the immediate and surrounding property owners.  Mr. Burke and Mr. Valdez stated in the future they may want to consider a residential development on their property within the subject area.  Mr. McManus stated although residential uses are not allowed under their existing “Industrial” zoning category, nor the proposed Marine Industrial zoning category, any property owner may at any time submit an application to amend the zoning at their individual property, which the Board of County Commissioners would consider on a “case by case” basis.  Mr. Burke and Mr. Valdez stated they would like the proposed marine industrial zoning’s front yard setback requirement to be reduced from 20 feet to 10 feet.  Mr. McManus replied the proposed 20 foot setback is consistent with the setback currently required under their existing “Industrial” zoning category, while inserting an exemption for guardhouses.  The EDC noted perhaps the 20 foot setback may be measured from the road, which would therefore allow the inclusion of the CSX Railroad easement within the setback from the street, rather than measuring the setback from the property line.  In addition Mr. Burke and Mr. Valdez stated they would like the proposed height restrictions to be consistent with the FAA height restrictions.   Mr. Burke and Mr. Valdez stated they may ask the Board of County Commissioners to consider amending the setback and height restrictions on the floor while considering the ordinance.  Dr. Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group (MRMG), stated they will be recommending on the floor while the Board of County Commissioners considers the ordinance for an additional item of allowable uses within the proposed district be inserted for transportation related uses, consistent with intermodal transportation, such as short-sea-shipping operations, truck depots, etc.  Mr. Novack stated those additional multi-modal transportation uses may already be permitted under the existing ordinance.    

The meeting adjourned.