The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Working Group convened on January 14, 2003, at 2:30 PM, in the Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Dean’s Conference Room.  Cleve Jones Jr. chaired the meeting.  The sign in sheet is enclosed.

Carmen Sanchez presented the new City of Miami approved Enterprise Zone incentive ordinance to the EDC.  The ordinance describes how the City of Miami’s Economic Development and Finance Authority will provide advisory recommendations to the City Commission who would have the power to grant up to 100% ad valorem tax waivers for 5 years to new and expanding business located within the designated Enterprise zone.  Other incentives are available through the Enterprise Zone program as well.  Ms. Sanchez will administer the applications, which are due March 1 each year.  This completes the following Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s implementation step, “Request the City and County to expand the Enterprise zone within the Urban Infill boundary as permitted by 2002 State legislation and utilize available Enterprise Zone economic development incentives to create new and expanding businesses, generating new jobs.”

MRC staff will e-mail EDC members the tunnel study draft, “Comparing Costs of Options for Reconstructing the 12^th and 27^th Avenue Bridges Over the Miami River” report, prepared by Professor Weisskoff and Gary Fauth, Phd.  The draft report will be discussed at the next regularly scheduled 2^nd Tuesday of the month EDC meeting, February 11, 2:30 PM, at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Dean’s Conference Room.

The meeting adjourned.