The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Working Group convened its regularly scheduled second Tuesday of the month meeting on May 14, 2002, 3 pm, at the Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Dean’s Conference Room.  Phil Everingham chaired the meeting.  The meeting opened with self-introductions.  The attendance sheets are enclosed.

The EDC recommended a Catalytic redevelopment shipping / marine industrial project to be included in the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan. The following are possible locations for this catalytic redevelopment opportunity:

• 1960 NW 27^th Ave, “Orkin site”, 2 acres, directly on the Miami River
• 3350 NW North River Drive, 2 acres
• 3250 NW North River Drive, currently for sale, 2 acres

The recommended catalytic redevelopment project is envisioned as a shipping cargo inspection center for Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), and any other agencies inspecting cargo.  Currently, cargo arriving on the Miami River is trucked to the Port of Miami for inspection.  This requires the River shipping businesses to obtain additional licenses and permits for access to the port, and increases truck traffic in downtown Miami.  Therefore, the recommended facility would decrease River shipping business expenses and provide a more efficient cargo inspection method.  The project would be a joint private / public (i.e. Customs, INS, etc.) re-development project.  The governmental agencies would benefit by having a central inspection site and headquarters located on the Miami River.

The EDC reviewed Jose Abreu’s, Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Region 4 Director, May 7, 2002 written response to the MRC’s request for a supplemental Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) Environmental Impact Statement.  The EDC recommended a response be drafted to Mr. Abreu.  In addition, the EDC recommends this item be brought to the attention of Senator Jim King, Rep. Prieguez, Rep. Barreiro, Rep. Diaz de la Portilla, and Rep. Lacasa.  The EDC believes the Coast Guard will not even consider an application to shorten the Federal Navigable Channel with an outdated EIS, such as the MIC EIS, which is nearly five years old, while FDOT rules and regulations state an EIS is current for only three years. 

Brett Bibeau stated Governor Bush’s Office, Senator Meek, and Rep. Ball were instrumental in passing Senate bill 1906 during the 2002 legislative session.  The legislation authorizes the County and City to expand their existing Enterprise zone, to include the eligible census tracks around the River, which are not currently designated as such.  The EDC unanimously recommended the City and County designates the eligible census tracts as part of Enterprise zone, and provide those economic incentives.

The EDC requested MRC staff to obtain the details regarding the City Commission’s recent moving of $110 million worth of the $255 million “Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement” bond issue.

The next regularly scheduled EDC meeting was confirmed for the second Tuesday of the month, June 11, 2002, 3 pm, Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Dean’s Conference Room.

The meeting adjourned.