I. Discussion of County –Owned Vacant 8-Acre Lot East of NW 37 th Avenue, South of 35 th Street, West of 36 th Avenue & North of 33 rd Street - Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group, noted the Miami-Dade County Public Works Department had informed her that the county-owned vacant 8-acre lot, committed to the Miami River maintenance dredging project until April 2009, located east of NW 37 th Avenue, South of 35 th Street, West of 36 th Avenue & North of 33 rd Street , is being considered for potential future uses including transfer to Miami International Airport (MIA) or potential sale to Miami Jai-Alai. The EDC previously recommend the public sector parcel be utilized for Port related / multi-modal / economic development related purposes. Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, distributed copies of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration “Short Sea Shipping Initiative” and “Short Sea Shipping: part of the solution for downtown traffic congestion caused by truck and tractor-trailer units traveling to and from the Port of Miami.”, drafted by Captain Beau Payne. Dr. Bohnsack stated she and Captain Beau Payne , P & L Towing, had recently met with the Port of Miami Director, port carriers and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez to discuss the possibility of creating a short sea shipping initiative in the Upper River . Dr. Bohnsack noted the Port of Miami Director seemed receptive to the idea, yet had commented that this type of transportation initiative would require a subsidy, and therefore a currently unidentified funding source.

Dr. Bohnsack distributed a June 11, 2007 article featured in the American Shipper magazine noting that Miami was being considered for a federal congestion-relief program. According to the article, Miami had made the preliminary list for a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) program aimed at reducing transportation congestion problems. Dr. Bohnsack noted that Miami was named as one of nine “Preliminary Urban Partners” in DOT's U.S. Congestion Initiative, and five final locations would be selected to receive significant federal funding for congestion reduction projects. Dr. Bohnsack stated it may become a potential source of funding to launch a 6-18 month pilot short sea shipping operation. The EDC noted the Miami River would greatly benefit from DOT's federal congestion-relief program. Chair Kelly noted that during a review of the draft Downtown Development Authority “Downtown Master Plan,” its creator Bernard Zyscovich had commented that truck congestion in Downtown Miami was an issue that needed to be addressed to ensure the success of the plan. Mr. Bibeau noted the Port of Miami – Port of Miami River short sea shipping program is capable of removing an estimated 1,200 trucks daily off of downtown streets. Mr. Bibeau stated he believed the concept of creating a short sea shipping system remains a major element behind the Upper River/Miami Intermodal Center (MIC)-associated development planning process to create an “Upper River Plan.” As previously discussed, the “Upper River Plan” will coordinate multi-modal transportation connections between the dredged Miami River 's federal navigable channel and future land uses adjacent to the MIC. Mr. Bibeau added that short sea shipping is also included in the final draft “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan,” which will be presented for adoption at the MRC September 10, 2007 meeting.

Chair Kelly asked Dr. Bohnsack to contact FDOT to obtain more information about the federal congestion-relief program and to prepare an estimated cost break down for the potential short sea shipping operation. Chair Kelly directed MRC staff to begin briefing Mr. Ron Nelson, Senior Staff of Community Affairs for Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff about launching a potential short sea shipping pilot program.

II. Discussion of Alimar River Boatyard's Use of Existing Boat Lift - Mr. Bibeau stated that Mr. Mario Hernandez, owner of Alimar River, was unable to attend today's meeting due to a previous engagement, but had kindly requested to present this item at a future EDC meeting. Dr. Bohnsack noted she had recently informed Mr. Lee Hefty, DERM, that Alimar River has been under new ownership for a couple of years. Dr. Bohnsack stated Mr. Hefty had agreed to meet with the new owners whom are submitting a Permit application. The EDC thanked Dr. Bohnsack for making progress on this issue.

III. Status of “ Miami River Marine Industrial Economic Analysis” - Mr. Bibeau noted the necessary contracts were executed with the Florida Atlantic University , FAU Professor Dr. William B. Stronge, and the Empowerment Trust Grant, to create the Miami River Marine Industrial Economic Analysis. Mr. Bibeau added MRC staff had provided the FAU professors Dr. Stronge and Dr. Lenore Alpert with all previous studies / data, as detailed in the agreement's scope of services.

Mr. Bibeau had previously reported that the Empowerment Zone awarded the MRC a $17,130 grant to conduct the analysis, leaving a $5,040 balance to conduct the “peer review” of the analysis. Therefore, as recommended by the EDC the MRC agreed to use portions of the current $25,000 balance of a previously awarded Miami-Dade County grant to fund the $5,040 peer review of the Miami River Economic Analysis grant. Mr. Bibeau reported after he received one telephone call from Empowerment Zone staff whom noted concern about the Empowerment Trust's ability to honor the contract because of the potential for a change in the nature of their connection to Miami-Dade County, yet not canceling the contract in writing as required, Bibeau asked the contracted consultants to hold commencing work on the analysis. Mr. Bibeau reported he spoke with the Empowerment Zone Director Andre Wallace, whom clarified the contract was not being cancelled at this time, and the $17.130 remains available from either the Empowerment Trust or Miami-Dade County . EDC Chair Kelly directed MRC staff to continue moving forward with the creation of the Miami River Marine Industrial Economic Analysis by asking the contracted consultants to commence work.

IV. New Business- The following items were address/discussed:

Mr. Bibeau reported that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved a resolution on July 24, 2007 relating to an application by Miami Yacht & Engine Works, LLC, for modification of an existing Class I Permit to authorize expansion of a marine repair facility to allow mooring or storage of an additional 24 powerboats at 2100 NW North River Drive .

EDC Chair Kelly recommended stronger enforcement of the Miami River's idle / no wake zone restriction, and suggested Dr. Bohnsack and MRC staff suggest at the next Miami River Public Safety and Security meeting the creation of a pilot program for marine patrol to pull over and issue citations to boats traversing the Miami River faster than the required idle / no wake speed.

Mr. Bibeau noted that on July 10, 2007 , the BCC heard first reading of an ordinance to create the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee and to provide funding to begin collection and compilation of data for the Committee's consideration. Dr. Bohnsack noted the proposed ordinance, which passed at first reading, will be taken up by the “GOE Subcommittee” n September before its second reading by the BCC in October. EDC Chair Kelly recommended the MRC endorse the ordinance creating the Miami-Dade County Manatee Protection Plan Committee.

Mr. Mark Bailey , Merrill-Stevens, thanked the Miami River Commission, the Miami River Marine Group and all marine-related industries and associations for their support of the Merrill-Stevens Yachts proposed expansion project, which was unanimously adopted by the BCC on July 22, 2007 . The EDC thanked Mr. Bailey and Merrill-Stevens for their positive commitment to the Miami River Corridor, and asked how the MRC may continue to help the approved project come to fruition. Mr. Bailey noted Merrill-Stevens has submitted its combined permit application and will continue working with the City of Miami, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, DERM, Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to obtain all required permits. Mr. Bailey agreed to keep the EDC informed of Merrill-Stevens' progress. Chair Kelly inquired into the project's documented job projections. Mr. Bailey explained that Mr. Tony Villamil, Washington Economics Group, was involved in producing job projections and economic indicators for the Merrill-Stevens project. Mr. Bailey added that Mr. Villamil's analysis is based on numerous site visits to shipyards around the world, dependant on scaled, skilled labor force. Mr. Bailey noted Mr. Villamil's data determined that the proposed marine-redevelopment project would yield approximately 500 full time jobs. Mr. Bailey stated that, as past of its expansion project, Merrill-Stevens will work in unison with feeder organizations, including but not limited to South Florida Work Force One and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, to create a marine training apprentice/outreach program.

The meeting adjourned.