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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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The Miami River Commission’s Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Working Group met at 3 PM, Tuesday,  August 21, 2001,, in 501 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 600.  Megan Kelly chaired the meeting.  The sign in sheet is enclosed.

The meeting opened with a Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) presentation from Kouroche Mohandes, and Stephen Thompson, MIC project managers.  The planned Miami Intermodal Center is located adjacent to the Miami River and Palmer Lake.  A 10,000 space rental car facility (RCF) is immediately west of the “MIC core”.  A new Metro-Rail connector, Amtrak railroad line, and tri-rail will be linked to the MIC, which will be directly linked to the adjacent Miami International Airport via a people mover shuttle.  The MIC planners are currently getting private companies to the table to design the MIC’s hotel, concession, and office areas.  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hopes to finalize all necessary land acquisition by December 2001.  Phase I MIC development includes the RCF construction between October 2001 and January 2002.  Demolition of existing structures at the RCF site is scheduled to commence in September 2001.  Phase II MIC development is scheduled to commence in 2002.  Mr. Mohandes and Mr. Thompson clarified FDOT is only handling the development of the MIC core and RCF.  Miami River bridge crossings to the MIC are being planned by the following entities:

1)   The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDEX) had originally planned a bridge across the river accessing the MIC at NW 32^nd Ave and NW 21^st Street, but have amended their plans and chosen to build an additional river bridge crossing running north-south on NW 38^th Ct.  The MDEX is planning connections from he MIC to state Road 112 and Highway 836.

2)   Amtrak would require double tracking crossing the Miami River at NW 38^th Ct.

3)   Miami-Dade Transit authority plans to extend Metro-Rail between the MIC and the existing Earlington Heights Station along NW 38^th Ct.

4)  City Commissioner Gort, County Commissioner Morales, and the Empowerment Trust are interested in linking the Melrose community on the River’s north side to the MIC on the south side.  Mr. Mohandes stated this link would most likely come at the same crossing area used by Tri-Rail and Amtrak along NW 38^th CT.

5)  Tri-Rail would use the existing rail line along NW 38^th Ct.

Mr. Mohandes stated there is one marine related business near the planned 38^th Ct. crossings that would be acquired.  The bridge crossings at NW 38^th Court would be fixed, and significantly shorter than the existing fixed bridges crossing the Miami River.  Therefore the existing portion of the federal navigable channel between the new proposed fixed bridges and the NW 32^nd Ave. salinity dam would no longer be navigable.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack responded that due to the Manatee Protection Plan any removed boat slips would be permanent, and asked the FDOT to assist in amending the regulations so the removed slips may be relocated elsewhere along the Miami River.  Mr. Mohandes stated the land around the MIC development has recently appreciated from $8 to $18 per square foot.  Brett Bibeau stated the Trust for Public Land and the Miami River Commission jointly contracted Greenways Incorporated to create the Miami River Greenway Action Plan (available at miamirivercommission.org), which was unanimously approved by the City Commission on May 10, 2001.  The proposed Greenway path goes around Palmer Lake.  Bibeau stated the MRC supports a twenty foot-wide greenway, consisting of a 16 foot-wide clear path and a four foot-wide passive zone for landscaping, benches, lights, etc.  Mr. Mohandes responded that a requirement of the MIC development is that %20 of the area remain green space and the Greenway path would be included in the development plans.  Mohandes requested a meeting with the MRC and Trust for Public Land to further plan the Miami River Greenways link to the MIC development around Palmer Lake.  Bibeau asked if the MIC development as currently planned would seek any amendment or shortening of the Federal Navigable Channel and Mr. Thompson responded the Navigable Channel would not be shortened.  More information about the MIC is available at micdot.com.

The Subcommittee approved the “Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Committee Goals” including cataloging all available economic development incentive programs, Marine Industry Preservation and Tax Increment Financing District.  The approved goals will be submitted to the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group to be incorporated in the “Miami River Corridor Plan: An Urban Infill Planning Initiative”.

The EDC reviewed the Brownfields Economic Development Initiatives (BEDI) Section 108 Revolving Loan Fund.  Essentially the BEDI program will offer low interest loans up to $500,000 to redevelop designated brownfields sites.  A significant portion of the Miami River Corridor lies within the designated brownfields district.  The BEDI program is scheduled to commence in September 2001.  ore information about the Brownfields incentives are available at dep.gov.  Mark Buchbinder, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stated the Empowerment Trust is looking into applying for the “Renewable Communities” designation for areas adjacent to the existing Empowerment Zone.  Buchbinder pointed out there are 5 new revolving loan programs, including EDDI administered by the Urban Revitalization Task Force.  David Miller and Buchbinder noted the need to catalog and coordinate all available economic incentive programs in one location.  Buchbinder agreed to provide the MRC with an outline of the available economic incentive programs.

Brett Bibeau provided the EDC with a page of the Legg Mason (City of Miami baseball stadium consultant) August 9, 2001 City Commission power point presentation.  Under stadium funding sources “River Tax Increment (county/City) - $30,000,000” is listed.  Information on the proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district boundaries, TIF time period, percentage of increment captured, have yet to be provided to the MRC.  The City and Marlins have been invited to provide presentations regarding the baseball stadium at the September 10 MRC meeting.  The City unanimously passed a resolution stating the deadline for finalizing the stadium deal between the City, County and Marlins is on the September 13 City Commission meeting.  Bibeau recommended that if the TIF is created, the Miami River Commission support increasing the original bond issue backed by the TIF revenue to include $20 million to fully fund the remaining balance for the Miami River Greenway development, and repay the Miami Circle’s land acquisition loans.  In addition, Bibeau recommended the MRC support the 50%, 30 year TIF of the full length of the Miami River, 660 feet on both shores, creating $361,000,000.  The Miami River Commission previously stated they would only support up to 25% of any TIF revenues for the stadium.  A TIF district boundary covering the entire Miami River would capture enough revenue to keep the $30,000,000 TIF stadium funding source line item from exceeding 25% of the TIF revenues.  Supporting funding for the Miami Circle from the TIF would mandate the TIF district include the mouth of the Miami River.  The EDC decided to request the proposed TIF details during the City’s September 10 presentation to the MRC.  

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