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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
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4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-421-4850
Fax: 305-421-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.ed

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Chairperson Irela Bagué called the Miami River Commission Executive Committee to order on Thursday, January 20, 2005 , 8:00 a.m. , in the Greenstreets Café, 3468 Main Highway , Coconut Grove , FL.

I. Set Agenda for MRC’s February 7, 2005 Meeting, Noon, United Way Ansin Building, 3250 SW 3^rd Ave.

a.Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, stated the following two proposed developments are ready for presentation at the MRC’s February 7, 2005 hearing:

•  “Miami Rivertown”, located in the mixed-use “middle river”, at the Mahi-Shrine Temple site, proposes a land use and zoning amendment from Office to Commercial with an SD-19 overlay, for three residential towers, two with 34 stories and 1 with 35 stories, 985 units, retail, 40,000 square feet of office space, gazebos, two outdoor restaurants, 1,800 parking spaces facaded by town homes and a publicly accessible riverwalk.  On January 12, 2005 the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) found the “Miami Rivertown” proposal to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and the Miami River Greenway Action Plan

• “Coastal on the River”, located in the marine industrial “upper river” at 2215 NW 14 ST, requires a land use and zoning amendment from Marine Industrial (SD-4) to Liberal Commercial (C-2).  On January 12, 2005 , the MRC UIWG found “Coastal on the River” to be inconsistent with both the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and the Miami River Greenway Action Plan.

In addition, Mr. Bibeau reminded the Executive Committee that the draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the award winning Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan has been presented at 6 public hearings, and is scheduled for final consideration at the MRC’s February 7, 2005 meeting.  Ms. Bagué commended Mr. Bibeau for coordinating the “2^nd Annual Update’s” numerous helpful and informative public workshops, where a mixture of river residents and business owners expressed unanimous support of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.    Discussion then ensued regarding the draft Update’s following five proposed amendments:

• In order to make development in the “Middle” and “Upper” River (west of NW 5 ST Bridge) more in scale with the surrounding neighborhoods, request the City of Miami to calculate Lot Area, Floor Area Ratio and Open Space based on existing upland private property only, eliminating the 50-foot bonus provided into the Miami River (Proposed by MRC board member Ernie Martin and will be considered by MRC)

•  Consider a Residential Market Study to ensure that a market exists for more than the 8,000 residential units currently under construction and approved along the Miami River (Proposed by MRC board member Ernie Martin and will be considered by MRC).

• Encourage developments to include alternate sources of energy, and water conservation features ie. Solar panels, windmills, low water showerheads, etc. (Proposed by MRC board member Ernie Martin and will be considered by MRC).

• Recommend preservation of all remaining marine industrial (SD-4) zoning and industrial land use within the Miami River Corridor (Proposed by MRC board member Dick Bunnell and will be considered by MRC).

• Recommend Miami-Dade County covert the use of county-owned property at 1175 NW South River Drive (south shore, immediately east of the 12 Ave Bridge) into the proposed publicly accessible Miami River Urban Design Center . The marine oriented Miami River Design Center would include MRC offices, dockage for the Marine Patrol and open green spaces (Proposed by MRC board member Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and will be considered by MRC).

Mr. Bibeau noted there have been no objections expressed to any of the proposed amendments.  The Executive Committee noted the importance of the idea to have Ambassadors from the over 100 Caribbean Ports of call serviced from the Miami River ’s shallow draft vessels, to express their need and support for the Port of Miami River to local elected officials.

II. New Business

Ms. Bagué recommended holding a 1-2 day consensus building retreat for all MRC members and designees. Bagué stated she would like to invite retreat facilitator Janice Fleishman to the Executive Committee’s February meeting.  Bagué stated Ms. Fleischman has worked closely with the marine industries in Ft. Lauderdale to prioritize their goals and objectives, and Mr. Everingham and Mr. Winston stated they had attended an interesting and productive workshop facilitated by Ms. Fleischman.  The Executive Committee stated the goals and objectives identified during the proposed MRC retreat would be consistent with the MRC’s adopted strategic plan, the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.

Ms. Bagué provided an update on the Miami River maintenance-dredging project.  On January 19, 2005 , Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen attended a MRC Dredging Subcommittee meeting, and hosted a press conference.  Later that afternoon, the Army Corps notified Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen’s Office that the Corps had reprogrammed $5 million of the previously appropriated federal funding back to the intended Miami River dredging project, enabling them to authorize dredging within acceptance section two.

The meeting adjourned.

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