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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7St. Suite D, Miami FL 33125
Phone: 305-664-0544
Fax: 305-642-1136

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The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Executive Committee was called to order by MRC Chair Eric Buermann , Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 8:30 am, Greenstreet Café, 3468 Miami Highway , Coconut Grove , FL

I) Set Agenda for MRC’s June 4, 2007 meeting

A. Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan- Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, noted that per the direction of the MRC, an advertisement was purchased in the Miami Herald to further extend the public notice for the April 13, 2007 Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan’s public workshop.  Mr. Bibeau noted the public hearing was well attended by representatives from adjacent business and property owners along the Miami River , such as Ms. Sallye Jude .  MRC Chair Buermann asked Ms. Jude if her concerns had been addressed at the workshop, and she replied yes.  Mr. Bibeau noted Mr. David Henderson, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), had indicated that the consultants had conducted an internal review of the draft plan, incorporating all MRC and public input received during the workshop.  Mr. Bibeau noted the consultants had agreed to provide a copy of the final draft no later than May 11, so that he could confirm that the suggested revisions have been incorporated prior to forwarding the plan to all MRC board members for their review. Mr. Bibeau explained completion of the draft plan is now four months overdue, and looked forward to its final presentation to the MRC for adoption during the regularly scheduled, publicly noticed MRC meeting on June 4, 2007, noon, Robert King High New Board Room, 1407 NW 7 Street.

B. Presentation of Revised Nautica Project, 555 NW South River Drive- Mr. Bibeau noted the subject property, which was presented to the MRC in November 2004, had required a land use and zoning amendment from Marine Industrial to Commercial to allow the residential development, “Nautica on the River.”  Mr. Bibeau welcomed the property owner and MRC Executive Board member Richard Dubin , and noted he was scheduled to make a presentation of revised plans for the site during the MRC’s Economic Development & Commerce Subcommittee this Friday, May, 18, 2007, 3 pm, Robert King High Classroom, 1407 NW 7 Street. Though Mr. Dubin indicated he did not have any formal design plans to present as of yet, he provided the following information:

Has partnered with Mr. Gary Shear of Sheer Construction, Inc., the former developer of Nautica on the River, to build a dry stack storage facility that would accommodate 80-100 vessels

• Has obtained the legal services of Mr. Cliff Schulman, Greenberg Traurig

• Has collected and submitted all required material for the permitting process to Miami Dade County ’s Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM)

• Waiting on determination from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regarding boat slip transfers

• Proposed project would consist of two hurricane-proof vertical yacht dry storage buildings, accommodating 45-60-foot vessels (90 % of building will accommodate vessel owners renting space)

• Amenities on the site would include a convenience store, marine offices and open space

• Will abide by current zoning height restrictions; no more than 120 feet

Questions/Comments

• Chair Buermann asked where the subject property is located, and Mr. Dubin replied that the former Nautica site is located between the NW 5^th Street and NW 12^th Avenue Bridges

• Vice Chair Phil Everingham asked for the status of his DERM permit, and Mr. Dubin replied he currently has 47 boat slips-as of right-and has met with DERM to identify more boat slips in their archives. Mr. Dubin added he has already identified several boat slips in aerial photographs of the Miami River dating as far back as the 1920s, which he has forwarded to DERM.

• Mr. Bibeau asked if Mr. Schulman believed the proposed project could be created without any land use or zoning amendments, and Mr. Dubin replied yes

• Mr. Buermann asked if the proposed project is consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and Mr. Bibeau replied he believed it was

• Mr. Buermann asked when the proposed project would be presented to the MRC, and Mr. Bibeau replied June 4, 2007. Mr. Buermann noted he would not be able to attend that meeting due to his daughters High School graduation the same afternoon.  Mr. Dubin noted he actually preferred July, which would provide him enough time to finalize the project’s design plans. Mr. Dubin stated he would not vote on the item when considered by the MRC.

II) 11^th Annual Miami Riverday Recap - MRC staff distributed copies of the 11^th Annual Riverday Budget, a booth list (featuring environmental groups, sponsors, vendors, marine industrial representatives, etc.), Riverday fliers, and an 11^th Annual Miami Riverday Media, Marketing & Outreach Fact Sheet.  Mr. Buermann asked if the $10,686.44 figure highlighted on the last page represented the profit generated by Riverday, and Mr. Bibeau replied yes.

Ms. Jude suggested creating a “Riverday Committee,” composed of individuals of varied backgrounds and expertise, to assist in the event planning process. Ms. Jude noted the MRC’s two staff members, has managed Riverday the last several years, which she presumes has become quite a burden.

Mr. Dubin stated there needed to be an event highlighting the entire river, such as a 5K run. Mr. Villar noted that he has participated in numerous runs/marathons, which tend to draw a lot of people. The Executive Board decided to create a Riverday Committee, Chaired by Ms. Jude, to further discuss this suggestion in further detail.

III) Discussion of Cable-TAP Television Invitation for MRC to Host a Series of 30-minute Talk Shows- Mr. Bibeau noted Cable-Tap Television has offered to produce six half-hour TV talk shoe episodes focused on the Miami River at no charge to the Miami River Commission. MRC staff created and distributed a list of potential interview discussion/interview topics, hosts and guests, such as: Miami River Commission general information, Marine Industries, Miami River Development, Dredging/Environmental, Greenways/Riverwalks, Miami River Nightlife/Entertainment.

Ms. Jude suggested including the History of the Miami River as a discussion/ interview topic. The Executive Board suggested that guests include local historians Dr. Paul George and Jim Broton, archaeologist Bob Carr, and MRC board member Sallye Jude . Per the suggestion of Mr. Winston, MRC staff agreed to include MRC contact information (phone number, email, web-site, etc) in the program content. Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, noted Cable-TAP programming runs 24 hours a day, seven days per week with pre-taped shows.

IV) Discussion of GMCC Goals Conference- Mr. Bibeau noted he had registered for the 2007 Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Goals Conference, which will be held on Friday June 1, 2007-Saturday, June 2, 2007, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables . MRC staff distributed the 2007 Goals Conference meeting/workshop schedule. Mr. Bibeau noted he planned to participate in the June 1 “Double Session: The Advocacy Group-Local, State, Federal & Global Issues,” as well as the Saturday, June 2 “ New World Center (Downtown Miami)” & “Transportation, Infrastructure & Regionalism” workshops.  Chair Buermann noted he would most likely participate in the Goals Conference, as a representative of the South Florida Water Management District and the Miami River Commission. Mr. Bibeau noted the GMCC has supported the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project and riverwalk over the past several years, and stated he would attend to encourage the GMCC renew their River related goals.

V) Review of Financial Status- MRC staff distributed the “Miami River Commission (d.b.a. Miami River Fund, Inc) Accrued Balances as of 4/30/07.” Mr. Bibeau noted that on August 22, 2006, the Executive Board made a motion to renew the audit services of Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra, LLP, which bid $12,000, while Kauffman Rossin’s bid was $14,000 and Berkowtiz bid was $17,000.  Mr. Bibeau noted the company has recently indicated that it planned to increase their 2007 audit proposal, therefore he would seek two additional bids for the Executive Boards consideration during their June meeting.

VI) New Business- The following items were addressed/discussed:

• Ms. Chase noted MRC staff is seeking the Executive Board’s approval to host a appreciation reception for former MRC Chair Irela Bagué on Wednesday May 30. Ms. Chase noted she was in the process of requesting bids from river restaurants, such as Garcia’s, Casablanca and Capital Grille.  The Executive Board approved the MRC sponsorship of the event to include two hours of appetizers and one drink per person.
• The Executive board agreed the MRC should issue a press release when the County executes the pending $42,000 grant for the MRC to continue providing thousands of students with environmental Miami River boat tours every year.
• As Mr. Winston explained during the MRC’s May 7 meeting, he urged the Executive Board to take advantage of the unique opportunity at hand to welcome innovative ideas through attracting new members to the organization.  Mr. Winston suggested hosting a meeting/public workshop to recruit new volunteers and gage their interest in becoming potential members of the MRC’s subcommittees. Chair Buermann stated he was open to the suggestion, though he noted he did not want to displace any of the MRC’s current, loyal, knowledgeable, volunteer committee chairs.  The Executive Board agreed to conduct Mr. Winston’s requested meeting/public workshop in June, featuring overview presentations regarding the different MRC subcommittee’s new volunteers may participate in.  Ms. Jude stated Ms. Patty Harris has been attending MRC meetings and is interested in being a member and or continuing her participation in the MRC’s public meetings.  Mr. Buermann stated the MRC had agreed to submit names of individuals interested in being considered by the Governor for his three available MRC appointments complete the required informational form and provide them to MRC staff and or the Governor’s Office of Appointments within the month.
• Mr. Bibeau noted that on Monday, May 21, 2007, 130 Ransom Everglades seniors will remove litter and weeds, spread mulch, paint etc. along the South River Drive on-road greenway, from José Martí Park to NW 2^nd Street , as well as along the north shore on-road greenway, from NW 3^rd Street to NW 6^th Avenue .

The meeting adjourned. 

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