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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 Executive Committee was called to order at 8:09 AM at Greenstreets Café located at 3468 Main Highway, Coconut Grove.

          Phil Everingham opened the meeting and asked David Miller to provide an overview of the Urban Design Center meetings in Ft Lauderdale.  David stated the meeting lasted two days and was conducted by a consultant hired partially by funds acquired by TPL through a Knight Foundation Grant.  There were over 30 professional urban design planners and architects participating.  The consultants will utilize all the information obtained at the meeting and provide a final report and a recommended business plan for the development of a Miami Urban Design Center.  The consultant’s report will be completed by the end of February 2001.  All of the participants were very excited and impressed about the development and improvement opportunities along the river. 

The next item discussed was a plan for a Miami River Commission Retreat.  The dates discussed were March 3 or March 17, both dates are on Saturdays.  Sallye Jude volunteered the Miami River Inn for the meeting location.  Bob Parks wants all Working Group Chairpersons to evaluate their group’s status with respect to completion of tasks identified in the Miami River Study Commission Report (MRSCR).  Through discussion the date was set as March 3 from 10 am till completed.  Discussion ensued about inviting various other people involved with the river including politicians and developers.  Sallye advised that the Miami River Inn could not handle more than 30 people, so the committee directed staff to research other meeting locations.  

David discussed issues and meetings held in reference to derelict vessel problems on the river.  In a follow-up article to the sinking of the river freighter ANITA, there was a significant article in the Miami Herald concerning derelict vessels on the river.  David advised the committee that a meeting sponsored by Captain Bowling of the Coast Guard was held concerning how to effectively remove derelict vessels and eliminate this problem on the river.   Attendance included federal, state and local law enforcement officials, county artificial reef coordinators, fishing clubs, etc.  The Coast Guard lists 10 vessels that are either abandoned or are derelict and have been on the river for over three (3) years.  The meeting attempted to develop a process to remove these vessels.  There are limited funds available through the artificial reef coordinators and they typically sink 2-3 large vessels per year between Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.  It takes approximately 25-35 thousand dollars to properly clean and prepare a vessel for sinking.  Typically, the owners abandoned these vessels, because they do not have sufficient funds to repair or operate the vessel.  The property or terminal owner then becomes the responsible party for the vessel and must go to the Federal Marshall and place a lien on the vessel, normally for dockage expenses.  Once the case goes through the legal system, then the property owner can then sell or dispose of the vessel to pay the lien.  The group agreed that the best place for these low value vessels is the artificial reef program.   Discussion ensued concerning property owner responsibility and the state’s derelict vessel program.  The state’s derelict vessel program is designed for smaller recreational vessels and not large foreign flag freighters.  The entire county’s annual derelict vessel budget could easily be expended by removing one large freighter.  The lack of state funds for this program make it dangerous to officially label a freighter a “derelict vessel” under the state program, because then we must wait for Tallahassee to appropriate funds, which can take years.  It clearly becomes the problem of the property owner and local law enforcement officers to enforce their ordinances and regulations.

David advised the committee that the MRC $150,000 operating grant has been received and the bank account is now in the black!   Brett Bibeau advised the committee on two items on the upcoming City Commission agenda, specifically the acceptance of the urban infill grant for the Miami River Corridor and acceptance of funds to remove derelict vessels.   A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously for the MRC to provide a letter to the City Commissioners recommending approval of the two aforementioned items.  Brett also provided an update on the City Commission’s approval of the One Miami and One Riverview Square riverfront development projects.  The MRC provided comments to the City Commission concerning the setback and riverwalk requirements and both developers met or exceeded our recommendations in this area.  Discussion ensued concerning the proposed marina at the Miami One project and that it was not approved by the Army Corps, DERM, state, etc.  Additional information is necessary before the MRC can take a position on the marina issue. 

General discussion ensued about the progress made by the MRC concerning improvements on the river.  Fran Bohnsack invited all members to the Miami River Marine Group’s monthly breakfast as Bryan Finnie, President of the Empowerment Trust will be the speaker. 

The last item discussed was a discussion of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.  Brett provided an update on the TIF investigating working group and how it could help fund projects on the river.  Bob stated the full MRC needs to hear a recommendation from the TIF working group before any public statements are made by the MRC concerning the TIF District.

Fran Bohnsack discussed the Biscayne Bay Partnership Initiative (BBPI).  She was concerned about the process and that many marine industry members could not attend the numerous all day meetings.  She believes the report, as currently written, is not balanced and that marine usage of the Bay will be significantly curtailed or phased-out due to the heavy participation by environmental agencies.  She asks all involved to carefully read the report and provide comments to the Policy Group.  Discussion ensued.  Phil Everingham advised the committee that the Marine Council would take a minority position in disagreement with the current BBPI report.

Bob Parks asked about the Bayfront/Riverfront Land Acquisition Trust Fund.  David reported that he has the resolution passed in 1985.  Basically, when the City wanted to develop their park space into a commercial/retail area that is now Bayfront, the state required that 7.4% of all rent received by the city must be placed in a trust fund for land acquisition along the river or bay.  The MRC is investigating the status of these funds and what if any property has been purchased.  David advised that he has not yet been able to review the city’s financial records concerning the trust fund.  

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