|
I. Discussion of Greenway
Connectors Needed on County-Owned Property on North Shore Beneath the
South Miami Avenue Bridge & Metro-Rail, South Shore Beneath the
Metro-Rail & Metro-Mover – Ms.
Lavinia Freeman
, Trust for Public Land (TPL), stated the County, City and TPL are yet
to draft any potential agreements regarding the use of the County’s
$7.5 million “Miami River Greenway” bond line item. Ms.
Freeman explained TPL has discussed the prospect of partnering with the
City of
Miami
and
Miami-Dade
County
- TPL would serve as a subcontractor to the City of
Miami
, administering the design and engineering of the County’s $7.5
million Greenway line item, while the City would contract and administer
construction. Ms. Freeman
noted TPL was debating whether it should wait for Merrill-Stevens to
construct their offered portion of the greenway, or assign the $7.5
million to that area. Ms.
Freeman noted she was currently under the impression that if
Merrill-Stevens agreed to construct a riverwalk on both sides of the
river, from the 12 Ave Bridge to the west side of I-836, then the City
would find a new location to utilize the County’s $7.5 million
greenway bond item. Mr. Mark
Bailey, Merrill-Stevens, stated their negotiations with the County are
re-energized and moving forward. Mr.
Bailey reiterated Merrill-Stevens is offering to construct new sea-walls
and publicly accessible / landscaped Riverwalks & on-road Greenways
along the north shore from the NW 12 Ave Bridge to the west side of
I-836, and along the south shore from the County’s GSA building on the
east of the 12 Ave Bridge, to the west side of I-836, at their own cost.
Ms. Freeman noted the City had conducted a study of estimated
costs to construct the Greenway section along the south shore being
offered by Merrill-Stevens, and agreed to provide the study to Mr.
Bailey. Mr. Bailey noted the
agreement between Merrill-Stevens and the County is expected to be
presented before the Board of County Commissioners in May, and Dr.
Martin noted during the March MRC meeting Chairman Barreiro stated he
wanted the proposal to move forward.
Mr. Bailey thanked the MRC for their continued positive and
effective support for the proposed Merrill-Stevens expansion, which
includes their funding and constructing the aforementioned new sections
of the Miami River Greenway system, at no cost to the public sector. Mr.
Bibeau reported last month that Mr. Villar, Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s new
MRC board designee, seems to support using the County’s available bond
funding for Miami-Dade County owned riverfront parcels, which require
riverwalk connectors between existing riverwalk sections, prior to
considering additional County appropriations for the Greenway.
Dr. Martin directed MRC staff to request a meeting with Ms. Lubby
Navarro, Chairman Bruno Barreiro’s new MRC designee, regarding the
Greenway, and noted the importance of constructing the greenway sections
necessary to connect existing riverwalk sections in order to provide a
continuous Greenway system from east to west as planned.
II. Discuss Future Miami
River Greenway Governance –
Per the suggestion of Mr.
Robert Ruano, City of
Miami
, during the February Greenways subcommittee meeting, Ms. Ashley Chase,
MRC Assistant Managing Director, noted she had contacted 3-1-1 to report
the areas discussed, and receive tracking numbers to document the
progress of addressing the issues identified by the subcommittee.
Ms. Chase stated since reporting the areas, 311 inspected the
riverfront portion of
Lummus
Park
and determined there were no violations.
Mr. Bibeau thanked the City for commencing removal of the broken
chain link fence along the riverfront portion of
Lummus
Park
, as recommended by the MRC’s Greenways subcommittee.
Mr. Bibeau noted the City’s Comprehensive Plan, CM 2.1.5,
states “By 1999, the development of the river walk along City owned
property will be completed” and noted the majority of City owned
riverfront property has had a publicly accessible riverwalk for years,
with the exception of Lummus Park. Ashley
Chase stated she did not have an update regarding the City of
Miami
’s consideration to apply for a Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) Office of Greenways and Trails grant for funding to
construct a riverwalk in
Lummus
Park
.
Dr.
Martin noted during the MRC’s March meeting Chair Irela Bagué
suggested Dr. Martin and she should request a meeting with City Manager
Pete Hernandez regarding the Miami River Greenway.
Dr. Martin invited Ms. Freeman and MRC staff to attend once a
date has been determined.
III. Status of
Miami River
Greenway Historic Markers –
Ms. Chase reported the final porcelain enamel panels are currently
being manufactured in
Washington
, and installation is expected in March.
IV. Discuss Status of
Draft
Miami River
Greenway Regulatory Design
Standards – Dr. Martin
stated the drafted new set of Riverwalk design standards and guidelines
remains a draft, which is yet to be considered for adoption by the City
Commission. Dr. Martin noted
sections of the Miami River Greenway system recently constructed by the
private sector are inconsistent with the City’s currently adopted
Riverwalk Design Standards and Guidelines and the
Miami River
Greenway Action Plan.
Mr. Bibeau cited the City of Miami’s adopted Comprehensive
Plan, CM 2.1.8, “As specified in the City of Miami Charter and related
laws, and more specifically the Waterfront Charter Amendment and
Ordinance 9500 (Zoning Ordinance for the City of Miami) all new
development and redevelopment along the Downtown waterfront is required
to provide special setbacks; and those developments within Special
Districts that require publicly accessible shoreline walkways, will
design them in conformance with the established standards. (
See
Parks
, Recreation and Open Space Policy PR-1.5.7.)”
Dr. Martin stated incorporating the final MRC recommendations
into the draft updated Riverwalk Design Standards and Guidelines, and
placing the final revised draft on an upcoming City Commission agenda
for adoption, will be discussed during the Greenways meeting to be
scheduled with City Manager Hernandez.
V. Update on
Miami River
Greenway Development – Mr.
Kevin Brown, Consul Tech, was unable to attend, therefore the GSC
deferred to Ms. Freeman, whom stated she did not have an update at this
time. Dr. Martin stated FPL
has rescheduled two meetings with the City, regarding installation of
street lights along the on-road greenway sections.
VI.
Review of
Miami River
Greenway Riverwalk Cross Section – Ms.
Chase noted she had reached out to Mr. Peter Bockweg, City of Miami
Zoning Department, to seek assistance in obtaining the additional cross
sections, as previously requested in writing by MRC Chair Irela Bagué. Ms.
Chase noted she was in the process of scheduling a meeting with Mr.
Anthony Gonzalez, City of Miami Planning Department. Ms. Chase noted she
had spoken to Ms. Rosy Brown, City of Miami Building Department,
regarding this item as well.
VII.
New Business – The
GSC discussed/addressed the following items:
-
Dr.
Martin noted the recent Miami River Art Show, produced by the Kona
Kai Gallery and hosted by the MRC, featuring original paintings of
the
Miami River
’s shipping industry by French artist Dirk Verdoorn, was a
tremendous success.
-
MRC
staff distributed flyers to the free 11th Annual Miami
Riverday festival, to be held along the Riverwalk in
Jose
Marti
Park
on March 24, 11-5. The
Greenways subcommittee thanked the Riverday sponsors.
The
GSC confirmed their next regularly scheduled second Wednesday of the
month meeting on
April 11, 2007
,
2 PM
, 1407 NW 7 ST, New Board Room.
The
meeting adjourned.
|
