For more information, contact us via email at
miamiriver@bellsouth.net

MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7 St.,  Suite D
Miami , FL 33125

  Phone 305-644-0544
Fax 305-642-1136

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This site
prepared and designed by
Mark Sell Communications, Inc. Public Relations

   MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION
 GREENWAY SUBCOMMITTEE  AND QUALITY OF LIFE JOINT MINUTES:
  Minutes of meeting 		Apr. 11, 2007
2:00 PM
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Greenways Subcommittee (GSC) met as regularly scheduled on the second Wednesday of the month, April 11, 2007, 2:00 PM, 1407 NW 7 ST, New Board Room.  Dr. Ernie Martin chaired the meeting.  The attendance sheet is enclosed..

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 – Mr. Mark Bailey , Merrill-Stevens, asked that MRC staff revise his comments on page 1 of the March 14, 2007 meeting minutes as followed: “Mr. Mark Bailey , Merrill-Stevens, stated it was his belief that their negotiations with the County are, at this time, re-energized and moving forward.” The GSC approved the revised minutes.

Per the direction of Dr. Martin, Mr. Bibeau noted he would invite Ms. Lubby Navarro, Chairman Bruno Barreiro’s new MRC designee, to the May 9 Greenways Subcommittee meeting, to address the importance of constructing the greenway sections on County owned riverfront to connect existing riverwalk sections in order to provide a continuous Greenway system from east to west. Mr. Bibeau added that if Ms. Navarro is unable to attend next month’s meeting, he would try to schedule a separate meeting.

Per the direction of the MRC, Mr. Bibeau asked Dr. Martin to provide MRC staff with his available dates in May in order to schedule a meeting with City Manager Pete Hernandez regarding the Miami River Greenway. 

II. Discuss Future Miami River Greenway Governance –Mr. Bibeau thanked the City of Miami staff who helped him install Miami Riverday posters in the city-owned informational kiosks. Mr. Bibeau stated that, during that time, Mr. Francis Mitchell, City of Miami Public Works , noted the litter which accumulates in the new on-road greenway.  Mr. Mitchell noted City Code Enforcement may enforce the City Code provision requiring the adjacent property owner to maintain the adjacent public right of way.

Mr. Bibeau provided the following upcoming MRC-coordinated volunteer clean-ups of the Miami River Greenway:

  • Saturday, April 14, 2007 : 25th Annual “Baynanza;” River locations include José Martí Park & Sewell Park

  • Saturday, April 21, 2007 : “Hands on Miami – Youth Service Day” planting 19 new trees at Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 Street and removing litter along the shoreline

  • Sunday, April 22, 2007 : “Mitzvah Miami ” volunteers along South River Drive on-road greenway, from José Martí Park to NW 2nd Street , removing litter and weeds, spreading 200 bags of mulch, and various painting

Mr. Bibeau noted the following volunteer Miami River Greenway clean-up events were recently conducted:

  • Monday, March 26, 2007 : 20 college students participated in “Alternative Spring Break” along the Miami River Greenway on South River Drive , from José Martí Park to NW 2nd Street

  • Saturday, April 7, 2007 : 8 volunteers participated in a litter and weeds clean-up along the Miami River greenway from NW 3rd Street to NW 6th Avenue

  Mr. Bibeau provided a Miami 21 timeline, submitted by Ms. Luciana Gonzalez, City of Miami Planning Department:

  • April 4 - Planning Advisory Board Review
  • April 18 - Planning Advisory Action
  • May 24 - City Commission First Reading
  • June 28 - City Commission Second Reading

  Mr. Bibeau noted the following Miami 21 recommendations, approved by the MRC, which would be read into the record during the PAB April 18 meeting:

  • 50-foot rear setback
  • 20-foot riverwalk
  • Correct Miami Circle “Scribner’s error” from T6 Urban Core to CS Civic Space

Mr. Bibeau distributed an article published in Miami Today regarding the potential creation of a Business Improvement District in Downtown Coconut Grove. Mr. Bibeau noted the creation of a BID along the Miami River was examined during the MRC’s Greenways Retreat as a potential means to provide a revenue source for maintenance, security and special events along the Miami River Greenway.

III. Status of Miami River Greenway Historic Markers – Ms. Chase reported the final porcelain enamel panels were installed on Monday, April 9.  Ms. Chase noted she and Mr. Bibeau have scheduled a meeting with Mr. Chris Rogers, Yazi Design, on Tuesday, April 17, 9 am , to inspect each marker and ensure that they are consistent with his original design/prototype.  Ms. Chase noted that once Mr. Rogers has inspected and approved all six markers, she would forward the final Baron Signs Manufacturing invoice to the Villagers, Inc., so that they may submit the fifth and final payment.

IV. Discuss Status of Draft Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards –Dr. Martin stated incorporating the final MRC recommendations into the draft updated Riverwalk Design Standards and Guidelines, followed by the adoption and enforcement of them, will be discussed during the Greenways meeting to be scheduled with City Manager Hernandez.

V. Update on Miami River Greenway Development – Mr. Lionel Zapata , City of Miami Greenways construction project manager, provided the status on the City’s construction of the following Miami River Greenway sections:

  • Segment B (NW North River Drive, NW 2nd ST to Flagler ST) & Segment C (NW North River Drive, Flagler to Miami Riverside Center’s Riverwalk / existing riverwalk beneath I-95) – A Notice to Proceed (NTP) has been issued; City of Miami will continue meeting with utility companies before commencing construction to address any conflicts/mitigation for underground utilities; The Trust for Public Land managed Kimley Horn and Associates contract to create the construction engineering documents for Sections B and C; the City of Miami is in charge of executing construction of the provided documents. All Public Works construction permits have been procured and obtained; construction is expected to commence during the upcoming week.

Dr. Ernie Martin asked if the segments would connect to the riverwalk at the City Administration Building , located on SW 2nd Avenue , and Mr. Zapata replied yes.

  • Segment G (José Martí Park Riverwalk east beneath I-95, south along SW 3 Ave, east along SW 6 ST to SW 2nd Avenue Bridge)-construction of the gymnasium has commenced; intention of City to have Segment G and gymnasium completed simultaneously; NTP has been issued; construction of segment G expected to commence within 4-5 months; City continues to address issue of underground utilities; The Florida Department of Transportation LAP agreement has been executed for segments B, C & G, and construction within all three will be completed before the end of the year.

Mr. Bibeau stated the owners of Garcia’s Seafood Restaurant and Miami River Inn, located adjacent recently constructed sections of “on-road” Greenway, have complained that the street lights were removed during construction over a year ago, and FPL has yet to install the Greenway’s new decorative street lights.  Therefore, the area is dark at night when customers walk between their parked cars and the area’s restaurants.  Dr. Martin added that Mr. Kevin Brown , Consul Tech, had attempted to schedule a meeting with FP & L to address this matter, which was rescheduled.

Mr. Zapata clarified that the City’s current scope of services solely calls for the installation of pole boxes and conduits, as well as trenching, which have already been completed. Mr. Zapata explained that FP & L is responsible for pole installation and light activation.

Mr. Bibeau asked when FP & L would install and activate the aforementioned poles, and Mr. Zapata suggested that the GSC contact Mr. Brown and/or Mr. David Hernandez, City of Miami Public Works , to obtain that information. Ms. Chase noted she would add Mr. Hernandez to the MRC database and invite him to next month’s meeting. Mr. Zapata noted he would reach out to Mr. Hernandez as well, and encourage him to contact FP & L regarding this issue.

Mr. Bibeau asked if the previously recommended tweaks to Sections B, C and G were included in the construction documents which the City contractors are about to construct: 

Section B

1)      A portion of the designed Section B Greenway is envisioned to connect the existing riverwalk on the River’s north shore, proceeding west beneath I-95, to the north through the City of Miami ’s parking lot beneath I-95, in order to connect with the designed on-road greenway proceeding west along NW North River Drive .  In order to bring this section of the Miami River Greenway Action Plan to fruition, two existing fences need to be adjusted, which would otherwise block connectivity between adjacent Greenway sections.  Currently there is a gate in the parking lots fence along NW North River Drive , which is locked on weekends and weekdays after approximately 6 PM .  The closing of this gate would create a barrier for greenway connectivity. Therefore the Greenways subcommittee discussed different alternatives for providing the necessary Greenway connectivity, while providing security for the parking lot.  One discussed option is erecting a new fence along the eastern side of the Greenway as it passes through the parking lot, in order to maintain the fencing around the secured lot while removing the need for a gate, which would block Greenway connectivity when locked on weekends.  In addition, the end of the existing fence on the south side of the lot, separating the riverwalk from the parking lot, would have to be removed only in the area connecting with the planned Greenway Segment B.

2)      Widen the Greenway / Riverwalk area beyond the narrow City owned upland public right of way along NW North River Drive beneath and adjacent to the 1st ST Bridge, to include the additional riverfront FDOT owned public right of way.

Section C

Widen the Greenway area beyond the narrow upland City owned public right of way along NW North River Drive beneath the Flagler Bridge to include the riverfront FDOT owned public right of way.

Section G

Confirm section G’s western terminus will connect with existing riverwalk within Jose Marti Park, and the eastern terminus will terminate with the existing riverwalk beneath the 2nd Ave Bridge.

Mr. Zapata stated he did not believe the recommendations had been incorporated into the current design, and suggested the issues be readdressed with TPL.

The GSC thanked the City of Miami for removing the broken chain link fence along the riverfront portion of Lummus Park , removing litter and weeds and providing fresh dirt in order to lay sod.  The GSC continues to advocate for the creation of a publicly accessible riverwalk and Fisherman’s Wharf in the riverfront portion of Lummus Park , known as Lummus Landing.

VI. Review of Miami River Greenway Riverwalk Cross Section – Ms. Chase noted she had met with Mr. Anthony Perez, City of Miami Planning Department, to obtain several building plans, but was awaiting a response from the Building Department. Ms. Chase noted she would highlight any inconsistencies between the obtained cross sections, what was presented to the MRC and City Commission, and compare to any as built dimensions, and present her findings at the May GSC meeting.

VII. New Business – No New Business was discussed.  

The GSC confirmed their next regularly scheduled second Wednesday of the month meeting on May 9, 2007 , 2 PM , 1407 NW 7 ST, New Board Room.

The meeting adjourned.

   HOME   |    CALENDARS    |   ABOUT THE RIVER      |    ABOUT THE COMMISSION     |    DREDGING   |   GREENWAYS    
URBAN INFILL PLANS      |    STORMWATER RETROFITTING     |     MINUTES OF MEETINGS   |    LINKS