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   MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION
 GREENWAY SUBCOMMITTEE  AND QUALITY OF LIFE JOINT MINUTES:
  Minutes of meeting 		May 11, 2005
9:00 AM
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Greenways Subcommittee met on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 , 10 AM , at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Library Map Room.  Dr. Ernie Martin chaired the meeting. The attendance sheet is enclosed.

I)  Discuss Future Miami River Greenway Governance - 

Dr. Martin stated he and MRC staff had begun researching and examining different governance models and business/structural principles, in relation to the future maintenance and evolution of the Miami River Greenway. Dr. Martin noted that Mr. Denis Russ, a community development consultant and former president of the State of Florida Redevelopment Association, attended the April 13, 2005 Greenways meeting to offer suggestions regarding funding, revitalization programs, business incentives, infrastructure, promotion and marketing for the Miami River Greenway. Mr. Russ had also encouraged the Greenways subcommittee to consider a variety of funding sources to ensure the future maintenance and success of the Miami River Greenway, including: Tax Increment Financing (TIF); Centralized Retail Management-also known as the “Main Street Principle,” and the creation of Business Improvement Districts, Community Development Districts and Marketing and Management Districts. Dr. Martin stated that the MRC’s half-day retreat on Friday, October 14, 2005 on Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk and full-day retreat on Friday, October 21, 2005 along the Miami River Greenway, would also help define the future role, maintenance and evolution of the Miami River Greenway.

Mr. Bibeau, at the request of Dr. Martin, created and distributed to GSC meeting attendees an informative outline highlighting the types and roles of non-for-profit organizations, as described in the book, “Public Parks & Private Partners,” authored by Project for Public Spaces. Dr. Martin thanked Mr. Bibeau for the helpful summary, noting that the book had touched upon several key issues addressed by Mr. Russ and pertinent to the Miami River Greenway’s future, such as fundraising, marketing and maintenance.  Dr. Martin mentioned that Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, had compiled a report of the pros/cons and principles of local and international Business Improvement Districts. Dr. Martin directed MRC staff to continue its research of public/private governance models, taxing districts and partnerships, especially organizations on the national and local level, such as the Coconut Grove Business Improvement Committee, the Bayfront Park Management Trust and the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust.

Ms. Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land , suggested the Greenways subcommittee form an ad-hoc subcommittee that could meet with city officials and representatives to discuss and define the Miami River Greenway’s future role and responsibility. Mr. Brown encouraged the GSC to meet with Laura Billberry, City of Miami Economic Development Department, Stephanie Grindell, City of Miami Public Works , and Ernest Burkeen, City of Miami Parks and Recreation. The Greenways subcommittee thanked Mr. Brown for his suggestion and agreed to arrange a meeting with the above-mentioned city representatives following the submission of the MRC’s research on public/private models.

II) Miami River Greenway Historical Markers-

Dr. Martin stated he had contacted Ms. Ellen Uguconni, Villagers, Inc., to receive a status update of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), in regards to initiating the Miami River Greenway Historical Markers Request for Proposals, but to no avail. According to Dr. Martin’s past conversations with Ms. Uguconni, the Villagers, Inc have delayed signing the proposed MOU agreement, as they are continuing to seek legal advice pertaining to concerns over specific project involvement and potential liability.

Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, recommended that the Villagers, Inc work in conjunction with Greenway historical markers designer Mr. Chris Rogers, YAZI, to select a bidder for the fabrication of the Miami River historical markers.  Bibeau suggested Yazi recommend three qualified sign manufacturers bidders to the Villagers, Inc, who would then select the most appropriate bidder based on the best cost estimate for the project and directly pay them $25,000 of invoices from the previously awarded Miami River Greenway Historical markers grant upon the receipt and installation of the markers.

Though Dr. Martin stated he would consider Mr. Bibeau’ suggestion, he decided to make one more attempt to discuss with Ms. Uguconni the possibility of initiating an RFP. Under the current conditions of the MOU, noted Dr. Martin, the Miami River Commission would provide administrative services to assist the Villagers, Inc in issuing an RFP to manufacture and install the historical markers, while the Villagers, Inc would negotiate and oversee the successful completion of a contract between their organization and the selected bidder. According to Dr. Martin, the Villagers, Inc would pay the bidder/service provider $25,000 of invoices upon receipt of the markers. Mr. Bibeau expressed concern over the RFP timeline, noting that the process to select a potential bidder and begin sign installation could prove lengthy, and might conflict with the City of Miami ’s current and future greenway groundbreakings occurring throughout the Miami River Corridor. Mr. Kevin Brown, City of Miami , stated he did not foresee any problems with installing the historical markers during or after greenway construction.

III) Discuss Status of Draft Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards

Dr. Martin asked Mr. Brown about the status of the draft “Miami River Greenways Regulatory Design Standards,” and Mr. Brown replied he expected to receive a finalized copy within the next couple of weeks, once Kimley-Horn and the City of Miami Planning Department had reviewed and agreed upon the draft’s modifications.

Mr. Bibeau stated that during its monthly, regularly scheduled MRC meeting on May 2, 2005 , the Miami River Commission unanimously approved the draft “Miami River Greenways Regulatory Design Standards,” subject to incorporating all 50 of the MRC’s previously submitted revisions.  Thu far the City of Miami has agreed to all of the revisions, and remain considering the final two, replacing “encouraging” public access along the Miami River Greenway with “requiring” public access along the Miami River Greenway and extending the current 50-foot building setback formula required for new developments along the Miami River to the east of the 5 ST Bridge, throughout the Miami River, with the exemption of properties lass than 200 feet in width (25% of property width), low-density and marine industrial developments, where the Greenway would proceed around the property as an “on-road” Greenway.

Mr. Bibeau asked Mr. Brown if he had relayed the MRC’s two advisory recommendations to city staff regarding the draft “Miami River Greenways Regulatory Design Standards.”  Mr. Brown explained that 48 of the MRC’s 50 recommended revisions submitted and discussed during the March 21, 2005 MRC Greenways Subcommittee meeting have already been reviewed by the City and incorporated into the draft “Miami River Greenways Regulatory Design Standards,” but the MRC’s two advisory recommendations made by the MRC Greenways Subcommittee on March 21, 2005,and further by the MRC on April 4, 2005, remained under consideration by the City of Miami Planning Department.

IV. & V. Discuss Status of Miami River Greenway Development and Discuss Status of Miami-Dade County and City of Miami Bond Funding for the Miami River Greenway-

The Greenways reviewed the following revisions requested by the City of Miami to previously awarded Florida Department of Transportation grants for the Miami River Greenway:

  • Lummus Park Riverwalk – shortened boundary to N. River Drive from NW 1st ST to NW 6 Ave, $900,000
  • Jose Marti Park Riverwalk – shortened the boundary to South River Drive , 1st to 2nd ST and from the eastern end of the existing riverwalk in Jose Marti Park , under I-95, south along 3rd Ave , and east along 6 ST to the existing riverwalk beneath the new 2nd Ave Bridge, $1,260,000
  • Miami Riverwalk Extension: Flagler ST Bridge Area – lengthen to North River Drive from NW 2 ST to SW 2 ST (existing riverwalk beneath I-95), $1,000,000
  • East Little Havana Greenway – shortened to S. River Drive, NW 1 ST to NW 7 Ave, $1,000,000

The Greenways subcommittee then reviewed appropriated funding for riverwalk development sections “A-E2” as follows:

  • A – North River Drive, NW 2 ST to NW 6 Ave., FDOT Lummus Park $900,000, $237,000 City of Miami HDNI Bond (begins construction soon, has NTP)
  • B – NW 2 ST to beneath the SW 1 ST Bridge, FDOT Flagler Extension $1,000,000, $187,700 HDNI Bond and $150,000 from parking surcharge (includes section “C”
  • C – N. River Drive from I-95 to Flagler, FDOT Flagler Extension $1,000,000, $187,700 HDNI Bond and $150,000 from parking surcharge (includes section “B”)
  • D – S. River Drive , 7 Ave to NW 1 ST, FDOT East Little Havana Greenway, $1,000,000
  • E – S. River Drive, NW 1 ST to SW 1 S, HDNI Bond and Parking surcharge (amounts?)
  • F – S. River Drive , 1st to 2nd ST, FDOT Jose Marti Park $1,260,000, HDNI Bond $111,512 (includes “G”)
  • G – beneath I-95 to 2nd Ave Bridge, FDOT Jose Marti Park $1,260,000, HDNI Bond $111,512 (includes “F”, and will issue NTP soon)

VI) Discuss Potential/Alternate Relocation Sites for Historic Tamiami Swing Bridge-

Mr. Bibeau asked Ms. Chase to provide Dr. Martin and Ms. Freeman with an update concerning potential relocation sites for the historic Tamiami Canal Swing Bridge . Ms. Chase stated that Mr. Enrique ‘Rick’ Crooks, EAC Consulting, had presented the MRC with the “Tamiami Canal Historic Swing Bridge Project Development and Environment Study” during the MRC’s monthly meeting on May 2, 2005 .  Ms. Chase stated that FDOT is currently in Phase 2 of 5 of the Tamiami Swing Bridge “Project Development and Environment Study” (PD&E), which consists of two co-existent processes: environment and engineering aspects. During the PD&E phase, FDOT will compile and analyze all environmental and engineering data related to the Tamiami Swing Bridge , including bridge improvement alternatives (i.e. no-build, rehabilitation, tunnel construction and bridge relocation. 

Dr. Martin noted that the Miami River Commission had previously discussed possible relocation sites for the Tamiami swing bridge to be used a s a pedestrian bridge within the Miami River Corridor, including Seybold Canal (leading into Point Park), Miami River Rapids Park (over the rapid remains), crossing the Lawrence Canal into Sewell Park, or Wagner Creek. (These sites had been previously recommended by the MRC Urban Infill Working Group during the April 15, 2005 meeting). Ms. Chase added that, according to Mr. Crooks, the Miami-Dade Parks Departments had expressed an interest in relocating the bridge to Kendall . Dr. Martin stated that the MRC would continue discussing potential bridge relocation sites. 

The meeting adjourned.

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