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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

  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I). Discuss Future Miami River Greenway Governance– Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, distributed copies of the MRC’s scheduled retreat to GSC meeting attendees.  Mr. Bibeau stated on Thursday, September 15, he met with MRC Chairperson Irela Bagué, MRC Assistant Managing Director Ashley Chase, and Ms. Janice Fleischer, the retreat’s moderator. The main focus of the retreat, noted Mr. Bibeau, is to discuss the future maintenance, security, and special events on the Miami River Greenway. Mr. Bibeau added that MRC staff would create a Powerpoint presentation highlighting the different “Greenways Governance” models researched by the Greenways subcommittee, to be presented at the retreat.  Key back-up materials utilized for the creation of the Powerpoint presentation, noted Mr. Bibeau, would include: the Trust for Public Land ’s Greenway Governance study, summary of the Project for Public Parks and Open Spaces, as well as compiled research on Business Improvement Districts, Trusts, and private/public partnerships. Mr. Bibeau stated that, after the retreat, the GSC would determine the most feasible and effective mode of governance to be implemented, helping steer the Miami River Greenway to its future success. Dr. Ernie Martin, GSC Chair, stated the pressing concern of the Miami River Greenway remains its future maintenance, as well as its public connectivity and accessibility. Dr. Martin suggested that MRC staff include photographs in their Powerpoint presentation illustrating the needs for regular maintenance, security and special events along the Miami River Greenway. Mr. Kevin Brown, City of Miami , suggested inviting a City of Miami attorney to the retreat to possibly address any legal issues or concerns. The GSC agreed. MRC staff agreed to provide the GSC with a draft of the Powerpoint presentation for their review at the October Greenways meeting.

 II) Status of Miami River Greenway Historical Markers- Dr. Martin stated he has left numerous e-mails and phone messages for Mr. Bruce Bounds, attorney of the Villagers, Inc, but has yet to receive a response regarding the distribution of the previously-awarded $25,000 grant for the installation of historical markers along the Miami River Greenway. Mr. Brown noted three sections along the “Lower” Miami River are pending installation of historical markers: The Miami River Inn, Lummus Park and the Scottish Rite Temple . Mr. Brown added the City had obtained an estimate from its contractors responsible for construction of portions of the Miami River ’s “on-road” Greenway to fabricate and install the designed historical markers. Mr. Bibeau asked for the price obtained, and Mr. Brown replied $7,159 for each sign installed.  Mr. Bibeau noted that the signs designer, Yazi, had estimated fabrication and installation to cost $3,500 per sign.  Ms. Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land , asked Mr. Brown to request the contractors to provide support materials justifying the price estimate, and Mr. Brown agreed. Mr. Bibeau suggested that Dr. Martin continue reaching out to the Villagers, Inc, and Dr. Martin stated he would try to contact Villagers, Inc president Dorothy McIntyre to discuss the matter.

III) Discuss Status of Draft Miami River Greenway Regulatory Standards - Mr. Brown stated Mr. Enrique Nuñez, City of Miami Planning Department, was currently revising the draft “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards” before its final presentation to the City of Miami Planning Advisory Board in late October and Miami City Commissioners in November.  Mr. Bibeau asked when the draft would be presented to the PAB board, and Mr. Brown responded he did not know the exact date, but disclosed that the deadline to submit items to the PAB board for inclusion in the October agenda was October 10, 2005 .  Mr. Bibeau asked Mr. Brown to provide MRC staff with the revised draft, and Mr. Brown replied he would submit Mr. Bibeau’s request to the Planning Department. Mr. Bibeau asked if the MRC’s two recommendations regarding extending the 50-foot setback riverwide (excluding marine-industrial properties and low-residential neighborhoods) and changing “encouraging public access” to “requiring” would be included in the revised draft, and Mr. Brown responded that, to his knowledge, those recommendations still remain under consideration by the City of Miami Planning Department. Mr. Bibeau added MRC staff would attend the October PAB meeting to express the MRC’s recommendations. Mr. Lionel Zapata, City of Miami , asked who would enforce the regulations of the “Miami River Greenway Design Standards and Guidelines” once they are adopted by the City Commission, and Mr. Brown replied the Planning Department would bear that responsibility. Mr. David Henderson, MPO, suggested that City of Miami Planning Department employees undergo a training workshop to ensure proper education and public adherence to the “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards and Guidelines”.  Ms. Chase also suggested that the “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards an Guidelines” be discussed at the future MRC “Miami River Development Summit,” pending their approval.

IV). Discuss Status of Miami River Greenway Development- Mr. Zapata provided a status update of greenway development along the Miami River Corridor:

Segment E1/F ( South River Drive ): Conduits have been installed, ongoing installation of sidewalks, landscaping, driveways; awaiting installation of decorative street lights from FP&L. Expected date of completion is 30-45 days.

Segment A (North of Lummus Landing): Pending underground utility meeting to discuss design and layout of drainage. #1 Priority: continue work on installing underground drainage structures. #2 Priority: sidewalk construction and/or repair. Estimated time of completion is December, depending on underground utility crossings.

Segment E2 (North of Neo Lofts to NW 1^st Street ): Will issue Notice to Proceed once segments E1/F are completed to allow simultaneous construction and connectivity along river. If NTP is issued in October, expected time of completion is set for February 2006.

Segment G (South of Jose Marti Park ): Pending information on underground utility layout and design. Mr. Brown added that construction of the Jose Marti Park gym on premises could possibly disrupt on-road greenway construction; therefore Segment G has been placed temporarily on hold.

Segment B/C (Flagler Extension, North of Miami Riverside Center ): Concern over 30-inch water main crossing into this segment. Therefore, noted Mr. Zapata, construction of segments B, C and G will be performed last, allowing contractors more time to work out logistics.

Mr. Bibeau suggested the City formally request any necessary extensions for the Florida Department of Transportation previously awarded Miami River Greenway grant funding.

V). Discuss Status of Miami-Dade County, City of Miami and Federal Bond Funding for the Miami River Greenway - Mr. Bibeau stated, per the direction of the GSC, the first section of the riverwalk to be constructed within the County’s $7.5 million Miami River Greenway GOB bond line is recommended to take place at 1407 NW 7 Street, Miami-Dade County Housing Agency’s Robert King High facility. Mr. Bibeau distributed pictures of the site.  Ms. Freeman asked Mr. Bibeau about any additional areas under consideration for the County’s available Greenway funding.  Mr. Bibeau responded that additional county funding may be used for riverwalk connectors beneath county-owned bridges (on county rights-of-way), potentially starting with the north side of South Miami Avenue and the 17^th Avenue Bridges, to connect with publicly accessible riverwalk sections at private redevelopment sites.  Dr. Martin asked Ms. Freeman to research all county-owned property along the Miami River Corridor, utilizing GIS data.

Mr. Bibeau stated Mr. Mike Salino, Hardesty Hanover , had indicated there was no available funding for the design or construction of the Miami River Greenway during the replacement of the NW 5^th Street Bridge.  Mr. Bibeau stated since then the Congressional Transportation had been approved including the following line items:

• 1089: $1,600,000-Construction and design of Miami River Greenway Road Improvements and 5^th Street Improvements.
• 3917: $1,000,000-City of Miami Greenway Roadway, construction and design of Miami River Greenway Road Improvements and 5^th Street Improvements.

Mr. Bibeau added that, according to Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) 2005 Transportation Enhancement Program Priorities, the Miami River Greenway Fifth Street Bridge Extension was ranked second; set to receive $1 million for sidewalk construction, landscaping and street furniture along South River Drive, from NW 7^th Avenue to NW 7 Street. Mr. Henderson stated the item would be presented before the MPO for their approval on October 20, 2005 , 2 pm .

VI) New Business- Mr. Bibeau provided the GSC with an update on a series of items:

• Mr. Bibeau and Ms. Chase met with Mr. Frank Balzebre, Chief of Staff for Commissioner Johnny Winton, to discuss the possibility of utilizing a previously-awarded $1 million grant from FDOT to create the Miami River Greenway from the South Miami Avenue Bridge to the 2^nd Avenue Bridge. Mr. Balzebre noted he would contact Ms. Mary Conway to discuss the City commencing construction documents for the project. Mr. Bibeau mentioned a publicly accessible riverwalk was being constructed by the Private Sector heading east from the 2^nd Ave Bridge to Metro-rail, therefore the FDOT grant would fund construction documents and construction of an on-road Greenway section proceeding east to the South Miami Ave Bridge .
• The City of Miami Bond Oversight Board Audit Committee requested an update of the Miami Circle ; Miami Circle is pending City permits to repair its seawall. Creation of a riverwalk will follow.
• Potential to create a riverwalk from NW 7^th Avenue (North River Drive) to 836, connecting to Spring Garden, utilizing $1 million cost-share from FDOT grant. Mr. Henderson stated a LAP agreement does not affect the initiation of a design phase for the potential project.  
• MRC sent a letter recommending the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department allow adjacent restaurants to provide valet parking, using the WASD under utilized paved lot.

Mr. Brown stated TPL, Kimley-Horn and Associates (KHA), and the Flowering Tree Society, had met with Ms. Sallye Jude, to discuss the possibility of re-positioning the planned flowering trees at both ends of the on-road Greenway on both sides of the Miami River Inn, instead of directly in front of her property.  Mr. Brown noted the agreed upon field change were recently relayed by the landscape architects to the contractors, and the trees will be placed in the locations agreed upon by Ms. Jude, KHA, and TPL.

The next GSC meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2005 , 10 am , Robert King High.

      The meeting adjourned.

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