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I. Update of Proposed
Merrill-Stevens Expansion Project
– On
behalf of Merrill-Stevens, Mr.
Mark Bailey
presented proposed conceptual
plans of the Merrill-Stevens Yachts expansion project’s riverwalk
component, which includes developing two publicly accessible
riverwalk areas on both sides of the River.
Mr. Bailey noted
Merrill-Stevens is proposing to create the publicly accessible riverwalk
on the north and south shores at their private cost. The
following is an update of their proposed riverwalk plans:
- Construct
new seawalls (currently unconsolidated seawalls, which are shoaling
into the
Miami River
)
- Publicly
accessible raised riverwalk (min. 16’ unobstructed pedestrian
path) areas along both shores
- Significant
additional landscaping is included on the south side in the Robert
King High greenspace
- Merrill-Stevens to
provide security and maintenance along riverwalk
- Temporary
Mega-Yacht docking / staging along both shores
- Marine-patrol
slips underneath 836 on the south shore
- North
Shore boatyard structure includes elevated observation walkway
(extending to
NW 13th Ave.
), allowing public to view
into the facility
- North
Side includes lowered supply loading area
- South
side includes lowered emergency vehicle lane
- Fence
will separate lowered service piers from raised riverwalk
- MRC
found the proposed Merrill-Stevens expansion to be consistent with
the Miami River Corridor Urban
Infill Plan
Mr.
Bailey provided the GSC with copies of the resolution recently adopted
by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), allowing Merrill-Stevens and
Miami-Dade
County
’s administration to negotiate terms for their expansion, including
the presented riverwalks, in addition to the adjacent proposed Related
Group’s affordable housing development in the Health District.
Mr. Bailey noted the drafted agreement will be then be considered
by the BCC.
Dr.
Martin asked if the Related Group’s proposed elderly housing facility,
which abuts the Merrill-Steven’s proposed riverwalk on the north
shore, would feature/guarantee publicly accessible open space. Mr.
Bailey recommended the GSC contact Mr. Oscar Rodriguez, Director of the
Related Group’s Attainable Housing Department, to obtain that
information. Dr. Martin
directed MRC staff to invite Mr. Rodriguez to the GSC’s November
meeting, and place a review of the Related Group’s proposed Health
District mixed use / affordable / work force housing development on the
agenda.
Dr.
Martin commended Merrill-Stevens for including the proposed
publicly-accessible riverwalk in their expansion plans, which would be
built at their cost, therefore allowing public sector greenway funding
to be spent in other locations. The
GSC expressed concern over the height of the proposed fence separating
the raised riverwalk areas from the lowered mega-yacht docking piers, Mr.
Bailey replied he would discuss the possibility of reducing the height
of the proposed fences, as allowable by the Federal Homeland Security
requirements.
Ms.
Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land (TPL), asked what Merrill-Stevens
projected timeline for the expansion is, and Dr. Martin noted they
indicated during the MRC meeting that they would continue to meet with
property owners
Miami-Dade
County
and Miami Dade Expressway Authority in an effort to secure lands needed
for their expansion project. Once
this has been accomplished, Merrill-Stevens would commence the
permitting process. Dr.
Martin noted Merrill-Stevens is scheduled to meet with the Spring Garden
Civic Association on
November 18, 2006
. Per the GSC’s
suggestion, Mr. Bailey agreed to meet with the “Miami Partnership
Initiative”, a partnership between the
University
of
Miami
and City of
Miami
to create a new master plan for the health district.
II. 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
– Dr.
Ernie Martin
stated Mr. Marcos Redondo and Mr. Armando Acosta, Miami-Dade Public
Works/Bridges attended the July Greenways Subcommittee meeting regarding
needed greenway connectors beneath County owned bridges in order to
connect existing sections of the publicly accessible pedestrian path. Dr.
Martin noted Redondo and Acosta had informed the GSC that their
department was solely responsible for the structural components of
bridges. Ms. Ashley Chase,
MRC Assistant Managing Director, therefore invited Ms. Priscilla Morales
and Mr. Mike Riera, Miami-Dade Public Works, to address the
aforementioned item.
Dr.
Martin provided a brief overview of the Miami
River Greenway Action Plan, which was unanimously adopted by the
Board of County Commissioners and City of
Miami
. Mr. Bibeau explained the
GSC recommended:
1)
Connect the existing north-south pedestrian path beneath Metro-Mover
into the new riverwalk proceeding east at the “Brickell on the
River” mixed-use development, therefore providing a direct scenic
pedestrian walkway for new residents to access the NW 5 ST Metro Mover
Station;
2)
connect existing riverwalk proceeding east past One Riverview Square,
Bijan’s Seafood Restaurant, River Park Hotel, James L. Knight
Convention Center and Hyatt, with a riverwalk section currently under
construction to the west of the South Miami Ave Bridge, via creating the
Greenway beneath the County owned S. Miami Ave Bridge on the north
shore.
Mr.
Bibeau provided Ms. Morales and Mr. Riera with pictures and maps of the
MRC recommended greenway connector areas, located beneath the two County
owned bridges. Dr. Martin noted Mr. Redondo had explained the County’s
Public Works Department didn’t currently have any funding specifically
allocated for these small greenway segments beneath County owned
Bridges. Mr. Bibeau stated
the following potential County, State, and Federal funding sources for
the recommended Greenway connectors:
- The Miami River
Greenway’s $7.5 million line item in the County’s Building
Better Communities Bond Program.
Ms.
Lavinia Freeman
, mentioned TPL had met with Meredith Nation, City of
Miami
, Mr.
Kevin Brown
, Consul Tech, Dr. Martin, Mr. Bibeau, and Roger Hernstadt,
Miami-Dade County CIP, regarding expediting the availability of the
approved Bond’s Miami River Greenway line item.
-
Miami-Dade
County
is an eligible applicant for up to $1 million greenway grants in the
Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Transportation
Enhancement’s May 2007 grant cycle.
- Federal
transportation grant
Ms.
Morales stated once funding was made available for the Greenway
connectors, the County’s Public Works Department may facilitate the
design and construction of the MRC recommended Greenway connectors
beneath the South shore of Metro-Mover and the S. Miami Ave’s north
shore. Ms. Morales noted the
county currently has a non bond-related $500,000 for seawall
reconstruction, adding that she would discuss the possibility of using
that funding with Roger Hernstadt, Miami-Dade CIP. Ms.
Morales also offered to look into additional potential funding sources
with Mr. Henderson, Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Bicycle and
Pedestrian Coordinator. The
GSC thanked Ms. Morales and Mr. Riera for their attendance and
assistance.
III. Discuss Future
Miami River
Greenway Governance –
Dr. Martin stated he had scheduled a publicly noticed meeting on
September 22, 2 PM, at the Downtown Development (DDA) offices, 200 S.
Biscayne Blvd, with Mr.
Dana Nottingham
, Director of the DDA, Ms. Freeman and Mr. Bibeau, to discuss
incorporating Greenway Governance into the draft DDA Downtown Master
Plan. Mr. Bibeau noted per
Mr. Nottingham’s request, he provided a written assessment of the
riverwalk sections within the DDA boundary.
Mr. Bibeau distributed copies of the revised “Virtual Miami
River Greenway Tour Sections within DDA District” originally reviewed
at the GSC’s September meeting. Dr.
Martin stated the DDA has offered to include a pilot maintenance program
utilizing their “DET Team” for the public sector sections of the
riverwalk within the DDA boundary on the north shore from
Brickell
Bridge
to Metro-Mover.
The
GSC discussed the continued need for greenway maintenance and iron clad
guarantees of public access in perpetuity. Mr.
Bibeau provided copies of the “MRC Coordinated and Co-Funded Volunteer
Projects”, approved by the MRC Executive Committee on
August 22, 2006
. The MRC has made over
$10,000 available for 14 locations, 6 events with over 350 volunteers,
including bagging litter and weeds while spreading mulch along the
recently development sections of on-road greenway, and creating another
MRC recommended riverfront pocket park adjacent to the Greenway.
Mr.
Kevin Brown, Consultech, stated Mary Conway, the City of
Miami
’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), directed City of
Miami Public Works
to create a system to maintain the City of
Miami
’s sections of the Miami River Greenway.
IV. Status of Miami River
Greenway Historical Markers
– Ms. Ashley
Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, noted the MRC passed a
resolution on September 11, 2006, authorizing execution of an agreement
prepared by the City of Miami Law Department, regarding the MRC’s
donation of 6 historical markers along the Miami River Greenway, which
the City will maintain. Ms.
Chase noted she anticipated to receive an executed copy from the City of
Miami
by Friday, September 15. Ms.
Freeman requested a copy of the agreement, which Ms. Chase agreed to
provide. Ms. Freeman noted
TPL was working on a similar agreement regarding the donation and
maintenance of artwork along the Miami River Greenway.
Mr. Bibeau noted including artwork in the continued development
of the Miami River Greenway, in addition to its maintenance, security
and special events, is a newly adopted Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
“goal”.
Ms.
Chase stated a timeline has been created with the MRC’s contracted
sign manufacturers, Baron Signs Manufacturing, and the City of
Miami
, to have the 6 historic markers manufactured and installed prior to the
December 31, 2006
termination of the Villagers $25,000 grant agreement, and Baron Sign’s
contract. The next milestone
in the timeline is Baron Signs securing permitting.
Ms. Chase stated the GSC approved marker’s text, layout and
historic pictures were submitted to the sign manufacturers, whom
provided a first draft to the GSC. A
set of requested revisions were then provided to Baron Signs, whom are
currently working on a revised second draft prior to submitting the
permit application. Review
of the final proof will only address consistency with the final text and
specs provided by the GSC, to what appears on the proof.
V. Discuss Status of Draft
Miami River
Greenway Regulatory Design
Standards –
Dr. Martin and the GSC noted the importance of adopting Miami River
Greenway Regulatory Design Standards.
The drafted standards remain awaiting consideration to be adopted
by the City of
Miami
. Mr. Brown stated Ms.
Conway was inquiring with the Planning Department as to when the draft
ordinance would be considered by the City Commission, in addition to
means of guaranteeing public access to the Greenway in perpetuity.
Dr. Martin noted the City bond funded the creation of the new
draft Miami River Greenway Design Guidelines and Standards, and the Bond
Oversight Board requests updates on the progress in completing the
projects which bond funding is utilized for.
Mr. Brown stated the Design Standards and Guidelines don’t have
to wait for consideration as part of the “
Miami
21” ordinance. Mr. Brown
stated he has requested the revised Design Guideline draft, to provide
the MRC and TPL.
VI. Update on
Miami River
Greenway Development –
Mr. Bibeau provided the
GSC with pictures of the One Miami riverwalk, which per the GSC’s
recommendation removed the large planters which were blocking the
pledged width of the unobstructed pedestrian path, and the Neo-Vertika
riverwalk, which per the GSC’s recommendation relocated its fire hose
boxes, which were obstructing the pedestrian path. Mr.
Bibeau added the storm drain system on the Neo Vertika riverwalk were
cleared out.
Mr.
Brown stated the 65% complete plans for the on-road Greenway in
Spring
Garden
(
NW North River Drive
from NW 7 Ave to NW 12 Ave. The
City provided comments to their consultants on the preliminary plans,
and the updated plans will be presented to the GSC and the Spring Garden
Civic Association in November.
Mr. Bibeau noted the decorative light poles installed a few months ago
along
S. River Drive
’s new “on-road greenway” sections don’t have functional light
fixtures on top, and asked when the lighting would be completed, in
addition to replacing the way-finding signage, installing the historic
porcelain panels into the existing marker poles, and utilizing the
installed yet empty informational kiosks. Mr.
Brown stated he would ask the City’s construction manager for the
project, Lionel Zapata, and provide the answer at the November GSC
meeting.
Mr. Brown reported the City of
Miami
is commencing construction
documents for a new section of on-road greenway, continuing north-west
along
NW South River Drive
from NW 1 ST to the NW 5 ST
Bridge. Mr. Bibeau noted he
was pleased to see the project moving forward, since he authored the $1
million “East Little Havana Greenway” FDOT grant awarded to the City
of
Miami
as a cost share for this
section of designing and constructing the Miami River Greenway.
Mr. Brown stated the City of
Miami
is considering the timing of
constructing the fully funded and designed “Section G”, which
proceeds east as an “on-road” greenway from
Jose
Marti
Park
, since the “Reflections on
the River” mixed use development, which is adjacent to a portion of
“Section G”, just cleared their site and maybe moving towards
construction. Mr. Brown
added the planned construction of a new Gymnasium in
Jose
Marti
Park
, adjacent to “Segment G”,
has been delayed. Mr. Brown
stated the funded and designed Miami River Greenway Sections B&C
await FDOT & City of Miami execution of the required “LAP
Agreements”, before being constructed.
Mr. Bibeau stated on a recent
Miami River
boat tour, Mr. Jose Mallea,
Chief of Staff for Mayor Diaz, stated he wanted to look into design
alternatives in “Segment B” which would avoid the current potential
problem of having the riverwalk closed to the public on weekends and
after 5 PM, when connecting through the parking lot beneath I-95,
adjacent to the City of Miami’s riverwalk at their Miami Riverside
Center, 444 SW 2nd Ave.
VII.
Discuss Status of
Miami-Dade
County
, City of
Miami
and Federal Bond Funding for the
Miami River
Greenway –
Ms. Freeman reported Miami-Dade County tentatively agreed to
allow TPL to administer the design, and the City of Miami administer the
construction of sections of the Riverwalk using the County’s $7.5
million Miami River Greenway line item.
The funding is currently scheduled to begin becoming available in
2010, and TPL offered to advance the funding in order to commence the
design phase and be reimbursed when the County’s bond funding becomes
available. To date, the
exact Riverwalk section locations to be designed and constructed using
the County’s bond funding hasn’t been determined.
The
GSC noted the $2.7 million in Federal funding earmarked to develop the
Miami River Greenway beneath both sides of the new planned NW 5 ST
Bridge is being transferred from the City of
Miami
to FDOT, to include in their bridge replacement contract.
VIII.
Review of
Miami River
Greenway Riverwalk Cross Sections
- Ms Chase provided the
draft “Miami River Development Riverwalk Dimensions.” The
report, she noted, compares the riverwalk dimensions pledged by
developers to the City of Miami and MRC, with the dimension in the
copies of the approved plans obtained thus far from the City of
Miami’s Planning Department and Building Department, in addition to as
built dimensions. Ms. Chase
added that MRC staff continues to attempt meeting with Mr. Kevin Walford,
City of Miami Planning Department, every Tuesday at
10 am
to obtain the remaining,
previously requested Planning and Building Department construction
plans. Ms. Chase added the
Planning and Building Departments also have “working files”
illustrating landscaping and precise riverwalk/greenway dimensions,
which the MRC desires to review. Ms.
Chase noted she continues to reach out to Mr. Walford in order to obtain
the aforementioned “working file,” as well. The
GSC directed MRC staff to continue their efforts in working with the
City representatives towards obtaining the approved riverwalk cross
sections requested by MRC Chair Bagué’s January 2006 written request.
The GSC agreed to review the provided Greenway cross section
comparison summary, and discuss it further during their November
meeting.
IX.
New Business –The
GSC addressed the following items:
- Mr. Bibeau stated
EAC Consulting, which is conducting the Tamiami Swing Bridge
PD&E, requested the GSC’s recommendation regarding which side
of
S. River Drive
the on-road Greenway should be located on, as it proceeds
north west
from the Bridge. The GSC
reviewed the area on the map, and noted the waterfront side of
S. River Drive, NW
of the
Tamiami
Bridge
, has several USCG certified international shipping terminals,
featuring trucks turning in and out of the shipping terminals.
The GSC concluded if the “on-road greenway” was on the
water side of
NW South River Drive
, the trucks crossing over the pedestrian path would create a
conflict. Therefore, the
GSC recommended the on-road Greenway be constructed on the upland
side of
S. River Drive
, from the
Tamiami
Bridge
to NW 25 ST, where it turns west to connect with the
Miami
Intermodal
Center
.
- MRC staff agreed to
continue reaching out to MRC board member Manuel Prieguez regarding
Clear Channel Communications potential riverwalk connector
opportunity at the NW 5 ST Bridge’s south west side
- Dr. Martin and Ms.
Freeman stated they would attend the
September 14, 2006
meeting of the “Miami Partnership” with the Health District
(former
Civic
Center
) stakeholders for the “Streetscape, Gateway, and Signage
Improvement Implementation Workshop”
- Mr. Bibeau
presented the GSC with a copy of the Transportation Improvement Plan
(TIP), which includes rolling over the Miami River Greenway grants
previously awarded by the FDOT to the City of
Miami
, to the next fiscal year
- Mr. Bibeau asked
Ms. Freeman to forward him a copy of TPL’s East
Little Havana Green Print Plan, for which he served on the
planning committee.
- Mr. Bibeau noted
several utility companies have recently spray painted their utility
locations on top of the recently developed sections of the Miami
River Greenway, and suggested the City and GSC consider means of
avoiding further deliberate and avoidable damage to the pedestrian
paths
The Greenways subcommittee confirmed their next regularly scheduled second
Wednesday of the month 2 pm meeting for
November 8, 2006
, 1407 NW 7 Street, New Board
Room.
The
meeting adjourned.
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