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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
 

The Miami River Commission's (MRC) Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) convened on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10 AM, in the Robert King High, New Board Room, 1407 NW 7 ST. Mr. Jim Murley chaired the meeting. The attendance sheet is enclosed.

I. Planning Studies/Presentations

•  Discussion Regarding the Status of the James L. Knight Center - Mr. Jim Murley welcomed Mr. Daniel Newhoff and Ms. Mary Whitehead, City of Miami Public Facilities , whom distributed a “Staubach Analysis Summary” regarding the potential sale/redevelopment of the riverfront James L. Knight (JLK) Convention Center complex, including the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Mr. Newhoff noted that on October 11, 2006 , the City of Miami retained the Staubach Company as a real estate advisor to review the Knight Center assets and to provide real estate financial advisory services. Mr. Newhoff stated Staubach completed its analysis of the JLK complex (Phase I of its scope of services), and in April 2007 provided the following five scenarios for the City to review:

• “Do Nothing” approach
• Sales of Assets including the air rights leases and G4 parking garage on the north side of the I-95 ramp; The City takes this group of assets to the market with existing rights/easements in place for the current garage users ( Knight Center , Hyatt, University of Miami and Bank Tower tenants)
• Marker sale of Knight Center as an operating arena and the existing Hyatt Ground Lease; The City sells the south side assets (Knight Center, Convention Center and ground under the Hyatt) independently of the Hyatt, with the primary goal of divesting of the Knight Center arena and its operating loses. The City mandates that the Knight Center continue to be operated by the subsequent purchaser
• Market sale or lease (through RFP) for redevelopment of south side assets. The City and Hyatt would both agree to sell their interests in the south side assets, with Hyatt receiving a share of the proceeds from the disposition. The disposition could be either and outright fee disposition or a new 50 + year ground lease from the City to a developer or other entity
• Restructuring of Hyatt lease; The City and Hyatt negotiate a restructuring of the Hyatt ground lease to improve each other's position in the south side assets.

Mr. Newhoff noted that City Commissioners voted last month to proceed with an RFP, thereby allowing the City and Hyatt to administer negotiations for the JLK's south side assets. Mr. Newhoff stated the City of Miami Law Department is currently verifying if Miami-Dade voters would need to approve the property's potential redevelopment, as well as address procurement issues. Mr. Newhoff added the City is also looking into including a conference component at the JLK for educational forums, as well as adding more hotel rooms at the Hyatt.

MRC staff noted a Miami Today article entitled “Downtown Hyatt set for Renovation,” which noted that the city planned to sell the Knight Center property north of the I-95 ramp and explore the revamp of the Hyatt facilities. Mr. Murley asked if the article was accurate, and Mr. Newhoff replied yes. The UIWG encouraged the City to improve and maintain access to the river through the Hyatt, and continue to keep the Miami River Commission updated on the JLK's status. UIWG Chair Murley recommended that the City's potential redevelopment of the subject riverfront area be consistent with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan and the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and include a public venue for performances. Mr. Newhoff stated the City was currently moving forward with the upland parcels, therefore the MRC will not finalize their advisory recommendation until the riverfront parcels are the subject matter.

B. Review of Draft DDA Downtown Master Plan - Mr. Dana Nottingham , Director of the Downtown Development Authority, noted the consultants had incorporated the MRC's recommendations into the draft “Downtown Miami Economic/Master Plan.” Mr. Nottingham distributed a revised draft “Downtown Miami Economic/Master Plan Strategy: Policies, Programs & Major Projects Overview,” a summary of DDA's draft vision. Mr. Nottingham noted the DDA board would review the draft on July 20. Mr. Nottingham noted he would eventually like to conduct a work session with key city departments and advocacy organizations, such as the Miami Parking Authority, the Bayfront Park Management Trust, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Miami River Commission. Mr. Nottingham noted the draft emphasizes the publicly accessible greenway as a top priority and encourages a strong relationship to the river. Mr. Nottingham noted there were currently nearly 20 new or proposed restaurants along the waterfront within the Downtown area. Per Mr. Nottingham's request, the UIWG agreed to forward him their feedback/comments regarding the summary.

Mr. Nottingham distributed the draft “Major Projects” renditions, which include the proposed repositioning of the Hyatt and James L. Knight Center/I-95 and Dupont Plaza Ramps. Mr. Nottingham stated the draft vision includes the creation of a new “downtown gateway experience” that connects along the Miami River Greenway. Mr. Murley noted the importance of “branding” the river as a unique destination. Mr. Nottingham noted a team of marking/ Public Relations professionals were integrated in the creation of the draft, with the goal of developing a marketing plan and generate an ongoing revenue source.

Mr. Newhoff noted Ms. Laura Billberry, City of Miami Director of Public Facilities, had met with Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff last month, as well as the consultants of DDA's draft strategy, to review the DDA's proposed reposition of the JLK. Mr. Newhoff noted Commissioner Sarnoff expressed a favorable reaction to the DDA's vision and suggested incorporating more green space along the river.

Mr. Newhoff noted two concerns of the DDA's Downtown Vision: 1) access to the I-95/Dupont Plaza Ramp; 2) the potential displacement of the Riverwalk Hotel located adjacent to the Hyatt.

Mr. Nottingham stated the DDA planned to conduct a public information forum in September/October. Following the public forum, Mr. Nottingham noted the DDA would host the aforementioned work session. Mr. Murley asked MRC staff to inform the MRC's Executive Board that the UIWG would provide comments to the draft plan, yet it was not necessary at this time to take any action/formulate a recommendation.

Questions/Comments

• Mr. Nottingham noted the items outlined in green in the “Downtown Miami Economic/Master Plan Strategy: Policies, Programs & Major Projects Overview” indicate projects that are funded (slides 7-14, 16-19)
• Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, asked if “short sea shipping” could be included in slide 8, “Port Traffic Remediation.” Mr. Nottingham asked for the short sea shipping concept to be presented to the DDA board
• The UIWG discussed the idea of installing public restrooms and/or a restaurant beneath the Brickell Bridge adjacent to the Miami Circle
• Nottingham stated the draft DDA master plan will be presented to the UIWG by September, followed by the public forums with MRC participation in Sept. – Oct.

C. Review of Miami 21 Draft Documents – Mr. Murley reported Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, and Dr, Martin, Chair of the MRC's Greenways subcommittee, recently met with City Manager Pete Hernandez. They discussed the fact that none of the proposed riverfront transect zones within the current draft Miami 21 Eastern Quadrant require a riverfront building setback, require publicly accessible riverwalks, nor incorporate the recently drafted and City funded “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards and Guidelines”. Mr. Murley stated Mr. Hernandez expressed support for the MRC's recommendations for inserting a requirement for publicly accessible riverwalks consistent with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan . Mr. Murley noted the MRC, Miami River Greenway Action Plan , and the City of Miami 's “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards and Guidelines” provide an exception to the riverwalk and setback for incompatible low density residential and marine industrial uses. Mr. Bibeau noted the final draft Miami 21 “Eastern Quadrant” is scheduled to be presented to the Miami City Commission for adoption at First Reading on Thursday, June 28, 2007 . Mr. Murley reported that Dr. Martin noted Manager Hernandez suggested the revised and final Miami River Greenway Design Guidelines and Standards should be considered for adoption as a self standing ordinance, after the Miami 21 – Eastern Quadrant is adopted. Dr. Martin added Mr. Nunez, City of Miami Planning Department, has agreed to provide the revised and final Miami River Greenway Design Guidelines and Standards. Mr. Murley stated MRC staff will continue to advocate for the MRC's unanimous recommendation reflected in their approved April minutes, which state the draft Miami 21 – Eastern Quadrant is consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, subject to the following two remaining conditions:

“1) Requiring publicly accessible riverwalks consistent with the minimum adopted Miami River Greenway Action Plan standards of a 20 foot-wide greenway, featuring a 16-foot wide unobstructed pedestrian path and a 4-foot wide passive zone with landscaping, decorative lighting, benches, etc.”

“2) Requiring a 50-foot building setback from the riverfront, with the exception of marine industrial and low-density residential uses and allowing the City Charter formula where properties less than 200 feet wide the setback would become 25% of the property width, and providing the City Commission authority to grant exceptions.”

Mr. Nottingham stated he agreed with the MRC's two conditions, and asked MRC staff to e-mail the recommendations to him.

Ms. Chase distributed Economic Research Associates' (ERA) “Little Haiti/Lemon City/Little River Industrial Priority Development Area (PDA) Analysis,” a project report prepared for the consultants of Miami 21 and the City of Miami . Mr. Murley suggested that an industrial based PDA be performed for the Miami River 's marine industry.

Ms. Chase noted Miami City Commissioners had adopted the Miami Parks & Public Spaces Master Plan on May 24. Ms. Chase distributed excerpts regarding the Miami River from the adopted plan. Mr. Murley suggested reviewing the plan and inviting the City's Parks Department to the July UIWG meeting to discuss implementing the River's “Action Items.”

D. Review of National Park Service Miami Circle Study - Ms. Chase noted Mr. Sussman, National Park Service, indicated that the draft Miami Circle Study is still under staff review and is not available to the public. Mr. Bibeau distributed a picture of the state-owned historic Miami Circle site seawall, which collapsed into the river several days ago, along with a significant quantity of cubic yards from the upland property. Mr. Bibeau provided a picture of the collapsed seawall and distributed copies of the following correspondence:

•  July 26, 2002 letter from Department of State stating, “The Division of Historical Resources is committing a portion of CARL management funds…for seawall stabilization at the Miami Circle…estimated to cost between $82,800 and $95,220” (the aforementioned shoreline stabilization never occurred)

•  September 21, 2005 letter and site plan from the Related Group to Ryan Wheeler, DOS, stating, “The design and development of the Miami River Greenway trail through the 2.2 acre Miami Circle property is also reflected in the Design Concept prepared by the Related Group of Florida and is consistent with the planned baywalk improvements within the Icon Brickell project and the adjacent Brickell Park permanent improvement plan. To date, the related group of Florida has funded the cost of this initial Design Concept and is committed to a continued financial support to implement the desired concept plan.”

•  May 12, 2006 letter from Brett Bibeau, MRC to Ryan Wheeler, DOS

Mr. Bibeau reported a June 14, 2007 Miami Today article was entitled “Museum (Historical Museum of South Florida) to manage Circle site”. Mr. Bibeau stated Mr. McCannon, Director of the Historical Museum of South Florida, invited him to a meeting at the museum with the Miami Circle stakeholders at noon on June 28, 2007 . Mr. McCannon informed Mr. Bibeau that the DOS has indicated their plan is to provide temporary repair measures to stabilize the sites collapsed seawall, while the DOS submits a $2.5 million legislative budget request, which will be considered in May 2008, to potentially fund the final and long planned permanent repair of the Miami Circle seawall.

The UIWG noted the site has remained unimproved and unavailable to the public since the taxpayers purchased the site in 1999 for over $24 million. UIWG Chair Murley directed MRC staff to strongly advocate for the immediate execution of the long standing plans to permanently repair the Miami Circle sea-wall, followed by the State's acceptance of the Related Group's generous written commitment to fund and construct the riverwalk to finally provide public access to the Miami Circle site.

E. Status of the “Upper River/MIC Associated Development” Planning Process – The UIWG discussed the Miami Today article entitled “County to seek investors for land at airports,” in regards to Miami-Dade Commissioners granting the Miami-Dade Aviation Department the go-ahead to begin seeking developers for land it owns at Miami International airport. Mr. Bibeau stated that, according to the article, the airport is seeking public-private partnerships for 67 acres at the Miami airport. Mr. Bibeau asked Ms. Helen Brown , Miami-Dade County Planning Department, if she would identify the subject parcels during the UIWG's July meeting, and Ms. Brown agreed. MRC staff provided Ms. Brown with a CD of a potential U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant, which may provide funding for the County to create the UIWG recommended “Upper River/MIC Associated Development Plan”.

F. Status of the Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan – Mr. Bibeau noted he had yet to receive the final revised draft Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan . Mr. Bibeau noted that after Mr. David Henderson, MPO, finishes reviewing and incorporating the MRC's suggested corrections submitted in writing on May 24, the consultants will hopefully be ready to present the final draft for adoption during the next regularly scheduled MRC meeting on July 9, 2007, noon, 1407 NW 7 Street. Mr. Bibeau stated Kimley-Horn had agreed to provide the MRC a CD with the revised Plan, so that MRC staff could make copies of the final draft CD for inclusion in the MRC's June 29, 2007 board member mailout.

II. Discussion Regarding the Status of the Historically Designated East Coast Fisheries- Mr. Bibeau noted he had recently spoken to Mr. Peter Swartz, potential developer of several riverfront parcels, whom had agreed to present his new proposal to the UIWG today. Mr. Bibeau noted Mr. Swartz was not in attendance. Per the request of Mr. Jim Murley , MRC staff agreed to continue encouraging Mr. Swartz to attend the publicly-noticed monthly UIWG meeting and discuss any revised plans.

III. New Business – The meeting adjourned.

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