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

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

MONDAY
Feb. 5, 2007
12:00 NOON
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

Ms. Irela Bagué, Chair of the Miami River Commission (MRC), led attendees through the agenda starting at noon , Monday, February 5, 2007 , Robert King High, 1407 NW 7^th Street , Miami , Florida .

• Irela Bagué, Chair of the Miami River Commission

• Philip Everingham, Vice-Chair of the Miami River Commission

• Robert Villar, designee for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez

• Eric Buermann, Member-at-Large, appointed by the Office of the Governor

• Megan Kelly, designee for Mr. Barry Johnson , GMCC

• Richard Dubin, President of the Miami River Marine Group

• Steve Wright, designee for City of Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez

• Dana Nottingham, Downtown Development Authority

• Dr. Ernie Martin , Neighborhood rep., appointed by Miami City Commission

• Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative, Appointed by Miami-Dade County

• Carmen Polanco, designee for Ms. Sara Babun (arrived during Item II)

MRC Staff: Brett Bibeau, Managing Director; Ashley Chase, Assistant Managing Director

Others attending interested in the River:  

• Jim Murley, Florida Atlantic University

• Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group

• Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District

• Robert Weinreb, City of Miami

• Mark Bailey, Merrill-Stevens Yachts

• Patricia Harris

• Jeffrey Hooper, AME Shipping

I. MRC Chairperson Report: 
Chair Irela Bagué asked for a motion on the MRC’s November 6, 2006 and January 8, 2007 meeting minutes.  Vice-Chair Phil Everingham moved to approve the MRC’s November 6, 2006 and January 8, 2007 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Dr. Ernie Martin , and unanimously adopted.

Chair Bagué stated Mr. Robert Villar has replaced Ms. Amy Gonzalez-Hernandez as the designee for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. Chair Bagué welcomed Mr. Villar to the MRC board and thanked Ms. Gonzalez for her support.   

Chair Bagué noted the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches had presented the MRC and Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, with the “Miami Image Award” on Friday, February 2, 2007 to honor the MRC’s continued efforts to improve and educate the community about the Miami River . Chair Bagué invited MRC board members to partake in a photo opportunity with the award plaques, and commended Mr. Bibeau for his good work on behalf of the MRC.

Chair Bagué noted MRC staff is continuing to plan the 11^th annual Miami Riverday Festival, and sponsorship opportunities remain available through the end of the month. Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, noted this year’s Riverday will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2007 , 11 am to 5 pm , Jose Marti Park , 350 SW 4^th Street .

II. MRC Subcommittee Reports

a. Dredging Subcommittee (DSC) – Mr. Eric Buermann, Chair of the DSC, stated they had reported last month that the FY ’07 Energy and Water Bill, which the Senate included $7 million for dredging, would not be adopted by Congress.  Therefore, a year long FY ’07 Continuing Resolution (CR) is anticipated to be signed by the President before February 15, 2007 .  The CR will provide the funding per ACOE program rather than project, therefore the Corps has the authority to potentially provide the Miami River maintenance dredging project more than last fiscal year’s $3.5 million.  Therefore, the DSC is respectfully suggesting the members of the Dade Congressional Delegation to request the ACOE to include as much of the River Maintenance dredging project’s $26 million federal cost share balance due, in their “Work Plan”, which will be submitted to Congress in 30 days.

Mr. Buermann reported authorization to execute the “Local Advanced Funds” agreement was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners on January 25, 2007 .  The agreement would allow all remaining previously appropriated local funding for the project to be spent faster than the federal cost share, so that acceptance sections 7-10 would be dredged with the remaining local funding, leaving acceptance sections 11-15 to be funded with the $26 million federal cost share balance due.  Mr. Buermann added DERM’s top critical priority legislative requests in 2007 are the final $26 million Federal and $13.8 million State (as well as $800,000) appropriations to complete the Miami River maintenance dredging project.  Mr. Buermann noted the President’s FY ’08 budget submittal will be released today at 3 PM , and it is rumored that it will contain $4.5 million for the project, which is $1 million more than last year.  Historically Congress has been able to include $3.5 million over the President’s budget submittal, which if secured would result in $8 million in FY ’08, reducing the federal cost share balance due from $26 to $18 million.  Mr. Buermann explained that when the FY ’08 budget process commenced in Summer 2006, elected officials and business owners conducted a letter writing campaign to the ACOE and OMB, requesting $26 million for dredging in the President’s FY ’08 budget submittal.  Mr. Buermann thanked everyone who wrote in support of the project.

Mr. Buermann added the ACOE announced during the January DSC meeting that they intend to award future acceptance sections this month, therefore dredging will recommence by early summer.  Mr. Buermann noted Mr. Brett Bibeau will attend the Dade DC Fly in on February 28 and March 1, to support the County’s $26 million request.  Ms. Sallye Jude, asked if the Corps had formally accepted the proffered Local Advanced Funding and Mr. Buermann replied the DSC is recommending the Corps expedite their acceptance of the local funding, which normally takes 3-6 months.  Mr. Buermann and Mr. Bibeau noted there is no guarantee that the entire $26 million federal cost share balance due will be secured over time.  Mr. Buermann noted the Honorable Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz are scheduled to take a Miami River boat tour to discuss the project on Friday, March 2, in an effort to obtain support for the project.

Chair Bagué stated the MRC will be happy when the dredging contractors remobilize and will then recommend the Corps keep them working until the project is completed.  Mr. Buermann thanked Chair Bagué and Managing Director Bibeau for their continued successful efforts on behalf of the project.

Mr. Buermann stated the Dredging subcommittee’s next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month publicly noticed meeting will be held on February 21, 10 am, 1407 NW 7 ST.

b. Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) – Mr. Jim Murley, Chair of the UIWG, noted the subcommittee’s December minutes reflect their meeting with Subrata Basu, Assistant Director of Miami-Dade County ’s Planning Department, regarding the Infill Plan’s recommendation to create design standards and guidelines for the area adjacent to the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) identified as “MIC associated development”.  Mr. Murley explained Mr. Basu agreed the MRC’s suggested planning process is appropriate and timely and suggested the UIWG create a one page summary of the recommendation to create the “Upper River Plan”, which he would forward to the County’s Planning Department.     

Mr. Jim Murley stated the City of Miami ’s Planning Advisory Board is scheduling two “ Miami 21 – Eastern Quadrant” public meetings in the future.  The UIWG’s recommendation, to create a riverfront district with different requirements than landlocked parcels, such as larger riverfront setbacks, requiring publicly accessible riverwalks, etc. hasn’t been incorporated into the draft.  Mr. Murley noted the UIWG would continue to track the progress of “ Miami 21.”

Mr. Murley added the UIWG again solicits any Transportation recommendations for the ongoing Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan.

Ms. Jude asked if the UIWG could urge developers to create “green-friendly” buildings along the river corridor, and Chair Bagué noted the MRC had supported, and continues to support, this request in the 2^nd Annual Update of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and subsequently created the Energy and Water Conservation Report.  Ms. Jude added she recently attended an excellent “Green Conference” and suggested the public sector consider providing incentives to encourage the use of energy and water conservation technologies.  Chair Bagué stated the SFWMD provides SIP grants to fund water conservation retrofits, and added the SFWMD is hosting a public SIP grant informational meeting on February 7, 9:30 am, 2121 SW 3^rd Avenue, 6^th Floor.

The next regularly scheduled 2^nd Tuesday of the month publicly noticed meeting will be held here on Tuesday, February 13 at 10 AM .   

C.  Greenways Subcommittee – Dr. Ernie Martin noted Greenway sections remain under construction.

MRC staff distributed a special event proposal from the Kona Kai Art Gallery , and the draft invitation to a free Miami River Art Show on February 23 & 24.  The proposal notes the MRC as a sponsor, at no cost to the MRC, and 10% of the Galleries proceeds will be donated to thee MRC for additional historic markers along the Greenway.  Dr. Martin noted the Greenways subcommittee recommends the MRC endorse this in-kind sponsorship, and added this is the type of special event which was envisioned to bring visitors and activity to the Riverwalk.  Ms. Jude made a motion to sponsor the Miami River Art Show, the motion was seconded by Mr. Everingham and unanimously adopted.  MRC Staff also distributed an invitation to a free special event in Fort Dallas , located in Lummus Park .

In response to Ms. Jude’s request to receive an update regarding Greenways maintenance, Chair Bagué stated the MRC continues to focus on this issue. Chair Bagué stated she had met with City Manager Pete Hernandez, and Dr. Martin stated he had met with Mr. Dana Nottingham , DDA. Ms. Jude noted City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff supported means to accommodate future greenway maintenance, and Dr. Martin noted he would meet with him to address this issue.  

The next regularly scheduled second Wednesday of the month Greenways subcommittee’s publicly noticed meeting will take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2 pm, 1407 NW 7 ST.

D. Storm water Subcommittee - Ms. Sallye Jude stated the City of Miami received three responses to their Wagner Creek Phases 3-6 and Seybold Canal dredging Request for Letters of Interest, and subsequent Request for Information.  The City Commission is scheduled to consider the administration’s recommended firm in March 2007.  Mr. Skornick noted the SFWMD $1 million for the project appropriated in 2003 was reprogrammed, yet once the City hires a contractor, they would consider returning funding in the FY ’08 budget.

The Storm water Subcommittee’s next regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month meeting will be held this Wednesday, February 7, 10 am, Miami River Inn, 118 S. River Drive.

E.  Economic Development & Commerce (EDC) Subcommittee –Ms. Megan Kelly noted the EDC is seeking $22,170 to contract two FAU Professors to conduct a “Miami River Economic Analysis”, as authorized by the Executive Board.  Ms. Kelly reported the EDC mailed letters to potential funding sources and is considering a variety of grant opportunities.  Ms. Kelly added the EDC is seeking an update from Miami-Dade regarding the response to Manager Burgess’ November 2005 memo to the Board of County Commissioners, “directing the Tax Collector’s Office and Property Appraiser Department to further evaluate the specifics of the (Working Waterfront’s) bill”, after which he expects to advance a recommendation. 

F.  Public Safety –Chair Bagué noted the Miami River Security Committee, Chaired by Joe Pinon and coordinated by the Miami River Marine Group, continues to meet monthly at the Coast Guard base. The Coast Guard continues to randomly inspect the Miami River ’s shipping terminals compliance with the requirements in the Federal Maritime Security Act. Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, reported the Miami River Security Committee’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2 pm , Gator’s Den.

IV. New Business – Chair Bagué directed MRC staff to distribute a legal opinion from the SFWMD’s retained attorney which clarifies the former uncertainties regarding lobbying.  Mr. Everingham stated the Miami River Fund, Inc met in January and decided not to retain any intergovernmental affairs consultants. Dr. Bohnsack asked if the decision was a result of a lack of funding, and Mr. Everingham replied no, and added the MRFI will meet to discuss the new distributed legal opinion on the issue.

Chair Bagué stated her term with the SFWMD expires on March 1, and is therefore seeking re-appointment from the Governor.  Dr. Martin stated Chair Bagué has done an excellent job and he would write the Governor recommending her re-appointment to the SFWMD.  Chair Bagué stated if she leaves the SFWMD and MRC boards, she will continue to volunteer for their positive causes.

IV. Adjournment 

There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting adjourned.

_____________________________Recording Secretary

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