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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
Email:
  mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

MONDAY
Sept. 12, 2005
12:00 NOON
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

Miami River Commission (MRC) Chairperson Irela Bagué convened the MRC meeting at noon , Monday, September 12, 2005 , Robert King High, 1407 NW 7^th Street , New Board Room, Miami , Florida .

• Chairperson Irela Bagué, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

• Phil Everingham, President of the Marine Council, MRC Vice-Chair

• County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro

• Betty Gutierrez, designee for County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro

• Gary Winston, designee for State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle

• Ernie Martin, Neighborhood Representative, appointed by City Commission

• Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative, appointed by County Commission

• Charles Morton, Chair of the Miami River Marine Group

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

• Megan Kelly, designee for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

• Eddie Rodriguez, Appointed by Miami -Dade Commission, designee

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

Others attending interested in the River:  

• Evan Skornick, SFWMD

• Scott Mitchell, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart

• Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, Executive Director

• Gil Pastoriza, WSH Law

• Al Otero, AJO Architects

• Tere Garcia, Bermello, Ajamil & Partners

• Larry Samuels, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department

• Josefina Herrera, New Image Realty Group

• Abigail Loiseau, New Image Realty Group

• Annie Gronewald, Excellent Real Estate

I. MRC Chairperson Report:    

Chairperson Irela Bagué asked to entertain a motion on the MRC’s June 6, 2005 meeting minutes. Ms. Megan Kelly moved to approve the MRC’s June 6, 2005 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Sallye Jude and unanimously adopted.

Chairperson Bagué stated the MRC’s retreat has been confirmed for a half-day on Friday, October 28, on Fort Lauderdale ’s Riverwalk, followed by a full-day on Friday, November 4, on the Miami River Greenway.  MRC staff distributed the meetings publicly noticed agenda to all meeting attendees.  Chairperson Bague stated the retreat will focus on means to provide regular maintenance, security and special events for the Miami River Greenway.  In addition, the retreat will discuss the draft “3^rd Annual Update” to the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, including the potential to consider amendments. Chairperson Bague announced the following three public hearings which are one component of the public process to create the “3^rd Annual Update” to the Plan:

·        “ Lower River ” ( Biscayne Bay to the 5^th Street Bridge):

       Wednesday, November 2, 2005 , 6-8 pm ,

       Jose Marti Park Community Center , 351 SW 4 ST, Miami , FL

·        “ Middle River ” ( 5^th Street Bridge to 22^nd Ave. Bridge):

  Tuesday, November 8, 2005 , 6-8 pm ,

 Miami-Dade County Housing Agency, New Board Room,

 1407 NW 7 Street, Miami , FL

·        “ Upper River ” ( 22^nd Ave. Bridge to the Salinity Dam)

  Wednesday, November 16, 2005 , 6-8 pm

  Curtis Park, Community Center, 1901 NW 24 Ave., Miami , FL

MRC staff distributed the publicly noticed “3^rd Annual Update” hearing agendas to all meeting attendees.

Chairperson Bagué announced the Miami River Marine Group has appointed a new MRC designee, Captain Beau Payne, owner of the Miami River ’s P&L Towing. On behalf of the Miami River Commission, Chairperson Bagué welcomed Captain Payne back to the MRC, as over a year ago he had served on the MRC as designee for Cleve Jones. In addition, Chairperson Bague thanked the Miami River Marine Group’s former designee, Dick Bunnell, whom volunteered on the MRC since its creation in 1998.  Chairperson Bagué noted she had appointed Mr. Eric Buermann, to serve as the new co-chair of the MRC’s Dredging Subcommittee. The MRC board extended their warmest wishes to Mr. Buermann.

II.  Presentation of Proposed New Sewage Pump Station Adjacent to Planned Miami River Greenway on SW 6^th Street and SW 3^rd Ave. -  Ms. Tere Garcia, Bermello Ajamil and Partners (BAP), on behalf of the Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD), presented the MRC with the proposed site for a new sewage pump station (CPA) to be located at SW 6 Street and SW 3^rd Avenue.  Ms. Garcia introduced Mr. Larry Samuels, WASD, and provided a brief history of several proposed pump station locations. According to Ms. Garcia, WASD had identified a need for a new sewage pump station and infrastructure improvements within the area several years ago, due to the area’s influx of residential developments. 

Ms. Garcia noted the MRC’s June 10, 2002 resolution on the issue, “the (pump station) structure cannot be closer than 200’ to the River and 50% of the property nearest the River must be left available to open green space. No portion of the structure of the pump station shall abut the Miami River closer than 200 feet.”

Ms. Garcia stated the WASD / BAP “Regional Pump Station CP-A & Pump Station 8 Future Location Analysis Report”, recommended two sites located several blocks away from the Miami River , for both the regional pump station and relocation of Pump Station 8, which is currently located in the Brickell Ave median.  After the WASD / BAP Study was released, the proposed ICON development by the Related Group needed a new sewage pump station facility as well, which wasn’t geographically feasible in the Study’s recommended sites.  Ms. Garcia stated the City of Miami ’s administration then determined “N4” (included in the August MRC mail out) as the most feasible location for all three individual pump station components.  Ms. Garcia stated the administration recommended site is not directly on the riverfront, yet a portion of the pump station would be 189 feet, rather than 200 feet, from the River’s south shoreline, and the proposed site is too small to accommodate the MRC recommended 50% as open green space.

Ms. Garcia noted that the western most fifty feet of the “N4” property, facing SW 3^rd Ave , remains Industrial, and is not currently included in the “N4” site, while the remaining parcel (.85 acres) was recently re-zoned to Commercial with an SD-7 Overlay, and is the area currently under consideration by the MRC, City Commission and Board of County Commissioners.  Ms. Garcia noted that a mixed-use development, known as “Reflections on the River,” is currently planned immediately east of the recommended N4 site.  Ms. Garcia noted several pending agreements regarding the proposed pump station, adding that the City Commission and the Board of County Commissioners would consider the administration recommended site in the near future.  Ms. Garcia clarified the proposed agreements to be considered by the City Commission and Board of County Commissioners will currently focus on the N-4 site with the exception of the two Marine Industrial business property’s fronting SW 3 Ave. Vice-Chairman Phil Everingham asked if WASD would seek to expand the proposed facility into those additional marine parcels in the future, and Ms. Garcia responded that WASD would consider that possibility.

Ms. Garcia presented a possible site plan/treatment for the proposed facility and noted the WASD is sensitive to the planned greenway construction around the parameters of the subject property, along SW 6^th Street and SW 3^rd Avenue, and had agreed to work closely with the City of Miami and The Related Group to ensure that proper greenway guidelines would be followed. Ms. Garcia reassured that the facade of the proposed sewage pump station would be compatible with its neighboring residential properties and greenway, while being sensitive to surrounding future development within the area. 

Chairperson Bagué asked Dr. Ernie Martin, Chair of the MRC’s Greenways Subcommittee, to present his findings of the proposed pump station. Dr. Martin stated on Monday, August 29, 2005, the Greenways subcommittee found the proposed pump station facility to be consistent with Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, with the conditions that since the site adjoins the Miami River Greenway route, maximum façade, open space and significant landscaping be provided to blend with the fabric of the surrounding area, and a publicly accessible Greenway be designed and funded to proceed around the proposed facility.

Dr. Martin requested the proposed pump station be setback from the Miami River as much as possible, and asked if the proposed treatment could disguise the appearance of the pump station, so as to allow the facility to blend in with its surrounding neighborhood.  Ms. Garcia added the proposed pump station would not create a visual nuisance in relation to neighboring redevelopment, and would be entirely facaded on four sides, in addition to the top of the structure, which would be visible from the surrounding elevated residential units.

Ms. Sallye Jude, stated the adjacent East Little Havana neighborhood has insufficient park space per resident, and therefore asked if the proposed site could be used as park space instead, to improve the neighborhoods quality of life.  Commissioner Barreiro noted a pump station was truly needed within the area to accommodate the increased residential development, and the WASD has searched the area for years to determine the most feasible location.  Commissioner Barreiro promised to work in conjunction with WASD, the City of Miami and The Related Group in order to maximize the capabilities of the proposed facility, in order to avoid the need for additional sites and facilities in the future. Chairperson Bagué stated she believed the creation of parks and open green spaces are beneficial to the community, yet agreed the proposed pump station was necessary in order to balance the infrastructure of the area’s current & future residential growth. Chairperson Bagué encouraged the examination of other parcels devoted to open green spaces, and noted the proposed pump station is required infrastructure, and the proposal has agreed to providing a section of the publicly accessible Miami River Greenway, maximum facade and landscaping.  Ms. Garcia noted the recommended N4 site is not located in Jose Marti Park , rather on the opposite side of SW 3 Ave.

Dr. Martin made a motion to find the proposed pump station facility consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, subject to the following conditions: that maximum façade, open green space and significant landscaping be provided to blend with the fabric of the surrounding area, and a publicly accessible section of the Miami River Greenway be designed and funded to proceed around the proposed facility. The motion was seconded by Ms. Megan Kelly, and passed by a vote of 8-2.

Chairperson Bagué thanked Ms. Garcia and the WASD for the presentation.  Ms. Garcia stated she would contact MRC staff within two weeks to follow up on several unrelated & outstanding MRC recommendations made to the WASD prior to the new Pump Station location presentations.

III. Presentation of Proposed Project, 1690 NW North River Drive (Former York Shrine Temple) - Chairperson Bagué invited Mr. Gilberto Pastoriza, WSH Law, to present the proposed project, 1690 NW North River Drive, at the former “York Shrine Temple” property. Mr. Pastoriza noted he had presented plans for the proposed mixed-use development to the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) on Monday, August 15, 2005 , earning a favorable recommendation that the proposed project is consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  The project, noted Mr. Pastoriza, is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of NW 17^th Avenue and NW North River Drive, and is currently zoned Office (O), containing 1.44 acres of net lot area. The presented design consists of a 23-story mixed-use project, featuring 172 residential units, 11,212 square feet of office space fronting North River Drive , and 3,000 square-feet of retail connecting to a 20-foot wide unobstructed publicly accessible riverwalk. Mr. Pastoriza noted the parking pedestal is fully facaded with habitable spaces facing the Miami River , North River Drive and NW 17^th Ave.   Pastoriza noted the “on-road” Greenway planned along North River Drive would connect with the riverwalk area, via a publicly accessible pedestrian path proceeding through the building. Mr. Pastoriza stated the proposed development is consistent with the City of Miami ’s Comprehensive Plan, as its uses are permitted within the “Office” District and no bonuses would be calculated within the project’s composition. Mr. Pastoriza added the project would require a Class II Special Permit.

Mr. Pastoriza noted he had reviewed the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and found that the proposed project-with its mixed-use components, facaded parking garage and 20-foot wide publicly accessible waterfront promenade with connecting retail space -fulfills the vision of the plan’s designated “Civic Center/Medical Center” portion of the Miami River, as found on page 31.

Mr. Pastoriza stated he and the project’s architect, Mr. Al Otero, would be more than willing to address any questions or concerns related to the proposed project. Chairperson Bagué asked if anyone had any questions.

Ms. Jude mentioned the future maintenance, management, and public accessibility of the Miami River Greenway, once all of the river’s development projects have been completed and condominium associations have taken effect. Chairperson Bagué stated the issue, as well as many others related to the Miami River Greenway, would be addressed at the MRC’s scheduled October/November retreat.  Chairperson Bagué asked if there would be a disclosure in the condo documents noting the property is located on a working river and adjacent to a bascule bridge, therefore subject to noise, etc., and Mr. Pastoriza replied he hadn’t discussed the matter with his client.  Dr. Martin asked if the potential developer was willing to ensure the proffered publicly accessible Miami River Greenway areas, via a covenant running in perpetuity with the land, and Mr. Pastoriza replied he hadn’t discussed the matter with his client.  Mr. Pastoriza noted the project design as submitted in the pending Class II Special Permit application does not have any gates along the pedestrian areas, therefore ensuring public access.

Commissioner Barreiro asked if it was possible to connect the project’s proposed riverwalk to continue west beneath the County owned NW 17^th Ave. Bridge.  Dr. Martin stated it would be feasible to connect beneath the NW 17 Ave Bridge, which would allow the pedestrian / bicycle to avoid crossing 5 lanes of vehicular traffic on 17 Ave.  Mr. Pastoriza stated if the County beautified beneath the NW 17 Ave Bridge and constructed a riverwalk connector, they would be willing to link it to their planned publicly accessible riverwalk section to the east of the bridge.

Dr. Martin made a motion to find the proposed project consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and the Miami River Greenway Action Plan, as it features residential, office and retail uses connecting to a 20-foot-wide unobstructed publicly accessible riverwalk and compliments the “Civic Center/Medical Center” vision of the Urban Infill Plan. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chairman Everingham, and passed unanimously.

Dr. Martin encouraged the MRC to work with Miami-Dade County in exploring the option of allowing the proposed project’s riverwalk to connect west beneath the NW 17^th Ave. Bridge, then linking with an on-road greenway section along NW North River Drive.

IV.  Discuss MRC’s $25,000 Contribution Towards the “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan - Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, noted he would present the item in the absence of the MRC Urban Infill Working Group Chair Jim Murley, who is out of town.  Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC had passed an amendment in the “1^st Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, to pursue the creation of a “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan”, working in conjunction with Miami-Dade County , the City of Miami , Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, Miami-Dade Transit, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).  Mr. Bibeau thanked MPO Board Member Bruno Barreiro for sponsoring a resolution allowing the MPO to prepare a “Scope of Services” and cost share funding for the MRC recommended “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan”, which would then be considered for adoption by the MPO.  Mr. Bibeau noted the drafted Scope of Services was mailed to all MRC members.  Bibeau reported the MRC Urban Infill Working Group recommended the MRC supplement the MPO’s $75,000 cost share, with an additional $25,000 to be provided from the MRC’s available funding.  Mr. Bibeau noted on July 21, 2005 the MRC’s Executive Subcommittee deferred consideration of the $25,000 MRC match for the “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan” to the MRC’s September 12 meeting, thereby allowing the full board to consider the item.

Mr. Gary Winston, MRC, asked why the MRC was willing to contribute, in his opinion, significant funding for a county study, and Mr. Bibeau and Chairperson Bagué responded considering the large scope of the study, as well as the variety of modes of transportation needed to be examined, the quality and detail of the Study would significantly improve if the $75,000 MPO cost share was supplemented by an additional $25,000 from the available MRC Fiscal Year 2005 budget, for a grand total $100,000 for the MRC recommended Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Study.  Mr. Bibeau noted large and extensive studies of this nature, which plan for the implementation of major improvement initiatives, are not inexpensive, such as the Miami River Commission’s Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan - $164,000, the City of Miami Parks Master Plan - $500,000, and Miami 21 - $1 million.  Chairperson Bagué stated she was confident the MRC would serve on the Study’s “Advisory Committee”.  Mr. Bibeau added with over 12,000 residential units either under construction or in final permitting along the Miami River , the MRC recommended Multi-Modal Transportation Study is imperative to plan the transportation improvements necessary to accommodate the significant increase in the area’s population.   Mr. Winston asked for a project timeline, and Mr. Bibeau responded the study would take nine months following the contractor’s notice to proceed.

Dr. Martin made a motion to approve the MRC’s $25,000 contribution to the “ Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan”. The motion was seconded by Ms. Jude, and passed 9-1.

Chairperson Bagué asked Mr. Bibeau to provide a brief update of the study at the next MRC board meeting.

V.    Committee Reports

Dredging Working Group – Mr. Eric Buermann, the newly-appointed MRC Dredging Subcommittee Chair, stated that Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hosted a Miami River Maintenance Dredging Press Conference on August 15 at the project’s sediment processing plant, to announce the Army Corps reprogrammed $8.377 million of the $27.8 million previously appropriated by Congress, in order to award acceptance sections 4-6 of 15.  This reprogramming allows the dredging to continue without a temporary demobilization through the September 30, 2005 end of fiscal year 2005.   On behalf of the MRC, Mr. Buermann relayed his appreciation to Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and the entire Dade Delegation, Governor Bush, the Florida Legislature, City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, FIND the South Florida Water Management District, and the Miami River Marine Group for their continued effort and support for the Miami River maintenance dredging project, which included numerous letters of support recently mailed to Army Corps General Strock. 

Mr. Buermann noted the MRC’s Dredging Subcommittee is working with all the cost share partners to appropriate their committed balances due in Fiscal Year 2006.  The MRC Dredging Subcommittee acknowledges it will be difficult to secure the approximately $27.88 million federal balance due in FY’06, yet is extremely grateful to Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and the Dade Delegation for doing everything in their power to secure the maximum appropriation feasible for the project in FY ’06.

Mr. Buermann announced the Dredging Subcommittee’s regularly scheduled publicly noticed meeting continues to be held on the third Wednesday of every month,  10 AM , at 1407 NW 7 ST. Mr. Buermann added the next meeting will therefore be held on September 21.

b. Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan- On behalf of UIWG Chair Jim Murley, Mr. Brett Bibeau stated the drafted Miami-Dade County Marine Industrial Zoningb Ordinance, recommended by the MRC, is going through final revisions before being presented to the Board of County Commissioners in December 2005.

Mr. Bibeau noted the Scope of Services for the MRC recommended “Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan” is scheduled to be considered by the MPO on October 11, 2005 .  The UIWG, stated Mr. Bibeau, is scheduling a Miami 21 presentation, which would be followed by a presentation at the MRC’s subsequent meeting.

In September, noted Mr. Bibeau, the UIWG will hear a presentation regarding the Hazen & Sawyer / SFWMD Economic Analysis related to the Miami River ’s marine industry, which will be presented to the MRC on October 3, 2005 . Also in September, the UIWG will hear a presentation regarding the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County ’s draft Evaluation Appraisal Reports (EAR), which lead to amendments of their respective Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan Ordinances.

Mr. Bibeau concluded that the latest tally of developments, either recently completed, under construction, or in permitting stages along the Miami River, are 27 projects, consisting of 44 new buildings with over 12, 282 residential units.

Mr. Bibeau announced the next UIWG publicly noticed meeting is scheduled for September 16, 3 PM , 1407 NW 7 ST.

c. Greenways subcommittee – Dr. Ernie Martin, Chair of the MRC Greenways subcommittee, stated several sections of the Miami River Greenway remain under construction. Dr. Martin noted Congress had recently appropriated $2.6 million in the Transportation Bill for the Miami River Greenway, and thanked Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for their support on this appropriation, and acknowledged the MRC members and TPL whom wrote the Dade Delegation in support of this Federal funding.  In addition, Dr. Martin thanked Congresswoman Meek and TPL for their support of the $1.6 million line item in the Transportation Bill for the Overtown Greenway, which will connect Bicentennial Park with the Miami River Greenway at NW 12 Ave, through the Overtown neighborhood.

Dr. Martin added the Greenways Subcommittee continues to meet with representatives from the City, County and TPL, regarding regular maintenance, security, and special events for the Miami River Greenway.

Dr. Martin announced the next publicly noticed Greenways Subcommittee meeting is scheduled September 19, 10 am, 1407 NW 7 ST.

d.   Stormwater Subcommittee –Ms. Sallye Jude, Co-Chair of the MRC’s Stormwater Subcommittee, stated the City of Miami Capital Improvement Project Department has agreed to include dredging within the Seybold Canal , along with their plans for Wagner Creek Dredging Phases IV and V.

Ms. Jude reported per the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s suggestion, the Stormwater Subcommittee continues to provide intergovernmental coordination for the agencies involved in setting new water quality parameters, know as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for Wagner Creek, followed by the Miami River.  The creation of TMDL’s also requires the creation of master plans outlining the planned projects designed to achieve the new water quality parameters.

Ms. Jude announced the next Stormwater Subcommittee’s regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month publicly noticed meeting is scheduled for October 5, 10 AM , at the Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

e.   Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Subcommittee – On behalf of EDC Chair Ms. Megan Kelly, which had just left the MRC meeting, Mr. Bibeau stated the EDC is scheduled to hear a presentation regarding the Earlington Heights Metro-Rail Connection to the MIC, which includes a proposed fixed bridge in the Upper River area with a forty-foot vertical clearance, therefore effectively requiring a shortening of the Miami River’s Federal Navigable Channel, which requires fixed bridges to have a minimum 75-foot vertical clearance.  The item is scheduled to be presented to the MRC on October 3, 2005 .  Ms. Jude asked if the proposed 40-foot tall fixed bridges would impact the River’s Shipping Industry, and Mr. Bibeau replied vessels taller than 40 feet would be unable to navigate through the proposed fixed bridge.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group (MRMG), stated they are meeting with MDT and MDX whom seem amenable to allowing the public rights-of-way beneath and adjacent to the proposed fixed bridges be used for marine industrial purposes, such as a “short sea shipping” barge terminal operation, which would alleviate significant truck traffic in downtown accessing the Port of Miami.

Mr. Bibeau noted the EDC is briefing the City and County on the “Working Waterfronts” legislation recently adopted by the Florida Legislature.  The “Working Waterfronts” Legislation allows the City and County Commission ’s to adopt ordinances to provide economic incentives for Marine Industrial businesses.

In September the EDC is scheduled to hear a presentation regarding the new Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and its impacts on the Miami River ’s 24 certified international shipping terminals.  Mr. Bibeau added on August 19, Antillean Marine christened its 11^th shipping vessel on the Miami River , the Habib Express.  The new vessel is the largest operating on the Miami River , which is feasible due to the Miami River Maintenance dredging project.

Mr. Bibeau announced the next publicly noticed EDC meeting is scheduled September 15, 4 PM , 1407 NW 7 ST.

f.  Miami River Safety Committee – Dr. Bohnsack, MRMG, stated the NW 5 ST Bridge, which was deemed a hazard to navigation after it was constructed in the early 1930’s, was struck by vessels under tow several times since the MRC’s July meeting, resulting in a recent temporary shut down of shipping on the Miami River’s Federal Navigable Channel.  Therefore, the FDOT has agreed to expedite the previously funded replacement of the NW 5 ST Bridge, rather than spending money in an attempt to repair the broken bridge, to then have it replaced in the near future with the new NW 5 ST Bridge.  Dr. Bohnsack thanked County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for opening dialogue with the FDOT on this important matter.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack reported FDOT will remove the leaves of the NW 5^th Street Bridge and significantly expedite construction of the new 5^th Street Bridge, which will commence simultaneously with the replacement of the NW 12^th Street Bridge, so as to minimize neighborhood disruption caused by the broken NW 5 ST Bridge. 

VI.  New Business – Mr. Charles Morton, asked Chairperson Bagué if it would be possible for the MRC to recognize Mr. Dick Bunnell with a commemorative plaque, thanking him for his participation and contribution as a former volunteer designee to the Miami River Commission.  Chairperson Bagué stated unless there was an objection, the MRC would recognize Mr. Bunnell during the October 3, 2005 meeting, and hopes Mr. Bunnell continues to stay involved in river improvement initiatives.

Mr. Bibeau stated MRC staff is coordinating hundreds of volunteers which have agreed to participate in several upcoming Miami River “Clean Up” events, including the University of Miami’s “Hurricanes Help the Hometown” three Miami River clean-up sites on Sunday, October 23, 2005, in addition to “Hands on Miami Day”, Saturday November 5, 2005, painting a mural beneath the NW 27 Ave Bridge, landscaping and removing litter along the River’s South Shore to the west of the NW 27 Ave Bridge.  Mr. Bibeau stated he would e-mail MRC members the details of the volunteer clean up times and locations.

On behalf of the MRC, Chairperson Bague thanked Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, and Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director for their excellent work, including weekends spent at volunteer Miami River clean up and special events.

The meeting adjourned.

IV. Adjournment 

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

_____________________________Recording Secretary

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