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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 For more information, contact us via email at miamiriver@bellsouth.net	MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES: Minutes of meeting	MONDAY Oct. 2, 2006 12:00 NOON (THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)
	Mr. Phil Everingham, Vice-Chair of the Miami River Commission (MRC), lead attendees through the agenda starting at noon, Monday, October 2, 2006, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7^th Street, New Board Room, Miami, Florida.
	Miami River Commission Policy Committee members and/or Designees attending were: Phil Everingham, Vice-Chair of the Miami River Commission Bruno Barreiro, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Robert Ruano, designee for Mayor Manny Diaz Steve Wright, designee for City of Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez Sallye Jude, neighborhood rep., appointed by County Commission Carmen Polanco, designee for Ms. Sara Babun Megan Kelly, designee for Mr. Barry Johnson , GMCC MRC Staff: Brett Bibeau, Managing Director, Ashley Chase, Assistant Managing Director Others attending interested in the River: Jim Murley, Florida Atlantic University Marlene Avalo, Miami-Dade County Brian Williams, Office of Governor Jeb Bush Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group Charlie Nunez, Odebrecht David Peebles, Odebrecht Andre Steffens, Odebrecht Rocky Lorenzo I. MRC Chairperson Report: Vice-Chair Phil Everingham noted that Chair Irela Bagué was unable to attend today’s MRC meeting due to a scheduling conflict. Due to a lack of quorum, the MRC deferred approval of their September 11, 2006 meeting minutes to its next regularly scheduled meeting on November 6, 2006 . Mr. Everingham asked for a report from MRC staff. Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, stated MRC staff and MRC board member Robert Ruano had participated in an MRC sponsored and coordinated volunteer event for 125 University of Miami (UM) students on Saturday, September 30 at four locations on the Miami River, the south shoreline at Robert King High, Sewell Park, and South River Drive, west of the NW 27^th Avenue Bridge, and the north shoreline beneath I-836. The projects included planting trees, flowering bushes, and litter removal. Mr. Bibeau thanked the UM volunteers and Mr. Ruano for their assistance. Mr. Bibeau noted an additional volunteer event has been added to the MRC Coordinated and Co-Funded Volunteer Event Package distributed last month. October 28, 10-12, UM and MRC volunteers will be working along the new Miami River Greenway on North River Drive, between NW 3 and NW 5 ST, and North River Drive, between NW 24 and NW 32 Streets, bringing the grand total to approximately 450 volunteers, 14 riverfront locations, during 6 events. Ms. Ashley Chase thanked Miami-Dade County for awarding the MRC a $22,644 grant in the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year to continue the Miami River Boat tour program.
	II. Virtual Tour of the Future Marine Industries West on the Miami River - Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, introduced Mr. David Peebles, Mr. Charlie Nunez and Mr. Andre Steefens, Odebrecht, who played a virtual tour of the Upper River area. Dr. Bohnsack noted the virtual tour was created in response to a great need in the western reaches of the Miami River corridor for cargo facilities and warehouses, which would thereby create more efficient shipping terminals. Dr. Bohnsack also noted the proposed Earlington Heights – MIC Interconnector Metro-Rail project’s crossing over the Miami River will create new publicly owned public rights-of-way, which the County agreed will be used for marine industrial purposes. Dr. Bohnsack explained the virtual tour was aimed at creating a collaborative partnership that could determine the most feasible uses for the marine industrial areas along the Upper River . Mr. David Peebles stated Odebrecht is a multi-national construction company devoted to community redevelopment and improving infrastructure/investment. Mr. Peebles noted Odebrecht was currently reviewing Miami International Airport (MIA) and its neighboring regions in an effort to maximize opportunities (cargo warehouses, marine service areas, truck staging sites) and increase area compatibility. Mr. Peebles noted the study area begins at NW 36^th Street to the Miami River , and continues from Le Jeune Road to the entrance of MIA (a reverse J path). Mr. Peebles stated the Miami River generates $4 billion in annual trade, and it therefore necessary to integrate the river and its future with MIA’s capital improvement program and NW 36^th Street ’s renewal. Mr. Peebles explained the concept is to link the multi-modes of transportation in the upper river, including marine, vehicular, railroad, airport and the Intermodal Center . Mr. Peebles described the Miami River as an “asset” that needed to be valued and appreciated. Mr. Peebles added trade in South Florida generates 100,000 jobs. Mr. Peebles noted Odebrecht was continuing to identify potential marine service areas such as a cargo and marine service complex and essentially create a new vision for future investment. Mr. Peebles added the virtual tour had been presented to Commissioners Barreiro and Rolle, and Mr. Jose Abreu, Director of the Miami International Airport (MIA), whom are supportive of the concept. Questions/Comments: Ms. Sallye Jude asked if the buildings in the virtual renditions were public or private sector, and Mr. Peebles emphasized the creation of a master plan for the area to create a public/private partnership with revenue sharing opportunities Mr. Robert Ruano asked what kind of input Odebrecht had received from the public/adjacent property owners. Mr. Peebles replied they have received input from several elected officials, MRMG, EDC, MRC, and South Shore property owners Per the suggestion of Mr. Jim Murley, Chair of the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group, Mr. Peebles agreed to present the virtual tour to the Metropolitan Planning Organization / MRC consultants whom recently embarked on creating the Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan Vice-Chair Everingham noted the virtual tour as a positive step and encouraged the MRC to assist Dr. Bohnsack and Odebrecht County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro recommended that Odebrecht continue to move the project forward while engaging the community to build consensus III. MRC Subcommittee Reports A. Dredging Subcommittee - Mr. Bibeau noted Mr. Eric Buermann, Chair of the MRC’s dredging subcommittee, was out of town. Mr. Bibeau stated the Senate’s Energy and Water Bill includes a record high $7 million “mark up”, securing the President’s requested $3.5 million, plus an additional $3.5 million “congressional ad”, while the House Energy and Water Bill included a potential $4.1 million for the project. Therefore, the Senate and House Energy and Water Bills are proceeding to conference, where the final Congressional appropriation for the project, between $4.1 and $7 million, will be agreed upon for FY ’07. As anticipated and reported last month, the FY ’07 Energy and Water Bill wasn’t approved before the October 1, 2006 start of FY ’07. Congress reconvenes in mid November 2006, and we anticipate the bill will be adopted by December 2006. Mr. Bibeau noted the Dredging subcommittee’s September minutes reflect the Army Corps plans to award Acceptance Sections 7 & 8 of 15 in January 2007, using the available $3.5 million FY ’06 appropriation and the FY ’07 $4.1 - $7 million appropriation. The contract allows 60 days to remobilize, therefore dredging would recommence in March 2007. The Dredging Subcommittee’s regularly scheduled publicly noticed meetings continue to be held on the third Wednesday of every month, 10 AM, at 1407 NW 7 ST; therefore the next meeting is October 18. b. Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) - Mr. Jim Murley noted the September minutes include the City of Miami Planning Department’s presentation of the draft Miami 21 Eastern Quadrant, which includes zoning amendments for every parcel along the River’s north shore from Biscayne Bay to I-836, and south shore from the Bay to I-95. Staff distributed a summary of the proposed zoning amendments for the riverfront parcels only. Mr. Murley noted the UIWG recommends creating a riverfront district with different requirements than landlocked parcels, such as larger riverfront setbacks, requiring publicly accessible riverwalks, etc. Mr. Murley added the City of Miami ’s Planning Advisory Board is scheduled to host a workshop, regarding the draft Eastern Quadrant Miami 21, in November 2006. The Planning Advisory Board will consider the draft again and vote on their recommendation in a subsequent December 2006 meeting, followed by its consideration by the City Commission in early 2007. Therefore, Mr. Murley suggested the MRC consider creating their advisory recommendation regarding the draft during the November 6, 2006 meeting. Mr. Murley noted the UIWG is soliciting transportation recommendations for the ongoing Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Plan to be submitted by the next UIWG meeting here, 10 AM, on October 20. The consultants will be finishing the first draft for review and discussion during the UIWG’s November meeting. c. Greenways Subcommittee (GSC) – On behalf of Dr. Ernie Martin , Mr. Bibeau noted that Greenway sections remain under construction. Mr. Bibeau added the Greenways subcommittee continues to work with our partners in the public and private sectors to determine the process of providing maintenance, security and special events. Mr. Bibeau noted he and Dr. Martin had met with the DDA in September, and per the request of Mr. Nottingham, he provided a Greenway Assessment within the DDA boundaries, which was distributed. The Greenways subcommittee thanked the DDA for agreeing to provide a pilot maintenance program for a section of the public sector riverwalk within the DDA boundary, located on the north shore from Brickell to the Metro-Mover. The next regularly scheduled second Wednesday of the month Greenways subcommittee’s publicly noticed meeting will take place October 11, here at 2 pm . d. Stormwater Subcommittee (SSC) – Ms. Sallye Jude noted the Stormwater Subcommittee’s next regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month publicly noticed meeting will be held this Wednesday, October 4, 10 am, Miami River Inn, 118 S. River Drive. The agenda includes an Update regarding the City of Miami ’s Advertised RFQ to dredge the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal from NW 20 ST to the Miami River . e. Economic Development & Commerce (EDC) – Ms. Megan Kelly noted The EDC’s next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting will be held here on October 18, at 3 PM . The agenda includes a presentation and review of the “The Economic Development Impacts of Merrill-Stevens Comprehensive Revitalization of the Miami River Through the Modernization and Expansion of it Dry-Dock Ship Repair Facilities”, prepared by J. Antonio Villamil, CEO and Charles K. Yaros, Economist, the Washington Economics Group, Inc. f. Miami River Public Safety Committee – Mr. Robert Ruano deferred to Dr. Fran Bohnsack. Dr. Bohnsack noted she had partnered with the City of Miami on a Round 6 TSA federal grant application, to provide funding for the City of Miami’s Bomb Squad and a regional domain awareness project that would regionally link a security system with the Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades Port of Miami and the Miami River, but the river didn’t received any funding. Dr. Bohnsack noted a follow-up meeting with the Coast Guard and higher ranked officials would be scheduled in the near future to explain the potential change made to the grant’s ranking criteria after the applications were submitted, which may have negatively impacted the determination to not award the grant. Mr. Ruano stated he would like to attend the aforementioned meeting. Dr. Bohnsack stated she plans on applying for a federal TSA Round 7 grant to provide Homeland Security funding for the Miami River. IV. New Business - Ms. Sallye Jude noted “Florida Monthly” magazine had named the Miami River Inn “ Miami ’s Best Bed and Breakfast.
IV. Adjournment	There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting adjourned. _____________________________Recording Secretary
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The Dredging Subcommittee’s regularly scheduled publicly noticed meetings continue to be held on the third Wednesday of every month, 10 AM, at 1407 NW 7 ST; therefore the next meeting is October 18.