I. CHAIRS REPORT:

Mr. Parks asked for approval of the October minutes.  Sandy O’Neil made the motion to approve the September minutes.  Sallye Jude seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

II.    Security Assessment - Miami River & Terminals

            Mr. Thomas Rothrauff, the Trident Group, was asked to speak on this matter.  This study came about as a result of Category 1 Coast Guard funding for the completion of security assessments at key ports around the country in light of recent anti-terrorism campaigns.  This analysis could lead to Category 2 funding to help secure these ports.  The security assessment was conducted on the terminal members and the port itself.  The interactivity of federal, state and local agencies must be analyzed.  There is a need for Coast Guard security improvements so that they know what is coming into the River through the Port of Miami and Biscayne Bay.  There is also an important  need to put together scenarios for conducting agency and terminal security personnel training and specifically to exercise the interoperability of public and private security groups on the river. The river has an anonymity that lends to its lack of security.  Procedures for vessel arrival and departure notification as well as the acceptance process for ships arriving were identified in the report.  Smaller ships can slip into and out of the River.  One of the suggestions is that the Captain of the Port be notified directly about all ships entering and leaving the River.  The report addresses the need for ships not to be allowed to sit dockside for long periods of time while waiting for cargo.  The cargo needs to be collected and warehoused ahead of the arrival of the ship, so that prompt loading can occur.  This will prevent vessels waiting out the financial and man power capabilities of the agencies that are observing if there is a problem of some sort.  Member terminal security status was addressed by the report.  A basic set of controls on the River itself was suggested.  They are suggesting that they have a certain amount of border, lighting and camera coverage, especially waterside of the terminals.  The area needs to be more familiarized with everybody.  Law enforcement agencies need to be more visible on the River so that the area does not look easily accessible.  Federal, state and local maritime units must work and train together.  The mouth of the River is open and it was suggested that the maritime enforcement units have an office/station in this area.  They finalized this study with a Category 2 grant request to be able to fund all of the ideas and recommendations generated within the security analysis report.  Capt. John Smith asked if recreational boaters were also included in this study.  Mr. Rothrauff stated that recreational boaters were not included.  Bob Parks stated that he would like Gary Winston to take on the matter under the Public Safety & Security Committee should any concerns or needs arise in the future. 

III.       Sewell Park – Rezoning to Allow For Police Facility with Horse Stables

           Mr. Parks asked Major Thomas Roell to comment on this issue.  The police department is looking to move their stables out of Tropical Park.  They are looking at parks because space in the city is limited and they were originally looking for 4 or 5 acres.  Commissioner Gonzalez told the police that there is a crime problem at Sewell Park and that the police should look into moving their stables to that location.  The police department thinks that this would be a great location to relocate due to its central location.  They then initiated public meetings and made several presentations of the proposed project to various city advisory boards.  From the feedback they received, they scaled their original plan back.  The original plan also included canine and marine patrol.  The project now calls for the use of 2.3 acres of a 10-acre park to locate the police stables.  Major Roell stated that this issue is scheduled to go before the Commission on November 19^th.  The police want the zoning of the park to be changed.  Two trees would have to be removed if this project is approved.  He stated that each tree would have to be replaced or moved at a 5 to 1 ratio.  For every 1 tree removed, 5 trees would have to be replanted.  Sallye Jude asked about the possibility of utilizing Fern Park for the relocation of the stables.  Major Roell stated that the cost is prohibitive and the park is planned to be cleaned and utilized for baseball fields and recreational activities.  Bob Parks asked about the change in zoning.  Terry Griffin, of the Parks and Recreation Department, stated that the zoning change would only change the 2.3 acres where the stables would be to parks and recreation, the rest of the park would remain conservation.  Discussion ensued.  Janet McAliley stated that the Planning and Zoning Committee denied this proposal when the project was brought before them in a vote of 6 to 1.  Janet McAliley made a motion that the full Miami River Commission adopts the position taken by the MRC executive committee against the rezoning of Sewell Park to allow horse stables.  Sallye Jude seconded the motion.  Javier Fernandez asked Major Roell if a budget for the proposed project was available.  Major Roell stated that there was not a finalized budget.  Javier stated that the project seems to be moving forward too fast considering that there are no firm plans for the public or anyone to look at before making a final decision.  The motion passed unanimously.

IV.       Fund Raising Committee Report

            Bob Parks stated that the MRC created a fund raising committee with Phil Everingham as the chairperson to find funding sources to pay for things including our lobbyist in Tallahassee.  Our current funding does not allow us to pay a lobbyist.  The MRC owes Doug Bruce, our lobbyist in Tallahassee, $23,000.  The executive committee felt that there is no one on the commission that has the professional background to raise a large amount of money.  The concept is to hire some entity to do this for the committee.  Bob wanted to briefly discuss this idea at today’s meeting but the subject will be brought up for further discussion at the December meeting.  Bob Parks opened the floor to discussion.  Tom Parker asked how much money we would like to raise on an annual basis.  Bob Parks stated that we do not know how much money we need yet.  We have enough money to run the commission itself through July of 2003.  We have to start with raising at least $23,000.  Sallye Jude asked if a job description and a salary could be developed for this person as well as a fund raising expectation.  She felt that both the MRC and Trust for Public Land (TPL) could utilize the same person since both organizations are looking to create similar fund raising organizations.  Gerardo Fernandez proposed that we have some type of long term strategic vision for what we want to see, how much money we would like to raise and what we would spend that money on.  Sandy O’Neil asked if we are dealing with Mr. Bruce separately or if the issue of his outstanding debt will be included.  Bob stated that the debt with Doug Bruce is a just a part of this fund raising need.  Gary Winston asked if the MRC staff could solicit 3 or 4 fund raising proposals from various groups.  Bob stated that we it would be possible.  Seth Gordon’s group has already given the MRC a proposal.  The scope of that proposal included setting up a fund raising organization for the MRC for a $7500 fee.  Sallye Jude asked that the MRC interview individuals that might do this job for us.  Sandy O’Neil commented that she felt that the MRC should not spend more than $7500 on the creation of this fund raising organization.  Additional discussion is scheduled for the December meeting.

V.     Committee Reports

a.  Dredging Working Group

            Dick Bunnell stated that the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) must go back to the county due to a newly added paragraph from the Corp’s Atlanta Office.  He asked Roman Gastesi to comment on this.  Roman stated that the Corps added a paragraph stating that there is $21 million of federal funds allocated for this project and the project will run as long as there is funding available.  They expect that more funding will be allocated to this project, but if it is not, the project will stop until more funding is available.  This issue will go before the county commission on November 19^th.  This is standard language included in most federal contracts; it just was not in the original PCA.  He asked that the members of the MRC be at this County Commission meeting to support the dredging project and answer any questions that might arise. Dick stated that the final Request for Proposals (RFP) would be released in January with the award in April.  The start of dredging is expected in July or August.  Bob Parks stated that Brett or David would draft a letter to send to County Commissioners for their meeting on November 19^th asking for support of the revised PCA.  David Miller asked if Jerry Scarborough has been apprised of the November 19^th Commission meeting.  Roman stated that he has not gotten a hold of Jerry yet. David feels that Jerry’s attendance is critical for the November 19^th meeting.

b.         Public Safety & Security

            No report

c.         Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan

            Javier Fernandez stated that the City requested that a full presentation of the urban infill plan be removed from the November 19^th City Commission meeting so that it does not get bogged down with the rezoning items.  The City staff will be presenting the plan in a workshop type format and will seek Commission approval of a resolution regarding funding a maritime economic study of the River.  Brett will contact the MRC members with the time of the workshop so that it will not conflict with the November 19^th County Commission meeting.

d.            Greenways Subcommittee

Ernie Martin stated that they would utilize the money from the Knight Foundation to develop plans and construct the greenway on the North Shore at Lummus Park and the South Shore from I-95 to Flagler Street.  Lummus Landing has a different funding source through grants provided to the city and the city is now advertising for bids.  Dr. Martin stated there is a need for discussion of the greenway in Spring Garden, the on road portion of the greenway.  The City has some funding for this portion of the greenway as well as the Knight Foundation, but the City has not designated this funding.  Ernie Martin made a motion to ask the City to fund the construction of the greenway at Spring Garden in conjunction with the ongoing roadway improvements, utilizing the capital improvement program.  Janet McAliley seconded the motion.  Dianne Johnson asked if Dr. Martin had any monetary figures available for the project yet.  Ernie stated that he did not.  Gary Winston stated that he felt uncomfortable stating a specific source for the funding in the motion.  Javier asked that we be generic in specifying a funding source.  He felt that we should ask for a priority in funding this project.  Bob Parks stated that the motion would be requesting a priority status from the City in funding the Spring Garden greenway project.  He then stated that if this motion passed the MRC would send a letter to the Trust for Public Land requesting that they follow up with the Knight Foundation regarding the matching funding.  The motion passed unanimously.  The other item to be discussed is a request from the development project “One Miami” for $4.7 million from the City to construct the greenway in front of their property.  Discussion ensued regarding the project. 

Brett stated that the MRC was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the construction of a greenway at the Miami Circle Site.  The MRC is looking for a $25,000 matching grant from the City.  The City Commission will be voting on this issue at their meeting on November 19^th.  The MRC will send a letter to the Commission asking them to support this allocation.

e.            Stormwater Subcommittee

No report.

f.            Economic Development & Commerce

            Bob Parks stated that he, David Miller and Megan Kelly had a breakfast meeting with Jack Lowell, Loraine Blessing and Bill O’Cullom at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce concerning where we are with all of things we are doing with the riverwalk and the Urban Infill Plan.  The chamber has once again put our interests as far as funding in the hands of their lobbyists who are pushing for us not being sunsetted and attaining funding for the following year.  The chamber is in our corner with where we are going on the Urban Infill Plan.  They discussed some strategy for getting the plan approved on November 19^th.  Bob stated that he, along with members of the commission met with Commissioner Sanchez and his staff concerning ensuring his support of the Urban Infill Plan.

VI.       New Business

            David stated that a tri-committee meeting was scheduled to discuss the 5^th Street Bridge on Friday November 9^th at 9 a.m. at the Lummus Park Community Center.  The committees involved will be the Greenway, Urban Infill and the Economic Development & Commerce subcommittees. 

Brett stated that the South Florida Water Management District has funded the 2^nd step under River Environment in the Urban Infill Plan for $10,000, which will provide a river clean-up vessel.  Implementation of step #3 under River Environment was funded by Miami-Dade County for $20,000 to provide educational riverboat tours. Another implementation step under River Environment calls for an increase in the tree canopy.  Brett passed out registration forms for a free tree giveaway Saturday November 16^th in Curtis Park for Miami-Dade homeowners, which will help fulfill our goal of increasing the tree canopy.  Brett stated that for implementation step #4 under Neighborhood Improvement, which directs the MRC to lend its support to the “Clean-Up Miami” campaign, the MRC developed a partnership with Hands On Miami.  On Saturday November 2, 2002 they cleaned up Sewell Park.  Jose Marti Park and the Miami Circle sites have also been cleaned.  Bob Parks stated that Brett might want to contact students to clean up the parks and expose them to the River.