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
Dec. 5, 2005
12:00 NOON
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

Miami River Commission (MRC) Chairperson Irela Bagué convened the MRC meeting at noon , Monday, December 5, 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

• Bruno Barreiro, Miami-Dade County Commission (Arrived during UIWG Subcommittee Report)

• Megan Kelly, designee for Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

• Dana Nottingham, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority

• Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative, appointed by County Commission

• Jane Caporelli, designee for neighborhood representative Sallye Jude

• Charles Morton, Chair of the Miami River Marine Group

• Captain Beau Payne, designee for Miami River Marine Group

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

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

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

• Tony Garrastazu, designee for Governor Jeb Bush

• Gary Winston, designee for Katherine Fernandez-Rundle

• Ernie Martin, Neighborhood Representative, Appointed by City Commission

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

Others attending interested in the River:  

• Jim Murley, FAU

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

• Brian Williams, Office of the Governor

• Dianne Johnson, City of Miami

• Peter Bockweg, City of Miami

• Rodrigo Alvarez, Miami-Dade County

• Naomi Wright, GKA, MIC Earlington Heights

• Albert Hernandez, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT)

• Mario Garcia, MDT

• Bill Houppermans, URS Corp, Miami-Dade Transit

• Carlos Espinosa, Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM)

• Tim McIntosh, DERM

• Jack Schnetter, PBS& J Consulting

• Howard Newman, PBS & J Consulting

• Jose Fuentes, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

• Evan Skornick, SFWMD

•   Gene Miranda, Kelly Tractor

• Dick Bunnell, Bunnell Foundation

• Annie Gronewald, Excellent Real Estate

• Hannah Kirsch, Edgecombe Group

JOIN US!!
For more information, contact us via email at mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

I. MRC Chairperson Report: 

Chairperson Irela Bagué asked to entertain a motion on the MRC’s November 7, 2005 meeting minutes. Vice-Chair Phil Everingham moved to approve the MRC’s November 7, 2005 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Charles “Bud” Morton and unanimously adopted.

Chairperson Bagué stated Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, prepared a brief PowerPoint presentation of “Hands on Miami Day,” the MRC-sponsored and coordinated beautification project held on Saturday, December 2, 2005.  Mr. Bibeau noted over 100 volunteers from “Hands on Miami ” had participated in the volunteer clean-up event at 2810 NW South River Drive . On behalf of the MRC, Mr. Bibeau thanked Citizens for a Better South Florida for donating the trees and flowering plants, Brian Veale Painting, Inc, for priming and pressure cleaning beneath the NW 27^th Avenue bridge prior to the creation of a sunset mural designed by renowned local artist Xavier Cortada, then painted by the “Hands on Miami” volunteers.

Chairperson Bagué stated the November 23, 2005 MRC Executive Committee minutes reflected Ms. Gesana Hung’s, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, presentation of the Miami River Fund, Inc.’s FY ’05 audit, which was included in the board member mailed packages. The MRC received a “Grade A” review, having experienced no disagreements with management, nor any documented difficulties or irregularities. Chairperson Bagué noted she was pleased to report that 95% of the MRC’s total functional expenses are dedicated towards programs, and only 5% is used for operational expenses.  The Executive Committee unanimously recommended acceptance of the audit with the following two conditions:

1)      As described in the audit-required “Letter of Communications,” the audit recommends that the organization consider “utilizing outside assistance to help them in the process once it is determined that the benefits of maintaining the organization’s records on an accrual basis outweigh the costs of using such assistance.”  Therefore the Executive Committee requested MRC staff explore the option of hiring outside assistance to transfer and maintain the organization’s accounting from cash to an accrual basis, which will be considered at the December 20 Executive Committee meeting.

2)      Revising the first paragraph of page 6 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and other Information,” to read “The primary purpose of the Miami River Fund, Inc. is to serve as the financial subsidiary and funding entity of the Miami River Commission, the official clearinghouse for all public policy and projects related to the Miami River…”

Charles Morton made a motion to accept the audit with the two stated conditions. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Phil Everingham and was unanimously adopted.

Chairperson Bagué stated that on November 23, 2005 , the Executive Subcommittee unanimously recommended the MRC approve the 2006 operational budget, which was included in the board member mailed packages, with the following two conditions:

a.       Increasing the insurance line item from $2,000 to $2,500

b.      The Executive Board consider conducting MRC staff performance reviews prior to considering any future pay raises.

Mr. Charles Morton moved to approve the MRC 2006 operational budget.  The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Phil Everingham and unanimously adopted. 

Chairperson Bagué reminded meeting attendees that the MRC’s Greenway’s retreat is scheduled for Jan 13, on Fort Lauderdale ’s Riverwalk from 11:30 – 3:30 , and all day on January 20 at 1407 NW 7 ST. Chairperson Bagué strongly encouraged everyone’s participation in this important MRC event.

Considering the MRC dedicated last month’s entire meeting to subcommittee reports, Chairperson Bagué noted all subcommittee reports would be deferred, with the exception of the Dredging subcommittee.  Mr. Buermann, Dredging subcommittee Co-Chair, stated regrettably the Miami River maintenance-dredging project is temporarily demobilized, due to an insufficient appropriated federal cost share.  Mr. Buermann commended MRC staff on their continued efforts to coordinate and advocate for the completion of the project.  Mr. Mitchell, fellow Dredging Subcommittee Co-Chair, stated the President may budget for the project in his FY ’07 budget submission for the first time in a couple years, because the Corps Economic Analysis has been completed.  Mr. Bibeau noted the MRC had requested a written project status during their November meeting, which had been e-mailed to the MRC.  The status reports:

The Miami River Maintenance Dredging project commenced in September 2004.

• The project is 40% complete.
• More than 240,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments have been dredged thus far, in addition to debris including but not limited to 3 cars, 4 boats, 15 handguns and 3 bowling balls.
• The Miami River maintenance dredging project’s up to 5-year contract between the Army Corps of Engineers and Joint Venture of Weston Solutions and Bean Environmental is divided into 15 geographic “acceptance sections”, of which the first 6 acceptance sections have been completed, covering from the Salinity Dam at NW 36 ST in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, to east of the NW 22^nd Ave Bridge, in the City of Miami.
• The Miami River maintenance-dredging project will significantly improve the Miami River ’s marine industry, increase international trade, commerce and local employment, while improving the natural environment of both the River and Biscayne Bay .

• Thus far the following cost share’s have been expended in completing 40% of the Miami River maintenance dredging project:

Federal = $27.65 million

ST = $5.37 million

Miami-Dade County = $2.56 million

City of Miami = $1.98 million

Florida Inland Navigation District = $1.24 million

Total expended thus far = $38.8 million

• The Miami River Maintenance Dredging project’s 31% local cost share, including funding from the State of Florida, Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND), City of Miami and Miami-Dade County , have been secured.  
• The Joint Venture’s dredging process and plant have proved more efficient than anticipated by the appropriated federal cost-share funding.
• The up to 5-year contract anticipated the potential for temporary demobilization periods while additional funding became available.  The project is currently in a temporary demobilization.
• The dredging project will be completed when the Army Corps awards the final acceptance sections, as the federal cost share balance is made available.
• Mass dredging may re-commence this federal fiscal year, in August 2006, and subject to available federal funding could be completed in August 2007, approximately two years before the 5-year dredging contract terminates in April 2009.
• The continued strong support from South Florida’s public and private sectors for this long awaited project is sincerely appreciated, especially Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and the Dade Delegation, Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature, the Florida Inland Navigational District, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, Army Corps of Engineers, and the South Florida Water Management District  

Mr. Bibeau thanked the elected officials, business and property owners whom have written Josh Bolten, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, respectfully requesting the President include the $24.2 million federal cost share balance due to complete the project in his FY ’07 budget submission, which is expected to be transmitted to Congress in Jan. or Feb. 2006.

II. Discussion of Proposed Miami River Bridge Crossings for the MDX Interconnector & the MDT MIC-Earlington Heights Metrorail Extension- Mr. Howard Newman, PBS & J, provided MRC meeting attendees with a PowerPoint presentation of the proposed MIC/Earlington Heights Metrorail Extension. The proposed route, explained Mr. Newman, is located immediately east of the existing railroad bridge and, due to airport glide paths, requires a reduced fixed-bridge vertical clearance of 40 feet, effectively shortening the Miami River ’s federal navigable channel, which requires a 75-foot vertical clearance. Mr. Newman added that immediately west of the proposed MDT Bridge , the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) is proposing additional forty-foot-tall bridges for the Interconnector between State Road 112 and I-836.

Mr. Newman noted Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group (MRMG), had written a letter to Miami-Dade County exploring the possibility for MDT to donate the parcels of land acquired adjacent to or beneath the proposed fixed bridges for marine industrial uses, in order to alleviate the loss of over 1,800 linear feet of the Miami River’s federal navigable channel and reduce the negative impact to its marine industries.  Mr. Newman stated MDT had written Dr. Bohnsack, agreeing to coordinate with the MRMG and the MRC on having the parcels in question be used for marine industrial purposes, while maintaining the required MDT access beneath the proposed guideways.  Mr. Newman explained that MDT would only acquire parcels required for the MIC-EH Project, and lease and/or sell remnant parcels.

Mr. Newman noted construction of the project would commence between 2008 and 2010, and in order to facilitate construction of the proposed bridge, both sides of the river would be used as staging sites. Mr. Newman reviewed MDT’s approach to future land use regarding the project:

• MDT to include language for Maritime Industrial Use in RFP process for disposition of remnant parcels

• MRC/MRMG coordination/review in developing RFP language

• Coordinate with MRC/MRMG for joint use of property beneath structures for Maritime Industrial Use

• MDT to continue discussions with MDX for support of Maritime Industrial Uses on Miami River

Mr. Newman noted on November 14, 2005, the EDC Subcommittee had recommended approval of the proposed project, finding it consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, subject to future uses beneath and adjacent to the proposed fixed bridges be used for marine industrial purposes.

Chairperson Bagué cited page 2 of the November 14, 2005 EDC meeting minutes, “Commissioner Bruno Barreiro made a motion that the Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Subcommittee recommends the Miami River Commission (MRC) find the proposed MIC/Earlington Heights Connector to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, subject to the condition that MDT and MDX make the parcels adjacent to and beneath the fixed bridge available for marine industrial uses only, and include the MRC and MRMG  preparing any potential RFP’s or lease agreements for the subject properties.”

Chairperson Bagué invited public input regarding the item. Mr. Gary Winston, MRC, asked Mr. Newman if the proposed project would negatively impact any surrounding neighborhoods, and Mr. Newman replied that, to his knowledge and based on prior publicly noticed meetings, he was not aware of any objections to the project.

Ms. Megan Kelly made a motion that the MRC finds the proposed MIC/Earlington Heights Connector to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, subject to the condition that MDT and MDX make the parcels adjacent to and beneath the fixed bridges available for marine industrial uses only, and include the MRC and MRMG preparing any potential RFP’s or lease agreements for the subject properties.”  The motion was seconded by Ms. Sallye Jude, and unanimously adopted.

III. Discussion of the Draft “3^rd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan - Mr. Jim Murley, Chair of the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group, noted MRC staff had conducted a series of publicly-noticed workshops during November to create the draft “3^rd Annual Update” to the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  Mr. Murley stated the following amendment was proposed during the November 16 and November 21 public workshops:

•   “To support catalytic marine industrial redevelopment projects, including but not limited to the potential Merrill-Stevens expansion, Palmer Lake , Fisherman’s Wharf in Lummus Landing, the “ Tug Boat Basin ,” and the Upper River area adjacent to and beneath the proposed Miami-Dade Transit and Miami-Dade Expressway Authority fixed bridges.”

Mr. Murley noted the draft “3^rd Annual Update” found the majority of the Plan’s implementation steps have been brought to fruition.  Mr. Murley recommended the MRC defer voting on the aforementioned amendment until the January 2006 meeting in order to allow its board members a chance to review the entire draft “3^rd Annual Update”, which was included in the board members November mailout.  Mr. Murley then suggested conducting the “Infill Update” process, including its publicly noticed meetings and workshops, every two years, instead of an annual venture. Mr. Winston, after acknowledging the considerably low public turnout for the “3^rd Annual Update” November workshops, recommended that MRC staff intensify its public outreach endeavors. Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, replied MRC staff continues to publicly notice meetings more than seven days in advance on the Miami-Dade County , City of Miami and MRC websites, as well as the City of Miami ’s NET 9 station. Ms. Chase added MRC staff continues to e-mail agendas to local media outlets, such as the Miami Herald, Miami Today, South Florida Business Journal, Miami Sunpost, etc. However, Ms. Chase noted each local outlet publishes certain meetings based on relevance and priority.  Mr. Bibeau noted in addition the MRC directly e-mails meeting agenda to a large and ever growing MRC e-mail database. Ms. Chase asked Mr. Winston and the MRC board for any recommendations/suggestions she could explore to increase public participation in future MRC meetings.   Mr. Morton recommended exploring local advertising rates in an effort to increase public participation.  

Chairperson Bagué agreed to defer consideration of the draft “3^rd Annual Update” to the Infill Plan until the next regularly scheduled MRC meeting, and directed MRC staff to present a series of options aimed at increasing public involvement at the December 20 Executive Subcommittee meeting.

IV.  New Business –Ms. Dianne Johnson, City of Miami Government Affairs and Contracts Administrator for the Department of Capital Improvements, announced her retirement and acknowledged her pleasure in working on the City’s behalf with the Miami River Commission. The MRC thanked her and wished her the best on all her future endeavors.

Captain Beau Payne invited the MRC to a “P & L Towing” Holiday BBQ on Sunday, December 11, 2-6 pm , 2980 NW South River Drive .

The meeting adjourned.

IV. Adjournment 

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

_____________________________Recording Secretary

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