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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-421-4850
Fax: 305-421-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

I.  Status of the Wagner Creek “Corrective Action Plan” and Related Dredging Permit Applications

Francis Mitchell, City of Miami Public Works, stated that Jose Lago, City of Miami Capital Improvements Department, was unable to attend the MRC’s Stormwater Subcommittee meeting due to a previously scheduled meeting with the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), regarding alternate dredging methods, non-open air drying & disposal, and new potential temporary dredging sites for the Wagner Creek dredging project. 

II.  Update on the Development of TMDL’s for Wagner Creek

Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, noted he left messages on January 6 and February 1 for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Southeast Coordinator, Kevin O’Donnell, extending an invitation to the MRC’s future Stormwater Subcommittee meetings, but had not received a response. Mr. Bibeau stated he would continue to follow up with the FDEP’s TMDL liaison.

III. Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Wagner Creek Sub-basin

Mr. Rod Lovett, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), noted the status of the WASD smoke testing of Wagner Creek remains unchanged, since his department is currently awaiting a finalized agreement with DERM. Once DERM approves the job order, identifying the potential 1998 SWIM funding sources and submits the necessary paperwork, Lovett said the WASD would continue conducting smoke testing of the areas identified within the Wagner Creek Isolation Survey. Omar Abdelrahma, DERM, said he would address the issue with Steve Blair, DERM, who needs to send an e-mail to Maria Santa Cruz, WASD Special Billing Section, to move the project forward.

Francis Mitchell, City of Miami Public Works, stated the City had cleaned Basin 90 and Basin 310, and is commencing cleaning in Wagner Creek sub-basins 100 and 110, so that the Water and Sewer Department could continue conducting smoke testing. Mitchell stated the current contracts for cleaning stormwater sub-basins would soon expire, and need to be renewed.

Mr. Mitchell stated the City of Miami will commence installation of solid waste interceptors along Wagner Creek and in downtown, in July 2005. Mitchell noted there are 32 inlets along Miami-Dade County’s NW 17 Ave from the Miami River to NW 27 ST, and 26 inlets along 20 ST between NW 17 and NW 7 Avenues, and 42 FDOT inlets along NW 7 Ave between the Miami River and NW 27 ST. Mr. Bibeau commended the City of Miami for installing the solid waste interceptors, which is recommended in the MRC’s Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and encouraged Miami-Dade County and FDOT to install solid waste interceptors on their inlets as well.

IV. South Florida Water Management District Fiscal Year 2004 Contract Development Status Report

Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), made two clarifications to the SSC January 5, 2005 minutes, regarding the SFWMD’s state appropriations. The State appropriated $10 million to Miami-Dade County for flood mitigation projects in Fiscal Year 2005, $750,000 to Sweetwater and $800,000 to West Miami for retrofitting in the Tamiami Canal (C-4), $600,000 to Miami-Dade County for “bank-to-bank” dredging in the Miami River Acceptance Sections 3 & 4, and $750,000 to the City of Miami for the “Avalon” stormwater system retrofitting project. Mr. Bibeau noted all the aforementioned funding is for projects recommended in the MRC SSC’s Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report and the MRC’s Miami River Corridor Urban infill Plan, and commended the SFWMD and the State of Florida for their continued strong support for the Miami River Corridor.

Mr. Skornick stated the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) awarded a $6 million grant to the SFWMD for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project. FIND will provide $2.3 million in Fiscal Year 2005, and $3.7 million in Fiscal Year 2006.

V. New Business

Hearing no new business, Mr. Bibeau confirmed the SSC’s next regularly scheduled 1^st Wednesday of the month meeting for March 2, 2005, 10 am, Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive.

The meeting adjourned.

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