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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

I. Status of the Draft Wagner Creek Corrective Action Plan and Dredging Permit Applications Mr. Jose Lago, City of Miami, stated he, Mary Conway, City of Miami Director of Capital Improvements, Ms. Lisa Smith, Mr. Wilbur Mayorga, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), Mr. Jeff Marcus, Consulting Engineering & Science, and contractors Sub-aqueous Services, Inc. met last month to discuss possible means for dredging Wagner Creek and the Seybold Canal.  At the meeting, Sub-aqueous Services, Inc. presented attendees with a plan highlighting hydraulic dredging methodologies and sediment/water separation techniques for Wagner Creek and the Seybold Canal .  Mr. Lago noted Ms. Conway is considering issuing a “Request for Proposals” (RFP), which would entail two months to advertise, 3 months to evaluate and award the successful bidder and 6 weeks to contract and proceed with the dredging project.  Mr. Lago stated there is an estimated 15,000 – 16,000 cubic yards to dredge from the Wagner Creek portions, and a survey and GEO Tech testing is needed in the Seybold Canal portion.  Meanwhile, noted Mr. Lago, Mr. Mayorga is reviewing the proposed methodologies provided by Sub-aqueous Services, Inc. during the February meeting.

Mr. Rammo noted Mr. Robert Ruano, City of Miami , had researched the possibility of applying for Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant funding as a cost share for the Wagner Creek / Seybold Canal dredging project.  The FIND application, due in April, requires an issued permit, which will not be feasible before the application deadline.

Mr. Rammo distributed sketches identifying water bodies and canals to be cleaned under the City’s $1.9 million canal clean-up contract.  Mr. Rammo added the City was simultaneously drafting a work order for a consultant to inspect all work performed by the hired contractor.  Mr. Rammo provided maps of the canals which will be cleaned monthly for two years under the contract, including Wagner Creek, Seybold Canal , Comfort Canal , and the Lawrence Canal .  Mr. Bibeau commended the City for the significant canal cleaning efforts, which are a recommendation of the SSC / MRC’s Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report.  Mr. Bibeau asked if there was a reason why a portion of the South Fork and Tamiami Canal at the confluence of the River were omitted from the draft contract, and Mr. Rammo stated he would look into it.  Mr. Bibeau asked if Miami-Dade County ’s FY ’06 $100,000 appropriation for Scavenger 2000 services on the Miami River had been contracted, and Mr. Rammo replied he continues to coordinate with DERM on this issue.

II.  Status of Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Funding for Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements -  Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, stated that Mr. Jose Galan, Miami-Dade County, was unable to attend this month’s SSC meeting, but is scheduled to make a presentation regarding Miami-Dade County Bond funding to improve sanitary and storm water systems within the County, at the next SSC meeting.

Mr. Bibeau cited the County’s July 20, 2004 approved list of projects for the General Obligation Bond Issue, Page 1 - Project 386 - $15 million for storm water retrofits in Districts 3, 5 (includes Miami River), 6 and 7; Page 2 - Project 17 - $225 million for “water and sewer improvements county-wide”.  Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC respectfully recommended a portion of these bonds be used for storm water and sanitary sewer system retrofits in the Miami River basin .

III.  New Business - Mr. Abdelrahma provided SSC meeting attendees with DERM’s “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Quarterly Progress Report.”  MRC staff thanked Mr. Abdelrahma and agreed to make the report available online at www.miamirivercommission.org.

The next regularly scheduled SSC meting was confirmed for the first Wednesday of the month, April 5, 2006 , 10 am , Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

The meeting adjourned.

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