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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

I. Presentation of Agency Quarterly Reports - Mr. Omar Abdelrahman, DERM, noted he had distributed DERM’s “Third Quarter Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Plan - Quarterly Progress Report” (July-September 2006), during last month’s SSC meeting. Mr. Abdelrahman added that, per the request of the SSC at the February meeting, he included a graph that measured fecal coliform levels, and would email the revised report to the SSC.

Mr. Jose Lago , City of Miami Department of Capital Improvements, and Ms. Diane Waters, City of Miami Public Works Department, presented the City of Miami’s “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Plan - Quarterly Progress Report” (January 1, 2007-March 31, 2007). The report is available online at www.miamirivercommission.org.  The following are some of the reports presented items:

• The storm water system retrofitting in project in Pinehurst was recently completed, costing $2 million, of which $1.2 million was from the SFWMD.  The new system contains catch basins and pollution retardant structures.

• The design for the stormwater system rebuilding in Downtown is 80% complete.  The design commenced in February 2005 and is anticipated to be completed in May 2007, followed by construction November 2007 – May 2008.  Estimated project cost is $3.5 million, and currently there is $671,495 available.

• In June 2006 the City of Miami advertised a Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI), to design and construct the Wagner Creek / Seybold Canal dredging project, and three firms responded.  The City Commission will consider the administrations recommendation for design, permitting and testing only, and perhaps for a portion of the total project boundary if sufficient funding isn’t available in May 2007.  The City Commission will subsequently consider a separate item, for the actual dredging, after May 2007.  The previous design for the project, created by CES, Inc., and funded by the City of Miami , may not be used, rather provided to the new design firm as background information.

• Scavenger De-Contamination Vessel – Services include removal of floatable debris, oxygenation, and decontamination of Miami River water.  Current annual allocated budget is $200,000 through City funds with an additional $100,000 from Miami-Dade County , for a grand total $300,000.  This is an on-going project and the contract expires in July 2007.

• Report of on-site storm water treatment alternatives and BMP’s - Texas Aquatic Harvesting continues citywide canal cleaning and maintenance.  C3TS has been contracted to perform inspection services for this project; Waterways where cleanup has taken place include Wagner Creek, Seybold Canal , Lawrence Waterway, and the Comfort Canal .  Mr. Bibeau thanked the City of Miami for contracting a firm to cleanup and maintain the canals, and inquired if the tree stumps left behind after the trees were cur down would be removed.  Mr. Lago stated the stumps might have been left behind because the root systems provide an element of shoreline stabilization, which may be jeopardized if removed. Mr. Abdelrahman concurred, adding that removal of the stumps may cause discharges into the canals.

II. Status of the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Dredging Permits and Corrective Action Plan – Mr. Lago addressed this topic in Agenda Item I.

III. Update on the Adoption of the Wagner Creek TMDL – Ms. Waters reported the new Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is yet to execute the final draft TMDL for Wagner Creek.

IV. Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Wagner Creek Western Sub Basin –Mr. Abdelrahman noted DERM had met with Mr. Juan Bedoya, WASD, and conducted site visits to select the next areas of the Wagner Creek water basin for smoke testing.  Ms. Lucy Perez, SFWMD, stated their existing contract with the MRC is yet to be amended to add the $15,409 in potential 1998 SWIM funding to cover the aforementioned smoke testing, since the SFWMD has yet to complete its internal audit, which includes the potential SWIM funding.  Ms. Perez noted Mr. Evan Skornick, SFWMD, is aware their SWIM funding contract with FDEP expires this month, and is therefore seeking a time extension.

Mr. Abdelrahman asked Ms. Perez if the SFWMD would consider funding stormwater system bacteria testing a.k.a. “source tracking,” a form of testing identifying human and non-human sources of coliform bacteria. Mr. Abdelrahman noted “source tracking” is a costly technique, ranging from $300 - $500 per collected sample, with 10 samples taken at 50 locations.  Mr. Abdelrahman agreed to email his request for the SFWMD to provide funding for “source tracking” to Ms. Perez. Ms. Waters stated that the City would like to be involved in selecting testing locations in the event funding is obtained for microbial source tracking for Wagner Creek. Ms. Perez stated upon her receipt of the e-mailed request, she would forward it to the appropriate SFWMD administration, noting the Miami-Dade Service Center had already submitted their FY ’08 budget request to the regional SFWMD offices.   

V. New Business-The following items were addressed/discussed:  

• Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC had executed the City Commission approved $75,000 contract renewal, and returned it to Elyrosa Estevez, City of Miami , for final City signatures.  MRC staff thanked the City of Miami .  MRC staff noted they had received the City’s request for information to submit in reply to the FDEP’s requirements for the NPDES permit, similar to last year.  MRC staff stated they will compile the information and attachments, and provide them to the City Public Works Department before the end of the month.
• MRC staff distributed the MRC’s 2006 Annual Report, which includes a report from the Stormwater Subcommittee’s Chairs, outlining the accomplishments in 2006.  MRC staff thanked all of the environmental agencies for their continued implementation of the MRC’s Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report.
• MRC staff distributed flyers for the 11^th Annual Miami Riverday Festival which will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2007 , 11 am to 5 pm at Jose Marti Park . Mr. Bibeau noted all sponsors and environmental agencies are provided a free 10 x 10 tent, table and chairs.  Ms. Chase noted the SFWMD and City had confirmed use of their informational booths, and Mr. Strattman stated he would reach out to Ms. Ivy Brown, DERM, to see if DERM would participate once again.

The next regularly scheduled public noticed SSC meeting was confirmed for the first Wednesday of the month, April 4, 2007 , 10 am , Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

Meeting was adjourned.

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