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

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

Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, noted per the request of SSC Chair Ms. Sallye Jude, representatives from the City, County, South Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will continue to rotate leading attendees through the agenda.  Mr. Bibeau noted the City of Miami lead the April meeting, therefore invited Mr. Rod Lovett , Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD), to lead this month’s meeting.  Mr. Lovett kindly accepted and asked Mr. Jose Lago , City of Miami , to provide an update regarding Wagner Creek.

I. Status of the Draft Wagner Creek Corrective Action Plan and Dredging Permit Applications – Mr. Lago reported in May 2006 the City of Miami will nationally advertise a Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) for Wagner Creek Dredging Phases III -V and Seybold Canal .  Mr. Lago stated upon advertising the RFLI, he would provide a copy to the MRC.

Mr. Bibeau noted City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones had asked City of Miami staff for an update regarding Wagner Creek, as one of her “Discussion Items” during the City Commission’s April 27, 2006 meeting.  Mr. Bibeau stated during the City Commission discussion, Ms. Mary Conway , City of Miami Capital Improvements Director, reported the estimated cost for dredging Wagner Creek and the Seybold Canal is $17 million, and the City of Miami currently has $3 million available for the project.  Mr. Lago stated the $17 million figure is based on the Sub-Aqueous Services, Inc estimate for the project.  Mr. Bibeau noted Commissioner Spence-Jones expressed her support of the project during the City Commission meeting, as Commissioner Joe Sanchez voiced his concern regarding the project’s protracted timeline.  Mr. Bibeau asked how the City planned to secure the additional funds necessary to award the RFLI, and Mr. Lago replied he would look into that.  Mr. Bibeau offered the MRC’s assistance.

II.  Update on the Development of TMDL’s for Wagner Creek - Ms. Diane Waters, City of Miami, asked if MRC staff could amend last month’s minutes  (Agenda Item II, bottom of page 1- top of page 2) to indicate that the City of Miami had issued a Notice to Proceed to PBS & J, who has already conducted a site visit of Wagner Creek. Ms. Waters added FDEP, DERM, and the City of Miami would meet on-site in mid-May.

Mr. Bibeau provided and reviewed with City and County representatives House Bill 7075-Agruculture, which clarifies rulemaking authority relating to pollution reduction.

III. Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Wagner Creek Western Sub Basin - Mr. Rod Lovett , WASD, stated that WASD Management agreed to bear the cost of completing the smoke-testing program in the Wagner Creek western sub-basin.  Mr. Lovett reported the additional smoke testing will take place in May, and he would present a report on the results during the SSC’s June meeting.  Mr. Bibeau provided SSC meeting attendees with a September 15, 2005 letter from the MRC to the WASD, recommending several WASD related improvements to the Miami River corridor, along with copies of the WASD’s new Director John Renfrow’s April 13, 2006 , response letter, agreeing to implement the MRC’s recommendations, including:

• Pump Station I beautification and utilization of vacant parking lot - WASD committed to hiring a design consultant for the façade treatment, which would be submitted to the MRC prior to implementation.  In addition, the WASD agreed, on a temporary trial basis, for the use of their vacant parking lot adjacent to the pump station for valet parking.  Mr. Lovett indicated if the restaurant valet parking is provided to customers for free, it may be possible to not charge a fee for the permit, and if the valet has a fee, a percentage may possibly provide a cost share funding source for the pump stations future façade treatments. Mr. Lovett added that the adjacent restaurant owners had yet to be notified of this potential agreement.
• Creation of a pocket park on a WASD riverfront easement in East Little Havana, adjacent to a planned section of the Miami River Greenway – The WASD has agreed to enter into an agreement similar to the one in place for the WASD riverfront easement pocket park in Spring Garden .  WASD would remove the existing fence and allow public access to the riverfront parcel.
• Façade of WASD maintenance location at NW 7^th Street and NW 7^th Ave - WASD agreed to façade the maintenance facility including adding a hedge and landscaping along the fence-line similar to the WASD facility on NW 11 ST.  In addition, the barbwire, which is in disrepair, will be replaced.
• Stormwater/sewer drainage system in WASD distribution yard, 1001 NW 11 Street - research means to stop berm overflow spilling into Wagner Creek and the possibility of incorporating an oil/grease separator to prevent possible contaminated runoff into the creek.
• SW 5^th Street (near new restaurant Finnegan’s River) – WASD is willing to remove their disconnected manhole, located on a unconsolidated shoreline, in coordination with a potential City shoreline restoration on this City owned public right-of-way, which has an unconsolidated shoreline shoaling into the Miami River.  The improved riverfront site greenspace would then serve as a pocket park.  Mr. Bibeau provided the SSC with June and July 2003 letters from the MRC to the City of Miami , attaching the WASD written pledge to remove the unsightly disconnected manhole in coordinating with the City’s necessary sea-wall repair on the potential riverfront pocket park site.  Mr. Lago stated on May 5, 2006 he is meeting with Capital International System on the site to create a scope of work for the necessary sea wall repair.  Mr. Lovette stated the WASD needs a minimum two days advanced notice of when the sea wall repair will take place, so the WASD may remove the manhole structure just prior to the planned sea wall repairs.

Mr. Bibeau and the SSC attendees thanked Mr. Lovette, the WASD, and its Director, John Renfrow, for his extremely positive reply to the MRC’s recommendations.  Mr. Bibeau stated MRC Chair Irela Bagué is drafting a letter to Mr. Renfrow, suggesting scheduling a meeting to discuss implementing the agreed upon MRC recommendations.

IV. Status of Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Funding for Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements – The SSC welcomed Ms. Ana Watson, Miami-Dade County Capital Improvements.  Ms. Watson stated the County’s General Obligation Bond (GOB) includes $212 million for storm water and sanitary sewer system improvements.  Ms. Watson stated $28 million (Series A) had already been allocated in 2005 for specific county-wide projects.  Ms. Watson added Series B of the GOB has $9 million available for county-wide storm water and sanitary sewer improvement projects. Ms. Watson introduced Mr. Richard Coates, WASD, who provided an update of available GOB funding for stormwater and sanitary sewer system related projects, within Districts 2, 3 and 5, which encompass the Miami River Sub-basin :

o       $93 million is available for yet to be determined projects

• District 2 ( Melrose ) –Will receive a significant portion of the available funding in 2012 for yet to be determined projects, and the bond series schedule may be shifted
• District 3 - Currently no GOB funding available; will receive $75,000 in 2015
• District 5 - $4 million available in future

Mr. Bibeau asked if the County had identified any storm water and sanitary sewer system projects to improve the Miami River Basin , using funding from the GOB.  Mr. Coates replied currently there is a $10 million GOB funded sanitary sewer system project located between NW 32 and 37^th Avenue , which will improve the Miami River Water Basin .  Mr. Coates provided a letter from John Renfrow to Roger Hernstadt, MD-CIP, dated March 20, 2006 , as back-up material for this project.

Mr. Bibeau stated the SSC created the Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Plan, which is available for downloading at www.miamirivercommission.org.  The Plan recommends several potential storm water and sanitary sewer system improvement projects, which would improve water quality in the Miami River water basin.  Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC respectfully recommends the County consider using the available GOB funding to continue implementing the Plan’s recommendations.  Mr. Bibeau stated one of the Plan’s unimplemented recommendations is transferring Melrose ’s antiquated septic tanks to the County’s sanitary sewer system, in unincorporated Miami-Dade County , which would also stimulate needed economic development in the blighted area.  Mr. Coates noted transferring the Melrose area to the County’s sanitary sewer system may face homeowner resistance due to potential increased impact fees and monthly utility costs.

Mr. Bibeau stated according to the approved GOB line items approved by the Board of County Commissioners on July 20, 2004 , District 5 currently has $15.5 million for storm water drainage and sanitary sewer improvement projects.  Ms. Watson replied she would look into that line item, and provide the MRC with any additional information.  Mr. Bibeau and the SSC thanked Ms. Watson and Mr. Coates for their assistance.

V.  New Business –Mr. Bibeau stated per the April 17, 2006 written request from Ms. Stephanie Grindell, City of Miami Director of Public Works, MRC staff compiled and provided the following documents & materials to assist the City of Miami in completing its Eight Annual report of the NPDES Permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  Mr. Bibeau provided Ms. Waters with two complete packages with the following materials:

Public Outreach

• City of Miami “Protecting Florida’s Water Supply: Safe Use and Disposal of
  Pesticides”

• DERM poster and informational flier “Make the Connection”

• DERM/Officer Snook “Make the Connection” coloring book

• DERM Pollution Prevention Program “Environmental Tips for your Home” English and Spanish informational pamphlet

•  FDEP “The Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program for Small Municipal Separate Storm Water Sewer Systems (MS4s)”

• FDEP “The Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program for Industrial Activity”

• FDEP “The Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program for Construction Activity”

• FDEP “The Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program Overview”

• FDEP Clean Marina & Boater Program “Clean Boating Habits”

• In coordination with FDEP and the University of Miami , the MRC hosted a Clean Marina & Boater Program public outreach session, April 5, 2005

• Miami-Dade County “Environmental Crime Stoppers, 471-TIPS” informational flier

• Miami River Commission Stormwater Subcommittee meeting minutes, February 2005-February 2006

• Tenth Annual Miami Riverday Festival bilingual flier and program; 24 environmental organizations were on hand at the festival, providing their respective educational materials

• Of Time and a River” 30-minute documentary

 Master Plan Updates

•  Third Annual Update of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and the Miami River Commission 2005 Report

 Litter Pick-up Events

• Hands on Miami Day-December 3, 2005, 2810 NW South River Drive , 150 volunteers, cubic yards of litter collected

• Baynanza-April 16, 2005, Jose Marti Park and Sewell Park , over 10 volunteers, 20 cubic yards of litter collected

• Baynanza-April 22, 2006, Sewell Park , over 100 volunteers, 20 cubic yards of litter collected

• Ransom Everglades Upper School Senior Class clean-up: May 16-18, 2005 , East Little Havana Riverside Garden , South River Drive and North River Drive, 20 volunteers at each site, 4 cubic yards of litter collected at each site

• Martin Luther King Day of Service-January 14, 2006, NW 14^th Street , Overtown, 250 volunteers, 20 cubic yards of litter collected at each site, event coordinated by Hands on Miami

• University of Miami Latin Student ’s Association-March 4, 2006, Sewell Park , 20 volunteers, 4 cubic yards of litter collected

Ms. Chase noted the “Stormwater Quarterly Reports” for April-June 2006 would be placed on the SSC’s July agenda.

The next regularly scheduled SSC meeting was confirmed for the first Wednesday of the month, June 7, 2006 , 10 am , Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

The meeting adjourned.

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