Arsenio Milian stated he would like to see the Miami River Commission (MRC) sit on the Biscayne Bay Partnership Initiative (BBPI) Socio-Economic team. MRC Managing Director, David Miller, let Milian know he has a seat on the Management Survey Team and MRC Vice-President, Phil Everingham participates with the BBPI as well. Milian said the MRC should expect an invitation to sit on the Socio-Economic BBPI survey team.

Milian stated the Stormwater Subcommittee meeting was a working meeting, not completed presentations. Alleman had faxed the members a list of unanswered questions for the upcoming Stormwater report. Rick Alleman stated that the environmental issues facing Wagner Creek are amongst the most difficult in the country, and we are here to fix them for the taxpayers improvement of quality of life. The Miami River Coordinating Committee 1996 Upper Wagner Creek Quality Improvement Plan tried to improve ecology of the Miami River, Wagner Creek and Biscayne Bay. Alleman provided graphs that compare water quality "Upstream" (Miami canal) and draws a comparison with Loc River, which isn't urban, but is on the Florida east coast. Data for the graphs was collected prior to 1996. Reasonable targets for water quality were set based on Biscayne Bay levels, but aren't to be misunderstood as rules or regulations. The targets were set at a low pollutant level in order to maintain high standards. The targets are beneath the TMDL.

Arsenio Milian noted that a major player in the Stormwater Subcommittee, The City of Miami, isn't present. The Miami River Commission will have its chairman, Robert Parks, Esq. write the City a letter asking for the City of Miami to increase their level of participation.

Milian noted the report is delayed and we shouldn't revisit all the issues. Alleman pointed out there is significant federal funds to implement our plans and the best report will get the allocations.

Alleman stated the bacterial levels didn't achieve their performance measure. The group was encouraged and hopeful about falling coliform, suspended soils, and ammonia levels. There are still improvements which need to be made, but the general water quality is improving. There was no new data available for oil or grease levels. Agencies, politicians and the private sector would like to hear about the improving trends.

The upcoming report needs to assess where we are with the 1996 MRCC Upper Wagner Creek Water Quality Improvement Plan, learn lessons from it, and formulate where we go from here. Furthermore the group saw the need to develop a process where we don't have to go through this lengthy process every four years.

The timeline is as follows: Status Report in October, draft action report in November, final action report and tracking recommendations in December. Individuals are responsible for different portions of the plan, which will be compiled into one report drafted by Murray. It was emphasized that people must be prompt with their portions of the report or their neglegence will be duly noted in the minutes and report itself.

The report will review 10 areas of emphasis. 

1.  Sanitary Sewage 

2. Compliance 

3. Water Quality Targets 

4. Stormwater runoff treatment

5. Monitoring 

6. Cleaning/maintainance 

7. Land Use 

8. Partnership in Implementation

9. Public Education 

10. Tracking

David Miller stated the report should be easy to read and technical portions be included as appendixes since it will be distributed to the public, press, politicians and their staffs, used in grant applications, etc. Milian would like to the report to reflect what has been accomplished by partially implementing the 1996 MRCC plan. Milian stated the local Neighborhood Enhancemnet Teams and Solid Waste Departments improvements should be highlighted within the report. Alleman believes those will be reflected in the reports conclusions. Milian stated that the City of Miami Public Works Department has been reluctant to come to the table and the Stormwater Subcommittee would like their participation.

Alleman believes the report timeline is realistic because we don't want to simply throw something together quickly. Milian and Miller agreed that we should wait since the report already missed the deadline to influence City and County budgets, yet the new December deadline would be in time to submit Legislative appropriations to implement the reported solutions to stormwater problems. The group could even submit state budget requests and Water Advisory Panel Applications prior to the reports conclusion, and support the requests upon the reports completion.

Milian stated that our "inkind" services could be considered the matching requirements of the stormwater grants. While dredging should be considered, Milian feels the cause of the contaminates which created the need need for dredging, must be addressed.

Jose Lopez provided graphs which showed the amount of pumping each sewage station did over the year to handle the loads. The average was beneath the 10 hour bench mark.

The majority of the unanswered report questions are for the City of Miami and their representatives, such as Hector Badia, aren't attending the Stormwater Subcommittee meetings. Hector Badia's supervisors gave him too many responsibilities to focus on this important issue, so perhaps the letter from Robert Parks will refocus Badia's efforts. By October the individuals will electronically respond to their portions of the report to Alleman.