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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

In attendance were:
Brett Bibeau, Miami River Commission , Managing Director
Jose Lago, City of Miami
Rod Lovett, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer
Juan Bedoas, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer
Avi Witz, Miami River Commission , Assistant Managing Director
Lucas Rincon, CDM
Francis Mitchell, City of Miami
Omar Abdelrahman, Miami-Dade DERM
Pietro Taballione, Intern, Miami River Commission  

Lucas Rincon, Camp Dresser McKee, provided and presented the survey notes and draft “Upper Wagner Creek Isolation Survey” report.  Lucas stated the vertical survey, including opening of manholes, pictures, testing flows, etc, has been completed.  Lucas noted the potential improper connection locations, where water quality testing should be conducted.  Lucas noted the attached pictures taken with the manholes clearly show manholes completely clogged with debris.  Lucas recommended cleaning the manholes, prior to attempting to conduct water quality testing.  Lucas noted other manholes were found to be completely dry, because the water flows are blocked at previous catch basins with debris and sediments.  The City of Miami representatives stated approximately  $200,000-$400,000 is being spent each year to clean the storm sewer catch basins. The city agreed to clean the noted catch basins, then DERM would conduct water quality sampling and WASD would conduct dye flood and smoke testing in the areas reported in the draft “Upper Wagner Creek Isolation Survey” report, in late November or early December 2004 in water basins 90, 100, 110 and 310, using the remaining $15,000 of available SWIM funding.  The SSC noted the detected high levels of total coliform may be coming from the accumulated trash in the catch basins, rather than waste water.  Mitchell stated the City’s application for FDEP grant funding to retrofit the difficult P-5 inlets was denied, so they will be using $500,000 in impact fees and $90,000 from “Adopt a Waterway” to retrofit the troublesome storm water inlets.  Mr. Mitchell stated the City would like to receive additional cost share funding from the SFWMD, County, State, etc, in order to fund additional storm water inlet retrofitting projects.  Rincon stated the discrepancies found in the storm water atlas with in the field as built conditions will be corrected for the City’s atlas in their final report.

MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau discussed the three deliverables in the contract. They are survey notes, draft report and the final report. He stated that there is an amount of $13,446.25 left to spend on the “Upper Wager Creek Isolation Survey” for the “final report”. He asked for all MRC SSC agencies to provide comments on the draft report by Nov.22, 2004, so they can be distributed to all SSC members before the December 1, 2004 SSC meeting.

Rod Lovett, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer (MDWAS), provided the SSC members with a report on their Upper Wagner Creek Basin 50 smoke testing results.  The testing discovered 6 defects in four locations, which were all repaired. A total of twenty individual tests were performed in 85 catch basins. No improper direct connections between the sanitary sewer system and the storm drain system were found.

Omar Abdelrahman, DERM, presented their attached Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report progress report.  Jose Lago, City of Miami, stated they will present their progress report at the December 1, 2004 SSC meeting.

Jose Lago, City of Miami, stated on October 21, 2004 their consultants provided DERM with the requested additional information for the pending Wagner Creek Dredging Phases IV and V permits.  Lago stated he estimates to have all necessary permits by mid-December 2004.  Lago stated the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued their permits for the Wagner Creek Dredging Phases IV and V, and the Army Corps permit is 75% complete.  Lago stated the City of Miami is contracting with a new service provider to clean the debris and overgrowth along Wagner Creek and Comfort Canals.

Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, asked the SSC to consider the main stormwater and sanitary sewer retrofitting accomplishments over 2004, which should be included in the “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  Bibeau asked the SSC to determine projects, which may be funded with the millions of stormwater and sanitary sewer retrofitting dollars recently approved at referendum in the County’s General Obligation Bond Issue.  Bibeau stated the MRC is seeking additional funding for continued services provided by the Scavenger 2000 de-pollution vessel.  The original contract had the Scavenger working 7 hours per day, 4 days per week on the Miami River.  The renewed contract splits the Scavenger services city wide, resulting in it working on the Miami River only one day per week, or one week per month.  Therefore, additional funding is needed for the Scavenger de-pollution vessel to operate along the Miami River, and its tributaries, 5 days per week, 8 hours per day.

The SSC confirmed their next regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month meeting for December 1, 2004, 10 am, Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive.

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