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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
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e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I.  Status of Federal Navigable Channel Project Bid Procurement – Mr. Roman Gastesi, Miami-Dade County Water Resource Manager, stated the Army Corps of Engineers has extended the time period to review the submitted bids for their Request for Proposals (RFP), to March 12, 2004 .  Bunnell asked about the status of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Miami-Dade County and the Army Corps of Engineers (MOU).  Gastesi replied the County will execute the MOU by Friday, February 19, 2004 , and submit it to the Army Corps by February 23, 2004

II. Status of Bank-to-Bank Project - Mr. Bunnell stated on February 12, 2004 the City Commission unanimously adopted a cost-share agreement with Miami-Dade County to dredge outside the Federal Navigable Channel.  As there is no Federal cost-share for the “Bank-to-Bank dredging outside the Federal Navigable Channel, the City pledged $6,000,000 towards the cost-share agreement.  The “bank-to-bank” dredging is an option in the Army Corps’ Miami River Dredging Project RFP.  Gastesi stated the City adopted cost share agreement would go before the Board of County Commissioners when the ACOE selects the RFP contractor.  Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, stated the cost share agreement identified the Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) as a potential additional source to fund the “bank-to-bank” dredging, and noted the FIND grant application deadline is in March.  Mr. Carlos Espinosa and Mr. Tim McIntosh, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), stated the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has agreed to submit an application in March to FIND’s “Cooperative Program” for $2 million toward dredging outside the federal navigable channel.  In addition, the SFWMD will request a $1 million draw down on FIND’s previously approved 50% of the local cost share for dredging inside the Federal Navigable Channel.

III. Update River Utility Crossings - Mr. Gastesi stated that the ACOE co-hosted a Miami River Dredging Utility Relocation meeting on February 2, 2004 at 3250 SW 3^rd Ave , Miami , FL.   Gastesi reported the Florida Department of Transportation has completed their utility relocations, and the balance of utility crossings remain on schedule to be relocated prior to dredging the Miami River, which is scheduled to commence in late summer 2004.  Gastesi stated the County is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency (FDEP) to expedite the lengthy review of submerged land issues in obtaining the necessary permits to relocate the necessary utilities in preparation of dredging the River.

The Dredging subcommittee agreed to schedule their next monthly meeting for a date after the Army Corps of Engineers selects a dredging contractor for the RFP.  Since the ACOE current

timeline to announce the awarded bid is by March 12, the Dredging subcommittee scheduled their next meeting for Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 10:00 am, in the UM Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL.   

The meeting adjourned.

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