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

MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

This site
prepared and designed by
Mark Sell Communications, Inc. Public Relations

Project Status - Rene Perez, USACE project officer, was not in attendance but provided an email that basically stated that the project status with the USACE remained the same as last month, specifically that the Assistant Secretary of the Army has the full package and it still remains on his desk waiting to be signed.  Once signed, the Jacksonville District Office can then issue the RFP.  Fran Bohnsack asked if the economic study was holding up the project.  David Miller advised the group that the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) states the project can commence before the completion of the economic study, but can only use federal funds appropriated by Congress specifically for the project.  Once the economic study is completed and found satisfactory, then general USACE maintenance dredging funds can be utilized. 

Status of Bank-to Bank Project -.  Roman Gastesi advised the group that the required Miami-Dade County Permit for the “bank-to-bank” project will go before the County Commissioners on July 22, 2003 .  It was reported by Ed Swakon that 78% of all parcels along the river have signed consent forms to allow the dredging outside the federal channel.  Susan Markley, DERM, advised the group that a clarification letter was sent to one property owner explaining “The <signing of the consent> form does not attribute responsibility or blame to the owner as to the cause of the sediment contamination or require the owner to pay a fee.”  The group expressed the desire to have as many riverfront property owners sign the consent form as possible.  The county will develop a procedure to allow property owners that may sign the consent form after permit approval, to be included in the bank-to-bank dredging.  Discussion ensued.  It was noted that the PCA has estimated 184,000 cubic yards of sediment outside the federal channel, but most of the group expected this figure to be over stated and it probably would be less.  Roman Gastesi advised that the county and city both want to complete this “bank-to-bank” dredging and have had several meetings concerning the necessary funding.  The county has a line item in the upcoming year’s budget for the bank-to-bank dredging.  Discussion ensued about the public hearing required for the permit.  Susan Markley advised that several environmental groups had requested a public hearing, however, no one in the dredging group has received any negative comments concerning the project.  Dick Bunnell was concerned that the Commissioner’s would be asking about the cost.  Roman advised that this was just for issuing the permit and it would be difficult to detail the costs of the bank-to-bank project, as the exact amount of sediment outside the channel is not clearly defined.  Susan noted that most grant funding requires that necessary permits be in place before authorizing the grant and that this particular issue should be brought to the Commissioner’s attention.

Utility Crossings – David Miller reported a meeting was held on July 7, 2003 and all utility companies reported that they were in good shape.  The utility relocations are proceeding well and at this time all utilities will be relocated before the dredging project will pass their respective areas.

New Business – The next dredging meeting was scheduled for August 27, 2003 at 10 am , at the Rosenstiel School . 

  HOME        CALENDARS       ABOUT THE RIVER          ABOUT THE COMMISSION         DREDGING      GREENWAYS   
URBAN INFILL PLANS           STORMWATER RETROFITTING            MINUTES OF MEETINGS      LINKS