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I & II. Status of Miami River Federal Navigable Channel Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding and Status of “Bank to Bank” Maintenance Dredging Project & Funding – Mr. Carlos Espinosa, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), stated he had received an e-mail from Mr. Eric Olafson, Miami-Dade County Department of Inter-Governmental Affairs, regarding potential funding for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging project.  Mr. Espinosa reported Congress is in the process of appropriating $327.5 million to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) for operation and maintenance projects for navigable waterways in State’s impacted by Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina, such as the Miami River maintenance dredging project. Mr. Bibeau distributed copies of the supplemental appropriations bill, which came out of conference, was approved by the House, and is pending Senate approval.    Mr. McIntosh and Mr. Espinosa agreed that the Miami River maintenance dredging project is the only operations and maintenance project of a navigable waterway in Miami-Dade County , therefore they would address the matter with the ACOE, seeking the maximum amount feasible for the project from this potential supplemental appropriation funding source.

Mr. Espinosa noted that Mr. McIntosh was currently applying for funding of “bank-to-bank” maintenance dredging of the Miami River from the FEMA Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) funding source. Mr. Bibeau expressed his gratitude, and asked if the County would apply for funding of the federal channel from the LMS funding source as well.  Mr. Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), explained although the federal channel is currently included in the LMS list, FEMA funding could not be utilized for the federal portion of the channel, since another federal agency has already pledged its commitment to fund the project.

Mr. Bibeau thanked everyone whom has written letters thus far to Mr. Josh Bolten, Director of the President’s Office of Management & Budget (OMB), requesting the $24.2 million pledged federal cost share balance due for the project be included in the President’s FY ’07 Energy and Water budget submission, including Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Governor Jeb Bush, State Representative Gus Barreiro, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, eleven County Commissioners, City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, 3 City of Miami Commissioners, the SFWMD, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, 9 international Miami River shipping terminals, a Miami River mega-yacht boatyard, and three River developers.  Mr. Bibeau stated he is anticipating additional support letters from Miami River Homeowners Associations, and welcomed Mr. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, President of the Durham Park Neighborhood Association, and Miami Neighborhoods United.  Mr. Bibeau added he is communicating with the Offices of Senators Nelson and Martinez as well, both of which support the project.

Considering current funding predicaments, Mr. Aguirre noted the project might not re-commence until as late as 2008. Mr. Aguirre expressed concern over possible sediments shifting into the dredged areas from the adjacent sections yet to be dredged, and asked if the Joint Venture of Weston Solutions & Bean Environmental had already temporarily demobilized. Mr. Bibeau stated the maintenance-dredging plant has regrettably been temporarily removed and the contractors have left Miami .  Mr. Aguirre asked if the dredgers were required to return, and Mr. Skornick replied that, to his knowledge, the contractors would be in default of their contract with the Corps if they did not return after the Corps awards the next acceptance section, after the federal cost share becomes available. Mr. Espinosa noted the Corps had anticipated a temporary demobilization, since the contracted dredgers had been working quite efficiently, surpassing everyone’s original expectations and the contract’s five-year timeframe.  Mr. Bibeau explained the contractors are paid a flat fee per dredged cubic yard, and 40% of the project, Acceptance Sections 1-6 of 15, has been completed in only one year.  Mr. Espinosa stated the property’s leased for use by the contractors will remain available upon their return to complete the project.  In addition, Mr. Espinosa stated all dredging permits will remain in effect until 2008, and the only permits which will need to be renewed are the building permits for the processing plant.

Mr. Bibeau asked the County to continue placing pressure on OMB Director Bolten to include the $24.2 million federal cost share balance due in the President’s FY ’07 budget submission, which is scheduled for release in early February 2006.

New Business – Mr. Skornick stated the SFWMD is executing the acceptance of the awarded FIND grant for a cost share in Acceptance Sections 9-11, and in April 2006 will file the application for FIND’s final pledged cost share in Acceptance Sections 12-15.  Mr. Skornick stated FIND will announce the awards for the April application in July 2006.

The Dredging Subcommittee confirmed the next regularly scheduled third Wednesday of the month meeting for January 18, 2006, 10 am, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 Street.

The meeting adjourned.

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