The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Working Group convened on Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at 2:30 PM, in the Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Library Map Room.  Cleve Jones Jr. and Megan Kelly chaired the meeting.  The sign in sheet is enclosed.

Mr. Ric Katz, Communikatz, stated he is the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) public information consultant for the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC).  Katz played a 6-minute video, which provided on overview of the MIC project, which is estimated to break ground in the summer of 2003.  The MIC’s People-Mover component will be built no later than 2.5 years after the MIC core and rental car facility are completed. Mr. Andres Garganta, Consul-Tech (FDOT MIC consultant), stated the MIC core’s design is 90% complete.  Garganta provided a summary of the MIC’s connecting roadways, timelines, and six development phases.

Cleve Jones, Jr. stated he owns two businesses adjacent to the MIC.  Jones expressed concern that the MIC, and its associated transportation connectors and development, will impede vehicular access to his businesses.  Garganta stated the number of lanes currently available would be maintained at all times during construction.  Jones responded that was not the case when some roadway work was being done last year on 25^th-28^th Avenues, which significantly impacted access to his businesses.   Katz stated he wrote all MIC related agency engineers, asking for them to create interactive traffic maintenance plans.  Katz agreed to provide the interactive traffic maintenance plans, and updated MIC maps, to the EDC upon completion.  Furthermore, Katz informed the EDC that the MIC, and its related transportation connectors, are creating a “one stop” public relations task force, which will coordinate the communities MIC related inquires, and respond to them. The EDC advised the FDOT consultants of opportunities for a water bus stop, and Greenway around Palmer Lake, linking to the MIC Core.  

The next regularly scheduled 2^nd Tuesday of the month EDC meeting, will be Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at 2:30 PM, in the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy.

The meeting adjourned.