I.  Status of Working Waterfront Legislation - Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, noted as directed during the EDC’s July meeting, MRC staff has begun briefing the City and County on the State’s recently adopted working waterfront legislation.  The new State legislation provides the City and County the option to adopt local ordinances in order to provide incentives for marine industrial businesses.  Mr. Everingham added he would place the issue on the Waterfront Advisory Board’s October meeting agenda.

II. Status of the Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay Ordinance - Mr. Bibeau stated he had recently met with the Director of Miami-Dade County’s Planning and Zoning Department, Ms. Dianne Quinn O’Williams, on the final MRC and United States Coast Guard recommended revisions to the draft Miami-Dade County Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay, including:  

·        Section 33-278.8 - Amending the required on-site parking to be allowed either in front of or behind the required fence and or wall.

·        Section 33-278.8 - Amending the barbed wire specs to allow any type of barbed wire on the top one foot of the fence.  Bibeau noted “concertina” barbed wire is allowed under the Federal Maritime Security Act, and several Marine Industrial businesses recently installed “concertina” in order to be consistent with the Federal regulations.  Bibeau stated although the Planning Department indicated the County prohibited concertina barbed wire, there are a couple Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department Facilities within the Miami River corridor, which have concertina barbed wire on top of their fences.

·        Section 33-51 - Inserting an exemption to the sideyard and front setback requirements for small guardhouses, which are required by the USCG and the Federal Maritime Security Act.

·        Section 33-278.6 (11) (a) and (b) - Inserting retail marine industrial, in addition to wholesale.

Mr. Bibeau reported the Planning Director indicated the revised Marine Industrial Zoning Ordinance would be presented to the County Commission before the end of 2005.

III. Status of the “Boat Slip Bank” Resolution

Mr. Bibeau stated he would inquire from the County Manager ’s Office whom has been assigned with preparing the Boat Slip Bank’s policy and guidelines, as directed in May 2005 when the Board of County Commissioners passed the “Boat Slip Bank” resolution.

IV. Discussion of Proposed Miami River Bridge Crossings for the MDX Interconnector & the MDT MIC-Earlington Heights Metrorial Extension - Mr. Howard Newman, PBS & J, provided EDC meeting attendees with a PowerPoint presentation of the proposed MIC/Earlington Heights Metrorail Extension. Mr. Newman stated the proposed vertical clearance of the fixed Metro-Rail Bridge over the Miami River ’s Federal Navigable Channel is approximately 40 feet. Mr. Newman added that although the MPO’s Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) had selected an alignment along NW 32 Ave, with a 75-foot vertical clearance fixed bridge over the Miami River , therefore not requiring a shortening of the Federal Navigable channel, which requires fixed bridges to have a minimum 75-foot vertical clearance.  Subsequently, the MPO denied the CAC selected “Local Preferred Alternative”, and selected the currently proposed route immediately east of the existing railroad bridge, which due to the airports glide paths requires a reduced vertical clearance of 40 feet, effectively shortening the federal navigable channel.  Mr. Newman noted immediately west of the proposed MDT Bridge , the Miami-Dade Expressway (MDX) Authority is proposing additional forty-foot tall bridges for the Interconnector between State Road 112 and I-836.  Mr. Newman noted none of the proposed fixed bridges would have any structures built in the Miami River .

In order to alleviate the loss of nearly 1,800 linear feet of the federal navigable channel and reduce the negative impact to the Miami River’s marine industries, Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group (MRMG), asked MDT and MDX representatives to donate the parcels of land adjacent and beneath the proposed fixed bridges to the MRMG, for marine industrial uses, such as a barge “Short Sea Shipping” operation, truck depot, customs freight forwarding center, etc. Mr. Alfred Lurigados, MDX, stated he did not know how MDX would utilize the property upon completion of construction.  The EDC noted the Army Corps of Engineers recently dredged the subject area in order to restore the designated depth of the Miami River ’s federal navigable channel.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack added that Miami-Dade County was currently revising a draft Miami River Marine Industrial Zoning Ordinance that would ensure unincorporated Miami-Dade County ’s portion of the Miami River remains marine industrial.  The EDC noted some of the riverfront areas in question are being considered for stormwater retention ponds, which would eliminate the possibility of marine industrial operations on the existing riverfront properties.  Mr. Mario Garcia, MDT, expressed a need to have the Miami River marine industries on board with the project in order to receive United States Coast Guard approval, and suggested that MDX be sensitive to their needs and issues.  Mr. Hernandez suggested that the MRMG draft a letter detailing their proposal, so that he may pass their idea along to the county’s legal department for review.  MDT and MDX agreed to report their findings and any updates concerning this topic at the MRC EDC’s October meeting, followed by a presentation at the MRC’s November 3, 2005 meeting.

V. Discussion of CAFTA, Central American Free Trade Agreement—Mr. Bibeau stated Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, had left several messages for Mr. Lee Saunders for a CAFTA presentation, but to no avail. Dr. Fran Bohnsack, MRMG, agreed to assist MRC staff in setting up a presentation from another CAFTA representative for the EDC October meeting.

The meeting adjourned.