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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

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The Miami River Commission Executive Committee was called to order at 8:09 AM at Greenstreets Café located at 3468 Main Highway, Coconut Grove.

   Since the Miami River Commission (MRC) has several new members, Mr. Parks asked MRC staff to provide all MRC members and designees with the administrative rule passed in August 1998 stating any board member, or designee, missing three consecutive MRC board meetings can be removed from the board.  Parks stated several MRC board members are bordering three consecutive absences, so he wanted to remind them of the existing rule.

Parks wrote Mayor Diaz and Commissioner Gonzalez, requesting a meeting to inform them of the Miami River Commission’s plans for future improvements within the Miami River corridor.  Parks asked MRC staff to follow up in scheduling the meetings with the new City of Miami Mayor and Commissioner, after the holidays are over.

Parks noted the second special session of the State legislature, in an effort to drastically reduce the State budget, has commenced.  Parks had a nice conversation with Senator Silver, who indicated the previously budgeted Miami River Commission administrative and Miami River dredging line items will probably not be cut out of the state budget during the second special session.  Parks asked David Miller if he had any input on the special session.  Miller spoke with Doug Bruce in Tallahassee, who stated since the previously budgeted MRC administrative funds and dredging allocation were on the House of Representatives cut list during the first special session, they are also on the cut list for this second special session.  Mr. Bruce feels, after a series of meetings with legislators, that the MRC’s line items are in good shape.

Miller informed the MRC’s Executive Committee that he made a presentation to the Dade Delegation on November 19, 2001, regarding the MRC’s 2002 legislative requests for MRC operational funds, and support of Miami-Dade County’s $1.5 million legislative request to partially fund the Miami River dredging project.  Miller stated the Dade Delegation had very positive feedback to the MRC’s funding requests.  Sandy O’Neil noted that under the state law creating the MRC, the Dade-Delegation chair has a seat on the MRC’s board.  Mr. Parks stated the MRC will contact the new Dade Delegation chair, the Honorable Senator Kendrick Meek, and ask him to name a designee to regularly attend MRC board meetings.

Parks wanted to make the Executive board aware of a situation, which has occurred.  Under state law, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) has a seat on the MRC.  The GMCC president, Mr. Bill O’Collum, named Megan Kelly to sit as his official designee.  Parks mentioned the terrific job Ms. Kelly has done chairing the Miami River Commission’s Economic Development and Commerce subcommittee, which is really moving along.  Parks explained that Ms. Kelly sits on the board of the Downtown Development Authority.  Parks stated that for some reason, within a few weeks of her appointment to the MRC, the City Attorney wrote an opinion letter saying Ms. Kelly is removed from the DDA because she is holding two positions, which is prohibited under state law.    Parks has a copy of the legal opinion, which from a legal stand point he disagrees with.  Parks stated Megan wrote the new Chair of the DDA, Commissioner Johnny Winton, about this situation, explaining her desire to remain on both boards.  Parks informed the Executive Committee that he wrote Commissioner Winton a letter, asking for a meeting about this issue, and stating the total lack of support and participation of the DDA.  Parks feels Commissioner Winton is probably unaware of the fact that the DDA has completely ignored the MRC, when in fact they should be the group working closely with the MRC on our mutual goals.  Parks stated he wanted everyone to be aware of this situation, hopes to meet with Commissioner Winton next week, and have this matter resolved by the December 2001 MRC meeting.        

MRC staff informed the Executive Board that during all three of the Miami River Corridor Plan Visioning Workshops, the concept of a “boat-slip bank” was proposed to achieve “no net loss” of existing boat slips, as stated in the Miami-Dade Manatee Protection Plan.  The Executive board directed staff to research the “boat-slip bank” concept proposed during the public workshops.  Staff will determine if there has been any “net loss” of slips to date, and research the feasibility of the concept.  Additionally, Phil Everingham was concerned about the apparent delays in the permitting process for riverside improvements and that issue will be included in the review.

The Executive Committee discussed the internal process of reviewing and forming resolutions on issues.  David Miller stated if a River related item goes before the City or County Commission, the MRC staff brings that item first to the MRC’s most appropriate subcommittee, which provides a resolution recommending a position for the full board.  The full MRC board is then provided a presentation on the item, along with the recommendation from the MRC subcommittee.  The full MRC then passes a resolution on the item, which is forwarded in the form of a letter to the entire City or County Commission, prior to their deliberation of the item.  This current process was developed when the City and County Commissions passed resolutions requesting an “official statement” from the MRC, prior to their deliberation of agenda items, which impact the Miami River.  Miller stated that the MRC is consulted in an advisory capacity day in and day out.  The items to be heard by the City or County Commission are brought to an MRC subcommittee and full board, while lesser items are simply brought before the most germane MRC subcommittee or handled by MRC staff.  Brett Bibeau stated he would like to bring every river related issue before the MRC, yet the full board’s monthly agenda is too full to do so.  Bibeau noted that during the MRC’s monthly board meetings, the 2-3 necessary presentations do not even leave sufficient time to discuss the extensive work of the MRC’s seven subcommittees and working groups.  Bibeau brought a current example to the Executive subcommittee.  The City Commission’s December 12 consent agenda has an item extending a grant, which partially funded the Miami River Corridor Plan.  The grant in question required the plan’s completion on December 31, 2001, yet the plan is scheduled for completion in March 2002.  Bibeau feels that due to the capacity of the full MRC’s monthly agenda, a simple issue such as this should only come before the Miami River Commission’s most appropriate working group, and or staff.  Staff would write the City Commission in support of the necessary grant extension.  Mr. Parks asked for a motion to support the City Commission’s approval of the Urban Infill grant extension, which was moved by Sallye Jude, seconded by Sandy O’Neil, and unanimously passed. Parks stated Bibeau made a very good point regarding the length of the MRC monthly meetings.  Parks tries to keep the meetings no longer than 1 hour and a half, and provide lunch, so the meetings do not intrude in the lives and business of the MRC’s volunteer board.  Parks feels if a full day MRC board meeting were called, the agenda would be full, yet the board members would be unable to attend all day.

Mr. Parks asked if the MRC should take any position on individual parcel private matters, or stay focused only on broader Miami River issues.  Mr. Parks stated he feels comfortable with MRC staff directing River issues to the appropriate MRC subcommittee’s public meetings, as they have been, and provide the MRC Chair, and Vice-chair with a weekly progress report of all the items.

The Executive board decided on the following process.  MRC staff notifies the MRC’s Chair and Vice-Chair of all River related items, and provides staff’s recommendation for action.  The MRC Chair and Vice-Chair then provide direction for that particular item.  Mr. Parks thanked the Executive board for their thoughts during the discussion.  He noted that two years ago agencies would have done what they wanted on the River without consulting the MRC, and the fact that they are now seeking MRC input is a significant accomplishment.

Mr. Parks asked MRC staff to write the City Manager and Commission, regarding the recently approved Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement Bond Issue. 

Mr. Parks would like the MRC to remain involved in bringing the bond improvements affecting the River to fruition.  Sallye Jude stated she could not agree more.  Jim Murley stated the individual bond improvement line items within the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill boundary will be included in the Miami River Corridor Plan.  David Miller stated MRC staff has requested the City to provide the list of projects to be funded by the $133 million in previous bond issues, which is yet to be spent.

Sandy O’Neil brought an item to the attention of the Executive Board under new business.  On November 20, 2001, the Board of County Commissioners discussed the Miami Circle.  Commissioner Barreiro would like a portion of the $350,000 proposed for immediate allocation to the Circle, to fund the Miami River Greenway at the site.  The Executive Board directed staff to schedule a meeting with Michael Spring, Miami-Dade County Director of Cultural Affairs, and the County’s liaison to the Department of State’s Miami Circle Planning Group, to coordinate the inclusion of the Miami River Greenway in the proposed $350,000 County allocation to be brought before the Board of County Commissioners in Jan. 2002.

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