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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-421-4850
Fax: 305-421-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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The Miami River Commission ’s (MRC) Executive Committee meeting was called to order by Chairperson Irela Bague, on October 15, 2004 , 8:00 a.m. , at the Greenstreets Café, 3468 Main Highway , Coconut Grove , FL.

I.  Set Agenda for Miami River Commission ’s November 1, 2004 Meeting - Ms. Bague asked Bibeau to report on potential agenda items for the MRC’s November 1, 2004 meeting.  Bibeau stated the following items:

• “Brisas de Rio”, a residential development proposed on the south shore of the “upper river”, located at 1583 NW 24^th Avenue, formerly known as the “Florida Yacht Basin”, was presented to the MRC’s Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) on September 24, 2004. The proposal would require a Major Use Special Permit, land use and zoning amendment from Marine Industrial (SD-4) to Commercial (C-1).
• City of Miami requested presentation on the Evaluation Appraisal Report – Scheduled for the MRC Urban Infill Working Group’s October 19, 2004 meeting
• Miami-Dade County requested presentation on the City of Miami Springs application to annex the Miami River’s south shore and Miami Intermodal Center areas from unincorporated Miami-Dade County – Scheduled for the MRC Urban Infill Working Group’s October 19, 2004 meeting 
• Development proposal including land use and zoning amendments from Marine Industrial to Commercial, at the Ameritrade and Haiti Shipping Terminals, 517, 555, and 603 NW South River Drive - Scheduled for the MRC Urban Infill Working Group’s October 19, 2004 meeting

II.  Discuss Status of the Miami River Fund Inc. – The Executive Committee discussed the possibility of having fundraising activities in a new 501C3, and have the Miami River Fund, Inc. continue to operate as originally fashioned.  Mr. Phil Everingham stated the Marine Council was creating a new 501C3, which maybe named the “River Conservancy”.  The Executive Committee wanted to continue the discussion at a future Executive Committee meeting, with Mr. Gary Winston.

III. Discuss Status of Miami River Dredging Commencement Event – Bibeau reported the Miami River maintenance dredging project’s official commencement ceremony has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 10 am .  Bibeau explained the preferred site is in acceptance area two, and only acceptance area one has been authorized thus far, therefore the dredging partnership is seeing if the Army Corps will be able to authorize acceptance area two prior to the ceremony, in order to host it at the preferred location.  The Executive Committee directed Bibeau to continue working towards having the event hosted, coordinated and funded by all of the dredging project partners, including the Army Corps, Congress, State, County, City, SFWMD, and contractors.  If necessary, the Executive Committee stated the MRC may contribute no more than $2,000 for the event.  The Executive Committee directed Bibeau to see if the partners would agree to have Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen MC the ceremony.  In addition, the Executive Committee felt the individual agencies involved, Army Corps, Congress, State, County, City, FIND, SFWMD, MRC and contractors, should individually select representatives to briefly speak on their behalf during the event.  The Executive Committee stated Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle and River related grand jury members should be invited and recognized during the ceremony.  The Executive Board felt the current Chairperson, Irela Bague, former Chair Bob Parks, and MRC dredging co-chairs Dick Bunnell and Scott Mitchell should represent the MRC’s portion of the ceremony.  Ms. Bague stated she was willing to read the names of the additional MRC and grand jury members during the ceremony.  Bibeau stated the invitations will be distributed immediately after the site is confirmed.  

III.  New Business – Ms. Bague stated the SFWMD approved the $250,000 MRC operational budget.  Bibeau and the Executive Committee thanked Bague and the SFWMD.

Brett Bibeau stated after reviewing over 100 resumes submitted to the MRC’s Miami Herald advertisement for the Assistant Director position, and additional resumes from monster.com, he had selected Mr. Avi Witz, and as previously agreed by the Executive Committee, the starting “all-inclusive” salary remains at $32,000 per year, and includes a three month “trial period”.

The meeting adjourned.

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