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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 8:00 am at Greenstreets Café located at 3468 Main Highway, Coconut Grove.

     The first item discussed was the December 12, 2002 City Commission meeting.  Brett stated that three resolutions regarding the Urban Infill Plan were unanimously approved.  He stated that Javier Fernandez stated that he wanted one member of the MRC to sit on the panel that reviews the bids for the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the economic analysis.  The executive committee unanimously decided to appoint Dick Bunnell as the MRC representative to the RFP selection committee.   Brett also stated that the Sewell Park issue was deferred until the next meeting at Commissioner Gonzalez’s request.  David stated that Commissioner Teele directed the City administration and Brenda Marshall of TPL to have some sort of plan of action regarding greenway development within the next 30 days.  The Commission also approved $4.1 million for the riverwalk for the “One Miami” development project.  The Commissioners did incorporate the MRC’s recommendation and did not utilize funds from the Greenways Item of the city’s Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement Bond.  Brett stated that he feels that in 30 days we should approach the City Commission and tell them that the only way to expedite the development of the Greenway and to dredge outside the federal navigable channel is to implement the Tax Increment Financing (TIF).  The economic study agreement will go before the Commission in January for final approval.  If it is started in January, then it should be completed in June or July 2003.  David stated that Jim Murley would like the MRC to forward additional resolutions to the City Commission to implement additional sections of the Urban Infill Plan, so that we do not lose the momentum we have going. 

Sallye stated that she would like to see the bridges painted a color other than gray.  Bob stated that it should be included as an agenda item at the next MRC meeting and Sallye could make the recommendation to the full commission. 

Bob stated that he decided that the fundraising committee would be part of the 501(c)3 corporation, Miami River Fund, Inc. rather than the MRC, since the corporation is the only entity that can receive tax exempt donations. 

David stated that the Seybold Point Development is a 12-story project proposed for the Spring Garden Area and it will shade a lot of the historic areas.  This went before the Economic Development and Commerce Subcommittee and they recommended that it go before the full MRC.  David stated that he did not think that there was anything that

the MRC could do in this matter, except to be aware that this project is under development in the river corridor and maybe give recommendations to the developer.  The area in question is zoned for this size development, and actually the zoning allows development that could be even higher than they are planning. 

Bob stated that a schedule of the City Commission meeting should be made available to all MRC members, so that they can start working the meetings into their schedules and showing up to support river related issues. 

Dick stated that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to issue the RFP for the dredging project in late January 2003 and it will be advertised for 45 days.  The contractor selection process will take 30 days followed by awarding of the dredging project.  The next dredging meeting is tomorrow, December 18^th.  David stated that according to the Corps timeline, May 15, 2003 is the projected time scheduled to issue the Notice to Proceed and the selected contractor must start work before June 15, 2003.

            David advised the group that he would like to have the consultant for the Miami River Tunnel Study on the agenda at the next MRC meeting.  The tunnel study might be completed by then or it should be close to being completed.  Professor Weiskoff an economist from Miami and Gary Fauth, a transportation economist from Boston, are completing the study.  Bob asked that this issue be brought before the Economic Development and Commerce subcommittee rather than the full commission at this time. 

            David asked for a motion by the board to accept a DERM grant for $19,000.  This grant goes to fund educational river tours for school groups, river tours for RiverDay, promote adopt-a-tree events, and promote stormwater education.  Gary Winston made a motion to accept the DERM grant.  Dick Bunnell seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  David stated that the MRC would be going before the Dade Delegation at 1 p.m. today to request dredging funds with the County.    The MRC will be making presentations to the delegation for our operational budget of $200,000 and also a legislative item to delete the sunset date from the 1998 MRC enabling legislation.  Doug Bruce is flying down from Tallahassee to be at the delegation meeting.  The MRC received confirmation that Senator Villalobos will sponsor these bills in the Senate and we have requested that Representative Gus Barreiro sponsor this bill in the House.

            David stated that it is time to do another audit for our grant.  We do not need to audit our dredging grant, but we do need to audit the operational budget grant.  David suggested that we hire an accounting firm to complete the audit like we did last year.  Last year it cost about $7,000, but that included the dredging grant.  This year David expects it to cost about $5,000 - $6,000 since new regulations (remember Enron) have increased audit requirements.  The auditor selected will be an accounting firm totally separate from our bookkeeping firm.

            Bob asked that either David or Brett give a report at the next meeting for the status of the riverwalk at the Miami Avenue Bridge.  The next MRC meeting will be January 6, 2003. 

            The Executive Committee wishes all a happy holiday season and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 am.

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