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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7 St.,  Suite D
Miami , FL 33125

  Phone 305-644-0544
Fax 305-642-1136

  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Greenways Subcommittee (GSC) met on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 2:00 PM, Robert King High, New Board Room,1407 NW 7 ST. Dr. Ernie Martin chaired the meeting. The attendance sheet is enclosed.

I)  Discuss Future Miami River Greenway Governance - Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, reported on April 10 the MRC’s Executive Subcommittee agreed to await conducting a follow-up greenways retreat until the City of Miami provides the MRC requested riverwalk development plan cross sections and public easements/covenant documentation.  Dr. Martin asked MRC staff about the status of the City’s reply, and Mr. Bibeau stated after the MRC’s April meeting Mr. Steve Wright , designee for MRC member City Commissioner Joe Sanchez , asked MRC staff to provide him the MRC Chair’s letters.  Upon receiving the letters from MRC staff, Mr. Wright forwarded the letters to the City Attorney and Director of the Building Department.

Ms. Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land (TPL), asked about the status of the recommendations formed during the Miami River Greenways Retreat.  Mr. Bibeau replied that following up on the discussion during the retreat about the possibility for the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) Downtown Master Plan update to potentially include a Miami River Greenway pilot program within their DDA boundary (north shore - Biscayne Bay to Lummus Park & south shore - Biscayne Bay to I-95) which would focus on maintenance, security and special events, the DDA consultants contacted the Metropolitan Planning Organizations Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for input.  The Greenways subcommittee noted the item will repeat on the Greenways monthly agenda until consensus is reached on means to provide frequent maintenance, security and special events along the entire planned Miami River Greenway.

II. Status of Miami River Greenway Historical Markers – Ms. Chase noted Villagers Inc (awarded $25,000 grant for historical markers along the Miami River Greenway)  attorney Mr. Bruce Bounds had approved the MRC’s Miami River Greenway Historical Markers contract.  Ms. Chase added that Mr. Bryan Vasser, Baron Signs Manufacturing, would sign the contract once the MRC and his company had review and agreed upon a proposed payment plan for fabrication and installation of the historical markers.  The GSC suggested that Ms. Chase contact Mr. Chris Rogers, Yazi Signs, to obtain his input on the aforementioned payment plan.  The GSC agreed to review all text and images of the first six draft historical markers during the GSC’s May meeting.

III. Discuss Status of Draft Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards - Mr. Kevin Brown , City of Miami, was unable to attend the GSC meeting due to medical reasons, therefore the item was deferred.

IV. Update on Miami River Greenway Development – Mr. Bibeau referred to a letter from Mr. William Thompson, The Related Group, to the Department of State, offering to create a riverwalk, visitor informational area, public restrooms and packing for the Miami Circle site, which is adjacent to their Icon development currently under construction.  The GSC suggested the MRC invite Related Group representatives to an upcoming GSC and or MRC meeting to update the status on the offer the made in writing to the Department of State to construct a publicly accessible riverwalk area on the Miami Circle site, which is the south shore trailhead of the Miami River Greenway.

V.  Discuss Status of Miami-Dade County , City of Miami and Federal Bond Funding for the Miami River Greenway –Dr. Martin welcomed Ms. Ana Watson, Miami-Dade County Office of Capital Improvements.  Ms. Watson noted the approved General Obligation Bond of July 20, 2004 included a $7.5 million Miami River Greenway line item.  Dr. Martin asked Ms. Watson how the county planned to incorporate that funding towards the creation of the Miami River Greenway.  Ms. Watson noted the GOB would compliment other funding sources to complete the implementation of the Miami River Greenway Action Plan.  Ms. Watson stated the $7.5 million is currently schedule to be included in the bond’s “D” series, which would make it available as follows:

• $655,000 in 2010
• $1.5 million in 2011
• $1.5 million in 2012
• $1.5 million in 2013
• $2.235 million in 2014

Ms. Watson noted the county is open to recommendation regarding what sections of the Miami River Greenway should be constructed with this approved funding, yet has not decided what County Department, such as Public Works, the Parks Department or DERM, will manage and monitor this effort.

Mr. Bibeau provided copies of the Greenways subcommittee’s previously approved recommendation for the first areas of riverwalk to be constructed on County owned property with funding from the Miami River Greenway line item in the County’s bond issue, including the Robert King High facility at 1407 NW 7 ST,  and riverwalk connectors beneath county owned bridges, potentially starting with the north side of South Miami Ave. and 17 Ave. bridges, in order to create connectivity with publicly accessible riverwalk sections under construction at adjacent private redevelopment sites.  Mr. Mark Bailey , Merrill-Stevens, noted his company was currently undergoing a $40 million expansion, and would appreciate if the County would include them in any proposed greenway engineering plans.

Dr. Martin and Ms. Freeman asked if the County would possibly explore the possibility of accelerating the funding’s availability, and Ms. Watson replied she would need to forward that inquiry to the County’s CIP Director, Mr. Roger Herndstat.  The GSC noted the need to create engineering construction documents prior to developing any potential riverwalk sections.  Dr. Martin recommended a Redevelopment & Greenway Plan for both shores of the Miami River from 12^th to 17^th Avenues.  The Greenways subcommittee invited Ms. Watson to present an update on the GOB funding during the Greenway subcommittee’s report at the MRC’s May 1 meeting, noon , 1407 NW 7 ST, New Board Room.

The GSC noted the FDOT awarded the City of Miami $1 million for the construction documents and development of the Miami River Greenway (“East Allapattah Greenway”) within the boundary of North River Drive, NW 7 Ave to beneath I-836.  The Greenways subcommittee mentioned the City of Miami has contracted a consultant to create construction documents for the “on-road” Greenway along North River Drive from NW 7 Ave to NW 12 Ave, and if the gas tax funding is being used to development that section, the $1 million FDOT grant remains available for construction documents and development of the Greenway along North River Drive from NW 12 Ave to the west side of I-836.

VI.  New Business - Dr. Martin and the Greenways subcommittee confirmed their next public meeting for the second Wednesday of the month, May 10, 2006, 3 pm, 1407 NW 7 Street, New Board Room.

The meeting adjourned.

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