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I. Presentation of
“Beethoven Promenade”- Mr.
Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, introduced Mr. Gus Noguera,
President of the Beethoven Miami Dade Society. Mr. Noguera thanked the
MRC for its work and the opportunity to address the subcommittee. Mr.
Noguera offered background information on the Beethoven Promenade,
including details on the renaming of
9th street
, to Beethoven’s 9th
Symphony Street
, issuance of the Beethoven Statue from
Germany
, and the unanimous support from the Board of County Commissioners in
designating the “Beethoven Promenade” on the pedestrian “M-Path”
area beneath Metro-Rail, from the Brickell Station to SW 8 Street.
Mr. NNoguera
would like to extend the Promenade two additional blocks to the north,
ending at the
Miami River
’s south shore. Noguera
offered the Beethoven Society’s volunteer assistance in maintaining
this existing M-Path area, located in public right-of-way.
In addition, the Beethoven Society would seek funds to construct
the “Beethoven Dancing Fountains” in the promenade area, adjacent to
the
Miami River
. Mr. Noguera stated that this
South
Shore
location could then be a place where citizens would have the opportunity
to relax and enjoy the river. Mr. Bibeau, reminded the Greenways
subcommittee that in 2002 the MRC had recommended that Miami-Dade
Transit (MDT) unlock the gate in the fence around the proposed Beethoven
Promenade expansion area, in order to allow public access to this
existing riverfront pedestrian path.
Bibeau reported that MDT agreed with the MRC’s recommendation,
yet the unlocking of the gate has not been consistent.
The MRC Greenway’s subcommittee decided to recommended that the
MRC officially endorse the proposed extension of the Beethoven Promenade
to the
Miami River
’s south shoreline. Dr. martin stated he would include this
recommendation in the “Greenways Subcommittee Report” agenda item at
the MRC’s
June 6, 2004
meeting.
II.
Status of Miami River Greenway Historical Signage-
Dr. Ernie Martin advised the subcommittee that the Villager’s, Inc.
has officially agreed to extend the timeframe to implement their awarded
$25,000 grant for the MRC and Trust for Public Land (TPL) to install
historical markers along the Miami River Greenway.
Dr. Martin stated the Villager’s have accepted the submitted
marker prototype and Phase I locations. Dr. Martin advised that the
Villager’s Committee would be responsible for approving the text, when
written. Dr. Martin suggested using a professional writer, Dr. Jim
Broton, for the text writing. Ms.
Lavinia Freeman, TPL, recommended inviting Mr. Chris Rogers to the
Greenways Subcommittee meetings, to ensure that he is aware of the
direction and progress of the project.
Ms. Freeman also suggested creating a work schedule and timeline
that would be feasible for all parties.
Mr. Brett Bibeau noted that the locations
for Phase I of the project could be found in the December Greenway
Minutes and included:
Lummus
Park
, Wagner Homestead,
Fort
Dallas
,
Sewell
Park
,
Jose
Marti
Park
, Flagler Workers House, Miami River Inn, East Coast Fisheries,
Scottish
Rite
Temple
,
Point
Park
.
III.
Status of Miami River Greenway Items in the City of
Miami Homeland Defense
and Neighborhood Improvement Bond Issue -
Mr. Kevin Brown, Greenway’s Consultant to the City of
Miami
from Consul Tech, provided the subcommittee with a status report on
segment plans completed, in progress, and approved by the City. Mr.
Brown stated that the Neo Lofts Miami River Greenway Construction
Documents are completed and approved by the City of
Miami
. Brown stated the Neo Lofts
section requires a license agreement with the owners of the adjacent
Caribe Fisheries, and will require the City to advertise a Request for
Proposal to hire a construction company, because the Neo contractors
have completed their work and left the site.
Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, offered to provide Brown
with additional updated contact information for the property owner.
Mr. Brown stated that 60% complete construction documents would
be completed by
May 16, 2004
on the following Miami River Greenway Sections:
-
“Section
A”, which was awarded a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
grant titled “Lummus Park Extension”, located along North River
Drive between 6th Ave and NW 3 Street
-
“Section
F”, located at
S. River Drive
between SW 1st and SW 2nd Streets
-
“Section
G”. known as Jose Marti Park Part II
Mr. Bibeau and
Dr. Martin asked for copies of the aforementioned construction documents
to be provided to the MRC. Dr. Martin thanked Mr. Brown and Ms. Jacks
Palomino, City of Miami Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Department,
for attending the Greenways subcommittee meeting and providing the
detailed progress report. The MRC Greenways subcommittee commended the
city of
Miami
and its CIP Department for making progress in implanting the adopted
Miami River Greenway Action Plan.
IV.
New Business- Mr. Bibeau
stated he has served as Commissioner Bruno Barreiro’s appointee to the
Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Committee (BPAC) since 2001. The
FDOT 5 year funding plan (TIP) was reviewed during the BPAC’s April
meeting. Bibeau reminded the
City of
Miami
representatives that they need to provide the FDOT a written request to
amend the previously awarded Miami River Greenway grant funding for one
additional year. Ms.
Jacks-Palomino advised the subcommittee that the City of
Miami
submitted a new $1,000,000 FDOT grant application to fund Miami River
Greenway Engineering documents and construction between
S. Miami Ave
and
NW 2nd Ave
Bridges. Palomino stated the
City of
Miami
’s required $500,000 match to the grant would be funded from the City
of
Miami
’s share of the ½ penny transportation sales tax.
Mr. Bibeau
provided an update on the $100,000 grant from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails, Recreational
Trails Program,
previously awarded to the MRC,
and matched by $25,000 from the City of
Miami
. Bibeau stated the grant
required approved construction documents to be submitted to FDEP within
one year of the grant award. Mr. Bibeau stated the Miami Circle Seawall
requires replacement prior to creating engineering documents and
constructing the Miami Circle Greenway.
Bibeau stated the Department of State (DOS) mailed the MRC a
letter in 2002, stating the necessary sea-wall repair would commence in
the near future, yet regrettably the project has not commenced;
therefore it has not been possible to submit the required construction
documents prior to FDEP’s 1-year deadline.
Mr. Bibeau thanked Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen whom wrote
FDEP recommending a time extension be provided for the Miami Circle
Greenway grant, which was ranked 1st of over 30 applications.
The FDEP had provided a 4-month time extension, yet recently
retracted the awarded grant because the DOS didn’t have an adopted
Management Plan for the
Miami Circle
property, which is another FDEP grant requirement.
Bibeau stated the
Miami Circle
’s 2000 lease agreement between the DOS and
Miami-Dade
County
, stated the DOS would adopt the required Management Plan within one
year, yet unfortunately it has not been drafted to date. Mr. Bibeau
stated that the DOS claims that they will have the required Miami Circle
Management Plan adopted by September 2004, and the Seawall Repair will
commence in September 2004. Mr.
Bibeau stated FDEP encouraged the MRC to resubmit the Miami Circle
Greenway grant application, upon the required adoption of the Miami
Circle Management Plan and commencement of the sea-wall repair.
The Greenways subcommittee agreed with FDEP’s recommendation,
and directed MRC staff to resubmit the previously awarded FDEP Miami
Circle Greenway grant application, in order to secure funding to provide
long-awaited public access to the
Miami Circle
site via the riverwalk.
The meeting
adjourned.
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