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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
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  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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The Greenways subcommittee convened the meeting with a presentation from Bill Borges, East Little Havana Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), regarding a Greenway and beautification project on South River Drive beneath the First Street bridge.  Mr. Borges was instrumental in the creation of the new East Little Havana Riverside Garden on south River Drive beneath the Flagler Bridge.  The proposed project beneath the First Street Bridge features a 2 feet deep, 10 feet wide replica of the historic Miami River Rapids and two mural paintings.  The Greenways subcommittee voted unanimously to support the beautification project beneath the First Street Bridge.  This resolution of support will be provided in writing to Mr. Borges and the East Little Havana (NET) office.  Mr. Borges stated he was interested in expanding the scope of the project to include landscaping and Greenways along South River Drive between Jose Marti Park and the Fifth Street Bridge.  The Greenways subcommittee requested a meeting with the Trust for Public Land, Sara Ingle, and Maria Nardi, City of Miami, to discuss Mr. Borges proposal.  Borges is pursuing floating docks for small boat access to the East Little Havana Riverside Garden and the proposed First Street Bridge project.  The First Street Bridge proposed project completion is schueled for March 2002.  Mr. Borges stated the concept of a South River Drive Street Festival on April 21, 2002 is in preliminary planning stages and the Greenways subcommittee expressed their interest to participate.  Brett Bibeau informed the subcommittee that the Sixth Annual Miami Riverday is scheduled on April 13, 2002 in Lummus Park and suggested investigating the concept of combining the two free festivals.

The Greenway subcommittee reviewed the draft Greenways Work Plan, depicting the implementation status of the numerous Greenway sections.  Dianne Johnson, City of Miami, stated the awarded FDOT Flagler Street Riverwalk grant will provide $1 million for Greenway development between I-95 and Flagler Bridge and should be added to the Greenway Work Plan.  David Henderson, MPO, stated the awarded $1 million Ms. Johnson was mentioning will be made available in 2005.  Johnson provided the Greenways subcommittee with a status report on implementing the additional Greenways grants previously awarded to the City of Miami.  Ms. Johnson provided the subcommittee with a memo to the City Manger from Arleen Weintraub, City of Miami Director of Real Estate and Economic Development.  The memo requests authorization to proceed with the implementation of the “Fort Dallas Riverwalk” and “Lummus Park” riverwalk grant awards.  The Greenways subcommittee passed a unanimous resolution to write the City Manager in support of authorizing the process of implementing these riverwalk grants, which were orginaly awarded several years ago.  Ms. Johnson stated the process and approximate timeline for the grant implementation is as follows:

·          City Manager Approval – November 21, 2001

·          City submits Scope of Work to FDOT – November 28, 2001

·          FDOT produces Agreement to City – December 28, 2001

·          Agreement Review by City Completed – February 10, 2002

·          City Commission Agreement Approval – February 10, 2002

·          City contracts Engineer – June 10, 2002

·          Engineering – City did not provide timeline

·          Bid Development – City did not provide timeline

·          Permitting – City did not provide timeline

·          Construction – City did not provide timeline

·          Completion of executing four year old grants – City did not provide timeline

Brett Bibeau provided the Greenways subcommittee with information regarding the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Department of Greenways and Trails, Recreational Trails Program (RTP) opportunity.  The RTP grant provides up to $100,000  for Greenway development.  Bibeau stated he would like to apply for the RTP grant on behalf of the Miami River Commission to fund linking the existing Greenway which runs beneath Metro-Rail to the Miami River Greenway path.  The application would be to fund the Miami River Greenway then heading east from SE 7^th Street and First Ave. to the South Miami Ave Bridge. This Greenway section is part of the Miami River Greenway Action Plan, which was previously approved by the Miami River Commission, City and County Commissions.  It passes the Big Fish restaurant and Club Rio, and continues beneath Miami Ave. Bridge, where it will eventually connect to the Greenway at the Brickell Commons mixed-use project, which is scheduled to commence construction in 2002.  In addition Bibeau stated there is a $1,000,000 grant opportunity available for park land acquisition.  The Greenways subcommittee passed a unanimous resolution recommending the Miami River Commission authorize Brett Bibeau to apply for the grants.  Dr. Martin stated he would bring the grant application authorization before the MRC on November 15, 2001.

The Greenways subcommittee discussed the Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement Bond issue, which passed on November 13, 2001.  The subcommittee requested a letter to the City Manager regarding the $2 million “Greenway” line item, which the City Commission added during their deliberation on October 10, 2001 to fund implementation of the Miami River Greenway.

David Miller asked Dianne Johnson, about the $138 million of old available Bond money which the press had been reporting about recently.  Johnson stated she would provide the Miami River Commission the itemized project list for the bonds.

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