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

MONDAY
JAN. 10, 2005
12:00 NOON
(THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)

Chairperson Irela Bagué called the Miami River Commission (MRC) meeting to order at 12:30 PM , Monday, January 10, Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive , Miami , Florida .

• Chairperson Irela Bagué, South Florida Water Management District, designee

• Phil Everingham, President of the Marine Council, MRC Vice Chairman

• Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, Board of County Commissioners

• Roman Gastesi, designee for Mayor of Miami-Dade County Carlos Alvarez

• Ernie Martin, Neighborhood Representative, Appointed by City Commission

• Megan Kelly, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s designee

• Dana Nottingham, Downtown Development Authority, Executive Director

• Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative, appointed by Miami-Dade Commission \

• Charles Morton, Chair Miami River Marine Group

• Eddie Rodriguez, Appointed by Miami -Dade Commission, designee

• Manny Prieguez, Appointed by City of Miami Commission

• Debbie Zimmerman, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s designee (ex-officio)

• Captain James Maes, United States Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Miami (ex-officio)

MRC Staff: Brett Bibeau, Managing Director, Ashley Chase, Assistant Managing Director

Others attending interested in the River:

• Tony Garrastazu, Office of the Governor

• Brian Williams, Office of the Governor

• Jose Fuentes, South Florida Water Management District

• Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District

• Ellen Roth

• Robert Parks

• Janet McAliley

• Jim Murley, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Cantenese Center

• Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, Executive Director

•  Scott Mitchell, Dredging Working Group

•  Cleve Jones, Jr., Hydraulic Sales and Service

• Captain Beau Payne, P & L Towing

• Rick Veber, Spring Garden Civic Association

• Charlene Jacks-Palomino, City of Miami

• Karen McGuire , Florida Department of Transportation

I. MRC Chairperson Report: 

MRC Chairperson Irela Bagué asked for a motion on the December 6, 2004 MRC minutes. Ms. Sallye Jude moved to approve the December 6, 2004 MRC meeting minutes, the motion was seconded by Mr. Phil Everingham and unanimously adopted.

Ms. Bagué and the meeting attendees honored and recognized former MRC board members Senator Graham and his designee Ellen Roth, Representative Rene Garcia and his designee Vivian Casals Munoz, Mayor Alex Penelas, Robert Parks, Cleve Jones, Captain Beau Payne, Janet McAliley, and Theo Long. As a token of appreciation for their years of volunteer service, Ms. Bagué presented the former members in attendance with “Miami River Dredging, Official Commencement, October 27, 2004” glass boxes and “Of Time and a River,” the ½ hour documentary film co-produced by the MRC. Ms. Bagué and the MRC welcomed new MRC members Senator Rudolfo Garcia, Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Manny Prieguez, Captain James Maes and George Foyo.

Ms. Bagué introduced the new MRC Assistant Managing Director, Ashley Chase.

II.  Review Draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan      

Mr. Jim Murley stated the draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan is proceeding through the series of 7 public hearings. Murley reminded MRC members of the “Upper River Workshop,” 1/10/05, 6 PM, Curtis Park, and the Urban Infill Working Group hearing January 12, 2005, 10 am, the Miami Riverside Center, 444 SW 2^nd Ave. Ms. Bagué noted the updated draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan was mailed to all MRC members prior to the meeting, and asked if anyone had any comments or objections to any of the proposed amendments to the Plan. Hearing none, Ms. Bagué asked for the MRC subcommittee reports.

III.  MRC Subcommittee Reports

a.     Dredging Working Group – MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau stated that the dredging contractors indicated that according to their current estimated work schedule, they would need all of the previously appropriated federal funding, plus the additional $17.7 million in new Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 federal funding in order to avoid a temporary demobilization. Therefore, the MRC is supporting Miami-Dade County ’s $17.7 million appropriations request in FY ’06 federal funding. Bibeau thanked Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Bill Nelson, the entire Dade Delegation, Governor Jeb Bush, Debbie Zimmerman, Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, Roman Gastesi, City of Miami , South Florida Water Management District and the Miami River Marine Group for their continued efforts on behalf of the Miami River Dredging project.

b.  Greenways subcommittee – Dr. Ernie Martin, Chair of the MRC Greenways subcommittee, deferred the Greenways subcommittee report to the MRC’s February 7 meeting. 

c.  Stormwater Subcommittee – Ms. Sallye Jude stated that the City of Miami would be holding public hearings in the future regarding new potential sites for use in conjunction with the upcoming Wagner Creek dredging project.          

Mary Benitez, Senior Project Manager for Camp Dresser McKee (CDM), distributed copies of the completed findings for the MRC contracted “Upper Wagner Creek Isolation Survey.” Ms. Benitez stated CDM conducted the survey and performed visual inspections of all stormwater systems throughout the selected sub-basins adjacent to Upper Wagner Creek. The Isolation Survey discovered six minor sanitary sewer system defects, which have all since been repaired by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD). Benitez stated the storm drain catch basins found with debris during the visual inspections beneath manholes have been cleaned by the City of Miami . In addition, the Isolation Survey discovered additional areas of concern, where the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department are now conducting additional smoke testing using the SWIM-DERM funding.

d.  Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Subcommittee - Ms. Megan Kelly, Chair of the EDC, asked to defer the subcommittee’s report to the MRC’s February 7 meeting.

e.  Miami River Safety Committee – Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group, stated the Miami River shipping terminals will be conducting drills with local law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Customs, City of Miami Police Department, and the Miami-Dade County Police Department, to test for safety and security.

V.  New Business – Mr. Bibeau stated the 9^th Annual free Miami Riverday festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, 2005 , 11 a.m.-5 p.m. , Jose Marti Park , SW 4^th Street and SW 4^th Ave.  

      Bibeau encouraged attendance and participation at the following upcoming hearings on the draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan:

• Monday, January 10, 2005 , 6 PM , Curtis park, 1901 NW 24 Ave.

• Wednesday, January 12, 2005 , 10 AM , Miami Riverside Center , 444 SW 2^nd Ave.

• Monday, February 7, 2005, noon, United Way Ansin Building, 3250 SW 3^rd Ave, MRC’s final consideration of “2^nd Annual Update of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.

      The meeting adjourned.

IV. Adjournment 

There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting adjourned.

_____________________________Recording Secretary

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