miamirivermeet1

Dredging Working Group - Dick Bunnell stated that a dredging meeting was held January 10^th. Basically, the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that they were just about ready to submit to the Florida DEP their Water Quality Certification permit request. David Miller stated that the Water Quality Certification application was submitted last week and tomorrow they are having a meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection and Army Corps to go over the application and make sure everyone understands what is on the piece of paper. Mr. Bunnell is hoping the permit does not take longer than 6 months. They are going to contact the DEP to see if it can be expedited. They are going to have to go back before the Dade County Commission during this permitting process regarding the issues they brought up last time they were in front of them. The impact on the community is what they are concerned about. They need to help educate the public. They are willing to work with the Commission on a pro bono basis. David Miller mentioned that they need to become active on funding for next year at the federal level. Next year will be a big year with a lot of work being done hopefully. The Federal appropriations needs to be $10 million for their cost share. The MRC needs to start actively pushing that issue. Scott Mitchell stated that the ground work for successful follow up needs to be done before going back to the Commission. Discussion was held. The City of Miami has invited the Corps of Engineers to make a presentation to the Water Fund Advisory Board at the February 13^th meeting.

Public Safety Working Group - Captain Bowling gave a brief report. They continue to work with the Law Enforcement Agency. There is renewed interest in are getting derelict commercial vessels off the River. The had a meeting in January and there is some activity going on with U.S. Customs as far as changing policy and procedures. There is some hope that maybe they will be able to streamline some procedures for vessels where they don’t end up on the River as long term problems. He would like to get some feed back from the MRC as there was a motion that they were trying to ask the Public Safety Working Group be merged with Quality Action Committee. The agenda items that they were dealing with in regard to the Public Safety Working Group were overlapping either in the Miami River Quality Action Team Group or in the Miami River Enforcement Group. Mr. Miller stated that this was discussed at the last meeting and it was tabled until Capt. Bowling and Gary Winston were both at the MRC meeting. One of the questions is the QAT’s position on a merger. This was discussed at the November meeting of the QAT. The issues that they are dealing with wasn’t going to change what they were doing on a monthly basis between those groups. Public Safety agenda would be absorbed into QAT. The QAT is an open forum. Discussion was held. Gary Winston made the motion that the Public Safety Working Group be merged with the Quality Action Team. The motion was seconded by Sandy O’Neil and passed unanimously.

Greenways and Grant Application - Dr. Martin reported that the Knight Foundation is offering a significant amount of money from $30 to $50 million but it is not known for sure. The applications were due last week. Dr. Martin and Brenda Marshall went on a tour of the River with the Trustees of the Knight Foundation that live in Miami. They seemed interested. Credit went to Lavinia Freeman who worked on the applications. She gave a brief report on what it includes. Another application initiated by Trust for Public Land but carried out by the Collins Center and that was the original design concept. The Trust for Public Land delegated that to the Collins Center. The money requested by the Knight Foundation by the Collins Center would add to that. Discussion was held. Mr. Miller stated that one of the things that they really want to see in there grant award is that there is a partnership with communities with MRC, Trust for Public Land, the City so that there is linkage with everyone. The amount of money the MRC is in line for is not known at this time. The announcements for the money are expected to be made in June. Dr. Martin stated that they are in the last stretch of the Greenway planning. The Greenway Master Plan is going before all the appropriate advisory boards hopefully all this month. Presentations will be made to the Planning Advisory Board, the Waterfront Advisory Board, the Urban Review Development Board, and the Parks Board and several other meetings. A final resolution will be put together for presentation and adoption before the MRC and then before the City and County Commissions for final adoption. Dr. Martin asked for input.

Dr. Martin stated that four applications in the last month. Two to the Miami Dade Cultural Affairs Committee in the amount of $25,000 and $10,000 and both of these are for River Day activities. Discussion was held. Four big grants have been applied for.

Storm water - Sallye Jude stated that a report is going to be ready by April 1^st. Mr. Miller stated that SFWMD has assisted and there is a draft report that has been sent for final comments to sub-committee members. Discussion was held. This is a very complex situation. The City of Miami is responsible for the Storm water system. Dade County is responsible for water and sewer and then certain things are the responsibility of the State by a State roadway. If you have a problem, it takes a while to figure out who is the actual agency that has to go and fix it. The same could be said for the dredging of the River. There are a lot of reasons the River is contaminated. The Corps of Engineers because it is Federal waterway, they are taking the lead role in getting it done. It looks like that needs to be done on the Storm water issue as well. The State would have to take the lead role. Discussion was held. Dr. Lipner is reviewing the final draft and a draft should be provided at the next meeting.


JOIN US!! For more information, contact us via email at mrc@rsmas.miami.edu 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	MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES: Minutes of meeting	MONDAY, FEB. 5, 2001 12:00 NOON (THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT)
	Phil Everingham, Marine Council, Vice Chairperson called the Miami River Commission meeting to order, at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 5, 2001, at the Downtown Development Authority, First Union National Bank Building, Suite 1818, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. Phil stated a quorum was present.
	Miami River Commission Policy Committee members and/or Designees attending were:
	Robert L. Parks, Chairperson, Member at Large, appointed by the Governor Phil Everingham, Vice Chairperson, Chair of the Marine Council Cleve Jones, III, Member at Large, Appointed by the City of Miami Commission Sandy O'Neil, Mayor of Miami-Dade, Designee Ernest Martin, Neighborhood Rep., Appointed by City of Miami Commission Janet McAliley, Environmental or Civic Org. Rep., Appointed by the Governor Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative, Appointed by Miami-Dade Commission Jerry Fernandez, Chair of the Governing Board of SFWMD, Designee Tom Parker, Member at Large, Appointed by Miami-Dade Commission, Designee Gary Winston, Miami-Dade State Attorney, Designee Richard Bunnell, Chair of the Miami River Marine Group, Designee Jay Rhodes, Mayor of Miami, Designee Frank Lopez, Executive Director of Downtown Development Authority, Designee Ex Officio (non-voting) members: Captain Larry Bowling, USCG, MSO Miami, Cdr. Mike Miles, USCG, MSO Miami Miami River Commission Staff: David Miller, MRC, Brett Bibeau, Assistant Managing Director Others attending interested in the River: Robert Owen, Miami-Dade County Public Works Dept. Scott Mitchell, MRC Lavinia Freeman, TPL Art Tillberg, MDC, Capital Improvements Dianne Johnson, City of Miami/R.E.E.D. Mark Sell, Mark Sell Communications Bryan K. Finnie, President, Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES.	Mr. Everingham asked for the approval of the minutes of the January meeting. Jerry Fernandez moved the approval, seconded by Sallye Jude and there being no objection, the motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously.
II. DADE COUNTY PRESENTATION	Mr. Everingham introduced Robert H. Owen, Miami Dade County Public Works Department, who gave an up-date on the Second Avenue bridge renewal. Mr. Owen stated that this bridge project provides a new four-lane bridge on N.W. Second Avenue over the Miami River. It includes reconstruction of the roadway from S.W. 8^th Street to West Flagler Street. The County hired design consultants, architects and engineers to design the project. Mr. Owen gave a brief history of what has transpired with regard to the bridge. The closure of the existing bridge will begin in September 2001 with completion expected in the fall of 2003. The County needs to amend their agreement with the consultant to provide construction phase engineering services. A resolution was prepared by the Public Works staff to go before the County Commission for approval and they plan to go to the Board February 13^th. Mr. Owen’s is requesting that the MRC’s support the above resolution to amend the contract with the bridge engineering consultants prior to going before the Board of County Commissioners. Discussion was held. Under lighting of the bridge was discussed. The bridge design was funded by the County, which cost close to $2 million. FDOT and the Federal Highway Administration will fund the $43 million to construct the bridge. The County will maintain its operation. Dr. Martin suggested incorporating the recommendation for the under lighting in the Miami River Greenway Plan. Dr. Martin made a motion to recommend the Public Works resolution to amend the consultants contract and Jerry Fernandez seconded. The motion and passed unanimously.
III. EMPOWERMENT ZONE	Mr. Everingham introduced Mr. Bryan K. Finnie, President of the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust. Mr. Finnie represents the Miami-Dade Federal and County Empowerment Zone. One of the most important elements of the Empowerment Zone is the economic opportunities provided by the Miami River. The Miami River cuts through the Zone. Mr. Finnie explained the purpose of the Zone. They have an approved the project portfolio in excess of $123 million. They are working on the acquisition and renovation of DuPont Hotel. There is a strong recommendation for the Marlins to identify site in close proximity to the River. They are a community based organization, but they are not a social service organization. Mr. Finnie stated that money is not a problem. They work differently that will work toward setting up programs that describe investment opportunities that create jobs. Discussion was held. Dr. Martin stated that they have a plan for the Miami River Greenway to be an economic development tool to create a new amenity along the River where business would flourish. With regard to the DuPont Plaza, they have recommendations that they have been working with the owners of the property to the east to accommodate the wider Riverwalk along there. If they could get access to their Riverfront dockage in order to have a continuous walkway that would connect to the bridge where there is a plan to connect with the Hyatt and to go to the Lummus Park area, that would be the desirable outcome. Dr. Martin asked if Mr. Finnie could help in those negotiations so they could see that their property is enhanced by having a public access walkway along the River’s edge. Mr. Finnie thought that they would be amenable to that suggestion. Dr. Martin stated that the MRC has a full partner in the Trust for Public Lands which is doing the negotiations. They are making accommodations for this. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of creating a tax abatement for historic property in the Empowerment Zone. This could keep a lot of properties in place by that added incentive. Mr. Finnie stated that he would look into this and present it to the Committee. Mr. Finnie stated that generally funding is access to primarily two sources. One is that they have access to different neighborhood boards or assemblies. The DuPont is being done by this method. The contact person for the Miami River is Jackie Rodriguez or Mr. Finnie. David Miller stated that the consultants that the Empowerment Zone has are doing a very similar Urban Infill review with neighborhood meetings and obtaining a visioning of the neighborhood for the areas that they touch the River. Mr. Miller said they are very happy to have Mr. Finnie present and to be able to work with him. Mr. Finnie stated that they now have to come in with a process where everyone is notified of available resources and everyone has a change to compete for the resources. Mr. Finnie stopped the process, reissued their fees, soliciting proposals and summarize them and give them back to local communities and local community makes the decision as to who gets the resources. If the assembly has already approved it, chances are the assembly will approve the second request, but they now have a process that is open air and everyone has a chance to compete. This should be ready to go by April. There are no conflicts whatsoever. Dr. Martin brought up the Brownsville project. Mr. Everingham thanked Mr. Finnie and asked him to let the MRC know of anything it can do to help. At this time, Mr. Everingham introduced the new Representative on the Commission for the City of Miami Mayor Carollo specifically, Jay Rhodes.
IV. CHAIRS REPORT
	David Miller advised that there are a couple of issues one of which was that they put out their letter to the Ethics Commission that has been signed and sent. Mr. Miller stated that there is a picture that was in the Miami Today. There is a man the owns Quick Park who paid for the ad. It is a farce about the Miami River site saying that if you look at it it shows traffic problems showing that this is the best place. They don’t depict it properly in that there is no Metro Rail Station there or people mover and indicates no parking and no access which is not correct. Mr. Miller and Mr. Bibeau would like to recommend that on behalf of the MRC send a letter to Editor or a rebuttal to this. Discussion was held. Sallye Jude moved that the MRC get in touch with the paper and respond appropriately. Jerry Fernandez seconded the motion and the motion passed. Mr. Everingham stated in regard to the MRC Retreat just a reminder to get everyone together to get an idea of where they stand as to what has been accomplished so far in comparison with the Miami River City Commission Report which is a working document. The thought was to have a Retreat. Mr. Miller stated that based on the meetings with the Executive Committee, there was a date of 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 3^rd. The Executive Committee would like it to be extended beyond the Miami River Commission with City and County Officials and key people to get a better understanding of the River. The passed out a price listing of places being looked into close to the River. Mr. Everingham stated the purpose would be to put together an action plan to see what they need to accomplish and how to accomplish or strategic planning. Mr. Miller stated they used the Miami River Study Commission which has been their guideline as to an action plan. It was to review what has been accomplished on that strategic plan and to see if the MRC needs to make any course corrections or improve things or go from there. Funding should be a focus to obtain funding for their needs and Storm Water is a big one. It is important to have a facilitator to help facilitate the meeting but do the follow up report. Discussion was held regarding this. It was felt that there should be an alternative date to accomplish what they would like to accomplish. Mr. Miller requested that the MRC decide on what they would like to do. They agreed that they need an in house session to see what the MRC wants to do and what they need to do and some funding first. They need a facilitator. They feel that this could be done for the March 3^rd date. Interested parties are welcome to attend.
IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS	Dredging Working Group - Dick Bunnell stated that a dredging meeting was held January 10^th. Basically, the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that they were just about ready to submit to the Florida DEP their Water Quality Certification permit request. David Miller stated that the Water Quality Certification application was submitted last week and tomorrow they are having a meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection and Army Corps to go over the application and make sure everyone understands what is on the piece of paper. Mr. Bunnell is hoping the permit does not take longer than 6 months. They are going to contact the DEP to see if it can be expedited. They are going to have to go back before the Dade County Commission during this permitting process regarding the issues they brought up last time they were in front of them. The impact on the community is what they are concerned about. They need to help educate the public. They are willing to work with the Commission on a pro bono basis. David Miller mentioned that they need to become active on funding for next year at the federal level. Next year will be a big year with a lot of work being done hopefully. The Federal appropriations needs to be $10 million for their cost share. The MRC needs to start actively pushing that issue. Scott Mitchell stated that the ground work for successful follow up needs to be done before going back to the Commission. Discussion was held. The City of Miami has invited the Corps of Engineers to make a presentation to the Water Fund Advisory Board at the February 13^th meeting. Public Safety Working Group - Captain Bowling gave a brief report. They continue to work with the Law Enforcement Agency. There is renewed interest in are getting derelict commercial vessels off the River. The had a meeting in January and there is some activity going on with U.S. Customs as far as changing policy and procedures. There is some hope that maybe they will be able to streamline some procedures for vessels where they don’t end up on the River as long term problems. He would like to get some feed back from the MRC as there was a motion that they were trying to ask the Public Safety Working Group be merged with Quality Action Committee. The agenda items that they were dealing with in regard to the Public Safety Working Group were overlapping either in the Miami River Quality Action Team Group or in the Miami River Enforcement Group. Mr. Miller stated that this was discussed at the last meeting and it was tabled until Capt. Bowling and Gary Winston were both at the MRC meeting. One of the questions is the QAT’s position on a merger. This was discussed at the November meeting of the QAT. The issues that they are dealing with wasn’t going to change what they were doing on a monthly basis between those groups. Public Safety agenda would be absorbed into QAT. The QAT is an open forum. Discussion was held. Gary Winston made the motion that the Public Safety Working Group be merged with the Quality Action Team. The motion was seconded by Sandy O’Neil and passed unanimously. Greenways and Grant Application - Dr. Martin reported that the Knight Foundation is offering a significant amount of money from $30 to $50 million but it is not known for sure. The applications were due last week. Dr. Martin and Brenda Marshall went on a tour of the River with the Trustees of the Knight Foundation that live in Miami. They seemed interested. Credit went to Lavinia Freeman who worked on the applications. She gave a brief report on what it includes. Another application initiated by Trust for Public Land but carried out by the Collins Center and that was the original design concept. The Trust for Public Land delegated that to the Collins Center. The money requested by the Knight Foundation by the Collins Center would add to that. Discussion was held. Mr. Miller stated that one of the things that they really want to see in there grant award is that there is a partnership with communities with MRC, Trust for Public Land, the City so that there is linkage with everyone. The amount of money the MRC is in line for is not known at this time. The announcements for the money are expected to be made in June. Dr. Martin stated that they are in the last stretch of the Greenway planning. The Greenway Master Plan is going before all the appropriate advisory boards hopefully all this month. Presentations will be made to the Planning Advisory Board, the Waterfront Advisory Board, the Urban Review Development Board, and the Parks Board and several other meetings. A final resolution will be put together for presentation and adoption before the MRC and then before the City and County Commissions for final adoption. Dr. Martin asked for input. Dr. Martin stated that four applications in the last month. Two to the Miami Dade Cultural Affairs Committee in the amount of $25,000 and $10,000 and both of these are for River Day activities. Discussion was held. Four big grants have been applied for. Storm water - Sallye Jude stated that a report is going to be ready by April 1^st. Mr. Miller stated that SFWMD has assisted and there is a draft report that has been sent for final comments to sub-committee members. Discussion was held. This is a very complex situation. The City of Miami is responsible for the Storm water system. Dade County is responsible for water and sewer and then certain things are the responsibility of the State by a State roadway. If you have a problem, it takes a while to figure out who is the actual agency that has to go and fix it. The same could be said for the dredging of the River. There are a lot of reasons the River is contaminated. The Corps of Engineers because it is Federal waterway, they are taking the lead role in getting it done. It looks like that needs to be done on the Storm water issue as well. The State would have to take the lead role. Discussion was held. Dr. Lipner is reviewing the final draft and a draft should be provided at the next meeting.
III. NEW BUSINESS	Brett reported on One Riverview Square and the One Miami project. David Miller stated that the MRC web site (“MiamiRiverCommission.org” or “the MiamiRiverorg.”) is up. It is being refined and changed.
	There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m _______________________________Recording Secretary
IV. Adjournment
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