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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

I. Discuss Wagner Creek Pollution Source Identification and Abatement Project – Ms. Liz Abbott, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), reported that the projects Statement of Work (SOW) was drafted and distributed to the Stormwater Subcommittee, including the Miami River Commission , the Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) and the City of Miami.  Abbott thanked the agencies for providing comments, which were incorporated into the revised SOW, with the exception of a City of Miami suggestion to incorporate Phase II into the SOW and subsequent Request for Proposals.  This recommendation was not incorporated because Phase II has alternate funding sources, therefore should be a separate Request For Proposal (RFP).  Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, reported on February 2, 2004 the MRC authorized the SSC to advertise the RFP.   Mr. Jose Lago, City of Miami , asked for the record to reflect that the City of Miami will not be contributing funding for this RFP.  Mr. Bibeau noted that all SSC meeting minutes have accurately reflected that funding for this RFP is coming from the MRC through a SFWMD grant, and an additional funding source is available from DERM.

Bibeau recommended that the RFP selection committee consist of 1 voting representative from each of the following SSC agencies:

• City of Miami

• DERM

• SFWMD

• MRC

• FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection)

      Ms. Abbott requested the City of Miami and WASD to provide 7 electronic versions and one printed copy of the CAD drawings, and 4 printed copies of the stormwater atlas to the MRC by Friday, February 13, 2004 for use in the RFP, scheduled for release by the end of February 2004.  Mr. Lago agreed to provide boilerplate contract and RFP language to the MRC.

      The SSC was provided with copies of the revised pilot study, which will be included as a sample in the RFP.  Bidders will be asked in the solicitation letter to state the equipment that will be used.  Mr. Steve Blair, DERM, recommended that a column be provided to note additional observations.  The SSC agreed that the bidders should be asked to submit three separate bid prices for the three individual geographic areas outlined in the SOW.  Ms. Abbott offered to make the agreed upon final revisions to the SOW, and e-mail the final document to MRC staff.  The SSC provided a general overview of the Wagner Creek Pollution Source Identification and Abatement Project for Mr. John Colucci, a Spring Garden resident attending the meeting who lives adjacent to the Wagner Creek / Seybold Canal .

II. Status of the Wagner Creek Corrective Action Plan – Mr. Lago reported that the Wagner

Creek Corrective Action Plan is 50% complete, and will be submitted to the Pollution Remediation Section of DERM by February 13, 2004 .  For permitting purposes, a clam shell method would be utilized for dredging Wagner Creek. Nevertheless, the Trimax method continues to be investigated as an alternative, since it would eliminate the transportation of  sediments.   Mr. Blair recommended that a meeting be arranged with DERM to discuss the methodology.

III. Stormwater Stencil Project Update – Mr. Bibeau stated per the SSC’s January 6, 2004 minutes, the MRC has available funding from a City of Miami grant, to stencil stormwater drains along North and South River Drive .  A draft design was provided at the January 6, 2004 SSC meeting.  Bibeau forwarded an e-mail from DERM stating the Natural Resource Department in DERM does not require a permit for this project, however the Miami-Dade County Public Works Department may require one.  Bibeau asked for DERM to identify the appropriate contact to obtain any necessary permits.  Per Mr. Lago’s request, Bibeau provided a copy of the MRC’s February 3, 2004 application for a City of Miami “no-fee public works permit” for the stormwater stenciling project. Ms. Abbott questioned the longevity of paint stencils, and suggested an adhesive plastic plate be considered.  Bibeau stated he would do further research about durability, and seek estimates to manufacture plastic plates.   The Miami River stormwater stenciling project will be placed on the SSC’s March 2004 agenda for final approval.

IV. South Florida Water Management District Review of Proposed 12^th Avenue Bridge Stormwater Retention Plans –  Ms. Abbot stated the three adjacent property owners whose property is planned to be taken for stormwater retention ponds, hired a property rights attorney and an engineering consultant to review the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) stormwater design.  The district and SFWMD met with the property owners and an alternative design was proposed and was found to be consistent with the district requirements.  A secondary issue was found, which was not addressed in FDOT’s letter.  The bridge expansion would block access to two of the three properties, partially leading to the proposed FDOT taking of the parcels. 

V. Discussion of Miami River Stormwater and Sanitary Sewer System Projects to be Included in the Proposed Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Issue - Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC will be seeking funding from the proposed Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond (GOB) Issue for Miami River basin stormwater and sanitary sewer system improvements.  Bibeau asked the SSC to recommend specific projects for funding by February 13, 2004 .

VI. New Business – Mr. Bibeau stated that the Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report agency quarterly reports were not included as an agenda item for the February SSC meeting, so they will be on the March 3, 2004 SSC agenda.

The SSC confirmed their next regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month meeting for March 3, 2004 , at 10:00AM in the new SFWMD office located at 2121 SW 3^rd Avenue , 6^th Floor.

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