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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

Pursuant to the “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report” Action Item 4f, “Finalize water quality targets for key parameters”, the SSC unanimously adopted the water quality targets previously discussed in the SSC meetings of November 6, 2002, December 4, 2002, and January 8, 2003.

The SSC discussed creating pocket parks in the following Right of Way (ROW) areas along the proposed Miami River Greenway route:

• SW 5^th ST dead-end into River’s South Shore - Rod Lovette, Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department, stated the exposed manhole area on the shoreline is disconnected, and he would further research the possibility of removing it from the pocket park area.  Brett Bibeau stated Chairman Winton has expressed interest in the project.  Bibeau will present the proposed conversion of this ROW into a pocket park to the City of Miami’s Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement Bond Oversight Board, seeking funding for the site’s necessary shoreline repair, estimated at $3,500, from the bond’s $10,000,000 “Waterfront Improvements” line item.
• WASD Easement on River’s South Shore at NW 2^nd ST -  Lovette stated the WASD Law Department is currently researching liability issues, as the currently fenced off waterfront easement would be made publicly accessible as a pocket park.
• Wagner Creek Pocket Park behind Cedars of Lebannon – Jose Lago provided documents determining that the proposed parcel is owned by Miami-Dade County.  The fence was removed, and volunteers will be cleaning the area.  

The SSC discussed the proposed Wagner Square development on a City owned Brownfield’s site, adjacent to Wagner Creek, at 1700 NW 14^th Ave.  Required environmental testing at the proposed development site detected dioxin.  Higher levels of dioxin were found in the sediment of Wagner Creek near NW 20^th ST.  The SSC concurred that additional testing of the area is required.  Lovette stated that the WASD only used $35,000 of the available allocated $100,000 for dye flood testing within Wagner Creek.  The SSC agreed to use the remaining funding to dye test the Wagner Creek outfalls, and test in the Creek sections north of NW 20^th ST.  The SSC asked DERM to provide additional hotspots for testing.  Lovette suggested a private consultant be contracted to map and test the stormwater and sanitary sewer systems adjacent to Wagner Creek, North of NW 20^th ST.  Jose Lago stated he would research any maps of the system in the City’s records.  Additional funding sources will be sought by Dr. Martin from the Brownfield’s Initiative and by David Miller, via requesting an amendment to an existing MRC Stormwater Education grant.  Trish Stone, SFWMD, stated she would work with Tim McIntosh, DERM, to prepare a Scope of Services for the Miami River Water Basin Water Quality Improvement Report” Action Item 4d, “Search for e-coli sources”.  The draft Scope of Work will be brought to the next SSC meeting for review. 

Bibeau stated that on February 13, 2003, the City Commission will be considering the purchase of three residential properties adjacent to the contaminated area, and the acceptance of an awarded $1,000,000 Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grant for remediation of the area.  Bibeau noted that on January 23, 2003, the City Commission deferred acceptance of the $1,000,000 BEDI grant.

                MRC staff will prepare a draft annual “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report” progress report, for review at the next SSC meeting, March 17, 10 am, SFWMD, 172-A West Flagler.

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