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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

   Jose Bacallao, Jr. Assistant to the County Manager, wrote David Miller, Executive Director, MRC, a memo stating, “As required by Resolution No. R-156-99, the proposed resolution’s being submitted for Miami River Commission input and review.” On July 23, 2002, the Board of County Commissioners will hear, “ A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPRAISAL(S) DUE DILIGENCE AND RELATED STUDIES OF APPROXIMATELY 1+ ACRE(S) OF PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF THE MIAMI RIVER BETWEEN SW 4^TH AVENUE AND SOUTH MIAMI AVENUE AND BETWEEN SW 4^ST STREET AND SW 8^TH STREET FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A MAJOR WASTEWATER PUMP STATION; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY FOR NO MORE THAN THE VALUES ESTABLISHED BY THE APPRAISAL”  Therefore, Mr. John Chorlog, Assistant Director, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Administration (WASA) made a presentation regarding a need for “CP-A” a new sewage pump station.  The potential boundary is bordered on the north by the Miami River, on the East by S. Miami Ave, on the south by SW 8^th ST, and on the west by SW 4^th Ave.  Currently, sewage “Pump Station 1” is being expanded to take the river’s north shore between Garcia’s Seafood Grille and Lummus Park.  Mr. Chorlog explained pump station #1 handles 80% of the City of Miami’s sewage, and the proposed pump station is required for backup if there is a failure with #1, such as a power outage or equipment failure.  The proposed new sewage pump station would add long term capacity to continue meeting Federal peak flow requirements.  In addition, Mr. Chorlog pointed out the new pump station would reduce the risk of sewage contamination in the Miami River and Biscayne Bay.  Chorlog explained that in order for the proposed new pump station to effectively back-up the existing one, they must be less than one mile apart, because it has a gravity flow system.  Chorlog stated at this point they are only looking for appraisals and willing sellers, and if they cannot find one, eminent domain is an option.  Furthermore, Chorlog informed the subcommittee that a location was not found for a pump station to service the Brickell area; therefore the proposed riverside pump station would service the Brickell area as well.  Chorlog stated although the potential boundary for the proposed pump station included riverfront properties, a riverfront site would not be selected.  The stormwater subcommittee and Mr. Chorlog reached consensus to amend the potential CP-A location boundary to remove Jose Marti Park, move the southern boundary two blocks south to SW 10 Street, and if a riverfront property was acquired, that the entire pump station property would be 50% green space (approximately one acre), on the river’s shore, and be aesthetically pleasing.  Mr. Chorlog stated he would make the presentation, with the revised boundary, to the MRC on June 10, 2002.

The stormwater subcommittee discussed the City of Miami’s proposed Wagner Creek Phase IV dredging and shoreline stabilization project.  Brett Bibeau informed the subcommittee that Jose Diaz, Department of Environmental Resource Management, (DERM), Jose Lago, City of Miami Public Works Department and their consultants, Officer Clayton, Allapattah resource officer, visited the site to amend the existing plans by identifying the native trees to keep.  Lago stated the revised plans were complete and submitted for permits, and would provide MRC staff with the revised plans.  Bibeau asked the City of Miami and consultants to try and find suitable locations to replant the trees requiring transplanting within the Wagner Creek Corridor.  Jose Lago stated the project has entered the “informal emergency process”, where an RFP will be advertised on June 28, 2002, prior to the City Commission approving the project.  Bibeau provided the stormwater subcommittee with chronological pictures of the section of Wagner Creek, which used the same “Armor-Flex” revampment only 5 years ago.  The pictures depict the creek becoming completely overgrown and filled in with invasive species, leaving a small area for conveyance capacity.  Officer Clayton encouraged the City to use an alternate material for the shoreline stabilization, such as a sea wall effectively used in older sections of Wagner Creek without the problems associated with the armor-flex revampment.  MRC staff encouraged the City to consider other shoreline stabilization materials as well, which in the long term would save the City from maintenance costs.

Bibeau reminded the Stormwater subcommittee that the second quarterly “Water Quality Improvement Report” agency action item status report is due at the next regularly scheduled, first Wednesday of the month, stormwater subcommittee meeting.  The subcommittee, confirmed there next meeting for July 3, 2002, 10 am, SFWMD, 172-A West Flagler Street video conferencing with SFWMD, West Palm Office.

The meeting adjourned.    

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