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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

   The first item on the agenda, a review of the draft Miami River Water Quality Targets, was deferred until the Wednesday, November 6, 2002 SSC meeting.

The second item on the agenda was a status of the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department’s, (WASD) search for a 1-2 acre site for “CP-A” (sanitary sewer system pump station).  The site must be near the Miami River in East Little Havana.  Mr. Rod Lovette, WASD, stated the Board of County Commissioner’s have not heard the resolution presented at the MRC’s June 10, 2002 meeting, yet the WASD remains in need of a site within that vicinity.   Sallye Jude stated the “Adult Store” located at SW 6^th Street and SW 2^nd Ave is in violation of the existing zoning code, and therefore should be considered for the future pump station location.  Lovette stated if set backs were waived at the I-95 off ramp right of way, the pump station may be feasible.  Bibeau stated that the MRC’s position remains on record, the new sewer pump station should not be located in Jose Marti Park, if a riverfront property is utilized, the structure cannot be closer than 200’ to the River with the 50% of the property nearest the River left for green-space.

Agustin Socarras, DERM and Lovette, WASD, reported they had found and corrected additional illegal sanitary sewer system hook ups to the stormwater system within the Miami River Corridor, during the Flagler streetscape project.  Socarras provided the Stormwater subcommittee with the attached illegal sanitary system hookup progress report.  Socarras and Alex Barrios, DERM, stated the only remaining neighborhood in need of funding for transferring from septic tanks to new connections with the sanitary sewer system within the Miami River Corridor is Melrose, to the NW of SW 27^th Ave.  The DERM representatives stated funding for the similar transfers from septic to sanitary sewer systems was provided with a Special Taxing District authorized by the Board of County Commissioners.  Bibeau asked the DERM representatives to provide a brief written statement regarding the specific boundaries, need, and estimated cost of the proposed project. 

The stormwater subcommittee discussed the upcoming dredging of County owned secondary canals, funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “406”, funding for natural disaster mitigation.  Bibeau reminded the stormwater subcommittee that funding was still needed for dredging of the Miami River’s tributaries.  The Army Corps of Engineers Request for Proposals to dredge the River’s Federal Navigable Channel has an option to include the additional dredging of the tributaries.  The DERM representatives stated the canal dredging is administered by their Office of Recovery and Mitigation, Directed by Dorian Valdez, Mike Gambino, DERM, stated the FEMA grant application deadline had passed, yet may be extended.

Capt. John Smith, owner of Bojean’s Boat Yard, made a presentation to the Stormwater subcommittee.  Bojean’s Boat Yard is located on the Tamiami Canal’s south shore, adjacent to the confluence of the Miami River.  The Tamiami Canal is scheduled for dredging, east of the swing bridge.  This leaves a section of the Tamiami canal between the River and the swing bridge, undredged.  Furthermore, the swing bridge significantly constrains water conveyance capacity to only a 60-foot wide waterway.  This creates a 5-knot current, making docking difficult at Bojean’s boat-yard.  The existing County owned swing-bridge, was originally built in 1911 and has become overloaded as a major artery to the Miami Intermodal Center.  On June 10, 2002, the MRC unanimously passed a resolution to work with SFWMD and Miami Dade County to conduct a traffic study of the Tamiami Canal Swing Bridge and study restrictions to water conveyance in that vicinity.

Jose Lago, City of Miami, stated bids were received for Phase 4, Wagner Creek dredging and shoreline stabilization projects.  The amended plans were submitted to FDEP and DERM for permitting review.  Post-project maintenance of Wagner Creek was included in the revised permit application.

The stormwater subcommittee confirmed their review of the 3^rd quarterly “Miami River Water Quality Improvement Plan” progress report, during the next regularly scheduled meeting, Wednesday, October 2, 2002, 10 am, 172-A West Flagler ST, video conferencing with SFWMD in West Palm Beach.

The meeting adjourned.  

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