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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7 St.,  Suite D
Miami, FL  33125

  Phone 305-644-0544
Fax 305-642-1136

Email:
  mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

I. Status of the Draft Wagner Creek Corrective Action Plan and Dredging Permit Applications Mr. Jose Lago, City of Miami, addressed the validity of a recently published Miami Today article, alleging that the City of Miami had approved a $9 million contract to dredge Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal. Mr. Lago clarified that the City of Miami had granted a $1.9 million contract to perform a citywide canal clean-up effort, which he noted would not include dredging. Using the article as a reference, Mr. Lago added the contract consisted of: quarterly mowing and trimming of trees, monthly litter removal, and semi-annually covert cleaning and debris removal. Mr. Lago asked Mr. Ray Rammo, City of Miami , if he was aware of the aforementioned mowing and tree trimming services, and Mr. Rammo replied that, to his knowledge, the current contract solely consisted of the removal of existing debris in citywide canals and water bodies, as well as “spraying” to control vegetation. Mr. Brett Bibeau, MRC Managing Director, asked if the canals targeted in the contract would include: Seybold Canal , Wagner Creek, Comfort Canal , Lawrence Canal , and the North and South Fork of the Miami River , and Mr. Rammo agreed to confirm that information, as well as e-mail Mr. Bibeau sketches of the aforementioned canals.

Mr. Lago stated City staff had recently met with Subaqueous Services, Inc. the prior week to discuss possible de-watering staging sites and hydraulic dredging technologies for the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Dredging project, including, but not limited to: filters, filter presses, carbon vessels, agitator and settling tanks. Mr. Lago clarified that the City of Miami would ultimately select and approve suitable de-watering staging sites, where, he added, no liquid or materials would be stored. Mr. Lago added City staff is currently scheduling a meeting with Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (MD-DERM) to continue discussing possible de-watering methodologies. Following the completion of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP), explained Mr. Lago, the City of Miami Director of Capital Improvements would begin obtaining public input during a series of publicly noticed meetings and workshops. The final contract would then be brought before City Commissioners for final approval.

Mr. Lago noted he would have more information regarding Phases 3, 4, and 5 of the Wagner Creek Dredging project, as well as the Seybold Canal Dredging project at the next regularly scheduled SSC meeting.

II Update on the Development of TMDL’s for Wagner Creek- Mr. Omar Abdelrahman, MD-DERM, noted there were no changes to the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) time schedule. Mr. Rammo noted City staff had achieved significant progress regarding watershed protection and TMDLs at a recent meeting with City staff-including himself- DERM and FDEP representatives and PBS&J consultants, where the scope of services/proposals and timeline to complete the project were reviewed and discussed.  Mr. Rammo added that meeting attendees had also performed site visits to examine possible sources of contamination. Mr. Rammo stated he had received a revised scope of services from the consultants, and was in the process of writing a project work order. Mr. Bibeau asked when the Notice to proceed would be issued, and mr. Rammo replied one month. On behalf of the Miami River Commission, Mr. Bibeau offered his assistance, adding that the MRC would continue providing intergovernmental coordination on the setting of TMDL’s for Wagner Creek, via having the item on the Stormwater subcommittee’s monthly publicly noticed meeting agenda. 

III. Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Western Sub Basin –Mr. Rod Lovett, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, stated that the Director of the Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department had recently resigned, which has contributed to a sudden stagnation within the department. Mr. Lovett added, however, that he had recently met with the department’s new director Mr. John Renfro, and received approval to complete smoke-testing of sanitary sewer sub-basins. Mr, Lovett recommended that Mr. Bibeau re-send any and all letters to Mr. Renfro, so that he may re-instate the project’s former agreement and work schedule.

Mr. Lovett noted that, under the recommendation of the MRC’s SSC, the old pipes located near the NW 5^th Street Bridge had been removed. Mr. Lovett noted he remained in favor of providing architectural facading of WASD properties, as well as the creation of public pocket parks. Mr. Bibeau asked if it would possible to remove the fence near Winn Dixie on NW 11^th Street to provide possible landscaping, and Mr. Lovett replied he would mention that suggestion to Mr. Renfro. Discussion ensued regarding the issuance of a Request for Proposals to create a pump station south of 8th Street and West of Interstate 95, as a means of establishing improved sewage infrastructure.

IV. New Business- MRC staff distributed the 2006 Miami River Commission Report. Mr. Bibeau read page 6 of the report pertaining to Stormwater System improvements.

Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, stated that Mr. Jose Galan, Miami-Dade County , had scheduled a presentation regarding Miami-Dade County Bond funding to improve sanitary and stormwater systems within Miami-Dade at the next SSC meeting. 

Mr. Rammo stated he, Ms. Betty Gutierrez, Chief of Staff for County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, and Mr. Carlos Espinosa, DERM, are continuing to work together regarding the potential for Miami-Dade County to piggy-back on the current $100,000 contract for the Scavenger 2000 depollution services along the Miami River .  Mr. Rammo stated he had accompanied City of Miami ’s NET 9 crew to capture footage of areas benefiting from the city’s recently installed receptacle baskets.

The next regularly scheduled SSC meting was confirmed for the first Wednesday of the month, March 1, 2006 , 10 am , Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

The meeting adjourned.

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