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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

  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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I) Discuss Future Miami River Greenway Governance - Dr. Ernie Martin, GSC Chair, stated the upcoming MRC workshop/retreat is being scheduled as a ½ day on FT. Lauderdale ’s Riverwalk and a full-day on the Miami River Greenway.  Dr. Martin noted the retreat will partially focus on the future maintenance, security and special events for the Miami River Greenway.

Dr. Martin distributed a one-page Greenway “brainstorming” fact sheet, based on research compiled by MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau and MRC Assistant Managing Director Ms. Ashley Chase. The fact sheet, noted Dr. Martin, pinpoints Greenway governance issues, including maintenance, security, marketing and promotions, special events, parking and transportation, economic development, human services (for homeless populations), and capital improvements.  Dr. Martin’s fact sheet also listed alternative governance models, including City of Miami Trust Models , Business Improvement Districts, Project for Public Spaces’ Non-profit organizational models, and Community Redevelopment Agencies/Tax Increment Financing, as well as steps for analyzing each alternative.  Ms. Chase provided a copy of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust and the Bayfront Park Management Trust ordinances, two examples of City of Miami Trust models, and a copy of the Coral Gable Business Improvement District model.  Mr. David Henderson, MPO, recommended examining the City of Miami ’s Omni CRA as a possible governance alternative. Dr. Martin thanked him for the suggestion and agreed to look into it. Mr. Henderson stated he would send MRC staff contact the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a non-profit organization that converts abandoned railroad tracks into biking, hiking and walking trails. Dr. Martin asked if Mr. Henderson could invite the organization to a future GSC meeting, preferably before the upcoming MRC retreat, for a presentation of its mission and goals, and Mr. Henderson stated that would be a possibility.  Dr. Martin directed MRC staff to examine the pros and cons of each state, county, and city governance model. Ms. Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land (TPL), asked if MRC staff could also research the pros and cons of the Miami River Commission serving as the governmental body for the Miami River Greenway. Dr. Martin noted that option would be included within the MRC’s staff continued research of alternative government models.

II) Miami River Greenway Historical Markers- Dr. Martin stated he had been in contact with Mr. Bruce Bounds, Villagers, Inc. attorney, whom is pulling an acceptable written agreement format from the Villager’s files, to use for the awarded Miami River Greenway Historical Markers grant funding.

Mr. Bibeau stated that the “Latitude on the River” developers, at the recommendation of the Miami River Commission, had agreed to provide a historical marker to establish the site’s historical significance as a former PT boat construction and repair facility, and Miami Vice police headquarters. The GSC concurred with Mr. Bibeau’s suggestion to provide Latitude on the River developers with the City / TPL / MRC approved specs on the historical marker design.   The Greenways subcommittee noted the need to provide the specs to the City of Miami ’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board, whom will need to review any proposed text bas well, prior to marker fabrication.

III) Discuss Status of Draft Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards- Mr. Henderson stated he had attended a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Aesthetics Review Committee (TARC) meeting on July 13, 2005 , in which Mr. Kevin Brown, City of Miami , and Ms. Freeman, TPL, had provided a presentation, regarding Miami River Greenway development, funding and the status of the draft “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards.”  Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC was not notified of this important presentation regarding the Miami River Greenway, and respectfully requested the MRC be notified of future public hearings.  According to Ms. Freeman, City of Miami Commissioners will consider the draft “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards” ordinance at first reading in mid-October.  Mr. Bibeau asked Ms. Chase to contact Mr. Brown in order to receive the revised draft “Miami River Greenway Regulatory Design Standards,” and review whether the MRC’s recommendations were incorporated into the current draft.  Mr. Henderson stated that the bike racks illustrated in the City’s greenway presentation to TARC did not fit the criteria/standards of “good” bike racks.  Mr. Henderson stated he would provide the City of Miami , TPL and MRC representatives with specs for recommended bike racks.

IV) Discuss Status of Miami River Greenway Development

Ms. Freeman provided the following update on the next phase of Miami River Greenway development on behalf of Mr. Brown, who was unable to attend the meeting:  

§         Segment A, in front of Garcia’s Seafood Restaurant: 10% completion; contractor is submitting schedule/timeline to City for approval.

§         Segment E-1, in front of NEO Lofts, and Segment F, SW 1^st Street and SW 2^nd Street : 80% completion, with an expected completion date of August 30, 2005 .

§         Segment G, southern end of Jose Marti Park : awaiting schedule and cost estimate from contractors; will coordinate future meetings with City of Miami Parks Department.

§         Segment B, C, north side of First Street and Flagler Bridge and E-2, east of Lummus Park :  Contractor has submitted a fee proposal and engineering documents to City.

Mr. Bibeau asked Ms. Freeman if the City of Miami or the Trust for Public Land were planning on hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the completion of Segments E-1 and F, and Ms. Freeman responded she was not sure, but agreed to ask Ms. Danette Perez, City CIP.  Bibeau offered the MRC’s assistance if the City and TPL choose to have a ceremony. 

Ms. Freeman stated she was expecting to receive an estimate from Kimley-Horn & Associates to design a park adjacent to, or on both sides of, the Flagler Street Bridge to East Coast Fisheries. Ms. Freeman added that TPL was meeting with FDOT and the City of Miami to discuss creating a mural beneath the north shore of the First Street Bridge .  Mr. Bibeau added that the MRC had received several design portfolios from local artists wishing to beautify the bridge, and added he would continue reaching out to other local entities for ideas and support.

Ms. Freeman stated Miami River Greenway construction documents would commence in August 2005 for the “East Little Havana” section, located along South River Drive between Neo Lofts and the NW 5 ST Bridge.

Ms. Freeman recommended adding Mr. Lionel Zapata to the MRC mailing list and inviting him to future GSC meetings, as he has been contracted by the City of Miami to serve as the official consultant for the Miami River Greenway project. Ms. Freeman added that Mr. Brown would continue his duties with the City, making sure the project is being constructed according to the approved greenway engineering documents. The GSC agreed to invite both Mr. Brown and Mr. Zapata to the next publicly-noticed GSC meeting on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, 1 pm, Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 ST.

 V) Discuss Status of Miami-Dade County and City of Miami Bond Funding for the Miami River Greenway-  Dr. Martin stated he believed the Miami River Greenway has been included in Miami-Dade County’s first phase of General Obligation Bond (GOB) funding. Mr. Bibeau agreed to verify this information and suggested inviting a county representative to present an update.

Mr. Bibeau asked the GSC to endorse recommending the County develop a section of an unobstructed 16 foot-wide publicly accessible Riverwalk, at the Miami-Dade County Housing Agency’s Robert King High, 1407 NW 7 ST, in the historic Grove Park neighborhood.  The proposed riverwalk section would be funded using the $7.5 million Miami River Greenway line item in the County’s GOB bond issue, and would include    benches, decorative lighting, landscaping, and adding a private fence for residents of Robert King High, allowing them to access the riverwalk area, while blocking public access to the residential areas of the large site.  The riverwalk, added Mr. Bibeau, would continue beneath 836 to South River Drive , connecting into the Grove Park neighborhood.  Mr. Bibeau also recommended utilizing the green space located at the back of Robert King High’s parking facility as a playground area connecting to the publicly accessible riverwalk. The GSC unanimously supported Mr. Bibeau’s suggestion.

Mr. Bibeau stated it was his understanding that the Lummus Landing project has been temporarily put on hold to allow Mr. Steve Bogner to obtain new dockage permits to better accommodate fishing boats for the proposed Fisherman’s Wharf.

VI) New Business

Mr. Bibeau informed the GSC of the MRC’s upcoming participation with “Hands on Miami ,” (HOM) a citywide community clean-up event slated for November 5, 2005 . Mr. Bibeau stated that over 200 volunteers have signed up to clean areas along NW South River Drive , from the 27^th Avenue Bridge to NW 20^th Street .  In addition to beautifying, landscaping and removing litter from the public-right-of-way along the river’s south shoreline within the area, the MRC & HOM coordinated project would include the creation of a mural beneath the 27^th Avenue Bridge. Mr. Bibeau stated the MRC has applied for an FDOT permit for the mural, and asked Ms. Freeman about the artists retained by TPL to create art in public places along the riverwalk.  Ms. Freeman provided Mr. Bibeau with the contact information for Ms. Vicky Pierre, a local muralist selected by TPL after a lengthy evaluation of 40 artists, to provide a sculpture in “Segment A”, and a second sculpture between Jose Marti Park and Finnegan’s River.  Mr. Bibeau thanked Ms. Freeman for her recommendation.

The meeting adjourned.

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