Miami River Commission Meeting Minutes July 7, 2014

Transcription

1 Miami River Commission Meeting Minutes Mr. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, Chairman of the Miami River Commission (MRC), convened the public meeting at noon,, 1407 NW 7 ST, Miami, FL. Miami River Commission (MRC) Policy Committee Members and/or Designees attending: Horacio Stuart Aguirre, Chairman Jay Carmichael, Vice-Chairman Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado Patty Harris, designee for Governor Javier Betancourt, Downtown Development Authority Sandy Batchelor, South Florida Water Management District Manny Prieguez, Member at Large appointed by City Commission Sandy O Neils, designee for Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Philip Everingham, designee for Marine Council Sallye Jude, Neighborhood Representative appointed by Miami-Dade County Bruce Brown, Miami River Marine Group MRC Staff: Brett Bibeau, Managing Director Others attending interested in the River: Please see attached sign in sheets. The MRC unanimously adopted the MRC s distributed, revised, 2 nd draft, June 2 public meeting minutes. I. Chair Report MRC Chairman Horacio Stuart Aguirre provided the following report: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the July 7 th, 2014 meeting of the Miami River Commission. My name is Horacio Stuart Aguirre and it is my privilege and pleasure to serve as the Chairman of the Miami River Commission. To my immediate right is Vice-Chairman Jay Carmichael and to his immediate right is Mr. Phil Everingham who serves as President of the Miami River Fund, Inc., the fiscal agency of the Miami River Commission. To my immediate left is Mr. Brett Bibeau, the Managing Director of the Commission. Also with us is Mrs. Sallye Jude, Chairman of the Stormwater Subcommittee.

2 - 2 - These outstanding ladies and gentlemen tirelessly work behind the scene to make the Miami River Commission one of the most successful and well run agencies in the county. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you. Today is a special meeting because we celebrate another significant accomplishment and recognize some of those that made it happen. No one could lead us into this segment of the meeting better that United States Congresswoman Ileana Ros Lehtinen, often referred to as the Guardian Angel of the Miami River, accompanied by Mayor Tomas Regalado and high leaders of the Miami-Dade Delegation in Tallahassee. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen stated: I m pleased to join you briefly today as an ex-officio member of the Miami River Commission, which I have been proud to volunteer for since its creation in I wanted to personally thank our the Miami River Commission s incredible friends in the State Legislature and present plaques of appreciation, especially the Dade Delegation which lead to a $150,000 appropriation in order for the Miami River Commission to continue its successful work improving the historic and mixed use Miami River, in addition $200,000 to the City of Miami for the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Maintenance Dredging and Environmental Cleanup Project. Senator Gwen Margolis Was one of our champions in the Senate. Senator Oscar Braynon Was successful in having this appropriation approved by the Legislature two years ago, when it was vetoed by Governor Scott, and successful again this year in the Legislature and avoided the veto. Representative Jose Felix Diaz Recently recognized with the Legal Leader award in Miami Today s annual Best of Miami edition. We thank Rep. Diaz whom was our champion in the House, and remained cool and confident in our successful outcome from the beginning. Representative Jose Javier Rodriguez, represented today by Geena Batista. Rep. Rodriguez is a volunteer member on the Miami River Commission, and was very supportive of the MRC s request. As always, it s great to see MRC items being strongly supported by elected officials from both parties in both the House and Senate. Lynn Summers volunteered in support of the requests In addition, on behalf of the Miami River Commission, I thank Senator Negron and Representative Richardson, whom were unable to attend today, so we will deliver their plaques. All of the elected officials stated they would continue supporting future State annual appropriations of no less than $150,000 for the MRC s continued successful programs and operations. I thank everyone whom joined me in writing strong Miami River Commission support letters to Governor Scott, including: Mayor Regalado Spencer Crowley, FIND

3 - 3 - Commissioner Barreiro Megan Kelly, Swire Properties Sara Babun, Antillean Marine Mark Bailey, Miami River Marine Group Javier Betancourt, Downtown Development Authority Luis Garcia, Garcia s Seafood Grille & Fish Market Anneliese Morales, Little Havana Merchant Alliance. Chairman Horacio Stuart Aguirre stated: The rotating PowerPoint features pictures from the MRC funded and coordinated three major volunteer Miami River Greenway beautification events last month, planting over 700 new plants, spreading 600 bags of recycled mulch, and painting beneath 3 bridges, along 11 blocks of the Miami River Greenway. As you may recall, former MRC member Megan Kelly co-chaired the MRC s Economic Development and Commerce Subcommittee. I would like to ask volunteer Phil Everingham to take on this role now, and convene a public meeting of the MRC s Economic Development and Commerce Subcommittee. The MRC s Urban Infill and Greenways subcommittees have a very significant public meeting on July 16, here at 3 PM. The exciting agenda includes but is not limited to the return of the large Miami Riverwalk proposed mixed use development on the south shore, just east of I-95. The item will then be considered at the next public MRC meeting, September 8, here at noon. I met with City of Miami Commission Chairman Willy Gort this morning on Miami River Bridge protocols to tighten up the amount of time between opening and closing of bridges. The survey of members on MRC priorities will be distributed at the September meeting of the MRC. Some members were generous in their comments and we want to be sure we incorporate all comments and suggestions.

4 - 4 - From now on, all voting for projects, especially real estate projects, will be by roll-call voice vote and recorded accordingly, as is done at City Commission and County Commission. Please note similar to the City and County, the MRC will not host public meetings in August, and the MRC s standard 1 st Monday of the Month meeting in September would land on Labor Day. Therefore the MRC s next public meeting will be September 8, here, at noon. I encourage everyone s participation in these important upcoming public meetings. Vice-Chairman Jay Carmichael stated: The following Miami River Voluntary Improvement Plan (VIP) items were addressed in June: 1) MRC thanks City of Miami for painting over graffiti on their building next to the public riverwalk. After pressuring the public riverwalk at the City building, the MRC noticed all the decorative garbage cans in this section of the riverwalk are missing liners. After reporting this, the City agreed to reinstall the missing riverwalk garbage can liners at this site. 2) The MRC reported numerous street lights which re not working along the on-road Miami River Greenway along both North and South River Drive, from I-95 to NW 7 Ave. We are awaiting an estimate from FPL, which the City contracts to maintain these Street lights, as to when they will be repaired. 3) I thank FDOT for replacing a fence which blocks public access behind the Manatee mural on the Public Riverwalk, beneath the Flagler Bridge along South River Drive 4) After witnessing and receiving complaints about a specific Miami River International shipping vessel not monitoring Radio channels 13 or 16 as required, etc., the MRC forwarded the reports to the U.S. Coast Guard. 5) Residents and homeowners along the Seybold Canal reported to County s DRER 3 illegal fuel tanks operating at a car towing company located on the Seybold Canal. DRER issued a Notice of Non-Compliance which expired, then the 30-day extension expired, and the illegal fuel tanks were still not brought into compliance. Therefore the MRC followed up with the DRER. 6) After receiving a complaint from an adjacent Miami River Condo Association President that the iconic colored lights on the metro-rail bridge have not been working for some time, the MRC contacted Miami-Dade County Transit which replied the County s Dept. of Art in Public Places has ordered new LED colored lights and the MRC has been requesting an estimate of when they will be installed and functional. 7) After receiving a complaint from an adjacent riverfront Condo, the MRC asked the One Miami condo to repair the broken lights along their public riverwalk. One Miami has been

5 - 5 - working with an electrician and MRC has been seeking estimated date when the light repairs will be completed and functional again. 8) The City s extended estimate to issue their drafted Request for Letters of Interest for their vacant site will be publicly advertised early this month. III. MRC Subcommittee Reports A. Greenways Subcommittee Chair Dr. Ernie Martin provided the following report: The MRC is coordinating and funding the following 2 volunteer Miami River Greenway beautification events this month: July 23 estimated 25 volunteers from FL Marlins and Hands on Miami will be adding fresh potting soil and compost into the community vegetable and fruit garden s 9 raised planter beds, picking up litter, and removing invasive plant species, along the public riverwalk here at Robert King High. July 26 estimated 25 volunteers from Hands on Miami will be planting over 400 plants, painting, picking up litter and spreading recycled mulch along 4 blocks of the Miami River Greenway As you recall, the MRC has taken a position in support of the City of Miami s October 13, 2009 Memo requiring the illegal structure at 300 Biscayne Blvd Way aka Epic Phase II, be demolished by January The MRC recently received a notification from the City of Miami that the owner is trying to extend the Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit for this structure for an additional 2 years, just before its pending sale as the most expensive property ever sold in the state of Florida. Therefore the MRC has resubmitted this March 30, 2012 letter and attachments to the City of Miami. Our next public meeting is a joint meeting with the Urban Infill subcommittee on Wednesday, July 16, 3 PM, here, 1407 NW 7 ST. B. Stormwater Subcommittee, Chair Sallye Jude provided the following report: Our June 4 public meeting minutes have been distributed. I m pleased to announce that the last 3 months of water quality testing results indicate a continued improving trend at the Miami River s testing locations, with no water quality violations along the Miami River in well over a year for the first time since the MRC s inception. The MRC meeting adjourned.

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